Efficacy of anhydrous ammonia and sulfur dioxide as preservatives for high-moisture grain and their effect on the nutritive value of barley for growing-finishing cattle

The effectiveness of ammonia and sulfur dioxide as preservatives for high-moisture barley grain and their influence on digestibility, rate and efficiency of gain, and the selenium and thiamin status of feedlot steers were examined. Duplicate 18-t plastic-bag bins were prepared with the following type and amount (wt/wt, dry matter (DM) basis) of preservative applied to low (23%) or high (32%) moisture barley: (1) high-moisture barley, no preservative (control); (2) high-moisture barley, 1.1% ammonia (1.1%-NH 3 ); (3) high-moisture barley, 2.3% ammonia (2.3%-NH 3 ); (4) low-moisture barley, 1.3% sulfur dioxide (1.3%-LMSO 2 ); and (5) high-moisture barley, 1.7% sulfur dioxide (1.7%-SO 2 ). Heating occurred in the control barley. Mold and yeast populations were substantially reduced in barley treated with ammonia which appeared well preserved. Considerable deterioration occurred in the core of one 1.3%-LMSO 2 bin. Crude protein digestibility was lower (P 0.05). When the preserved grains were each fed to a group of 12 steers (363 kg initial weight) along with 1.0 kg hay daily, gains were 1.46, 1.72, 1.67, 1.33 and 1.31 kg d −1 (P