PSVI-18 - Effect of Processing Method and Severity for Hybrid Fall Rye on Dry Matter Intake, Ruminal Fermentation, and Apparent Total Tract Nutrient Digestibility in Ruminally Cannulated Beef Heifers

Abstract: This study evaluated the effect of processing method and severity of hybrid fall rye on dry matter intake (DMI), ruminal fermentation, and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility for beef cattle. Ruminally cannulated Simmental heifers ( n = 8; 327±33 kg) were used in a replicated 4×4 Latin square (21-d periods) balanced for carry-over effects with a 2×2 factorial treatment. Tempered rye [water added to achieve 80% dry matter (DM)] was compared with dry-rolled rye. Roller gap width of 1.23-mm and 0.8-mm were used for coarse and finely processed rye, respectively. This resulted in processing index values of: 80.9% for dry-rolled and coarse; 72.7% for dry-rolled and fine; 92.9% for tempered and coarse; and 88.2% for tempered and fine processed rye. Diets (DM basis) included hybrid rye grain (86%), barley silage (15%), mineral (6%), and dry distillers’ grain plus solubles (3%). Feeding tempered rye increased (P< 0.01) DMI by 0.87 kg compared with dry-rolled rye, and feeding coarse rye increased (P=0.04) DMI by 0.33 kg compared with fine rye. Cattle fed dry-rolled and finely processed rye had greater (P< 0.04) area that pH was < 5.5 compared with tempered and coarse rye, respectively. Ruminal short-chain fatty acid concentrations and ammonia were not affected (P≥0.12). Feeding dry-rolled rye increased DM digestibility by 2.4% (P=0.02), and crude protein digestibility in 3.0% (P=0.01) compared with tempered rye. Starch digestibility was not affected by processing severity of dry-rolled rye, but increased from 92.8 to 95.9% for tempered rye with increasing severity (interaction, P=0.03). Rolling tempered rye at the same roller gap as dry-rolled rye decreases processing severity but may allow for a greater severity of processing without marked reductions in DMI and ruminal pH, while achieving similar total tract starch digestibility. When increasing processing severity (81 vs. 73%), dry-rolling hybrid rye may reduce DMI and ruminal pH.