Effects of processing maize grains and soyabean on rumen fermentation and development of Holstein bull calves

Abstract

A feeding trial using 12 Holstein bull calves (21±3 d) was conducted to investigate the effect of different processed maize grain and full fat soyabean included in the starter diets on their rumen fermentation and development. Three treatment starter diets contained different processed maize grain and soyabean: steam-fl aked maize and soyabean (SFMS), extruded maize and soyabean (EMS), and ground maize and raw soyabean (GMS). During 10-week trial, total rumen VFA concentration tended to be infl uenced by different processing methods at wk 6 and 9 (P<0.10). The molar proportion of butyrate for calves receiving SFMS starter diets was higher than that of EMS and GMS starter diets (P<0.05) at wk 5 and 11. Rumen papillae development characteristics expressed by papilla length, papilla width and rumen wall thickness were remarkably different among treatment starter diets (P<0.05).

Effect of feeding ensiled maize grain on rumen development and calf rearing performance

“…The development of rumen papillae could also be affected by the of dorsal papillae length for barley and ensiled maize grain feeding compared to calves fed dry maize diets. Zhang et al (2007) observed differences in papillae length (P<0.05) when feeding calves diets differing in the rate of ruminal starch degradation. state that compared to ground maize or whole maize grain, flaked maize improved the formation of rumen papillae length (P<0.05) when feeding calves diets differing in the rate of ruminal starch degradation.…”

“…It was probably due to the higher ruminal concentration of ammonia-N as a result of more rapid protein degradation than in the other groups (Khan et al, 2007). Because various amounts of straw were found after slaughter in the calves rumen it can be presumed that keeping calves on straw bedding could have a certain effect on pH and VFA concentration (Zhang et al, 2007). The greater numerical values (P>0.05) for propionic and butyric acids and the lower C 2 : C 3 ratio found in calves fed the ensiled maize diet, especially in combination with barley (group BM S ), suggests a greater ruminal degradation of starch than fibre compared to the other groups.…”

“…However, the production results obtained so far are not conclusive. Some authors observed better production results when giving rumen-protected feeds (Abdergadir et al, 1996), while others (Zhang et al, 2007) obtained better growth for calves receiving readily available feed. The benefits of lower starch and protein degradation in the rumen can be attributed to higher intestinal availability of energy and protein, whereas higher starch degradation could result in better development of rumen papillae and thus improve the absorptive capacity of rumen mucosa.…”