Evaluation of dairy food processing wash water solids as a protein source: II. Microbial protein synthesis, duodenal nitrogen flow, and small intestinal amino acid disappearance

Twelve ruminally, duodenally, and ileally-cannulated Hereford heifers (average initial BW 313 +/- 20 kg) were used in a replicated experiment to evaluate dairy food processing wash water solids (WWS) as a protein source. Heifers were fed 2.8 kg of chopped (7.6 cm) hay and one of three supplements (1.5 kg/d, DM basis). Supplements were formulated to be similar in energy and contained 1.0 (control), 23.2 (WWS), and 21.6% (soybean meal; SBM) CP on an OM basis. Total N and nonammonia N entering the duodenum (g/d) were greater (P less than .10) for heifers fed WWS and SBM supplements than for controls. Bacterial N flow (g/d) at the duodenum was less (P less than .10) for controls (43.9) than for WWS- (63.9) and SBM- (69.9) supplemented heifers. Feed escape N (g/d) was greater (P less than .10) for WWS-fed heifers than for those fed SBM (32.1 vs 20.7 g/d, respectively). Total tract N digestion (g/d) was greatest (P less than .10) for SBM, intermediate for WWS, and least for control heifers. Microbial protein synthesis (g/kg of OM intake) was enhanced (P less than .10) by WWS and SBM supplementation, but efficiency of synthesis (g/kg of OM fermented) did not differ among treatments. Essential amino acid (AA) disappearance in the small intestine (g/d) was less (P less than .10) for control than for the other two treatments. Nonessential AA disappearance was greatest (P less than .10) for the WWS and least (P less than .10) for the control treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)