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C B Theurer

Publications and source records attributed to C B Theurer.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1987

Duodenal bacterial and nonbacterial protein supply in steers fed forage and grain diets.

Four beef steers (avg wt 300 kg) fitted with duodenal re-entrant cannulae were used to study the effect of dietary concentrate to forage ratio on bacterial and nonbacterial N flow in the duodenum. According to a change-over design, the steers were designated to receive an all forage (83% alfalfa hay and 17% wheat straw) and an 80% sorghum grain diet. Lignin (ADL) and chromium oxide (Cr2O3) ratio techniques were compared with automated total collection (ATC) of digesta for quantitating duodenal protein flow and efficiency of bacterial N yield in the rumen. Estimates of bacterial protein synthesis and ruminal escape of feed protein based on Cr2O3 and lignin tended to be higher by 8 to 16% than those obtained by ATC. Efficiency of ruminal bacterial protein yield estimated by these two markers tended to be greater than that based on ATC (16 vs 12 g of bacterial protein/100 g ruminal true digestion of dry matter corrected for bacterial cell synthesis). Efficiency values did not differ between diets. Crude protein flow into the duodenum was about 33% greater (P less than .01) for the grain than the forage diet, although protein intake was about 10% less on the grain diet. Duodenal bacterial protein, rather than feed protein escaping ruminal degradation, accounted for most of this difference. Average duodenal flow of N, expressed as g/Mcal metabolizable energy (ME) intake, was 11.9 for the forage diet and 10.3 for the grain diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Grain processing effects on starch utilization by ruminants.

Starch utilization may be markedly enhanced by proper grain processing; however, extent of improvement is primarily dependent upon the ruminant species, grain source and method of processing. Grain processing has less impact on starch digestion by sheep than cattle. The magnitude of improvement is inverse to the starch digestion values for nonprocessed (or minimally processed) grains. Utilization of sorghum grain starch is improved most by extensive processing, and then corn, with little improvement in barley starch digestion. Studies comparing processing effects on barley or wheat starch utilization by cattle were not found. Steam-flaking consistently improves digestibility of starch by cattle fed corn- or sorghum grain-based diets over whole, ground or dry-rolled processes. Other extensive processing methods appear to enhance starch digestibility of corn and sorghum grain to a similar extent as steam-flaking, but comparative data are too limited to quantitate adequately effects of these methods. This improvement in starch utilization appears to be the primary reason for enhanced feed conversion of cattle fed diets high in these processed grains. The major site of cereal grain starch digestion is usually the rumen. Processing increases microbial degradation of starch in the rumen and decreases amounts of starch digested post-ruminally. Rates of in vitro amylolytic attack of starch in cereal grains by both ruminal microbial and pancreatic enzyme sources are improved by processing methods employing proper combinations of moisture, heat and pressure. In vitro and in situ studies suggest that much of the increase in ruminal starch fermentation with steam-flaking is due to changes in starch granular structure, which produces additive effects beyond those of decreasing particle size. Thus, efficiency of ruminal starch fermentation by cattle appears to be improved by proper processing of corn and sorghum grain. Processing and grain source studies both suggest that maximal total tract starch digestibility is positively related to the extent of digestion in the rumen.

Animal Feed↗