Utilization and Addition Sugars to Ruminants Rations

Responses to sugars in dry or liquid formvary from study to study. When fed in proper amounts, sugars should not depress ruminalpH, and there is some evidence that they actuallyhelp toprevent a drop in pH after consuming largemeals of concentrate by maintaining a highernumberoflactate-fermenting bacteria. Adding sugars doesprioritize the need for rumen degraded protein (RDP).we all know, sugars are rapidly and extensively fermented. Also, it pretty well established that there is an optimum feeding rate between 2.5 and 5% supplemental sugar. Carbohydrates are the main components in the dairy ration, comprising roughly 60 – 80% of total dry matter (DM) and could supply to 70% net energy lactation (NEL) for high yielding dairy cows. The relatively high rate of absorption of ammoniaby ruminants (Huntington, 1990) suggests thatenergy availability, or lack of synchrony betweenenergy and nitrogen supplies, limits the use ofavailable nitrogen by ruminal microorganisms