THE EFFECT OF THE BYPASS PRODUCT ON DIGESTION PROCESSES IN CATTLE
Transit dietary protein that has avoided rumen degradation is an important factor of the most efficient use of dietary protein by cattle. Such protein is referred to as ‘bypass protein' so that it could be distinguished from general available dietary digestible protein and from one that is fermented in the rumen of dairy cattle. <br></br>In the research on Red-and-White heifers with rumen and duodenal fistulas implanted, provision of the animals with energy, digestibility, availability and assimilation rate of separate dietary substances in the rumen, small intestine and throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract with a conventional diet and a diet including bypass product were determined. <br></br>It was established that including bypass product in the conventional mixed feed for dairy cattle diet has increased both overall nutritional value and assimilation rate of nutrients by animal bodies. Provision of animals with energy, when bypass product diet was used, significantly increased by 8.6% due to improved digestibility of crude fibre and nitrogen-free extractive substances in the experimental cattle rumen. When the bypass product was included into the dairy cattle diet, availability of raw protein for digestion in the small intestine increased significantly by 9.1%. Feeding the bypass product diet increased apparent digestibility of practically all nutrients, raw fat and raw protein significantly by 14.5% and 16.95%, respectively, throughout the gastro-intestinal tract.