Grain Quality for Feeding Livestock Dale M Forsyth

Grain Quality for Feeding Livestock Dale M. Forsyth Department of Animal Sciences Purdue University

What does Grain Quality MEAN? • Grain Trade – Test weight – Level of foreign material – Color – Fines & broken kernels – Moisture • Animal feeding – Level of energy – Level of protein, lysine – Availability of nutrients

Grain Quality Factors Let’s look at some of them from each point of view

Foreign Material • To the Food Manufacturer, Importer. Exporter, or elsewhere in the grain trade: – Very important that corn be all corn • To livestock: – Depends on what the foreign material is.

Foreign material • If a truck previously carried a load of rock, foreign material might be a very bad thing.

Foreign Material • If a truck carrying corn had previously carried wheat, then the foreign material present to feed to livestock might not be such a bad thing.

Sometimes there is a relationship between foreign material and test weight.

Effects of TEST WEIGHT • Test Weight is important because of the way we sell corn, by volume (bushel) – but we weigh it to determine that value • We do not want to buy a light test-weight bushel because we will get less corn. • But … If we have 100 lbs of corn, does it matter what the volume (test weight is)?

Effect of Test Weight on Composition of Dry Matter (NRC)

Effect of Corn Test Weight on Composition, JAS 29: 977

Effect of Test Weight on Digestibility of Corn by Swine (NRC - Corn, dent, grain gr 1 -5 US)

Comparisons for Swine of Corn by Test Weight and Foreign Material (NRC - Corn, Grain, Canadian)

Effect of Test Weight on Chick Performance

Effect of Test Weight on Chick Performance

Broken Kernels • For livestock, we grind the grain anyway! • But: – Broken kernels more susceptibility to: • insect damage • mold growth • moisture accumulation – So Storage Quality Decreased

Conclusion - Effect of Test Weight on Animal Performance • ALMOST NONE! • If they can eat enough feed to meet their energy needs.

Conclusion - Effect of Foreign Material on Animal Performance • Depends on the foreign material • There may be other considerations, however – Storage quality – Insect susceptibility – Drying characteristics – Transportation & storage costs

Cost Considerations • Example: $2. 80/56 lb. = $0. 05/lb • If corn weighs 50 lb/bu instead of 56, then its equivalent price is $2. 50 (because $2. 50/50 = 0. 05). – If priced lower it may be a good value (depending on those other factors: storage, transportation, etc. )

High Moisture Corn • Some studies have shown higher digestibility of diets fed wet vs. dry • Wet diets spoil more readily • Most advantage is probably from limiting feed wastage • Performance differences are seldom shown

Ensiled High Moisture Corn vs. Dry Corn for Swine Performance compared to dry corn. Dry Corn = 100

Conclusions: H. M. vs Dry Corn • High Moisture can be = to dry corn • Not generally better for swine • Use therefore depends on other factors • See PIH 73 for further conclusions

Factors influencing choice of high moisture corn • • Availability of fuel for drying Equipment to dry or ensile Harvest time requirements (speed, etc. ) Equipment or labor to feed every day Costs - all considered of each system Compatibility with present program Flexibility of the program

A Word on Palatibility • Given a choice pigs will display their preferences • Within reason, without a choice pigs will eat about the same amount of feed