AlB-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 9, 1988 Consider Non-Protein Nitrogen For Lactating Cows BY DR. LIMIN KING. JR. superior to that on diets containing , . . . _ , . Ruminant NuSnik soybean meal or heated soybeaS University of Delaware meal without NPN. results * P«* ucers must follow With soybean prices skyrocket- Utah workers reported similar ing to a 15-year-high, it may be findings in a study with high- “ d f^ I JJ^^iTthe time for dairy farmers to consider producing cows (averaging more JJJJ ® alternative protein supplements than 80 pounds of milk per day) rumen. useof NPN such as non-protein nitrogen fed extruded cottonseeds and urea. J" 10 s 1 (NPN) for their lactating cows. Performance was compared to that recommcnucu. Considerable debate exists over of cows fed diets containing no the value of NPN compounds such NPN and all extruded cottonseeds, as urea and ammonia in dairy diets, and diets with and without NPN but, when properly managed, these and normal cottonseeds. In both compounds can be an effective *be Michigan and Utah studies, source of low-cost protein. diets containing NPN were most Although some producers feel productive and economical in the potential problems outweigh return over feed costs, the benefits, many others are using Another misconception is that NPN with great success. In 1973, feeding NPN compounds when the price of soybean meal increases the chances for nitrate exceeded $3OO per ton, more than -poisoning. However, research data one million tons of urea were used confirms that there is no relation in ruminant diets, saving produc- s b*P between NPN and nitrate ers an estimated $6OO million. toxicity. NPN compounds work by pro- Unfortunately, most NPN com viding nitrogen used for protein pounds are instantaneously avail synthesis by microorganisms in a b| e ' n the rumen and may be inef the cow’s rumen. These microor- ficiently utilized by rumen micro ganisms ultimately pass to the low- organisms. Traditional methods of er digestive tract where they supp- incorporating urea into a grain ly the cow with true protein. mixture fed once or twice a day are Depending on the situation and probably the least efficient ways to need, NPN may be beneficial or us ® NPN. Studies have shown that detrimental. A common feeding animals perform better when urea fault is using it in cases where * s offered in multiple feedings or rumen degradable protein was incorporated into a total mixed probably sufficient already. In ration, fact, many ensiled feeds contribute Urea should not exceed 1 per- NPN to the diet and should be con- cent to 1.2 percent (dry matter sidered in calculating the overall basis) in a complete diet or 1.5 per- NPN load. cent to 1.75 percent in a concen- It’s common to hear negative comments about NPN compounds in the field. Urea, specifically, has been shown -to reduce feed intake and cause many health-related problems when mismanaged. Excessive urea certainly can be detrimental, but, when fed within recommended limits and accord ing to suggested guidelines, the health of dairy cattle is not adversely affected. I often hear producers complain about NPN interfering with repro duction. Again, that’s the result of poor management A study at Michigan State University over a five-year period failed to correlate NPN feeding with poor reproduc tive performance. That study involved records from 1,400 DHIA herds with more than 85,000 individual cow records. Other university studies showed that 300 cows fed diets with or without NPN had similar services/ conception, days open, number of cows settled first service and simi lar number of cows settled. Some researchers have sug gested that high-producing cows in early laction should be fed diets supplemented only with natural protein (no NPN). However, these researchers overlooked the fact that many ensiled forages contain high levels of naturally occurring NPN. When I was at Michigan State University, we proposed the feed ing of NPN with protein of low rumen degradability (bypass pro tein such as heated or extruded soy, dried brewers grain or com gluten meal) for maximum pro duction and profit in early lacta tion. Cows in early lactation were fed ammonia-treated com silage with heated soybean meal in diets containing 14.4 percent to 17.7 percent crude protein. On these diets, milk production throughout the first 14 weeks of lactation averaged about 75 pounds per day, and many animals had peak milk in bf 110 pounds per day. Results from that study showed milk production from cows fed diets with NP& and bypass protein was equal to or trate. A 1,400-pound cow should not consume more than .4 to .5 pound of urea per day. To avoid drops in intake and production, cows should be adapted to urea diets over a two- to three-week period. If the diet is mainly fer mented feeds, urea is probably not needed. Urea may also cause prob lems if mixed with other high moisturc feeds because it may break down to ammonia before it is consumed by the animal. Do not feed NPN from more than one source. For example, do not use urea in your concentrate if you area already feeding NPN treated com silage. NPN can best be incorporated into com silage during ensiling and will increase protein from about 8 percent to 12 percent (dry mailer base). Urea can be added to com silage during ensiling at the rate of 10 to 12 pounds per ton of wet (65 percent moisture) forage, but it should not be used if forage moi sutre is much below 58 percent to 60 percent Anhydrous ammonia (6 to 7 pounds per ton wet forage) or aqua-ammonia mixes (20 per cent to 30 percent nitrogen at a rate of 20 to 30 pounds per ton) are even more beneficial since they also prolong bunk life during feed out and increase the true protein content of com silage. When feeding NPN-treated com silage, special attention should be given to dietary sulfur. Com silage contains only about .08 percent sulfur, and diets for milking cows should contain at least .2 percent to .25 percent sulfur. Diets of milking cows should also contain 12 to IS times as much nitrogen as sulfur. When NPN is added to com silage, 3 pounds of calcium sulfate (gyp sum with 18 percent sulfur) per ton of silage improves the nitrogen/ sulfur ratio. As with all chemicals, certain precautions should be taken when handling ammonia-type com pounds. Wear eye protection and have water for washing available when making connections to pres surized tanks. In summary, NPN has been suc cessfully used in diets for high- Greencastle Livestock Greencastle, Pa. Thursday, July 7 Report supplied by Auction CATTLE: 314. Cowj uneven, needy to I.SO lower. One Select si. iteer 60.50, one Select Holstein steers7.so; Breaking Utility & Commercial cows 46.00-50.00, Cutter & Boning Utility 4575-50.50, Center & low Cutter 41.00-45.00, Shells down to 35.00, YGI 1200-2000 lb. bulls 57.50-64.00, few No. 2 1200-1350 lb*. 52.00-54.00. THINK AHEAD... Read Futures Markets on Page 3. Why Pay More ? ALL PRICES SLASHED ON DEMO EQUIPMENT COMMANDER SKID LOADER Tough • Rugged • Dependable 2g H , p _ GAS ENGINE 2 WHEEL DRIVE FORKLIFT NOW $26,500.00 power pro equipment 780 east main street p.o. box 567, route 322 37 industrial blvd new holland, pa 17557 milroy, pa 17063 paoli, pa 19301 (717) 354-4241 (717) 667-6504 (215) 640-9222 Recent advances in the under standing of protein nutrition for dairy catde take into account the rumen-degradable and undegrad able concept, and some feed com panies and analytical labs will pro vide estimates of these in formulat ing diets for your lactating herd. CALVES: 646. Choice. Vealers 83.00-95.00, few Good 75.00-80.00; Stan dard & Good 70-100 lbs. 85.00-93.00; Util ity 60-90 lbs. 76.00-86.00. Faim calves ho), bulls 90-125 lbs. 94.00-154.00; heifers 95-130 lbs. 95.00-106.00. HOGS: 35. US 1-3 one lot 240 lbs. at 44.00; US 1-3 295-635 lb. sows 24.75-30.00; few Boars 23.00-28.75. FEEDER PIGS: 4. No maricet test. SHEEP: 8. Few Choice 65-110 lb. spring lambs 48.50-54.00. GOATS: 21. Large 25.00-46.00 per head. Was $35,860.00 NISSAN KIZAI MINI EXCAVATORS “Full Factory Warranty Applies ” Next time you buy, think Power Pro! spreads were unwound on weak ness in early trade in the grain pits. The July contract was up 50 points on professional hying spured by ideas slaughter levels will mod crate because of hot weather. Bell ies settled sharply lower to limit down on continued bearishness over last Thursday’s USDA Hog Inventory Report. ACRES NEXT DAY OUT LOOK: cash - steady futures - steady. 150 TRADING MODERATE. SPRING SLAUGHTER LAMBS MOSTLY 100 LOWER NOT ENOUGH SLAUGHTER EWES OFFERED FDR A MARKET TEST SHORN SLAUGHTER LAMBS: CPL LOTS CHOICE & PRIME WITH #1 PELTS 105-120 LBS. 55.50-56 00 SPRING SLAUGHTER LAMBS CHOICE AND PRIME 90-130 LBs' 54.00-55.00 6.00-10.00. Was $10,300.00 NOW $6,995.00 TJic Ultimate Wuc N-ll Was $24,800.00 NOW $17,360.00 N-21 Was $28,190.00 NOW $19,733.00 (Continued from Page A 3) Peoria Sheep Peoria, ItHnofa Tuesday, July 5, 1988
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