The effects of the protein content of the diet on the performance of lactating cows

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Abstract
Summary: Four experiments were carried out with Friesian cows in different stages of lactation to determine the influence of the crude-protein content of the diet on the digestibility and utilization of dietary constituents and on the cow's performance and milk composition.The rations were composed so that they met the energy requirements of the cows, but crude-protein content was widely variable.Our findings on the digestibility of the dietary constituents were in agreement with the data given in the literature.The utilization of dietary N for milk secretion was influenced by the level of N intake only when the crude-protein content of the diet was lower than a limiting value, which varied according to stage of lactation. When this value was not attained the daily milk production was affected, but not the protein content of the milk.The optimal crude-protein content of the diet was 15–16% (dry-matter basis) when milk production exceeded 20 kg/d, 12–13% for a production of 15–17 kg/d and 11–12% for cows giving less than 10 kg of milk daily.