Why choose copra and cottonseed meal as bypass protein sources?
Different types of protein sources have varying characteristics allowing them degrees of ability to completely bypass the rumen and make it to the small intestine whole. For example, if rated from 0-5 on ability to bypass the rumen (5 being a high ability and 0 being entirely Rumen Degradable Protein) cottonseed meal and copra meal would rank at higher levels. By using a combination of these meals, a more complete approach to meeting the animal’s nutritional needs is achieved. In essence, urea supplementation feeds only the rumen microbes and degrades quickly. ‘Bypass’ protein supplementation feeds not only the microbes, degrading slowly in comparison to urea, but also feeds the animal with a high quality source protein. PHOSPHOROUS SUPPLEMENTATION Why is Phosphorus important? After energy and protein, phosphorus (P) is the most important nutrient to consider for health and nutrition of cattle and sheep. Some of its most important roles of P in the body of the animal are: • Bone format
