Pushing the boundaries of metabolic flexibility to improve protein efficiency

Join our webinar to discover how digestible amino acid profiles drive protein efficiency in dairy cows. In this presentation we will explore how pushing the boundaries of metabolic flexibility can improve protein efficiency in dairy cows while supporting sustainability goals and reducing nitrogen losses to the environment. Learn the latest insights on the remarkable flexibility of the mammary gland to adapt to varying amino acid supplies, and how different energy sources influence protein efficiency. Explore why optimizing the profile of digestible amino acids improves milk protein, as well as practical approaches to optimize RUP supplementation and ration formulation. (This session is a Replay of the Wine&cheese talk held at ADSA Annual meeting in Milwaukee 22d June 2026)

Speaker:

Kelly Nichols, PhD Assistant Professor University of California, Davis

Kelly Nichols is a ruminant nutritionist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis. Her research program focuses on characterizing the digestive and metabolic flexibility of dairy cattle to elevate the understanding of dietary protein and energy interactions, mammary gland metabolism, and nutrient utilization to improve the transfer of dietary nutrients into milk. Kelly’s research career began at the University of Guelph in Canada where she completed her MSc focused on amino acid and energy metabolism in dairy cattle. She then moved to the Netherlands to carry out her PhD at Wageningen University on a project focused on reducing nitrogen losses in dairy cattle in collaboration with the Dutch feed industry. Prior to her move to UC Davis, Kelly led a strategic research area on nitrogen and carbon efficiency in the Ruminant Research Center of Trouw Nutrition R&D.