Maintenance Energy Requirements of Double-Muscled Belgian Blue Beef Cows.

Sixty non-pregnant, non-lactating double-muscled Belgian Blue (DMBB) cows were used to estimate the energy required to maintain body weight (BW). They were fed one of three energy levels for 112 or 140 days, corresponding to approximately 100%, 80% or 70% of their total energy requirements. The relationship between daily energy intake and BW and daily BW change was developed using regression analysis.

Reducing nitrogen excretion and soybean meal use by feeding a lower rumen degradable protein balance and protected soybean meal to dairy cattle.

To reduce N pollution by dairy cows, two levels of rumen degradable protein balance (RDPB) and the use of protected protein sources were studied in two feeding trials. Trial 1 investigated if the effect of lowering the RDPB, at a constant DPI (digestible protein in the intestine) supply, could be compensated by using protected protein sources (formaldehyde treated (= formolated) soybean meal (FSBM) or a combination of FSBM and formolated rapeseed meal at a ratio of 60:40). Trial 2 studied if FSBM is as effective as soybean meal (SBM) at a low RDPB level.

Feeding measures to reduce nitrogen excretion in dairy cattle.

Feeding measures with a potential to improve N efficiency in dairy cattle husbandry were studied at two levels of undegradable protein balance (OEB). In each of the two experiments, two simultaneous Latin squares were conducted, each with three treatments and three lactating Holstein cows. Decreasing the OEB of the diet improved N efficiency and resulted in lower N excretion per kg milk.