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Evaluation of Moisture Uptake, Aerobic and Anaerobic Phases of Reconstitution upon Sorghum Grain Digestibility and Performance of Steers¹

Texas A&M University, College Station 77843

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of sorghum grain processing on grain digestibility, rumen fermentation and yearling steer performance. Cattle digestion and growth studies were conducted with 1) dry sorghum, 2) sequential soaking in water (21 h), 3) soaking with aerobic fermentation (21 h) and 4) soaking plus aerobic fermentation followed by anaerobic fermentation of 5 d. All grains were rolled before feeding and were fed at 88% of the dry matter in total mixed diets. High moisture treatments of sorghum increased (P<.05) in vivo dry matter, organic matter and starch digestion compared with dry rolled sorghum. Digestibility of crude protein was similar for all treatments. Rate of ingesta dry matter passage was 66% faster (P<.16) for 5-d reconstituted sorghum than dry sorghum. In a 138-d feeding trial, dry matter intake of treated (average 60.2% dry matter) grain was similar to that of steers fed dry rolled sorghum. Feed efficiencies improved (P<.12) for steers fed high moisture sorghum compared with controls (8.61 vs 7.28). Ruminal butyric acid concentration increased (P<.05) for steers fed the grain that was soaked, aerobically and anaerobically fermented compared .with other grain treatments. Moisture uptake during 21 h of soaking accounted for most of the observed improvements because sorghum treatments involving aerobic and anaerobic fermentation resulted in responses similar to those of cattle fed grain soaked for 21 h. Grain that was soaked and followed by aerobic and anaerobic fermentation lost more (P<.05) dry matter (13.4%) than other grain treatments, which was associated with increases (P<.05) in soluble carbohydrates and proteins.

¹ Technical article No. 19715, Texas Agr. Exp. Sta.

² Dept. of Anim. Sci.

³ Present address: Dept. of Anim. Sci., The Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs 06268.

⁴ Dept. of Soil and Crop Sci.

⁵ Authors wish to acknowledge support from the Center for Energy and Mineral Resources, Texas A&M Univ. and the Texas Cattle Feeders Assoc., Amarillo.