Maria Yaroshko, MBA Master

Protein components in a dairy cattle diet is the most expensive compared to all others. The purchase of forage rich in protein (such as soy bean meal or fodder yeast) takes the biggest share of the cost. That’s why farm owners are interested in replacing these ingredients with cheaper ones, which do not adversely affect the physiology of animals. An advantageous alternative to expensive protein components of the diet are rape by-products, including cattle cakes.

When it comes to physiological characteristics of the animal, we should remember that just to feed it isn’t enough. It is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of forage digestion to create optimal conditions for certain processes in a rumen. Microorganisms that live in the rumen, feed by splitting fiber roughage and ammonia, which is formed by the decomposition of crude protein. Therefore, to successfully meet the needs of microorganisms in a nutrient substrate, rape cakes can be added.

Find more information in the magazine “Milk and Farm” # 5 (18), October, 2013