Process for optimizing milk production

Abstract

A method of supplying a ruminant with its nutritional requirements for methionine is provided wherein an ester of 2-hydroxy-4(methylthio)butanoic acid that is available for absorption by a ruminant is administered to the ruminant. Preferably, the ruminant is administered an ester of 2-hydroxy-4(methylthio)butanoic acid is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, butyl, and 3-methylbutyl, and salts thereof.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to a process for satisfying the nutritional requirements of ruminants for methionine, and more specifically, to a process for meeting those nutritional requirements using the hydroxy analog of methionine (2-hydroxy-4(methylthio)butanoic acid) and its salts, amides and esters. High producing dairy cows need methionine, lysine and other key essential amino acids to reach their genetic potential for milk production. While amino acids can be added directly to the diets of monogastric animals to overcome nutritional deficiencies, free amino acids are rapidly degraded by rumen bacteria and are of little or no practical benefit in alleviating amino acid deficiencies in ruminants. Traditionally, undegradable intake protein (“UIP”) such as blood meal, fish meal, corn gluten meal and others have been used to provide essential amino acids to ruminants. It is difficult, however, to accurately deliver needed levels of methion...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a process for formulating a ruminant food ration that meets the nutritional requirements of ruminants for methionine. This process involves identifying the methionine needs of the ruminant and formulating a ration that includes one or more grains, a hydroxy analog of methionine, and optionally a bypass fat. The hydroxy analog of methionine is added separately from any bypass fat and is assumed to be at least partially absorbed by the ruminant. The process avoids the need to coat or protect the methionine source from rumen microflora and ensures a predictable milk response while also avoiding excess levels of fats or non-essential amino acids. The invention also allows for the replacement of some of the UIP in a balanced ration with a lower cost source of methionine, resulting in cost savings.

Problems solved by technology

While amino acids can be added directly to the diets of monogastric animals to overcome nutritional deficiencies, free amino acids are rapidly degraded by rumen bacteria and are of little or no practical benefit in alleviating amino acid deficiencies in ruminants.

It is difficult, however, to accurately deliver needed levels of methionine and other essential amino acids without providing excess levels of other non-essential amino acids and, any excess nitrogen which UIP delivers to the rumen must be degraded and eliminated by the animal.

Consequently, formulating feeds which satisfy the methionine requirements using UIP sources is not only expensive, it can also affect cow health and productive status.

The practical application of rumen protected methionine, however, has presented some challenges.

For others, pelleting, expander conditioning, mixing, and other normal milling practices fracture the protective coating, making the methionine molecule vulnerable to rumen degradation.

This labor intensive practice, however, does not allow the ingredient to be uniformly distributed in the diet.

As a result, cows within a herd may consume different amounts of methionine.

Previous attempts to implement this technology, however, were met with unpredictable milk production responses.

Because the two ingredients are combined in a predetermined ratio, the product offers less flexibility in formulating a ration which meets a least cost objective and precludes the possibility of formulating a feed ration which includes the hydroxy analog of methionine but not bypass fat.

In addition, the dry form of the product is susceptible to the formation of undesirable dust and to non-uniform mixing with other feed ration ingredients.

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