Effects of various roughage levels with whole flint corn grain on performance of finishing cattle

Author(s)

Marques, R. S. ^{[1, 2]} ; Chagas, L. J. ^[2] ; Owens, F. N. ^[3] ; Santos, F. A. P. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Oregon State Univ, Eastern Oregon Agr Res Ctr, Burns, OR 97720 - USA

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[3] Pioneer HiBred Int Inc, Johnston, IA 50131 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE; v. 94, n. 1, p. 339-348, JAN 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

Performance responses to steam flaking flint corn as well as to the addition of roughage to finishing diets composed of whole flint corn were evaluated. Ninety-six Nellore bulls were stratified by initial BW (373 +/- 11 kg) and randomly allotted to 16 feedlot pens (6 bulls/pen) in a randomized complete block design with 4 replicates/treatment. Dietary treatments for the 86-d feeding trial consisted of (DM basis) 1) 78.8% steam-flaked flint corn with 6% sugarcane bagasse and 0.20% urea, 2) 85% whole flint corn without sugarcane bagasse, 3) 81.9% whole flint corn with 3% sugarcane bagasse and 0.10% urea, and 4) 78.8% whole flint corn with 6% sugarcane bagasse and 0.20% urea. All diets contained 15% (DM basis) of a pelleted protein, mineral, and vitamin supplement. Compared with whole flint corn grain, flaking of flint grain decreased (P < 0.01) DMI but did not alter ADG (P = 0.86), so G: F was increased (P = 0.02). Although steam flaking did not alter final BW and carcass characteristics (P > 0.47), it increased energy content of the diet (P < 0.03) and total tract starch digestibility (P < 0.01). In addition, flaking increased (P < 0.01) NEg of flint corn when compared with whole corn. Increasing the roughage content of WC-based diets resulted in quadratic (P < 0.02) responses in DMI, NEm and NEg intakes, ADG, and final BW but had no effect (P > 0.47) on G: F or on observed energy content of the diet. In summary, steam flaking of flint corn when fed in diets containing 6% sugarcane bagasse decreased DMI by 17% but increased G: F by 20% and NEg of corn calculated from feedlot performance by 23%; these responses markedly exceed those typically observed with dent corn grain. Moreover, adding 3% sugarcane bagasse to a flint whole corn grain diet optimized feedlot performance of Nellore bulls. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/12920-1 - Evaluation of different sources of bulky associated with grain processing of corn in feeding Nellore in termination
• Grantee: Rodrigo da Silva Marques
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master