Dormant, tallgrass-prairie forage: influence of ruminal degradable protein on intake by beef cows and fermentation characteristics

摘要

Five ruminally and duodenally fistulatedAngus × Hereford cows were fed dormanttallgrass-prairie forage ad libitum to monitorintake and fermentation responses associatedwith providing increasing amounts ofsupplemental ruminal degradable protein(RDP). The RDP was provided from sodiumcaseinate and infused intraruminallyimmediately before feeding forage. Levels ofRDP were 0, 180, 360, 540, and 720 g/d.Maximal intake of dormant, tallgrass-prairieforage occurred with provision of 540 gRDP/d. Ruminal dry matter fill declined withincreasing level of RDP infusion. Increasingsupplmentation of RDP generally improvedruminal fermentation characteristics.