Agricultural machinery, high protein milk production possible by giving new amino acid function
Director Oh Byung-Seok “Prototype development will enable production of high protein milk and reduce feed costs, thereby improving the profitability of dairy farmers”
Amino acids are one of the major feed additives used for the purpose of increasing the productivity of livestock. Cows need a supply of amino acids to meet their milk protein synthesis requirements. However, if a general amino acid is added directly to feed, it cannot be delivered to the small intestine in a complete form, and thus only a part of the protein is used.
When amino acids are delivered to the rumen, meaning the cow’s first stomach, various microorganisms in the stomach break these amino acids down. Since the decomposed amino acids are resynthesized into ammonia or microbial protein, the amount that can be used is reduced compared to the originally introduced amino acids. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a’protected amino acid’ formulation so that it can be well delivered to the small intestine avoiding microorganisms.
To this end, leading foreign companies have attempted to increase the protein productivity of cows by releasing’protected amino acids’ products that can protect amino acids from ruminant microorganisms. In the case of Korea, there are still no high-functional domestic products, and the imported protected amino acids are also expensive, so their use in dairy farms is limited.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Food Technology Planning and Assessment Service supported the’Agricultural Life Industry Technology Development Project’ for three years from 2016 to’Research on the Use of Essential Amino Acids in Dairy Cows for High Milk Protein Production’. We developed a protective amino acid feed additive that can reduce production and feed costs.
The research team of CJ CheilJedang, which led the research, said, “We succeeded in developing a prototype of a protective amino acid feed additive by selecting essential amino acids that are most effective in increasing livestock productivity for the development of protected amino acids with high cost performance.”
The research team said, “The mammary epithelial cells, which are responsible for milk production, were isolated from cows and selected amino acids that can produce a lot of protein. In order to prevent the pre-absorption of these amino acids by rumen microorganisms, organic acids such as acetic acid were applied to provide a protective function.”
When the protective amino acid (tryptophan) developed through the study was fed to cows, the following two results were confirmed.
In the hot and humid summer, cow feed intake decreases and milk productivity decreases. At this time, the results of increase in feed intake and increase in milk protein production were confirmed by reducing high temperature stress.
In addition, the product developed through research has similar functions to the global No. 1 product (coating protected amino acid, bioavailability of about 60%). On the other hand, global products had the potential to cause environmental pollution if the amino acid coating core material was discharged as manure. On the contrary, all constituents (tryptophan and acetic acid) are used as nutrient factors in the body of cows, so they have the advantage of being environmentally friendly.
Oh Byeong-seok, director of Agricultural Machinery Pyeong, said, “By developing a prototype of protected amino acids, it is possible to produce high protein milk and reduce feed costs, thereby improving the profitability of dairy farmers. Furthermore, based on excellent product capabilities in the domestic and global markets, It is expected to lead the related industry.” Nam-Gil Na kenews.co.kr