Comparative feeding value of steam-flaked triticale as a replacement for steam-flaked corn in finishing diets for feedlot cattle

ABSTRACT

Forty-eight crossbred steers (296 ± 5 kg) were used in a 155-day trial to compare the feeding value of steam-flaked triticale (SFT) with steam-flaked corn (SFC). Dietary treatments were: (1) basal finishing diet (BD), (2) 40% BD plus 60% SFT, and (3) 40% BD plus 60% SFC. Substitution of BD with SFT or SFC increased gain efficiency (P < .01), tended to increase average daily gain (ADG) (P = .07) and decrease dry matter intake (P = .11). The derived net energy for maintenance (NE_m) and net energy for gain (NE_g) values of SFT averaged 2.28 and 1.59 Mcal/kg, respectively. Four steers (442 ± 28 kg) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square experiment to determine the effects of replacement of SFC with SFT on digestion. Treatments consisted of a SFC basal diet where SFT replaced 0, 32, 64, and 96% of SFC. Increasing level of SFT decreased total tract digestion of organic matter (OM) (linear component, P = .03), acid detergent fiber (ADF) (linear component, P < .01), and digestible energy (DE) (linear component, P < .01). The replacement DE value for SFT averaged 3.88 Mcal/kg, corresponding to NE_m and NE_g values of 2.18 and 1.50 Mcal/kg, respectively. It is concluded that the replacement net energy (NE) value of SFT is 92–96% that of SFC.

KEYWORDS:

• Triticale
• corn
• cattle
• performance
• digestion

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.