scholarly journals 342 Evaluation of the effects of biochar on diet digestibility and methane production from growing and finishing steers

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 138-138
Author(s):  
Thomas M Winders ◽  
Melissa L Jolly-Breithaupt ◽  
Hannah C Wilson ◽  
James C MacDonald ◽  
Galen E Erickson ◽  
...  

Abstract Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of biochar (0, 0.8, or 3% of diet dry matter) on diet digestibility and methane production in growing and finishing cattle diets. The growing diet consisted of 21% brome hay, 20% wheat straw, 30% corn silage, 22% wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS), and 7% supplement. The finishing diet consisted of 53% dry rolled corn, 15% corn silage, 25% WDGS, and 7% supplement. Biochar replaced fine ground corn in the supplement. Growing diets were evaluated over 6 periods in a switchback design, followed by the finishing trial with 3 periods in a crossover design using 6 steers (529 kg initial BW). Digestibility measures were taken over 4 d after at least 8 d of adaptation to diets followed by 2 d of gas emission measurements using headbox calorimeters. Statistical analysis included treatment and period as fixed effects and steer as a random effect with PROC IML of SAS used to generate coefficients for orthogonal contrasts. In the growing study, OM and NDF digestibility increased quadratically (P = 0.10) while OM digestibility tended to linearly decrease (P = 0.13) and NDF digestibility was not affected (P ≥ 0.39) by biochar inclusion in the finishing diet. Methane production (g/d) tended to decrease quadratically (P = 0.14) in the growing study and was decreased 10.7% for the 0.8% biochar treatment relative to the control. There were no statistical differences in methane production (g/d) in the finishing study (P ≥ 0.32). Methane production (g/kg DMI) from the 0.8% biochar treatment relative to the control was numerically reduced 9.5% and 18.4% in the growing and finishing studies, respectively (P ≥ 0.13). Although biochar is not an FDA-approved feed for cattle, initial research shows potential as a methane mitigation strategy in both growing and finishing diets.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 775-783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M Winders ◽  
Melissa L Jolly-Breithaupt ◽  
Hannah C Wilson ◽  
James C MacDonald ◽  
Galen E Erickson ◽  
...  

Abstract The objectives of these studies were to evaluate the effects of biochar (0%, 0.8%, or 3% of diet dry matter) on diet digestibility and methane and carbon dioxide production from cattle on growing and finishing diets. The growing diet consisted of 21% brome hay, 20% wheat straw, 30% corn silage, 22% wet distillers grains plus solubles, and 7% supplement. The finishing diet consisted of 53% dry-rolled corn, 15% corn silage, 25% wet distillers grains plus solubles, and 7% supplement. In both trials biochar replaced fine ground corn in the supplement. Six crossbred steers (initial body weight [BW] 529 kg; SD = 16 kg) were used in both the growing and finishing trial. The growing diets were evaluated over 6 periods followed by the finishing trial with 3 periods. Digestibility measures were taken over 4 d after at least 8 d of adaptation to diets followed by 2 d of gas emission measurements using headbox calorimeters. Dry matter intake (DMI) was not affected (P ≥ 0.43; 7.91 kg/d) by biochar inclusion in the growing study and increased quadratically (P = 0.07) in the finishing study with 0.8% biochar inclusion having the greatest DMI (12.9 kg/d). Organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility increased quadratically (P = 0.10) in the growing study whereas OM digestibility tended to linearly decrease (P = 0.13) and NDF digestibility was not affected (P ≥ 0.39) by biochar inclusion in the finishing diet. Digestible energy intake (Mcal/d) was not affected (P ≥ 0.25) by biochar inclusion in the growing or finishing study. Methane production (g/d) tended to decrease quadratically (P = 0.14) in the growing study and was decreased 10.7% for the 0.8% biochar treatment relative to the control. There were no statistical differences in methane production (g/d) in the finishing study (P ≥ 0.32) but cattle on the 0.8% biochar treatment produced numerically less (9.6%) methane than the control. Methane production as g/kg DMI of the 0.8% biochar treatment relative to the control was numerically reduced 9.5% and 18.4% in the growing and finishing studies, respectively (P ≥ 0.13). Carbon dioxide production (g/d and g/kg of intake) quadratically decreased (P ≤ 0.06) in the growing study but was not affected by treatment in the finishing study (P ≥ 0.34). Although biochar is not a U.S. Food and Drug Administration -approved feed for cattle, the initial research shows potential as a methane mitigation strategy in both growing and finishing diets.


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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 128-128
Author(s):  
John Gibbons ◽  
Andrea K Watson ◽  
Galen E Erickson ◽  
Tyler Spore ◽  
Hannah Wilson ◽  
...  

Abstract An experiment was conducted to evaluate the digestibility of a novel liquid feed, Condensed Algal Residue Solubles (Veramaris, Blair, NE) in finishing cattle diets. Mass production of algae to harvest omega-3 fatty acids results in byproduct production of CARS (25.4% DM, 19.3% CP, 8.3% Fat, 9.96% Na on DM basis), made up of the de-oiled algae cells and residual fermentation substrates. The CARS product has generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status. Six ruminally and duodenally cannulated crossbred steers were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 treatments over 3 collection periods, for a 3 x 3 replicated Latin Square design. Treatments differed by increasing inclusion of CARS (0, 2.5, and 5% of diet DM) fed with CARS replacing steam flaked corn (72, 69.5, and 67% of diet DM as CARS inclusion increased). All diets contained 15% dry distillers grains, 8% alfalfa haylage, and 5% supplement. Cattle were dosed with 10 g of titanium dioxide per day. Duodenal and fecal samples were collected four times per day across four days and composited by period for each animal. Fecal samples were analyzed for titanium dioxide concentration to determine fecal output and diet digestibility. Data were analyzed with CARS inclusion and period as fixed effects and animal as a random effect. Orthogonal contrasts were used to test linear and quadratic effects of CARS inclusion. There were no significant differences for DM intake and OM intake between the different CARS inclusions (P ≥ 0.17), averaging 7.76 kg DM/d and 6.94 kg OM/d. Total tract DM digestibility was not affected by treatment (P ≥ 0.71) and averaged 73.0%. Total tract OM digestibility was also not different between treatments (P ≥ 0.93) and averaged 71.1%. Replacing steam flaked corn with CARS up to 5% of diet DM in finishing cattle diets did not affect diet digestibility.


2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (4) ◽  
pp. 521-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
G R Zalinko ◽  
V J Racz ◽  
B G Rossnagel ◽  
D A Christensen ◽  
J J McKinnon

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the performance and carcass traits of steers fed a low acid detergent lignin hull, high oil groat (LLH-HOG) oat in cattle diets. In trial 1, 400 steers (275.4 ± 20.8 kg) were fed one of two diets with barley or LLH-HOG oat at 37.8% of the diet (DM basis). Dry matter intake (DMI) was lower (P = 0.02) (7.49 vs. 7.72 kg d-1) and gain to feed improved (P < 0.01) (0.171 vs. 0.159 kg) for steers fed the oat-based diet. Calculated NEm (1.80 and 1.71 Mcal kg-1) and NEg (1.17 and 1.09 Mcal kg-1) values were greater for the oat-based diet. In trial 2, 240 steers (341.7 ± 18.1 kg) were fed one of three diets consisting of 88.2% barley, corn or oat grain, 5.1% barley silage and 6.7% supplement (DM basis). During finishing, steers on the oat diet had lower (P < 0.01) Average daily gain than barley- or corn-fed cattle (1.40, 1.69 and 1.84 kg d-1, respectively) reflecting lower (P < 0.01) DMI (9.56, 10.84 and 11.56 kg d-1, respectively). Ultrasound fat and longissimus dorsi (l. dorsi) area, carcass weight and dressing percentage were lower (P < 0.01) for steers fed the oat diet. Stearic acid content of the l. dorsi of oat-fed cattle was greater (P < 0.01) than barley- or corn-fed cattle. The ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids in the muscle of oat- and corn-fed cattle was greater (P = 0.01) than that of barley-fed cattle. Results indicate that the energy value of the LLH-HOG oat is equivalent or superior to that of barley for growing cattle; however, research is required to identify why feed intake of finishing cattle fed this grain source is reduced. Key words: Low lignin hull, high-oil groat oat, barley, corn, cattle performance, carcass traits


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 &lt; 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 &lt; 0.01). Including 2.5% CARS in the diet improved feed efficiency in both Northern and Southern based feedlot diets.


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 &lt; 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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 174-174
Author(s):  
Raul Rivera-Chacon ◽  
Sara Ricci ◽  
Nicole Reisinger ◽  
Qendrim Zebeli ◽  
Ezequias Castillo-Lopez

Abstract Modern dairy production systems require larger inputs of energy in diets to increase milk yield. Therefore, dairy cows are at risk of experiencing subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). The objective of this study was to evaluate grains and forage rumen degradability in cows fed different diets supplemented with a phytogenic (PHY) feed additive. The experiment was conducted with nine rumen-cannulated non-lactating Holstein cows blocked in two groups of four and five animals, and were part of a cross-over design. This study consisted in 2 runs separated by a 12-week washout period, in which cows grazed on pasture. Each experimental run had one week of forage (F) feeding, one week of transition to a high grain (HG) diet, and four weeks of HG (65:35 concentrate to forage ratio in dry matter basis). Cows were supplemented with PHY (a blend of menthol and thymol) or a control carrier (CON) from week F. Corn and wheat grain were ground through a 4 mm screen, while grass silage was ground through a 6 mm screen. Sampling for in situ degradability was performed in F and in week four of HG diet. Data were analyzed with SAS with week of feeding and supplementation as fixed effects and cow as random effect. Corn and wheat 24-h dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) degradability increased during HG diet compared with F (P &lt; 0.05), grass silage DM and OM 48-h degradability was reduced by HG diet compared to F (P &lt; 0.01). Additionally, wheat grain 24-h OM degradability was higher for PHY compared to CON under F and HG diet conditions (P = 0.05). Overall, diet composition and SARA conditions can influence grains and fiber degradability in the rumen.


2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 569-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. C. Duff ◽  
K. J. Malcolm-Callis ◽  
M. L. Galyean ◽  
D. A. Walker

Effects of urea concentration for receiving and finishing cattle were examined. In exp.1, 197 newly received beef steers (188 kg) were used, and treatments included 0, 0.5, or 1.0% urea [dry matter (DM) basis] in a 70 or 75% concentrate (steamflaked corn-based) diet. A quadratic response (P < 0.05) was observed for dry matter intake (DMI) of concentrate and total DMI during days 0 to 14 with DMI lower for 0.5% urea. A quadratic (P < 0.10) increase in gain:feed for 0.5% urea was noted during days 15 to 28 and days 0 to 28. Urea concentration did not affect bovine respiratory disease (BRD) morbidity. In exp. 2, 235 yearling beef steers (379 kg) and 126 yearling beef heifers (346 kg) were used to evaluate 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, or 1.75% urea concentrations in a steam-flaked sorghum grain-based diet. Average daily gain (ADG) (1.44, 1.48, 1.51, 1.47, and 1.43 kg for 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 or 1.75% urea, respectively), DMI (9.4, 9.3, 9.6, 9.4, kg and 9.2 for 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 or 1.75% urea, respectively), and gain:feed (0.153, 0.160, 0.157, 0.157, and 0.157 for 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 or 1.75% urea, respectively) did not differ (P > 0.10) among treatments for the overall experiment. No major differences were noted for carcass characteristics. Optimum level of dietary urea for newly received beef cattle fed 70 to 75% concentrate diets is approximately 0.5% of the DM for maximum feed efficiency and added urea concentrations did not alter performance or carcass characteristics to a great extent with steam-flaked sorghum grain-based finishing diets. Key words: Beef cattle, urea, health, performance, carcass quality


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 213-213
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M Buckhaus ◽  
Zachary K Smith

Abstract Maine-Anjou × Angus beef steers (n = 156; initial BW 366 ± 37.2 kg) were used in a finishing experiment at the Ruminant Nutrition Center in Brookings, SD. Steers were weighed on 2 consecutive days and assigned into 5 weight blocks. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial, 2 types of implants and 2 dietary treatments with 5 replicate pens for each simple effect. Dietary treatments consisted (DM basis) of 1) 15% (CS15) or 2) 30% corn silage (CS30). Other ingredients consisted of a 50:50 blend of DRC and HMC, liquid supplement and a dry supplement. Bunks were managed using a slick bunk approach and all diets contained (DM basis) 33 mg/kg monensin sodium. Feed collections occurred during the morning and afternoon feedings for two days prior to fecal collections. Each feed sample was composited in equal amounts to create a single sample for each pen. Two fecal collections from each steer occurred 7 hours apart on day 112 of the study. Feces from each steer were composited in equal amounts to create a pen sample. All samples were dried and ground through a 1-mm screen. Acid insoluble ash was used as an internal marker. Apparent total tract digestibility was calculated using the equation: 100-100 ˣ (feed marker/fecal marker) × (fecal variable/feed variable). No interaction between implant and diet was detected for any variables (P ≥ 0.08). One pen was removed from the statistical analysis due to all values being 3 standard deviations away from the mean. Intake did not differ between CS15 and CS30 (P = 0.41). Fecal output was increased 36.9% (P = 0.01) in CS30. Dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein digestion were decreased by feeding CS30 (11.47%, 10.83%, 16.35% respectively; P ≤ 0.03). As corn silage inclusion increases, digestibility coefficients for DM, OM, and CP are decreased.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document