| Archer Daniels Midland | |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Please note: some of the literature files are PDF
(Portable Document Format) and will require
Adobe Acrobat Reader.
You may download it by clicking on this link.........
 |
Biuret: A Safe, Practical Alternative to Urea Feed grade biuret,
is an ADM exclusive.
It is a mixture of compounds including biuret and small amounts of
triuret, cyanuric acid, and urea, and is formed by the controlled
decomposition and subsequent processing of urea.
Feed grade biuret contains no less than 35% nitrogen and typically
has a crude protein value of 246%.
Due to its physical and chemical properties, feed grade biuret is
more slowly degraded in the rumen compared to urea (Figure 1).
The slower release of ammonia from biuret makes it a safe source of
nitrogen for cattle and sheep grazing forages and for cattle fed in
confinement. Biuret is at least 7.3 times less toxic than urea. Up
to 15 g/lb of body weight of biuret supplementation have not
produced toxic effects, while much lower levels of urea
supplementation have resulted in death (Table 1). Another
advantage of biuret is that it is less hydroscopic (attracts less
water) compared to urea. Pellets containing biuret are less likely
to cake and bridge compared to pellets containing high amounts of
urea.
Range Feeding
Biuret's slow-release of nitrogen provides a safe and sustained
supply of ammonia that is well suited for microbial digestion of
lower quality forages. In-vitro worked conducted by ADM research
showed biuret improved cellulose digestion from 36.7% for the
controls (no supplemental nitrogen) to 53.78% for biuret. These
observations are supported by Loest and co-workers (Kansas State
University) who evaluated the effects of non-protein nitrogen on the
intake and digestion of steers fed prairie hay. Steers fed a cooked
molasses block containing 60% crude protein (83% from urea or 42%
from urea and 42% from biuret) had a 22% increase in forage intake
and a 52% increase in digestible organic matter intake compared to
non-supplemented cattle. These improvements in forage digestion and
intake will result in improved cattle performance.
In a 105-day winter feeding trial, researchers at Montana State
University (1996) compared cooked molasses blocks containing 18%
crude protein versus blocks containing 42% crude protein with the
additional crude protein supplied by biuret. Cows receiving the 18%
cooked molasses blocks lost an average 62 lb/hd and body condition
score (BCS) decreased by 1/2 point. Cows receiving the biuret
supplement maintained body weight and BCS.
A North Dakota field trial conducted by ADM confirms the results
observed at Montana. Cows grazing fall range and supplemented with
Roughage Buster¨ over a 40-day period maintained body weight (net
gain of 0.95 lb) and had calves which were 18.7 lb/hd heavier than
cows which were fed only a supplement containing trace mineralized
salt. Cows receiving trace mineralized salt lost an average 27 lb/hd
during the trial.
ADM’s Field Research conducted six trials evaluating performance of
growing cattle supplemented with biuret via Roughage Buster®
products (Table 2).
Roughage Buster supplementation increased ADG 0.40 lb, resulting in
a $14.96 increase in net return for Roughage Buster supplemented
cattle compared to cattle supplemented with competitive products.
Feedlot Feeding
Biuret's physical properties enable it to be utilized in situations
where a NPN "safety" factor is desired in the feedlot. Ammonia
toxicity most often occurs when hungry cattle are fed high urea
supplements for the first time. Mixing and weighing errors when
using high urea supplements can also increase the likelihood of urea
toxicity. Work conducted at the University of Minnesota on feedlot
finishing diets indicated that biuret supported gains equal to urea
supplemented cattle. A study at ADM Alliance Nutrition facilities
confirmed these studies - cattle supplemented with biuret gained
3.15 lb/hd/day compared to urea supplemented cattle that gained 3.09
lb/hd/day.
Conclusion
Biuret's physical properties enable it to be utilized in situations
where grazing cattle are fed low-quality, low-energy forages or in
feedlot situations where a NPN "safety" factor is desired. The
slow-release of nitrogen from biuret is better matched to the energy
in the diets of cattle consuming low-quality forages, thus improving
the utilization of forage and reducing the metabolic cost of
eliminating excess nitrogen in urea-based diets.
