162 Kernel Processing Corn Silage Included at 65% of the Diet (DM Basis) and fed to Growing Beef Steers Increases dry Matter Intake, Decreases Apparent Total Tract Digestibility of Neutral Detergent Fiber, and Does not Enhance Starch Digestibility

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of kernel processing of corn silage on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of steers fed corn silage included at 65% of the diet (DM basis). Steers (n = 184; initial shrunk BW = 338 ± 22.3 kg) were assigned to 1 of 24 pens (8 steers/pen). Pens were randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments (12 pens/treatment): non-kernel processed corn silage included at 65% diet DM (CON) or kernel processed corn silage included at 65% diet DM (KPCS) in a randomized complete block design with pen as experimental unit. Steers from replicates 1 to 8 spent 47-d on test and steers from replicates 9 to 12 were fed for 46-d on test. On the final day of the study, apparent total tract digestibility of diet dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), N, and starch was determined using an internal marker ratio technique using the undigested NDF residue following a 240 h in-situ incubation in ruminal fluid (uNDF240). Diet samples were collected twice daily (morning and afternoon) starting two days prior to fecal collections. Fecal collections were taken via rectal palpation on the final day of the study. Data were analyzed as a RCBD with fixed effects of KPCS diet and random effect of block (location within feedyard). Kernel processing increased DMI by 6% (P = 0.01) during the collection period and cumulative DMI throughout the study was increased by 2% for KPCS treatment (P = 0.04). Kernel processing did not enhance the ATTD of DM, OM, or starch (P ≥ 0.71), but did decrease ATTD of NDF by approximately 6% (P = 0.04) compared with corn silage that was not kernel processed. Furthermore, kernel processing was determined to increase ATTD of N by 5% (P = 0.05). These results indicate that kernel processed corn silage may decrease apparent total tract digestibility of neutral detergent fiber due to greater intake but does not appreciably influence starch digestibility.