High-fibre high-lipid by-product pellets containing calcium oxide-treated oat hulls as a partial replacement for barley grain in finishing diets for beef cattle
Johnson, J. A.; Joy, F.; McKinnon, J. J.; Penner, G. B.
Canadian Journal of Animal Science 98(4): 656-666
2018
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-3984
DOI: 10.1139/cjas-2017-0111
Accession: 070892332
Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of treating oat hulls with calcium oxide (CaO) prior to inclusion in a high-lipid by-product pellet (HLP) on dry matter intake (DMI), ruminal fermentation, and total-tract digestibility (Study 1) and growth performance (Study 2). In Study 1, six ruminally cannulated heifers were used in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design. Study 2 used 210 steers in 21 pens in a 113 d finishing study. Dietary treatments for both studies included a barley-based control diet (CON), a diet where HLP partially replaced barley grain (NT-HLP), and a diet where HLP contained oat hulls treated with 7.5% CaO [dry matter (DM) basis; CaO-HLP]. For Study 1, DMI and ruminal pH were not affected. Apparent total-tract digestibility of DM and organic matter (OM) were greater (P < 0.05) for CON than NT-HLP and CaO-HLP. In Study 2, final body weight tended to be greater for NT-HLP and CaO-HLP than CON (P = 0.065). For CaO-HLP and NT-HLP, DMI was greater than CON (P < 0.01), but average daily gain (ADG) (2.0 kg d(-1)) and gain:feed (G:F) (0.16 kg kg(-1)) were not different. Thus, HLP can partially replace barley grain in finishing diets without negatively affecting ruminal fermentation or growth performance, but treatment with CaO has no effect.