The effects of three harvest methods, both with and without ammonia treatment, on the in vivo digestibility and intake of baled corn residue were assessed in a digestion trial with lambs. Treatments included three corn residue harvest methods (conventional rake and bale, New Holland Cornrower™ with eight rows or with two rows of corn stalks chopped into the windrow containing the tailings [leaf, husk and upper stalk] from eight harvested rows) and the effects of ammoniation at 5.5% of DM compared to no ammoniation of the residue. Th e 2- Row baled residue (51.7%) had greater dry matter digestibility than both 8- Row (47.3%) and CONV (44.7%). Ammoniation increased dry matter digestibility by 24% (10 percentage units) across all residue types. Additionally, ammoniation increased intake. Utilizing alternative harvesting technologies and ammoniation can improve the digestibility of baled residue. These effects are additive and combining the two technologies resulted in the greatest improvement in digestibility

Conway, Ashley C.

Drewnoski, Mary E.

Jolly-Breithaupt, Melissa L., Breithaupt

King, Tasha M.

Klopfenstein, Terry J.

MacDonald, Jim C.

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - LincolnDigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - LincolnNebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department2017Effect of Harvest Method and Ammoniation onDigestibility and Intake of Corn ResidueAshley C. ConwayUniversity of Nebraska - LincolnTasha M. KingUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln, tasha.king@huskers.unl.eduMelissa L. Jolly-Breithaupt BreithauptUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln, melissa_jolly_brethaupt@unl.eduJim C. MacDonaldUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln, jmacdonald2@unl.eduTerry J. KlopfensteinUniversity of Nebraska - Lincoln, tklopfenstein1@unl.eduSee next page for additional authorsFollow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcrPart of the Large or Food Animal and Equine Medicine Commons, Meat Science Commons, andthe Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.Conway, Ashley C.; King, Tasha M.; Jolly-Breithaupt, Melissa L. Breithaupt; MacDonald, Jim C.; Klopfenstein, Terry J.; andDrewnoski, Mary E., "Effect of Harvest Method and Ammoniation on Digestibility and Intake of Corn Residue" (2017). Nebraska BeefCattle Reports. 922.https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/922AuthorsAshley C. Conway, Tasha M. King, Melissa L. Jolly-Breithaupt Breithaupt, Jim C. MacDonald, Terry J.Klopfenstein, and Mary E. DrewnoskiThis article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/92262 · 2017 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report©  Th e Board Regents of the University of Nebraska. All rights reserved.during d 1– 12 and reduced to 95% of ad libitum intake for d 13– 21. During the adaptation period, lambs were housed in individual pens with grate fl oors, individual feed bunks and automatic waterers. Feeding occurred twice daily at approximately 0800 and 1500, and orts were collected, weighed, and fed back during the adaptation period.At the end of the adaption period, lambs were moved to individual metabo-lism crates and fi tted with harnesses and fecal collection bags. Total fecal output was collected twice a day beginning on d 14 at approximately 0800 and 1500, weighed and retained. Orts were collected at feeding, weighed, and retained for analysis. Total fecal material and orts were composited at the end of the collection period and three sub- samples were taken for analysis. Samples were dried in a 60˚C forced air oven (orts for 48 h and feces for 72 h) and then ground through a 1- mm screen in a Wiley mill. Diet and fecal samples were analyzed for dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fi ber (NDF). Ground feed and fecal samples were dried in a 100˚C oven for 24 h to determine lab- adjusted DM, and then incinerated in a muffl  e furnace at 600˚C to determine the ash content to calculate OM. Neutral detergent fi ber was determined by refl uxing samples in beakers for 1 h. Total tract apparent digestibility was calculated using DM, OM, and NDF disappearance. Treatment diets were fed over 6 periods, with the non- residue proportion (Sweet bran, Brome grass and mineral) of the diet fed in an additional period at 2% of BW to determine the digestibility of the corn residue by diff erence.Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Inst., Inc., Cary, N.C.). Lamb was the experimental unit, and the model included harvest method, ammoniation, period and a harvest method by ammoniation interaction. Period and lamb were treated as fi xed eff ects, and interactions were assessed for inclusion in the model. Signifi cance was declared when α ≤ 0.05.the proportion of tailings (relative to lower stalk) results in improved in vitro digest-ibility (2015 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 62– 63). Although no diff erence in in vivo dry matter digestibility (DMD) was observed between corn residue harvested with 4 Rows (49.9%) vs. 8 Row (48.5%; 2016 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 74– 75), more recent results (2017 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 53–54) demonstrate residue harvested with 2 rows of stalks being chopped had greater DMD (51.7%) when compared to conventionally baled residue (46.1%). Additionally, ammonia-tion improves both digestibility and intake of low quality forages, such as baled corn residue. Th e objective of this study was to determine the eff ect of harvest method and ammoniation on the intake and digestibility of baled corn residue in lambs.ProcedureNine crossbred wether lambs (108.6 ± 16.5 lbs BW) were fed in a 126- d diges-tion trial using an unbalanced 9 x 6 Latin rectangle design with a 3 x 2 factorial treatment structure. Treatment diets con-sisted of corn residue harvested using three diff erent methods: conventional rake and bale (CONV), a New Holland Cornrower™ chopping stalks from all 8 rows (8ROW), and stalks from 2 rows (2ROW) of corn being harvested by the combine into a windrow containing the tailings (leaf, husk and upper stalk) from 8 rows. Anhydrous ammonia was added at 5.5% of DM to a portion of each of the baled residues and allowed to sit for 33 d in black plastic in July of 2015, resulting in three more treatment diets: conventional ammoniated (CONVAM), 8- Row ammoniated (8RAM) and 2- Row ammoniated (2RAM). Diets consisted of 64.2% corn residue, 29.8% Sweet Bran, 3.3% smooth- bromegrass hay, and 2.8% mineral mix (DM basis). Six 21 d periods consisted of 14 d adaptation and 7 d total fecal collection. Lambs were fed ad libitum (110% of the previous day’s DMI) Ashley C. ConwayTasha M. KingMelissa L. Jolly- BreithauptJames C. MacDonaldTerry J. KlopfensteinMary E. DrewnoskiSummary with ImplicationsTh e eff ects of three harvest methods, both with and without ammonia treatment, on the in vivo digestibility and intake of baled corn residue were assessed in a digestion trial with lambs. Treatments included three corn residue harvest methods (conventional rake and bale, New Holland Cornrower™ with eight rows or with two rows of corn stalks chopped into the windrow contain-ing the tailings [leaf, husk and upper stalk] from eight harvested rows) and the eff ects of ammoniation at 5.5% of DM compared to no ammoniation of the residue. Th e 2- Row baled residue (51.7%) had greater dry matter digestibility than both 8- Row (47.3%) and CONV (44.7%). Ammoniation increased dry matter digestibility by 24% (10 percentage units) across all residue types. Additionally, ammoniation increased intake. Utilizing alternative harvesting technologies and ammoniation can improve the digestibility of baled residue. Th ese eff ects are additive and combining the two technologies resulted in the greatest improvement in digestibility.IntroductionTechnologies designed to improve the feeding value of corn residue are becoming more relevant for beef producers. Th e New Holland Cornrower™ varies the proportion of lower stalk to leaf, husk, and upper stalk (tailings) in the corn residue bale by chop-ping 2, 4, 6, or 8 rows of stalk from the 8 harvested corn rows in to the windrow that will be baled. Th e digestibility of diff erent parts of the corn plant varies and increasing  Eff ect of Harvest Method and Ammoniation on Digestibility and Intake of Corn Residue2017 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report · 63 digestibility by 27% (11.9 percentage units; P = 0.01) and 2- Row increasing NDFD by 46% (19.9 percentage units; P < 0.01) over conventionally harvested residue. Digest-ibility of OM was not aff ected (P = 0.12) by harvest method. Ammoniation improved (P < 0.01) DM, OM, and NDF digestibility for all harvest methods (Table 2), resulting in a 24% and 21% (10.1 percentage units; P < 0.01 ) increase in digestibility for DM and OM, respectively, and a 37% increase (16.6 percentage units; P < 0.01) in NDF digestibility.ConclusionsConsistent with other studies, changing the proportion of husk and leaf to stalk in baled residue can infl uence digestibility characteristics. No diff erence DM and OM digestibility was observed between 2- Row and 8- Row (non- ammoniated) in this study but there was a signifi cant improvement in DM, OM, and NDF digestibility between the 2- Row and conventional rake and bale. Moreover, ammoniation increased intake and all digestibility characteristics of the corn residue regardless of harvest method, and was additive with harvest method.Ashley C. Conway, Graduate StudentTasha M. King, Graduate StudentMelissa L. Jolly- Breithaupt, Research TechnicianJames C. MacDonald, Associate ProfessorTerry J. Klopfenstein, ProfessorMary E. Drewnoski, Assistant Professor, UNL Department of Animal Science, Lincoln, Neb.signifi cantly diff erent both from each other and from non- ammoniated diets (P = 0.03). Th ere was no harvest method by ammoni-ation interaction (P ≥ 0.82) for OM, DM or NDF digestibility (NDFD). Harvest method aff ected DMD (P = 0.04) and NDFD (P < 0.01) of the residue (Table 1). Harvesting with the New Holland Cornrower™ with 8 rows of stalks chopped resulted in a 6% increase (2.6 percentage units; P = 0.34) in DMD and harvesting with 2 rows increased DMD by 15% (7 percentage units; P = 0.01) compared to conventional rake and bale method. Th e eff ect was more pronounced in NDFD, with 8- Row increasing NDF ResultsTh ere was a harvest method by ammo-niation interaction (P < 0.01) for ad libitum whole diet DMI (d 7– 11). Th e intake of di-ets containing non- ammoniated residue did not diff er (P ≥ 0.92) among harvest meth-ods and were consistent at 2.6% BW. Con-versely, ammoniation increased intake for all harvest methods, and the amount of re-sponse varied among harvest method. Th is resulted in intake being greatest for 2RAM at 4.1% BW, intermediate for COVAM at 3.6% BW and 8RAM showing the smallest increase in DMI at 3.1% BW, which were all Table 1.  Eff ect of harvest method on dry matter (DMD), organic matter (OMD) and neutral detergent fi ber (NDFD) digestibility of baled corn residue1.CONV 8- Row 2- Row SEM P- valueResidue DMD,%44.7 47.3 51.7 1.9 0.03Residue OMD,%50.5 51.5 55.4 1.7 0.12Residue NDFD, %42.7 54.1 62.7 2.8 <0.011Th e non- residue portion of the diet was fed alone in a separate feeding period to determine digestibility. Residue digestibility was calculated by removing the contribution of non- residue component of the diet.Table 2.  Eff ect of post- harvest ammoniation treatment at 5.5% of DM on the dry matter (DMD), organic matter (OMD) and neutral detergent fi ber (NDFD) digestibility of corn residue1.Non- ammoniated Ammoniated SEM P- valueResidue DMD,% 42.8 53.0 1.4 <0.01Residue OMD,% 47.4 57.4 1.7 <0.01Residue NDFD, % 44.8 61.4 2.3 <0.011Th e non- residue portion of the diet was fed alone in a separate feeding period to determine digestibility. Residue digestibility was calculated by removing the contribution of non- residue component of the diet.

Effect of Harvest Method and Ammoniation on Digestibility and Intake of Corn Residue

UNL | Libraries

University of Nebraska - Lincoln
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department
2017
Effect of Harvest Method and Ammoniation on
Digestibility and Intake of Corn Residue
Ashley C. Conway
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Tasha M. King
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, tasha.king@huskers.unl.edu
Melissa L. Jolly-Breithaupt Breithaupt
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, melissa_jolly_brethaupt@unl.edu
Jim C. MacDonald
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, jmacdonald2@unl.edu
Terry J. Klopfenstein
University of Nebraska - Lincoln, tklopfenstein1@unl.edu
See next page for additional authors
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr
Part of the Large or Food Animal and Equine Medicine Commons, Meat Science Commons, and
the Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health Commons
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has
been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
Conway, Ashley C.; King, Tasha M.; Jolly-Breithaupt, Melissa L. Breithaupt; MacDonald, Jim C.; Klopfenstein, Terry J.; and
Drewnoski, Mary E., "Effect of Harvest Method and Ammoniation on Digestibility and Intake of Corn Residue" (2017). Nebraska Beef
Cattle Reports. 922.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/922
Authors
Ashley C. Conway, Tasha M. King, Melissa L. Jolly-Breithaupt Breithaupt, Jim C. MacDonald, Terry J.
Klopfenstein, and Mary E. Drewnoski
This article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/922
62 · 2017 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report
©  Th e Board Regents of the University of 
Nebraska. All rights reserved.
during d 1– 12 and reduced to 95% of ad 
libitum intake for d 13– 21. During the 
adaptation period, lambs were housed in 
individual pens with grate fl oors, individual 
feed bunks and automatic waterers. Feeding 
occurred twice daily at approximately 0800 
and 1500, and orts were collected, weighed, 
and fed back during the adaptation period.
At the end of the adaption period, 
lambs were moved to individual metabo-
lism crates and fi tted with harnesses and 
fecal collection bags. Total fecal output was 
collected twice a day beginning on d 14 at 
approximately 0800 and 1500, weighed and 
retained. Orts were collected at feeding, 
weighed, and retained for analysis. Total 
fecal material and orts were composited 
at the end of the collection period and 
three sub- samples were taken for analysis. 
Samples were dried in a 60˚C forced air 
oven (orts for 48 h and feces for 72 h) and 
then ground through a 1- mm screen in a 
Wiley mill. Diet and fecal samples were 
analyzed for dry matter (DM), organic 
matter (OM) and neutral detergent fi ber 
(NDF). Ground feed and fecal samples 
were dried in a 100˚C oven for 24 h to 
determine lab- adjusted DM, and then 
incinerated in a muffl  e furnace at 600˚C to 
determine the ash content to calculate OM. 
Neutral detergent fi ber was determined by 
refl uxing samples in beakers for 1 h. Total 
tract apparent digestibility was calculated 
using DM, OM, and NDF disappearance. 
Treatment diets were fed over 6 periods, 
with the non- residue proportion (Sweet 
bran, Brome grass and mineral) of the diet 
fed in an additional period at 2% of BW 
to determine the digestibility of the corn 
residue by diff erence.
Data were analyzed using the MIXED 
procedure of SAS (SAS Inst., Inc., Cary, 
N.C.). Lamb was the experimental unit, 
and the model included harvest method, 
ammoniation, period and a harvest method 
by ammoniation interaction. Period and 
lamb were treated as fi xed eff ects, and 
interactions were assessed for inclusion in 
the model. Signifi cance was declared when 
α ≤ 0.05.
the proportion of tailings (relative to lower 
stalk) results in improved in vitro digest-
ibility (2015 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, 
pp. 62– 63). Although no diff erence in in 
vivo dry matter digestibility (DMD) was 
observed between corn residue harvested 
with 4 Rows (49.9%) vs. 8 Row (48.5%; 
2016 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 
74– 75), more recent results (2017 Nebraska 
Beef Cattle Report, pp. 53–54) demonstrate 
residue harvested with 2 rows of stalks 
being chopped had greater DMD (51.7%) 
when compared to conventionally baled 
residue (46.1%). Additionally, ammonia-
tion improves both digestibility and intake 
of low quality forages, such as baled corn 
residue. Th e objective of this study was to 
determine the eff ect of harvest method and 
ammoniation on the intake and digestibility 
of baled corn residue in lambs.
Procedure
Nine crossbred wether lambs (108.6 ± 
16.5 lbs BW) were fed in a 126- d diges-
tion trial using an unbalanced 9 x 6 Latin 
rectangle design with a 3 x 2 factorial 
treatment structure. Treatment diets con-
sisted of corn residue harvested using three 
diff erent methods: conventional rake and 
bale (CONV), a New Holland Cornrower™ 
chopping stalks from all 8 rows (8ROW), 
and stalks from 2 rows (2ROW) of corn 
being harvested by the combine into a 
windrow containing the tailings (leaf, husk 
and upper stalk) from 8 rows. Anhydrous 
ammonia was added at 5.5% of DM to 
a portion of each of the baled residues 
and allowed to sit for 33 d in black plastic 
in July of 2015, resulting in three more 
treatment diets: conventional ammoniated 
(CONVAM), 8- Row ammoniated (8RAM) 
and 2- Row ammoniated (2RAM). Diets 
consisted of 64.2% corn residue, 29.8% 
Sweet Bran, 3.3% smooth- bromegrass hay, 
and 2.8% mineral mix (DM basis). Six 21 d 
periods consisted of 14 d adaptation and 7 
d total fecal collection. Lambs were fed ad 
libitum (110% of the previous day’s DMI) 
Ashley C. Conway
Tasha M. King
Melissa L. Jolly- Breithaupt
James C. MacDonald
Terry J. Klopfenstein
Mary E. Drewnoski
Summary with Implications
Th e eff ects of three harvest methods, both 
with and without ammonia treatment, on 
the in vivo digestibility and intake of baled 
corn residue were assessed in a digestion 
trial with lambs. Treatments included three 
corn residue harvest methods (conventional 
rake and bale, New Holland Cornrower™ 
with eight rows or with two rows of corn 
stalks chopped into the windrow contain-
ing the tailings [leaf, husk and upper stalk] 
from eight harvested rows) and the eff ects of 
ammoniation at 5.5% of DM compared to 
no ammoniation of the residue. Th e 2- Row 
baled residue (51.7%) had greater dry matter 
digestibility than both 8- Row (47.3%) and 
CONV (44.7%). Ammoniation increased dry 
matter digestibility by 24% (10 percentage 
units) across all residue types. Additionally, 
ammoniation increased intake. Utilizing 
alternative harvesting technologies and 
ammoniation can improve the digestibility of 
baled residue. Th ese eff ects are additive and 
combining the two technologies resulted in 
the greatest improvement in digestibility.
Introduction
Technologies designed to improve the 
feeding value of corn residue are becoming 
more relevant for beef producers. Th e New 
Holland Cornrower™ varies the proportion 
of lower stalk to leaf, husk, and upper stalk 
(tailings) in the corn residue bale by chop-
ping 2, 4, 6, or 8 rows of stalk from the 8 
harvested corn rows in to the windrow that 
will be baled. Th e digestibility of diff erent 
parts of the corn plant varies and increasing 
 Eff ect of Harvest Method and Ammoniation on 
Digestibility and Intake of Corn Residue
2017 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report · 63 
digestibility by 27% (11.9 percentage units; 
P = 0.01) and 2- Row increasing NDFD by 
46% (19.9 percentage units; P < 0.01) over 
conventionally harvested residue. Digest-
ibility of OM was not aff ected (P = 0.12) by 
harvest method. Ammoniation improved 
(P < 0.01) DM, OM, and NDF digestibility 
for all harvest methods (Table 2), resulting 
in a 24% and 21% (10.1 percentage units; 
P < 0.01 ) increase in digestibility for DM 
and OM, respectively, and a 37% increase 
(16.6 percentage units; P < 0.01) in NDF 
digestibility.
Conclusions
Consistent with other studies, changing 
the proportion of husk and leaf to stalk in 
baled residue can infl uence digestibility 
characteristics. No diff erence DM and OM 
digestibility was observed between 2- Row 
and 8- Row (non- ammoniated) in this study 
but there was a signifi cant improvement in 
DM, OM, and NDF digestibility between 
the 2- Row and conventional rake and bale. 
Moreover, ammoniation increased intake 
and all digestibility characteristics of the 
corn residue regardless of harvest method, 
and was additive with harvest method.
Ashley C. Conway, Graduate Student
Tasha M. King, Graduate Student
Melissa L. Jolly- Breithaupt, Research 
Technician
James C. MacDonald, Associate Professor
Terry J. Klopfenstein, Professor
Mary E. Drewnoski, Assistant Professor, 
UNL Department of Animal Science, 
Lincoln, Neb.
signifi cantly diff erent both from each other 
and from non- ammoniated diets (P = 0.03). 
Th ere was no harvest method by ammoni-
ation interaction (P ≥ 0.82) for OM, DM or 
NDF digestibility (NDFD). Harvest method 
aff ected DMD (P = 0.04) and NDFD (P < 
0.01) of the residue (Table 1). Harvesting 
with the New Holland Cornrower™ with 
8 rows of stalks chopped resulted in a 6% 
increase (2.6 percentage units; P = 0.34) in 
DMD and harvesting with 2 rows increased 
DMD by 15% (7 percentage units; P = 0.01) 
compared to conventional rake and bale 
method. Th e eff ect was more pronounced 
in NDFD, with 8- Row increasing NDF 
Results
Th ere was a harvest method by ammo-
niation interaction (P < 0.01) for ad libitum 
whole diet DMI (d 7– 11). Th e intake of di-
ets containing non- ammoniated residue did 
not diff er (P ≥ 0.92) among harvest meth-
ods and were consistent at 2.6% BW. Con-
versely, ammoniation increased intake for 
all harvest methods, and the amount of re-
sponse varied among harvest method. Th is 
resulted in intake being greatest for 2RAM 
at 4.1% BW, intermediate for COVAM at 
3.6% BW and 8RAM showing the smallest 
increase in DMI at 3.1% BW, which were all 
Table 1.  Eff ect of harvest method on dry matter (DMD), organic matter (OMD) and 
neutral detergent fi ber (NDFD) digestibility of baled corn residue1.
CONV 8- Row 2- Row SEM P- value
Residue 
DMD,%
44.7 47.3 51.7 1.9 0.03
Residue 
OMD,%
50.5 51.5 55.4 1.7 0.12
Residue 
NDFD, %
42.7 54.1 62.7 2.8 <0.01
1Th e non- residue portion of the diet was fed alone in a separate feeding period to determine digestibility. Residue digestibility 
was calculated by removing the contribution of non- residue component of the diet.
Table 2.  Eff ect of post- harvest ammoniation treatment at 5.5% of DM on the dry matter (DMD), 
organic matter (OMD) and neutral detergent fi ber (NDFD) digestibility of corn residue1.
Non- ammoniated Ammoniated SEM P- value
Residue DMD,% 42.8 53.0 1.4 <0.01
Residue OMD,% 47.4 57.4 1.7 <0.01
Residue NDFD, % 44.8 61.4 2.3 <0.01
1Th e non- residue portion of the diet was fed alone in a separate feeding period to determine digestibility. Residue digestibility 
was calculated by removing the contribution of non- residue component of the diet.


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Effect of Harvest Method and Ammoniation on Digestibility and Intake of Corn Residue

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