Effect of Heat-Processing and Pelleting Corn for Steers and Lambs

Abstract
Ground shelled corn was compared with pelleted, flaked, crumbled and commercially heat-treated corn for fattening lambs, and ground shelled corn vs. crumbled corn for fattening steers. Daily gains were not significantly related to treatments in any of the trials but the various kinds of processing apparently decreased palatability in both steers and lambs, as compared to ground shelled corn. In the individually-fed steer trial feed efficiency was significantly increased by the crumbled corn, and in both lamb experiments the various kinds of processed corn increased efficiency from 7 to 16%. The various kinds of processed corn significantly narrowed the ruminal acetate: propionate ratio in both species. The possible relationship of volatile fatty acids to the observed feed efficiency is discussed.