Effects of feeding processed corn stover and distillers grains on growth performance and metabolism of beef cattle

Abstract

Objectives were to evaluate the effects of replacing corn in feedlot finishing diets with processed corn stover (CS), processed by various combinations of chemical and physical methods, and modified wet distillers grain with solubles (MWDGS) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, digestibility, and ruminal metabolism of cattle. Corn stover was physically processed (ground or extruded) and chemically processed with alkaline agents (CaO and NaOH) to reduce the crystallinity of the lignocellulosic structure. In Exp. 1 steers ( = 18, initial BW = 385 ± 32 kg) and heifers ( = 41, initial BW = 381 ± 27 kg) were allotted to 1 of 5 dietary treatments: 1) 55% dry, cracked corn, 35% MWDGS, 5% vitamin-mineral supplement, and 5% untreated ground CS (), 2) CS treated with 5% CaO (DM basis) and stored in an Ag-Bag (BGCS), 3) CS treated with 5% CaO (DM basis) and extruded (5 EXCS), 4) CS treated with 4% CaO and 1% NaOH (DM basis) and extruded (4,1 EXCS), or 5) CS treated with 3% CaO and 2% NaOH (DM basis) and extruded (3,2 EXCS). Extruded CS was hydrated to 34% moisture, then an additional 16% water was added, as a solution carrying CaO or NaOH or both, via a calibrated pump during processing through a dual-shafted encased extruder (Readco Kurimoto Continuous Processor, York, PA) with the desired exiting temperature of 76.7°C ± 2.8°C. All treated CS diets contained 20% CS and 40% MWDGS (DM basis) to replace 20% corn when compared to CON. There were no effects ( ≥ 0.20) of dietary treatment on ADG, G:F, 12th-rib back fat, marbling score, LM area, or yield grade. However, cattle fed CON had increased ( = 0.02) DMI compared to cattle fed the treated CS diets. In Exp. 2, using the same diets as fed in Exp. 1, ruminally cannulated steers ( = 5; initial BW = 417 ± 21 kg) were fed for 90% of ad libitum intake in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Apparent digestibility of NDF and ADF increased ( < 0.01) when cattle were fed treated CS diets compared with CON, regardless of the treatment applied. Ruminal pH was reduced ( = 0.02) in cattle fed BGCS from 0 to 6 h postfeeding compared with cattle fed all other diets. Cattle fed the treated CS diets had the greatest ( < 0.01) mean acetate concentrations, which increased ( = 0.01) total VFA concentrations. Replacing a portion of the corn with treated CS in feedlot diets containing MWDGS increased fiber digestibility without affecting feedlot cattle gain, efficiency, marbling score, or LM area.

Performance, carcass traits and meat quality of lambs fed coffee hulls treated with calcium oxide

“…Alkaline treatments are well-known in improving microorganism fermentation of poor quality feedstuffs due to reduction of crystallinity of lignocellulosic structure (Kerley et al, 1985;Zaman and Owen, 1995;Chapple et al, 2015). As expected, contents of NDF, ADF and lignin reduced on TCH compared with untreated coffee hulls (Table 2), while content of NDF on total diets increased because of treatments that consisted of increasing levels of TCH (Table 1).…”

Inclusion of calcium oxide in sugarcane silage under different particle sizes on performance of dairy cows

“…Alkaline treatments have been reported to improve NDFap digestibility in different forages (Klopfenstein, 1978), including sugarcane (Daniel et al, 2013), due to reduction of crystallinity of lignocellulosic structure (Chapple et al, 2015), with consequent increase in intake. However, as in our research, Mariz et al (2013) also found no difference in the DMI of cattle fed with sugarcane silage treated with 0; 0.4 and 0.8% CaO.…”

“…Moreover, alkaline treatment of low-quality roughages often improves ber digestibility (Chapple et al, 2015). Calcium oxide (CaO) can reduce the ber content and improve the digestibility of sugarcane silage (Amaral et al, 2009;Santos et al, 2009).…”

Performance of growing beef cattle consuming bahiagrass hay treated with calcium oxide and molasses

“…Chemical treatment of poor-quality roughages (e.g., crop residues) with CaO has been extensively researched considering cattle performance when treated residues replaced corn in finishing ( Shreck et al, 2013 ; Chapple et al, 2015 ; Shreck et al, 2015 ) or backgrounding ( Shreck et al, 2014 ; Peterson et al, 2015b ) diets. The literature varies indicating either no negative effects and similar performance in cattle consuming diets with treated residues ( Chapple et al, 2015 ; Shreck et al, 2015 ) or increases in average daily gain (ADG) and gain to feed ratio in cattle consuming treated residues in high-forage growing diets ( Peterson et al, 2015b ).…”