Urea improves fiber digestion and reduces feed costs in dairy heifers
Alvaro Garcia
When the price relationship between inputs-outputs in livestock production is not favorable, producers look for feed alternatives that improve income over feed costs. The different digestive system in ruminants, a highly complex association between the host (ruminant) and digestive tract microorganisms, allows us to explore other strategies. Because of this symbiotic relationship with bacteria in the rumen, reticulum, and to a lesser extent the coecum, ruminants can transform plant fiber and non‐protein nitrogen (NPN) into highly nutritious human edible products.