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Evaluation of Formaldehyde-Treated Protein for Growing Lambs and Lactating Cows¹

University of Wisconsin^,3, Madison 53706

Abstract

Three lamb feeding trials, two lactation experiments and one rat growth study were conducted to determine the effect of formaldehyde treatment of dietary protein on animal performance. In the first lamb experiment, three groups of 15 lambs were fed isocaloric and isonitrogenous rations (14.9% CP on DM basis) for 70 days. Nitrogen was supplemented as either urea, soybean meal, or formaldehyde (HCHO)-treated soybean meal (1.6 g HCHO/100 g CP). Daily gains of .236, .243 and .213 kg were not significantly different. In the second lamb experiment, four groups of 17 lambs each were fed either a medium protein (12.6% CP on DM basis) or low protein (9.3%) ration. One of the two groups fed each protein level had its entire ration treated with formaldehyde (.74 g HCHO/100 g CP). The medium protein level supported 20% faster growth, but formaldehyde treatment had no effect on daily gain or wool growth in either the low or medium protein group. In the third lamb trial, three groups of 20 lambs each were fed rations containing 11.8, 11.8, or 15.2% crude protein. The first ration was a control, and the second and third were treated with HCHO (.5 g/100 g CP). The third ration was supplemented with urea to assure adequate ruminal ammonia for microbial growth. The average daily gain for the three groups was .211, .207 and .210 kilograms. There were no significant treatment effects. Milk production in two lactation studies was not affected by HCHO treatment. Lysine availability as determined in a rat growth study was either not affected or reduced only slightly by formaldehyde treatment. Total protein digestibility was reduced slightly with formaldehyde treatment. Under the conditions of these experiments, little or no benefit was obtained with formaldehyde treatment of dietary protein.

¹ Research supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison.

² Department of Meat and Animal Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison.

³ Dairy Science Department.