The aim of this study was to determine the effect of selected bean cultivars with different levels of anti-nutritional substances on performance and metabolism of dairy cows. In the current twelve-week-long study, 32 dairy cows at 3 to 6 weeks after parturition were divided into four groups. Diets were balanced to have an analogical content of crude protein and energy. Experimental groups (MI, ME, MET) were mixed to the milking concentrate consisting of 20% bean seeds (MI -MISTRAL cultivar with a low content of anti-nutritional substances; ME -MERKUR cultivar with high content of anti-nutritional substances; MET -MERKUR cultivar with technologically reduced the amount of anti-nutritional substances). Clinical evaluation of dairy cows' health and feed intake showed no negative effect of the bean supplementations. Energy, nitrogen and mineral metabolisms were not impaired either. No significant differences were found between groups in milk performance (daily milk yield, protein and lactose production) during the study.On the basis of these results, the bean can be used in 20% in the milking concentrate of dairy cattle. Health risks associated with anti-nutritional content of the native bean are not significant for high-producing dairy cattle.
Bean, metabolism, milk performance, reproduction, anti-nutritional substancesBean seeds (Faba vulgaris Moench., syn. Vicia faba L.) are important sources of proteins used in diets of farm animals. Globally, the bean and lupin are grown on the smallest acreage among all pulses. In our climate, beans are used mainly as a fodder crop. Bean seeds contain on average 30-34% crude protein (CP), 6-7% fibre, 47-51% N-free extract (NFE), 33-40% starch, 0.9% ether extract (EE), and 3.3-3.7% ash. When compared to soybean, bean has lower lysine and arginine values (17.6 g·kg -1 vs. 25.5 g·kg -1, respectively) and a low content of sulphur amino acids (6 g·kg -1 vs. 13.3 g·kg -1 of feed ration's dry matter) (Cerioli et al. 1998). Protein and starch degradability of the bean can be influenced by technological treatment. Aleksić et al. (1999a) tested the protein degradability of faba beans in the rumen of cannulated lactating cows. The rate of protein degradability was determined as more than 47%. Aguilera et al. (1992) reported lower degradability of protein by heat treatment (120 °C for 30 min) of bean compared to untreated bean. Benchaar et al. (1992) studied the effect of extruded bean, representing 45% of the feeding ration protein content, on digestion of nitrogenous substances and starch in the rumen and small intestine. The percentage of degradable protein in the intestine was 38% in extruded bean as compared with 33.5% in untreated bean. Cros et al. (1991) came to a similar conclusion and they found that adding extruded bean seeds to diet increases intestinal availability of proteins from the feed. The effect of bean heat treatment on amino acid composition was studied by Cros et al. (1992). Dairy cows fed heat-treated beans showed better utilization of amino acids in the sma...