Do more mechanistic models increase accuracy of prediction of metabolisable protein supply in ruminants?
Michael S. Allen
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
Department of Animal Science, 474 S. Shaw Lane, Room 2265A, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. Email: allenm@msu.edu
Animal Production Science 59(11) 1991-1998 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN19337
Submitted: 12 June 2019 Accepted: 25 June 2019 Published: 13 September 2019
Abstract
Ruminal microbes partially degrade dietary protein and synthesise microbial protein, which, along with undegraded true protein, contributes to metabolisable protein for the animal. Rumen models have been developed over the past several decades in an effort to better predict metabolisable protein supply for ration formulation for ruminants. These models have both empirical and mechanistic components. Separation of dietary protein into fractions that include non-protein nitrogen, true protein and unavailable protein has been a fundamental element of these models. Ruminal degradation of one or more true protein fractions is then estimated on the basis of the kinetics of digestion and passage. Some models use the same method to predict substrate supply for microbial protein production. Although mechanistic models have been extensively used in diet-formulation programs worldwide, their ability to improve accuracy of prediction of metabolisable protein over simpler empirical models is questionable. This article will address the potential of mechanistic models to better predict metabolisable protein supply in ruminants as well as their limitations.
Additional keywords: efficiency of microbial protein production, microbial crude protein, rumen undegraded protein.
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