Utilization of wheat in complete rations for lactating cows

Effects of different amounts of wheat, protected amino acids, and increased rumen escape protein in high wheat rations were evaluated in two trials with dairy cows. In trial 1, concentrate mixtures with 0, 40, or 60% hard red winter wheat were included in a complete ration with 45% sorghum silage (dry basis). Intake of DM and CP was not affected by treatment. Milk yield declined (28.8, 28.0, 27.3 kg/d) as amount of wheat in the ration increased. In a second trial, concentrate mixtures with 60% wheat were compared with a control corn-base mixture. One wheat mixture was supplemented with protected lysine and methionine and another had protected lysine and methionine plus estimated rumen escape protein equal to the control. Intake of DM and CP was not affected. Milk yield of cows fed rations containing wheat, with or without protected amino acids, was lower than that of cows fed the control ration or the wheat ration in which rumen escape protein was equal to the control (29.1 and 29.0 vs. 30.8 and 30.2 kg/d). Responses of cows fed concentrate mixtures containing wheat appeared to be related to utilization of protein.