Klop, A.

Meijer, R.G.M.

Vuuren, A.M., van

English

Wageningen Yield 

ProtiWanze® as protein supplement in rations for dairy cattle. 
 
A. Klop¶, A.M. van Vuuren¶ and R.G.M. Meijer§. 
 
¶Wageningen UR Livestock Research, Edelhertweg 15, 8219 PH Lelystad, The Netherlands. 
§Nutreco, P.O. box 1, 5830 MA Boxmeer, The Netherlands. 
 
 
Introduction 
 
Distiller’s grains with solubles (DGS) are co-products released during the production of bio ethanol. 
Because in this process the starch from the raw material, wheat or other grains is converted into 
ethanol, a protein-rich co-product remains. ProtiWanze®1 is a liquid DGS from wheat ethanol 
production from starches, which has been included in rations for pigs and cattle. Feeding a liquid feed 
to dairy cattle is relatively new and requires also applicable storage possibilities. ProtiWanze® can be 
stored in a tank or silo, with pumped capacity to dose and mix this product within dairy rations. 
Because ProtiWanze® can be mainly used in a (total) mixed ration the product should be included into 
the basic feed mixture. Anderson et. al. (2006) concluded that DGS can partly replace ground maize 
and soybean meal commonly fed to dairy cattle. To date in Western Europe no studies have been 
performed comparing rations including ProtiWanze® with rations including traditional protein-rich 
feed materials such as soybean meal and rapeseed meal. In this study feed intake, milk yield and milk 
composition, body condition and live weight of dairy cows receiving rations with ProtiWanze® was 
compared with that of cows receiving a diet with a conventional protein-rich mixture of soybean 
expeller and rapeseed meal. 
 
Material and Methods 
 
The study was conducted at Research farm "Nij Bosma Zathe" from Wageningen UR Livestock 
Research in the period between April 19, 2010 and July 4, 2010. The trial consisted of a pre 
experimental period of 3 weeks and an experimental period of 8 weeks. Results from the pre 
experimental period were used to divide 32 lactating cows into two equal groups of 16 animals. The 
"Control" group received a protein supplement as a mixture of soybean meal and rapeseed meal (33% 
/ 67% as product); the other group (“ProtiWanze”) received ProtiWanze® as a protein supplement. 
The rations were iso-caloric (VEM) and iso-nitrogenous (DVE). The protein supplement was mixed in 
a partly mixed ration, which also consisted of maize silage, grass silage and a mixture of rumen-
protected rapeseed meal and wheat2. The partly mixed ration was fed on group level, which was 
supplied at the fence once a day. A concentrate mixture was provided up to individual requirements 
during milking and in computerised concentrate feeders. The average supply of concentrates was 
similar for both treatments. Cows were milked twice daily at 6h30 and 17h00. Milk yield at each 
milking was registered automatically. Each week, milk samples were taken during four consecutive 
milkings. Samples of both morning milkings were added to have one composite morning milk sample 
per cow; samples of both evening milkings were added to have one composite evening milk sample 
per cow. Each composite sample was analysed for milk fat, protein, lactose and urea. Live weight and 
body condition score (BCS) were determined simultaneously at the start of the pre-experimental 
period (wk 1), the start of the experimental period (wk 4), in week 7 and at the end of the experimental 
period (wk 11). Weekly averages from milk production have been statistically analysed using 
ANOVA taking into account block effects and using the data collected during the pre-experimental 
period as covariate.   
  
                                                     
1 ProtiWanze® is produced by “Biowanze”, Wanze, Belgium. 
2 Blendix is supplied by Hendrix UTD. 
Results and Discussion 
 
Average feed intake (Table 1), which was measured daily per group, was 22.2 and 22.3 kg dry matter 
(DM) per cow for “Control” and “ProtiWanze” respectively.  
The daily inclusion of the protein supplement in the “Control” treatment was 1.8 kg DM (2.0 kg 
product of soybean and rapeseed meal). The daily inclusion of the protein supplement in the 
“Protiwanze” treatment was 1.8 kg DM (6.4 kg ProtiWanze®). Cows drank on average 119 and 118 l 
of water per cow per day, for “Control” and “Protiwanze”, respectively.  
 
Table 1. Feed intake during the experimental period (expressed per cow per day). 
Experimental period Unity  Treatment  Control Protiwanze 
Feed intake     
Grass silage kg DM  7.1 7.1 
Maize silage kg DM  6.6 6.6 
ProtiWanze® kg DM  0.0 1.8 
Mix of soybean and rapeseed meal (Combi) kg DM  1.8 0.0 
Mix of rumen-protected rapeseed meal and wheat 
(Blendix)  kg DM  1.7 1.7 
Concentrates kg DM  5.0 5.1 
Total kg DM  22.2 22.3 
Total kg product  48.1 52.6 
Water intake     
Water intake from feed kg  25.9 30.3 
Water intake by drinking l  119 118 
Total kg  145 148 
 
Table 2. Milk parameters during the experimental period 
Parameter Control Protiwanze Lsd1 P-value 
Milk production, kg/day 31.8 31.4 1.7 0.65 
FPCM, kg/day 32.7 32.7 1.7 0.96 
Milk fat concentration, % 4.15 4.20 0.16 0.47 
Milk protein concentration, % 3.54 3.61 0.06 0.06 
Lactose concentration, % 4.49 4.52 0.08 0.17 
Urea concentration, mg/kg 294 296 16 0.90 
1Lsd = Least significant difference. 
 
Milk yield per cow per day averaged 31.8 kg for “Control” and 31.4 kg for “ProtiWanze” treatment 
(Table 2). No significant differences in milk yield, milk composition and milk protein production 
between treatments were observed. There was a tendency (P = 0.06) for a higher milk protein content 
(0.7 g / kg milk) on “ProtiWanze” treatment compared to “Control”. During the experimental period 
body weight increased on average by approximately 15 kg without a treatment effect. The increase in 
body weight was not reflected in increased Body Condition Scores of the cows. Calculated energy and 
protein balance indicated that both groups were fed due to feeding standards. From this trial we 
concluded that ProtiWanze® at a level of 8% of total DM intake in dairy rations results in similar 
animal performance compared to a mixture of soybean and rapeseed meal. 
This study was financed by BioWanze, Beuker and Hedimix. 
 
References 
Anderson, J.L., D.J. Schingoethe, K.F. Kalscheur and A.R. Hippen. (2006). Evaluation of dried and 
wet distillers grains included at two concentrations in the diets of lactation cows. J. Dairy Sc. 89: 
3133-3142.  


ProtiWanze® as protein supplement in rations for dairy cattle

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