Abstract
ABSTRACT: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of corn dried distiller´s grains (DDGS) supplementation on feed intake, total tract digestibility, and ruminal fermentation of beef steers fed low-quality Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus, cv. Gatton panic). Twelve Braford crossbred steers were housed in individual pens (n = 4 steers/treatment), provided with three levels of DDGS supplement: 0%, 0.6%, or 1.2% BW. Steers were blocked by live weight and randomly assigned to treatments within the block. Corn DDGS supplementation increased total OM intake (21.55, 40.23, and 56.69 g/kg BW0.75) and tract OM digestibility (46.33, 49.03, and 72.39 % DM). Total tract digestible OM, CP, NDF and EE intake also increase in response to DDGS supplementation. Forage OM intake decreased when supplementation level reached 1.2 % BW. Also, ruminal pH decreased with DDGS supplementation level (6.88, 6.47, and 6.27). No differences were observed in total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration; however, the molar proportion of acetate decreased (77.98, 73.90, and 67.29 % Total VFA) as well as acetate: propionate ratio (4.38, 3.48, and 2.74). On the contrary, propionate proportions increased (18.32, 21.86, and 24.81 % Total VFA). Levels of ammonia and lactate were within suggested values for optimal fermentation and bacterial growth. Low-quality grass supplementation with corn DDGS increased total OM intake and digestibility. Also, DDGS inclusion favorably altered volatile fatty acids profile by reducing the acetate to propionate ratio regarding forage-only diets.
Highlights
Bioethanol co-products to feed livestock had had a substantial expansion during the last decade in Argentina
dried distillers grains (DDGS) might be a good source of supplementation to improve growing and reproduction performance in beef cattle for medium-low quality forages (DELCURTO et al, 2000; MORRIS et al, 2005; MARTÍNEZ-PÉREZ et al, 2013) by supplying digestible protein and energy (MACDONALD et al, 2007)
This study evaluated the effect of DDGS supplementation on feed intake, total tract digestibility, and ruminal fermentation profile of beef steers fed low-quality Guinea grass
Summary
Bioethanol co-products (e.g., dried distillers grains plus solubles [DDGS]) to feed livestock had had a substantial expansion during the last decade in Argentina. The use of bioethanol co-products has been mainly focused on high concentrate finishing diets rather than as protein and energy supplements to enhance animal performance in mid or low-quality forage-fed diets (MORRIS et al, 2005). Dried distillers’ grains are high in protein, fat, and readily digestible fiber but low in starch (KLOPFENSTEIN et al, 2008). With this regard, DDGS might be a good source of supplementation to improve growing and reproduction performance in beef cattle for medium-low quality forages (DELCURTO et al, 2000; MORRIS et al, 2005; MARTÍNEZ-PÉREZ et al, 2013) by supplying digestible protein and energy (MACDONALD et al, 2007). The level of DDGS supplementation to optimize midor low-quality forage utilization is still not widely documented (ALAVA et al, 2019)
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