Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.5713/ajas.16.0214

Effects of dietary protein level on growth performance and nitrogen excretion of dairy heifers  

Zhang, Bin (Institute of Dairy Science, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University)
Wang, Chong (College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A&F University)
Liu, He (Institute of Dairy Science, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University)
Liu, Jianxin (Institute of Dairy Science, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University)
Liu, Hongyun (Institute of Dairy Science, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University)
Publication Information
Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences / v.30, no.3, 2017 , pp. 386-391 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objective: Protein supplementation is costly and can result in excess nitrogen (N) excretion. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding different levels of dietary protein on average daily gain, body size, rumen fermentation, and nitrogen excretion of 8 to 10 month-old Holstein heifers. Methods: Thirty-six Holstein heifers were divided into 12 blocks according to age ($273{\pm}6.2d$) and were randomly assigned to diets containing a low (10.2% dry matter [DM]), medium (11.9% DM), or high (13.5% DM) level of dietary crude protein (CP). All diets contained approximately 70% roughage and 30% concentrate with similar dietary metabolizable energy (ME) content (2.47 Mcal/kg). Results: Dry matter intake did not differ among the treatments, and average daily gain increased with the increasing dietary protein, 0.79, 0.95, 0.97 kg/d for low, medium, and high group, respectively. Body height increased linearly with increasing dietary CP but no other significant differences in body dimensions were found among the treatments. The increased ratios of dietary CP improved the rate of rear teat length growth remarkably (p<0.05). There was no difference in rumen pH or ruminal major volatile fatty acid (acetate, propionate, and butyrate) concentration among the 3 diets, but rumen ammonia-N concentration increased with the higher dietary CP (p<0.05). Increasing N intake led to increased total N excretion; urinary N excretion was significantly increased (p<0.05) but fecal N excretion was similar among the treatments. Conclusion: These data suggest that the diet containing 11.9% CP (ME 2.47 Mcal/kg) could meet the maintenance and growth requirements of 9 to 11 month-old Holstein heifers gaining approximately 0.9 kg/d.
Keywords
Heifers; Growth Performance; Protein; Nitrogen Excretion;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 1  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 Gabler MT, Heinrichs AJ. Dietary protein to metabolizable energy ratios on feed efficiency and structural growth of prepubertal Holstein heifers. J Dairy Sci 2003;86:268-74.   DOI
2 Cozler YL, Lollivier V, Lacasse P, Disenhaus C. Rearing strategy and optimizing first calving targets in dairy heifers: a review. Animal 2008;2:1393-404.
3 Lin CY, Lee AJ, Mcallister AJ. Inter-correlations among milk traits and body and udder 180 measurements in Holstein heifers. J Dairy Sci 1987;70:2385-93.   DOI
4 Sejren K, Purup S. Influence of prepubertal feeding level on milk yield potential of dairy heifers: a review. J Anim Sci 1997;75:828-35.   DOI
5 Whitlock BK, VandeHaar MJ, Silva LEP, Tucker HA. Effect of dietary protein on prepubertal mammary development in rapidly growing dairy heifers. J Dairy Sci 2002; 85:1516-25.   DOI
6 Ge RF, Chen Q, Huo YJ, et al. Effects of different dietary metabolizable protein levels on growth and development, blood biochemical indices and body condition scores of 8 to 10-month-old heifers. Chinese J Anim Nutr 2015; 27:910-7.
7 Gabler MT, Heinrichs AJ. Effects of increasing dietary protein on nutrient utilization in heifers. J Dairy Sci 2003;86:2170-7.   DOI
8 Satter LD, Slyter LL. Effect of ammonia concentration on rumen microbial protein production in vitro. Br J Nutr 1974;32:199-208.   DOI
9 Zanton GI, Heinrichs AJ. Rumen digestion and nutritional efficiency of dairy heifers limit-fed a high forage ration to four levels of dry matter intake. J Dairy Sci 2008; 91:3579-88.   DOI
10 Marini JC, Amburgh ME. Nitrogen metabolism and recycling in Holstein heifers. J Anim Sci 2003;81:545-52.   DOI
11 National Research Council. Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle. 7th rev. ed. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 2001.
12 Imura H. Environmental issues in China today. London: Springer-Verlag; 2013.
13 Li RG, Xia YL, Wu AZ. Pollutants sources and their discharging amount in Taihu Lake Area of Jiangsu Province. J Lake Sci 2000;8: 147-53.
14 Guo C. The analysis of diets feed nutrients and the status of nitrogen and phosphorus use in scale dairy farms which are in the eastern region [Bachelor thesis]. Hangzhou, China: Zhejiang University; 2013.
15 Wang C, Liu Z, Wang DM, et al. Effect of dietary phosphorus content on milk production and phosphorus excretion in dairy cows. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2014;5:23-8.   DOI
16 Zhang B, Wang C, Wei ZH, et al. The effects of dietary phosphorus on the growth performance and phosphorus excretion of dairy heifers. Asian-Australas J Anim Sci 2016;29:960-4.
17 Broderick GA. Effects of varying dietary protein and energy levels on the production of lactating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2003;86: 1370-81.   DOI
18 O'Colmenero JJ, Broderick GA. Effect of dietary crude protein concentration on milk production and nitrogen utilization in lactating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2006;89:1704-12.   DOI
19 China Standard NY/T-34. Feeding standard of dairy cattle. China Nong Ye Hang Ye Biao Zhun/ Tuijian-34. Beijing, China: Agricultural Publisher; 2004.
20 AOAC International. Official methods of analysis of AOAC International. 19th ed. Gaithersburg, MD: AOAC International; 2012.
21 Van Soest PJ, Robertson JB, Lewis BA. Methods of dietary fiber, NDF and non-starch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. J Dairy Sci 1991;15:3583-97.
22 Shen JS, Chai Z, Song LJ, Liu JX, Wu YM. Insertion depth of oral stomach tubes may affect the fermentation parameters of ruminal fluid collected in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2012;95:5978-84.   DOI
23 Hu WL, Liu JX, Ye JA, Wu YM, Guo YQ. Effect of tea saponin on rumen fermentation in vitro. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2005;120: 333-9.   DOI
24 Heinrichs AJ, Rogers GW, Cooper JB. Predicting body weight and wither height in Holstein heifers using body measurements. J Dairy Sci 1992;75:3576-81.   DOI
25 Shen JS, Wang JQ, Wei HY, et al. Transfer efficiency of melamine from feed to milk in lactating dairy cows fed with different doses of melamine. J Dairy Sci 2010;93:2060-6.   DOI
26 Yu Z, Gao YX, Cao YF, Li QF, Li JG. Study on growth and development pattern of Chinese Holstein calf and heifer. China Anim Husb Vet Med 2014;41:121-5.
27 Lammers BP, Heinrichs AJ. The response of altering the ratio of dietary protein to energy on growth, feed efficiency, and mammary development in rapidly growing prepubertal heifers. J Dairy Sci 2000;83:977-83.   DOI
28 Kertz AF, Prewitt LR, Ballam JM. Increased weight gain and effects on growth parameters of Holstein heifer calves from 3 to 12 months of age. J Dairy Sci 1987;70:1612-22.   DOI
29 Zhang WB, Diao QY, Zhang NF, et al. Effect of dietary protein to metabolizable energy ratio on growth performance and nutrients digestion of 8-10-month-old Chinese Holstein heifers. Sci Agric Sin 2010;43:2441- 547.