John B. Hall, Ph.D., PAS
Extension Beef Specialist, University of Idaho
behind damaged hay and grain fields. Barley that sprouted in the head and rain damaged wheat may be an opportunity for feeding beef cattle. This may partially offset losses that grain growers have incurred. Even grain that has low levels of mold and mycotoxin may be fed to beef cattle without any negative effects. However, beef producers and nutritionist need to know the mycotoxin content of feeds before purchase.Performance of cattle fed damaged cereal grains
Several university studies have demonstrated that cattle perform well on rain damaged grains. In general, performance is not compromised when sprouted grains are incorporated into the diet on a dry weight basis (Tables 1, 2 & 4).
Table 1. Weight gain and efficiency of yearling steers fed normal or sprouted wheat
Proportion Sprouted wheat ADG, lb Feed efficiency
of sprouted kernels in ration
wheat
0% 0% 2.28 8.94
20% 12% 2.30 8.56
40% 24% 2.41 8.46
60% 36% 2.34 8.89
Murray and Huber, 1968.
Table 2. Effect of level of sprouted wheat on performance feedlot cattle.
ADG, lb/day Feed intake, lb/day Feed efficiency
Barley control 2.90 20.8 7.15
25% undamaged wheat 2.97 20.9 7.03
50% undamaged wheat 2.86 20.2 7.06
25% low-sprouted wheat 2.81 19.7 6.96
50% low-sprouted wheat 2.73 19.9 7.27
25% high-sprouted wheat 2.99 20.9 6.99
50% high-sprouted wheat 2.84 20.0 7.05
Washington State University, 1986.
Low-sprouted wheat = 9% sprouted kernels. High-sprouted wheat = 58% sprouted kernels.
Beef producers should be aware that test weights per bushel may be lighter for sprouted grains; therefore, grains should be purchased by the ton rather than by the bushel (Table 3).
Processing of cereal grains, especially barley, increases animal performance by enhancing average daily gain and reducing the feed to gain ratio. Work from North Dakota State University indicated that not only is processing of sprouted grains important, but the coarseness of the rolling also impacts performance. Finer rolling of sprouted barley or wheat will improve animal performance (Table 4).
Grain sprouted in the head
Table 3. Relative feed values of damaged cereal grains.
Weight Composition Feed Value
Relative to Barley (100)
Crop Type of Damage Pounds/
Bushel Protein% Fat% Fiber% Ash% For Cattle
Wheat Not Damaged 62 14.8 1.8 2.6 1.5 105
Wheat Slightly frozen 56 14.3 1.9 3.5 1.7 102
Wheat Frozen or sprouted 50 14.7 2.1 4.0 1.9 100
Wheat Frozen or sprouted 40 14.9 2.6 4.6 2.0 90
Wheat Burnt (20% charred) 54 12.1 1.9 4.5 2.1 94
Barley No Damage 50 11.9 2.1 6.0 2.6 100
Barley Frozen or sprouted 44 11.8 2.1 6.6 2.5 95
Barley Frozen or sprouted 36 11.8 1.9 7.8 3.0 90
Adapted from Agriculture and Agri-food Canada publication #1277 “Problem Feeds”.
in growing beef steers.
Rolled, Sprouted Rolled, Sprouted Rolled Corn Barley Durum
Coarse Fine Coarse Fine
Intake, lbs/day 20.9 20.7 20.9 21.4 20.8
ADG 2.95 3.08 3.32 3.08 3.32
Feed/gain 7.09 6.71 6.29 6.94 6.25
Reed et al., 2002
Feeding of sprouted or damaged grains is not without risk as these feeds are more likely to contain molds and mycotoxins (mold toxins). Beef cattle have greater tolerances for mycotoxins than dairy or swine. The rumen detoxifies some of the mycotoxins and, unlike milk, mycotoxins are not passed along in meat.
All sprouted or damaged grains should be tested for mycotoxins before purchase. Table 5. lists the common mycotoxins and the FDA acceptable levels in beef cattle feed. These levels are the levels of mycotoxins contained in the finished feed product.
Table 5. FDA established guidance levels for mycotoxins in beef cattle diets.
Cattle Type
Mycotoxin Breeding Young (< 4 mo) Growing/Finishing
Aflatoxin 100 ppb 20 ppb 300 ppb
Fumonisin < 30 ppm < 10 ppm 50 ppm
Vomitoxin (DON) 10 ppm 5 ppm 10 ppm
Zearalenone* < 10 ppm
(< 5 ppm heifers)
*No FDA guidance levels established
Adapted from Parrish (2008)
Links are provided below for feed testing laboratories. The Idaho Department of Agriculture plant testing laboratory can test for aflatoxin, fusmonisin, and/or vomitoxin. Contact information for other laboratories can be found in the Michigan link below.
http://www.agri.state.id.us/Categories/PlantsInsects/Documents/FormsPublicationsReports/2012_Mycotoxinpamphlet_Final.pdf
http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1569_16979_21266-8145--,00.html
Growing/Finishing cattle can handle greater levels of mycotoxin than other cattle types.
When feeding grains that contain mycotoxins, recommended procedures include:
Test grains before diet formulation AND re-test finished feed.
It is safer to feed diets made from mycotoxin containing grains to finishing cattle than breeding cattle.
Mycotoxin containing grains should usually be limited to 50% of the feedstuff.
Total mixed rations are safer than supplemental feeding because amount of mycotoxin in the total diet can be more closely controlled.
Proper cleanout procedures must be followed on all equipment before mixing or delivering feed to another class of cattle.
Horses are more sensitive to mycotoxins than cattle, so ranchers should be careful to prevent horses from eating mycotoxin containing feeds.
Using sprouted or rain damaged grains to feed cattle this fall is an opportunity to reduce feed costs while helping out our grain producing neighbors. The use of sprouted grain entails proper diet development and feed testing.
References
Lardy, G. 2013. Feeding value of sprouted grains. NDSU Extension pub. AS-647
Marston, T. 2004. Feeding low-test-weight and sprouted wheat. KSU Extesion pub. MF-2659.
Parrish, J. 2008. Mycotoxins and their effects on beef cattle. Cattle business in Mississippi – Feb. 2008.
Reed, J. J., M. L. Bauer, G. P. Lardy, and E. R. Loe. 2002. Feeding sprouted durum and barley in growing rations. 2002 NDSU Beef Report.
No comments:
Post a Comment