Metabolic characteristics and feed milk value of blend pelleted products based on combination of co-products from bio-fuel/bio-oil processing, pulse screenings and lignosulfonate in dairy cattle

The aim of this study was to develop, and test eight different pelleted products based on a combination of co-products from new bio-fuel processing (carinata meal), bio-oil processing (canola meal), pea screenings and lignosulfonate at different levels for dairy cattle diets. The eight pelleted products were developed at different levels as a potential protein supplement for dairy cattle on dry matter (DM) and included: BPP1: lignosulfonate 0.0% + carinata meal 50.0% + pea screenings 50.0%; BPP2: lignosulfonate 4.8% + carinata meal 47.6% + pea screenings 47.6%; BPP3: lignosulfonate 0.0% + carinata meal 75.0% + pea screenings 25.0%; BPP4: lignosulfonate 4.8% + carinata meal 71.4% + pea screenings 23.8%; BPP5: lignosulfonate 0.0% + canola meal 50.0% + pea screenings 50.0%; BPP6: lignosulfonate 4.8% + canola meal 47.6% + pea screenings 47.6%; BPP7: lignosulfonate 0.0% + canola meal 75.0% + pea screenings 25.0%; BPP8: lignosulfonate 4.8% + canola meal 71.4% + pea screenings 23.8%. Comparisons were made between blend pelleted products based on carinata meal and canola meal, high and low level of inclusion of co-products or pea screenings, and inclusion or no inclusion of lignosulfonate in terms of metabolic characteristics, truly digested nutrient supply and feed milk value. The results showed that the DVE-OEB system predicted values of true protein digested in the small intestine were highest (P <  0.05) in carinata based pelleted products BPP3 and BPP4 (DVE 236 and 240 g/kg DM; respectively) than the other pelleted products, while canola based pelleted product BPP7 had the highest (P <  0.05) degradable protein balance (OEB 164 g/kg DM) than the other pelleted products. These findings were also supported by the NRC-2001 model predicted observations, the predicted metabolizable protein (MP) content was also found highest (P <  0.05) in BPP3 and BPP4 (228 and 231 g/kg DM; respectively) and the lowest values were found in BPP5, BPP6 and BPP7 (145, 145 and 151 g/kg DM; respectively). Similarly, rumen degraded protein balance (DPB) was also highest (P <  0.05) in BPP7 (177 g/kg DM) and the lowest (P <  0.05) values were in BPP2 and BPP4 (93 and 107 g/kg DM; respectively). The feed milk value (FMV) obtained from DVE-OEB system were highest (P <  0.05) in carinata based pelleted products BPP3 and BPP4 (4.80 and 4.86 kg milk/kg DM feed; respectively), while the NRC-2001 model based FMV showed similar in pattern, but slightly lower numerical values compared to DVE-OEB system based FMV (4.34 kg milk/kg DM feed for both). In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that comparing with canola meal pelleted based pelleted products; the carinata meal based pelleted products BPP3 and BPP4 have better potential for truly digested nutrient supply and feed milk values in dairy cattle. The dairy production performance and metabolic trials are needed.