Effects of chemical treatments of cereal grains on in vitro dry matter disappearance and steer feedlot performance

In four in vitro trials, the effectiveness of different chemical treatments in protecting cereal grains from ruminal degradation was studied. Corn, wheat and oats were treated by mixing with either 0, 0.5, 1 or 1.5% (w/w) formaldehyde, formaldehyde plus propionic acid, propionaldehyde, propionaldehyde plus propionic acid or propionic acid. The combinations of aldehydes plus propionic acid were in a 3:1 ratio. Corn, wheat and oats were also treated with 0, 2.5 or 3% propionaldehyde or combinations of propionaldehyde and sodium or ammonium hydroxide. Formaldehyde, either alone or in combination with acid, consistently reduced in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) of cereal grains. Propionaldehyde alone or in combination with either acid or alkali was less effective than formaldehyde in restricting fermentation. Although formaldehyde treatment of cereal grains reduced dry matter disappearance in vitro, treatment of the corn included in concentrate diets fed to growing steers produced no difference in their performance.