Leading dairy nutritionists, producers and industry influencers from across the UK and Ireland, were given insights into the latest research around amino acid nutrition, and helping cows to reach their full genetic potential, at a dedicated seminar hosted by Trident MicroNutri and Balchem Animal Nutrition & Health.
The “Redefining Amino Acid Impact: New Research Unveiled” seminar held in Warrington, Cheshire, featured top international speakers and lively peer-to-peer discussions, under Balchem’s “Real Science Exchange” concept, confirming the growing momentum behind precision amino acid nutrition in dairy systems.
Dr. Mike Van Amburgh (Cornell University) started the event by reminding delegates that amino acids play a pivotal role in energy use efficiency in milk and milk component production, stating that “energy drives the system, but protein makes it happen!”.
He advised that simply adding more protein is not sufficient, effects on performance are limited, and nitrogen efficiency falls, leading to increased nitrogen excretion.
Methionine, lysine and histidine are the first limiting amino acids in dairy cows, but when supplied to optimum levels, they have positive effects on milk production performance, increasing yield and constituents.
Later in the day, Dr Van Amburgh highlighted that cow genetics have changed dramatically in the past few decades, suggesting that if we ‘were in the monogastric world, this could be considered a new genotype!’
“A calf is born with 100% capability to hit its maximum potential milk capacity, everything we do after that decreases that potential,” he explained.
He suggested considering dairy cows as Ferraris. “If they are managed and fed like Fiats, are we allowing them to perform like Ferraris?”, he asked.
Supporting the cow with improved amino acid intakes, via protected amino acid sources, lifts the ceiling on their performance potential.
Lysine contributes around 9% in milk protein, but it is heat sensitive, so its digestibility is affected very easily. Dr. Usman Arshad (ETH Zürich) went on to present a meta-analysis, focusing on what happens when rumen protected lysine is included in milking cow diets, and what are the effects of dose and source.
Dr Arshad took 594 multiparous cows, across 40 treatments, within 13 experiments in 12 published papers. Results showed that lysine supplementation in early lactation increased milk yield by 1.5 kg/day, and that supplementation over 70 days raised milk fat yield by ~100 g/day.
Balchem expert, Dr Sion Richards, went on to explain that it is key to understand that the methionine and lysine supply from a diet (g/Mcal ME), is different depending on the use of grass silage, maize silage or a combination. Ascertaining the baseline of supply, allows for the accurate calculation of required supplementation.
“We need to stop thinking of rumen protected amino acids (RPAA) as feed additives,” explains Dr Richards, “they do not have a standard dose rate”.
Alongside fellow Balchem expert Dr Stefano Vandoni, Dr Richards also shared field data, using the encapsulated rumen protected methionine AminoShure-XM and lysine AminoShure-L (Balchem Corporation, Montvale, NJ), confirming consistent improvements in milk yield, efficiency, and ECM.
They also went on to preview AminoShure-XL, Balchem’s next-generation rumen-protected lysine, set to launch in Europe and the Middle East in early 2026.
The key take-home from the seminar programme was that complete amino acid balancing is achievable, and it will support increases in milk protein, milk fat, milk yield, and health and fertility.
