PSVIII-30 Reduced-lignin alfalfa digestibility and effects on performance of growing beef steers

Abstract

Novel alfalfa varieties have been developed to have less lignin by genetic modification, (HarvXtra, Forage Genetics International) and by conventional breeding, (HiGest 360, Alforex Seeds). Second crop (d 29) of these alfalfas and a control, LegenDairy XHD (Winfield Solutions LLC), were harvested as high moisture wrapped bales (45.9–51.6 % DM) at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station (AARS) located near Arlington, WI, on July 5, 2017. The objectives of these experiments were to characterize novel reduced-lignin alfalfa varieties, assess their effects on growth of beef steers, and determine digestibilities using a total fecal collection trial. Treatments were fed ad libitum as alfalfa baleage to 300 kg (initial weight) black-hided beef steers, (n = 72, 4 pens/treatment, 83 d). Steers were fed solely alfalfa baleage and offered a trace mineral salt block by way of fence line feed bunks. Alfalfa lignin values were 7.56, 7.18, and 6.3% DM (P = 0.34) for LegenDairy, HiGest and HarvXtra, respectively. Steers gained 0.94, 1.00, and 1.07 kg hd-1 d-1 (P = 0.25) for LegenDairy, HiGest and HarvXtra, respectively. The same harvested alfalfa was used in a total collection fecal trial with fecal collection bags (Table 1). Numerical differences between alfalfa digestibilities were observed but no significant treatment effects were detected. Total tract NDF digestibilities (TTNDFD) for harvested alfalfas were 33.9, 35.0 and 40.3 % NDF (P = 0.079) for LegenDairy, HiGest and HarvXtra, respectively. Alfalfa lignin concentration differences were not detected through acid detergent-lignin analysis of harvested bales. While the ranking of lignin concentrations, digestibilities, and growth rates followed prevailing logic, alfalfa variety treatment effects were not detected. Experimental designs with greater sensitivity should be implemented in the future.

Alfalfa biotypes with putative enhanced cell wall digestibility and effects on performance of growing beef steers

“…Trace mineralized salt intake was likewise unaffected ( P = 0.29). Trial G steers were capable of faster BW gain, since similar steers fed a protein adequate, 72% corn silage-25% distillers grain diet had daily BW gain of 1.27 kg/d ( Karls, 2020 ). Based on the average BW during the trial, alfalfa DM consumption was 21.3, 22.4, and 22.6 g/kg BW for LegenDairy, Hi-Gest and HarvXtra, respectively, and alfalfa NDF consumption was not different ( P = 0.44) among the biotypes, corresponding to 9.5, 10.2 and 10.0 g NDF/kg BW, respectively.…”