Enhancing the feeding value of corn stover for beef cattle via steam explosion: effects on rumen digestibility, growth and meat quality

To meet the rising global demand for premium animal protein, efficient utilisation of non-grain feedstuffs like corn stover has become critical for sustainable beef production. However, the high lignocellulosic content and structural rigidity of corn stover restrict its digestibility and nutritional availability in the rumen. This study assessed how steam explosion treatment influences the nutritional quality of corn stover and examined its effects on growth, serum biochemistry, slaughter characteristics, and meat quality of beef cattle. In Experiment 1, a rumen nylon bag study using three rumen-fistulated Simmental bulls showed that steam explosion significantly increased the in situ degradability of DM and organic matter, while reducing the fibre content. In Experiment 2, thirty Simmental bulls were randomly assigned to either a control group (CON) receiving 50% untreated corn stover in their roughage or a test group (SCS) where steam explosion-treated corn stover replaced the untreated portion. Over a 108-day trial, the SCS group exhibited significantly greater average daily gain (ADG) and dry matter intake (DMI) compared with CON (P < 0.05). Serum biochemical analysis revealed significantly elevated triglycerides, total protein, and high-density lipoprotein (P < 0.05), indicating enhanced protein metabolism and lipid transport. Slaughter performance was unaffected. However, meat from SCS-fed cattle showed higher pH and lower cooking and pressing losses (P < 0.05), indicating improved water-holding capacity. No differences were observed in meat nutrient composition. These results indicate that steam explosion serves as a valuable pretreatment for improving the ruminal digestibility and nutritional value of corn stover, thereby improving animal performance and meat quality in beef production systems, offering a promising strategy for utilising low-quality roughage in beef production.