Nutritive Value of Beef Cattle Rations Containing Artificially Dried Corn

Abstract

A latin square design using 4 yearling steers and 4 rations containing corn, which had been dried artificially under various temperatures, was used in digestion trials. The same steers were used in this design through 2 phases, growing and fattening. Four pounds of corn and 9 pounds of alfalfa hay were fed during the growing phase and 13 pounds of corn and 5 pounds of alfalfa hay were fed during the fattening phase. The 4 corn drying procedures were natural drying, drying at 130[degree] F, drying at 160[degree] F, and drying at 190[degree] F. Conventional collection and sampling procedures were used. The rations and fecal samples were subjected to a proximate analysis. By the use of standard formulas, nutrient digestion coefficients were calculated. No significant difference in digestibility between rations was observed in either the fattening phase or the growing phase of the experiment. Animal differences accounted for most of the variation in digestion coefficients. A trend approaching significance was noted for crude fiber digestibility in the growing phase. Higher digestibility coefficients were observed for the fattening phase than for the growing phase.