Efficacy of Anhydrous Ammonia and Sulfur Dioxide as Preservatives for High-Moisture Grain and Their Effect on the Nutritive Value of Barley for Growing-Finishing Cattle

Abstract

The effectiveness of ammonia and sulfur dioxide as preservatives for high-moisture barley grain and their influence on digestibility, rate and efficiency of gain, and the selenium and thiamin status of feedlot steers were examined. Duplicate 18-t plastic-bag bins were prepared with the following type and amount (wt/wt, dry matter (DM) basis) of preservative applied to low (23%) or high (32%) moisture barley: (1) high-moisture barley, no preservative (control); (2) high-moisture barley, 1.1% ammonia (1.1%-NH3); (3) high-moisture barley, 2.3% ammonia (2.3%-NH3); (4) low-moisture barley, 1.3% sulfur dioxide (1.3%-LMSO2); and (5) high-moisture barley, 1.7% sulfur dioxide (1.7%-SO2). Heating occurred in the control barley. Mold and yeast populations were substantially reduced in barley treated with ammonia which appeared well preserved. Considerable deterioration occurred in the core of one 1.3%-LMSO2 bin. Crude protein digestibility was lower (P < 0.001) for an all-concentrate diet containing 1.1%-NH3 barley fed whole (66.8%) than for three other diets containing rolled barley (mean 81.1%), although apparent digestibilities of other feed components were similar (P > 0.05). When the preserved grains were each fed to a group of 12 steers (363 kg initial weight) along with 1.0 kg hay daily, gains were 1.46, 1.72, 1.67, 1.33 and 1.31 kg d−1 (P < 0.05) for steers fed control, 1.1%-NH3, 2.3%-NH3, 1.3%-LMSO2, or 1.7%-SO2-treated barley, respectively. Corresponding kilograms of DM required per kilogram of grain were 6.11, 5.41, 5.53, 6.76, and 6.72 (P < 0.05). Serum selenium concentrations and thiamin status were similar (P > 0.05) for steers in all treatments at the end of the test. Key words: High-moisture barley, steers, preservatives, ammonia, sulfur dioxide

Effect of feeding whole and rolled barley to steers in the morning or afternoon in diets containing differing proportions of hay and grain

“…Chemical analyses were similar to those described by Mathison, Engstrom, Kennelly, Roth and Beck (1989).…”

Chromium and protein supplements for growing-finishing beef steers fed barley-based diets

“…Chang and Mowat (1992) (Veira et al 1985(Veira et al , 1988 (Anonymous 1992 Protein, minerals and DM content of the feeds were determined as described by Mathison et al (1989). Water in silage was determined by drying in an oven at 100oC to constant weight during the experimental period as well as by gas chromatogaphy (Fenton et al 1981) (Martin et al 1980;Lofgreen 1983;Mwansa et al 1991 ).…”

A novel ammoniation treatment of barley as a strategy to optimize rumen pH, feed degradability and microbial protein synthesis in sheep

“…9 These findings are in line with the observed tendency for a higher N total tract apparent digestibility (+21%) in the AMM compared to the CTL diet, possibly as a result of a more efficient N uptake in the rumen 39 and/or a higher N uptake in the intestine, as suggested previously in dairy cows 11 and feedlot cattle. 40 However, some studies have reported negative effects of AMM on feed digestibility in beef cattle, 41 suggesting that this treatment, per se, may not be as effective as mechanical processing with respect to improving daily gain or feed efficiency, and the most promising results are observed when ammonia treatment is combined with mechanical 42 or enzymatic processes, as used in the AMM diet. 12,12,13 In the present study, we tested two by-products with high potential use in the Mediterranean basin: orange pulp from juice making 43 and silage made with tomato-waste pulp and straw.…”