Heat treatment and chemical treatments can increase the bypass protein content of feed ingredients fed to ruminants. Heat treatment through processes like autoclaving can increase the rumen undegraded protein fraction by denaturing proteins and forming protein-carbohydrate complexes. Chemical treatments using formaldehyde or lignosulfonate can also increase rumen undegraded protein by forming cross-links between amino acids or precipitating protein respectively, making it less susceptible to microbial breakdown in the rumen. The level of treatment and feed ingredient impacts the effectiveness at increasing bypass protein for ruminant digestion and nutrition.
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