Abstract

In Trial 1, 336 yearling steers (755 lb) were fed diets containing milo flaked to 22 (L), 25 (M), or 28 (H) lb/bu. The steers fed L consumed 3.2% less dry matter than cattle fed H (P<.05) and had 6.9% lower gains (P<.05). Feed efficiency tended (P=.15) to favor cattle fed H. The H milo was flaked 27% faster than M and 67% faster than L (P<.0001), resulting in lower production cost for the heavy flakes. In Trial 2, six ruminally cannulated steers were fed the same diets used in Trial 1 in a replicated 3x3 Latin square. After adaptation to the respective diets, the cattle were fasted and then overfed to simulate a drastic intake fluctuation. The L diet was fermented more rapidly than the H diet, resulting in greater ruminal pH depression (P<.10) following overconsumption. Under the conditions of this experiment, flaking milo more intensively than 28 lb/bu (58.7% starch gelatinization) resulted in decreased consumption, lower mill efficiency, and increased propensity for acidosis in finishing steers.

Keywords: Cattlemen's Day, 1993, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution, no. 93-318-S, Report of progress (Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service), 678, Beef, Steam flaking, Milo, Density, Acidosis, Mill Efficiency

How to Cite:

Brandt, R. T., Jr., Freeman, A., Eck, T., Reinhardt, C. D. & Behnke, K. C., (1993) “Effect of density of steam flaked milo on animal performance, mill production rate, and subacute acidosis”, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports 1(1), 99-101. doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.2120