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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Livestock Nutrient Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #233714
Title: Effects of corn processing method and wet distiller's grains plus solubles (WDGS) inclusion and source on in situ digestibility and ruminal Ph of crossbred steers

Author
item LEWIS, JIM
item JENKINS, KARLA
item PATTERSON, JODI
item Cole, Noel
item OSTERSTOCK, JASON
item TEDESCHI, LUIS
item MACDONALD, JIM

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/2008
Publication Date: 1/31/2009
Citation: Lewis, J.B., Jenkins, K., Patterson, J., Cole, N.A., Osterstock, J., Tedeschi, L., MacDonald, J. 2009. Effects of corn processing method and wet distiller's grains plus solubles (WDGS) inclusion and source on in situ digestibility and ruminal Ph of crossbred steers [abstract]. In: Abstracts of 2009 Southern Section of American Society of Animal Science Conference, January 31-February 3, 2009, Atlanta, Georgia. Paper No. 120, p. 40.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Six ruminally and duodenally cannulated crossbred steers (472kg) were used in a 6 x 6 Latin square design to determine effects of corn processing method and wet distiller's grains plus soluble (WDGS) inclusion and source on in situ digestibly and ruminal pH. The 6 finishing diets were dry-rolled corn (DRC) or steam-flaked corn (SFC) based, with and without 20% WDGS from corn (CWDGS) or sorghum (SWDGS). All diets contained 10% alfalfa hay, 5% glycerin, and 0.70% supplement that provided vitamins, minerals, monensin, and tylosin. Diets were formulated to contain 6% dietary fat, 0.70% calcium and 13.5% crude protein. Periods were 21 days in length with 16 days for adaptation and 5 days for collections. Ruminal fluid pH was tested 4 times a day for 3 days with sampling adjusted 2-h each d so that ruminal pH was tested every 2-h over a 24-h period. Samples of DRC, SFC, CWDGS, and SWDGS were incubated in situ for 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, and 48-h. Samples were incubated only in steers consuming diets containing that sample. Average ruminal pH was greater in steers consuming DRC-based diets than SFC-based diets (P < 0.01), and was greater in steers consuming SWDGS than CWDGS and no WDGS (P < 0.01). Average ruminal pH for steers consuming CWDGS did not differ from steers that did not consume WDGS (P = 0.65). There was no effect of WDGS on in situ digestibility of corn (P > 0.13); however, SFC had a greater soluble fraction (P < 0.01) and a smaller potentially digestible fraction (P < 0.01) than DRC. The indigestible fractions of DRC and SFC did not differ (P = 0.12). Steam flaked corn had a greater effective ruminal digestibility than DRC (P < 0.01). Corn processing method had no effect on the soluble fraction (P > 0.21) or the indigestible fraction (P > 0.19) of WDGS. The potentially digestible fraction of CWDGS and SWDGS did not differ in SFC-based diets (P = 0.71), but was greater for SWDGS than CWDGS in DRC-based diets (P = 0.02). The effective ruminal digestibility was greater for CWDGS than SWDGS regardless of corn processing method (P < 0.01). An interaction of corn processing method and WDGS for feed efficiency is not explained by an interaction of in situ digestibility.