In vivo and in vitro evaluation of chemical and physical processing of whole plant sorghum grain silage for beef cattle.
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1984.
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Link to ProQuest Copy Link to OAKTrust copy |
| Abstract: | A series of cattle in vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to investigate ruminal fermentation, digestibility, growth patterns, energy retention and rate of passage responses to physical and chemical processing of whole plant sorghum grain silage (WPSGS). WPSGS was utilized to evaluate the effects of rolling of silage (R), rolling of grain within silage (RG) to an unprocessed control (C) silage, when each was treated either with 1.5% (DM basis) sodium hydroxide (SH), 1.0% ammonium hydroxide (AH) or 1.5% sulfuric acid (SA) on in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). WPSGS was separated into grain and stover to evaluate the physical and chemical processing effects on both grain and stover IVDMD. Grain and stover IVDMD was influenced (P < .0001) by a chemical treatment x physical processing interaction. SA treatment of sorghum grain produced greater (P < .0001) IVDMD than C grain while AH decreased IVDMD. R silage increased grain fermentation by increasing the ability of chemicals to react with the grain. RG silage was less effective in improving stover IVDMD than R or C silage treatments. Rolling the grain within WPSGS and combining WPSGS with higher percentages of sorghum grain did not alter cattle performance, energy retention, nutrient digestibility or carcass quality. The use of mixed grain/forage diets had no advantage over high silage or high grain diets because of strong associative effects. Neither rolling of stover or grain within silage nor stover length (2 vs 5 cm) influenced (P > .10) performance of cattle or ingesta rate of passage. Starch digestibility was increased (P < .01) by 4 percentage units for treatments with rolled silage or rolled grain compared to control silages. WPSGS treated with 1.0% anhydrous ammonia extended silage fermentation, reduced soluble carbohydrate levels and increased fiber digestion of the silage resulting in a 24% increase (P < .0001) in average daily gain, 38% improvement (P < .008) in feed efficiency and 54% (P < .05) improved energy utilization by cattle when compared to control WPSGS. It was concluded that physical processing of WPSGS, beyond that involved with conventional ensiling, was of limited value to improve cattle performance while combinations of physical plus chemical processing indicated considerable potential to increase energy retention of cattle, especially if WPSGS was fed at relatively high levels. |
|---|---|
| Item Description: | "Major subject: Animal Science." Typescript (photocopy). Vita. |
| Physical Description: | xiii, 270 leaves ; 29 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-116). |