Impact of adding water to a barley-based finishing feedlot diet on feed sorting behaviour and ruminal fermentation for growing beef steers
Date
2025-05-07
Authors
Seidle, C.M.
Penner, Gregory
Ribeiro, Gabriel
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Canadian Science Publishing
ORCID
Type
Article
Degree Level
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of adding water to a barley-based feedlot diet on feed intake, feed sorting, ruminal fermentation, and apparent total tract digestibility. Eight ruminally cannulated Hereford crossbred steers were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 4 dietary treatments. Steers received a common diet with aggressively processed dry-rolled barley grain to create a sortable diet. Water was added to the total mixed ration, equating to 0% (CON), 10% (10W), 20% (20W), and 30% (30W) of the barley grain weight. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with linear and quadratic contrasts. Adding water linearly increased dry matter intake (DMI; P < 0.01) and water intake (P = 0.04). As water inclusion increased, the sorting index for particles on the pan approached 100% (linear, P < 0.01) indicating greater fine particle consumption. Mean (P < 0.01) and maximum ruminal pH linearly (P = 0.02) decreased, while the duration that pH was <5.5 (P = 0.02) and the concentration of lipopolysaccharide in ruminal fluid increased linearly as water inclusion increased (P < 0.01). These data suggest that adding water to a barley-based feedlot diet reduces dietary sorting and increases DMI but elevates the risk of ruminal acidosis when using aggressively processed barley grain.
Description
Attribution 4.0 International
Keywords
fines, grain processing, particle size, rumial acidosis
Citation
C.M. Seidle, G.O. Ribeiro, and G.B. Penner. 2025. Impact of adding water to a barley-based finishing feedlot diet on feed sorting behaviour and ruminal fermentation for growing beef steers. Canadian Journal of Animal Science. 105: 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjas-2025-0017
Degree
Department
Program
Advisor
Committee
Part Of
item.page.relation.ispartofseries
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1139/cjas-2025-0017