Substitution of Wheat for Corn in Beef Cattle Diets: Digestibility, Digestive Enzyme Activities, Serum Metabolite Contents and Ruminal Fermentation

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of diets containing different amounts of wheat, as a partial or whole substitute for corn, on digestibility, digestive enzyme activities, serum metabolite contents and ruminal fermentation in beef cattle. Four Limousin×LuXi crossbred cattle with a body weight (400±10 kg), fitted with permanent ruminal, proximal duodenal and terminal ileal cannulas, were used in a 4×4 Latin square design with four treatments: Control (100% corn), 33% wheat (33% substitution for corn), 67% wheat (67% substitution for corn), and 100% wheat (100% substitution for corn) on a dry matter basis. The results showed that replacing corn with increasing amounts of wheat increased the apparent digestibility values of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein (p<0.05). While the apparent digestibility of acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber were lower with increasing amounts of wheat. Digestive enzyme activities of lipase, protease and amylase in the duodenum were higher with increasing wheat amounts (p<0.05), and showed similar results to those for the enzymes in the ileum except for amylase. Increased substitution of wheat for corn increased the serum alanine aminotransferase concentration (p<0.05). Ruminal pH was not different between those given only corn and those given 33% wheat. Increasing the substitution of wheat for corn increased the molar proportion of acetate and tended to increase the acetate-to-propionate ratio. Cattle fed 100% wheat tended to have the lowest ruminal NH3-N concentration compared with control (p<0.05), whereas no differences were observed among the cattle fed 33% and 67% wheat. These findings indicate that wheat can be effectively used to replace corn in moderate amounts to meet the energy and fiber requirements of beef cattle.

Performance, carcass and ruminal fermentation characteristics of heifers fed concentrates differing in energy level and cereal type (corn vs. wheat)

“…reported by others (Fulton et al, 1979;Philippeau et al, 1999). However, the type of cereal did not affect significantly rumen pH in our study, supporting the lack of differences reported by Liu et al (2016) in beef steers and by Gozho & Mutsvangwa (2008) in dairy cows. The lack of differences could partly be explained by the high individual variability of pH values, as some authors have reported a high variability inter-and intra-individuals along the day when using indwelling pH meter probes that continuously measure pH (Beauchemin & Penner, 2009;Danscher et al, 2015).…”

“…In agreement with our results, Fulton et al (1979) observed that steers fed corn tended to have greater VFA concentrations than those fed wheat, without differences in the molar proportions of the main VFA. In contrast, Oltjen et al (1966), Philippeau et al (1999) and Liu et al (2016) in beef cattle and Kreikemeier et al (1987) in lambs observed significantly greater VFA concentrations in the rumen of animals fed wheat than in those fed corn, and Gozho & Mutsvangwa (2008) reported no differences in dairy cows fed either corn or wheat.…”

Nutritional strategies to control ruminal acidosis in feedlot cattle

“…However, the type of cereal did not affect significantly rumen pH in our study, supporting the lack of differences reported by Liu et al (2016) in beef steers and by Gozho and Mutsvangwa (2008) in dairy cows. The lack of differences could partly be explained by the high individual variability of pH values, as some authors have reported a high variability inter-and intra-individuals along the day when using indwelling pH meter probes that continuously measure pH (Beauchemin and Penner, 2009;Danscher et al, 2015).…”

“…In agreement with our results, Fulton et al (1979) observed that steers fed corn tended to have greater VFA concentrations than those fed wheat, without differences in the molar proportions of the main VFA. In contrast, Oltjen et al (1966), Philippeau et al (1999) and Liu et al (2016) in beef cattle and Kreikemeier et al (1987) in lambs observed significantly greater VFA concentrations in the rumen of animals fed wheat than in those fed corn, and Gozho and Mutsvangwa (2008) reported no differences in dairy cows fed either corn or wheat.…”

“…Grinding cereal grains reduces particle size and increases degradation rate, but the magnitude of these effects on starch utilization is generally greater for corn than for wheat, due to disruption of the protein matrix which encapsulates the corn starch granules (McAllister et al, 1993). In this sense, Liu et al (2016) reported that corn starch in particles smaller than 1 mm was extensively fermented in the rumen, whereas wheat starch was highly fermented in particles smaller than 2 mm. …”