The evaluation of processed grain screenings for potential use in the ruminant ration
Date
1995-04
Authors
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ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
The objectives of this research were firstly to determine
the nutritive values for beef cattle and sheep of refuse
screenings that had undergone various chemical or physical
treatments; secondly to quantify the effects of chemical or
physical treatments on viability of weed seeds after passage
through the digestive tract of the ruminant; and thirdly to
assess the potential for use of screenings in a hay based
ration.
The nutritional value of refuse screenings was determined
in feeding trials with ewes and steers, as well as by
analytical laboratory procedures. The grain screenings were
either steam pelleted, untreated, or chemically treated with
three percent ammonia or one percent urea, both in whole or
pelleted form. Eight diets were fed, six containing
screenings, and two control diets of pelleted or unpelleted
hay. The screenings were fed at 60, 40, or 20% of the diet in
combination with brome-alfalfa hay.
Both in vivo and in vitro digestibilities showed
pelleting, chemical treatment with ammonia and, to a lesser
degree, the addition of urea improved the nutritive value of
refuse screenings for the ruminant animal. Ammoniated and
pelleted diets showed higher digestibilities of organic matter
(OM) , crude protein (CP), energy, neutral detergent fiber
(NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and cellulose than whole
unprocessed screenings. Digestibility increased as the level
of screenings in the diet decreased. Ammoniation and pelleting
were both effective in reducing weed seed viability, according
to germination tests. Unpelleted diets containing urea or nonchemically
treated diets contained large numbers of seeds
which survived passage through the digestive tract and
germinated, representing a potential weed contamination
problem in manure from animals fed these diets.
This study showed that refuse screenings can be used
effectively as a component of the ruminant ration. With
growing ewes and steers it appeared that a screenings level of
approximatly 40% of the diet was optimal. This is economically
significant as a large amount of relatively inexpensive
screenings are available annually. Since ammoniation appeared
effective in decreasing weed seed viability, it potentially
could replace pelleting of screenings for livestock rations if
proven to be more cost effective than the traditionally used
steam pelleting.
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Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Animal and Poultry Science
Program
Animal Science