Ozone-Treated Mesquite for Supplementing Steers in West Texas

Abstract

Ozonated-mesquite was compared with cottonseed hulls as the fiber base in supplemental rations fed to growing steers under range conditions. Average daily gains of steers fed the 2 rations for the 2 winter feeding periods were similar. Similarities in concentrations of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids, and acetic:propionic acid ratios between rations indicated no alterations in production of these acids as affected by composition or physical form of the ozonated-mesquite. Therefore, ozonated-mesquite appears to be equal in value to cottonseed hulls as a roughage base in supplemental rations fed to range steers. Mesquite (Prosopis glundulosa) is a rangeland pest that infests millions of acres in the arid Southwest. Attempts to control this woody perennial have included mechanical, pyric, biological, and chemical means. While these methods are effective in managing mesquite, they exclude the use of the tremendous quantity of fiber available in this plant. It has been recently realized that this plant is an untapped reservoir for industrial use or livestock feed. If harvestingand processing becomes economical, all avenues for disposal of the lignocellulose from mesquite should be investigated. Lignocellulose residues, including wood pulp, have been the focus of livestock feeding experiments for many years. Research has dealt with corn and milo residues (Bolsen et al. 1977, Ward 1978); cereal and grass straws (Durham and Hinman 1979, Church and Champe 1980); soybean residues (Miller et al. 1979); cotton by-products (Arndt et al. 1980); and wood and wood by-products (Dinius and Bond 1975, Lemieux and Wilson 1979). Many chemical treatments have been applied to increase cellulose digestibility. Some of these included sodium hydroxide (Hendrix and Karn 1976); ammonia (Paterson et al. 1979a); and calcium hydroxide (Paterson et al. 1979b) on crop residues, and sodium hydroxide (Millett et al. 1970); sulfur dioxide (Sherrod et al. 1978); sulphuric acid (Keith and Daniels 1976); irradiation (Kitts et al. 1969); and ozonization (Schuerch 1963) on wood and wood byproducts. Ozonization of mesquite appears to increase cellulose digestion (R.W. Tack, unpublished data; Weakley and Owens 1975). While most research has been limited to trials in vitro or in vivo with confined animals in drylot, few studies have attempted to evaluate crop or wood residues in supplemental rations for livestock on dry perennial rangeland. The objective of this study was to compare ozonated mesquite with cottonseed hulls as the fiber base in winter supplemental rations for growing range steers. The supplemental rations tested were similar to the range cubes commonly fed to range cattle.

Water soluble reaction products from ozonolysis of grasses

“…Ozonolysis improved the digestibility of wheat straw (Triticum aestiuum L.) (Ben-Ghedalia and Miron, 1981), cotton straw (Gossypium hirsutum L.) , grape branches (Ben-Ghedalia, 1982), and mesquite (Proseopisis sp.) (Bryant et al, 1984). have shown that ozone treatment makes cell wall polysaccharides more available for digestion by rumen microorganisms when compared to untreated or sodium hydroxide treated straw in feeding trials using cannulated sheep.…”