Ground and Whole Grain Corn: Effect on Ruminal Ph in Goats Diets

Author(s): R. Arias, Cordiviola C.A, Muro M.G, Trigo M.S, Cattaneo A.C, Calonge F.S, Antonini A

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of whole and ground corn grain in ruminal pH and total dry matter intake in diets for goats. Eight crossbreed goats (Creole x Nubian) was fitted with a rumen cannula and assigned in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square experimental design. Two experiments were conducted; in the first test we used whole grain corn and second, ground corn grain. Ruminal pH data was measured for each goat as average pH, area between the curve and a horizontal line at pH 6, and duration less than pH 6. In the first experiment, there were not differences (p> 0.05) on area between the curve and a horizontal line at pH 6, average pH and duration less than pH 6 among diets. A tendency was observed (p= 0.08) to decrease in DMI and the F/C decreased linearly (p< 0.05) with increasing whole corn in ration. In the second experiment, a significant linear increase was observed (p< 0.05) on area between the curve and a horizontal line at pH 6, with increasing ground corn. A linear decrease (p <0.05) was observed in average ruminal pH and linear increase (p <0.05) in duration less than pH 6. There was no difference in DMI and linear decrease (p <0.05) in F/C with increasing whole. The milling corn grain, increase the hydrolysis rate of the starch, possibly because to increased bacterial colonization of the horny endosperm surface, lowering ruminal pH.

whole corn, ground corn, ruminal pH

1. Afonso, J. A. B. 2005. Doenças carenciais e metabólicas e sua influência na exploração de caprinos e ovinos. Seminário norte-rio grandense de caprinocultura e ovinocultura. Mossoró. In: Miranda Neto, E; Afonso, J.A.B; Saulo de Tarso Gusmão da Silva, S.T; Lopes de Mendonça,C. 2009. Utilização da Monensina sódica na Prevenção da Acidose Láctica Ruminal induzida em caprinos Ciencia Animal Basileira. Disponible http://www.revistas.ufg.br/index.php/vet/article/view/7737/5508. Acceso mayo 2012.
2. Arias, R., M. G. Muro, C.A. Cordiviola, M.S Trigo, M. Brusa, R. A. Lacchini. 2013. Incidencia de la proporción de maíz sobre la degradabilidad in situ de heno de alfalfa en dietas para caprinos. Revista de la Facultad de Agronomía, La Plata. Vol 112 (2) p. 62-67
3. Castel, J. M., Y. Mena, M. Delgado-Pertinez, J. Camunez, J. Basulto, F. Caravaca, J. L. Guzman, and M. J. Alcalde. 2003. Characterisation of semi extensive goat production systems in Southern Spain. Small Rumin. Res. 47:1–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0921-4488(02)00250-x
4. Cerrillo, M. A., J. R. Russell, and M. H. Crump. 1999. The effects of hay maturity and forage to concentrate ratio on digestion kinetics in goats. Small Rumin. Res. 32:51–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0921-4488(98)00153-9
5. Delgado, C., M. Rosegrant, H. Steinfield, S. Ehui, and C. Courbois. 1999. Livestock to 2020: The next food revolution. IFPRI Brief 61. Int. Food Policy Res. Inst., Washington, DC.
6. FAO. 2008. Significant increase in world cereal production forecast for 2008, but prices remain high. http://www.fao.org/newsroom/ en/news/2008/1000783/index.html. Accessed May 13, 2008.
7. Garces-Yepez, P., W. E. Kunkle, D. B. Bates, J. E. Moore, W. W. Thatcher, and L. E. Sollenberger. 1997. Effects of supplemental energy source and amount on forage intake and performance by steers and intake and diet digestibility by sheep. J. Anim. Sci. 75:1918–1925.
8. Grant, R., V. Colenbrander, and D. Mertens. 1990. Milk fat depression in dairy cows: Role of particle size of alfalfa hay. J. Dairy Sci. 73:1823–1833. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(90)78862-5
9. Gonçalves, A.; Paula Lana, R.; Teixeira Rodrigues, M.; Mendonça Vieira, R.; Queiroz, A.; Sampaio Henrique, D. 2001. Padrão Nictemeral do pH Ruminal e Comportamento Alimentar de Cabras Leiteiras Alimentadas com Dietas Contendo Diferentes Relações Volumoso:Concentrado. Rev. Bras. Zootec. 30(6):1886-1892.http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1516-35982001000700027
10. Lu, C. D., J. R. Kawas, and O. G. Mahgoub. 2005. Fibre digestión and utilization in goats. Small Rumin. Res. 60:45–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2005.06.035
11. Madrid, J., F. Hernandez, M. A. Pulgar, and J. M. Cid. 1997. Urea and citrus by-product supplementation of straw-based diets for goats: effect on barley straw digestibility. Small Ruminant Res. 24:149–155. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0921-4488(96)00957-1
12. Maity, S. B., A. K. Mishra, and V. S. Upadhyay. 1999. Effect of wheat bran supplementation on the utilization of mixed straws in goats. Indian J. Anim. Nutr. 16:86–88.
13. Matejovsky, K. M., and D. W. Sanson. 1995. Intake and digestion of low-, medium-, and high- quality grass hays by lambs receiving increasing levels of corn supplementation. J. Anim. Sci. 73:2156–2163.
14. Noro M, R Chihuailaf; F Wittwer. 2010. Diagnóstico de alteraciones ácido-básicas ruminales en vacas lecheras a pastoreo mediante ruminocentesis dorsal. En: Contreras PA, Noro M (eds). Rumen: Morfofisiología, trastornos y modulación de la actividad fermentativa. América, Valdivia, Chile, Pp 111-118.
15. Oman, J. S., D. F. Waldron, D. B. Griffin, and J. W. Savell. 1999. Effect of breed-type and feeding regimen on goat carcass traits. J. Anim. Sci. 77:3215–3218.
16. Stern, M. D.; Calsamimiglia, S.; Endres, M. I. 1994. Dinámica del metabolismo de los hidratos de carbono y del nitrógeno en el rumen. En: Nuevos sistemas de valoración de alimentos y programas alimenticios para especies domésticas. Fundación española para el desarrollo de la nutrición animal, Barcelona.
17. Stockdale, C. R. 2000a. Differences in body condition and body size affect the responses of grazing dairy cows to high energy supplements in early lactation. Aust. J. Exp. Agric. 40:903-911.
18. Yang, W. Z., and K. A. Beauchemin. 2007. Altering physically effective fiber intake through forage proportion and particle length: Chewing and ruminal pH. J. Dairy Sci. 90:2826–2838. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2007-0032