Effects Of Corn Particle Size Research Articles

Effects of corn particle size, complete diet grinding, and diet form on finishing pig growth performance, caloric efficiency, carcass characteristics, and economics (2012)

A total of 855 pigs (PIC TR4 × Fast Genetics York × PIC Line 02), initially 56.54 lb BW) were used in a 111-d trial to evaluate the effects of corn particle size, complete diet grinding, and diet form (meal or pellet) on finishing pig growth performance, caloric efficiency, carcass characteristics, and economics. Pens of pigs were balanced by initial BW and randomly allotted to 1 of 5 dietary treatments with 9 replications per treatment. The same corn-soybean meal–based diets containing 30% dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) and 20% wheat middlings (midds) were used for all treatments. Diets were fed in four phases. Different processing techniques were used to create the 5 dietary treatments: (1) roller grinding the corn to approximately 650 μ with the diet fed in meal form; (2) hammer-mill grinding the corn to approximately 320 μ with the diet fed in meal form; (3) Treatment 2 but pelleted; (4) corn initially roller-mill ground to approximately 650 μ, then the complete mixed diet reground through a hammer mill to approximately 360 μ with the diet fed in meal form; and (5) Treatment 4 but pelleted.

Effect of corn particle size and soybean meal treatment on performance of finishing beef steers fed corn-silage-based diets

In the first experiment, 39 medium-frame beef steers (456 ± 41 kg) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate the effect of different feeding strategies to maximize energy and protein deposition on finishing performance and plasma amino acid profile of beef steers fed corn silage ad libitum for 99 d. To achieve this goal, steers were individually supplemented with either 6.6 kg DM d-1 of cracked corn (CC) or ground corn (GC) in combination with 540 g DM d-1 of either solvent extracted (SS) or lignosulfonate-treated soybean meal (Soypass® SP). Dry matter intake, average daily gain and feed to gain ratio were not affected by treatments or by their interaction (P > 0.10). When compared with SS, SP tended to increase (P = 0.07) grade fat (1.3 and 2.2 ± 0.5 mm, respectively). The CC diets reduced the plasma concentration of branched-chained amino acids (P = 0.03) and leucine (P = 0.01), and tended to decrease that of isoleucine (P = 0.06) compared with the GC diets. No effect of diet was observed on plasma urea-N concentration. In the second experiment, four steers were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to evaluate digestibility and N balance of the diets used in exp. 1. Reducing particle size of corn increased apparent digestibility of starch (P = 0.01) and tended to reduce apparent digestibility of NDF (P = 0.07). In conclusion, formulating diets with ground or cracked corn in combination with solvent extracted or lignosulfonate-treated soybean meal does not appear to influence steer performance or digestion parameters.

Effects of corn particle size on growth performance and nutrient utilization in young chicks

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of corn particle size on growth performance, ME(n), apparent total tract amino acid digestibility, and cecal microbial populations when young chicks were fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet. In all experiments, 1-d-old chicks were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments containing corn particle geometric mean diameters of 557, 858, 1,210, or 1,387 microm. Chicks were fed the experimental diets from 0 to 21 d posthatch and ME(n) and apparent total tract amino acid digestibility were determined at 7 and 21 d of age. When compared with the smallest geometric mean diameters of 557 microm, feeding the larger particle sizes had no effect on growth performance from 0 to 21 d in all experiments. Feeding larger corn particle sizes resulted in increases in relative gizzard weights in all experiments, with the greatest increase occurring with the 1,387-microm corn particle size. Gizzard pH was unaffected by corn particle size in all experiments. The ME(n) values and digestibility coefficients for most amino acids were higher (P < 0.05) at 21 d than at 7 d for all dietary treatments. In experiment 2, the ME(n) values showed a significant linear decrease (P < 0.007) as corn particle size increased at 7 d. The digestibility of most amino acids was unaffected by corn particle size at 7 or 21 d. Cecal lactobacilli populations were increased (P < 0.05) when the largest particle size was included in the diet. The results of these studies indicated that feeding larger particle size corn increased gizzard weight significantly but had no consistent effect on overall growth performance, ME(n), or amino acid digestibility.

Influence of feed form and corn particle size on the live performance and digestive tract development of turkeys

SUMMARY An experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of feed form and corn particle size on the performance, uniformity, intestinal pH, and allometry of gastrointestinal organs of turkeys. A completely randomized experimental design in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement—2 feed forms (crumbled and micropelleted) and 3 corn particle sizes (380, 606, and 806 µm)—was applied. The micropellets were 1.8 mm in diameter, and the crumbled diet was obtained after crushing 4-mm-diameter pellets in a roller mill. For the first 7 d, turkeys fed the micropelleted diet presented lower feed intake than those fed the crumbled diet, which induced lower gizzard and small intestine relative weights. However, 14- to 21-d-old birds fed the micropelleted diets showed increased feed intake and BW gain and improved FCR. The effects of corn particle size were independent of feed form. Turkeys fed diets with a 606-µm corn particle size had increased feed intake and BW gain. Relative gizzard weight increased with increasing corn particle size, and bird uniformity was worse when turkeys were fed small corn particles. We concluded that typical crumble feeding is adequate up to 14 d of age, after which micropellets present advantages in the live performance of turkeys up to 21 d of age.

Effect of corn particle size on mucosal morphology and digesta pH of the gastrointestinal tract in growing goats

A slaughter experiment was conducted to determine the effect of corn particle size on mucosal morphology and digesta pH in the gastrointestinal tract of goats. Twelve Guanzhong wether goats aged 9 months (23.5 ± 0.3 kg) were randomly fed diets containing 55% corn silage and 28% finely cracked, coarsely cracked or whole corn. After a 35 d feeding period, goats were slaughtered to obtain digesta samples for pH determination, and gastrointestinal mucosa for morphological analyses. Corn particle size did not affect ( P > 0.05) digesta pH in the rumen, the abomasum and the small intestine. In the ventral ruminal sac, corn particle size did not affect ( P > 0.05) papillae density, height, width, and muscle depth, and finely cracked corn increased ( P < 0.05) the papillae surface area compared with coarsely cracked and whole corn. In the dorsal ruminal sac, whole corn tended to decrease ( P < 0.10) papillae height and width, and decreased ( P < 0.05) papillae surface area compared with finely and coarsely cracked corn. There was no effect ( P > 0.05) of corn particle size on the morphology of the abomasum and total small intestine. These data suggest that finely cracked corn significantly enhanced the absorption surface area of the rumen papillae, and did not affect mucosal morphology and digesta pH of the abomasum and the small intestine in growing goats fed diets containing 35% of starch.

Effect of Corn Particle Size and Pellet Texture on Broiler Performance in the Growing Phase

A review of past literature revealed inconsistencies in recommended grain particle size for optimal broiler performance. Changing diet formulation and subsequent processing variables may alter pellet texture and potentially affect broiler performance. In the current study, ground corn, varying in size (781, 950, 1,042, 1,109, and 2,242 μm), was added to a soybean-based premix to create 5 different mash diets. Water and a commercial pellet binder were added separately to corn-soybean-based diets before steam pelleting to create 2 pelleted diets differing in texture (soft and hard, respectively). The objective was to evaluate corn particle size, pellet texture, and feed form variation of compound diets on 3- to 6-wk broiler performance, nutrient retention, carcass characteristics, TMEn, feed passage time, and particle size preference. Soft and hard pellets had similar pellet durability (90.4 and 86.2%, respectively) and fines (44.5 and 40.3%, respectively). Increasing particle size of mash diets improved nutrient retention. However, broiler performance and energy metabolism were decreased when corn particle size exceeded 1,042 μm. This observation was due, in part, to increased size and maintenance requirement of the gastrointestinal tract. Broilers fed hard pellets (1,856 g of pellet breaking force) had improved nutrient retention, TMEn, and subsequent performance compared with broilers fed soft pellets (1,662 g of pellet breaking force). Pellet texture may affect broilers in a manner similar to particle size.

Effect of corn particle size on site and extent of starch digestion in lactating dairy cows.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of corn particle size (CPS) on site and extent of starch digestion in lactating dairy cows. Animals were fitted with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal cannulas. Dry corn grain accounted for 36% of dry matter intake. In experiment 1, 6 cows were used in a duplicate 3 x 3 Latin square design. Semiflint corn was used. Corn processing methods were grinding, medium rolling, and coarse rolling. The mean particle size of the processed corn was 730, 1807, and 3668 microm, respectively. Rumen digestibility of starch linearly decreased from 59% with ground corn to 36% with coarsely rolled corn. Similarly, small intestine digestibility linearly decreased with increased CPS, and consequently, the amount of starch digested in the small intestine was not affected by corn processing. In experiment 2, 4 cows were used in a 2 x 2 crossover design. Dent corn was used. Corn processing methods were grinding and coarse rolling. The mean particle size of the processed corn was 568 and 3458 microm, respectively. Rumen digestibility of starch decreased from 70% with ground corn to 54% with coarsely rolled corn. Small intestine digestibility of starch was not significantly affected by CPS, and the amount of starch digested in the small intestine tended to be greater for rolled than for ground corn. In both experiments, starch total tract digestibility decreased with increased CPS. In conclusion, CPS is an efficient tool to manipulate rumen degradability of cornstarch. In midlactation cows, the decrease in the amount of starch digested in the rumen between grinding and coarse rolling is partly compensated for by an increase in the amount of starch digested in the small intestine with dent genotype, but with semiflint genotype postruminal digestion is not increased and rumen escape starch is not utilized by the animal.

Effects of corn particle size and physical form of the diet on the gastrointestinal structures of broiler chickens

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of different particle sizes, expressed as Geometric Mean Diameter (GMD) of corn (0.336mm, 0.585mm, 0.856mm and 1.12mm) of mash and pelleted broiler chicken diets on the weight of the gizzard, duodenum and jejunum+ileum; on the pH of the gizzard and small intestine and on the characteristics of the duodenal mucous layer (number and height of villi and crypt depth) in 42-day-old broilers. The physical form and the particle size of the diet had no significant effect on gizzard and intestine pH (p > 0.05). A greater gizzard weight was seen in the birds receiving pelleted diet and particle size of 0.336mm (p < 0.008). However, for the particle sizes of 0.856 and 1.12 mm, a greater weight was found in birds that received mash diet (p < 0.039 and p < 0.006, respectively). Also, gizzard weight was greater with increasing corn GMD independent of the physical form of the diet. In the mash diet, the increase in particle size promoted a quadratic response in the weight of duodenum and jejunum + ileum. The pelleted diet promoted a greater number of villi per transverse duodenum cut (p < 0.007) and greater crypt depth (p < 0.05). As the particle size increased, there was a linear increase of villus height and crypt depth in the duodenum, irrespective of the physical form of the diet.

Effects of Corn Particle Size and Source on Performance of Lactating Cows Fed Direct-Cut Grass-Legume Forage

We conducted two experiments to evaluate the effects of corn supplementation, source of corn, and corn particle size on performance and nutrient utilization of lactating dairy cows. In experiment 1, treatments were 1) direct-cut grass-legume forage without supplement, 2) direct-cut forage plus 10kg DM of ground dry shelled corn-based concentrate, and 3) direct-cut forage plus 10kg DM of coarsely ground high moisture ear corn-based concentrate. In experiment 2, treatments were 1) direct-cut grass-legume forage plus 10kg DM of ground dry shelled corn-based concentrate, 2) direct-cut forage plus 10kg DM of coarsely ground high moisture ear corn-based concentrate, and 3) direct-cut forage plus 10kg of DM finely ground high moisture ear corn-based concentrate. Both experiments were designed as 3 x 3 Latin squares replicated three times. In experiment 1, yields of milk and milk protein increased with concentrate supplementation, but were not affected by source of corn. Solids-corrected milk yield tended to increase with grain supplementation. Dry matter intake increased with concentrate supplementation, but was not affected by source of corn or corn particle size. Corn supplements decreased ruminal pH and acetate to propionate ratio and increased ruminal propionate concentration. Grain supplements reduced ruminal ammonia concentration,6 increased concentration of urine allantoin, and increased the urinary allantoin to creatinine ratio. In the second study, fine grinding of high moisture corn reduced fecal starch plus free glucose levels and tended to increase its apparent digestibility. In both experiments, starch plus free glucose intake was higher on the diets with dry corn, but its utilization was not affected by source of corn.

Corn Grits Particle Size and Distribution Effects on the Characteristics of Expanded Extrudates

ABSTRACTThe effects of corn particle size and distribution on the ex trusion‐cooking process was studied. Extrusion cooking was carried out in a twin‐screw corotating extruder. The effects of particle characteristics were studied by analyzing process responses on‐line, by expansion indices, mechanical (puncture test) and structural (computerized image analysis) prop erties of the extrudate. An increase in particle size for a given biochemical composition gave extrudates that were harder, with a modified expansion and lower cell density. The par ticle size distribution in the range studied was not significant. Correlations were found between expansion indices and process responses.