In situ ruminal degradability of protein feeds with distinct physical forms: a meta-analysis

In ruminant livestock, rumen undegradable protein (RUP) derived from the diet and microbial protein synthesized in the rumen are essential for animal survival, maintenance, growth, production, and reproduction. RUP is influenced by diet composition, physical form, and ruminal metabolism. Here, we aimed to evaluate the ruminal degradability of protein feeds with different physical forms (meal versus grain) through a meta-analysis study. A database, composed of 45 treatments from 12 studies carried out in Brazil, was evaluated to compare the degradability of soybean, sunflower, canola, and flaxseed grains with the meal forms of soybean, peanut, sunflower, cottonseed, and corn gluten. The degradation parameters of dry matter did not differ significantly between meals and grains. However, the effective degradability of crude protein at a passage rate of 2% per hour was higher in meals than in grains. Overall, it was concluded that meal protein might be more degradable in the rumen of animals on an energy intake lower than the maintenance.