Effects of replacing corn in beef feedlot diets with chemically or thermochemically treated corn stover and distillers grains on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and ruminal metabolism
type: CreativeWork
description: Ethanol expansion in the U. S. has increased the competition for corn grain to be used as food, fuel, and feed. Although this has increased availability of ethanol co-products, such as modified wet distillers grains with solubles (MWDGS), finding reduced-cost alternative feeds when corn grain and ethanol co-product price are expensive, due to season and demand, is still a challenge for producers. One alternative feedstuff that is inexpensive and easily accessible is corn stover (CS); however; CS is poorly digested due to its advanced physiological maturity. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to evaluate the effects of replacing corn in feedlot finishing diets with CS treated by various methods, chemically (with calcium oxide (CaO), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), or both CaO and NaOH) and physically (anaerobic or extrusion), and included in diets containing MWDGS on: (1) growth performance, carcass characteristics, and feedlot economics; and (2) diet digestibility and ruminal metabolism of beef cattle. These objectives were evaluated in a series of 3 experiments. In the first experiment, Angus × Simmental steers were allotted in a completely randomized design to 1 of 3 dietary treatments: (1) 55% corn, 35% MWDGS, 5% vitamin/mineral supplement, and 5% untreated, ground CS on a DM basis (CON), (2) CS treated with 5% CaO (DM basis) and stored in an Ag Bag (BGCS), or (3) CS treated with 5% CaO (DM basis) and extruded (EXCS). Both treated CS diets contained 20% CS, 40% MWDGS, 35% corn, and 5% vitamin/mineral supplement (DM basis). There were no differences (P ≥ 0.11) in feedlot performance or carcass traits between BGCS and EXCS throughout the study; therefore, only the contrast of CON versus BGCS and EXCS (combined) are discussed for these parameters. Feeding CaO-treated CS reduced (P ≤ 0.03) average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), gain:feed ratio (G:F), and final body weight (BW) when compared to steers fed CON. Carcasses from steers fed either BGCS or…
abstract: Ethanol expansion in the U. S. has increased the competition for corn grain to be used as food, fuel, and feed. Although this has increased availability of ethanol co-products, such as modified wet distillers grains with solubles (MWDGS), finding reduced-cost alternative feeds when corn grain and ethanol co-product price are expensive, due to season and demand, is still a challenge for producers. One alternative feedstuff that is inexpensive and easily accessible is corn stover (CS); however; CS is poorly digested due to its advanced physiological maturity. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to evaluate the effects of replacing corn in feedlot finishing diets with CS treated by various methods, chemically (with calcium oxide (CaO), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), or both CaO and NaOH) and physically (anaerobic or extrusion), and included in diets containing MWDGS on: (1) growth performance, carcass characteristics, and feedlot economics; and (2) diet digestibility and ruminal metabolism of beef cattle. These objectives were evaluated in a series of 3 experiments. In the first experiment, Angus × Simmental steers were allotted in a completely randomized design to 1 of 3 dietary treatments: (1) 55% corn, 35% MWDGS, 5% vitamin/mineral supplement, and 5% untreated, ground CS on a DM basis (CON), (2) CS treated with 5% CaO (DM basis) and stored in an Ag Bag (BGCS), or (3) CS treated with 5% CaO (DM basis) and extruded (EXCS). Both treated CS diets contained 20% CS, 40% MWDGS, 35% corn, and 5% vitamin/mineral supplement (DM basis). There were no differences (P ≥ 0.11) in feedlot performance or carcass traits between BGCS and EXCS throughout the study; therefore, only the contrast of CON versus BGCS and EXCS (combined) are discussed for these parameters. Feeding CaO-treated CS reduced (P ≤ 0.03) average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), gain:feed ratio (G:F), and final body weight (BW) when compared to steers fed CON. Carcasses from steers fed either BGCS or…
author: Chapple, Wesley
language: eng
keywords: calcium oxide, corn stover, digestibility, distillers grains, feedlot cattle
date published: 2014-09-16T17:24:45Z
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:25:40Z
provider: University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/2142/50648