In practical nutrition, various types of animals typically utilize a mixture of different plant and/or animal proteins to provide a balanced supply of essential amino acids with the minimum crude protein necessary for maintenance and production.
In ruminants, due to the rumen's function, a portion of the dietary protein is digested in the rumen by microorganisms and utilized for microbial protein synthesis. Consequently, the nature of protein and the composition of amino acids received change.
As mentioned, protein and amino acid requirements are met differently in ruminants. Crude protein in ruminants is divided into two parts: rumen degradable protein (RDP) and rumen undegradable protein (RUP). Rumen undegradable protein is also referred to as bypass protein. A crucial point in ruminant nutrition is ensuring the adequate supply of both types of proteins to achieve optimal efficiency in production.