Splanchnic nitrogen metabolism by growing beef steers fed sorghum grain flaked at various densities

Abstract

Growing beef steers were used in completely randomized block designs to evaluate effect of processing method, dry-rolled (DR) versus steam-flaked (SF) sorghum, and degree of processing (flaking density) of corn and sorghum grain on nitrogen (N) digestion and post-absorptive N metabolism. In experiments (Exp.) 1 and 2, seven duodenally and ileally cannulated steers were used to investigate N digestibilities. Experimental diets contained 77% grain: Exp. 1, DR or SF sorghum at densities of 437, 360 and 283 g/L (SF34, SF28, SF22); Exp. 2, corn at two flake densities (SF34 and SF22). Nitrogen intakes by steers fed sorghum (142 g/d) and corn (149 g/d) diets were similar among treatments. Steers fed SF compared to DR, increased ruminal (P =.04) DM digestibility. Microbial protein flow to the duodenum averaged 10% greater for SF vs DR. Reducing flaking density of sorghum grain linearly increased (P .05) ruminal DM and tended to increase linearly ruminal feed N (P =.11), total tract DM and N digestibilities and microbial efficiency (P .08). Unexpectedly, flake density did not affect DM or N digestibilities of SF corn diets by steers. In Exp. 3, eight steers implanted with indwelling catheters were used to measure blood flow, net absorption and uptake of ammonia-N, urea-N (UN) and alpha-amino N (AAN) across portal-drained viscera (PDV), hepatic and total splanchnic tissues. Experimental diets were the same as those in Exp. 1. Six arterial, portal and hepatic blood samples were collected per day at 2 h intervals for each diet and steer. Daily DM and N intakes averaged 7.0 kg and 142 g, respectively. Decreasing flake density of SF sorghum linearly increased net absorption of AAN (P =.04) and UN recycling to the gut (P =.02). Net UN recycling to the gut averaged 38% of N intake across treatments. Steers fed SF compared to DR decreased (P =.03) net splanchnic UN output (33 vs 50 g/d). The improved N retention and lower splanchnic UN output, contingent with greater ruminal microbial protein synthesis and flow to intestines may explain in part the observed higher performance of cattle fed SF compared to DR sorghum. Based on improved total tract N digestibilities and greater net absorption of AAN and UN recycling to the gut, optimum flake density for SF sorghum grain was 283 g/L (SF22).