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Improving the feeding value of corn stover to enhance cattle performance in a backgrounding phase

Monday, March 14, 2016
Grand Ballroom - Foyer (Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center)
Katie Nenn , University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN
Pedro H. V. Carvalho , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
Eric Mousel , University of Minnesota, Grand Rapids, MN
G. Allen Bridges , University of Minnesota, Grand Rapids, MN
Scott L Bird , University of Minnesota, Grand Rapids, MN
Tara L. Felix , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
Alfredo DiCostanzo , University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN
Abstract Text:

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of alkali-treatment (CaOH2) or water addition to corn stover on in situ DM and NDF digestibility (DMD and NDFD) and growth performance of cattle during a backgrounding phase.  Fifty-one lightweight Angus steers (average BW 197 kg), fed individually in a Calan-Broadbent feeding system, were randomly allotted to 1 of 3 corn stover (30% of diet DM) feeding treatments: 1) dry, untreated corn stover (85% DM), 2) corn stover treated with CaOH2 at 6% inclusion (as-fed basis) and water hydrated to 50% DM, or 3) corn stover water hydrated to 50% DM.  Legume-grass silage (15%), dry rolled corn (25%), dry distillers grains and solubles (25%) and a vitamin and mineral supplement (5%) constituted the balance of the diet DM. Steers were fed once daily at 0600 h and orts were weighed and sampled during this time. Body weight was measured on d 1and 49 after withdrawing feed and water for 16 h. In situ DMD and NDFD was measured at 12, 24, 36, and 48 h in 2 ruminally cannulated steers. Averaged over time, DMD and NDFD differed (P < 0.05).  Digestibility of DM and NDF of calcium hydroxide-treated corn stover were greater (38.1% and 45.7%), that of untreated corn stover was intermediate (28.1% and 32.8%), and that of water-treated corn stover was lowest (16.9% and 15.5%).  Similar results were observed using an in vitro gas production batch culture. Cattle fed water-treated corn stover consumed more (P < 0.05) feed DM and had faster rates of gain (P < 0.05) than those fed untreated corn stover. Cattle fed calcium hydroxide-treated corn stover had intermediate rates of gain that were similar (P > 0.05) to those of cattle fed water-treated or untreated corn stover. Feed conversion was not affected (P > 0.05) by corn stover treatment.  An alternative to alkali-treatments, albeit when forage supply is not limiting, may be simple water addition as cattle fed water-treated corn stover gained weight more rapidly while consuming more DM. 

Keywords: alkali-treatment, corn stover, gains

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