Effect of increased inclusion of dried distillers grain supplement on adaptation, intake, digestibility, and rumen parameters in steers consuming bermudagrass round bale silage

Abstract

Eight ruminally cannulated beef steers were used to evaluate forage intake and physiological response during adaptation to a diet consisting of bermudagrass round bale silage (RBS) and dried distillers grains (DDG) and in a second experiment the effect of level of DDG supplementation on RBS forage intake, digestibility, and rumen parameters. The adaptation experiment was designed to simulate a 14-d step-up process. Initially steers received ad libitum RBS, on d 4 steers were offered 1.13 kg of DDG daily and every 4 d daily DDG offered was increased by 1.13 kg. Blood and rumen fluid samples were collected before feeding (0 h) and 6, 12, 24 (before feeding), and 36 h after every diet change. The digestibility experiment was conducted as an 8 × 4 Latin square with four periods. Treatments included RBS only and DDG supplement levels of 0.33%, 0.66%, and 1.0% of body weight (RBS + 0.33, +0.66, and 1.0, respectively). Collection periods consisted of 21 d to determine dry matter intake [DMI], digestibility, and collect rumen fluid samples. During adaptation, level of DDG did not (P = 0.42) affect RBS DMI. Mean ruminal pH was greater (P < 0.05) for RBS only compared with diets with DDG. When steers were offered 3.39 or 4.52 kg/d of DDG rumen NH3-N concentration was greater (P ≤ 0.05) compared with other levels of DDG or RBS alone. Mean nonesterified fatty acid and plasma urea N concentrations varied among levels of DDG offered. In the digestibility experiment forage DMI, total DMI, and total tract apparent digestibility exhibited a quadratic (P ≤ 0.05) response to level of DDG offered. Mean ruminal pH responded in a quadratic manner (P = 0.03) and was greater for RBS only compared with RBS plus DDG at any level. Mean ruminal NH3-N concentration tended (P = 0.07) to respond in a cubic manner as DDG amount offered increased. Physiological responses during adaptation to DDG over 14 d resembled responses previously observed after long-term DDG supplementation. Offering DDG up to 1% of body weight did depress forage DMI and ruminal pH but increased total DMI, diet digestibility, and ruminal NH3-N concentration.

Dried distiller´s grains plus solubles supplementation improves low-quality tropical grass utilization on beef steers

“…Ruminal pH decreased in response to DDGS supplementation alike to results obtained in previous studies (LOY et al, 2007;ALAVA et al, 2019), and it was more highlighted over sampling time for the highest level of supplementation (1.2DDGS). DIJKSTRA et al (2012) explain this response by suggesting that a reduction in ruminal pH is associated with decreased acetate to propionate ratio.…”

“…With this regard, DDGS might be a good source of supplementation to improve growing and reproduction performance in beef cattle for medium-low quality forages (DElCURTO et al, 2000;MORRIS et al, 2005;MARTÍNEZ-pÉREZ et al, 2013) by supplying digestible protein and energy (MACDONAlD et al, 2007). However, the level of DDGS supplementation to optimize midor low-quality forage utilization is still not widely documented (ALAVA et al, 2019).…”

Effects of Replacing Cottonseed Meal with Corn Dried Distillers’ Grain on Ruminal Parameters, Performance, and Enteric Methane Emissions in Young Nellore Bulls Reared in Tropical Pastures

“…The similarity of ruminal pH values of the supplemented animals in this study, which were lower than those of animals that received only the mineral mixture, indicates that the decrease in pH is influenced more by the level of supplementation than by the ingredients used in the formulation of supplements [40]. In addition, a reduction in ruminal pH values is expected with an increase in collection time after supplementation, due to the rapid fermentation of carbohydrates in the rumen and decreased salivation due to the shorter rumination time, resulting in a drop in pH [41].…”

“…This decrease in pH may also be associated with the peak concentration of ammonia in the rumen after feeding, as the reduced pH reduces the absorption of ammonia by the rumen and decreases microbial growth [42]. It is worth mentioning that the average ruminal pH values in this study were not reduced to below 6.2, both due to the treatment types and the collection times after supplementation, which may have favored the growth of cellulolytic bacteria [40] and thus contributed to fiber digestion.…”