Influence of pecan shells and hulls as a roughage source on milk production, rumen fermentation, and digestion in ruminants.

In Experiment 1, 20 lambs (36 kg) were fed five diets containing 0, 5, or 10% pecan shells or hulls to evaluate digestion and nitrogen balance. Digestion was not depressed by diets containing 5% shells. Protein digestibility was not reduced and nitrogen balance was higher for lambs fed 5% hulls than for lambs in other groups. In Experiment 2, 8 Holstein cows (29.3 kg milk/d) were assigned to two diets: basal and basal with 5% shells in the grain mix. Cows fed diets containing shells produced the same amount of milk and milk fat as control cows. In Experiment 3, 12 Holstein cows (27.3 kg milk/d) were assigned to the same two diets used in Experiment 2 and a third treatment received 5% pecan hulls in the grain mix. Cows fed shells or hull diets reduced concentrate intake and milk production. In Experiment 4, 12 Hereford X Angus steers (474.5 kg) were fed diets used in Experiment 3 to examine rumen fermentation, digestion, and passage rates. Steers fed hulls had lower rumen ammonia N and higher rumen pH compared with steers fed the basal diet. Total rumen volatile fatty acid concentration was not different among treatments. Generally, rumen fluid from steers fed hulls had higher proportions of acetate and lower proportions of butyrate. Rumen fluid and particulate passage rates and digestion measurements were not affected by addition of shells or hulls.