Animal Feed Science and Technology 73 (1998) 271279

Effect of feeding protein according to ARC and NRC

recommendations on dry matter intake, digestibility
and production performance in crossbred
cows in late lactation
M. Venkatesh1,a, U. Krishnamoorthyb, Farooq Mohammeda,*,
B.P. Hegdeb
a
Department of Animal Nutrition, Veterinary College, University of Agricultural Sciences, Hebbal,
Bangalore, 560 024, India
b
Department of Dairy Production, Dairy Science College, University of Agricultural Sciences, Hebbal,
Bangalore, 560 024, India

Received 8 August 1997; accepted 2 March 1998

Abstract

The effect of feeding protein according to the ARC (1984) and NRC (1989) recommendations
on dry matter intake, digestibility, N balance, milk yield and milk composition was studied
in crossbred dairy cows in late lactation. The study included a feeding trial and a metabolism
trial. The feeding trial was conducted using eight multiparous cows in late lactation in a switch
over design. The cows were divided into two groups of four cows. Group I (Gp I) received an
ARC protein diet and Group II (Gp II) an NRC protein diet. The duration of the trial was
fourteen weeks, each period lasting for seven weeks. The diet consisted of mixed straw of
finger millet and paddy (FM-P) and a compound feed mixture (CFM). The roughage dry
matter intake for Gp I and Gp II was 3.87 and 3.69 kg d1, respectively. The 4% FCM yield
(kg d1) for the corresponding two groups was 6.44 and 6.75. The fat, SNF and protein
contents (%) for Gp I and Gp II were, respectively 4.69, 8.82, 3.93 and 4.95, 9.04, 4.28. The
difference between the two groups in roughage DMI, body condition score, milk yield and
milk composition was not significant (P>0.05). The DOMD of the two diets was similar. However,
N balance (g d1) in Gp II (39) was significantly (P<0.01) higher than in Gp I (4). The

* Corresponding author.
1
Present address: Animal Nutrition Innovation Centre, Hindustan Lever Ltd., No. 67-D, Bommasandra
Industrial Area, Hosur Road, Bommasandra, Bangalore 562 158, Karnataka, India.

0377-8401/98/$19.00 # 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

PII S 0 3 7 7 - 8 4 0 1 ( 9 8 ) 0 0 1 5 1 - 5
272 M. Venkatesh et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 73 (1998) 271279

results indicated that although N balance improved with feeding higher UDP level according to
NRC, it had no beneficial effect on roughage DMI, milk yield, milk composition and body
condition score. Therefore, it is concluded that in crossbred cows in late lactation, with low levels of
production, feeding protein according to the ARC recommendations is adequate. # 1998 Elsevier
Science B.V.

Keywords: Undegraded dietary protein; ARC; NRC; Dairy cows

1. Introduction

Although the Agriculture Research Council (ARC, 1984) and National Research
Council (NRC, 1989) protein systems for dairy cattle are both based on the requirements
of rumen microbes and the host animal, the undegraded dietary protein (UDP)
recommended by the NRC (NRC-UDP) is approximately 30% higher than the UDP
recommended by the ARC (ARC-UDP). Comparison of NRC and ARC protein feeding
in mid and late lactation cows producing upto 30 kg of milk per day revealed that the
ARC-UDP is adequate (Robinson and Kennelly, 1988; Robinson et al., 1991). The
difference between ARC-UDP and NRC-UDP for milk production in the range of 5 to
10 kg is about 315 g per day. In view of the shortage of feeds and fodders in the
developing countries, a considerable saving in protein feeding can be achieved, if the
ARC recommendation can be adopted for low producers. However, Ramachandra and
Sampath (1995) reported that in crossbred cows (400 kg body weight) in early lactation
fed with rice (Oryza sativa) straw and para grass (Brachiaria mutica) as the roughage, the
supply of UDP at levels higher than the NRC-UDP increased milk yield from 8.5 to
10.0 kg, in spite of providing adequate RDP according to the NRC (1989)
recommendations. This has resulted in a dilemma as to whether ARC-UDP or NRC-
UDP should be adopted to crossbred cows fed on crop residues and medium quality
compound feeds.
The requirement for UDP at higher levels of milk production is a consequence of
the inability of the cows to eat adequate dry matter to produce microbial protein in
quantities sufficient to meet the tissue requirement. With low quality roughages
and compound feeds, microbial protein flow to the duodenum may be limited by
inadequate rumen fermentable dry matter intake and/or lower microbial efficiency in
the rumen. Nevertheless, in late lactation cows and in cows with low production levels,
since the requirement for metabolizable protein is reduced and the feed consumption
is more relative to milk production, rumen microbial protein may be sufficient to meet
the tissue requirement. Although crossbred cows in India reaching a peak milk yield of
30 kg per day is not unusual, the average milk yield is not more than 8 kg per day. Under
such circumstance, if ARC-UDP can be adopted, the feeding cost can be minimized to
that extent. Therefore, this study was undertaken to examine whether feeding higher
levels of UDP as recommended by NRC has any advantage over feeding of UDP as
recommended by the ARC in crossbred cows fed with straw as the sole source of
roughage.
 M. Venkatesh et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 73 (1998) 271279 273

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Animals and diet

Eight multiparous crossbred cows (Holstein FriesianBos indicus, or JerseyBos
indicus) in late-lactation, inseminated but too early for pregnancy confirmation, were
divided into two groups of four each based on the comparable milk yield, body weight,
number of lactations completed and days in lactation (Gp I 216, Gp II 217). The
experimental animals, housed in individual stalls, were provided with similar manage-
mental practices.
The diet of the experimental cows included mixed straw of finger millet (Eleucine
coracana) and paddy (Oryza sativa) (FM-P) offered ad libitum (6 kg d1) and a
compound feed mixture (CFM) as a supplement to provide adequate energy, protein and
other nutrients as specified by the ARC (1984) in Group I (Gp I) and NRC (1989) in
Group II (Gp II). The ingredient composition of CFM(ARC) and CFM(NRC) is presented
in Table 1. FM-P and CFM were offered separately. The daily allowance of CFM was
calculated based on the previous weeks FM-P intake, milk yield, milk fat and body
weight. The CFM was fed in two equal portions at 06.00 and 13.00 h while milking. The
cows were milked by hand and were allowed to have free access to water at 08.00 and
15.00 h.

2.1.1. Lactation trial (LT)

The lactation trial lasted for 14 weeks in two periods in a switch over design. Each
period lasted for seven weeks with an adjustment period of two weeks and an observation
period of five weeks. Feed intake and milk yield were recorded daily. Samples of FM-P
and CFM offered were collected weekly once for the determination of dry matter. Two or
three weeks samples were pooled for chemical analyses. Milk samples were taken one

Table 1
Ingredient composition (g kg1as is) of the diets

Ingredient Gp I Gp II

CFM 630 700

Tapioca pulp 237 231
Molasses 95 105
Maize 189 21
Sunflower meal, s.e.a 78
Cotton seed meal, s.e. 128
Rice bran, s.e. 186
Urea 13 8
Common salt 6 7
Mineral mixture 12 14
FM-Pb straw 370 300

Vitamin A acetate (5000 I.U. kg1), Zinc oxide (10 mg kg1) and Sodium sulphate (3.8 g kg1 in Gp I and
3.0 g kg1 in Gp II), were added to the compound feed mixture.
a
Solvent extracted.
b
FM-P strawMixed straw of finger millet and paddy.
274 M. Venkatesh et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 73 (1998) 271279

day per week. The cows were weighed once in a week, after milking, before having
access to water. The body weights were recorded on a Weighing Platform Scale (Avery).
The cows were also scored for the body condition at the beginning and the end of each
period, on a 5 point scale (Edmonson et al., 1989).

2.1.2. Metabolism trial (MT)

One metabolic trial lasting for five days was conducted in period II, during which the
daily intake of feed and fodder, milk yield and output of faeces and urine were recorded.
Faeces and urine were collected manually as and when voided and stored separately until
weighed and sampled. Samples of feed offered, feed refusals, faeces and urine were
collected every day in the morning. One thousandth by weight of the daily faeces voided
by each animal was used for dry matter (DM) determination. DM in the feeds and faeces
was determined by drying at 708C to a constant weight. Dried samples of each day for
five days of collection were pooled, ground through a 1 mm sieve and preserved for
chemical analyses and in vitro rumen studies. For N determination, the faeces samples (1/
1000 of daily voids) were preserved in 25% sulphuric acid for five days. Samples of urine
(1/500 of the total output) from individual animals were collected everyday in the
morning for five days in a 500 ml Kjeldahl flask containing 15 ml concentrated sulphuric
acid and stored at room temperature for N determination.

2.2. Chemical analyses

The samples of feed and faeces were analysed for proximate constituents (AOAC,
1984) except for crude fibre (CF) which was determined according to the Indian
Standards Institution (ISI, 1975). Neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre
(ADF), acid detergent lignin and silica were determined according to Van Soest and
Robertson (1985). The metabolizable energy (ME) was determined according to Menke
and Steingass (1988). UDP was determined using protease enzyme (Krishnamoorthy et
al., 1983). The samples of milk were pooled in proportion to the corresponding yield in
the morning and evening. Total solids, protein and fat (Gerbers method) were determined
according to AOAC (1984).

2.3. Statistical analysis

The data of the feeding trial were analysed by an analysis of variance (ANOVA)
in a switch over design with two periods and two treatments (Federer, 1967). The data
of the metabolism trial were analysed by the Student `t'test (Snedecor and Cochran,
1968).

3. Results

3.1. Lactation trial

The chemical composition of FM-P and CFM (for the three composite samples
collected during the experimental period) is presented in Table 2.
 M. Venkatesh et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 73 (1998) 271279 275

Table 2
Chemical composition (g kg1DM) of compound feed mixture (CFM) and mixed straw (FM-P) used in the
lactation trial (LT) and metabolism trial (MT)

CFM FM-P

Gp I Gp II LT MT
Crude protein 126 155 36 63
Ether extract 14 10 11 16
Crude fibre 133 169 400 365
Total ash 110 145 58 159
Neutral detergent fibre 382 400 824 804
Acid detergent fibre 147 221 524 511
Acid detergent lignin 84 125 64 162
ME (MJ kg1 DM) 10.3 8.4 5.2 4.8
UDP a 15 59 21 37
Protease insoluble CP 21 48 22 36
a
Undegraded dietary protein, calculated from the published data (Sampath, 1990).

3.1.1. Feed intake, body weight and condition score, milk yield and milk composition
The mean daily intakes of DM, NDF and ADF, average body weight, condition score,
milk yield and milk composition for the two groups over 5 weeks are presented in
Table 3. The intake of DM, NDF and ADF in Gp II was significantly higher than in Gp I.
The change in condition score for Gp I and Gp II was 0.13 and 0.11, respectively and
was not significantly (P>0.05) different.
The mean daily 4% FCM yield (kg) for Gp I and Gp II was 6.44 and 6.75, respectively.
The difference between the two groups for milk yield, 4% FCM and milk composition
(total solids, fat, solids not fat, protein) was not significant (P>0.05).

3.2. Metabolism trial

The mean intake and digestibility of DM, OM and N balance for the two groups are
presented in Table 4. The digestibility of DM, OM and fibre fractions in the two groups
was similar. The difference between the two groups in DOMD was not statistically
significant. The daily intake and faecal excretion of N (g) for Gp II (234, 107) were
significantly higher than for Gp I (174, 82). However, the urinary N excretion for Gp I
and Gp II were 55 and 48, respectively and the difference was not significant. N retention
(g d1) in Gp I and II was, respectively, 4 and 39 and the difference was statistically
significant (P<.01).

4. Discussion

The CFM of Gp I and Gp II differed in chemical composition, ME content and

RDP : UDP ratio. The protease insoluble protein (PIP) of CFM for Gp I and FM-P agreed
closely with the UDP content calculated from the published dacron bag data (Sampath,
1990). Although the PIP of the CFM for Gp II was lower (48 g/kg) than the calculated
276 M. Venkatesh et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 73 (1998) 271279

Table 3
Body weight (kg), body condition score, intake (kg d1) of DM, CP, NDF and ADF, milk yield (kg d1) and
milk composition (%) for the two groups during the lactation trial (MeanSE)

Gp I Gp II

Body weight 367 370

Body condition score
Initial 3.38 3.43
Final 3.25 3.32
Gain 0.13 0.11 NS
Intake
Dry matter
Roughage 3.870.34 3.690.16 NS
CFM 6.550.25 8.800.20 **
Total 10.420.25 12.490.20 **
Crude protein 0.970.02 1.490.03 **
RDP 0.740.02 0.980.02 *
UDP 0.230.01 0.510.01 **
NDF 5.680.23 6.550.12 **
ADF 2.990.15 3.840.08 **
Milk yield and composition
Yield
Total 5.860.25 5.930.25 NS
4% FCM 6.440.81 6.750.21 NS
Composition
Total solids 13.510.22 13.990.25 NS
Fat 4.690.12 4.950.17 NS
SNF 8.820.13 9.040.10 NS
Protein 3.930.10 4.280.15 NS

NSNot significant (P>0.05).

UDP (59 g/kg), the difference between the two diets in UDP content was sufficiently
large as desired.
Although the total DMI for Gp II was significantly higher than for Gp I, the intake of
roughage DM by the two groups was similar. Therefore, the higher intake of DM, NDF
and ADF in Gp II is attributable to the higher allowance of CFM (Table 3). The different
allowance of CFM for the two groups was necessary, to meet the protein requirements
according to ARC in Gp I and NRC in Gp II, while assuring a similar supply of energy.
The formulation of CFM (ARC) with a similar ME content as in CFM (NRC) but much
lower UDP content was difficult because of the limited choice of available ingredients.
To avoid possibilities of rumen degradable protein sources (urea vs feed proteins) and
fermentation rate of feedstuffs, influencing microbial protein flow to the duodenum, the
two CFM were formulated to be similar in source of rumen degraded proteins and
fermentation rate to the extent possible. The use of urea as the sole source of RDP in
CFM (ARC) was not favoured since this would necessitate the use of the same source of
RDP in CFM (NRC). But to have urea as the sole source of RDP in CFM (NRC) was not
possible because the feedstuffs chosen for UDP also contributed substantial amount of
RDP. Since the RDP of feed origin, unlike urea, contributed proteins and amino acids,
 M. Venkatesh et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 73 (1998) 271279 277

Table 4
Body weight (kg), DMI (kg d1), digestibility (%) and N balance (g d1) for the two groups during the
metabolism trial

Gp I Gp II

Body weight 367 371

Intake
Roughage 5.000.09 3.710.37 *
CFM 6.100.20 7.890.37 **
Total 11.100.16 11.600.39 NS
Digestibility
Dry matter 48.02.53 51.61.92 NS
Organic matter 53.52.22 57.51.73 NS
Crude protein 52.72.55 54.32.00 NS
Crude fibre 34.94.83 38.61.74 NS
Ether extract 47.11.70 36.43.17 *
Neutral detergent fibre 40.03.57 40.03.00 NS
Acid detergent fibre 17.24.58 25.02.62 NS
TDN 47.11.63 49.41.31 NS
DOMD 46.51.92 48.91.48 NS
Nitrogen balance
N intake 1743.64 2348.20 **
N output
Milk 333.50 401.43 NS
Faeces 826.08 1074.10 **
Urine 555.15 484.05 NS
N retained 42.85 3911.20 **

CFM (ARC) was formulated to provide 50% RDP of feed origin while limiting the level
of UDP. Apart from this, it was also intended to have similar fermentation characteristics
for the energy components. The fermentation rate (k) for CFM of Gp I and Gp II,
calculated from the published data on fermentation kinetics for different ingredients
(Krishnamoorthy et al., 1995 and unpublished data) were 0.112 h1 and 0.108 h1,
respectively. Therefore, although the ARC (1984) recommends 130 g UDP for cows
producing 5 kg of milk, supply of UDP marginally in excess of the recommendation
could not be avoided. The RDP and UDP supplied (kg) in Gp I were 0.74 and 0.23,
compared with the ARC (1984) recommendation of 0.69 and 0.13, respectively. The
respective figures for Gp II were 0.98 and 0.51, compared with the NRC recommendation
of 0.70 and 0.48. The higher amount of UDP fed to Gp II neither influenced body
condition score, nor milk yield and milk composition (Table 3) suggesting that protein
feeding according to ARC is adequate to support low levels of milk production. Robinson
and Kennelly (1988) and Robinson et al. (1991) reported that for cows in mid and late
lactation producing upto 30 kg of milk, fed on silage diets, UDP levels recommended by
ARC are adequate. In view of these findings, increase in milk yield on feeding more UDP
than the NRC levels (Baradkar et al., 1995; Sampath et al., 1995; Walli et al., 1995;
Kalbande and Thomas, 1995) should be considered with caution.
The response in milk production to UDP supply may vary with the energy status of the
cows (rskov et al., 1981). The digestibility of the two diets was similar, resulting in ME
278 M. Venkatesh et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 73 (1998) 271279

contents of 7.12 and 7.47 MJ/kg DM, respectively (Table 4). The mean ME intake,
calculated from the mean DMI in the feeding trial (10.42 and 12.49 kg) and the ME
content of the diet obtained from the digestion trial and corrected to level of intake (7.50
and 7.94 MJ) (NRC, 1989; Nataraja et al., 1998), for the entire feeding trial for Gp I and
Gp II was 78.2 and 99.2 MJ/day, respectively. Since the average body weight and 4%
FCM yield for the two groups were 367, 6.4 and 370, 6.8, respectively, ME requirement
(MJ) for maintenance and milk yield for Gp I and Gp II are respectively 76.0 and 78.5
(ARC, 1980) and 81.4 and 83.7 (NRC, 1989). Thus, ME supplied in the diet for both
groups was adequate to support maintenance and milk production. Although the body
condition score reflected otherwise (Table 3) and the body weights revealed neither gain
nor loss, the positive N balance in both groups supports this view. A significantly higher
N retention in Gp II (Table 4) may be considered as the effect of feeding higher amounts
of both RDP and UDP under positive energy balance.
Although the supply of additional RDP and UDP in Gp II increased N retention, it had
no effect on roughage DMI, milk yield and milk composition indicating that feeding
protein according to ARC (1984) recommendation may be adequate.

5. Conclusions

Feeding of protein according to NRC (1989) recommendations improved N balance

but had no influence on roughage DMI, milk yield and milk composition as compared to
feeding protein according to ARC (1984). Therefore, protein feeding according to ARC
may be adequate to support the low levels of milk production (7 kg d) in crossbred cows
fed on low quality roughages. Since the difference between the ARC and NRC protein
feeding recommendation at this level of production is about 315 g, adoption of the ARC
(1984) recommendation would be advantageous in view of the need to use scarce and
rather expensive feeds in an economic way.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank M/s Mysore Feeds Bangalore, India, for providing the
supplements. This work was a part of the project `Studies on nitrogen utilization in
ruminants' (DR/UAS/9 and 11/96) jointly sponsored by the Alexander von Humboldt
Foundation, Germany in the form of equipment donation and the University of
Agricultural Sciences, Hebbal, Bangalore, India.

References

Agricultural Research Council., 1980. The Nutrient Requirements of Ruminant Livestock. Commonwealth
Agricultural Bureaux, Farnham Royal, UK, pp. 121166.
Agricultural Research Council., 1984. The Nutrient Requirements of Ruminant Livestock. Supplement No. 1.,
Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, Farnham Royal, UK, pp. 3839.
 M. Venkatesh et al. / Animal Feed Science and Technology 73 (1998) 271279 279

Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) 1984. Official Methods of Analysis, 14th ed. Washington,
D.C.
Baradkar, G.G., Kank, V.D., Patil, M.B., Hol, B.G., Puntambekar, P.M., 1995. Effect of various levels of
naturally undegradable proteins on milk yield and its composition in crossbred cows. Proc. VII Anim. Nutr.
Res. Worker's Conference, Mumbai, India, Compendium II:49.
Edmonson, A.J., Lean, I.J., Weaver, L.D., Farver, T., Webster, G., 1989. A body condition scoring chart for
Holstein dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 72, 6878.
Federer, W.T. 1967. Experimental design, theory and application. Oxford and IBH, Calcutta, India, 5, pp. 438
445.
Indian Standards Specifications for Cattle Feed, IS: 2052-1975, New Delhi, India.
Kalbande, V.H., Thomas, C.T., 1995. Effect of bypass protein on yield and composition of milk in crossbred
cows. Proc. VII Anim. Nutr. Res. Worker's Conference, Mumbai, India, Compendium II:48.
Krishnamoorthy, U., Sniffen, C.J., Stern, M.D., Van Soest, P.J., 1983. Evaluation of a mathematical model of
rumen digestion and an in-vitro simulation of rumen proteolysis to estimate the rumen undegradable
nitrogen content of feedstuffs. Br. J. Nutr. 50, 555568.
Krishnamoorthy, U., Soller, H., Steingass, H., Menke, K.H., 1995. Energy and protein evaluation of tropical
feedstuffs for whole tract and ruminal digestion by chemical analyses and rumen inoculum studies in vitro.
Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 52, 177188.
Menke, K.H., Steingass, H., 1988. Estimation of the energetic feed value obtained from chemical analysis and
in-vitro gas production using rumen fluid. Anim. Res. Develop. 28, 755.
Nataraja, M.B., Krishnamoorthy, U., Krishnappa, P., 1998. Assessment of rumen in vitro incubation (Gas
Production) technique and chemical analysis by detergent system to predict metabolizable energy content
in mixed diets of lactating cows. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 74, in press.
National Research Council, 1989, Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle, 6th revised ed., National Academic
Press, Washington, D.C., pp. 138147.
rskov, E.R., Reid, G.W., McDonald, L., 1981. The effects of protein degradability and food intake on milk
yield and composition in cows in early lactation. Br. J. Nutr. 45, 547555.
Ramachandra, K.S., Sampath, K.T., 1995. Influence of two levels of rumen undegradable protein on milk
production performance in lactating cows maintained on paddy straw based ration. Indian J. Anim. Nutr.
12, 16.
Robinson, P.H., Kennelly, J.J., 1988. Influence of intake of rumen undegradable protein on milk production of
late lactation Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 71, 21352142.
Robinson, P.H., McQueen, R.E., Burgess, P.L., 1991. Influence of rumen undegradable protein levels on feed
intake and milk production of dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 74, 16231631.
Sampath, K.T., 1990. Rumen degradable protein and undegradable crude protein content of feeds and fodders a
review. Indian J. Dairy Sci. 43, 14.
Sampath, K.T., Prasad, C.S., Sundareshan, K., Subba Rao, A., 1995. Effect of feeding two levels of undegradable
dietary protein (UDP) on milk production in crossbred cows on straw based diet. Proc. VII Anim. Nutr. Res.
Workers' Conference Mumbai, India, Compendium II:48.
Snedecor, G.W., Cochran, W.G. 1968. Statistical Methods. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA, pp. 91119.
Van Soest, P.J., Robertson, J.B., 1985. Analysis of Forages and Fibrous Foods. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY,
pp. 80165.
Walli, T.K., Rai, S.N., Mishra, S., Garg, M.R., 1995. Milk yield and milk composition of crossbred cows fed
concentrates of varying RDP/UDP ratios. Proc. VII Aim. Nutr. Res. Worker's Conference, Mumbai, India,
Compendium II:49.