Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A little extra protein might sound like cheap insurance in a cattle ration, but when protein is one of the more expensive nutrients being fed, knowing what the cow actually needs matters.
During Gateway Research Organization and Farming Forward’s Corn Stalk Tour at Byron Long’s farm in Barrhead County, Alta., Dr. Bart Lardner of the University of Saskatchewan dug into feed testing, forage quality, and how producers can use those numbers to better match a ration to cattle requirements.
A feed test offers several clues. Lardner says neutral detergent fibre (NDF) is closely related to intake, while acid detergent fibre (ADF) is tied to forage digestibility. From there, he looks at crude protein and energy, including total digestible nutrients (TDN), to build a clearer picture of what the feed can provide.
That becomes especially important when deciding whether additional protein is warranted.
Protein requirements change with stage of production. Lardner points to a rough progression of seven, nine and 11 per cent protein through the first, second and third trimesters, respectively. If the forage doesn’t meet those requirements, producers can look to supplements such as cereal grains, canola meal, alfalfa hay or distillers grains.
But more isn’t automatically better.
“You don't want to overfeed protein. Protein is a very expensive nutrient so you want to make sure you're targeting what they need.”
The equation gets more complicated than crude protein alone. Rumen microbes produce microbial protein, which Lardner says accounts for about half of the metabolizable protein available to the animal. That microbial activity also depends on having the right diet to keep those bugs working.
“That's microbial protein that gets washed down, that's bypass protein, that's not broken down by the rumen microflora, and endogenous protein. So those 3 make up metabolizable protein. That's where the cow gets her protein.”
Ultimately, the goal isn’t to feed more protein. It’s to know what the feed already supplies, what the animal requires, and supplement only enough to close the gap.
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A little extra protein might sound like cheap insurance in a cattle ration, but when protein is one of the more expensive nutrients being fed, knowing what the cow actually needs matters.
During Gateway Research Organization and Farming Forward’s Corn Stalk Tour at Byron Long’s farm in Barrhead County, Alta., Dr. Bart Lardner of the University of Saskatchewan dug into feed testing, forage quality, and how producers can use those numbers to better match a ration to cattle requirements.
A feed test offers several clues. Lardner says neutral detergent fibre (NDF) is closely related to intake, while acid detergent fibre (ADF) is tied to forage digestibility. From there, he looks at crude protein and energy, including total digestible nutrients (TDN), to build a clearer picture of what the feed can provide.
That becomes especially important when deciding whether additional protein is warranted.
Protein requirements change with stage of production. Lardner points to a rough progression of seven, nine and 11 per cent protein through the first, second and third trimesters, respectively. If the forage doesn’t meet those requirements, producers can look to supplements such as cereal grains, canola meal, alfalfa hay or distillers grains.
But more isn’t automatically better.
“You don't want to overfeed protein. Protein is a very expensive nutrient so you want to make sure you're targeting what they need.”
The equation gets more complicated than crude protein alone. Rumen microbes produce microbial protein, which Lardner says accounts for about half of the metabolizable protein available to the animal. That microbial activity also depends on having the right diet to keep those bugs working.
“That's microbial protein that gets washed down, that's bypass protein, that's not broken down by the rumen microflora, and endogenous protein. So those 3 make up metabolizable protein. That's where the cow gets her protein.”
Ultimately, the goal isn’t to feed more protein. It’s to know what the feed already supplies, what the animal requires, and supplement only enough to close the gap.
Website: realagriculture.com
Find us on our other social media platforms:
X/Twitter: twitter.com/realagriculture
Instagram: instagram.com/realagriculture
Facebook: facebook.com/realagmedia
