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The Effect of Sodium Hydroxide Treatment of Fescue-Corn Stillage Diets on Intake, Digestibility and Performance with Lambs¹

University of Missouri, Columbia 65211

Abstract

One laboratory silo trial, two lamb digestion trials and one lamb growth trial were conducted to determine the feeding value of diets containing NaOH-treated tall fescue hay and corn whole stillage. Lamb trials were conducted at ad libitum intakes. Untreated or 4% NaOH-treated fescue was ensiled with 0, 15, 30 or 60% stillage in a fermentation study. After 20 d of fermentation, silages treated with NaOH had higher (P<.05) pH, butyrate and acetate, and lower (P<.05) lactate and crude protein than untreated silages. Average pH was 7.4 for NaOH-treated silages compared with 5.0 for untreated silages. Lactate and crude protein increased linearly (P<.05) with level of stillage. Butyric acid was highest for silage containing 60% stillage and NaOH-treated fescue. When the same silages were evaluated in a digestion trial, NaOH-treatment increased (P<.05) dry matter intake (916 vs 747 g/d) and dry matter digestibility (63 vs 56.2%) compared with untreated silages. Both intake and digestibility increased linearly (P<.05) with level of stillage. Level of NaOH (0, 2, 4 or 6%) and direct ensiling or mixing of ingredients at time of feeding were evaluated in a digestion study with diets containing 30% stillage. Dry matter intake and digestibility were not affected (P>.05) by method of feeding. Two or four percent NaOH addition increased intake more than 0 or 6% NaOH (P<.05, quadratic). Neutral detergent fiber digestibility was greater for 2% NaOH-treated fescue mixed with stillage at feeding (60.4%) compared with the corresponding ensiled diet (46.7%) suggesting a neutralization of NaOH during ensiling. In a lamb growth trial, lambs fed an ensiled 4% NaOH-treated fescue plus 30% stillage diet consumed more dry matter, but had similar gains and feed efficiency compared with lambs fed untreated fescue plus stillage or corn silage diets.

¹ Journal Paper No. 8967 of the Missouri Agr. Exp. Sta.

² Dept. of Anim. Sci.

³ Dept. of Agr. Engineering, ARS, USDA.