Impacts of wheat milling by-products in supplements on the intake and digestion of steers consuming low-quality forage

Authors

C.G. Farmer
R.C. Cochran
D.D. Simms
J.S. Heldt
C.P. Mathis

Keywords

Cattlemen's Day, 1999; Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution; no. 99-339-S; Report of progress (Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service); 831; Beef; Steers; Forage; Intake; Digestion; Wheat by-products

Abstract

Sixteen ruminally fistulated steers were used to evaluate the effects of feeding supplements containing combinations of two wheat-milling by-products on forage intake, digestibility, and ruminal characteristics. The by-products accounted for 47 to 49% of each supplement and were as follows: 1) 100% wheat bran; 2) 67% wheat bran, 33% second clears; and 3) 33% wheat bran, 67% second clears. All supplements contained about 30% CP. Compared with unsupplemented controls, forage intake and digestibility were significantly higher for supplemented steers. However, no differences occurred among by-product treatments. In conclusion, if the protein content is adequate, the choice of bran (high digestible fiber) vs. second clears (high starch) has little impact on forage use.

Recommended Citation

Farmer, C.G.; Cochran, R.C.; Simms, D.D.; Heldt, J.S.; and Mathis, C.P. (1999) "Impacts of wheat milling by-products in supplements on the intake and digestion of steers consuming low-quality forage," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 0: Iss. 1. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.1868