Fermented Whole Crop Wheat Research Articles

Effects of fermented whole-crop wheat and barley with or without supplementing inoculant (probiotics) on palatability, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota and blood constituents in finishing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of fermented whole crop cereal on palatability and performance in finishing pigs. In Exp. 1, a total of 20 finishing pigs ((Landrace ´ Yorkshier) Duroc) were allotted to 4 dietary treatments to check the palatability of the dietary feed. Diet treatments were included a basal diet; FW = basal diets + 1% fermented wheat without inoculum, FWI = basal diets + 1% fermented wheat with inoculum, FB = basal diets + 1% fermented barley without inoculum, FBI = basal diets + 1% fermented barley with inoculum. Throughout the experimental period, pigs fed FWI and FBI diets had significantly higher feed palatability compared with FW, FB diets. In Exp. 2, a total of 20 finishing pigs were allotted to 4 dietary treatments (1 pigs/pen, 5 pigs/treatment). Dietary treatments were same as Exp. 1. In nutrient digestibility, pigs fed FWI had higher dry matter digestibility. The number of Lactobacillus in feces was significantly higher in FWI treatments inoculated with feed microorganisms. Our results indicated that dietary supplementation with fermented wheat and barley with supplementing inoculant had a beneficial effect in finishing pigs.

Effects of restricted feeding with fermented whole-crop barley and wheat on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristic, and fecal microbiota in finishing pigs

Effects of restricted feeding with fermented whole-crop barley and wheat on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristic, and fecal microbiota in finishing pigs

Evaluation of fermented whole crop wheat and barley feeding on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, faecal volatile fatty acid emission, blood constituents, and faecal microbiota in growing pigs

This study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding diets with fermented whole crop wheat (FWW) and fermented whole crop barley (FWB) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood constituents, faecal volatile fatty acid (VFA) emission and faecal microbiota in growing pigs. A total of 200 growing pigs were randomly allotted to five treatments with eight replicates per treatment and five pigs per replicate. Dietary treatments consisted of i) CON (basal diet), ii) 0.5% FWW (CON + 0.5% fermented whole crop wheat), iii) 1.0% FWW (CON + 1.0% fermented whole crop wheat), iv) 0.5% FWB (CON + 0.5% fermented whole crop barley), and v) 1.0% FWB (CON + 1.0% fermented whole crop barley). The digestibility of total dietary fibre was significantly higher in pigs fed FWW diets. The faecal emissions of VFA of pigs fed the fermented treatments was increased significantly compared with CON. Concentrations of cortisol and triglyceride in blood of pigs fed 1.0% FWW were significantly lower than pigs fed CON diets. The pigs fed 1.0% FWB diets had a significantly decreased level of total cholesterol in blood compared with CON. In conclusion, the current results indicated that diets supplemented with FWW and FWB could increase faecal VFA emission and reduce concentration of triglyceride and cortisol, while 0.5% and 1.0% FWW had no negative effects on growth performance, and could increase digestibility of dietary fibre in growing pigs. Keywords: Dietary fibre, faecal short-chain fatty acid emissions, fermented feed, serum parameter, swine

Rumen fermentation, microbial protein synthesis, and nutrient flow to the omasum in cattle offered corn silage, grass silage, or whole-crop wheat1

The objectives of this study were to determine the relative effect of feeding corn silage (CS), fermented whole-crop wheat (FWCW), and urea-treated processed whole-crop wheat (UPWCW) compared with grass silage (GS), each supplemented with concentrates, on forage intake, ruminal fermentation, microbial protein synthesis, some plasma metabolites, and ruminal and total tract digestibility in cattle. Four ruminally fistulated steers with a mean BW of 509 kg (SD 6.3) were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square-designed experiment with each period lasting 21 d. The omasal sampling technique in combination with a triple marker method was used to measure nutrient flows to the omasum with Co-EDTA, Yb acetate, and indigestible NDF as liquid, small particle, and large particle phase markers, respectively. Microbial N flow was assessed from purine base concentrations. Steers fed CS, FWCW, and UPWCW consumed 2.7, 2.4, and 2.6 kg/d more (P < 0.05) forage and total DMI, respectively, than those fed GS-based diets. Rumen pH (P = 0.07) and lactic acid (P = 0.11) concentration did not differ between the forages. Rumen concentration of NH(3)-N was greatest for UPWCW and least for CS (P < 0.001). Total VFA concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) for CS than GS and UPWCW, with FWCW being intermediate. Acetate-to-propionate ratio (P < 0.05) was greater (P < 0.05) for UPWCW than the other forages, which did not differ. Apparent ruminal digestion of OM (P < 0.05) was less for CS, FWCW, and UPWCW than GS. Ruminal NDF digestibility was greater (P < 0.01) for GS than the other forages, which did not differ (P > or = 0.06). Total tract NDF digestibility was less (P < 0.05) for UPWCW than the other forages, with GS being greatest and CS and FWCW being intermediate. Starch intake was less (P < 0.001) for GS than the other forages, but there was no effect of forage on omasal starch flow (P = 0.23) or ruminal digestibility (P = 0.88). Flow of non-NH(3)-N and microbial N was greater (P < 0.05) for CS, FWCW, and UPWCW than GS. Efficiency of microbial N synthesis was greater (P < 0.05) for FWCW than GS and CS, with UPWCW being intermediate. Plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were greatest with CS and least for GS (P < 0.001), whereas concentrations of plasma urea were least for CS and greatest for UPWCW (P < 0.001). In conclusion, feeding alternative forages to GS can significantly increase feed DMI and alter rumen fermentation and site of nutrient digestion when offered to cattle supplemented with 3 kg of concentrate daily.

Whole crop cereals: 1. Effect of method of harvest and preservation on chemical composition, apparent digestibility and energy value

A total of 133 samples (53 fermented unprocessed, 18 fermented processed, 62 urea-treated processed) of whole crop wheat (WCW) and 16 samples (five fermented unprocessed, six fermented processed, five urea-treated processed) of whole crop barley (WCB) were collected from commercial farms over two consecutive years (2003/2004 and 2004/2005). Disruption of the maize grains to increase starch availability was achieved at the point of harvest by processors fitted to the forage harvesters. All samples were subjected to laboratory analysis whilst 50 of the samples (24 from Year 1, 26 from Year 2; all WCW except four WCB in Year 2) were subjected to in vivo digestibility and energy value measurements using mature wether sheep. Urea-treated WCW had higher (P<0.05) pH, and dry matter (DM) and crude protein contents and lower concentrations of fermentation products than fermented WCW. Starch was generally lower in fermented, unprocessed WCW and no effect of crop maturity at harvest (as indicated by DM content) on starch concentrations was seen. Urea-treated WCW had higher (P<0.05) in vivo digestible organic matter contents in the DM (DOMD) in Year 1 although this was not recorded in Year 2. There was a close relationship between the digestibility values of organic matter and gross energy thus aiding the use of DOMD to predict metabolisable energy (ME) content. A wide range of ME values was observed (WCW, 8.7–11.8 MJ/kg DM; WCB 7.9–11.2 MJ/kg DM) with the overall ME/DOMD ratio (ME = 0.0156 DOMD) in line with studies in other forages. There was no evidence that a separate ME/DOMD relationship was needed for WCB which is helpful for practical application. This ratio and other parameters were affected by year of harvest (P<0.05) highlighting the influence of environmental and other undefined factors. The variability in the composition and nutritive value of WCW and WCB highlights the need for reliable and accurate evaluation methods to be available to assess the value of these forages before they are included in diets for dairy cows.

Intake, performance and carcass characteristics of beef cattle offered diets based on whole-crop wheat or forage maize relative to grass silage or ad libitum concentrates

Seventy beef steers, mean initial live-weight 424 (S.D. 33.0) kg, were blocked by live-weight and breed and allocated to one of 5 dietary treatments in a randomised complete block design. Treatments, including supplementation with 3 kg concentrates/head/day, were grass silage (GS), maize silage (MS), fermented whole-crop wheat (FWCW), urea-treated, processed whole-crop wheat (UPWCW), and ad libitum concentrates supplemented with 5 kg grass silage/head/day (ALC). The grain in urea-treated, processed whole-crop wheat (WCW) was cracked and the crop ensiled with a urea plus urease-based additive. The mean dry matter (DM) of the grass silage, maize silage, fermented WCW and urea-treated, processed WCW was 174, 315, 404 and 716 g/kg, respectively. Total DM intake and carcass growth were lowest for GS ( P < 0.001). Relative to ALC, feed conversion efficiency (FCE) ( P < 0.05), live-weight gain ( P < 0.05), carcass-weight gain ( P < 0.01) and kill-out rate ( P < 0.05) were lower for GS, FWCW and UPWCW. The MS had a better FCE than the UPWCW ( P < 0.001) or the FWCW ( P < 0.05). Plasma urea concentration was lowest for MS and highest for UPWCW ( P < 0.001). Animals offered the GS treatment had the most yellow fat (higher ( P < 0.05) ‘b’ value) and those offered UPWCW had the whitest fat (lower ( P < 0.01) ‘b’ value). It is concluded that MS, FWCW and UPWCW supported superior levels of growth by cattle compared to GS ( in vitro DM digestibility 674 g/kg). There was no animal productivity advantage with UPWCW compared to FWCW.

Comparative Evaluation of Alternative Forages to Grass Silage in the Diet of Early Lactation Dairy Cows

Fifty-six autumn-calving Holstein-Friesian cows, blocked on the basis of days in milk (27.6±10.65 d), lactation number (3.1±2.21), and preexperimental milk yield (28.4±6.69kg) were used to examine the effects of replacing 330 g/kg of dry matter (DM) of first-cut perennial ryegrass silage with either fermented whole-crop wheat (WCW), urea-treated processed WCW, or corn silage on subsequent feed intake, milk production, and efficiency of nitrogen utilization. The DM (g/kg), crude protein (CP, g/kg of DM) and in vitro DM digestibility (g/kg) of the forages were 204, 179, and 762 for grass silage; 389, 90, and 711 for fermented WCW; 795, 141, and 768 for urea-treated processed WCW; and 346, 93, and 783 for corn silage, respectively. Four forage treatments were evaluated as follows: 1) grass silage as the sole forage (GS); 2) a mixture of grass silage and fermented WCW silage, (F-WCW); 3) a mixture of grass silage and urea-treated processed WCW, (UP-WCW); and 4) a mixture of grass silage and corn silage (CS). In all cases, the alternative forages comprised 67% of the forage mix on a DM basis. Isonitrogenous diets were formulated by offering all cows 8kg of concentrate as fed, formulated to different CP concentrations. Cows were offered these diets from 28 to 104 d in milk. Total DM intake and milk yield were greater on UP-WCW (20.0 and 30.2kg/d) and CS (18.3 and 33.2kg/d) than on GS (13.5 and 26.5kg/d). Although DM intake was greater on F-WCW (17.1kg/d) than on GS, milk yield was not significantly greater (+2.7kg/d). Milk protein concentration was greater on F-WCW (30.5 g/kg), UP-WCW (31.3 g/kg), and CS (30.7 g/kg) than on GS (28.5 g/kg). However, there was no difference between treatments in milk fat or lactose concentrations. Body weight change was greater for cows offered GS (−0.27kg/d) than for those offered UP-WCW (−0.01kg/d) and CS (+0.05kg/d) but not compared with those offered F-WCW (−0.06kg/d). There was no effect of treatment on plasma glucose, nonesterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, urea, or total protein at d 64±17.4 and d 92±17.4 postpartum. Efficiency of N utilization was greatest for CS with 0.36 of N intake being recovered in milk compared with 0.28, 0.32, and 0.26 for GS, F-WCW, and UP-WCW, respectively. There was no effect of treatment on milk urea N concentration or the urinary allantoin N to creatinine N ratio. The results of this experiment indicate that corn silage is a more suitable supplementary forage to grass silage than fermented or urea-treated processed WCW, with advantages realized in milk production and more efficient N utilization.

The effect of rate of inclusion of processed, urea-treated whole-crop wheat on the intake and milk production and apparent digestibility in dairy cows

The development of a forage processor that grinds the grains in whole-crop wheat (WCW) prior to ensiling has been shown to improve whole tract digestibility of the starch component and improve the efficiency of forage utilisation (Jackson et al. 2004). This allows wheat to be harvested over a much wider harvest window than was previously possible. Further work (Bond et al., 2004) demonstrated that animals fed processed, urea-treated WCW harvested at 700 g dry matter (DM) per kg had a significantly higher milk yield than those fed fermented WCW harvested at approximately 450 g DM/kg, or urea-treated WCW harvested at approximately 850 g DM/kg. Previously, processed, urea-treated WCW for dairy cows has been included at 0.67 of the forage DM intake, although, the optimal inclusion rate of processed WCW is unclear. The objective of the current experiment was to investigate the effect of rate of inclusion of processed, urea-treated WCW on the performance and apparent digestibility in dairy cows.

Effects of crop maturity and cutting height on the nutritive value of fermented whole crop wheat and milk production in dairy cows

Factors influencing the nutritive value of fermented whole crop wheat (WCW) and effects on milk production in dairy cows were investigated in three experiments. In experiment 1, WCW was harvested at one of two maturities: at a dry matter (DM) content of 296 g/kg, 52 g/kg DM starch (LS) or DM of 371 g/kg, 221 g/kg DM starch (HS). Ninety early lactation dairy cows were split into three groups and fed either LS, HS or a first cut grass silage (G). The WCW was mixed 2:1 on a DM basis with the grass silage. There was no significant effect of dietary treatment on milk production (kg/day) although cows fed the low starch WCW (LS) had the lowest milk protein concentration (mean values of 32.1, 30.7 and 31.6 g/kg for cows fed G, LS and HS, respectively, P<0.05). Plasma urea levels were significantly lower in cows fed the HS compared with the LS treatment ( P<0.05). In experiment 2, ninety early lactation dairy cows were fed one of three dietary treatments: WCW harvested at a long straw length and supplemented with either a starchy concentrate (LW) or a more fibrous concentrate (LF) or a short straw length and supplemented with a fibrous concentrate (SF). The WCW was mixed 1:1 on a DM basis with first cut grass silage. Increasing the cutting height increased starch concentrations from 232 to 292 g/kg DM and reduced neutral detergent fibre from 433 to 384 g/kg DM in the long and short straw WCW, respectively. There was no significant effect of dietary treatment on milk production, composition or body condition score over the experimental period. The lower plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentration in cows fed LW or SF during week 10 of lactation indicate a more positive energy balance in early lactation on these treatments. In experiment 3 the apparent digestibility of the grass silage, long straw whole crop wheat or short straw WCW fed at maintenance or the long straw WCW fed ad libitum was determined in growing lambs. Digestibility coefficients of the grass silage were significantly higher than those of any of the WCW forages, particularly for the fibre fractions. The digestibility of starch was high in all three WCW treatments and averaged 0.955 kg/kg but was not affected by straw length or feeding level. The improvement in metabolisable energy value (MJ/kg DM) by increasing the cutting height at harvest was small and not significant. Increasing the maturity at harvest and decreasing the length of straw at cutting was also observed to have a small but significant effect on decreasing the aerobic stability of the WCW forages. The results indicate that fermented whole crop wheat can provide a comparable milk production to a good quality grass silage and that harvesting at a later stage of maturity had little effect on milk production although milk protein levels tended to be higher in cows fed the higher starch material. There was little advantage to altering cutting height of fermented WCW on apparent digestibility or by altering supplement composition on milk production.

The effect of stage of maturity and endosperm type on the in situ dry matter degradability of fermented whole crop wheat silage

Whole crop wheat (WCW) silage is potentially an important complementary forage to grass silage grown in the UK and recent studies suggest that although partial replacement of grass silage with either urea treated or fermented WCW increases forage intakes, responses in terms of milk yield and composition are poor. For urea treated WCW this has been attributed to the fact that mature intact grains are poorly digested in the rumen. (Abdulla et al. (1996). However, the rumen degradation characteristics of fermented WCW are unclear. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of crop maturity (Mat) and endosperm type (Endo) on the in situ dry matter (DM) degradability characteristics of fermented WCW silage.

The effect of cutting height at harvest on the aerobic stability and digestibility of fermented whole crop wheat silage offered to sheep

Previous work with fermented whole crop wheat (WCW) silage has focussed on the effects of stage of maturity on nutritive value and milk production (Sinclair and Wilkinson 1998). An alternative means of manipulating nutritive value may be to alter the relative proportions of grain to straw by changing the cutting height at harvest. The objectives of the current experiment were to determine the effects of two cutting heights on the aerobic stability and whole tract digestibility of fermented WCW silage offered to sheep.Winter wheat (variety Hunter) was grown as a conventional crop and harvested at a dry matter (DM) content of 450 g/kg and a Zadock growth stage of approximately 85 (soft dough). The crop was cut to leave a stubble length of either 17.9 cm (long straw, LS) or 38.2 cm (short straw, SS) prior to ensiling in separate ag-bags.

Effects of cutting height at harvest of fermented whole crop wheat and supplement type on milk production by dairy cows

Previous work conducted with fermented whole crop wheat (WCW) silage has focussed on the effects that stage of maturity can have on nutritive value and milk production (Sinclair and Wilkinson 1998, Phippset al.1998). An alternative means of manipulating the nutritive value of WCW is to alter the relative proportion of straw to grain through altering cutting height at harvest. Additionally, the form of energy supplied by the concentrate also offers the potential of manipulating milk production in cows fed diets containing WCW. The objectives of the current experiment were therefore to determine the effect of two cutting heights at harvest and supplement type on the performance of dairy cows offered fermented WCW silage.

Effects of stage of maturity of fermented whole crop wheat on milk production by dairy cows

Previous work conducted with whole crop wheat (WCW) as a forage for dairy cattle has focussed on harvesting the crop at a relatively mature stage and the addition of urea to act as a preservative (e.g. Cammell et al., 1996). Fermented WCW has the potential of being an important complementary forage to grass silage for dairy cows but avoids the addition of large quantities of nitrogen to the crop at ensiling required for urea treatment. However, little work has been conducted to evaluate the effects of stage of maturity of whole crop wheat on subsequent animal performance. The objectives of the current experiment were to examine the effects of stage of maturity of fermented WCW on milk production, liveweight and blood metabolite concentrations of dairy cows.The winter wheat variety Hunter was grown as a conventional cereal crop and cut at two stages of maturity. The first cut (low starch) was when the crop was approximately 300g/kg dry matter (DM) and Zadoks growth stage 71 (watery ripe) and the second (high starch) at approximately 370g/kg DM and growth stage 85 (soft dough).

Effects of stage of maturity of fermented whole crop wheat on milk production by dairy cows

Previous work conducted with whole crop wheat (WCW) as a forage for dairy cattle has focussed on harvesting the crop at a relatively mature stage and the addition of urea to act as a preservative (e.g. Cammell et al., 1996). Fermented WCW has the potential of being an important complementary forage to grass silage for dairy cows but avoids the addition of large quantities of nitrogen to the crop at ensiling required for urea treatment. However, little work has been conducted to evaluate the effects of stage of maturity of whole crop wheat on subsequent animal performance. The objectives of the current experiment were to examine the effects of stage of maturity of fermented WCW on milk production, liveweight and blood metabolite concentrations of dairy cows.The winter wheat variety Hunter was grown as a conventional cereal crop and cut at two stages of maturity. The first cut (low starch) was when the crop was approximately 300g/kg dry matter (DM) and Zadoks growth stage 71 (watery ripe) and the second (high starch) at approximately 370g/kg DM and growth stage 85 (soft dough).

Whole crop wheat: effect of crop maturity on feed intake and milk production of dairy cows

Interest in the use of whole crop cereals as a complementary forage for dairy cows has developed in Europe over the last fifteen years. Initial studies in the UK concluded that near maximum dry matter (DM) yield/ha of whole crop wheat (WCW) occurred in late July/early August when crops contained at least 500 g/kg DM. However, it was noted that when these crops were ensiled they tended to be aerobically unstable. To minimise this problem it was recommended that these crops were preserved with urea rather than being ensiled. Early studies with dairy cows demonstrated that the use of both urea-treated and low DM fermented WCW increased forage intake and milk yield but effects on milk composition were inconsistent (Leaver and Hill, 1992, Phipps et al., 1995). Concern has been expressed that the use of urea in crop preservation was environmentally unacceptable and that high DM fermented WCW offered a possible alternative, which would provide high DM yields/ha of a starch-rich crop. The objective of the current study was to examine the effect of crop maturity on feed intake and milk production of dairy cows. An additional treatment was included to examine the effectiveness of an additive containing L. buchneri designed to improve aerobic stability.

Whole crop wheat: effect of crop maturity on feed intake and milk production of dairy cows

Interest in the use of whole crop cereals as a complementary forage for dairy cows has developed in Europe over the last fifteen years. Initial studies in the UK concluded that near maximum dry matter (DM) yield/ha of whole crop wheat (WCW) occurred in late July/early August when crops contained at least 500 g/kg DM. However, it was noted that when these crops were ensiled they tended to be aerobically unstable. To minimise this problem it was recommended that these crops were preserved with urea rather than being ensiled. Early studies with dairy cows demonstrated that the use of both urea-treated and low DM fermented WCW increased forage intake and milk yield but effects on milk composition were inconsistent (Leaver and Hill, 1992, Phipps et al., 1995). Concern has been expressed that the use of urea in crop preservation was environmentally unacceptable and that high DM fermented WCW offered a possible alternative, which would provide high DM yields/ha of a starch-rich crop. The objective of the current study was to examine the effect of crop maturity on feed intake and milk production of dairy cows. An additional treatment was included to examine the effectiveness of an additive containing L. buchneri designed to improve aerobic stability.

The effect of concentrate level on feed intake and milk production of dairy cows offered mixed forage diets

The increasing interest in the potential of forage mixtures for milk production in the UK resulted in a three year study being commissioned at the Centre for Dairy Research by the Milk Marketing Board. Year 1 compared the effect on forage intake and yield of milk and milk constituents of replacing grass silage (GS) with either fodder beet (FB), urea-treated (4%) (UW) or fermented whole-crop wheat (FW) or brewers grains (BG) at 330 g/kg of forage DM or maize silage at either 330 (MS) or 750 (MSH) g/kg forage DM. All cows received 6 kg DM/day of an appropriate concentrate so that dietary crude protein (CP) was equalised. Tire use of forage mixtures significantly increased DM intake and milk yield. Significant changes were also recorded in milk quality. Milk fat content was depressed by BG and MSH but increased by FB, while MS and FB increased milk protein content when compared with GS. The aim of the current study was to determine the effect of concentrate level on feed intake and milk production of Friesian cows offered a forage ration of either GS or mixtures of GS and either 330 g/kg forage DM of MS, FB or BG, or 750 g/kg forage DM of maize silage (MSH).

The effect of concentrate level on feed intake and milk production of dairy cows offered mixed forage diets

The increasing interest in the potential of forage mixtures for milk production in the UK resulted in a three year study being commissioned at the Centre for Dairy Research by the Milk Marketing Board. Year 1 compared the effect on forage intake and yield of milk and milk constituents of replacing grass silage (GS) with either fodder beet (FB), urea-treated (4%) (UW) or fermented whole-crop wheat (FW) or brewers grains (BG) at 330 g/kg of forage DM or maize silage at either 330 (MS) or 750 (MSH) g/kg forage DM. All cows received 6 kg DM/day of an appropriate concentrate so that dietary crude protein (CP) was equalised. Tire use of forage mixtures significantly increased DM intake and milk yield. Significant changes were also recorded in milk quality. Milk fat content was depressed by BG and MSH but increased by FB, while MS and FB increased milk protein content when compared with GS. The aim of the current study was to determine the effect of concentrate level on feed intake and milk production of Friesian cows offered a forage ration of either GS or mixtures of GS and either 330 g/kg forage DM of MS, FB or BG, or 750 g/kg forage DM of maize silage (MSH).