Source: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to
COMBUSTION ANALYZER TO DETERMINE NITROGEN OF ETHANOL CO-PRODUCTS FED TO DAIRY CATTLE
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
NRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0209569
Grant No.
2007-35206-17901
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
2006-04372
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Mar 1, 2007
Project End Date
Feb 28, 2008
Grant Year
2007
Program Code
[42.0]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
PO BOX 2275A
BROOKINGS,SD 57007
Performing Department
DAIRY SCIENCE
Non Technical Summary
Expansion of the ethanol industry in the United States has resulted in the increased production of ethanol co-products, such as distillers grains. These co-products are becoming increasingly used as sources of protein in dairy cattle diets. Accurate determination of nitrogen concentration and nitrogen utilization of these co-products is needed for proper formulation into dairy cow diets. The purpose of the acquisition of the combustion nitrogen analyzer is for nitrogen analysis of ethanol co-products used in dairy cattle diets and for the development of diet strategies utilizing ethanol co-products to improve nitrogen utilization and reduce losses from dairy farms.
Animal Health Component
90%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
90%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
3023410101085%
3073410101015%
Knowledge Area
302 - Nutrient Utilization in Animals; 307 - Animal Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
3410 - Dairy cattle, live animal;

Field Of Science
1010 - Nutrition and metabolism;
Goals / Objectives
The overall objective of this research is to determine nitrogen concentrations of ethanol co-products fed to dairy cattle using a combustion nitrogen analyzer. Goals of the research are to determine the optimal level that ethanol co-products can be fed to dairy cattle in order to improve milk production and milk protein production while decreasing nitrogen losses to the environment. To improve nitrogen utilization in dairy production systems, accurate nitrogen measurements are needed on the new co-products generated by the ethanol industry.
Project Methods
Determination of the nitrogen content of ethanol co-products is necessary to learn how to best incorporate them into dairy cow diets to improve the sustainability of dairy production systems. The approach of this research will include the following: 1. Determine the optimal amount of distillers grains with solubles that can be incorporated into dairy cow diets and determine its impact on nitrogen utilization in the dairy cow. Nitrogen analysis will be conducted on feed, feces, urine, and milk to determine protein utilization of dairy cows fed diets fed increasing concentrations of distillers grains. 2. Determine the impact that processing of ethanol co-products has on protein and amino acid quality. The effect of different processes such as pelleting and drying on distillers grain quality will be evaluated through characterizing its protein fractions and evaluating its digestibility through in vitro and in vivo techniques. 3. New ethanol co-products are being developed as the ethanol industry continues to grow. Characterization of the nitrogen fractions used to formulate dairy cow diets are needed to determine how to best formulate these new products in dairy cow diets. Expected outcomes include determination of optimal inclusion levels of ethanol co-products in dairy cow diets and their impact on nitrogen utilization and excretion from dairy production systems. The expected impact of this research is that increasing utilization of locally produced distillers grains supports the sustainability of U.S. agriculture in rural communities and that nitrogen losses to the environment can be reduced with accurate feed formulation.

Progress 03/01/07 to 02/28/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The combustion nitrogen analyzer, an Elementar Nitrogen/Protein Analyzer Rapid N Cube, was installed and is in use in the dairy science nutrition laboratory. Several members of our department, including faculty, staff, and graduate students have been trained to operate and maintain the equipment. Thus far, the nitrogen analyzer has been used to evaluate samples for several studies, including one study to evaluate the inclusion rate of dried distillers grains in dairy cow diets, and a second study to evaluate the inclusion of different protein sources, including new ethanol coproducts, in dairy cow diets. This equipment is an integral part of required sample analysis and will be used for all future dairy cattle nutrition research in the department. PARTICIPANTS: This equipment was used primarily by the investigators of this grant, but will be used by other faculty in the department. It provides state-of-the-art training for staff and graduate students in dairy cattle nutrition. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
This equipment improves the educational training and research capabilities of the Dairy Science laboratory. It is safer, produces less waste, and is much more efficient than the previous equipment used to determine nitrogen in our laboratory. The use of this nitrogen analyzer in evaluating new ethanol coproducts for dairy cattle is currently in progress. It has greatly improved our capacity to conduct current and future research on the use of ethanol coproducts fed to dairy cattle.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period