Application Increasing the digestible undegradable protein (DUP) and amino acid (AA) concentration of post-pubertal dairy heifer diets by 12% provides an opportunity to increase the growth, stature, and feed efficiency of post-pubertal dairy heifers. Introduction Dairy heifers account for approx. 15 to 20% of the total dairy farm financial and carbon footprint costs, which are increased by greater replacement rates and age at first calving (AFC) due to lower growth rates. Greater weight gain can be achieved by offering diets of higher crude protein and amino acids (AA) concentrations. Increased crude protein levels given to beef heifers were shown to stimulate the availability of AA in plasma, with heifers fed the higher level of CP also having a higher dry matter intake and average daily gain. However, little research has focused on post-pubertal dairy heifers. This study aimed to assess the effect of increasing dietary digestible undegradable protein (DUP) and AA concentrations on the growth and development of post-pubertal dairy heifers.
Citation
Farnan, K., Margerison, J., & Bartram, C. (2023). 177. Effect of dietary digestible undegradable protein and amino acid concentration on the growth and development of post-pubertal dairy heifers. Animal - Science proceedings, 14(2), 419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anscip.2023.01.554
