Contents WHAT IS FLOURY GRAIN?
02
BENEFITS OF FLOURY GRAIN
04
FEED FIRST
14
RESULTS
24
FIBER DIGESTIBILITY
32
MANAGEMENT
36
CONCLUSION
40
CONTACT
41
REFERENCES
42
MASTERS CHOICE
AT MASTERS CHOICE, THE JOURNEY FOR A NEW HYBRID TO MAKE OUR LINEUP IS MORE COMPLICATED AND MORE DEMANDING THAN AT ANY OTHER COMPANY. Like our competitors, we carefully screen all our potential hybrids for yield and agronomics because it doesn’t matter how well our corn feeds without them. After this first stage though, our experimentals go through rigorous nutritional testing in our MPG Index. Only hybrids that demonstrate top end yield, superior agronomics. and elite nutritional characteristics make it into the Masters Choice lineup. Often, the term “floury grain” is associated with products in a Masters Choice bag, but what exactly does that mean? To you, the producer, this means that these hybrids have greater starch availability and less undigestible material that has become the norm for our competitors.
01
MASTERS CHOICE
What Is Floury Grain? PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
The term “floury grain” refers to the soft, white, starch structure of the grain in the corn kernel. Most corn kernels contain both floury and vitreous starch structures. What distinguishes a floury-type hybrid from the more vitreous corn hybrid is the relative proportions of floury starch and vitreous starch in the kernel. Floury hybrids have less vitreous material in the kernel.
As a phenotypic trait, floury grain is the reflection of the underlying genes in the kernel. Although the expression of floury grain may be influenced by environmental factors, but mostly influenced by genetics
Masters Choice Floury Grain
Competitor Vitreous Grain
Notice the difference between floury and vitreous kernels. When a corn kernel is dissected, the difference between a floury hybrid and a vitreous hybrid can be clearly seen as our floury grain displays more soft white starch structure.
Genes affect the amount of starch storage proteins, or prolamin, in the kernel. All cereal grains have some form of storage protein, and the protein in corn is zein. Zein, like all storage proteins, is highly indigestible because it is degradable only in an alcohol medium solution. Although a protein, zein negatively affects the soluble protein in corn silage. Corn has four unique proteins: Alpha (α-zein), Beta (β-zein), Delta (δ-zein) and Gamma (γ-zein). Measuring prolamin content is far from an exact science, but it is easy to see and feel the difference between hybrids that are low in prolamin versus those that are higher in prolamin content. Although physical characteristics of prolamin make it ideal for use in plastic coatings, it’s hard, heavy, glassy nature makes it less than ideal for feeding. An electron microscope displays prolamin encapsulating starch molecules. These molecules display both a physical and chemical property advantage that our floury grain possesses.
“Vitreous” comes from the latin term “glassy.” The higher % of vitreous starch in a kernel the more light will shine through it. This picture displays the easiest way to distinguish between floury and vitreous.
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MASTERS CHOICE
Benefits of Floury Grain PASSAGE RATE One of the first things we notice when comparing floury grain to vitreous grain is floury grain hangs in the rumen longer. One reason for this may be that the hard, heavy vitreous particles have higher specific gravity, which can cause them to pass through the rumen faster than the floury particles. By allowing more time for digestion in the cowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rumen, floury grain allows more starch to be absorbed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; rather than to pass though the digestive tract. According to Philippeau 1999 corn grain with vitreous endosperm tended to increase ruminal passage rate of starch (21.2 vs. 16.2% per h; P<0.10). We thought that floury corn grain might disperse in the liquid fraction and possibly increase rate of starch passage from the rumen. However, rate of starch passage from the rumen and ruminal liquid passage rate (mean -20% per h) were not correlated across cow period means (r=0.03; P<0.86). Faster ruminal starch passage rate in this experiment is likely because of greater density of vitreous corn grain; more vitreous flint corn grain was more dense than less vitreous dent corn grain (Philippeau et al., 1999a), and greater particle density decreases mean ruminal retention time (Lech-ner-Doll et al., 1991).
Efforts have been made to increase the ruminal digestion of starch by feeding high-moisture corn instead of dry grain. The thinking has been that this approach may result in higher ruminal digestion, because it causes the starch to pass from the rumen more slowly, allowing for more complete digestion. RATE OF PASSAGE: STARCH Pass age Percent Pe r Hour 25
21.8
20
Vitreous > Floury (P < 0.01)
10.9
10.2
5 0
Dry > HM (P < 0.01) Interaction: NS
15 10
Source: Allen and Oba, 2003
4.1 Dry Floury
Dry Vitreous
HM Floury
HM Vitreous
As shown in the chart above the high-moisture (HM) vitreous grain passed from the rumen twice as slowly as the dry vitreous grain. Notice as well that the dry floury grain passed twice as slowly as the dry vitreous grain. Finally, it is important to note that when both high-moisture vitreous and high-moisture floury grain were fed, the floury grain maintained its advantage over vitreous: ruminal passage rate was less than half that of the high-moisture vitreous grain.
05
MASTERS CHOICE
STARCH DIGESTIBILITY DECREASES AS VITREOUSNESS INCREASES
Considerable research has shown that floury grain not only stays in the rumen longer than vitreous grain but also degrades more easily in the rumen. The latter is largely due to the fact that the starch structure in floury grain is more digestible. Ruminal starch digestibility was greater for floury corn grain treatments because starch in floury endosperm digested at a rate of 21.9% per h vs. 12.9% per h for vitreous endosperm. Philippeau et al. (1999a) reported that dent hybrids (51.4% vitreous) degraded faster than flint (71.8% vitreous) hybrids in situ (P<0.001). Starch in floury endosperm is associated with a digestible protein matrix that is easily degraded by ruminal bacteria (Kotarski et al., 1992). In contrast, starch granules in vitreous endosperm are embedded in a protein matrix that can resist enzyme hydrolysis (Rooney and Plugfelder, 1986). Vitreous protein matrix is more resistant to digestion because ruminal bacteria digest zein proteins more slowly than glutelin proteins (Romagnolo et al., 1994) and vitreousness of corn grain is positively correlated with concentration of zein protein and negatively correlated with true glutelin protein concentration in corn grain (Philippeau et al., 2000). Because the protein matrix in floury endosperm is more easily hydrolyzed, greater microbial penetration of the starch granule occurs to increase rate of starch digestion. In this experiment, vitreousness (% of total endosperm ) of corn grain was 3.0 and 67.2% for floury and vitreous hybrids, which represents the two extreme endosperm compositions of corn hybrids commercially available in the United States.
100 Starch Digestibility %
DIGESTIBILITY RATE
Source: Phillpeau and Michalet-Doreau, 1997
Dent
90
Flint
80 70 60 50 40
20 30 40 Vitreousness %
50
60
70
80
90
100
According to Allen and Taylor, floury grain can be digested at nearly twice the rate of vitreous grain, in large part due to the protein matrix of each hybrid type. In floury grain, the protein matrix is more easily degraded, whereas it takes more time for the vitreous matrix to be degraded. This allows for greater microbial penetration in floury hybrids, resulting in an increased rate of starch digestion. Floury endosperm improved total tract DM and OM digestibility because of increased starch digestibility. Contrary to our hypothesis, no interaction of treatments for any measure of starch or fiber digestion occurred. Vitreous corn grain fermented more slowly and passed from the rumen faster, resulting in decreased ruminal starch digestibility.....Greater ruminal starch digestion in floury grain diets and lower ruminal pH for floury grain and bm3 corn silage did not affect ruminal fiber digestion kinetics, and a positive relationship between ruminal starch and dNDF digestibility suggests interactions among microbial populations in the rumen. Endosperm type of corn grain can affect digestion kinetics and site of starch digestion.
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MASTERS CHOICE
Floury corn hybrids also have better total tract dry matter digestibility due to their increased starch availability. This explains why fewer kernel pieces are seen in the manure when feeding floury grain to livestock; kernels are more fully digested instead of passing through the digestive tract. Recent research has evaluated corn germplasm for differences in starch degradability (Phillippeau and Michalet-Dorea, 1997; Correa et al, 2002; Johnson et al, 2002; Taylor and Allen, 2005) to improve corn grain and silage utilization by ruminants. Rumen degraded starch supplies energy to the animal through volatile fatty acid production and metabolism, and also contributes to protein metabolism through microbial mass, whereas postruminal starch is degraded to glucose (Hall, 2002). Although effects of both maturity stage and corn germplasm type were observed for vitreousness and degradability, germplasm type had the strongest influence.
ENDOSPERM EFFECTS ON RUMINAL STARCH DIGESTIBILITY DRY
HIGH MOISTURE
Floury
Vitreous
Floury
Vitreous
Mean Particle Size
1,006
1,171
1,198
1,414
Vitreousness %
8.6
81.0
0.0
40.5
7h IVSD %
52.5
44.1
67.9
52.2
Apparent Ruminal Digestibility %
69.6
51.6
87.7
76.2
This table shows that apparent ruminal digestibility is much lower with vitreous grain. Source: An article written by Dr Charles Sniffen.
This was particularly true for zero-hour disappearance and the ruminally degraded fraction. The results also suggest that endosperm carbohydrate properties other than virtuousness affect corn degradability. Kernel vitreousness, the ratio of vitreous to floury endosperm has been used to assess the type of corn endosperm (Ngonyamo-Majee et al., 2008a,b). Increased kernel vitreousness reduced ruminal in situ corn starch degradation(Philippeau and Michalet-Doreau, 1997; Correa et al., 2002; Ngonyamo-Majee et al., 2008b). Kernel vitreousness was lower and ruminal in situ starch degradation was greater for dry corn with floury or opaque endosperm than with normal dent endosperm (Ngonyamo-Majee et al., 2008a,b). Taylor and Allen (2005a) reported greater ruminal and total-tract starch digestibilities in ruminally and duodenally cannulated lactating dairy cows for floury (3% vitreousness) versus normal dent (67% vitreousness) endosperm dry corn. The above excerpt from an article on the influence of endosperm types in digestion reaffirms what the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rate of Passage: Starchâ&#x20AC;? chart showed: dent corns are more ruminally degradable than flint, and those with floury or opaque endosperm are even more degradable than regular dent corn. So, the softer the kernel, the more digestible the kernel. Starch that is broken down in the rumen supplies energy in the form of volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and metabolism. Another benefit that will be discussed more in-depth later is the contribution this makes to protein metabolism through increased microbial yield.
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MASTERS CHOICE
RATE OF DIGESTION AND RATE OF PASSAGE: COMBINED VIEW As we now see, floury grain has two distinct advantages over vitreous grain: a slower rate of passage and greater digestion within the rumen. So we can start to formulate what the overall difference between the two can look like when comparing ruminal starch disappearance. Through correspondence with Dr. John Goeser (Rock River Labs, WI), we began experimenting with various hypothetical scenarios to show the theorietical differences between vitreous (flinty) and soft (floury) corns.
SCENARIO 3 (a possible real-life scenario):
DENSE (FLINTY) CORN PASSES FASTER
Kp
Rumen Starch D
Rumen Retention Time (hours)
Flinty 0.15
0.10
60.0
10.0
Floury 0.25
0.06
80.6
16.7
ENDOSPERM TYPE
SCENARIO 1:
EQUAL PASSAGE RATE BUT DIFFERENT DIGESTION RATES
Kp
Rumen Starch D
Rumen Retention Time (hours)
Flinty 0.15
0.08
65.2
12.5
Floury 0.25
0.08
75.8
12.5
ENDOSPERM TYPE
In the second scenario, we assumed identical total ruminal starch availability, so we had to adjust the rate of passage (Kp). To achieve identical total ruminal starch availability, rumen retention time for the flinty variety (20.9 hours) was nearly twice that for the floury variety (12.5 hours). Keep in mind that according to Mike Allen’s work, the passage rate of 4.8% per hour required for the flinty variety to equal the rumenal starch degradability of the floury variety is completely unrealistic for hard varieties.
Kd
In the first scenario we assumed a difference in rate of digestion (Kd) of 10% per hour – setting the Kd for flinty corn at 15% and the Kd for floury corn at 25% – and used a static passage rate (Kp). As shown in the table below, the total ruminal starch availability varied by more than 10 percentage points. SCENARIO 2:
Kd
For the third scenario, we wanted to replicate a real-life situation (to the extent possible) so we could compare ruminal starch availability for floury corn and flinty corn. We retained the Kd rates for flinty corn and floury corn at 15% and 25% respectively. Then we set the Kp rate for flinty corn at slightly less than twice that of the floury corn, similar to what we have seen in other studies. The result was that ruminal starch digestion for floury corn was more than 20 percentage points greater than that of flinty corn.
RETENTION TIME REQUIRED FOR EQUAL DIGESTION ENDOSPERM TYPE
Kd
Flinty 0.15 Floury 0.25
Kp
Rumen Starch D
Rumen Retention Time (hours)
0.048
75.8
20.9
0.08
75.8
12.5
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MASTERS CHOICE
Microbial cells are the primary source for metabolizable amino acids, which are important for milk synthesis and maintenance. Because ruminal starch digestion promotes microbial growth – which is key to milk production –it is important to maximize the digestion of starch in the rumen. Rumen microbes ferment dietary carbohydrates and protein to obtain Adenosine Triphosphate which in turn is the major source of energy required for microbial growth. The two major reactions of rumen fermentation are volatile fatty acids and microbial cells; the former are a primary source of metabolizable energy the latter the primary source of metabolizable amino acids for maintenance and milk synthesis. The efficiency with which dietary nutrients are converted to energy and protein for tissues and milk synthesis varies considerably and is not high. The question then is: Does feeding floury grain versus hard grain have an affect on microbial yield and if so, what is the effect on overall milk production? Rock River Labs compared two Masters Choice hybrids, one a floury hybrid and the other a harder grain hybrid. The microbial yields for the two hybrids are shown in the following table, which also shows the difference in their 7-hour in-situ starch scores (an indication of starch availability). As the table shows, the floury variety, MC4210, had a much higher microbial yield than the hard variety, MC6460 - documenting the superiority of floury corn in promoting microbial yield in the rumen.
Total SH, HE, D
SAMPLE ID hardness rank MC4210 84 (floury) MC6460 104 (hard)
Rock River Labs In-Situ 7h
Microbial Yield
49
1937
33
1804
“ If one compares corn silage
in CPM, a drop in 7hr starch degradability from 78% down to 70% will result in a 41g drop in microbial MP supply and a decrease in microbial efficiency creating a 5lb decrease in milk.
“
MICROBIAL YIELD
- Dr. Charles Sniffen, Fencrest As this quote from Dr. Charles Sniffen shows, a drop in microbial MP supply can have a major affect on your milk potential. This is one area where you will see a big difference in the feeding of floury versus vitreous corn hybrids. This also shows the importance of ruminal degradation of starch, which, as discussed earlier, is much higher in floury grain hybrids than in flinty or vitreous hybrids.
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MASTERS CHOICE
Feed First Characteristically, silage that has ensiled longer feeds better. But producers occasionally find themselves in situations where they must feed relatively “new” corn silage. When feeding this newer corn silage, a decrease in milk production, or a “fall slump,” can result. Floury grain often can be fed sooner after chopping than more vitreous corn silage hybrids. As mentioned previously, the y-zein proteins that cross-link starch granules together require an extended period of ensiling so that the prolamins break down and the starch becomes digestible. Because floury hybrids have fewer of these proteins that cross-link the starch, they can be fed sooner - without a drop in milk production.
Starch granules Compare these two photos and notice the disappearance of the prolamin protein matrix in the corn in the photo on the right.
STARCH This nutrient should be relatively stable over time. Some increase may be perceived as the absolute quantity stays constant and total dry matter drops slightly over time through continued fermentation and nutrient conversion. However, the IVSD7 (in vitro starch digestibility at 7hrs incubation) will increase as the protein matrix protecting the starch structure is broken down over time. There is a recognized relationship between increasing levels of ammonia and increasing starch digestibility.
CORN SILAGE, 3-WEEK ROLLING AVERAGE, NEW ENGLAND & MID-ATLANTIC Storage Week
DM
CP
Sol P NDF
Sugar Starch
IVSD7
SEP 1
0
36.7
8.30
2.30
36.90
1.53
37.12
62.56
SEP 22
3
35.2
8.36
3.26
38.82
1.30
33.80
65.89
OCT 11
6
36.2
8.22
3.35
38.30
1.08
35.09
70.57
NOV 3
9
36.4
8.15
3.61
38.50
0.94
35.28
72.42
NOV 24
12
36.4
8.13
3.89
39.05
0.91
34.84
74.41
DEC 11
15
37.3
8.20
4.09
39.54
1.19
33.59
75.22
JAN 5
18
36.0
8.23
4.31
39.39
0.92
34.31
76.88
JAN 26
21
36.4
8.15
4.33
38.96
0.88
35.54
76.32
FEB 16
24
36.5
8.14
4.42
38.52
0.80
35.08
76.83
MAR 9
27
36.5
8.08
4.39
38.50
0.85
35.02
76.58
Early starch availability is the key reason that floury grain can be fed earlier in the season, without losing milk production. Again, the availability of starch in floury grain contributes to microbe production in the rumen without the need for extensive ensiling time. HYBRID MC Avg. MC4050 MC5250 MC535 MC590 MC4560 MC527 CVAS Samples
7hr Starch % 75.09 75.79 76.03 77.97 75.10 81.00 83.10 65.89 70.57 72.42 74.42 75.22
Days From Harvest 28 28 28 28 28 270 240 21 42 63 84 105
This table shows the results of the 7 hour starch test for Masters Choice floury grain samples and CVAS samples. Note that some of the Masters Choice samples, for example, for MC4560 and MC527, had much higher starch availability levels than those for the CVAS samples. The CVAS samples took more than 100 days to reach the same starch availability levels that the Masters Choice floury samples achieved in only 28 days.
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MASTERS CHOICE
EXTENDED HARVEST WINDOW
NEW STARCH DIGESTION MEASURES
One advantage of floury grain is the potential for an extended harvest window. Although the ideal time for harvest is still around 32-36% dry matter, when referencing 7hr starch, floury grain has greater starch availability than that of vitreous grain.
Commercial laboratories aim for logical laboratory science and accuracy, defined as agreement with cow responses. One of the most scrutinized nutritive assessments, in regards to accuracy and on-farm agreement, is rumen starch digestion. This measurement can be a critical component in: 1 Identifying slow digesting grain or silage to find more milk, 2 better understanding rumen fermentable starch load to manage butterfat, and 3 understanding if there is too much rumen bypass starch (which could contribute to hind-gut digestive upset in dairy or beef animals.)
3-4 weeks post harvest at 32% dry matter: Masters Choice
Starch availability avg.
79%
CVAS starch availability avg. 71%
Furthermore we have consistently found that starch availability is far more acceptable for floury grain than vitreous grain as the percent of dry matter increases.
At 46% dry matter, MC samples averaged 73% starch availability. At only 32% dry matter, CVAS samples averaged 71% starch availability. An extended harvest window is manageable thanks to this distinct advantage.
Two practical rumen starch digestion measures have been adopted by a number of commercial laboratories: in vitro and in situ. In vitro rumen starch digestion analysis refers to the lab-bench technique that attempts to simulate the rumen environment and digestion. The in vitro technique for starch analysis can typically offer users quick sample analysis turnaround, at a lesser cost than other techniques. In situ rumen starch digestion analysis references the rumen digestion technique that incorporates actual animal rumen incubation, providing measures to help separate higher quality feeds. Because this in situ rumen digestion technique incorporates live animals, it demands more effort than that of in vitro analysis techniques.
17
MASTERS CHOICE
Rumen in situ starch digestion may best reflect how dairy cattle will respond to differences in corn grain, snaplage or earlage, and corn silage. Heuer (2014) compared rumen in vitro and in situ rumen digestion techniques using high-moisture corn, dry corn, grain, and corn silage samples. The in vitro digestion measures were completed on a lab bench, using samples ground to pass a 4 millimeter (mm) screen. The in situ technique within the same study involved incubating samples ground to pass a 6 mm screen in several lactating dairy cattle rumens. Heuer (2014) found poor agreement between the two techniques and noted in vitro rumen starch digestion over-estimated in situ rumen digestion. Powell-Smith et al. (2015) demonstrated that commercial laboratory in vitro rumen starch digestion was not correlated to in vivo (within the animal) starch digestion for commercial dairies. Later, Schuling et al. (2016) evaluated both in vitro and in situ rumen starch digestion offered by commercial laboratories. The authors found similar results as Powell-Smith et al. (2015), in that in vitro rumen starch digestion was not related to commercial dairy cattle starch digestion. However, Schuling et al. (2016) found commercial laboratory in situ rumen starch digestion results, measured by Rock River Laboratory, were significantly related to in vivo commercial dairy cattle starch digestion. The authors also found that rumen starch digestion rates (kd), calculated from 7-hour in situ measures, improved the CNCPS v6.5 model milk prediction (when using feed library versus in situ measured starch kd, R2* improved from 0.69 to 0.76, respectively).
Starch digestion measures will continue to evolve and improve. However, Rock River Laboratory in situ rumen starch digestion is related to actual on-farm commercial dairy cattle starch digestion and the results from this analysis can improve diet formulation accuracy.
FECAL STARCH Measuring fecal starch is an under-utilized analysis to determine feed efficiency. Floury grain because of its high Kd and low Kp can reduce fecal starch. Dr. John Goeser from Rock River Laboratory has put together a â&#x20AC;&#x153;calculatorâ&#x20AC;? that allows one to determine the economic impact of undigested starch found in manure. If cows are eating 53 pounds of dry matter and 25% of that diet is starch, then they are consuming 13.25 pounds of starch. If there is 1% starch measured in the manure, then there is 13.08 pounds of total tract starch digested. If we increase to fecal starch to as little 5% then there is only 12.09 pounds of starch digested. When calculating that back to an as fed basis (#TTSD/.72/.88) there is more than 1.05 lbs difference in corn grain digested per cow per day. Carry that out to dollars and cents, one can be losing between 6-8 cents a day per head based on the price of corn, by just increasing fecal starch from 1% to 5%.
19
MASTERS CHOICE
Measuring the amount of starch in cattle manure is essential to keeping track of efficiency and capturing opportunity cost in any operation. Most of the time, efficiency is measured by the feed to gain ratio, but seldom is the amount feed that passes through cattle to the manure, measured. Fecal starch is just that - the amount of starch undigested and unutilized. Any starch in manure is literally money wasted, it’s like putting fuel in your truck and pouring out what is left in the tank at the end of the day only to refill it the next day. Zinn et al. (2007): The beef fecal starch analysis results provide Dry Matter (DM) percentage, and starch as a percentage of the dry matter. “At Rock River Laboratory, the report then calculates an apparent Total Tract Starch Digestion (TTSD) based on a research-backed equation.” The recommendations include: Goal: 2.9% fecal starch / 97.7% TTSD Median: 7.5% fecal starch / 95.2% TTSD Min: 18.4% fecal starch / 87.0% TTSD
Based on four years of data, Rock River Laboratory has realized the goal, median, and minimum recommendations for dairy fecal starch percentage of DM and percentage of TTSD. “The recommended goal is based on the top 85th percentile and the minimum is the bottom 15th percentile. For an animal with a 20-pound dry matter intake of a ration made up of 45 percent starch, every three-unit change in fecal starch corresponds to about 1.5 units different TTSD. This boils down to about a half-pound of undigested corn grain per head, per day for every three-unit difference in TTSD. A decrease in TTSD from 95 percent to just 92 percent in 1,000 head of cattle is equivalent to 500 pounds corn wasted each day. Kirk goes on to share that this represents an opportunity cost of over $13,000 per year. Keeping track of fecal starch is good way make sure you are capturing all the potential out of your beef rations. It is often overlooked as an easy way to measure the efficiency of the diet and a great investment with potential big returns. Work with your nutritionist or laboratory of choice to learn more about measuring fecal starch for improved efficiency in your feeding program.
As a benefit of floury grain for beef feeding, you will have decreased fecal starch.
21
MASTERS CHOICE
NUTRIENT UPTAKE Calves undergo substantial developmental changes in the early days of their lives, which directly affect future productivity levels. South Dakota State University conducted a study to see if floury grain would have an impact on the calf starter fed during these formative days. In 2013, in a calf starter trial that Dr. Dave Casper performed at the university, 30 Holstein heifers were fed from one day to 42 days (when a majority of their diet was milk replacer) on one of two diets. The test diet contained 40% Masters Choice (MC) ground, shelled, floury corn. The control (C) contained 40% dry matter (DM) basis, ground-shelled, common elevator corn. Both experimental calf starters were formulated to contain 24% crude protein on a DM basis and were fed to ad libitum consumption as pellets starting on day 1.
From Cornell, Dr. Mike Van Amburg’s research on “Early Life Management and Long-term Productivity of Dairy Cattle”, he observed: “...increased nutrient intake prior to 56 days of life resulted in an increased milk yield during the first lactation that ranged from 1,000 to 3,000 additional pounds compared to restricted fed calves during the same period.” He explained that,”20% of the variation in the first milk lactation could be explained by growth rate to weaning.’ Any increase in weight gain or ADG from birth to weaning can significantly increase the productivity of the calves later in life. The results of the calf starter trial are shown in the following table. The calves that were fed MC floury grain gained on average, four more pounds than the control group of calves–for a weight advantage of more than 10% in their formative days.
23
MASTERS CHOICE
Results 2013 CALF STARTER TRIAL: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also consider the differences in nutrient digestibility and mineral digestibility for the two groups of calves in the trial. As shown in the following tables, both nutrient digestibility and mineral digestibility were higher for the calves that were fed the Masters Choice floury grain than for those fed the control diet.
COMPARISON OF NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY NUTRIENT MC CONTROL SEM
P<
DM
94.5
86.2
1.08
0.01
CP
91.1
85.2
1.17
0.01
NDF
65.2
55.6
4.42
0.11
ADF
68.5
54.2
3.49
0.02
Hemicellulose
58.7
58.0
6.82
0.92
Starch
99.4
98.4
0.28
0.04
WEIGHT GAIN OF MC-FED CALVES VS. CONTROL FED CALVES MC-FED CALVES CONTROL CALVES Beginning Weights (lbs) 89.5
89.3
Average Daily Gains (lbs) 1.62
1.49
Ending Weights (lbs) 146.8 Total Gain (lbs) 57.2
141.9 52.6
Though we do not yet have an answer for why we are seeing these benefits in calf starter when using floury grain, they are interesting and warrant further investigation. It is especially intriguing when you consider the small percentage of the calf starter that floury grain makes up.
COMPARISON OF MINERAL DIGESTIBILITY MINERAL MC CONTROL SEM
P<
Ca
80.3
67.1
3.01
0.01
P
87.2
82.4
2.46
0.20
Mg
71.6
53.1
4.65
0.01
S
87.3
79.2
1.82
0.01
Mn
77.0
65.3
4.67
0.06
Fe
51.6
39.1
4.45
0.05
Cu
65.7
81.8
5.85
0.06
Zn
63.6
47.4
6.20
0.04
25
MASTERS CHOICE
BEEF STUDY
PENN STATE UNIVERSITY GRAIN PROCESSING STUDY
Peel Sausage Inc. performed a corn comparison feeding trial on their operation. The goal of this feeding trial was to assess if there was a difference in feeding a Masters Choice floury grain hybrid compared to an industry standard hard endosperm hybrid.
TRIAL PARAMETERS • 60 Holstein calves, split evenly into 2 groups • Group 1 fed Masters Choice • Group 2 fed a competitor brand • Whole kernel corn along with a pelletized protein supplement • Not introduced to corn other than what they were assigned at the time of separation into groups • Average starting weight: 350#
BEEF STUDY DATA SUMMARY Masters Choice
Total average daily gain
Competitor
2.81
2.74
Average daily gain after 14 wks
3.65
3.57
Average ending weight
659.4
659.8
Average age (at end of trial)
199 days
205 days
Result: Calves fed with Masters Choice had numerically higher average daily gains, which allowed them to reach their target weight 6 days sooner.
TOTAL AVERAGE DAILY GAIN (LBS)
Source: Peel Sausage Inc.
2.85 2.80
In the spring of 2019 Masters Choice sponsored a study through Penn State University. The study was aimed at better understanding feedlot performance in cattle fed diets based on whole corn when compared to those fed diets based on dry rolled corn. Regardless of how the corn was fed, whole or ground, cattle had similar average daily gains over the course of the 186 day finishing period. These data suggest that cattle could be fed unprocessed, Masters Choice grain and represent a cost savings to beef producers. Masters Choice has been committed for over a decade to improving feed efficiency on operations throughout the United States and Canada. We felt that this study could lead us down a path to better understand the effects that highly digestible floury grain could have on a beef operation. We know that the cost of kernel processing can be very prohibitive to smaller operations. Masters Choice is working with the very best in the industry to provide more energy efficient feed.
Masters Choice is working with the very best in the industry to provide more energy efficient feed.
2.75 2.70
Masters Choice
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UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN CORN SILAGE BEEF TRIAL In 2019 Masters Choice, along with researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, composed a trial evaluating three corn hybrids fed at an 80% corn silage ration. Those hybrids were broken down by different nutritional feeding characteristics. Those hybrids were selected as such: Hybrid 1 - MCT6365 (Selected for its high starch and fiber digestibility), Hybrid 2 - MCT6733 (Selected for its high fiber digestibility), Hybrid 3 - Control (University of Nebraskaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s corn program grain standard)
With the increasing cost of feed rations in the beef industry many are looking towards new ways of producing the forages needed to run a successful cattle operation. The increase of input costs in a beef ration could be offset by the production of corn silage for feed. Initial results of the trial showed that Hybrid 1 with higher starch and fiber digestibility showed a statistically higher average daily gain than the control. The study also showed that Hybrid 1 had the lowest DMI lb/d, as well as the best gain to feed ratio. This shows us that the qualities weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve researched in improving milk production may translate well into the feedlot industry and average daily gain. This study is an extension of the promise Masters Choice has made to the livestock industry to offer the very best products with your hybrid end use in mind.
HYBRID 1 - MCT6365
HYBRID 3 - Control
Avg. Daily Gain: 4.11 lbs
Avg. Daily Gain: 3.98 lbs
Gain to Feed Ratio:
5.47
Gain to Feed Ratio:
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REACTIONS IN POULTRY Though we have predominately been looking at floury grain and its performance in dairy cows, there have been studies showing the advantages floury grain has when fed to other livestock. We will look at a few of these advantages over the next couple pages. In 2011 and 2012, the University of Illinois performed two rooster assays to determine the true metabolizable energy (TME) of various corn hybrids. In both studies, the roosters were fasted for 26 hours to empty their intestinal tracts of all digestive residues from previously consumed feed. The roosters were then divided into either three (2011 test) or two (2012 test) groups and tube-fed 30 grams of one of the test corn varieties. All corns were ground to a similar particle size. After the tube feeding, the roosters were returned to individual cages where total excreta was collected for 48 hours. The excreta were then freeze-dried, ground and analyzed for gross energy and nitrogen, and a TME was calculated for each rooster. In the 2011 test, in which there were three corn varieties, the most floury variety provided TME measurements that exceeded the two other varieties by a range of 41-52 kilocal/kilogram. This advantage is roughly the same as the gain in kcal/kg that can be achieved with many commercial feed additive enzymes on the market. In the 2012 study, in which one hard variety and one floury variety were tested, the floury variety had a 30-40 kilocal/ kilogram advantage over the hard variety.
MONOGASTRIC STUDY In 2012, Ana-Lab in Fulton, IL conducted a monogastric digestibility analysis on dry ground samples of floury corn and hard endosperm corn. Several floury and hard samples were ground to 3mm, which is similar to hammer mill and some to .8mm which is essentially dust, before being weighed and dropped into a vat containing simulated mono-gastric fluid. The samples were removed eight hours later and then weighed again. Result: At the 3mm grind, the floury grain had a 17% increase in starch absorption which is representative of digestion. At .8mm grindâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;much finer than one can reasonably be expected to grindâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;the floury endosperm hybrids maintained a 6.5% advantage in absorption over the hard endosperm corn. 3MM GRIND
.8MM GRIND
Increased Digestion %
Increased Digestion %
20
8
15
6
10
4
5
2
0
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Fiber Digestibility It is long known that fiber digestibility is an extremely important component to maximizing the feeding efficiency of corn silage in cows. In general, increased NDF digestibility will result in higher digestible energy and forage intake.
TOTAL TRACT NEUTRAL DETERGENT FIBER DIGESTIBILITY (TTNDFD) The TTNDFD value oopens doors to evaluate forages easily and understand feedstuff fiber digestion at the cow level. A research-validated digestion model, TTNDFD equips you with an accurate forage digestion value benchmark and the ability to predict forage performance to save money and time while watching your herds succeed. TTNDFD expands your nutrition skill set with applications to optimize performance and efficiency on-farm - reaping benefits for your consulting herds.
ADVANCING FORAGE VARIETY SELECTION WITH TTNDFD As forage genetics continue to evolve, so too should the selection methods. Distinguishing between hybrids, varieties, and lines requires both art and science to narrow down the genetic potential into a manageable number to market. Using
the vast number of the tools available, Masters Choice works to not only cull the good from the bad, but also select the best from the better. For years, fiber quality has been measured through digestibility at various time points. The gold standard has been the amount of fiber digested by 30 hours [the average time forage may reside in a cow’s rumen], aptly named Neutral Detergent Fiber Digestibility 30 (NDFD30), as a % of Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF). Unfortunately, this assessment mechanism is limited by only showcasing relative fiber digestibility at a single incubation time point - negating higher quality forages that may reside in a cow’s rumen for as little as 20-24 hours. Today, a fiber quality measurement exists that expands upon the capabilities of NDFD30 to completely differentiate the genetic potential of forage varieties: Total Tract NDF Digestibility (TTNDFD). TTNDFD, an equation developed by Professor David Combs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and backed by research, captures a more complete picture of a forage’s digestion over time. Incorporating 24, 30, 48 and 240h NDFD time points, TTNDFD showcases the differences between forages with identical NDFD30 values - adding a second dimension to the genetic selection process to separate the best from the better.
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The most profitable position for choosing a silage variety is to select products that maximize total performance of the crop to generate maximum revenue for the farm.
The most profitable position for choosing a silage variety is to select products that maximize total performance of the crop to generate maximum revenue for the farm. To accomplish that goal, you must balance quality nutrition with agronomics, yield, and dependability; a choice that can be difficult to make. Greater fiber digestibility is associated with a chain reaction that begins with a greater rumen passage rate and ends with higher milk production. This greater flow of particles leaving the rumen allows for an enhanced intake of dry matter and energy that usually boosts milk production. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good, but cannot come at a cost too great for a farm focused on maximizing revenue per acre and per cow to overcome. We usually associate extreme NDFD of corn hybrids with agronomic factors; poor disease resistance, dependence on perfect soil conditions (fertility, organic matter, CECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, etc.), starch development and yield loss. So, while understanding the important function of fiber digestibility in our feeding cows we must be sensitive that the needs of the farm to raise strong, robust, and healthy corn plants is likewise vital.
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Management CHOP HEIGHT The total potential to maximizing both yield and quality requires using every tool at our disposal to unlock the ultimate value in our silage and it is vitally important. The difference between 3,200 lbs milk/ton (milk 2006 UW RRL, 2019 average) and 3,800 lbs milk/ton (Super Bowl quality):
600 lbs milk @ $15/cwt
} = $90/ton
(Assuming 8 ton DM/acre)
x 8 tons
Additional income/acre:
$720
That’s $1,000,000 on a 1,500 cow dairy. POPULATION Simply put, as corn populations increase, quality decreases. In multiple trials over years both fiber digestibility and starch digestibility decreases with increased populations. Research will dictate the balance of maximizing healthy corn plants without sacrificing too much yield. To accomplish this most successfully, a strong consideration to flex hybrids should be given. Corn that can flex will develop larger more digestible stalks and deeper more desirable kernels while maintaining higher overall starch.
Much has been written about cutting height over the years. Many times farms believe the secret to improved quality is to simply raise the cutter bar. But take care, as leaving an extra 12-18” of stalk may be losing 2-3 tons of silage (or more) in the field. Instead look for healthy broad based plants that flex and bring more dense fiber that is still good feed. Besides, that dense material makes silage pack better and provides extra plant sugars for a quicker and more thorough fermentation.
CHOP LENGTH Adequate chop length is necessary for proper rumination. Conversely, finely chopped silage may ferment better. Finely chopped material is known to reduce milk fat test due to a decrease in effective fiber in the ration. A practical rule of thumb is around 3/4”. If the silage is too dry (below 60% moisture), the chop length should be reduced to 1/2” for adequate pack and fermentation.
HARVEST MOISTURE Ideal moisture content for floury corn hybrids, under normal conditions, should range from 63% - 67%. That range should allow the corn to adequately mature and accommodate optimal starch content, while still maintaining a good balance of starch digestibility.
HEALTHY SOIL/CROP ROTATIONS Where possible, crop rotations are desirable. They tend to increase nutrient absorption, which, in turn, helps optimize plant nutrition. Good crop rotations also help reduce most insect and disease pressure, helping preserve crop quality.
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FOLIAR FUNGICIDE APPLICATION IN SILAGE CORN Developing high quality corn silage requires management across many different time points. We use planting population to affect ligin development and overall fiber digestibility. We use traits, seed treatments, and other insecticides to control common pests. This helps to ensure yield potential, while also protecting us from late season harvest issues like mycotoxins. We keep a close watch on our corn crop throughout the growing season to ensure that we have the highest quality feed for our livestock. We spend money on silage inoculant to ensure that the crop we harvest is in its best form when we break into those piles for feeding. We must use that same mindset with overall plant health, and that is where foliar fungicide applications come in. Foliar fungicide is a tool that ensures the fiber and starch quality of our corn silage is of the highest quality.
We know that fiber quality is largely affected by the overall plant health of our corn silage. When leaf diseases and other pathogens infect the leaf tissue it inhibits the plants ability to produce its own sugars through photosynthesis. This affects not only fiber quality, but also starch quality. We see a decrease in ear fill and the quality of the grain in situations where pathogen infestation is heavy. It is crucial to control these pathogens from the very start. Foliar fungicide applications allow us to control this and ensure our overall quality. Not controlling these issues can cause problems beyond harvest as well. Studies have shown that corn hybrids with heavy infestations of foliar diseases encounter problems of fermentation. Our breeding team at Masters Choice has worked for years to bring forth the highest quality, and healthiest plants to the marketplace that we can. With that we understand that the management of a corn crop plays a large role in the overall quality we put in the bunk. We want the very best for your livestock operation and look forward to offering the very best end use plant genetics today and tomorrow.
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Conclusion
Contact
Hybrid selection at Masters Choice is a multi-year process, involving every department in our business. We work together to ensure that only hybrids with the utmost quality make it into a Masters Choice bag. Hundreds of crosses are made but only those with top yields and agronomics, and those that are the most nutritionally advanced, make the cut.
Never hesitate to reach out to us to learn more about Masters Choice nutrition research, our hybrid lineup and the many benefits we provide for the farm, or any other information you wish to receive or questions you’d like to ask.
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• We begin by making hundreds of new crosses to develop new hybrids. These hybrids are first rigorously tests for agronomics, yield and plant health.
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• Next, our team of nutritionists evaluate the hybrids for nutritional characteristics. Hybrids are examined using our proprietary selection process. • R&D then works with marketing to determine which of these hybrids fit the needs of our customer base. Those selected are placed and tested across the country.
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• Lastly, communicating the concepts we have learned over the years to you, the nutritionists and the end-users completes our goal of placing products of the highest quality in the hands of livestock producers across the country.
Lyn Crabtree President
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References Philippeau, C. & Monredon, F & Michalet-Doreau, B. (1999). Relationship
Hall, Mary Beth. “Rumen acidosis: carbohydrate feeding considerations.”
between ruminal starch degradation and the physical characteristics of corn
Proc. 12th Int. Symp. on Lameness in Ruminants. JK Shearer, ed. Orlando,
grain. Journal of animal science. 77. 238-43. 10.2527/1999.77123
FL. 2002.
Lechner-Doll, M., M. Kaske, and W. V. Engelhardt. “Factors affecting the
Ngonyamo-Majee, D., et al. “Relationships between kernel vitreousness
mean retention time of particles in the forestomach of ruminants and
and dry matter degradability for diverse corn germplasm: II. Ruminal and
camelids.” Physiological aspects of digestion and metabolism in ruminants.
post-ruminal degradabilities.” Animal Feed Science and Technology 142.3-4
Academic Press, 1991. 455-482.
(2008): 259-274.
Kotarski, Susan F., Ralph D. Waniska, and Kerry K. Thurn. “Starch hydrolysis
Ngonyamo-Majee, D., et al. “Relationships between kernel vitreousness and
by the ruminal microflora.” The Journal of nutrition 122.1 (1992): 178-190.
dry matter degradability for diverse corn germplasm: I. Development of
Rooney, L. W., and R. L. Pflugfelder. “Factors affecting starch digestibility with special emphasis on sorghum and corn.” Journal of Animal Science 63.5 (1986): 1607-1623. Romagnolo, Donato, C. E. Polan, and W. E. Barbeau. “Electrophoretic analysis of ruminal degradability of corn proteins.” Journal of dairy science 77.4 (1994): 1093-1099. Philippeau, Christelle, Jacques Landry, and Brigitte Michalet-Doreau. “Influence of the protein distribution of maize endosperm on ruminal starch degradability.” Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 80.3 (2000): 404-408. Taylor, C. C., and M. S. Allen. “Corn grain endosperm type and brown midrib
near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy calibrations.” Animal feed science and technology 142.3-4 (2008): 247-258. Taylor, C. C., and M. S. Allen. “Corn grain endosperm type and brown midrib 3 corn silage: Site of digestion and ruminal digestion kinetics in lactating cows.” Journal of Dairy Science 88.4 (2005): 1413-1424. VanAmburgh, M. E., et al. “Early life management and long-term productivity of dairy calves.” (2014). Zinn et al.Starch digestion by feedlot cattle: Predictions from analysis of feed and fecal starch and nitrogen. J. Anim. Sci. 2007; 85:1727-1730.
3 corn silage: Site of digestion and ruminal digestion kinetics in lactating cows.” Journal of Dairy Science 88.4 (2005): 1413-1424. Correa, C. E. S., et al. “Relationship between corn vitreousness and ruminal in situ starch degradability.” Journal of dairy science 85.11 (2002): 30083012. Pereira, Marcos Neves, et al. “Ruminal degradability of hard or soft texture corn grain at three maturity stages.” Scientia agricola 61.4 (2004): 358-363.
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