Aspects of chemical, thermal, and enzymatic treatment, moisture content, and genetics on ruminal digestion and utilization of structural carbohydrate fractions in grass seed straw, and of non-structural carbohydrate fractions in beef finishing diets

A series of experiments were conducted to examine the impact of rehydration and ammoniation level (3 or 5 percent) on intake and digestibility of grass seed straw (GSS) fed to beef cattle. Results indicate that GSS had sufficient moisture needed to facilitate ammoniation at the 3 percent level. Notwithstanding, rehydration allowed for enhanced fiber degradability when GSS was ammoniated at the 5 percent level, suggesting that additional moisture provides a suitable fiber substrate for effective 5% ammoniation. Two experiments were conducted to determine impact of a commercial fibrolytic enzyme preparation when fed in combination with grass seed straw diets. Results suggested ammoniation improved utilization of GSS whereas exogenous fibrolytic enzyme did not.; Pasteurization of vegetable byproducts, such as potato slurry ( PS) prior to feeding, may be necessary to prevent the spread of pathogens and beef carcass blemishes. We hypothesized pasteurization would increase ruminal fermentablility of PS. Results indicate pasteurization increased rapidly degradable starch, ruminal starch fermentability, and total tract starch digestibility of PS. Grain type interacted with pasteurization, such that feeding corn-based diets containing pasteurized PS resulted in periodic reductions in ruminal pH. Feeding management may be more critical when feeding pasteurized PS. Two corn hybrids representing floury (FLO) and vitreous ( VIT) endosperms, were harvested at DRY, MID, and WET kernel moistures. Results suggest that VIT high moisture corn kernels appear to be brittle and therefore shatter more readily under forces of dry-rolling. This attribute results in increased surface area and improved starch utilization compared with FLO corn.