Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of EM on the consumption, nutritive value and digestibility of corn forage (Zea mays L.) processed into corn silage after harvesting at two growth stages. Stage 1 silage contained 25 percent dry matter and stage 2 silage, harvested nine days later, contained 37 percent dry matter. The first experiment involved feeding trials with sheep and ...

Beef producers must consider management strategies and technologies for reducing potential adverse environmental effects of their farms while maintaining or improving profit. One choice is between using perennial grassland or corn as the primary crop on the farm for feed production. Perennial grassland production systems are generally regarded as more favorable due to reduced nutrient losses to...

Sixteen ruminally cannulated, English-crossbred heifers (378 ± 28.4 kg) grazing small-grain pasture (SGP) were used in a completely randomized design to evaluate effects of supplementing different amounts of corn dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS; 0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6% of BW; as-fed basis) on forage intake, digestibility, and rumen fermentation characteristics. The experiment was cond...

S, POSTERS AND O PRESENTATIONS Altay, F, S Gunasekaran. 2005. Effect of drying temperature on gelation of corn starch (Abstract 71D-29). Annl Mtg Inst Food Technologists, Technical Program Abstracts, New Orleans, LA, July 16-20. Altay, F, S Gunasekaran, S Kasapis. 2005. Viscoelasticity of gelation gels in mixture with high levels of sugar (Abstract 36D-33). Annl Mtg Inst Food Technologists, Tec...

This study evaluated the effects of dilution rate and forage-to-concentrate ratio on gas production by rumen microbes. Continuous cultures were used to monitor methane production at three liquid dilution rates (3.2, 6.3, or 12.5%/h) and three forage-to-concentrate ratios (70:30, 50:50, or 30:70). Filtered ruminal contents were allowed 6 d of adaptation to diets followed by 7 d of data collectio...

Grain and forage from corn plants vary in composition and digestibility due to genetics and numerous environmental factors. For decades, corn hybrids have been selected based on agronomics (yield, disease and insect resistance). In addition, hybrids have been developed or selected for specific traits desired in specialty markets (food manufacturing properties: popcorn, white color, waxy, high a...

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of EM on the consumption, nutritive value and digestibility of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum cv. napier) silages processed from wilted and fresh grasses. The first experiment was a feeding trial with sheep involving three treatments: fresh grass silage + 9% ground corn fed alone or inoculated with EM, and wilted grass silage in...

Reduced pregnancy rates often occur in ruminants grazing endophyte-infected (EI) tall fescue. The objectives were to characterize basal and oxytocin-induced PGF2a concentrations in serum and reproductive function in ewes fed tall fescue seed and to determine whether addition of fish meal (FM) to a diet of EI fescue would alter PGF2a production. Ewes were fed a diet with novel or non-toxic endop...

Fermentation in the rumen of cattle produces methane (CH4). Methane may play a role in global warming scenarios. The linking of grazing management strategies to more efficient beef production while reducing the CH4 emitted by beef cattle is important. The sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer technique was used to determine the effects of best management practices (BMP) grazing compared with continu...

Corn silage represents a mixture of highly digestible, energy-dense grain and a poor quality forage (stover). The value of altering the grain to stover ratio through agronomic and harvesting strategies has been recognized for some time, however many of these practices have been applied to hybrids selected primarily for grain yield and adapted for harvest as silage. Although the feeding value of...