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South Dakota State University

Rumen Microbial Protein Synthesis in Cows Fed Dried Whey

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>Two rumen fistulated Holstein cows, weighing approximately 550 kg, were used in a switchback design experiment to evaluate the effects of consuming large amounts (38% of total ration dry matter) of dried whey on rumen microbial protein synthesis. Cows were fed total mixed rations consisting of (dry matter basis) 45% corn silage, 10% alfalfa hay, and 45% concentrate mix. The concentrate mix was primarily corn and soybean meal (control) or 85% dried whole whey. Dry matter intakes averaged 16.4 and 15.3 kg/day for control and whey diets. Concentrations of bacteria and protozoa in rumen contents were estimated using diaminopimelic acid and aminoethylphosphonic acid, respectively, as markers. Diaminopimelic acid-N as percent of bacterial-N was similar for both diets (.61 and .63% for control and whey diets). Likewise, aminoethylphosphonic acid-N as percent of protozoal-N was similar for both diets (.17 and .19% for control and whey diets). For the control diet, total rumen-N was estimated to be 45% bacterial-N and 27% protozoal-N. Bacterial-N and protozoal-N, respectively, accounted for 52 and 22% of the total rumen-N in the cows fed the whey diet. Rumen fluid volume (33.8 and 39.2 liters for control and dried whey diets) and dilution rates (10.2 and 12.8%/h), as estimated with polyethylene glycol, were higher when fed dried whey. Rumen ammonia (5.0 and 3.4 mg/dl) was lower when fed dried whey. Butyrate (16.5 and 24.4 moles/100 moles total volatile fatty acids) was higher while propionate was lower (32.4 and 23.2 moles/100 moles total volatile fatty acids) when fed dried whey; concentrations of other volatile fatty acids were similar with both diets. Bacterial synthesis appeared to be increased when cows were fed a diet containing large amounts of dried whey.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science (MS)
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis - Open Access
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Dairy Science
Year dc:date.available
1983

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Windschitl, Paul M
Contributors dc:contributor
  • David J. Schingoethe

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • <p>In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted<br /><a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/</a></p>
Language dc:language
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1314
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-2315

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
South Dakota State University
Base URL
openprairie.sdstate.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Windschitl, Paul M. Rumen Microbial Protein Synthesis in Cows Fed Dried Whey. Thesis - Open Access thesis, 1983. https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1314