title: Effects of buffer or DL-methionine with different amounts of supplemental corn on feed intake and nutrient digestion by Holstein steers consuming bermudagrass hay.
abstract: Two latin squares were conducted to determine the effects on feed intake and nutrient digestion of adding a ruminal buffer or DL-methionine to supplemental ground corn for Holstein steers (avg BW of 286 and 222 kg in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively) with ad libitum access to bermudagrass hay. In Exp. 1, steers were not supplemented (control) or were given .5 (LC) or 1.0% BW/d (HC) of ground corn without or with .021% BW of sodium bicarbonate (B). Total DMI was 2.39, 2.71, 2.79, 2.81 and 2.98% BW (effects of supplementation [P less than .05], level of corn [P less than .05] and buffer [P less than .06]), and OM digested was 3.56, 4.65, 4.65, 4.96 and 5.34 kg/d for control, LC, LCB, HC and HCB, respectively (effects of supplementation and corn level, P less than .05). In Exp. 2, corn levels were .24 and .74% BW/d and .0022% BW of DL-methionine (M) replaced B. Total DMI was 2.85, 3.00, 2.99, 3.22 and 3.34% BW (effects of supplementation and corn level, P less than .05), and digestible OM intake was 3.78, 4.24, 4.30, 4.84 and 5.12 kg/d for control, LC, LCM, HC and HCM, respectively (effects of supplementation and corn level, P less than .05). Overall, changes in feed intake and digestion with additions of a ruminal buffer and DL-methionine to corn supplements were not marked; however, buffer addition increased DMI intake to the greatest degree with 1.0% BW/d of corn.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Anim. and Poult. Sci., University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Goetsch
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Forster
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002021:Buffers; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D004063:Digestion; D004435:Eating; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006109:Poaceae; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D003313:Zea mays
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D002021:Buffers; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D012964:Sodium; D008715:Methionine