title: Diets of differentially processed wheat alter ruminal fermentation parameters and microbial populations in beef cattle.
abstract: The influences of differently processed wheat products on rumen fermentation, microbial populations, and serum biochemistry profiles in beef cattle were studied. Four ruminally cannulated Limousin × Luxi beef cattle (400 ± 10 kg) were used in the experiment with a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The experimental diets contained (on a DM basis) 60% corn silage as a forage source and 40% concentrate with 4 differently processed wheat products (extruded, pulverized, crushed, and rolled wheat). Concentrations of ruminal NH-N and microbial protein (MCP) in cattle fed crushed and rolled wheat were greater ( < 0.05) than the corresponding values in cattle fed pulverized and extruded wheat. Ruminal concentrations of total VFA and acetate and the ratio of acetate to propionate decreased ( < 0.05) with increased geometric mean particle size (geometric mean diameter) of processed wheat, except for extruded wheat; cattle fed extruded wheat had the lowest concentrations of total VFA and acetate among all treatments. The relative abundance of , , ciliated protozoa, and was lower in cattle fed the pulverized wheat diet than in the other 3 diets ( < 0.05), whereas the relative abundance of was decreased in cattle fed extruded wheat compared with cattle fed crushed and rolled wheat ( < 0.05). No treatment effect was obtained for serum enzyme activity and protein concentration ( > 0.05). Our findings suggest that the method of wheat processing could have a significant effect on ruminal fermentation parameters and microbial populations in beef cattle and that crushed and rolled processing is better in terms of ruminal NH-N and MCP content, acetate-to-propionate ratio, and relative abundance of rumen microorganisms.
authors.forename: S Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Z B
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: X M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Wan
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004063:Digestion / Q000502:physiology; D005285:Fermentation; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012820:Silage / Q000032:analysis*; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000378:metabolism