NutriDense and waxy corn hybrids: effects on site and extent of disappearance of nutrients in sheep

Six Suffolk wether lambs (40.9+/-1.05 kg) surgically fitted with ruminal and double-L-shaped duodenal and ileal cannulas were used in a 3 x 6 Latin rectangle design to investigate the effects of three corn hybrids on site and extent of disappearance of nutrients and rumen characteristics. Treatments were 1) a conventional yellow dent corn (CC) diet, 2) a NutriDense corn (NC) diet, and 3) a waxy corn (WC) diet. Diets consisted of 43.9% cracked corn grain, 39.1% cottonseed hulls, 15.3% soybean meal, 1.49% vitamin and mineral supplement, and 0.21% chromic oxide (DM basis). Lambs were fed twice daily at 1.8 x NEm requirement. Ruminal pH, fluid dilution rate, volume, NH3 N, and total VFA concentrations, as well as molar proportions of isobutyrate, butyrate, and valerate, were similar (P > 0.10) among dietary treatments. Apparent and true OM disappearances (g/d and percentage of OM intake) from the stomach were similar (P > 0.10) among dietary treatments. Apparent OM disappearance (percentage of duodenal OM flow) from the small intestine was higher (P < 0.05) for the WC than for the NC treatment. Apparent total tract OM disappearance (percentage of OM intake) was also similar (P > 0.10) among dietary treatments. Total apparent and true starch disappearances (g/d) from the stomach were higher (P < 0.05) for the WC diet than for the CC and NC diets. However, apparent and true starch disappearances from stomach as percentage of starch intake were higher (P < 0.05) for the WC diet than for the CC diet. Starch disappearance (g/d) from the small intestine was higher (P < 0.05) for the CC diet than for the WC diet; however, apparent starch disappearance (percentages of duodenal starch flow) from the small intestine was higher (P < 0.05) for the WC diet than for the CC diet. Duodenal flows of total N, bacterial N, NH3 N, and non-NH3 nonbacterial N (g/d) and efficiencies of bacterial protein production (g of bacterial N/kg of true or apparent OM disappearing in the stomach) were similar (P > 0.10) among dietary treatments. Apparent and true N disappearance from stomach (g/d) and apparent total tract N disappearance (percentage of N intake) were also similar (P > 0.10) among dietary treatments. Total N disappearance from the hindgut was -0.81, -1.06, and -1.46 g/d for CC, NC, and WC, respectively, and was different (P < 0.05) between CC and WC diets. Results indicated that higher ruminal starch disappearance in WC did not increase microbial N production or efficiency when compared to CC.