Ainhoa Perojo:
Ms Ainhoa Perojo presented detailed information on the different rumen-protected methionine forms in the market, emphasising on the different types of physical protection and the different molecules available in the market.
She also discussed the best way to evaluate any ruminant methionine source as far as protection and bio-availability are concerned. In order to test ruminal stability in situ studies seems to be a good option, while blood methionine tests is widely recognised as a good method to evaluate methionine bio-availability.
A general overview of the most commonly bio-availability data used were presented at the end of the presentation to help in the overal evaluation of the different products.
Angel Avila:
Mr Angel Avila added special value to the seminar thanks to his presentation on commercial trial results. His presentation addressed the actual situation of Spanish rations with emphasis in the North West area, Galicia and the importance of getting the balance right between Lysine and Methionine as part of the Metabolisable Protein.
Mr Angel Avila discussed the different strategies that he followed in order to implement the amino acid balance concept and the economical effects observed in the past years when using Smartamine M in the rations. He also presented some data on the positive results observed on the different farms as far as fertility is concerned. As an extra, Mr Angel Avila included recent data on the use of MetaSmart as an effective source of methionine for Dairy Cows.
Luis Conchello:
Due to the actual rising concern about mycotoxins in Europe, Dr Vet Luis Conchello presented the negative impact of mycotoxins in Ruminants.
In the past, it has been suggested that mycotoxins had low or no effect on Ruminant production because of the ruminal metabolism. More recently, this assumption has been excluded and mycotoxin problems are identified.
Dr Vet Luis Conchello discussed in detail the effects of main mycotoxins found in European conditions and the preventive and curative actions necessary in order to avoid any negative production impact from mycotoxins.
Prof. Charles Schwab:
Prof. Schwab who declared himself as “a scientist but a farmer at heart”, presented at his first seminar in the Kemin European Roadshow an in depth view of the evolution dairy nutrition from crude protein to amino acid balancing.
“Rumen undegradable protein (RUP) and rumen degradable protein (RDP) as a percentage of dry matter, are two important sets of requirements that need to be taken into account in dairy nutrition” says Prof. Schwab. “Most of the actual models do not take into account the amino acid (AA) profile of the RUP fraction, which is one of the biggest drivers in milk production”.
Balancing diets for the most limiting AA increases the efficiency of use of RUP, and hence, and metabolisable protein, for milk and milk protein yields and increases dairy herd profitability. In this respect great progress has been made in evaluating protein and Methionine supplements for ruminants, with Methionine as the main limiting amino acid in dairy production”
