The effects of variations in the energy concentration and protein source of complete diets for beef cattle

1971 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 605-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Broadbent ◽  
C. Ball ◽  
T. L. Dodsworth
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Protein Source ◽  
Energy Concentration ◽  
Distiller's Grains ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Carcass Conformation ◽  
Wet Distiller's Grains

SUMMARYTwelve British Friesian and 12 Ayrshire castrated male calves were fed ad libitum one of three complete diets of differing energy concentration from approximately 140 to 410 kg live weight. Differences in energy concentration of the diets were achieved by inclusion of different proportions of wet distiller's grains (WDG). Increasing the proportion of WDG in the diet caused reductions in performance. This effect was more marked with the Friesians than with the Ayrshires. The treatments had small and generally non-significant effects on carcass conformation and composition.

Effects of using rations of reduced energy concentration for intensively reared beef cattle from 250 kg live weight to slaughter

1976 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-215
Author(s):  
P. J. Broadbent ◽  
C. Ball ◽  
T. L. Dodsworth
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Lower Energy ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Energy Concentration ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Dietary Energy ◽  
Distiller's Grains ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Wet Distiller's Grains ◽  
Effect Of Feeding

SUMMARY1. Two experiments are described in which castrated Ayrshire cattle were reared on a conventional all-concentrate diet to 250 kg live weight. In Experiment 1 the effect of feeding a 1: 1 mixture (by weight) of barley and wet distiller's grains (WDG) from 250 to 408 kg live weight was examined. In Experiment 2 swedes and grass silage were offered in addition to WDG and barley during the growth phase from 250 kg live weight to slaughter. In both experiments a control group was fed an all-concentrate diet.2. The introduction of WDG to the diet (Experiment 1) caused a significantly lower daily live-weight gain (P < 0·01) and an increase i n time to slaughter (P < 0·01). Carcasses from the control and treated animals were similar in weight, conformation and composition. There were no differences in growth rates in Experiment 2. The treated animals were heavier (P < 0·01) and older at slaughter (P < 0·001) than those in the control group and they produced heavier carcasses (P < 0·05). The carcasses were similar in composition but some differences in conformation occurred. These effects were the consequence of selecting animals for slaughter on the basis of equal finish (i.e. the ratio of muscle plus fat to bone assessed subjectively).3. The effect of reducing the dietary energy concentration appears t o be smaller with cattle over 250 kg live weight than with younger, lighter cattle. The results, which are discussed in economic terms, suggest that castrated Ayrshire cattle reared on all-concentrate diets should be changed to a diet of lower energy concentration using cheaper feed sources at 250 kg live weight.

The effect of milk substitute input during calfhood on the lifetime performance of beef cattle

1991 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. J. Steen
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Milk Powder ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Lifetime Performance ◽  
Milk Substitute ◽  
Milk Substitutes ◽  
Bean Meal ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Soya Bean Meal

ABSTRACTThree randomized-block experiments involving 87 British Friesian, 18 Simmental × Friesian and 18 Hereford × Friesian, artificially reared calves (mean initial live weight 47 kg and age 9 days), were carried out to examine the effects of the quantity of milk substitute consumed on the lifetime performance of beef cattle. The three treatments were (1) 400 g milk powder per head daily, weaned at 42 days of age (2) ad libitum intake of milk powder, weaned at 42 days and (3) ad libitum intake of milk powder, weaned at 60 days. All calves were individually penned and fed until after weaning; those on treatment 1 were bucket fed twice daily, while those on treatments 2 and 3 sucked the milk from 25·1 containers through artificial teats. They were offered a pelleted, barley/soya-bean meal concentrate (197 g crude protein per kg dry matter (DM)) ad libitum from purchase until intake reached a maximum of 2·7 kg per head daily, and well preserved grass silage ad libitum from 6 weeks of age. Three commercial, skimmed milk-based, acidified milk substitutes (242 and 187 g crude protein and oil per kg respectively) were used. Intakes of milk substitute, concentrate DM and silage DM per calf to 12 weeks of age for treatments 1 to 3 respectively were as follows: 13·0, 39·7 and 54·8 (s.e. 1·67) kg; 88, 73 and 58 (s.e. 1·5) kg and 9·4, 10·6 and 11·2 (s.e. 0·23) kg. Live-weight gains to 12 weeks of age and carcass weights adjusted to 19 months of age were 0·71, 0·82 and 0·84 (s.e. 0·026) kg/day and 335, 340 and 341 (s.e. 3·8) kg. It is concluded that increasing the input of milk substitute above 400 g per head daily until 6 weeks of age produced only a small and uneconomic increase in the lifetime performance of beef cattle.

Growth and carcass characteristics of weaned single-suckled calves slaughtered on achieving slaughter condition or 8 or 16 weeks later

1976 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Broadbent
Keyword(s):  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Composition ◽  
Longissimus Dorsi ◽  
Fat Percentage ◽  
Distiller's Grains ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Beef Producers ◽  
Wet Distiller's Grains

SUMMARY1. Weaned single-suckled calves (castrates) were housed at 260·7 kg live weight. Six genotypes, all two- or three-way crossbreds, were represented. A diet of bruised barley, wet distiller's grains, swedes and grass silage was offered until the required minimum live weight (363 kg) and body composition was reached. The cattle were then slaughtered (treatment A), or retained for 8 (treatment B) or 16 weeks (treatment C). During the period when treatment B and C animals were retained their diet was 53% bruised barley and 47% wet distiller's grains offered ad libitum.2. Live weights at slaughter were 418·2, 458·6 and 496·1 kg (P < 0·001), carcass weights 240·5, 266·2 and 295·7 kg (P < 0·001), and killing-out percentages 57·5, 58·1 and 59·6 (P<0·01) for treatments A, B and C respectively. Daily live-weight gain did not decline during the 8 or 16 weeks cattle were retained on treatments B and C.3. Retaining the cattle to slaughter points B and C caused increases in the percentage of low-value joints in the carcass, carcass fat percentage, dry matter and fat contents of the dissected m. longissimus dorsi; and decreases in the percentage of high-value joints, carcass lean and bone percentage, crude protein and ash contents of m. longissimus dorsi. The carcass composition was 55·6, 53·5 and 51·4% lean (P<0·001); 30·7, 33·3 and 36·2% fat (P<0·001); 13·7, 13·2 and 12·4% bone (P< 0·001) for treatments A, B and C respectively.4. The results are discussed in relation to the choice made by beef producers between slaughter and retention of cattle which have reached suitable live weight and condition for marketing.

A comparison of wheat and barley as supplements to grass silage for beef cattle

1989 ◽  
Vol 1989 ◽  
pp. 4-4
Author(s):  
R. W. J. Steen
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Beef Breed ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Feeding Value ◽  
Soyabean Meal ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Finishing Beef Cattle

Two randomised-block experiments have been carried out to examine the relative feeding value of wheat and barley as supplements to grass silage for finishing beef cattle. In each experiment unwilted, formic acid-treated silage was offered ad libitum and supplemented with 500 g soyabean meal and 50 g minerals and vitamins to 44 twelve month old bulls for 157 and 172 days in experiments 1 and 2 respectively. In addition 12 animals received 2.5 kg rolled spring barley (LB), 12 received 4.0 kg barley (HB) and 20 received 3.25 kg rolled wheat (W). Silage was offered once daily and concentrates twice daily in two equal meals.Eleven British Friesian bulls and thirty-three bulls which were Friesian x Continental beef breed were used in each experiment. They were initially 402 and 385 kg live weight in experiments 1 and 2 respectively. In both experiments the animals were housed and fed in groups of four in slatted pens. All animals were slaughtered at the end of the experiments to obtain carcass data.

Beef production from silage 3. The effect of supplements of hay and dried grass on the performance of beef cattle

1983 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Thomas ◽  
R. M. Tetlow ◽  
B. G. Gibbs ◽  
Margaret Gill
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Ad Libitum

ABSTRACT1. The primary growth of perennial ryegrass was cut between 7 and 9 June and ensiled with formic acid at 2·5 1/t. The regrowth was cut on 24 July; part was dried at high temperature (dried grass), the remainder was left to dry in the field (hay). The dried grass (DG) and part of the hay were ground and pelleted, the hay being pelleted alone (PH) or with the addition of formaldehyde at 20 g/kg crude protein (PHF). The remainder of the hay was offered in the chopped form (CH). The four supplements (CH, PH, PHF, DG) were offered at two levels, 6·5 (L) and 130 (H) g dry matter per kg live weight to 54 British Friesian steers (initial live weight, 110 kg) receiving the silage ad libitum.2. The silage had a high pH and a high proportion of the total nitrogen was in the form of ammonia, indicating poor fermentation. The solubility of nitrogen in the supplements was highest (262 g/kg total nitrogen) in CH, progressively less in PH and PHF and lowest (122 g/kg total nitrogen) in DG.3. Total dry-matter intake was highest with DG at the higher level of inclusion. Dry-matter intake was significantly higher for PH and PHF than for CH (P < 0·001). However, intake of digestible energy did not differ between hays. Live-weight gain was increased from a low level of 0·24 kg/day (silage alone) by all supplements, but this effect was greater with DG than with the hays (P < 0·001). Level of supplementation increased live-weight gain from 0·54 to 0·74 kg/day.4. Supplements of dried grass gave higher live-weight gains than did hay made from the same sward. However, the results indicate that supplementation of badly preserved silage with grass hay of good quality can produce acceptable levels of performance of up to 0·70 kg/day in 4-month-old steers. Processing of the hay had little effect on animal performance.

scholarly journals Feed and production efficiency of young crossbred beef cattle stratified on a terminal total merit index1

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
David N Kelly ◽  
Stephen B Conroy ◽  
Craig P Murphy ◽  
Roy D Sleator ◽  
Donagh P Berry
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Validation Population ◽  
Carcass Conformation

Abstract Few studies have attempted to quantify the association between a terminal total merit index with phenotypic feed and production efficiency in beef cattle, particularly when feed efficiency is itself explicitly absent as a goal trait in the index. The objective of the present study was to quantify the differences in phenotypic performance for feed intake, feed efficiency, and carcass traits of crossbred bulls, steers, and heifers differing in a terminal total merit index. A validation population of 614 bulls, steers, and heifers that were evaluated for feed intake and efficiency in the same feedlot and subsequently slaughtered at the end of their test period was constructed. The Irish national genetic evaluations for a terminal index of calving performance, docility, feed intake, and carcass traits were undertaken with the phenotypic records of animals present in the validation population masked. The validation population animals were subsequently stratified into four groups, within sex, according to their terminal index value. Mixed models were used to quantify the association between terminal genetic merit and phenotypic performance; whether the associations differed by sex were also investigated. The regression coefficient of phenotypic feed intake, carcass weight, carcass conformation, or carcass fat on its respective estimated breeding values was 0.86 kg dry matter 0.91 kg, 1.01 units, and 1.29 units, respectively, which are close to the expectation of one. On average, cattle in the very high terminal index stratum had a 0.63 kg DM/d lower feed intake, a 25.05 kg heavier carcass, a 1.82 unit better carcass conformation (scale 1 to 15), and a 1.24 unit less carcass fat score (scale 1 to 15), relative to cattle in the very low terminal index stratum. Cattle of superior total genetic merit were also more feed efficient (i.e., had a lower energy conversion ratio, lower residual feed intake, and greater residual gain), had a greater proportion of their live-weight as carcass weight (i.e., better dressing percentage) and were slaughtered at a younger age relative to their inferior total genetic merit counterparts. This study provides validation of an all-encompassing total merit index and demonstrates the benefits of selection on a total merit index for feed and production efficiency, which should impart confidence among stakeholders in the contribution of genetic selection to simultaneous improvements in individual animal performance and efficiency.

Effect of pasture growth rate on live-weight gain of grazing beef cattle

1984 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Ebersohn ◽  
K. W. Moir
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Energy Concentration ◽  
Dietary Energy ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Differential Contribution

SummaryLive-weight gain of beef cattle grazing all-grass or grass-clover pastures, details of which have been reported previously, was significantly (P < 0·01) correlated with pasture growth rate, but not with pasture dry matter on offer (either total or green), or with dietary-energy concentration. From ideas generated from the relationship between live-weight gain and pasture growth rate, and using intake values measured from the number and size of prehension bites, it is shown how high live-weight gain for measured dietary-energy concentration could be explained by differential contribution to digestibility and voluntary intake from pasture new growth.

Effect of breed, sex, type of cereal and supplementary hay upon the performance of beef cattle given high-concentrate diets

1967 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Owen ◽  
G. M. Davies
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Vitamin Supplement ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Sex Type ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Friesian Cattle

1. In a 2×3×3 factorial experiment a total of seventy-two female or castrated pure Friesian, Charolais × Friesian and Welsh Black × Friesian cattle were fed individually and ad libitum on three diets from 200 lb to slaughter at 800 or 900 lb, depending on sex. The diets were ground barley (87%) and protein-mineral-vitamin supplement (13%) given with or without 1 lb of hay per animal daily, or ground maize (87%) and supplement (13%) given with 1 lb of hay daily.2. The three breed-types differed significantly in growth rate and feed conversion efficiency. Gaining at 2·66 lb/day and converting 4·56 lb of meal into 1 lb live-weight gain, the Charolais crosses grew 7·7 % faster than pure Friesians and consumed 14·1% less meal per unit gain. Welsh Black crosses made 9·3% less rapid gains and required 7·7 % more meal per unit gain than pure Friesians. The disparity between the three breedtypes increased with increasing liveweight.

The effect of supplementing grass silage with molasses and/or a mineralised fishmeal on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing beef cattle

1996 ◽  
Vol 1996 ◽  
pp. 122-122
Author(s):  
D. G. Chapple ◽  
H. F. Grundy ◽  
K. P. A. Wheeler ◽  
S. P. Marsh
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Cane Molasses ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Finishing Beef Cattle

In forage-based intensive beef production systems supplementary feedingstuffs are generally required to optimise live-weight gain and to ensure adequate finish. Information on the feeding of molasses alone or molasses in conjunction with supplementary protein, in grass silage-based beef cattle diets is limited.To evaluate the effect of replacing barley with molasses and/or mineralised fishmeal when fed with ad libitum grass silage to finishing beef cattle.Daily supplements of 2.0 kg of rolled barley + 50 g minerals (B), 0.5 kg mineralised fishmeal (F), 2.0 kg cane molasses + 0.5 kg mineralised fishmeal (MF) or 2.5 kg cane molasses + 50 g minerals (M).

A comparison of two-cut and three-cut systems of silage making for beef cattle using two cultivars of perennial ryegrass

1984 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. J. Steen
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Factorial Design ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Friesian Cattle

ABSTRACTTwo randomized-block experiments have been carried out to examine the effects of increasing the digestibility of grass silage offered to beef cattle by harvesting three crops of grass after shorter growth intervals rather than two crops after longer growth intervals. In experiment 1 early-cut silages were harvested on 1 June, 16 July and 24 August, and late-cut silages on 20 June and 22 August 1979. In experiment 2 the early-cut silages were harvested on 19 May, 2 July and 20 August, and the late-cut silages on 5 June and 12 August 1980. Early- and late-cut silages were made from each of two cultivars of perennial ryegrass (cultivars Cropper and Talbot). The silages were unwilted and had formic acid applied at 2.5 1/t fresh crop.In experiment 1 the silages were offered ad libitum, both unsupplemented and supplemented with 2·2 kg concentrates per head daily, to 88 cattle of mixed beef breeds and mean initial live weight 337 kg, in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design. In experiment 2 the silages were offered ad libitum and supplemented with 2·4 kg of concentrates per head daily to 56 Charolais × (Aberdeen Angus × Friesian) cattle of mean initial live weight 351 kg, in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Grass cultivar did not significantly affect silage intake or animal performance but intake, live-weight gain and carcass gain were significantly higher for the early-cut than for the late-cut silages in both experiments. In experiment 1 silage dry-matter intakes were 6·33, 5·12, 5·80 and 4·67 (s.e. 0·124) kg/day; live-weight gains were 0·72, 0·89, 0·47 and 0·76 (s.e. 0·029) kg/day; and carcass gains were 0·46, 0·60, 0·27 and 0·48 (s.e. 0·016) kg/day, for the unsupplemented and supplemented early-cut silages, and the unsupplemented and supplemented late-cut silages, respectively. In experiment 2 silage dry-matter intakes were 5·49 and 4·95 (s.e. 0·056) kg/day; live-weight gains Were 0·95 and 0·76 (s.e. 0·033) kg/day; and carcass gains were 0·67 and 0·50 (s.e. 0·17) kg/day, for the early- and late-cut silages, respectively.

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