Roasted Corn for Growing Dairy Heifers and for Lambs

Abstract Effects of feeding roasted corn as compared to raw corn were studied in acceptability and feeding trials with Holstein heifers and in feeding and digestibility trials with fattening lambs. Similar amounts of corn dry matter were consumed when heifers received either corn source ad libitum. When both were restricted to 37% of the total ration during a 90-day feeding trial heifers required significantly less of the roasted corn ration per kilogram gain. Body weight gains were similar with the exception that heifers receiving roasted corn gained faster during the first 30 days. Feeder lambs receiving an all-pelleted ration ad libitum with roasted corn representing 27% of the ration during a 60-day trial gained faster (11%) than lambs fed a similar ration containing raw corn, but this response also was limited to the early part of the trial. Dry matter digestibilities were similar for the two lamb rations.