Interaction of protein percent with caloric density and protein source for lactating cows

Experiment 1 was to test effect of three ratios of energy to protein in complete mixed diets for 36 lactating cows in three, 28-d periods. Energy was varied with cottonseed hulls, pelleted ground corrugated boxes, and a mixture of the two. Crude protein was varied with soybean meal to give energy:crude protein of 5.7, 5.0, and 4.6 for each energy amount. Cottonseed meal was compared with soybean meal in corrugated box diets. Feed intake was much higher with cottonseed hulls, and appreciable feedlot bloat resulted from pelleted ground corrugated box diets. Data adjusted to equal feed intake showed significant effect of energy to crude protein ratio on milk yield and improved digestion of organic matter with soybean meal vs. cottonseed meal. Experiment 2 tested the hypothesis that lactating cows consuming high-protein alfalfa may benefit from supplemental protein. Diets were 50% forage. Six diets were 14 or 18% crude protein in three ratios of alfalfa hay to corn silage (0:100, 50:50, 100:0). Additional corn silage diets were to compare: 14 versus 18% protein from distiller's dried grains with solubles only and with .5 or .9% urea (four diets); two 14% protein diets compared .6% added potassium chloride with or without .5% urea. Thirty-six Holstein cows in early lactation received one of the 12 diets in each of three 28-d periods. Distiller's grains with solubles markedly depressed milk yield (2.2 kg/d) and milk protein (.22%); heat damage of distiller's grains was evident. Protein interacted with alfalfa so gain in milk from 18 versus 14% increased from .55 to 1.36 to 2.66 kg/d as alfalfa changed from 0 to 50 to 100%. Thus, crude protein of alfalfa was not as effective as that from soybean meal in supporting milk yield.