scholarly journals 5 Evaluating Finishing Performance of Cattle Fed HMC:SFC Blends with Modified Distillers Grains

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 127-128
Author(s):  
Braden Troyer ◽  
Zac Carlson ◽  
Levi J McPhillips ◽  
Andrea K Watson ◽  
James C MacDonald ◽  
...  

Abstract Steam-flaked corn (SFC) has been widely used in feedlots in the southern United States to improve feed efficiency (G:F) by increasing starch digestibility. Similarly, feedlots in the Midwest have commonly fed high moisture corn (HMC), both to ensure corn supply for the year and to improve G:F. However, popularity of SFC in the Midwest is on the rise, but producers still recognize the benefits of HMC utilization. A study was conducted at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center (ENREC) to compare finishing cattle performance when fed HMC, SFC, or a blend. The objective was to determine the optimum inclusion of the grains when modified distillers grains (MDGS) was included at 20% of the diet. This study utilized 90 yearling steers (353 kg; SD=5.8 kg) individually fed using the Calan gate system in a completely randomized design with cattle stratified by body weight (BW). Treatments included: 100% HMC, 75% HMC blended with 25% SFC, a 50% blend of the grains, 25% HMC blended with 75% SFC, or 100% SFC (DM basis; % of the 70% grain in the diet). Cattle were on feed 168 days with 3-day initial BW and 1 day final BW. Animal was the experimental unit with 18 replications per treatment. No differences in initial BW, ribeye area, or marbling score between treatments were detected (P > 0.12). Ending BW, hot carcass weight, average daily gain, and G:F all linearly increased with increasing inclusion of SFC in the diet (P < 0.05). Carcass adjusted G:F improved from 0.158 to 0.170 for 100% HMC compared to 100% SFC diets, respectively. In conclusion, feeding higher inclusions of SFC in finishing diets resulted in improved performance compared to HMC in diets containing 20% MDGS.

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 134-134
Author(s):  
Caitlin Coulson ◽  
Bradley M Boyd ◽  
Brianna Conroy ◽  
Galen E Erickson

Abstract An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of grain type and wet distillers grains inclusion on finishing cattle performance and carcass characteristics. Yearling steers (n = 320; initial BW = 325 ± 23 kg) were utilized in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, with the first factor as grain type at either 100% dry-rolled corn or a 50:50 blend of dry-rolled wheat and dry-rolled corn, and the second factor as wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) inclusion at 12 or 30% of diet DM. There were no interactions between grain type and WDGS inclusion levels (P ≥ 0.21), contrary to our hypothesis that 50:50 wheat blend would improve performance with increased WDGS. There were no differences in DMI, ADG, or G:F (P ≥ 0.29) between 100% DRC or 50:50 blend of DRC and wheat. There was no difference in HCW between grain types (P = 0.84), but LM area was greater (P = 0.02) for steers fed a 50:50 blend of DRC and wheat. There were no differences in 12th rib fat or USDA marbling score between grain types (P ≥ 0.15), but increased LM area in steers fed the blended diet led to improved calculated yield grade (P = 0.04). Increasing WDGS in the diet increased carcass-adjusted final BW (P = 0.03) and improved carcass-adjusted ADG and G:F by 3.8% (P ≤ 0.05). Feeding 30% WDGS increased HCW by 10.9 kg (P = 0.03) and increased 12th rib fat (P = 0.02) compared to feeding 12% WDGS. There were no differences in LM area, USDA marbling score, or calculated YG between WDGS inclusions. These data suggest that increasing WDGS in the diet improves performance regardless of grain type and depending on price, wheat can replace up to 50% of the grain portion of the diet without affecting performance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 137-137
Author(s):  
Aksel Wiseman ◽  
Zachary Carslon ◽  
Levi McPhillips ◽  
Scott Tilton ◽  
Andrea K Watson ◽  
...  

Abstract An 85 d growing study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementing NexPro, a high-protein dried distillers grains plus solubles from the FluidQuip MSC post-fermentation separation process, in a corn-silage based diet and to determine the RUP content of NexPro and performance of growing cattle fed this feedstuff. Crossbred steers (n = 120, initial BW = 250 ± 24kg) were individually fed using the Calan gate system and assigned randomly to treatment. Treatments were arranged as a 3×4 + 1 factorial with test protein type (Soybean meal [SBM]; non-enzymatically browned soybean meal [SoyPass]; high-protein DDGS [NexPro]) and supplemental protein concentration (4.5, 9.0, 13.5, or 18.0% diet DM) as factors. Crude protein content of NexPro, SoyPass and SBM were 51.4, 48.8, and 52.4%, respectively. All treatments were compared to a control with 0.0% inclusion of test protein and a corn-based, urea-containing RDP supplement. Diets contained 80% corn silage with test protein replacing RDP supplement as inclusion increased. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure as a completely randomized design with individual animal as experimental unit. By design, RUP intake increased linearly (P < 0.01) across all treatments. Ending BW responded linearly (P < 0.01) for all treatments. Steers fed SoyPass or NexPro had no change (P > 0.18) in DMI, while SBM had a tendency for a quadratic increase (P = 0.07). Gains increased linearly (P < 0.01) for SoyPass and increased quadratically (P = 0.01) for SBM and NexPro. This resulted in linear increases (P < 0.01) in feed efficiency with increasing inclusions of test proteins. In situ mobile bag technique was used to determine RUP content of the supplemental proteins. The RUP content as a % of CP for NexPro, SoyPass and SBM were 50, 74, and 22%, respectively. Feeding DDGS from the FluidQuip process improved calf performance by increasing DMI, ADG, and efficiency in growing diets.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. Burken ◽  
B. L. Nuttelman ◽  
J. L. Gramkow ◽  
A. L. McGee ◽  
K. M. Sudbeck ◽  
...  

Abstract Corn plants were sampled over 2 consecutive years to assess the effects of corn hybrid maturity class, plant population, and harvest time on whole corn plant quality and yield in Nebraska. A finishing experiment evaluated the substitution of corn with corn silage in diets with corn modified distillers grains with solubles (MDGS). The first 2 harvest dates were at the mid- and late-silage harvest times whereas the final harvest was at the grain harvest stage of plant maturity. Whole plant yields increased as harvest time progressed (yr 1 quadratic P < 0.01; yr 2 linear P < 0.01). However, differences in TDN concentration in both years were quite minimal across harvest time, because grain percentage increased but residue NDF in-situ disappearance decreased as harvest time was delayed. In the finishing experiment, as corn silage inclusion increased from 15 to 55% (DM basis) by replacing dry rolled and high moisture corn grain with corn silage in diets containing 40% MDGS, DMI, ADG, and G:F linearly decreased (P ≤ 0.01), with the steers on the 15% corn silage treatment being 1.5%, 5.0%, and 7.7% more efficient than steers on treatments containing 30, 45, and 55% corn silage, respectively. Calculated dietary NEm and NEg decreased linearly as corn silage inclusion increased indicating that net energy values were greater for corn grain than for corn silage. In addition, dressing percentage decreased linearly (P < 0.01) as silage inclusion increased suggesting more fill as silage inclusion increases in diets. Cattle fed greater than 15% corn silage in finishing diets based on corn grain will gain slower and be slightly less efficient and likely require increased days to market at similar carcass fatness and size. When 30% silage was fed with 65% MDGS, DMI, and ADG were decreased (P < 0.01) compared to feeding 30% silage with 40% MDGS suggesting some benefit to including a proportion of corn in the diet. Conversely, when 45% silage was fed with 40% MDGS, ADG, and G:F were greater (P < 0.04) than when 45% silage was fed with just grain implying a greater energy value for MDGS than for corn grain. Substituting corn silage for corn grain in finishing diets decreased ADG and G:F which would increase days to finish to an equal carcass weight; however, in this experiment, increasing corn silage levels with MDGS present reduced carcass fat thickness without significantly decreasing marbling score.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 238-238
Author(s):  
Olivia Harrison ◽  
Samantha Tauer ◽  
Brent Frederick

Abstract Number of pigs born alive has been a key factor of the increasing efficiency of the U.S. swine industry. However, with increased pigs in the uterus, birth weight has been negatively impacted, with more small or at-risk pigs being born per litter. In order to overcome these changes, a study testing three commercial oral drenches against a control to determine which would increase average daily gain and decrease preweaning mortality. In a completely randomized design, 877 one-day-old suckling pigs from a high-health farm were selected for the experiment if they appeared to be in the bottom 20% of bodyweight compared to their contemporaries. Selected pigs were given one of four drenching treatments: 1) none (control), 2) bioactive proteins (BP), 3) high energy sugars (HES), and 4) immunoglobulins (IgY). Pigs were weighed on d 1 and d 19 of age (weaning), with mortality tracked during the suckling period. Data were analyzed using SAS v 9.4 (Cary, NC), with pig as the experimental unit and an accepted alpha of 0.05. Treatment had no detected effect on birth weight, weaning weight, ADG, or mortality (P = 0.79, 0.96, 0.86, 0.38 respectively). Likewise, statistical contrasts were used to determine there was no detected impact (P > 0.10) of drench, regardless of type, compared to the control in any measured response criteria. Interesting, pigs drenched with BP or IgY had numerically lower preweaning mortality (11.2 and 11.5% respectively), than those administered the control or HES (15.4 and 15.2%, respectively). In conclusion, this experiment showed no significant difference in the performance between piglets given no product vs. those drenched with bioactive proteins, high energy sugars, or immunoglobulins. However, additional research is warranted with greater replication or disease stressors to better understand if oral drenches may improve preweaning performance or mortality in different situations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 137-138
Author(s):  
Calvin Gibbons ◽  
Andrea K Watson ◽  
Galen E Erickson ◽  
Bradley M Boyd ◽  
Levi J McPhillips ◽  
...  

Abstract Algae oil production for Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation yields a byproduct called Condensed Algal Residue Solubles (CARS; 25.4% DM, 19.3% CP, 8.3% Fat, 9.96% Na on DM basis), de-oiled algae cells with residual fermentation substrates. This study evaluated the use of CARS in feedlot finishing diets. Crossbreed steers, (n=480) were blocked and stratified by initial body weight (BW) into 4 blocks, and assigned randomly to treatments. Treatments were designed as a 2 x 3 factorial with 3 inclusions of CARS (0, 2.5, 5% of diet DM) and 2 different base diets representing Northern and Southern Great Plains diets. The Southern diets contained steam flaked corn and dry distillers grains while the Northern diets had dry rolled and high moisture corn with wet distillers grains. CARS replaced corn in both diets. All blocks were harvested after 148 days on feed. Performance data were analyzed as a randomized block design with CARS inclusion, base diet, and interactions as fixed effects, BW block as a random effect and pen (n=48) as the experimental unit. Orthogonal contrasts were used to test linear and quadratic effects of CARS inclusion. There were no significant interactions between CARS inclusion and diet type (P ≥ 0.49). Main effects of CARS indicated positive quadratic responses for carcass adjusted ADG, G:F, 12th rib back fat, yield grade (P < 0.01; increasing to 2.5% inclusion, decreasing at 5%) and hot carcass weight was both linear and quadratic (P ≤ 0.01 and P ≥ 0.06 respectively; 969, 977, 935 as CARS increased). Linear decrease in DMI, final adjusted BW and ribeye area (P ≤ 0.01) as CARS increased. Cattle fed the Southern diets had greater ADG and G:F compared to Northern diets (P < 0.01). Including 2.5% CARS in the diet improved feed efficiency in both Northern and Southern based feedlot diets.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 54-55
Author(s):  
Danielle Belon ◽  
Jennifer Earing ◽  
Justin Rickard

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the effect of wet brewer’s grain (WBG) inclusion on the growth and carcass performance of finishing cattle. Forty-eight (n = 48; 30 steers [414 kg] and 18 heifers [373 kg]) Simmental-Angus beef calves were finished at the Illinois State University Farm. Calves were blocked by weight within sex, randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments, and fed for 119 or 154 days in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Dietary treatments included a corn silage-whole shelled corn finishing diet (CON) and CON + 30% WBG for the first half of the finishing period (WB). Diets were mixed daily and feed was offered once daily. Daily feed offered was adjusted based on biweekly bunk scores and feed refusal data collected every 7 d. Two-day weights were taken every 28 days, averaged, and used to calculate Average Daily Gain (ADG), Average Daily Feed Intake (ADFD), and Gain to Feed (G:F). Cattle were visually appraised for degree of finish by an industry procurement agent, and transported 159km in two groups (119 and 154 days on feed (DOF); average final body weight of 620kg) for processing under USDA-FSIS inspection. Following slaughter, standard USDA carcass data (quality and yield grade) were collected. Statistical analysis was performed utilizing the MIXED procedure of SAS. Feeding WBG improved final live weight (P = 0.008), ADG (P = 0.039), and G:F (P = 0.005) regardless of days on feed. Following WBG inclusion, hot carcass weight increased at 154 DOF (P = 0.0071). Dressing percentage, ribeye area, 12th Rib Fat thickness, marbling score, and yield grade were not significantly impacted by treatment (P > 0.05). In this study, early inclusion of WBG supported growth and carcass performance; however, additional research examining performance differences based on DOF is warranted.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 220-220
Author(s):  
Cody Ream ◽  
Allison V Stevens ◽  
Gwinyai Chibisa

Abstract This study examined the effects of altering ruminal fermentable carbohydrate (RFC) supply by feeding different amounts of corn and wheat in finishing cattle diets containing 15% corn dried distillers grains [DDGS; dry matter (DM) basis] on ruminal fermentation characteristics and nitrogen (N) utilization. Six ruminally-cannulated crossbred heifers were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 28 d periods. Dietary treatments were either corn (73% of diet DM; CON), 53:20 corn:wheat blend (20W) or 33:40 corn:wheat blend (40W) as the major fermentable carbohydrate source. Diets were isonitrogenous (12% CP; DM basis). Feed intake was measured daily. Indwelling pH logger were used to measure ruminal pH (d 22 to 28) and ruminal fluid was collected from d 26 to 28 to determine fermentation characteristics, as were feces and urine to measure N excretion. Data was analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS. Dry matter and N intake tended to be lower (P ≤ 0.07) for heifers fed the 40W compared to the CON and 20W diets. There was no diet effect (P = 0.15) on total VFA concentration; however, the duration and area for pH < 5.5 tended to be longer (P = 0.07) and greater (P = 0.096), respectively, for heifers fed the 20W and 40W compared to the CON diet. There was no diet effect (P ≥ 0.44) on ruminal ammonia concentration and total urine N excretion (g and % of N intake). However, urine urea N (UUN) excretion as a percentage of total urine N tended to be lower (P = 0.05) in heifers fed the 20W and 40W compared to the CON diet. In summary, although altering RFC supply by feeding increasing amounts of wheat resulted in a decrease in UUN excretion, it also caused a decrease in ruminal pH that possibly compromised DM intake.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 761-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Henry Hilscher ◽  
Dirk B Burken ◽  
Curt J Bittner ◽  
Jana L Gramkow ◽  
Robert G Bondurant ◽  
...  

Abstract Three experiments evaluated delaying corn silage harvest, silage concentration, and source of supplemental protein on performance and nutrient digestibility in growing and finishing diets. Experiment 1 used 180 crossbred yearling steers (body weight [BW] = 428; SD = 39 kg) to evaluate corn silage dry matter (DM) (37% or 43%) and replacing corn with silage (15% or 45% of diet DM) in finishing diets containing 40% modified distillers grains with solubles. Experiment 2 used 60 crossbred steers (BW = 271; SD = 32 kg) to evaluate corn silage harvest DM (37% or 43%) and response to rumen undegradable protein (RUP) supplementation (0.5%, 1.4%, 2.4%, 3.3%, or 4.2% of diet DM) in silage growing diets. Experiment 3 used 9 crossbred lambs (BW = 30.1; SD = 4.1 kg) to evaluate nutrient digestibility of 37% or 43% DM corn silage in silage growing diets fed ad libitum or restricted to 1.5% of BW. In experiment 1, as corn silage concentration increased from 15% to 45%, average daily gain (ADG) and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) decreased (P ≤ 0.04). Carcass-adjusted final BW and hot carcass weight (HCW) were lower (P ≤ 0.04) for steers fed 45% corn silage compared to 15% when fed for equal days. As DM of corn silage was increased from 37% to 43%, no differences (P ≥ 0.30) in dry matter intake (DMI), ADG, G:F, or HCW were observed. In experiment 2, as DM of corn silage increased from 37% to 43%, ADG and G:F decreased (P ≤ 0.04). Increasing supplemental RUP in the diet increased (P ≤ 0.05) ending BW, DMI, ADG, and G:F linearly as supplemental RUP increased from 0.5% to 4.2%. In experiment 3, there were no differences (P ≥ 0.56) in DM digestibility and organic matter digestibility between silage harvest DM and intake level. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake was reduced (P < 0.01) for lambs fed the delayed harvest corn silage compared to earlier corn silage harvest. As silage harvest was delayed from 37% to 43% DM, NDF digestibility decreased (P < 0.01) from 64.39% to 53.41%. Although increasing corn silage concentration in place of corn in finishing diets reduced ADG and G:F, delayed silage harvest did not affect performance of finishing cattle. Delayed silage harvest in growing cattle resulted in lower ADG and G:F, possibly due to increased starch or maturity leading to decreased NDF digestibility. The addition of RUP to silage-based, growing diets improves performance by supplying more metabolizable protein and suggests RUP of corn silage is limiting.


2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
L J Walter ◽  
J L Aalhus ◽  
W M Robertson ◽  
T A McAllister ◽  
D J Gibb ◽  
...  

A study was conducted on crossbred steers (n = 275; 376 ± 24 kg) to evaluate performance and carcass quality of cattle fed wheat or corn dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS). The control ration contained 86.6% rolled barley grain, 5.7% supplement and 7.7% barley silage (DM basis). The four treatments included replacement of barley grain at 20 or 40% of the diet (DM basis) with wheat or corn DDGS. Steers were slaughtered at a common end weight of 645 kg with 100 steers randomly (n = 20 per treatment) selected for determination of the retail yield of sub-primal boneless boxed beef (SPBBB). Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design using pen as the experimental unit. Feeding increasing levels of wheat DDGS led to a quadratic increase in dry matter intake (DMI) (P < 0.01), whereas increasing levels of corn DDGS led to a quadratic decrease in DMI (P = 0.01). Average daily gain was not influenced (P = 0.13) by feeding wheat or corn DDGS, but cattle fed corn DDGS exhibited a quadratic increase (P = 0.01) in gain:feed. As a result, a quadratic increase (P < 0.01) in calculated NEg of the diet was observed as corn DDGS levels increased. A linear decrease (P = 0.04) in days on feed (169, 166 and 154 d) was noted when increasing levels of wheat DDGS (0, 20 and 40%) were fed. Dressing percentage increased in a linear fashion with wheat DDGS (P < 0.01) inclusion level and in a quadratic fashion (P = 0.01) as corn DDGS inclusion level increased although other carcass traits were not affected (P > 0.10) by treatment. The results indicate that replacement of barley grain with corn or wheat DDGS up to 40% of the diet (DM) can lead to superior performance (improved gain:feed or reduced days on feed, respectively) with no detrimental effect on quality grade or carcass SPBBB yield.Key words: Dried distillers’ grains with solubles, corn, wheat, feedlot performance, carcass quality, steers


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