ISSUE FOCUS 34 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE April 2025 “Cows don’t need protein in their diet—they need amino acids to produce milk and body proteins. Feed them protein, and much of it breaks down in the rumen into nitrogen and amino acids, reforming as microbial protein. This microbial protein, the cheapest way to deliver amino acids, then flows to the hindgut for absorption by the cow. We maximise it by syncing energy and protein in the rumen. Add in bypass protein—stuff that escapes rumen fermentation—and you’ve got the cow’s metabolizable protein and amino acid supply sorted.” A cow’s biology and genetics set the stage for her milk production potential. Thanks to genomics, the pace of genetic progress has accelerated in recent years, pushing that potential ever higher. But are we feeding cows to match it? Today’s dairy cows can achieve more with better nutrition, yet their ability to physically consume enough nutrients lags behind their rising requirements. WHY FEED RUMEN-PROTECTED AMINO ACIDS? The Opportunities Ahead Sion Richards Ruminant Technical Services Manager - EMEA Balchem ANH US Sire Protein Breeding Values over 51 years 100 50 0 -50 -100 -150 -200 -250 1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006 2009 2012 2015 2018 2021 • 42 years to go from -221 to 0 • 9 years to go from 0 to 94 • 4.6x faster rate of change Year Pounds
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