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es 3I t UME LIBRARY ,
/ $ Agricultural Research Center, Ona -
77/-3 Research Report RC-1974-3 May 30, 1974
APR 1 1975


iVAE Or.M:S Univ of Florida
VALUE OF AMMONIUM LIGNI -SUIFONATE,1N.QU MIXTURES

H. L. Chapman, Jr.2

Lignin sulfonate is a byproduct remaining from the production of paper
from wood. Wood chips are boiled in dilute sulfurous acid solution dissolving
out a portion of the solid material and leaving the cellulose fibers which
are made into paper. The sulfurous acid solution is then concentrated by
evaporating off some of the moisture and neutralized by treating with ammonia,
sodium, magnesium or calcium. The dry matter in the remaining residue contains
approximately 15% wood sugars, 307 hemicellulose, 1% ash and 547. lignin.
sulfonate..

If the residue is treated with ammonia the residue will contain 67 of
non-protein nitrogen in. the form of ammonium-lignin sulfonate.- There has
been research feeding ammonium lignin sulfonate in feedlot rations, but
little information is available concerning its use in liquid feed supplements
fed directly to cattle. The purpose of this study was to obtain information
concerning the value of ammonium lignin sulfonate in a liquid feed mixture
fed to yearling heifers receiving poor quality pangolagrass hay.


Experimental Procedure

Ninety, .yearling, crossbred heifers were divided into six-groups on
the basis of weight and breed and the groups randomly assigned to experimental
liquid feed mixtures containing 0, 5, .10, 15, 20, and 25% of ammonium
lignin sulfonate. The liquid feed.mixture had a millrun sugarcane molasses
base with the molasses being replaced by the ammonium lignin sulfonate. The
estimated TDN and crude protein content of the six rations were equalized
by using water and urea-287. Each liquid feed mixture contained an
estimated 13.75% of crude protein and 507 total digestible nutrients.

The heifers were fed in confinement for 95 days with the liquid feed
mixtures and pangolagrass hay fed ad libitum. Prior to being placed on the
experimental feeds the heifers were each drenched with tramisol.



1/ The ammonium lignin sulfonate used in this study was furnished by
American Molasses Co., Wilmington, North Carolina.

2/ Animal Nutritionist and Center Director, University of Florida, Agricul-
tural Research Center, Ona, Florida, 33865.





MAR 6 1978


2.


Experimental Results


The average weight changes and feed intake per animal are shown in
Table 1. Daily gain was inversely related to the level of ammonium lignin
sulfonate in the liquid feed mixture being reduced 29% for the heifers
receiving the 5% level to 84% for those receiving the 25% level, as compared
to the heifers receiving no ammonium lignin sulfonate.


Table 1. Summary of average weight changes and feed intake for
heifers receiving feeds with different levels of ammonium
lignin sulfonate (Ibs)."

% Ammonium lignin sulfonate
-0 5 10 15 20 25

Number of heifers 15 14 15 15 15 14
Initial weight 445 449 450 446 447 443
Final weight 514 498. 489 474 462 454
Total gain 69 49 39 28 15 11
Daily gain 0.73 0.52 0.41 0.29 0.16 0.12

Daily feed intake per heifer:
Hay 13.55 13.77 14.12 12.88 13.17 14.23
Liquid feed 5.89 6.99 5.47 4.84 4.42 3.83



The daily intake of hay was not consistently affected by the level of
ammonium lignin sulfonate in the liquid feed but intake of the liquid feed
was reduced sharply when 15% or more of the ammonium lignin sulfonate was
added to the feed. The reduction in gain could not be attributed solely
to the difference in feed intake and it appeared that the higher levels
of the.ammonium lignin sulfonate inhibited rate of gain in some matter other
than a simple reduction in total feed intake.











ARC, ONA
May 30, 1974
150 copies