Nitrogen utilization, nutrient digestibility, and excretion of purine derivatives in dairy cattle consuming rations containing corn milling co-products. 2010

A M Gehman, and P J Kononoff
Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska, Lincoln 68583-0908, USA.

The objectives of this experiment were to determine the effects of feeding a combination of modified wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) and wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) on nutrient digestion, purine derivative excretion, and N utilization. Multiparous (n=20) and primiparous (n=20) cows were arranged in a replicated 5 x 5 Latin square with 21-d periods. Animals were fed one of 5 treatment diets during each period: 1) 0% co-products (control); 2) 15% WDGS (15WDGS); 3) 15% WCGF (15WCGF); 4) 7.5% WDGS and 7.5% WCGF (15MIX); and 5) 15% WDGS and 15% WCGF (30MIX; dry matter basis). A portion of forages, corn, and soy-based protein was replaced with WDGS, or WCGF, or both. Dry matter intake was greater for 15WDGS (25.1 kg/d) and 30MIX (25.5 kg/d) than for control (22.4 kg/d), 15WCGF (23.2 kg/d), or 15MIX (23.5 kg/d). Dry matter digestibility was greatest for 15WCGF and 30MIX (63.6 and 64.1%, respectively) and least for 15WDGS (59.8%), and neutral detergent fiber and N digestibility were greatest for 30MIX (50.7 and 68.6%, respectively) and lowest for 15WDGS (41.3 and 61.5%, respectively). Excretion of purine derivatives in urine was greater for co-product treatment diets than for control. Fecal N was greatest for 15WDGS compared with other treatment diets (311.0 vs. 263.3 g/d), whereas urinary N was greatest for 30MIX (330.0 g/d), intermediate for 15WCGF and 15MIX (319.3 and 320.5 g/d, respectively), and lowest for control and 15WDGS (308.5 and 312.2 g/d, respectively). Manure N (fecal+urinary N) was greatest for 15WDGS, intermediate for 15MIX and 30MIX, and lowest for control and 15WCGF. Treatment diets did not differ in 4% fat-corrected milk production. Compared with the ration containing WDGS, the ration with a 30% mixture of WDGS and WCGF improved nutrient digestibility and N utilization with reduced manure N excretion and increased N retention. Thus, it appears feeding WDGS and WCGF in combination reduces some of the negative effects of feeding WDGS alone.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008372 Manure Accumulations of solid or liquid animal excreta usually from stables and barnyards with or without litter material. Its chief application is as a fertilizer. (From Webster's 3d ed)
D009584 Nitrogen An element with the atomic symbol N, atomic number 7, and atomic weight [14.00643; 14.00728]. Nitrogen exists as a diatomic gas and makes up about 78% of the earth's atmosphere by volume. It is a constituent of proteins and nucleic acids and found in all living cells.
D011687 Purines A series of heterocyclic compounds that are variously substituted in nature and are known also as purine bases. They include ADENINE and GUANINE, constituents of nucleic acids, as well as many alkaloids such as CAFFEINE and THEOPHYLLINE. Uric acid is the metabolic end product of purine metabolism.
D002417 Cattle Domesticated bovine animals of the genus Bos, usually kept on a farm or ranch and used for the production of meat or dairy products or for heavy labor. Beef Cow,Bos grunniens,Bos indicus,Bos indicus Cattle,Bos taurus,Cow,Cow, Domestic,Dairy Cow,Holstein Cow,Indicine Cattle,Taurine Cattle,Taurus Cattle,Yak,Zebu,Beef Cows,Bos indicus Cattles,Cattle, Bos indicus,Cattle, Indicine,Cattle, Taurine,Cattle, Taurus,Cattles, Bos indicus,Cattles, Indicine,Cattles, Taurine,Cattles, Taurus,Cow, Beef,Cow, Dairy,Cow, Holstein,Cows,Dairy Cows,Domestic Cow,Domestic Cows,Indicine Cattles,Taurine Cattles,Taurus Cattles,Yaks,Zebus
D002523 Edible Grain SEEDS used as a major nutritional source, most often the grain from the POACEAE family. Cereals,Cereal Grain,Cereal,Cereal Grains,Edible Grains,Grain, Cereal,Grain, Edible,Grains, Cereal,Grains, Edible
D003313 Zea mays A plant species of the family POACEAE. It is a tall grass grown for its EDIBLE GRAIN, corn, used as food and animal FODDER. Corn,Indian Corn,Maize,Teosinte,Zea,Corn, Indian
D004063 Digestion The process of breakdown of food for metabolism and use by the body.
D005243 Feces Excrement from the INTESTINES, containing unabsorbed solids, waste products, secretions, and BACTERIA of the DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
D005260 Female Females
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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