Distillers’ grains for ruminants: Assessing protein quality

The protein the cow receives comes from 2 origins: feed protein and microbial protein. Depending on its degradability, part of the feed protein is broken down in the rumen (RDP) by specific microorganisms which will use its nitrogen (and sometimes other elements), carbon chains, hydrogen, oxygen, and energy to produce their own protein. The passage of digesta from the pre-stomachs to the intestine will carry this protein (MP) as constituent of microbial cells to be digested in the intestine.