scholarly journals Optimum roughage proportion in barley-based feedlot cattle diets: growth performance, feeding behavior, and carcass traits

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen M Koenig ◽  
Gwinyai E Chibisa ◽  
Gregory B Penner ◽  
Karen A Beauchemin

Abstract High grain diets are fed to finishing beef cattle to maximize animal performance in a cost-effective manner. However, a small amount of roughage is incorporated in finishing diets to help prevent ruminal acidosis, although few studies have examined optimum roughage inclusion level in barley-based diets. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of roughage proportion in barley-based finishing diets on growth performance, feeding behavior, and carcass traits of feedlot cattle. Crossbred beef steers (n = 160; mean body weight ± SD, 349.7 ± 21.4 kg) were allocated to 20 pens that were assigned randomly to four dietary treatments (five pens of eight steers per treatment). The treatment diets contained barley silage at 0%, 4%, 8%, and 12% of dietary dry matter (DM). The remainder of the diets (DM basis) consisted of 80%, 76%, 72%, and 68% barley grain, respectively, 15% corn dried distiller’s grains, 5% mineral and vitamin supplement, and 32 mg monensin/kg diet DM. The diets were fed as total mixed rations for ad libitum intake (minimum of 5% refusal) once per day. Cattle were weighed on 2 consecutive days at the start and end of the experiment and on 1 d every 3 wk throughout the experiment (124 d). Two pens for each treatment group were equipped with an electronic feeding system (GrowSafe Systems Ltd., Calgary, Alberta) to monitor feed intake and feeding behavior of individual cattle. The data for dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), gain:feed (G:F) ratio, and carcass traits were analyzed as a completely randomized design with fixed effect of barley silage proportion and pen replicate as experimental unit. Feeding behavior data were analyzed similarly, but with animal as experimental unit. Averaged over the study, DMI increased linearly (11.1, 11.3, 11.7, 11.8 kg/d; P = 0.001) as barley silage proportion increased from 0%, 4%, 8%, and 12% of DM, but ADG was not affected (carcass-adjusted,1.90, 1.85, 1.87, 1.89 kg/d; P ≥ 0.30). Consequently, G:F ratio decreased linearly (carcass-adjusted, 168.9, 163.8, 158.5, 160.6 g/kg DMI; P = 0.023). When averaged over the study, proportion of barley silage in the diet had no linear or quadratic effects (P > 0.10) on meal frequency, duration of meals, intermeal duration, or meal size, but eating rate decreased linearly with increasing silage proportion (P = 0.008). There was no diet effect on liver abscesses (P ≥ 0.92), and effects on carcass characteristics were minor or nonexistent. We conclude that increasing the proportion of barley silage in a feedlot finishing diet at the expense of barley grain to minimize the incidence of ruminal acidosis may decrease feed conversion efficiency.

2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Baah ◽  
Y. Wang ◽  
T A McAllister

The effect of a direct-fed microbial (DFM) poduct containing a mixed culture of Lactobacillus casei and L. lactis on in vitro ruminal fermentation of barley-grain/barley-silage-based backgrounding and finishing diets and on growth performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot cattle was evaluated during backgrounding (84 d) and finishing (140 d) of 100 Hereford × Angus steers (initial body weight = 280 ± 15.5 kg). The inclusion rates of DFM in the in vitro study were 4, 8, 12 and 16 million colony forming units (CFU) of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) kg-1 DM of substrate. Total in vitro volatile fatty acids (VFA) production increased at 6 and 12 h of incubation (P < 0.01; linear response) when the backgrounding diet was supplemented with DFM. Dry matter digestibility and VFA production also increased (P < 0.05) during a 12-h fermentation of the finishing diet. Steers were randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments that comprised feeding DFM tp provide 0 (control), 4 × 107, 8 × 107, or 12 × 107 CFU kg-1 diet DM. Average daily gain (ADG, kg) and feed efficiency (G:F; kg gain kg-1 DM consumed) of steers improved (P = 0.002 and 0.001, respectively) as a result of feeding DFM during the backgrounding period, but not during the finishing period. Saleable meat and rib eye area decreased (P = 0.038, linear; and P = 0.041, quadratic) with DFM supplementation. The results indicated that supplementing barley-grain/barley-silage-based feedlot cattle diets with 12 × 107 CFU of the mixed culture of lactobacilli used in these studies could improve ruminal fermentation, ADG and G:F in backgrounding feedlot steers. However, supplementation during the finishing period may not be warranted in terms of growth performance and carcass characteristics. Differences in the microbial ecology of the intestinal tract as a result of differences in diet composition may account for the varied response between the backgrounding and finishing periods.Key words: Beef cattle, direct-fed microbial, growth performance, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus lactis, ruminal fermentation


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 436-437
Author(s):  
Arquimedes Lima Junior ◽  
Murillo A Meschiatti ◽  
Vinicius N Gouvêa ◽  
Victor Dantas ◽  
Daniel Silva Antonelo ◽  
...  

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth performance and carcass traits of finishing bulls fed diets containing, on dietary dry matter basis, different levels of corn wet distillers bran plus solubles (WDBS; 0, 15, 30 or 45%) added with or without corn oil (CO; 0 and 3%). A total of 205 Nellore bulls (390 ± 25 kg initial BW) were blocked by initial body weight, distributed in 40 pens and pens within weight block were randomly assigned to treatments in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement. Diets were isonitrogenous and contained 8.5% sugarcane bagasse and 91.5% concentrate (ground corn, soybean meal, pelleted citrus pulp, urea, mineral). The WDBS (FlexyDDG®) and the corn oil were from SJC Bioenergia (Quirinópolis, Goiás, Brazil). Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS. An interaction between CO × WDBS levels was observed for dry matter intake (DMI; P = 0.032). In diets without CO, increasing levels of WDBS linearly (P = 0.004) reduced the DMI, but in diets containing 3% CO, increasing levels of WDBS quadraticaly affected the DMI (P = 0.002). No effects of CO, WDBSF levels or CO × WDBS levels were observed for final body weight, average daily gain, hot carcass weight and dressing percentage. Feed efficiency tended (P = 0.07) to be greater for bulls fed diets containing CO (0.154 vs. 0.144). Increasing levels of WDBS tended (P = 0.09) to increase the feed efficiency. In summary, increasing levels of WDBS in finishing diets linearly (in diets without CO) or quadratically (in diets with CO) reduces the dry matter intake. Adding CO and WDBS tend to increase feed efficiency.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 170-171
Author(s):  
Wenzhu Yang

Abstract The uniqueness of wheat-based distiller grain (wDG) with high protein and digestible fibre gives great feeding opportunities for cattle as energy, protein or fiber source. This abstract summarizes recent research findings on the use of wDG in beef cattle diets. For growing beef cattle, steers fed diets (forage:concentrate, 55:45) with increasing replacement of barley grain with wDG from 0, 8, 16, 24 to 32% (DM basis) linearly (P &lt; 0.01) increased average daily gain (ADG) from 1.09 to 1.28 kg/d and DM intake (DMI) from 7.26 to 7.94 kg/d without affecting gain:feed (0.158). By comparing protein source of canola meal and corn DG in diets containing 60% of silage and 40% of barley grain, steers fed wDG diet had similar ADG (1.46 kg/d) with corn DG (1.51 kg/d), and had no differences in gain:feed (0.178) with canola meal (0.183). For finishing beef cattle, with increasing wDG from 10, 20 to 40% in the place of barley grain of finishing diets, the DMI linearly (P &lt; 0.01) increased from 10.2 to 10.9 kg/d, whereas, the gain:feed linearly (P &lt; 0.01) decreased from 0.172 to 0.159 without altering the ADG (1.74 kg/d). The wDG was also suggested to be fed as fiber source to replace roughage in finishing diet. Entirely substitution of wDG for roughage of finishing diet decreased (P &lt; 0.01) ruminal pH from 5.95 to 5.75 of beef heifers; however, the ADG and gain:feed of steers were not affected. The results suggested that although substitution of wDG for roughage in finishing diets may increase the incidence of ruminal acidosis, this outcome does not appear to adversely impact the performance of the cattle. The wDG can be successfully incorporated to substitute a portion of grain or roughage within growing and finishing diets with minimal or no adverse impact on cattle growth performance.


2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Pylot ◽  
J. J. McKinnon ◽  
T. A. McAllister ◽  
A. F. Mustafa ◽  
J. Popp ◽  
...  

Two experiments were conducted to determine the feeding value of canola screenings in combination with barley grain for beef steers. Four dietary treatments were used. These included canola screenings:barley grain ratios of 100:0; 75:25, 50:50, and 25:75 (as-fed basis). In a metabolic trial, the effects of dietary treatment on ruminal fermentation parameters were determined in a 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment using four ruminally fistulated steers. In a production trial, 66 individually fed steers were used in an 83-d finishing trial to determine the performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot cattle fed different levels of canola screenings. A barley grain/barley silage-based control diet was also fed for comparison purposes. Ruminal pH decreased (P < 0.05) while total volatile fatty acid concentrations increased (P < 0.05) as the level of barley grain in the diet increased. Ruminal NH3–N followed a pattern (P < 0.05) similar to that of pH. Inclusion level of canola screenings had no effect on DM intake. However, ADG and feed efficiency increased (P < 0.05) as the level of barley grain in the diet increased. Increasing the level of barley grain in the finishing diet decreased (P < 0.05) lean meat yield and increased (P < 0.05) carcass fat. It was concluded that canola screenings can be included as a source of fiber in barley-based diets. However, levels in excess of 500 g kg−1 reduced the performance of feedlot steers. Performance and cost of gain with 250 and 500 g kg−1 canola screenings in barley-based finishing diets were comparable with those fed an 800 g kg−1 barley grain and 200 g kg−1 barley silage diet. Key words: Canola screenings, ruminal fermentation, feedlot steer performance


2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. He ◽  
L. Xu ◽  
W. Z. Yang ◽  
D. Gibb ◽  
T. A. McAllister

He, M. L., Xu, L., Yang, W. Z., Gibb, D. and McAllister, T. A. 2014. Effect of low-oil corn dried distillers’ grains with solubles on growth performance, carcass traits and beef fatty acid profile of feedlot cattle. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 343–347. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary inclusion of low-oil corn dried distillers’ grains with solubles (LO-DDGS) on growth, carcass traits and beef fatty acids profiles of finishing feedlot cattle. One hundred and eighty British crossbred steers (450±28.5 kg; six pens/treatment) were offered barley grain-barley silage as the control diet with LO-DDGS replacing barley grain at 200 and 300 g kg−1 dry matter basis in treatment diets. Compared with control, LO-DDGS at 200 g kg−1 did not affect growth performance or carcass traits, whereas at 300 g kg−1 it decreased (P<0.05) gain:feed, but increased (P<0.05) levels of desirable fatty acids in beef. LO-DDGS can replace 200 g kg−1 barley grain in finishing feedlot diets without undesirable impacts on growth performance or carcass traits.


2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Gibb ◽  
S. M. S. Moustafa ◽  
R. D. Wiedmeier ◽  
T. A. McAllister

Feeding behavior and growth performance of cattle fed diets containing monensin or salinomycin were assessed in two trials. In trial 1, 36 Hereford × Angus steers (267.7 ± 4.3 kg) were individually fed (n = 12) wheat-based transition and finishing diets containing no ionophore (control, C), 26 mg monensin (M) or 13 mg salinomycin (S) per kg of dietary dry matter (DM). Cattle fed M consumed less than those fed C or S, and their intake was more stable during the transition to the finishing diet. Overall, steers fed M exhibited lower dry matter intake (DMI) (8.0 vs. 9.2 and 9.2 kg d–1) and rates of gain (1.21 vs. 1.62 and 1.56 kg d–1) than those fed C or S. Cattle fed S required fewer days (93.3) to reach the targeted finish (5 mm backfat) than those fed C or M (105.8 d). Monensin reduced slaughter weight and carcass weights, relative to controls (414.3 vs. 480.5 kg, and 231.2 vs. 245.8 kg, respectively). In trial 2, M (25 ppm) or S (13 ppm) were included in barley-based diets for 72 yearling steers placed in four pens equipped with radio frequency identification systems. Individual bunk attendance patterns were monitored during transition to a finishing diet, during 11 d of limit feeding the finishing diet twice daily (LF2/d), 13 d of limit feeding once daily (LF1/d), and 21 d of feeding once daily to ad libitum intake (AL1/d). Ionophore type did not affect (P > 0.10) DMI, rate of gain or efficiency of feed conversion. Bunk visits were more frequent (P < 0.05) with M than with S during transition and limit-feeding. With M, total daily attendance (TDA) at the bunk during LF1/d and AL1/d, was higher (P < 0.05) than with S, and variability in TDA was lower (P < 0.05) during LF1/d. In the present study, there was no performance advantage in providing S or M in wheat-based finishing diets. Monensin moderated feeding intensity, but this effect may have been strong enough to suppress intake and even reduce gain on the wheat-based diet. Key words: Ionophores, feeding behavior, feedlot cattle, salinomycin, monensin


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 160-160
Author(s):  
Warren C Rusche ◽  
Julie Walker ◽  
Rebecca S Brattain ◽  
Zachary K Smith

Abstract Predominately Angus steers (n = 240, initial shrunk BW 404 ± 18.5 kg) were used in a 117d feedlot experiment to evaluate the effect of hybrid rye (KWS Cereals USA, LLC, Champaign, IL; Rye) as a replacement for dry-rolled corn (DRC) on growth performance, carcass traits, and comparative net energy value in diets fed to finishing steers. Rye from a single hybrid (KWS Bono) with an ergot alkaloid concentration of 392 ppb was processed with a roller mill to a processing index (PI) of 78.8 ± 2.29. Four treatments were used in a completely randomized design (n = 6 pens/treatment, 10 steers/pen) where DRC (PI = 86.9 ± 4.19) was replaced by varying proportions of Rye [DRC:Rye, DM Basis (60:0), (40:20), (20:40), and (0:60)]. Liver abscess scores and carcass characteristics were collected at the harvest facility. Carcass-adjusted performance was calculated from HCW/0.625. Performance-adjusted NE was calculated using carcass-adjusted ADG, DMI, and mean equivalent shrunk BW with the comparative NE values for Rye calculated using the replacement technique. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure with pen as the experimental unit. Means were separated using linear and quadratic contrasts. Replacing DRC with Rye linearly decreased (P ≤ 0.01) carcass-adjusted final BW, ADG, DMI and G:F. Feeding Rye linearly decreased HCW and LM area (P ≤ 0.04). Distributions of liver scores and USDA grades for quality and yield were unaffected by treatment (P ≥ 0.09). Using observed performance from d 19 to d 117 (period when steers were on final diet), the estimated replacement NEm and NEg values for Rye were 1.93 and 1.26 Mcal/kg, respectively. Rye can be a suitable feed ingredient in finishing diets for feedlot steers with the optimal inclusion in this experiment at 20% of DM. Complete replacement of DRC with Rye depressed DMI, ADG, and G:F.


2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 656-666
Author(s):  
J.A. Johnson ◽  
F. Joy ◽  
J.J. McKinnon ◽  
G.B. Penner

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of treating oat hulls with calcium oxide (CaO) prior to inclusion in a high-lipid by-product pellet (HLP) on dry matter intake (DMI), ruminal fermentation, and total-tract digestibility (Study 1) and growth performance (Study 2). In Study 1, six ruminally cannulated heifers were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. Study 2 used 210 steers in 21 pens in a 113 d finishing study. Dietary treatments for both studies included a barley-based control diet (CON), a diet where HLP partially replaced barley grain (NT-HLP), and a diet where HLP contained oat hulls treated with 7.5% CaO [dry matter (DM) basis; CaO-HLP]. For Study 1, DMI and ruminal pH were not affected. Apparent total-tract digestibility of DM and organic matter (OM) were greater (P < 0.05) for CON than NT-HLP and CaO-HLP. In Study 2, final body weight tended to be greater for NT-HLP and CaO-HLP than CON (P = 0.065). For CaO-HLP and NT-HLP, DMI was greater than CON (P < 0.01), but average daily gain (ADG) (2.0 kg d−1) and gain:feed (G:F) (0.16 kg kg−1) were not different. Thus, HLP can partially replace barley grain in finishing diets without negatively affecting ruminal fermentation or growth performance, but treatment with CaO has no effect.


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