Targeted feed processing - a tool for improving energy and protein efficiency in dairy cows

High yielding cows demand high amounts of nutrients. To meet the nutritive demands, animals are fed feeds in increasing quantities. These feeds contain high amounts of protein and starch to provide amino acids and energy. In Europe, and Norway in particular, protein supply are highly dependent on import. With respect to starch, self-sufficiency is better, but the starch qualities available challenge the rumen environment and gives limitations in use of them. Efficient utilisation of feed resources is a key issue with respect to increase the food production without hampering the environment. In ruminants, efficient feed utilisation is a balance between digestion of nutrients in the rumen and the small intestine. In high yielding dairy cows, shifting a part of the nutrient digestion in concentrated feeds from the rumen to the lower gut may improve utilisation of nutrients. Moreover, moving parts of starch digestion from the rumen to the small intestine will reduce risk of feed related health problems like rumen acidosis and laminitis. The project will use targeted feed processing and the extruder technology to control pellet behaviour in the rumen through rate of digestion and rate of passage. The main knowledge challenge is finding processing parameters allowing these properties in a complex material as feed. I successful project will improve feed utilisation, be beneficial for the environment and the animal health, and upgrade local feed resources like wheat and barley and even forages, reducing import needs of feed ingredients. Thus, the project will increase self-sufficiency and contribute to increased and sustainable food production. NMBU host Center of Feed technology (FeedTech), which is an internationally leading research center within feed technology. The project will enhance the knowledge level within feed processing and animal nutrition further. The industry partners in the project can expect improved flexibility and competitiveness within the feed market. Two metabolism experiments with pellet of different technical and nutritional properties are now conducted. One experiment with three qualities of pellet with expected variation in rate of rumen digestion and passage were carried out at Aarhus University during autumn 2017. A comparable study was completed at NMBU in June 2018. Both experiments were conducted as planned and three manuscripts for publication and will be used in a PhD thesis expected to be defended within 2020. The results indicate that digestion and passage from the rumen can be affected through targeted pellet production. To verify this, a production experiments with 36 Dairy cows was conducted at SHF, NMBU autumn 2020. Some statistical work still remain, but preliminary results indicate minor treatment differences.

The main outcome is knowledge in Production of feed pellet With increased probability of rumen Escape. In that respect, the Project has gained information on processing conditions, and feacability of various ingredients for Production of feed pellets With technical Properties increasing probability of rumen Escape of starch and protein. The industrial partners are evaluating Project results towards introduction of New feed Products. A possible impact is introduction of specialised feed, improving feed utilisation in high yielding Dairy cows. A side effect would be reduced environmental impact of milk Production.

Modern dairy production with high yielding cows demand high amounts of nutrients. To meet the nutritive demands, animals are fed feeds in increasing quantities. These feeds contain high amounts of protein and starch to provide amino acids and energy. In Europe, and Norway in particular, protein supply are highly dependent on import. With respect to starch, self-sufficiency is better, but the starch qualities available challenge the rumen environment and gives limitations in use of them. Moreover, the feed qualities needed often are costly and the feed industry urge for alternatives. In dairy production, efficient utilisation of local feed resources is a key issue with respect to increase the food production without hampering the environment. In ruminants, efficient feed utilisation is a balance between digestion of nutrients in the rumen and the small intestine. In high yielding dairy cows, shifting a part of the nutrient digestion in concentrated feeds from the rumen to the lower gut will improve utilisation of nutrients and probably lead to a rumen microflora better suited for forage fermentation, a main local feed resource. Moreover, moving parts of starch digestion from the rumen to the small intestine will reduce risk of feed related health problems like rumen acidosis and laminitis. The project will use targeted feed processing to tailor-make concentrated feeds to dairy cows. We will use the extruder technology to control pellet behaviour in the rumen through rate of digestion and rate of passage. The main knowledge challenge is finding processing parameters allowing these properties. A novel processing method will be applied that will enhance rumen microflora, improve feed utilisation, and be beneficial for the environment and the animal health. Local feed resources like wheat and barley will be upgraded and import needs of protein feed will be reduced. The project will increase self-sufficiency and contribute to increased and sustainable food production.