HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jas.2007-0139v1 86/3/691    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Archibeque, S. L. Articles by Ferrell, C. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Archibeque, S. L. Articles by Ferrell, C. L.

Feeding distillers grains supplements to improve amino acid nutriture of lambs consuming moderate-quality forages^1,2

USDA-ARS, US Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE 68933-0166

⁴ Corresponding author: Cal.Ferrell{at}ars.usda.gov

We hypothesized that providing dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) would improve the N retention and use of nutrients by wethers fed a moderate-quality bromegrass hay. Additionally, we hypothesized that treatment effects on nutrient fluxes would be similar after 3, 6, or 9 wk on treatment. Chronic indwelling catheters were surgically implanted in a mesenteric artery, mesenteric vein, hepatic vein, and portal vein of 9 Suffolk x Dorset wethers (initial BW ± SD = 57.4 ± 6.1 kg). Wethers had ad libitum access to moderate-quality bromegrass hay (8.44% CP, DM basis) and received 100 g/d of either a corn-based (Corn, n = 4) or a DDGS-based (n = 5) supplement. There was no difference in DMI (P = 0.85) or DM digestibility (P = 0.46) between the 2 groups. There was a numerically greater N intake (21.5 vs. 18.4 g/d; P = 0.14) and N retention (4.4 vs. 2.5 g/d; P = 0.15) when wethers were supplemented with DDGS instead of Corn. Wethers fed DDGS had a greater (P = 0.008) release of -amino N from the portal-drained viscera (PDV, 37.9 mmol/h) than those fed Corn (14.1 mmol/h). Similarly, there was a shift (P = 0.004) from a net splanchnic uptake to a net release of -amino N in wethers fed DDGS (9.1 mmol/h) compared with those fed Corn (–9.6 mmol/h). However, there was no difference in ammonia release from the PDV (P = 0.49) or hepatic release of urea-N (P = 0.19) between the 2 treatments. There were very limited interactions between nutrient fluxes and the length of time after the initiation of treatments. However, there was a tendency (interaction, P = 0.07) for the PDV release of -amino N to be greater at 6 and 9 wk after the initiation of the treatments than after 3 wk on treatment for wethers fed DDGS, although there was no difference over time for wethers fed the Corn supplement. Additionally, there were changes in numerous nutrient fluxes between 3 and 6 wk after the initiation of treatments regardless of treatment. These data indicate that DDGS is a viable supplement to enhance the nutriture of ruminants consuming moderate-quality forages. Additionally, these data indicate that the effects are discernible after 3 wk on treatment, with modest alterations in nutrient flux after additional time on treatment.

Key Words: balance • distillers grain • metabolism • wether

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. L. Leupp, G. P. Lardy, K. K. Karges, M. L. Gibson, and J. S. Caton Effects of increasing levels of corn distillers dried grains with solubles to steers offered moderate-quality forage J Anim Sci, December 1, 2009; 87(12): 4064 - 4072. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]