Influence of Wheat Straw Pelletizing and Inclusion Rate in Dry Rolled or Steam-flaked Corn-based Finishing Diets on Characteristics of Digestion for Feedlot Cattle.

Eight Holstein steers (216±48 kg body weight) fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used to evaluate effects of wheat straw processing (ground vs pelleted) at two straw inclusion rates (7% and 14%; dry matter basis) in dry rolled or steam-flaked corn-based finishing diets on characteristics of digestion. The experimental design was a split plot consisting of two simultaneous 4×4 Latin squares. Increasing straw level reduced ruminal (p<0.01) and total tract (p = 0.03) organic matter (OM) digestion. As expected, increasing wheat straw level from 7% to 14% decreased (p<0.05) ruminal and total tract digestion of OM. Digestion of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and starch, per se, were not affected (p>0.10) by wheat straw level. Likewise, straw level did not influence ruminal acetate and propionate molar proportions or estimated methane production (p>0.10). Pelleting straw did not affect (p≥0.48) ruminal digestion of OM, NDF, and starch, or microbial efficiency. Ruminal feed N digestion was greater (7.4%; p = 0.02) for ground than for pelleted wheat straw diets. Although ruminal starch digestion was not affected by straw processing, post-ruminal (p<0.01), and total-tract starch (p = 0.05) digestion were greater for ground than for pelleted wheat straw diets, resulting in a tendency for increased post-ruminal (p = 0.06) and total tract (p = 0.07) OM digestion. Pelleting wheat straw decreased (p<0.01) ruminal pH, although ruminal volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration and estimated methane were not affected (p≥0.27). Ruminal digestion of OM and starch, and post-ruminal and total tract digestion of OM, starch and N were greater (p<0.01) for steam-flaked than for dry rolled corn-based diets. Ruminal NDF digestion was greater (p = 0.02) for dry rolled than for steam-flaked corn, although total tract NDF digestion was unaffected (p = 0.94). Ruminal microbial efficiency and ruminal degradation of feed N were not affected (p>0.14) by corn processing. However, microbial N flow to the small intestine and ruminal N efficiency (non-ammonia N flow to the small intestine/N intake) were greater (p<0.01) for steam-flaked than for dry rolled corn-based diets. Ruminal pH and total VFA concentration were not affected (p≥ 0.16) by corn processing method. Compared with dry rolled corn, steam-flaked corn-based diets resulted in decreased acetate:propionate molar ratio (p = 0.02). It is concluded that at 7% or 14% straw inclusion rate, changes in physical characteristics of wheat straw brought about by pelleting negatively impact OM digestion of both steam-flaked and dry-rolled corn-based finishing diets. This effect is due to decreased post-ruminal starch digestion. Replacement of ground straw with pelleted straw also may decrease ruminal pH.

INTRODUCTION

Wheat is the principal agronomic crop of the Mexicali Valley. After the grain is harvested, much of the straw is left in the field. The relatively low available energy value of wheat straw limits its nutritive value for feedlot cattle (Lesoing et al., 1980). However, its functional value as a roughage source is well documented (Ware and Zinn, 2005; Salinas-Chavira et al., 2013). Hence, the level of inclusion of wheat straw in high-concentrate finishing diets is largely a functional constraint, i.e. stimulate chewing and saliva output that buffer the acids produced during ruminal fermentation (Balch, 1958). Feedlot receiving diets typically include approximately 35% roughage to allow adaptation of ruminal bacteria to the more readily fermentable carbohydrates (Berry et al., 2004). Whereas, finishing diets contain 4.5% to 13.5% (dry matter [DM] basis) roughage (Vasconcelos and Galyean, 2007). Both roughage concentration and physical form contribute to normal rumen function (Woodford et al., 1986). Pelletizing forages affects its functionality as roughage. It increases particle density and ruminal passage rate, reducing total chewing activity and rumination (Mertens, 1997; Mertens and Ely, 1979). However, the increased density brought about by pelletizing wheat straw would reduce transportation cost over long distances from areas of wheat production to feedlot centers, and enhance conveyance, mixing, and feed delivery of otherwise bulkier finishing diets. The comparative effects of level of inclusion conventional ground vs pelleting wheat straw on characteristics of digestion of finishing diets for feedlot cattle has not been previously evaluated. Steam-flaking improves starch digestibility over that of dry-rolled corn (Zinn et al., 2002). However, in the absence of adequate roughage the enhanced starch digestibility may reduce ruminal pH (Zinn et al., 1995) to the extent that it depresses organic matter (OM) digestion and associated digestive processes, leading to suboptimal average daily gain and gain efficiency (Owens et al., 1986). The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the influence of wheat straw level and processing method on characteristics of digestion of dry rolled or steam-flaked corn (SFC)-based finishing diets.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All procedures involving animal care and management were in accordance with and approved by the University of California, Davis, Animal Use and Care Committee.

Eight Holstein steers (216±48 kg) fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used in a split plot design consisting of two simultaneous 4×4 Latin squares to evaluate the influence of wheat straw level (7% vs 14%, DM basis) and processing method (ground vs pelleting) on characteristics of digestion of dry rolled and SFC-based finishing diets for feedlot cattle. Wheat straw level and processing method were evaluated in a 2×2 factorial arrangement within each 4×4 Latin square design in which diets contained either dry rolled or SFC (whole plots). Composition of experimental diets is shown in Table 1. Diets included 0.35% chromic oxide as an indigestible marker to estimate nutrient flows and digestibility. Chromic oxide was premixed with minor ingredients (urea, limestone and trace mineral salt) before incorporation into complete mixed diets. The eight treatments were: 7% ground wheat straw (GRWS) with dry rolled corn (DRC); 7% pelleted wheat straw (PEWS) with DRC; 14% GRWS with DRC; 14% PEWS with DRC; 7% GRWS with SFC; 7% PEWS with SFC; 14% GRWS with SFC; 14% PEWS with SFC. GRWS was processed in a hammer mill (Bear Cat #1A-S, Westerns Land and Roller Co., Hastings, NE, USA), equipped with a 3.81 cm screen. Pelleting wheat straw (PEWS, 2×0.5 cm pellets) was produced using a California Pellet Mill. SFC was prepared as follows. A chest situated directly above the rollers (46×61 cm, corrugated) was filled with 441 kg of yellow corn and then brought to a constant temperature of 102°C at atmospheric pressure using steam. Grain was steamed for 20 min before starting the rollers. Approximately 454 kg of the initial steam-processed grain that exited the rollers during the warm-up of the rollers was set aside and not fed to the cattle in this study. The roller tension was adjusted to provide a flake density of 0.31 kg/L. Average retention time in the steam chamber was approximately 30 min. The SFC was allowed to air-dry before use in diet preparation. Dry rolled corn was prepared by rolling corn in the absence of steam with roller tension set to provide a density of 0.58 kg/L.

Table 1

Composition of the experimental diets fed to the steers

Items	Steam flaked corn				Dry rolled corn
	14% wheat straw		7% wheat straw		14% wheat straw		7% wheat straw
	Gro	Pell	Gro	Pell	Gro	Pell	Gro	Pell
Ingredients (%, DM basis)
Steam-flaked corn	70.00	70.00	77.00	77.00	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Dry Rolled corn	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	70.00	70.00	77.00	77.00
Wheat straw, ground	14.00	0.0	7.00	0.0	14.00	0.0	7.00	0.0
Wheat straw, pelleted	0.0	14.00	0.0	7.00	0.0	14.00	0.0	7.00
Cane molasses	6.00	6.00	6.00	6.00	6.00	6.00	6.00	6.00
Pelleted canola	3.70	3.70	3.70	3.70	3.70	3.70	3.70	3.70
Yellow grease	2.80	2.80	2.80	2.80	2.80	2.80	2.80	2.80
Limestone	1.40	1.40	1.40	1.40	1.40	1.40	1.40	1.40
Urea	1.30	1.30	1.30	1.30	1.30	1.30	1.30	1.30
TM salt1	0.35	0.35	0.35	0.35	0.35	0.35	0.35	0.35
Chromic oxide	0.35	0.35	0.35	0.35	0.35	0.35	0.35	0.35
Magnesium oxide	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10
Nutrient composition, DM basis (based on NRC, 2000)
NE (Mcal/kg)
Maintenance	2.08	2.08	2.20	2.20	1.94	1.94	2.05	2.05
Gain	1.43	1.43	1.54	1.54	1.30	1.30	1.40	1.40
CP (%)	13.26	13.26	13.68	13.68	13.47	13.47	13.91	13.91
Ether extract (%)	6.40	6.40	6.56	6.56	6.40	6.40	6.56	6.56
Nonstructural CHO (%)	58.05	58.05	63.38	63.38	58.15	58.15	63.49	63.49
NDF (%)	18.41	18.41	13.51	13.51	18.40	18.40	13.51	13.51
Ca (%)	0.70	0.70	0.69	0.69	0.70	0.70	0.70	0.70
P (%)	0.28	0.28	0.30	0.30	0.28	0.28	0.30	0.30
K (%)	0.69	0.69	0.62	0.62	0.69	0.69	0.62	0.62
Mg (%)	0.26	0.26	0.26	0.26	0.26	0.26	0.26	0.26
S (%)	0.19	0.19	0.19	0.19	0.19	0.19	0.19	0.19

Gro, ground; Pell, pelleted; DM, dry matter; TM, trace mineral; NE, net energy; CP, crude protein; NDF, neutral detergent fiber.

TM salt contained (g/kg): CoSO4, 6.8; CuSO4, 10.4; FeSO4, 35.7; ZnO, 12.4; MnSO4, 10.7; KI, 0.52; NaCl, 929.6.

Steers were housed in individual pens (3.9 m2) with concrete floor covered by neoprene carpet, automatic waterers and individual feed bunks. Diets were fed at 0800 and 2000 h daily. Dry matter intake was restricted to 3.94 kg/d. The experiment consisted of four 14-d periods, consisting of 10 d for diet adjustment plus 4 d for sample collection. During collection, duodenal and fecal samples were taken from each steer twice daily over a period of 4 successive days as follows: d 1, 0750 and 1350 h; d 2, 0900 and 1500 h; d 3, 1050 and 1650 h; and d 4, 1200 and 1800 h. Individual samples consisted of approximately 700 mL of duodenal chyme and 200 g (wet basis) of fecal material. Samples for each steer within each collection period were composited for analysis. During the final day of each collection period, ruminal samples were obtained from each steer via the ruminal cannula at 4 h after feeding. Ruminal fluid pH was determined on freshly collected samples. Samples were then strained through four layers of cheesecloth. Two milliliters of freshly prepared 25% (wt/vol) meta-phosphoric acid was added to 8 mL of strained ruminal fluid. Samples were then centrifuged (17,000×g for 10 min), and supernatant fluid was stored at −20°C for volatile fatty acids (VFA) analysis. Upon completion of the experiment, ruminal fluid was obtained via the ruminal cannula from all steers and composited for isolation of ruminal bacteria via differential centrifugation (Bergen et al., 1968).

Feed and fecal samples were subjected to the following analysis: DM (oven drying at 105°C until no further weight loss); ash (method 942.05, AOAC, 1986), Kjeldahl N (method 984.13, AOAC, 2000); aNDFom (Van Soest et al., 1991, corrected for neutral detergent fiber (NDF)-ash, incorporating heat stable α-amylase [Ankom FAA, Ankom Technology, Macedon, NY, USA] at 1 mL per 100 mL of NDF solution); chromic oxide (Hill and Anderson, 1958); and starch (Zinn, 1990). Duodenal samples were subjected the following analysis: DM (oven drying at 105°C until no further weight loss); ash (method 942.05, AOAC, 1986), Kjeldahl N (method 984.13, AOAC, 2000), ammonia N (method 941.04, AOAC, 2000); aNDFom [Van Soest et al., 1991, corrected for NDF-ash, incorporating heat stable α-amylase [Ankom FAA, Ankom Technology, USA] at 1 mL per 100 mL of NDF solution); purines (Zinn and Owens, 1986); chromic oxide (Hill and Anderson, 1958); and starch (Zinn, 1990). Duodenal flow and fecal excretion of DM were calculated based on marker ratio, using chromic oxide. Microbial organic matter (MOM) and N (MN) leaving the abomasum was calculated using purines as a microbial marker (Zinn and Owens, 1986).

Organic matter fermented in the rumen was considered equal to OM intake minus the difference between the amount of total OM reaching the duodenum and MOM reaching the duodenum. Feed N escape to the small intestine was considered equal to total N leaving the abomasum minus ammonia-N, MN and endogenous N (0.195×BW0.75; Ørskov et al., 1986). Methane production (mol/mol glucose equivalent fermented) was estimated based on the theoretical fermentation balance for observed molar distribution of VFA (Wolin, 1960).

The trial was evaluated as a split plot design consisting of two simultaneous 4×4 Latin squares according to the model: Yijkl = m+Bi +Aj(i)+Pk+Tl+BTij+eijkl, Bi is whole plot (corn processing), Aj(i) is steer with whole plot, Pk is period, Tl is wheat straw level x processing subplot treatments, BTij is whole plot×subplot treatment interaction and eijkl is residual error. Wheat straw level and processing method were evaluated in a 2×2 factorial arrangement within each 4×4 Latin square design (general linear model procedure; SAS 2007).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Treatment effects on characteristics of digestion and ruminal pH and VFA molar proportions are shown in Table 2 and 3. There were no treatment interactions (p = 0.10 to 0.99) on characteristics of ruminal and total tract digestion.

Table 2

Influence of wheat straw level and processing, and corn grain processing on characteristics of ruminal and total digestion of steers fed finishing diets (main effects)

Items	Main effects							p-value
	Straw level1		Straw process		Grain process			Straw			Grain
	7%	14%	Gro	Pell	DRC	SFC	SEM	7% vs 14%	Gro vs Pell	Level× process	DRC vs SFC	Straw× grain
Steer replication	8	8	8	8	16	16	-	-	-	-	-	-
Intake (g/d)
DM	4,700	4,700	4,700	4,700	4,700	4,700	-	-	-	-	-	-
OM	4,466	4,421	4,455	4,433	4,431	4,456	-	-	-	-	-	-
NDF	545	726	643	627	634	637	-	-	-	-	-	-
N	94	92	93	93	93	94	-	-	-	-	-	-
Starch	2,590	2,411	2,509	2,492	2,345	2,656	-	-	-	-	-	-
Duodenal flow (g/d)
OM	2,244	2,387	2,324	2,307	2,888	2,142	51.24	0.02	0.74	0.40	<0.01	0.99
NDF	324	457	390	391	357	424	27.33	<0.01	0.97	0.75	0.05	0.99
Starch	551	514	546	519	731	334	33.85	0.29	0.45	0.29	<0.01	0.90
N	99	101	99	100	90	109	3.38	0.49	0.71	0.52	<0.01	0.98
NH-N	5.70	6.37	6.27	5.81	6.39	5.68	0.49	0.19	0.37	0.63	0.19	0.71
NAN	93	95	93	95	84	103	3.14	0.60	0.59	0.44	<0.01	0.99
MN	66	64	67	64	57	74	2.48	0.49	0.21	0.58	<0.01	0.96
Ruminal digestion (%)
OM	0.648	0.612	0.634	0.626	0.574	0.686	0.012	<0.01	0.49	0.50	<0.01	0.81
NDF	0.409	0.392	0.411	0.390	0.458	0.343	0.038	0.66	0.59	0.61	0.02	0.91
Starch	0.783	0.785	0.781	0.787	0.693	0.875	0.014	0.89	0.66	0.27	<0.01	0.54
Feed N	0.830	0.793	0.840	0.782	0.823	0.799	0.021	0.10	0.02	0.75	0.30	0.30
Microbial efficiency2	22.82	23.90	23.70	23.02	22.56	24.15	0.930	0.26	0.48	0.37	0.14	0.67
N efficiency	0.99	1.02	1.00	1.02	0.91	1.11	0.036	0.35	0.52	0.31	<0.01	0.23
Postruminal digestion (% flow to duodenum)
OM	0.586	0.552	0.590	0.548	0.529	0.609	0.021	0.12	0.06	0.97	<0.01	0.79
N	0.718	0.709	0.722	0.704	0.646	0.780	0.016	0.57	0.27	0.59	<0.01	0.13
Starch	0.838	0.823	0.872	0.789	0.782	0.880	0.022	0.51	<0.01	0.79	<0.01	0.39
Total tract digestion (%)
DM	0.764	0.733	0.762	0.735	0.716	0.780	0.001	0.05	0.09	0.45	<0.01	0.37
OM	0.791	0.762	0.789	0.764	0.741	0.812	0.013	0.03	0.07	0.63	<0.01	0.33
NDF	0.419	0.406	0.437	0.387	0.414	0.411	0.039	0.74	0.22	0.29	0.94	0.62
N	0.714	0.687	0.711	0.690	0.657	0.744	0.015	0.08	0.18	0.21	<0.01	0.33
Starch	0.958	0.960	0.969	0.949	0.933	0.986	0.009	0.85	0.05	0.72	<0.01	0.10

Gro, ground; Pell, pelleted; DRC, dry rolled corn; SFC, steam flaked corn; SEM, standard error of the mean; DM, dry metter; OM, organic matter; NDF, neutral detergent fiber.

Level, 7% or 14% of diet.

Microbial N, g/kg of OM fermented.

Table 3

Influence of wheat straw level and processing, and corn grain processing on ruminal pH and VFA molar proportions of steers fed finishing diets (main effects)

Items	Main effects							p-value
	Straw level1		Straw process		Grain process			Straw			Grain
	7%	14%	Gro	Pell	DRC	SFC	SEM	7% vs 14%	Gro vs Pell	Level× process	DRC vs SFC	Straw× grain
Steer replication	8	8	8	8	16	16	-	-	-	-	-	-
pH	5.58	5.71	5.78	5.50	5.68	5.60	0.08	0.14	<0.01	0.07	0.36	0.95
Total VFA	71.07	70.21	69.52	71.77	72.95	68.33	2.87	0.77	0.44	0.75	0.16	0.65
Molar proportion VFA
Acetate	67.98	68.49	68.05	67.98	70.57	65.90	1.45	0.73	0.80	0.38	0.02	0.85
Propionate	26.28	25.77	25.91	26.14	23.55	28.50	1.44	0.73	0.87	0.27	0.01	0.85
Butyrate	5.74	5.74	5.67	5.81	5.88	5.61	0.12	0.98	0.27	0.01	0.07	0.81
Acetate/propionate	2.66	2.83	2.74	2.75	3.08	2.41	0.20	0.41	0.97	0.40	0.02	0.91
Methane2	0.57	0.58	0.58	0.57	0.61	0.54	0.02	0.73	0.85	0.31	0.02	0.86

VFA, volatile fatty acids; Gro, ground; Pell, pelleted; DRC, dry rolled corn; SFC, steam flaked corn; SEM, standard error of the mean.

Level, 7% or 14% of diet.

Methane production (mol/mol of glucose equivalent fermented) was estimated based on the theoretical fermentation balance for observed molar distribution of VFA (Wolin, 1960).

Wheat straw level (7% vs 14%)

As expected, increasing wheat straw level from 7% to 14% decreased (p<0.05) ruminal and total tract digestion of OM. Wheat straw partially replaced corn grain in the diet. The decrease in OM digestion is expected due to the substitution of corn grain with less digestible wheat straw. This decrease of OM digestion with increased wheat straw inclusion rate is consistent with previous studies (Calderon-Cortes and Zinn, 1996; Salinas-Chavira et al., 2013).

Consistent with previous studies (Zinn, 1986; Zinn et al., 1994; Calderon-Cortes and Zinn, 1996; Salinas-Chavira et al., 2013), digestion of NDF and starch, per se, were not affected (p>0.10) by wheat straw level. Microbial N efficiency (g MN/kg OM fermented) and microbial N flow to duodenum were likewise unaffected (p>0.10) by roughage level. Microbial N efficiency is expected to increase with increased forage level, associated with increased ruminal pH and dilution rate (NRC, 2000). However, this effect has not been consistent. Zinn et al. (1994) likewise did not observe an effect of increasing forage level from 10% to 20% in a SFC-based finishing on microbial N efficiency.

Wheat straw level did not influence ruminal VFA molar proportions of acetate and propionate, or estimated methane production (p>0.10). However, there was an interaction between wheat straw level and processing (p = 0.01) on molar proportions of butyrate. Diets with 14% ground, 14% pelleted, 7% ground, and 7% PEWS had butyrate molar proportions of 6.21%, 5.74%, 5.59%, and 5.96%, respectively. There was a tendency (p = 0.07) for an interaction between wheat straw level and processing on ruminal pH, which decreased from 5.93 to 5.49, respectively, for diets with 14% ground vs PEWS. Whereas, ruminal pH decreased from 5.63 to 5.52, respectively for diets containing 7% ground vs PEWS. Thus, with GRWS, increasing the inclusion rate resulted in an anticipated increase in ruminal pH (Zinn et al., 1994; Calderon-Cortes and Zinn, 1996; Salinas-Chavira et al., 2013). However, with PEWS increasing inclusion rate may not result in increased ruminal pH.

Wheat straw processing (ground vs pelleted)

Wheat straw processing did not affect (p≥0.48) ruminal digestion of OM, NDF and starch, or microbial efficiency. Ruminal feed N digestion was greater (7.4%; p = 0.02) for ground than for PEWS diets, possibly reflecting a tendency for greater ruminal retention time for diets containing GRWS (Mertens and Ely, 1979). Although ruminal starch digestion was not affected by wheat straw processing, post-ruminal (p<0.01), and total-tract starch (p = 0.05) digestion were greater for ground than for PEWS straw diets. The increased starch digestion associated with ground vs PEWS resulted in a tendency for increased post-ruminal (p = 0.06) and total tract (p = 0.07) OM digestion. The basis for this effect is not certain. In other studies comparing ground vs pelleted rice straw (Ware and Zinn, 2005; Salinas Chavira et al., 2013), pelleting did not affect total tract OM digestion. Consistent with Ware and Zinn (2005), pelleting wheat straw did not affect (p>0.22) site and extent of NDF digestion.

Pelleting wheat straw decreased (p<0.01) ruminal pH, although ruminal VFA concentration and estimated methane were not affected (p≥0.27). The decreased ruminal pH associated with PEWS is consistent with previous studies comparing ground vs pelleted rice straw (Ware and Zinn, 2005; Salinas Chavira et al., 2013), and may be attributable to decreased rumination (Mertens, 1997).

Grain processing (dry rolled vs steam-flaked)

Consistent with previous studies (Zinn et al., 1998), ruminal digestion of OM and starch, and post-ruminal and total tract digestion of OM, starch and N were greater (p<0.01) for steam-flaked than for DRC-based diets. As an aside, observed total tract starch digestion for dry rolled and SFC are also in close agreement (99.5%) with estimated starch digestion (92.9% and 98.1%, respectively) based on fecal starch (starch digestion, % = 100.5–0.649 fecal starch; Zinn et al., 2002), where fecal starch for dry rolled and SFC-diets averaged 3.6% and 11.7%, respectively.

Ruminal NDF digestion was greater (p = 0.02) for dry rolled than for SFC. Decreased ruminal NDF digestion is also a consistent effect of steam-flake vs DRC-based diets (Corona et al., 2006). However, in the present study compensatory post-ruminal digestion sufficed to the extent that total tract digestion of NDF was unaffected (p = 0.94) by corn processing.

Ruminal microbial efficiency (g microbial N/kg of OM fermented) and ruminal degradation of feed N were not affected (p>0.14) by corn processing. However, microbial N flow to the small intestine and ruminal N efficiency (nonammonia N flow to the small intestine/N intake) were greater (p<0.01) for steam-flaked than for DRC-based diets. Increased ruminal N efficiency is a characteristic response to steam flaking corn (Prigge et al., 1978; Zinn, 1990; Zinn et al., 1995; Zinn et al., 1998), due to enhanced ruminal OM digestion and associated increases in net microbial protein synthesis.

There were no interactions (p>0.10) between grain processing and wheat straw treatments on ruminal pH, VFA molar proportions, and estimated methane production. Ruminal pH and total VFA concentration were not affected (p≥0.16) by corn processing method. The lack reduction in ruminal pH with steam-flaked vs DRC-based diets is not generally expected (Zinn et al., 1995; Corona et al., 2006). Although in some instances, the effects of steam-flaking corn on ruminal pH were not appreciable (Zinn et al., 1998). The magnitude of differences may be associated with flake density and/or fineness of grind of dry-process corn.

Compared with DRC, SFC-based diets resulted in decreased ruminal molar proportions of acetate and the acetate:propionate molar ratio (p = 0.02), increased molar proportion of propionate (p = 0.01), and tended to reduce the molar proportion of butyrate (p = 0.07). These observations are characteristic response to steam-flaked vs dry processed corn (Zinn et al., 1995; Corona et al., 2006).

CONCLUSIONS

Results of this study indicate that at 7% or 14% straw inclusion rate, changes in physical characteristics of wheat straw brought about by pelleting may have a small negative impact on OM digestion of both steam-flaked and dry-rolled corn-based finishing diets. This effect is due to decreased post-ruminal starch digestion. Replacement of ground straw with pelleted straw also may result in decreased ruminal pH, although the effect was more pronounced a 14% than at 7% straw inclusion rate.