| Summary: | Adequate knowledge of the ruminal degradation characteristics of feedstuffs fed to ruminants is paramount to successful ration formulation using the recently proposed protein rationing systems.
In the first of two trials, in situ rumen degradation characteristics of cereal grains with or without steam rolling, roughages and agro-byproducts were evaluated. In vitro starch release of the cereals by the enzyme amyloglucosidase was also investigated.
Steam rolling (SR) significantly reduced the in situ rate of degradation of DM, CP and starch of cereal grains. Compared to
unprocessed cereals, in situ rate of degradation of these parameters was significantly lower for corn than for barley or wheat, for both the steam rolled and the unprocessed treatments. However, SR tended to increase the in vitro starch release by
amyloglucosidase from cereal grains. In situ degradation characteristics varied significantly (P<0.01) among roughages and
agro - byproducts, with alfalfa hay and rye distillers grains having higher rates of degradation. Beet pulp had the highest neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (P<0.01) effective degradability among the
agro - byproducts. In the second trial, twelve lactating dairy cows were used to
determine the effect of diets matched for rate of carbohydrate and protein degradation on feed intake, digestibility, rumen and blood components, and the yield and composition of milk. Four diets; steam - rolled corn - fish meal (SRC-FM), steam - rolled corn - canola meal (SRC-CM), steam - rolled barley - fish meal (SRB-FM) and steam - rolled barley - canola meal (SRB-CM) were all fed with alfalfa hay to the
cows four times per day. Feed intake was not influenced by source of carbohydrate or protein (P>0.10), but the digestibility of most nutrients was significantly influenced (P<.10) by source of carbohydrate , being higher on the SRB diets than on the SRC diets. Total rumen volatile fatty acids and rumen ammonia nitrogen were significantly influenced by source of protein (P<0.10), with most other parameters, including blood parameters, showing significant interactions (P<0.01) between source of carbohydrate
and source of protein. Milk production, and the yield of protein, total solids (TS), and solids - not - fat (SNF) were significantly
influenced (P<.01) by source of carbohydrate, with the cows consuming SRB diets producing more of the above than those
consuming SRC diets. Percent fat and percent SNF were higher and lower respectively on the SRC diets than the SRB diets. With alfalfa hay as roughage, SRB, when fed in combination with either FM or CM, resulted in more milk production than when SRC was fed with either FM or CM. Different starch and roughage sources and agro-byproducts
degrade at different rates. This variability in degradation characteristics can be exploited in ration formulation in such a
way that the provision of energy can be matched to the provision of nitrogen in order to optimize microbial production, maximize performance and minimize protein wastage.
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