Prote-N: Slow-Release Nitrogen for Ruminants

Ruminant Nutrition · Non-Protein Nitrogen

Slow-release nitrogen, synchronized with rumen energy

Prote-N is an encapsulated, feed-grade urea source that releases nitrogen in step with carbohydrate fermentation, to support microbial protein synthesis and lower ration cost.

Species

Beef cattle, dairy cows, sheep, goats

Application

TMR, concentrate, supplement

Active principle

Feed-grade urea and its derivatives, encapsulated

Gut Health

The synchronization problem

Non-protein nitrogen is the cheapest protein equivalent available to a ruminant nutritionist, and the reason it is used cautiously is speed. Feed-grade urea hydrolyses almost immediately, releasing ammonia faster than rumen microbes can capture it. Prote-N slows that release so that nitrogen availability tracks the energy supply from carbohydrate fermentation.

Rumen microbes build microbial protein from ammonia and carbon skeletons, and they need both at the same time. Untreated urea delivers a nitrogen spike that outruns the available energy: the surplus ammonia is absorbed, converted to urea in the liver at a metabolic cost, and excreted. Slowing the release converts a liability into usable microbial protein and allows more of the ration’s true protein to be replaced.

*All products, services, and recommendations are country-dependent and may differ based on local compliance.

Gut Health

How it works

0 Controlled hydrolysis.

The encapsulation slows the rate at which urease can act on the urea, spreading ammonia release over a longer window.

0 Microbial protein synthesis.

When ammonia and fermentable energy arrive together, rumen microbes capture the nitrogen as microbial protein, which has a well-balanced amino acid profile and high intestinal digestibility.

0 Ration economics.

Replacing a portion of true protein with a synchronized NPN source lowers feed cost per unit of metabolizable protein without reducing performance.

0 Safety margin.

Slow release widens the margin between an effective dose and the level at which ammonia toxicity becomes a risk, though standard NPN handling precautions still apply.

Gut Health

Products in the range

Prote-N

Slow-release nitrogen that syncs with the rumen

A slow-release, encapsulated source of non-protein nitrogen based on feed-grade urea. Its encapsulation technology enables urea release synchronously with carbohydrate utilization, to support ruminal microbial protein synthesis. A cost-effective nitrogen source for beef cattle, dairy cows, sheep and goats.

Form

Orange spherical prills

Target species

Ruminants with a functional rumen

Active principle

Urea and its derivatives, encapsulated

Application

TMR, concentrate, supplement

Packaging

25 kg bag, 1000 kg big bag

Shelf life

18 months

Availability

Global

Gut Health

Technical notes

Protein equivalent.

Prote-N supplies 41 g of nitrogen per 100 g, equivalent to 256 g of crude protein equivalent (N x 6.25). Crude protein equivalent is not crude protein, and NPN inclusion is capped accordingly.

Not for pre-ruminants.

Urea-based NPN requires a functional rumen. It must not be fed to pre-ruminant calves, lambs or kids, and this restriction should appear on the page and on the label.

Adaptation.

As with any NPN source, introduce gradually and ensure adequate fermentable energy in the ration. Our ruminant specialists can review the ration before inclusion.

Gut Health

What the trials show

Controlled nitrogen release versus conventional urea:

Evidenced in 1 in vitro aqueous-solution study evaluating nitrogen release kinetics. Prote-N exhibited a substantially slower and more gradual release of nitrogen than unprotected urea, reducing the rapid ammonia surge typically associated with conventional urea sources and providing a more sustained nitrogen supply pattern.

Superior release profile compared with unprotected urea:

Evidenced in 1 comparative release-profile study, where Prote-N maintained a controlled-release pattern over time while unprotected urea showed rapid dissolution and nitrogen liberation immediately after exposure to the test medium. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the coating technology in slowing nitrogen availability.

Predictable in vitro nitrogen-release curve:

In an in vitro release-curve evaluation, Prote-N generated a gradual and controlled nitrogen-release profile rather than the steep release pattern characteristic of conventional urea. The study confirmed that nitrogen availability could be distributed over a longer period, supporting improved synchronization with ruminal microbial requirements.

Lower ammonia-nitrogen release compared with competing slow-release urea products:

Evidenced in 1 comparative NH₃-N release study evaluating multiple commercial slow-release urea products. Prote-N demonstrated a favorable ammonia-release pattern versus alternative SRU solutions, indicating effective coating integrity and controlled nitrogen delivery under simulated ruminal conditions.

Coating quality and product consistency:

Evidenced in 1 coating-quality assessment of different SRU products, where Prote-N was evaluated for coating integrity and homogeneity. The results indicated a high-quality coating structure designed to ensure reliable nitrogen-release characteristics and minimize the occurrence of uncoated particles that can contribute to sudden ammonia release.

Gut Health

Where it fits

Prote-N is used where a ration carries enough fermentable carbohydrate to support additional microbial protein synthesis: high-concentrate beef finishing diets, dairy TMRs, and supplement blocks or concentrates for grazing systems. The decision is a ration formulation decision, made against protein prices and the energy profile of the diet, not a fixed inclusion.

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