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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Livestock Nutrient Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #315492
Title: In vitro and in situ degradation of alkali treated sorghum wet distillers grains alone or in combination with corn stalks to increase their nutritive value

Author
item GENTRY, WES - West Texas A & M University
item WEISS, CODY - West Texas A & M University
item BRAUER, CASEY - Texas A&M Agrilife
item MCCOLLUM, F - Texas A&M Agrilife
item Cole, Noel
item JENNINGS, JENNY - Texas A&M Agrilife

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/2014
Publication Date: 2/3/2015
Citation: Gentry, W.W., Weiss, C.P., Brauer, C.L., Mccollum, F.T., Cole, N.A., Jennings, J.S. 2015. In vitro and in situ degradation of alkali treated sorghum wet distillers grains alone or in combination with corn stalks to increase their nutritive value. American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Meeting. Paper No. 77.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of alkali treatment on in vitro and in situ digestibility of fiber sources. An in vitro and in situ experiment were conducted to determine the effects of treating sorghum WDG with solubles (SWDG) and corn stalks (CS) with calcium hydroxide on in vitro volatile fatty acid concentrations and methane production (Exp. 1), and in situ DM, OM, and NDF disappearance (Exp. 2). Treatments were arranged in a 2 x 4 factorial. Individual ingredient treatments include untreated SWDG, calcium hydroxide treated SWDG (2.67 % DMB), untreated CS, or calcium hydroxide treated CS (6.5 % DMB). Combination treatments include 2 parts SWDG: 1 part CS blend (both untreated), 2 parts SWDG: 1 part CS (both treated), 2 parts SWDG: 1 part CS (SWDG treated, CS untreated) and 2 parts SWDG: 1 part CS (SWDG untreated, CS treated). Treated ingredients were stored in sealed containers for 7 days individually before blends were prepared. Two ruminally cannulated steers were adapted for 14 days to 70% concentrate finishing diet. In Exp. 1 in vitro incubation of the 8 treatments were conducted using the Ankom Gas Monitoring System. Bottles with 1.4 g of substrate and 150 ml of inoculum from both steers were incubated for 24 h at 39oC. In Exp. 2 treatment substrate was ruminally incubated for 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h in triplicate. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS. Alkali treatment of SWDG increased (P < 0.01) percent methane and CO2 in vitro. However, treatment of CS decreased percent CO2 (P < 0.05) and tended to decrease (P = 0.08) methane compared to untreated CS in vitro. Alkali treatment of SWDG increased (P < 0.01) in situ DM digestibility compared to untreated SWDG (59.1 vs 52.7 ± 2.3%, respectively). No differences (P = 0.46) were determined between alkali treated and untreated CS (34.8 vs 36.6 ± 2.3%, respectively). Alkali treatment of SWDG and CS did not affect (P=0.91 and 0.46, respectively) %NDF after the 48 incubation period.