Effects of Popped Soybean on Concentration of Ruminal Peptide and Blood Amino Acids in Holstein Calves

This study conducted to evaluate effects of popped soybean on levels of ruminal peptides and blood amino acids in Holstein calves fed sudan grass hay as a forage source and popped (PSB) soybean as a concentrate supplement. At 0, 2, 4 and 6 h after feeding, rumen fluid and blood samples were collected from the rumen and jugular vein, respectively, and amino acids, peptides and other nitrogen-containing compounds in the rumen were analyzed. Ruminal pH tended to be higher in the RSB than in the PSB treatments, and declined upto 4 h after feeding, since then increased in both treatments. The concentrations of ammonia-N in all treatments increased upto 2 h after feeding, and then decreased gradually with time after feeding. The concentrations of ammonia N in the rumen were not significantly different between the treatments, however, those in RSB treatment appeared to be higher. Also, protein concentrations in the rumen were not significantly different between the treatments. Peptide productions were the highest at 2 h after feeding in the group fed RSB which is rapidly degradable in rumen, whereas those in the group fed PSB which is slowly degradable in rumen were maximized at 4 h after feeding. The concentration of total free essential amino acids in plasma was higher in the RSB treatment than in the PSB, but disappearance rates of these amino acids out of plasma was higher in the PSB treatment than in the RSB treatment. Disappearance rates of free non-essential amino acids in plasma were not significantly different between the treatments. Consequently, this study implies that the production of peptide and utilization of blood amino acid may be controlled by the modification of protein degradability.