Brome Hay Research Articles

Increasing the milk yield in cows on corn silage and concentrates enriched with feed additive with biologically active substances

The purpose of the work was to investigate the characteristics of increasing the milk yield in cows on corn silage and concentrates enriched with a feed additive with biologically active substances. The research work was carried out at the educational and experimental farm of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Northern Trans-Ural State Agricultural University” on cows of Black-and-White breed with a milk yield of 6000–7000 kg per lactation. The cows of the control group received a farm ration consisting of 1.5–2.0 kg of brome hay, 25–27 kg of corn silage, 10–12 kg of grain mixture; the animals of the experimental group received the same feeds, but additionally a feed additive with biologically active substances. It was found that the inclusion of a feed additive with biologically active substances in the ration of cows during the fi rst 100 days of lactation helped to eliminate the deficiency of individual nutritional elements in the ration, reduced the consumption of concentrated feed and protein. It was found that enrichment of the concentrate-silage ration with the feed additive in the amount of 60 g/head/day allowed to obtain 472 kg of milk or 8.06 % more per lactation than without its use. Consumption of the feed additive with biologically active substances by cows of the experimental group led to diff erences in the digestibility coeffi cients of nutrients. Thus, the animals of the experimental group had higher digestibility coeffi cients of dry matter by 2.67 abs.%, organic matter by 2.91 abs.%, crude fi ber by 0.60 abs.% and nitrogen-free extractive substances by 3.75 abs.%, and the digestibility coeffi cient of crude protein and crude fat on the contrary was lower by 0.36 and 2.55 abs.%, respectively. Economic indicators of milk production were significantly higher in cows of the experimental group receiving the feed additive with biologically active substances.

Rumen and cecum bacteria of beef cattle that differ in feed efficiency fed a forage diet.

Most of the research addressing feed efficiency and the microbiota has been conducted in cattle fed grain diets, although cattle evolved to consume forage diets. Our hypothesis was that the bacteria in the rumen and cecum differed in cattle that have a common feed intake but had different ^average daily body weight gains (ADG) on a forage diet. Heifers (n = 134) were 606 ± 1 d of age and weighed 476 ± 3 kg at the start of the 84-d feeding study. Heifers were offered ad libitum access to a totally mixed ration that consisted of 86% ground brome hay, 10% wet distillers grains with solubles, and 4% mineral supplement as dry matter. Feed intake and body weight gain were measured, and gain was calculated. Heifers with the least (n = 8) and greatest (n = 8) ADG within 0.32 SD of the mean daily dry matter intake were selected for sampling. Digesta samples from the rumen and cecum were collected, and subsequent 16S analysis was conducted to identify Amplicon Sequence Variants. There were no differences in Alpha and Beta diversity between ADG classification within sample sites (P > 0.05). Both sample sites contained calculated balances of sister clades using phylogenetic isometric log ratio transferred data that differed across ADG classification. These findings suggest that bacteria did not differ at the community level, but there was structural difference at the clade level.

PS-5 In Vitro NDF Digestibility and In Vitro Dry Matter Digestibility and Disappearance Are Similar Between Beef Heifers Differing in Feed Efficiency

Abstract Feed efficiency is a critical component of improving beef production. Previous research has indicated that differences among lowly and highly feed efficient animals may be the result of differences in digestibility through the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) in the rumen and cecum over time. To determine feed efficient animals to utilize, 134 yearling heifers were individually fed ad libitum for 84 days using a Calan Broadbent Feeding system (Northwood, NH, USA). Heifers were fed a total mixed ration containing 86% ground brome hay, 10% wet distillers grains with solubles, and 4% mineral supplement. Heifers were stratified by body weight and at the end of the feeding period, and sixteen heifers with the least and greatest average daily gain (ADG) were chosen for sampling. Low ADG heifers (n = 8) gained 0.5 ± 0.6 kg/d and high ADG heifers (n = 8) gained 0.85 ± 1.0 kg/d. Rumen content and cecal content were collected from heifers and incubated to determine in vitro NDF and IVDMD over 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours. Samples were incubated in triplicate in individual conicals utilizing the Tilly and Terry method. After incubation, samples were freeze-dried. After freeze-drying, 0.3g of sample was added to F57 fiber bags for determination of NDF disappearance using the ANKOM 200 fiber analysis system. Samples were grouped by site and time of incubation to avoid errors between samples. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS, with fixed effects of treatment (efficiency), collection site (rumen or cecum), incubation time, and interactions. Significance was determined at P ≤ 0.05 and tendencies at 0.05 ≤ P ≤ 0.10. There was a significant effect of site (P < 0.0001), and incubation time (P < 0.0001), as well as a site × incubation interaction (P = 0.01) for NDF disappearance. Treatment did not impact NDF disappearance (P = 0.53), and site × treatment was not significant (P = 0.26), however a tendency for a treatment × incubation time was observed (P = 0.08). In vitro dry matter digestibility was significantly affected by time of incubation (P < 0.0001), site × incubation (P = 0.01), and site × treatment (P = 0.03). Treatment did not affect IVDMD (P = 0.87), nor did site of sampling site (P = 0.64), and a treatment × incubation effect was not observed (P = 0.14). In conclusion, the efficiency of cattle was determined to not play a role in NDF disappearance or in vitro dry matter digestibility. These data indicate that additional factors, including forage type, microbial communities, and host genetics, play a larger role in influencing differences in forage digestibility.

Characterizing the Alteration in Rumen Microbiome and Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes Profile with Forage of Muskoxen Rumen through Comparative Metatranscriptomics.

Muskox (Ovibos moschatus), as the biggest herbivore in the High Arctic, has been enduring the austere arctic nutritional conditions and has evolved to ingest and digest scarce and high lignified forages to support the growth and reproduce, implying probably harbor a distinct microbial reservoir for the deconstruction of plant biomass. Therefore, metagenomics approach was applied to characterize the rumen microbial community and understand the alteration in rumen microbiome of muskoxen fed either triticale straw or brome hay. The difference in the structure of microbial communities including bacteria, archaea, fungi, and protozoa between the two forages was observed at the taxonomic level of genus. Further, although the highly abundant phylotypes in muskoxen rumen fed either triticale straw or brome hay were almost the same, the selective enrichment different phylotypes for fiber degrading, soluble substrates fermenting, electron and hydrogen scavenging through methanogenesis, acetogenesis, propionogenesis, and sulfur-reducing was also noticed. Specifically, triticale straw with higher content of fiber, cellulose selectively enriched more lignocellulolytic taxa and electron transferring taxa, while brome hay with higher nitrogen content selectively enriched more families and genera for degradable substrates-digesting. Intriguingly, the carbohydrate-active enzyme profile suggested an over representation and diversity of putative glycoside hydrolases (GHs) in the animals fed on triticale straw. The majority of the cellulases belonged to fiver GH families (i.e., GH5, GH6, GH9, GH45, and GH48) and were primarily synthesized by Ruminococcus, Piromyces, Neocallimastix, and Fibrobacter. Abundance of major genes coding for hemicellulose digestion was higher than cellulose mainly including GH8, GH10, GH16, GH26, and GH30, and these enzymes were produced by members of the genera Fibrobacter, Ruminococcus, and Clostridium. Oligosaccharides were mainly of the GH1, GH2, GH3, and GH31 types and were associated with the genera Prevotella and Piromyces. Our results strengthen metatranscriptomic evidence in support of the understanding of the microbial community and plant polysaccharide response to changes in the feed type and host animal. The study also establishes these specific microbial consortia procured from triticale straw group can be used further for efficient plant biomass hydrolysis.

Foxtail Management in Smooth Brome Hay Meadows

Three different herbicides were applied at early bromegrass greenup and at post hay harvest to assess their effectiveness in controlling foxtail at two producer hay meadow sites in Pottawatomie (PT) and Dickinson (DK) counties. Pendimethalin applied early resulted in the greatest foxtail control, but control did not extend through the season to reduce late-summer infestations. Metsulfuron applied early resulted in approximately 30% visible brome injury. The injury was associated with 77 and 48% brome hay losses when compared to the untreated check, at the PT and DK sites, respectively. Injury from the early spring treatments was exacerbated by six freeze events and cool, dry conditions for three weeks following application. Metsulfuron and pendimethalin applied post-harvest also resulted in visible brome injury, but dry matter yields were not measured. This study will be continued in 2021 without the metsulfuron treatments, but with the addition of sequential pendimethalin treatments.

342 Evaluation of the effects of biochar on diet digestibility and methane production from growing and finishing steers

Abstract Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of biochar (0, 0.8, or 3% of diet dry matter) on diet digestibility and methane production in growing and finishing cattle diets. The growing diet consisted of 21% brome hay, 20% wheat straw, 30% corn silage, 22% wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS), and 7% supplement. The finishing diet consisted of 53% dry rolled corn, 15% corn silage, 25% WDGS, and 7% supplement. Biochar replaced fine ground corn in the supplement. Growing diets were evaluated over 6 periods in a switchback design, followed by the finishing trial with 3 periods in a crossover design using 6 steers (529 kg initial BW). Digestibility measures were taken over 4 d after at least 8 d of adaptation to diets followed by 2 d of gas emission measurements using headbox calorimeters. Statistical analysis included treatment and period as fixed effects and steer as a random effect with PROC IML of SAS used to generate coefficients for orthogonal contrasts. In the growing study, OM and NDF digestibility increased quadratically (P = 0.10) while OM digestibility tended to linearly decrease (P = 0.13) and NDF digestibility was not affected (P ≥ 0.39) by biochar inclusion in the finishing diet. Methane production (g/d) tended to decrease quadratically (P = 0.14) in the growing study and was decreased 10.7% for the 0.8% biochar treatment relative to the control. There were no statistical differences in methane production (g/d) in the finishing study (P ≥ 0.32). Methane production (g/kg DMI) from the 0.8% biochar treatment relative to the control was numerically reduced 9.5% and 18.4% in the growing and finishing studies, respectively (P ≥ 0.13). Although biochar is not an FDA-approved feed for cattle, initial research shows potential as a methane mitigation strategy in both growing and finishing diets.

Evaluation of the effects of biochar on diet digestibility and methane production from growing and finishing steers.

The objectives of these studies were to evaluate the effects of biochar (0%, 0.8%, or 3% of diet dry matter) on diet digestibility and methane and carbon dioxide production from cattle on growing and finishing diets. The growing diet consisted of 21% brome hay, 20% wheat straw, 30% corn silage, 22% wet distillers grains plus solubles, and 7% supplement. The finishing diet consisted of 53% dry-rolled corn, 15% corn silage, 25% wet distillers grains plus solubles, and 7% supplement. In both trials biochar replaced fine ground corn in the supplement. Six crossbred steers (initial body weight [BW] 529 kg; SD = 16 kg) were used in both the growing and finishing trial. The growing diets were evaluated over 6 periods followed by the finishing trial with 3 periods. Digestibility measures were taken over 4 d after at least 8 d of adaptation to diets followed by 2 d of gas emission measurements using headbox calorimeters. Dry matter intake (DMI) was not affected (P ≥ 0.43; 7.91 kg/d) by biochar inclusion in the growing study and increased quadratically (P = 0.07) in the finishing study with 0.8% biochar inclusion having the greatest DMI (12.9 kg/d). Organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility increased quadratically (P = 0.10) in the growing study whereas OM digestibility tended to linearly decrease (P = 0.13) and NDF digestibility was not affected (P ≥ 0.39) by biochar inclusion in the finishing diet. Digestible energy intake (Mcal/d) was not affected (P ≥ 0.25) by biochar inclusion in the growing or finishing study. Methane production (g/d) tended to decrease quadratically (P = 0.14) in the growing study and was decreased 10.7% for the 0.8% biochar treatment relative to the control. There were no statistical differences in methane production (g/d) in the finishing study (P ≥ 0.32) but cattle on the 0.8% biochar treatment produced numerically less (9.6%) methane than the control. Methane production as g/kg DMI of the 0.8% biochar treatment relative to the control was numerically reduced 9.5% and 18.4% in the growing and finishing studies, respectively (P ≥ 0.13). Carbon dioxide production (g/d and g/kg of intake) quadratically decreased (P ≤ 0.06) in the growing study but was not affected by treatment in the finishing study (P ≥ 0.34). Although biochar is not a U.S. Food and Drug Administration -approved feed for cattle, the initial research shows potential as a methane mitigation strategy in both growing and finishing diets.

Increasing the concentration of linolenic acid in diets fed to Jersey cows in late lactation does not affect methane production

Although the inclusion of fat has reduced methane production in ruminants, relatively little research has been conducted comparing the effects of source and profile of fatty acids on methane production in lactating dairy cows. A study using 8 multiparous (325 ± 17 DIM; mean ± SD) lactating Jersey cows was conducted to determine effects of feeding canola meal and lard versus extruded byproduct containing flaxseed as a high-C18:3 fat source on methane production and diet digestibility in late-lactation dairy cows. A crossover design with 32-d periods (28-d adaptation and 4-d collections) was used to compare 2 different fat sources. Diets contained approximately 50% forage mixture of corn silage, alfalfa hay, and brome hay; the concentrate mixture changed between diets to include either (1) a conventional diet of corn, soybean meal, and canola meal with lard (control) or (2) a conventional diet of corn and soybean meal with an extruded byproduct containing flaxseed (EXF) as the fat source. Diets were balanced to decrease corn, lard, and canola meal and replace them with soybean mean and EXF to increase the concentration of C18:3 (0.14 vs. 1.20% of DM). Methane production was measured using headbox-style indirect calorimeters. Cattle were restricted to 95% ad libitum feed intake during collections. Milk production (17.4 ± 1.04 kg/d) and dry matter intake (15.4 ± 0.71 kg/d) were similar among treatments. Milk fat (5.88 ± 0.25%) and protein (4.08 ± 0.14%) were not affected by treatment. For methane production, no difference was observed for total production (352.0 vs. 349.8 ± 16.43 L/d for control vs. EXF, respectively). Methane production per unit of dry matter intake was not affected and averaged 23.1 ± 0.57 L/kg. Similarly, methane production per unit of energy-corrected milk was not affected by fat source and averaged 15.5 ± 0.68 L/kg. Heat production was similar, averaging 21.1 ± 1.02 Mcal/d. Digestibility of organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and crude protein was not affected by diet and averaged 69.9, 53.6, and 73.3%, respectively. Results indicated that increasing C18:3 may not affect methane production or digestibility of the diet in lactating dairy cows.

Influence of Season and Diet on Fiber Digestion and Bacterial Community Structure in the Rumen of Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus).

We studied the relationship between fiber digestion and the composition of the bacterial community in the rumen of muskoxen at the start and the end of the annual window of plant growth from spring to fall. Eight ruminally cannulated castrated males were fed brome hay or triticale straw (69.6% vs. 84.6% neutral detergent fiber, respectively) that were similar in fiber content to the sedges consumed by wild muskoxen (64.5 to 71.7% neutral detergent fiber). Muskoxen digested fiber from both forages faster and to a greater extent when straw rather than hay was consumed. Fiber digestion was therefore inducible by diet 4 in each season. We used 16S rRNA sequences from ruminal contents to study how season and diet affected the bacterial community and how the latter related to fiber digestion. We found that Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes accounted for 90% of the sequences at the level of Phylum, which is typical for the mammal gut microbiome. Using partial least square regressions, it was found that between 48% and 72% of the variation in fiber digestion was associated with 36–43 genera of bacteria. The main fibrolytic bacteria typical of domestic ruminants were generally not among the most important bacteria associated with fiber digestion in muskoxen. This reveals that muskoxen rely upon on a large suite of bacterial genera that are largely distinct from those used by other ruminants to digest the cell walls of plants that vary widely in both abundance and nutritional quality through the year.

Evaluation of canola meal derived from Brassica juncea and Brassica napus seed as an energy source for feedlot steers

Nair, J., Penner, G. B., Yu, P., Lardner, H. A., McAllister, T., Damiran, D. and McKinnon, J. J. 2015. Evaluation of canola meal derived from Brassica juncea and Brassica napus seed as an energy source for feedlot steers. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 95: 599–607. This study evaluated the substitution of barley grain with two sources of canola meal (CM) derived from Brassica napus and B. juncea on performance of feedlot cattle. Crossbred steers [n=300; initial body weight (BW)=311±23 kg] were allotted to 25 pens with each pen randomly assigned to one of five treatments. The control backgrounding diet consisted of 39% barley silage, 30.4% barley grain, 22.8% brome hay and 7.8% supplement, while the control finishing diet consisted of 88.3% barley grain, 4.4% barley silage and 7.3% supplement (dry matter basis). The control diets contained no CM during backgrounding and finishing. Treatment diets included 15 and 30% B. napus or B. juncea meal during backgrounding and 10 and 20% during finishing, with canola meal repla...

Energy content of reduced-fat dried distillers grains with solubles for lactating dairy cows

Eight Holstein and 8 Jersey multiparous, lactating cows were used to complete 56 energy balances to determine the energy content of reduced-fat dried distillers grains with solubles (RFDDGS). A repeated switchback design was used to compare treatments with and without RFDDGS. Diets consisted of 24.2% corn silage, 18.4% alfalfa hay, 6.94% brome hay with either 22.9% rolled corn or 14.8% soybean meal (control), or 8.95% rolled corn, 28.8% RFDDGS, and 0% soybean meal [Co-P; dry-matter (DM) basis]. The inclusion of RFDDGS did not affect DM intake, averaging 21.4±0.53kg of DM for all cows, but milk production tended to increase from 29.8 to 30.9±1.46kg/d for control and Co-P treatments, respectively. Milk fat percentage and energy-corrected milk did not differ between treatments, averaging 4.33±0.14% and 34.1kg/d, respectively. Milk protein was significantly decreased by the Co-P treatment (3.56 and 3.41±0.08% for control and Co-P treatments), but protein yield was not affected. Milk energies were 1.40 Mcal/d greater with Co-P. Energy lost as methane was reduced by 0.31 Mcal/d with the addition of RFDDGS to the diet. Heat loss averaged 29.9±0.55 Mcal/d and was not different between diets. Average energy retained as tissue energy was −2.99±0.93 Mcal/d and did not differ between treatments. Intake of digestible and metabolizable energy were not different between the control and Co-P treatments, averaging 2.68 and 2.31 Mcal/kg of DM, respectively. The net energy of lactation values of control and Co-P diets were calculated to be 1.43 and 1.47 Mcal/kg of DM, respectively. These energy estimates suggest greater energy content of diets containing RFDDGS than diets containing a mixture of corn and soybean meal in lactating dairy cows.

Controlled feeding trials with ungulates: a new application of in vivo dental molding to assess the abrasive factors of microwear

Microwear, the quantification of microscopic scratches and pits on the occlusal surfaces of tooth enamel, is commonly used as a paleodietary proxy. For ungulates (hoofed mammals), scratch-dominant microwear distinguishes modern grazers from browsers, presumably as a result of abrasion from grass phytoliths (biogenic silica). However, it is also likely that exogenous grit (i.e. soil, dust) is a contributing factor to these scratch-dominant patterns, which may reflect soil ingestion that varies with feeding height and/or environmental conditions (e.g. dust production in open and/or arid habitats). This study assessed the contribution of exogenous grit to tooth wear by measuring the effects of fine- and medium-grained silica sand on tooth enamel using a novel live-animal tooth-molding technique. It therefore constitutes the first controlled feeding experiment using ungulates and the first in vivo experiment using abrasives of different sizes. Four sheep were fed three diet treatments: (1) a mixture of Garrison and Brome hay (control), (2) hay treated with fine-grained silica sand (180-250 µm) and (3) hay treated with medium-grained silica sand (250-425 µm). We found a significant increase in pit features that was correlated with an increase in grain size of grit, corroborating earlier chewing simulation experiments that produced pits through grit-induced abrasion (i.e. the 'grit effect'). Our results support an interpretation of large silica grains fracturing to create smaller, more abundant angular particles capable of abrasion, with jaw movement defining feature shape (i.e. scratch or pit).

Effect of feeding dried distillers grains with solubles on ruminal biohydrogenation, intestinal fatty acid profile, and gut microbial diversity evaluated through DNA pyro-sequencing

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) on ruminal biohydrogenation and duodenal flow of fatty acids, and to evaluate effects on the ruminal and duodenal microbial community using Roche 454 pyro-sequencing. Three crossbred steers (average BW 780 ± 137 kg) fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulae were used in a 3-diet, 6-period crossover design. Animals were housed in individual free stalls and fed twice daily at 0700 and 1900 h. Diets (DM basis) were 1) CONTROL, 19.5% corn bran, 20% sorghum silage, 60% brome hay, 0.5% trace minerals, and 0.25% urea, but no DDGS; 2) LOW DDGS, inclusion of 9.75% DDGS replacing equal percentage of corn bran; 3) HIGH DDGS, inclusion of 19.5% DDGS completely replacing corn bran. Feed ingredients and duodenal digesta samples were analyzed for fatty acid composition. The DNA was extracted from isolated mixed ruminal bacterial samples and from intestinal digesta samples. The V1-V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced, and bacterial phylogenetic analysis was conducted. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Biohydrogenation of C18:1 increased (P < 0.01) with DDGS inclusion; means were 68.3, 75.6, and 79.3 ± 4.3% for CONTROL, LOW DDGS, and HIGH DDGS, respectively. In the same order, means of biohydrogenation of C18:2 (P < 0.05) were 84.1, 91.5, and 93.3 ± 3.4%. Duodenal flow of total fatty acids increased (P < 0.01) with DDGS inclusion; means were 134, 168, and 223 ± 33 g/d for CONTROL, LOW DDGS, and HIGH DDGS, respectively. In the same order, means of C18:0 flow (P < 0.01) were 51, 86, and 121 ± 18 g/d. DDGS did not affect the predominant bacterial phyla in the gut, which were Bacteroidetes (P = 0.62) and Firmicutes (P = 0.71). However, the phylum Fibrobacteres decreased (P < 0.01) when DDGS was fed with means of 5.5, 6.0 and 3.7 ± 0.6% for CONTROL, LOW DDGS, and HIGH DDGS, respectively. Fibrobacteres were lower (P < 0.01) in isolated ruminal bacterial samples compared to duodenal digesta samples with means of 0.1 and 10.1 ± 0.6%, respectively. Overall, the inclusion of DDGS in diets increased ruminal biohydrogenation of C18:1 and C18:2, which increased duodenal flow of C18:0. In addition, the bacterial community of the rumen clustered separately from that of the duodenum suggesting different bacterial diversity between isolated ruminal bacteria and duodenal digesta.

Inclusion of glycerol in forage diets increases methane production in a rumen simulation technique system

We hypothesised that the inclusion of glycerol in the forage diets of ruminants would increase the proportion of propionate produced and thereby decrease in vitro CH₄ production. This hypothesis was examined in the present study using a semi-continuous fermentation system (rumen simulation technique) fed a brome hay (8·5 g) and maize silage (1·5 g) diet with increasing concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 150 g/kg DM) of glycerol substituted for maize silage. Glycerol linearly increased total volatile fatty acids production (P<0·001). Acetate production was quadratically affected (P=0·023) and propionate and butyrate production was linearly increased (P<0·001). Glycerol linearly increased (P=0·011) DM disappearance from hay and silage. Crude protein disappearance from hay was not affected (P=0·789), but that from silage was linearly increased (P<0·001) with increasing glycerol concentrations. Neutral-detergent fibre (P=0·040) and acid-detergent fibre (P=0·031) disappearance from hay and silage was linearly increased by glycerol. Total gas production tended to increase linearly (P=0·061) and CH₄ concentration in gas was linearly increased (P<0·001) by glycerol, resulting in a linear increase (P<0·001) in mg CH₄/g DM digested. Our hypothesis was rejected as increasing concentrations of glycerol in a forage diet linearly increased CH₄ production in semi-continuous fermenters, despite the increases in the concentrations of propionate. In conclusion, this apparent discrepancy is due to the more reduced state of glycerol when compared with carbohydrates, which implies that there is no net incorporation of electrons when glycerol is metabolised to propionate.

In vivo determination of rumen undegradable protein of dried distillers grains with solubles and evaluation of duodenal microbial crude protein flow

The objectives of this trial were to determine the rumen undegradable protein (RUP) of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), to compare the estimates of duodenal bacterial CP (BCP) flow using diaminopumelic acid (DAPA) or DNA as bacterial markers, and to estimate duodenal protozoal CP (PCP) and yeast CP (YCP) flow when DDGS are fed. Three crossbred steers fitted with ruminal and double L-shaped duodenal cannulae (average BW 780 ± 137 kg) were used in a 3 treatment, 6 period crossover design. Animals were housed in individual free stalls and fed twice daily at 0700 and 1900 h. Diets (DM basis) were 1) CONTROL, which is 0% DDGS but with 19.5% corn bran, 20% sorghum silage, 60% brome hay, 0.5% trace minerals, and 0.25% urea, 2) LOW DDGS, which is inclusion of 9.75% DDGS replacing equal percentage of corn bran, and 3) HIGH DDGS, which is inclusion of 19.5% DDGS completely replacing corn bran. Duodenal BCP flow was estimated using DAPA and DNA as bacterial markers. In addition, duodenal PCP and YCP flow were estimated using DNA markers. The value of DDGS RUP as a percent of CP was determined to be 63.0 ± 0.64%. Estimates of duodenal BCP flow using DAPA were 473, 393, and 357 ± 78 g/d (P = 0.09) for CONTROL, LOW DDGS, and HIGH DDGS, respectively. Estimates of duodenal BCP flow using DNA were 479, 397, and 368 ± 74 g/d (P = 0.14), respectively. Average BCP flow across treatments was unaffected (P = 0.71) by marker type and were 404 and 417 ± 83 g/d for DAPA and DNA markers, respectively. Estimates of duodenal PCP flow were 82, 80, and 78 ± 12 g/d (P = 0.64) for CONTROL, LOW DDGS, and HIGH DDGS, respectively. Estimates of duodenal YCP flow were 0.15, 1.94, and 4.80 ± 0.66 g/d (P < 0.01) for CONTROL, LOW DDGS, and HIGH DDGS, respectively. Duodenal BCP flow tended to decrease with DDGS inclusion, but estimates were not affected by marker type. In addition, DDGS did not affect duodenal PCP supply and provided small amounts of duodenal YCP. Overall, the value of DDGS RUP determined in this study will contribute to a better understanding of the effect of this coproduct in ruminant nutrition.

Storage conditions of wet corn distillers' grains with solubles in combination with other feeds and understanding the effects on performance of lactating dairy cows

Ramirez-Ramirez, H. A., Geis, A. R., Heine, C. S., Clark, K. J., Gehman, A. M. and Kononoff, P. J. 2011. Storage conditions of wet corn distillers’ grains with solubles in combination with other feeds and understanding the effects on performance of lactating dairy cows. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 91: 331–339. Wet distillers’ grains are commonly stored in polyethylene silo bags until needed for feeding. The objective of the first experiment was to evaluate the nature of ensiling wet distillers’ grains with soluble (WDGS) alone or in combination with other feeds. A 3×4×3 factorial experiment was conducted in which 36 mixtures were made using three loads of distillers’ grains stored at varying levels with three feeds (corn silage, ground corn, and brome hay). In all mixtures, the addition of feeds to WDGS increased the pH of stored material. The objective of the second experiment was to evaluate the effects of feeding WDGS on milk production. Twenty Holstein cows were used in a 4×5 Youden square. Prior to initiation of the study, WDGS were stored alone (WDGS) or mixed with either 12% ground corn (DM basis) (WDGS+C), 15% brome hay (DM basis) (WDGS+H) or 15% corn silage (DM basis) (WDGS+CS) in polyethylene silo bags. Animals were assigned to one of five treatments during each 21-d period. A diet not containing WDGS was formulated (Control), along with one containing 30% WDGS (DM basis) (WDGS). Three additional diets, similar to the WDGS treatment, were formulated to include one of the three blends of WDGS with corn (WDGS+C), brome hay (WDGS+H) or corn silage (WDGS+CS). Dry matter intake (DMI) was affected by diet and, compared with Control (21.9 kg d−1±0.70 kg d−1), was greater for WDGS (23.8±0.70 kg d−1) and WDGS+C (23.7±0.70 kg d−1). Milk yield, 3.5% FCM, and fat yield were not affected by treatment. These results suggest that dairy rations can be formulated to include stored WDGS at 30% DM without negative effects on milk production and composition.

Effects of level of condensed distillers solubles in corn dried distillers grains on intake, daily body weight gain, and digestibility in growing steers fed forage diets1

Three experiments were conducted examining the effects of feeding different levels of dried distillers grains (DDG) and different proportions of condensed distillers solubles (CDS) added to DDG on performance and digestibility in forage-fed steers. In Exp. 1, a total of 120 individually fed crossbred steers (276 +/- 31 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design with a 4 x 5 factorial arrangement of treatments. Factors included DDG supplementation level (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, or 1.0% of BW daily) and proportion of CDS in DDG (0.0, 5.4, 14.5, 19.1, and 22.1% of DDG DM). A basal diet of 58.8% alfalfa hay, 39.2% sorghum silage, and 2% vitamin and mineral supplement (DM basis) was fed for ad libitum intake. As the level of DDG increased, intake of forage decreased linearly (P < 0.01), intake of DDG increased linearly (P < 0.01), and total DMI increased quadratically (P = 0.06). A DDG level x CDS level interaction (P < 0.01) was observed for ADG and G:F. The 0.0, 5.4, 14.5, 19.1, and 22.1% CDS treatments had the greatest ADG when DDG was supplemented at 0.75, 1.0, 1.0, 0.75, and 0.50% of BW daily, respectively. In Exp. 2, four crossbred steers (295 +/- 19 kg) were used in a 3-period switchback design. A basal diet of 58.8% alfalfa hay, 39.2% brome hay, and 2% vitamin and mineral supplement (DM basis) was fed at 95% of ad libitum intake. Treatments were DDG containing 0.0 or 22.1% CDS supplemented at 1.0% of BW daily. Apparent total tract digestibility was measured by total fecal collection. No differences between treatments were observed for digestibility of DM, OM, or NDF (P >/= 0.14). Digestibility of ether extract was greater (P = 0.02) in steers supplemented with DDG containing 22.1% CDS. In Exp. 3, two ruminally and duodenally cannulated Holstein steers (663 +/- 24 kg) were used to estimate DM and CP digestion of the DDG fed in Exp. 1 using the mobile bag technique. Basal diets were the same as fed in Exp. 1 and steers were supplemented with DDG at 0.5% of BW daily. Ruminal DM digestibility increased linearly (P < 0.01), and postruminal and total tract DM digestibility increased quadratically (P = 0.02 and P = 0.03, respectively) as the level of CDS increased. Level of CDS may affect growing steer performance because depressions in ADG and G:F were observed as intake of ether extract increased. A clear explanation for the interaction between the DDG supplementation level and the CDS level on growing steer performance was not evident in the digestion experiments.

Effects of increasing levels of corn distillers dried grains with solubles to steers offered moderate-quality forage1

Supplementation of forage-fed livestock has been studied for decades; however, as by-products become available research is needed to determine optimal feeding rates for increased efficiency. Five ruminally and duodenally cannulated beef steers (446 +/- 42 kg of initial BW) were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square to evaluate effects of increasing level of supplemental corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS; 25.4% CP, 9.8% fat, DM basis) on DMI, rate and site of digestion, ruminal fermentation, and microbial efficiency. Diets consisted of ad libitum quantities of moderate-quality smooth brome hay (10.6% CP; DM basis), free access to water and trace mineral salt block, and 1 of 5 levels of DDGS (0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2% of BW daily of DDGS; DM basis). Diets were formulated to meet or exceed the estimated rumen degradable protein requirements (assumed microbial yield = 10.5%). All supplements were fed at 0600 h before forage was fed. Steers were adapted to diets for 14 d followed by a 7-d collection period. Hay OM intake decreased (linear; P < 0.001), whereas total OM intake increased (linear; P < 0.001) with increasing DDGS level. Total CP intake, duodenal OM and CP flows, and total tract OM and NDF digestibilities increased (linear; P <or= 0.01) with increasing level of DDGS. Apparent ruminal and true ruminal CP digestibilities increased linearly (P <or= 0.007), and total-tract CP digestibility increased quadratically (P = 0.02) with increasing DDGS level. Average ruminal pH was not different (P = 0.89) among treatments. Ammonia concentration increased (quadratic; P = 0.02) with increasing DDGS. Acetate proportions (molar %) decreased linearly (P < 0.001), whereas butyrate (molar %) increased linearly (P = 0.007), and propionate (molar %) increased quadratically (P = 0.04) with increasing DDGS. Ruminal DM fill decreased quadratically (P = 0.03), whereas fluid dilution rate tended to increase cubically (P = 0.08) with increasing DDGS. In situ rate of hay and DDGS DM disappearance responded cubically (P <or= 0.03) with greatest disappearance occurring with the 0.9% treatment. In situ rate of ruminal CP degradation of hay and DDGS increased (linear; P <or= 0.003) with increasing DDGS. Feeding 0.3% up to 1.2% of BW daily of DDGS as a supplement to forage-based diets resulted in no adverse effects on forage digestion or fermentation and resulted in increased nutrient supply in steers fed moderate-quality smooth brome hay.

Influence of pressed beet pulp and concentrated separator by-product on intake, gain, efficiency of gain, and carcass composition of growing and finishing beef steers

The objectives of this experiment were to determine a NE value for pressed beet pulp and the value of concentrated separator by-product (de-sugared molasses) as a ruminal N source in growing and finishing diets for beef cattle. One hundred forty-four cross-bred beef steers (282 +/- 23 kg of initial BW) were used in 2 experiments (growing and finishing). A randomized complete block design was used, with a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (level of pressed beet pulp and inclusion of concentrated separator by-product) for both studies. Steers were blocked by BW and allotted randomly to 1 of 6 treatments. In the growing study, the control diet contained 49.5% corn, 31.5% corn silage, 10.0% alfalfa hay, and 9.0% supplement (DM basis). Pressed beet pulp replaced corn at 0, 20, or 40% of dietary DM, and concentrated separator by-product replaced corn and urea at 10% of dietary DM. The growing study lasted for 84 d. Initial BW was an average of 2-d BW after a 3-d, restricted (1.75% of BW) feeding of 50% alfalfa hay and 50% corn silage (DM basis), and final BW was an average of 2-d BW after a 3-d, restricted (1.75% of BW) feeding of 31.5% corn silage, 10.0% alfalfa hay, 25.0% dry-rolled corn, 20.0% pressed beet pulp, 5.0% concentrated separator by-product, and 8.5% supplement (DM basis). After the growing study, the steers were weighed (415 +/- 32 kg), rerandomized, and allotted to 1 of 6 finishing diets. The control diet for the finishing study included 45% dry-rolled corn, 40% high-moisture corn, 5% brome hay, 5% pressed beet pulp, and 5% supplement. Pressed beet pulp replaced high-moisture corn at 5.0, 12.5, and 20.0% of the dietary DM, and concentrated separator by-product replaced high-moisture corn and supplement at 10.0% of diet DM. Steers were slaughtered on d 83 or 98 of the study. In the growing study, the addition of pressed beet pulp to growing diets linearly decreased (P = 0.001) DMI and ADG and inclusion of 10% concentrated separator by-product decreased (P = 0.001) G:F. Increased levels of pressed beet pulp in the finishing diets caused a linear decrease (P = 0.001) in ADG and tended (P = 0.06 and 0.07 for kg/d and % of BW, respectively) to quadratically decrease DMI, whereas addition of concentrated separator by-product increased (P = 0.02 and 0.001 for kg/d and % of BW, respectively) DMI. Apparent NEg of pressed beet pulp was 94.2% of that of corn in the growing study and 81.5% of that of corn in the finishing study.

Estimation of the Proportion of Feed Protein Digested in the Small Intestine of Cattle Consuming Wet Corn Gluten Feed

The objectives of this study were to expand the database and determine the intestinal digestibility of rumen undegradable protein (dRUP) of common dairy feeds and to determine the effects of feeding 37.9% wet corn gluten feed on these estimates. Two ruminally and duodenally fistulated steers were assigned randomly to a crossover design with 4-wk periods. The mobile bag technique was used to determine rumen undegradable protein (RUP), dRUP, total tract digestible protein, and total tract digestible dry matter of alfalfa hay, brome hay, alfalfa haylage, corn silage, whole cottonseed, soybean meal, soyhulls, ground corn, nonenzymatically browned soybean meal, and dried distillers grains. There was no consistent effect of diet on RUP, dRUP, total tract digestible protein, and total tract digestible dry matter. The RUP (% of crude protein) ranged from 5.97% for alfalfa haylage to 75.6% for nonenzymatically browned soybean meal. The dRUP ranged from 15.3% for alfalfa haylage to 96.5% for nonenzymatically browned soybean meal. The dRUP for alfalfa hay (33.9%), brome hay (39.1%), alfalfa haylage (15.5%), and corn silage (19.9%) were lower than National Research Council reported values. The higher dRUP of the nonenzymatically browned soybean meal is reflective of more total protein reaching the small intestine. The large range in dRUP was not reflected in total tract digestible protein (% of crude protein), with corn silage being the lowest at 85.2% and nonenzymatically browned soybean meal the highest at 97.9%. In this study, diet had little effect on intestinal digestibility of protein or dry matter.