Effects of chemical composition variation on the dynamics of ruminal fermentation and biological value of corn milling (co)products

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the dynamics of gas production of several corn (co)products, to develop equations to predict the rate of ruminal fiber digestion, to estimate total digestible nutrients (TDN) and net energy for lactation (NEL), and to assess the stochasticity of chemical composition and nutritive value variability. Four corn milling (co)products were evaluated in this study: high protein dried distillers grains (HP-DDG), corn bran (BRAN) and dehydrated germ (GERM), and a dried distillers grains plus soluble produced with a low-heat drying process (BPX). Alfalfa hay was used as an internal standard feed in the in vitro fermentation dynamics analysis. Standard chemical analyses, in vitro digestibility, and in vitro gas production techniques were used to obtain the necessary physicochemical characterization of feeds. The in vitro dry matter digestibility at 24 and 48 h of incubation decreased exponentially as acid detergent insoluble nitrogen increased. However, the degree of in vitro dry matter digestibility reduction was more accentuated at 24 than at 48 h of incubation. The difference among these feeds regarding the dynamics of the anaerobic fermentation within different substrates (intact feed, and fiber and defatted residues) was evaluated. Results suggested that the proportion of fiber digested in the rumen was affected by the degree of sample processing and fat removal. Fractional fermentation rate (kf) of neutral detergent residue (without sodium sulfite) and defatted fiber residue for BRAN, GERM, HP-DDG, and BPX was estimated to be 0.0635 and 0.0852 h−1, 0.0803 and 0.0914 h−1, 0.118 and 0.117 h−1, and 0.0695 and 0.0844 h−1, respectively. The most influential variables affecting kfNDR of HP-DDG and BPX also affected the predicted TDN, suggesting that fiber quality is essential to ensure higher TDN values for these feeds. Our study indicated that it is possible to routinely quantify the rate of fiber digestion and this approach may be based on common analytical procedures namely estimates of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent insoluble nitrogen, ether extract, and acid detergent lignin. Our simulations of TDN values demonstrated that differences in fermentability and chemical composition of these corn (co)products might considerably affect the supply of energy to lactating dairy cow. The analytical methods developed in this study may serve as a valuable tool to assess nutrient quality and uniformity when samples differ in chemical composition

Effects of chemical composition variation on the dynamics of ruminal fermentation and biological value of corn milling (co)products

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the dynamics of gas production of several corn (co)products, to develop equations to predict the rate of ruminal fiber digestion, to estimate total digestible nutrients (TDN) and net energy for lactation (NEL), and to assess the stochasticity of chemical composition and nutritive value variability. Four corn milling (co)products were evaluated in this study: high protein dried distillers grains (HP-DDG), corn bran (BRAN) and dehydrated germ (GERM), and a dried distillers grains plus soluble produced with a low-heat drying process (BPX). Alfalfa hay was used as an internal standard feed in the in vitro fermentation dynamics analysis. Standard chemical analyses, in vitro digestibility, and in vitro gas production techniques were used to obtain the necessary physicochemical characterization of feeds. The in vitro dry matter digestibility at 24 and 48 h of incubation decreased exponentially as acid detergent insoluble nitrogen increased. However, the degree of in vitro dry matter digestibility reduction was more accentuated at 24 than at 48 h of incubation. The difference among these feeds regarding the dynamics of the anaerobic fermentation within different substrates (intact feed, and fiber and defatted residues) was evaluated. Results suggested that the proportion of fiber digested in the rumen was affected by the degree of sample processing and fat removal. Fractional fermentation rate (kf) of neutral detergent residue (without sodium sulfite) and defatted fiber residue for BRAN, GERM, HP-DDG, and BPX was estimated to be 0.0635 and 0.0852 h−1, 0.0803 and 0.0914 h−1, 0.118 and 0.117 h−1, and 0.0695 and 0.0844 h−1, respectively. The most influential variables affecting kfNDR of HP-DDG and BPX also affected the predicted TDN, suggesting that fiber quality is essential to ensure higher TDN values for these feeds. Our study indicated that it is possible to routinely quantify the rate of fiber digestion and this approach may be based on common analytical procedures namely estimates of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent insoluble nitrogen, ether extract, and acid detergent lignin. Our simulations of TDN values demonstrated that differences in fermentability and chemical composition of these corn (co)products might considerably affect the supply of energy to lactating dairy cow. The analytical methods developed in this study may serve as a valuable tool to assess nutrient quality and uniformity when samples differ in chemical composition

The effect of feeding high-protein distillers dried grains on milk production of Holstein cows

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of feeding high-protein distillers dried grains (HPDDG) on rumen degradability, dry matter intake, milk production, and milk composition. Sixteen lactating Holstein cows (12 multiparous and 4 primiparous) averaging 80 ± 14 d in milk were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 crossover design. A portion of forage and all soy-based protein in the control diet were replaced by HPDDG (20% dry matter). Milk production and dry matter intake were recorded daily and averaged for d 19 to 21 of each 21-d period. Milk samples were collected on d 20 to 21 of each period. Milk yield increased with the inclusion of HPDDG (33.4 vs. 31.6 ± 2.13 kg/d), and 3.5% FCM was higher for the ration containing HPDDG (36.3 vs. 33.1 ± 2.24 kg/d). Percentage protein was not affected by treatment (average 3.04 ± 0.08%), but protein yield increased with inclusion of HPDDG (0.95 to 1.00 ± 0.05 kg/d). Milk fat concentration was not different between treatments (average 3.95 ± 0.20%), but fat yield increased for the ration containing HPDDG (1.35 vs. 1.21 ± 0.09 kg/d). Dry matter intake was not affected and averaged 21.9 ± 0.80 kg across treatments. Because of greater milk production, feed conversion was improved by the inclusion of HPDDG (1.47 to 1.73 ± 0.09). Milk urea N was greater for the HPDDG ration than the control (14.5 vs. 12.8 ± 0.67 mg/dL). This research suggests that HPDDG may effectively replace soy-based protein in lactating dairy cow diets

Evaluation of Dry Distillers Grains Plus Solubles Inclusion on Performance and Economics of Finishing Beef Steers

A 167-d feedlot study was conducted to evaluate feeding increasing levels of dry distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) to finishing cattle and the impact on performance and profitability. Crossbred steer calves (n = 240, BW = 306 ± 24.5 kg) were used in 30 pens with dietary treatments of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% DDGS dietary inclusion (DM basis). Quadratic relationships (P \u3c 0.05) were observed for final BW and ADG as dietary DDGS increased, with the greatest ADG observed at 20% inclusion. The DMI was not affected (P \u3e 0.15) by DDGS level, but G:F tended to be quadratic (P = 0.10) as 20% DM inclusion had the greatest value, although steers fed all levels of DDGS had numerically greater G:F compared with steers fed no DDGS. Carcass characteristics, other than hot carcass weight, were not affected by DDGS treatment. Energy value of DDGS at 10 to 40% dietary inclusion resulted in a quadratic trend (P = 0.10) and remained above corn, with the highest values at 10 and 20% inclusion averaging 127% of corn. When DDGS was priced equally to corn, all levels of DDGS from 10 to 40% inclusion resulted in higher profits compared with a dry-rolled corn based diet regardless of corn price. The greatest returns were observed when cattle were fed 20% DDGS. These data indicate that DDGS can be fed up to 40% DM to improve cattle performance and result in economic profits, with optimum levels at 20 to 30% diet DM

Evaluation of Dry Distillers Grains Plus Solubles Inclusion on Performance and Economics of Finishing Beef Steers

A 167-d feedlot study was conducted to evaluate feeding increasing levels of dry distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) to finishing cattle and the impact on performance and profitability. Crossbred steer calves (n = 240, BW = 306 ± 24.5 kg) were used in 30 pens with dietary treatments of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% DDGS dietary inclusion (DM basis). Quadratic relationships (P \u3c 0.05) were observed for final BW and ADG as dietary DDGS increased, with the greatest ADG observed at 20% inclusion. The DMI was not affected (P \u3e 0.15) by DDGS level, but G:F tended to be quadratic (P = 0.10) as 20% DM inclusion had the greatest value, although steers fed all levels of DDGS had numerically greater G:F compared with steers fed no DDGS. Carcass characteristics, other than hot carcass weight, were not affected by DDGS treatment. Energy value of DDGS at 10 to 40% dietary inclusion resulted in a quadratic trend (P = 0.10) and remained above corn, with the highest values at 10 and 20% inclusion averaging 127% of corn. When DDGS was priced equally to corn, all levels of DDGS from 10 to 40% inclusion resulted in higher profits compared with a dry-rolled corn based diet regardless of corn price. The greatest returns were observed when cattle were fed 20% DDGS. These data indicate that DDGS can be fed up to 40% DM to improve cattle performance and result in economic profits, with optimum levels at 20 to 30% diet DM

Comparing a Modified Dry By-product to Dry Distillers Grains with Solubles in Growing Calf Diets

A growing trial was conducted to contrast a new by-product, Dakota Bran Cake (DBRAN), against dry distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) and evaluate the two by-products at two dietary inclusion levels on steer calf performance measurements. Diet treatments included 15% DBRAN, 30% DBRAN, 15% DDGS, and 30% DDGS, replacing a blend (70:30 ratio) of brome grass hay and alfalfa haylage (DM basis). Final BW, ADG, and DMI increased, while F:G decreased as the inclusion level for both of these by-products increased from 15 to 30% DM. DDGS significantly improved ADG and F:G compared to feeding DBRAN at both inclusion levels. Feeding DBRAN and DDGS in growing diets to steer calves improved performance at higher dietary inclusion levels, while DDGS tended to improve performance over DBRAN

Effect of Bio-Oss® Collagen and Collagen Matrix on Bone Formation

Objective: to compare the amount of new bone produced by Bio-Oss ® Collagen to that produced by collagen matrix in vivo. Method: eighteen bone defects, 5mm by 10mm were created in the parietal bone of 9 New Zealand White rabbits. 6 defects were grafted with Bio-Oss ® Collagen. 6 defects were grafted with collagen matrix alone (positive control) and 6 were left empty (negative control). Animals were killed on day 14 and the defects were dissected and prepared for histological assessment. Quantitative analysis of new bone formation was made on 100 sections (50 sections for each group) using image analysis. Results: A total of 339% more new bone was present in defects grafted with Bio-Oss ® Collagen than those grafted with collagen matrix (positive control). No bone was formed in the negative control group. Conclusion: Bio-Oss ® Collagen has the effect of stimulating new bone formation locally compared with collagen matrix in vivo. Bio-Oss ® Collagen may be utilized as a bone graft material. © Wong and Rabie; Licensee Bentham Open.published_or_final_versio

Effect of Distillers Grains Composition and Level on Steers Consuming High-Quality Forage

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dried distillers grains (DDG) supplementation level and composition on growing steer performance and forage intake. Factors included DDG supplementation level (0.25, 0.50, 0.75 or 1.00% of BW), and DDG solubles level (0, 5.4, 14.5, 19.1, or 22.1% DM). Final BW improved, and forage intake decreased with increasing levels of DDG. An interaction between DDG supplementation level and solubles level was observed on ADG and F:G and was likely related to supplemental fat levels. Supplementation of forages with DDG improves performance while decreasing forage intake when fat levels are not too great