Abstract
This study examined the effects of altering ruminal fermentable carbohydrate (RFC) supply by feeding different amounts of corn and wheat in finishing cattle diets containing 15% corn dried distillers grains [DDGS; dry matter (DM) basis] on ruminal fermentation characteristics and nitrogen (N) utilization. Six ruminally-cannulated crossbred heifers were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 28 d periods. Dietary treatments were either corn (73% of diet DM; CON), 53:20 corn:wheat blend (20W) or 33:40 corn:wheat blend (40W) as the major fermentable carbohydrate source. Diets were isonitrogenous (12% CP; DM basis). Feed intake was measured daily. Indwelling pH logger were used to measure ruminal pH (d 22 to 28) and ruminal fluid was collected from d 26 to 28 to determine fermentation characteristics, as were feces and urine to measure N excretion. Data was analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS. Dry matter and N intake tended to be lower (P ≤ 0.07) for heifers fed the 40W compared to the CON and 20W diets. There was no diet effect (P = 0.15) on total VFA concentration; however, the duration and area for pH < 5.5 tended to be longer (P = 0.07) and greater (P = 0.096), respectively, for heifers fed the 20W and 40W compared to the CON diet. There was no diet effect (P ≥ 0.44) on ruminal ammonia concentration and total urine N excretion (g and % of N intake). However, urine urea N (UUN) excretion as a percentage of total urine N tended to be lower (P = 0.05) in heifers fed the 20W and 40W compared to the CON diet. In summary, although altering RFC supply by feeding increasing amounts of wheat resulted in a decrease in UUN excretion, it also caused a decrease in ruminal pH that possibly compromised DM intake.