The Influence of Calcium and Starch upon Ration Digestibility by Steers

The relationship between minerals, readily available energy, and fiber digestion has been a long standing problem in ruminant nutrition, and will continue to be so because of increased use of high starch rations in animal production. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects on digestion and rumen fermentation when calcium, corn starch, and calcium plus corn starch were added to a 30 percent roughage ration for steers. Also, the effects of different levels of dietary calcium on animal performance and efficiency of feed conversion, in a high grain-low roughage ration, were studied in two animal performance trials. Two series of metabolism trials were conducted to study the effect of added calcium (20 gm per day), added starch (10 percent), and calcium plus starch upon the digestibility and rumen fermentation patterns of a 30 percent corn cob ration for steers. All steers received the same amount of the basal ration daily. An animal performance study was also conducted to determine if differences in feedlot performance could be obtained by feeding different levels of calcium in an 85 percent concentrate, 15 percent corn cob ration. Animal performance was measured on an individual basis. Advisor: Walter Wood