Wood molasses as a preservative for high moisture barley: 3. Feeding value for growing cattle

Abstract

Abstract. In two experiments the feeding value for growing cattle of barley ensiled with wood molasses (55 Vo DM) was compared with dried barley (DB) and barley ensiled with AIV 11 solution (AIVB). Wood molasses was applied at levels of 8 (WMB8) The average daily gains of 1107 and 1178 g for DB and WMBB, 1182 and 1129 g for DB and WMBI6 and 1248 and 1251 g for AIVB and WMBI2 were not significantly different. Nor did the groups show any significant differences in feed conversion rate, carcass characteristics and rumen fermentation except the lower (P < 0.05) dressing percentage of the WMBI6 group in Exp. 1. Plasma urea N was higher (P < 0.01) and cholesterol lower (P < 0.01) in the AIVB group than in the WMBI2 group. Plasma concentrations of glucose, alanine aminotransferase, asparte aminotransferase and creatinine did not differ significantly in the different groups.

Effects of different barley grain preservation techniques on intake, growth and carcase traits of finishing dairy bulls fed grass silage-based rations

“…In growing cattle growth responses to increased protein intake have been minimal, if any, when animals are fed with diets based on high quality forages and moderate levels of grain-based concentrate (Huuskonen et al, 2008(Huuskonen et al, , 2014Huuskonen, 2011). Consistent with the present experiment, Flipot and Pelletier (1980), Huhtanen (1984a) and Kennelly et al (1988) reported no significant difference in feed DM conversion ratio for dried barley diets compared to ensiled and high moisture barley diets. In the current study, protein conversion efficiency declined with increasing diet CP concentration when DG was replaced by crimped grain treatments and the poorest CP conversion rate was observed in the UR treatment.…”

“…Similar gain and feed efficiency were observed when dry barley (DM at harvesting 866 g/kg) and high moisture barley (DM at harvesting 748-778 g/kg) were fed ad libitum with alfalfa-timothy silage to dairy steers but the steers fed with high moisture barley tended to have higher DM intake (DMI) than those fed with dried barley (Flipot and Pelletier, 1980). Huhtanen (1984a) observed that the animals fed with high moisture ensiled barley (DM content 574 g/kg) consumed their concentrate faster than those fed with dried barley (DM content 874 g/kg) whereas the groups showed no significant differences in gain, feed conversion or carcase characteristics. Stacey et al (2007) found that beef steers offered urea-treated whole grain wheat (DM content 746 g/kg) had lower live weight (LW) gain (LWG) and carcase gain than steers offered acid-treated crimped wheat (DM content 705 g/kg) or propionic acid-treated whole grain wheat (DM content 849 g/kg) although urea-treated grain contained more crude protein (CP) compared to other treatments.…”

“…Similar gain and feed efficiency were observed when dry barley (DM at harvesting 866 g/kg) and high moisture barley (DM at harvesting 748–778 g/kg) were fed ad libitum with alfalfa-timothy silage to dairy steers but the steers fed with high moisture barley tended to have higher DM intake (DMI) than those fed with dried barley (Flipot and Pelletier, 1980). Huhtanen (1984 a ) observed that the animals fed with high moisture ensiled barley (DM content 574 g/kg) consumed their concentrate faster than those fed with dried barley (DM content 874 g/kg) whereas the groups showed no significant differences in gain, feed conversion or carcase characteristics. Stacey et al .…”

“…Based on earlier observations by Flipot and Pelletier (1980) and Huhtanen (1984 a ), it was hypothesized that replacement of dried barley grain with high or low moisture crimped grain would increase total daily DMI of the bulls. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that increasing DMI improves LWG and carcase traits of the bulls in TMR feeding.…”

An overview of silage research in Finland: from ensiling innovation to advances in dairy cow feeding

“…Early harvest, crimping and treatment with an additive diminishes the challenges of short growing season, increases the grain yield and reduces the use of fossil fuels. In the later studies the use of dry barley and ensiled barley resulted in the same animal performance in growing cattle (Huhtanen 1984) and dairy cows (Jaakkola et al 2005).…”