Influence of Cement Kiln Dust on Reticulorumen Parameters of Beef Steers Fed Complete Diets

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Abstract
Research was conducted to determine the influence of cement kiln dust and (or) protein supplementation on intake and reticulorumen measurements of beef steers fed complete diets consisting of 53% timothy hay and 47% concentrate. A 4 × 4 Latin square design was used with the following dietary treatments: (1) no kiln dust without protein supplementation, (2) 3.5% kiln dust without protein supplementation, (3) no kiln dust with protein supplementation; and (4) 3.5% kiln dust with protein supplementation. The two protein supplemented diets contained 12.3% crude protein while the other two diets contained 8.6% crude protein. Steers fed the diet containing no kiln dust without protein supplementation had the greatest weight, volume, dry matter and water content of reticulorumen ingesta. Kiln dust addition and (or) protein supplementation increased reticuloruminal dry matter disappearance rates by 18.6, 34.8 and 27.2% when compared to steers fed the diet containing no kiln dust without protein supplementation. Steers fed the diet containing no kiln dust without protein supplementation had the lowest concentration of total volatile fatty acids, molar percentage of propionic acid and the highest molar percentage of acetic acid in reticulorumen fluid. An in situ dacron bag technique was used to estimate organic matter digestibility and rate constant for digestion of the complete diets. Potential organic matter digestibilities (percentage loss after 72 hr) were 74.3, 86.9, 85.1 and 86.0% while respective rate constants for digestion (per hour) were .044, .050, .051 and .052. Results from this study indicate that part of the growth response to kiln dust in previous feedlot trials may be attributed to changes in the reticulorumen environment. Copyright © 1979. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1979 by American Society of Animal Science.