Increased milk production, milk protein, and milkfat

The role of methionine in dairy production

Extensive research during the past four decades shows the production benefits of balancing amino acid levels and feeding a supplemental, encapsulated methionine, namely increased milk, milk protein, and milkfat. There are also benefits to health, reproduction, longevity and sustainability. For the dairy, precisely balancing amino acid levels in the ration allows nutritionists to economize the total protein level fed and maximize nitrogen use efficiency.

Adisseo has conducted research on methionine supplementation and amino acid balancing for over 30 years using its protected amino acid products Smartamine® M, MetaSmart® and Smartamine® ML. Highly reliable and unwavering results over these 30 years prove that amino acid balancing increases all performance parameters when the amino acid balancing guidelines are properly followed. Energy corrected milk (ECM) is increased by 1.7 kg per day. Milk component yield is increased by 142 g per day (83 g of milk fat plus 59 g of protein). Milk fat percent is increased by 0.16% and milk protein is increased by 0.13%.

Rumen-protected amino acids such as methionine and lysine provide nutrient solutions within ration formulation. Amino acid balancing minimizes the reliance on over formulating for dietary crude protein and metabolizable protein all while improving lactation performance, transition cow health, and reproductive success.

At the same time, the decrease in dietary crude protein cuts down on ration costs by reducing or eliminating feedstuffs with poor amino acid profiles relative to cow requirements. Amino acid balancing can then be implemented often at no additional cost or at a slight increase. However, milk component prices typically result in an attractive return on investment from amino acid balancing.

Methionine is typically the first limiting amino acid in today’s dairy rations. Dairy cows cannot synthesize methionine in the quantity required for health and reproduction, and feedstuffs cannot totally fill the nutritional requirement even when protein is overfed. The unique role of methionine in numerous metabolic pathways has led to it being dubbed the enabler of all protein synthesis and, thus, the origin of life.

Rumen-protected methionine was introduced to increase production while decreasing ration costs by decreasing crude protein levels. In 2001, the National Research Council (NRC) in its publication Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle concluded that methionine and lysine were the two most limiting amino acids in dairy diets. In 2021, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) released its 2021 Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle with updates to protein nutrition.

Adisseo introduced Smartamine® M rumen-protected methionine in 1996, and it remains the gold standard for the industry. More recently, an innovation in methionine supplementation was introduced with MetaSmart® the isopropyl ester of the analogue of methionine. It uniquely provides a solution for incorporating methionine into pelleted and liquid feeds. Its chemical structure provides two sources of methionine activity for increased milk yield, fat, and protein.

Nutritionists today balance these amino acid levels in rations by using ration formulation software. This software is capable of delivering least-cost, non-linear solutions. New advances are expected in the near future to further simplify amino acid balancing. With these tools, nutritionists cost effectively focus on providing the amino acids needed to meet requirements for production and more.