Impacts of the Source and Amount of Crude Protein on the Intestinal Supply of Nitrogen Fractions and Performance of Dairy Cows*

The objective of this article was to review and summarize the significance of the amount and source of dietary crude protein supplements on the supply of nitrogen fractions passing to the small intestine and the performance of lactating dairy cows. A meta-analysis was used to evaluate 2 data sets, one for nitrogen flow to the small intestine and one for performance of cows. The response of dairy cows to rumen-undegradable protein supplements is variable. A portion of this variable response from research trials is explained by the source of crude protein in the control diet, the proportion and source of rumen-undegradable protein in the experimental diet, the effect of rumen-undegradable protein on microbial protein outflow from the rumen, the degradability and amino acid content of the rumen-undegradable protein, and the crude protein percentage of the diet. Compared with soybean meal, the mean milk production responses to feeding rumen-undegradable protein supplements ranged from −2.5 to +2.75%. Because of the large variation and small magnitude of response when rumen-undegradable protein supplements are fed compared with soybean meal, efficiency of nitrogen utilization and the cost to benefit ratio for these crude protein supplements may determine the source and amount of crude protein to feed to dairy cows in the future.