Swine

Corn Grown Under Drought-Stressed Conditions Does Not Have Lower Energy Content than Corn Grown in a Previous “Normal” Year

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Abstract

Record-breaking heat and lack of rainfall during the 2012 growing season resulted in drought-stressed growing conditions. An experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of these conditions on nutrient composition and apparent total tract digestibilities (ATTD) of energy in corn, and determine if relationships exist between corn quality measurements, nutrient content, and digestibility of energy. Twenty-eight samples of corn from the 2012 crop, plus 2 samples of corn from the 2011 crop to serve as a positive control, were collected across the Midwest using yield as an initial screen for drought impact. Each sample was graded by an official U.S. grain inspection agency and analyzed for ether extract and crude protein content. Diets were formulated using each of the 30 corn samples plus vitamins, minerals, and 0.4% titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker. Sixty individually-housed barrows (PIC 359 X C29; initial BW=34.2±0.18 kg) were randomly allotted in an incomplete crossover design with 30 diets and 4 collection periods. Each of the 4 collection periods consisted of 6 days adjustment to the test diet followed by 3 days of fecal sample collection followed by 5 days of feeding a fully balanced grower diet. Diet and fecal samples were analyzed for dry matter (DM), titanium dioxide, and gross energy (GE). ATTD coefficients were then determined. Mean ATTD coefficients of GE between the 2011 and 2012 corn samples were not different (84.3 vs. 83.1 respectively; P>0.10). Comparing 2011 with 2012, there were no differences in ether extract (4.07% vs. 3.96%; P>0.10) or crude protein (8.56 vs. 9.19%; P>0.10). There were no differences in physical characteristics, except for 1,000 kernel weight, which varied among samples by 220% (176 to 386 grams). No relationships were found between any single corn quality measurement, physical or chemical, and digestibility of energy (P>0.10). In conclusion, ATTD of corn grown under drought-stressed conditions was not different in energy content from corn grown in the previous year under “normal” conditions.

Keywords: Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Animal Science

How to Cite:

Newman, M. A., Patience, J. F. & Hurburgh, C. R., (2014) “Corn Grown Under Drought-Stressed Conditions Does Not Have Lower Energy Content than Corn Grown in a Previous “Normal” Year”, Iowa State University Animal Industry Report 11(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/ans_air-180814-1210