scholarly journals Use of barley or corn silage when fed with barley, corn, or a blend of barley and corn on growth performance, nutrient utilization, and carcass characteristics of finishing beef cattle

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan A Johnson ◽  
Brittney D Sutherland ◽  
John J McKinnon ◽  
Tim A McAllister ◽  
Gregory B Penner

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the source of silage, cereal grain, and their interaction on growth performance, digestibility, and carcass characteristics of finishing beef cattle. Using a completely randomized design within an 89-d finishing study, 288 steers were randomly assigned to 1 of 24 pens (12 steers/pen) with average steer body weight (BW) within a pen of 464 kg ± 1.7 kg (mean ± SD). Diets were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial with corn silage (CS) or barley silage (BS) included at 8% (dry matter [DM] basis). Within each silage source, diets contained dry-rolled barley grain (BG; 86% of DM), dry-rolled corn grain (CG; 85% of DM), or an equal blend of BG and CG (BCG; 85% of DM). Total tract digestibility of nutrients was estimated from fecal samples using near-infrared spectroscopy. Data were analyzed with pen as the experimental unit using the Mixed Model of SAS with the fixed effects of silage, grain, and the two-way interaction. Carcass and fecal kernel data were analyzed using GLIMMIX utilizing the same model. There were no interactions detected between silage and grain source. Feeding CG increased (P < 0.01) DM intake by 0.8 and 0.6 kg/d relative to BG and BCG, respectively. Gain-to-feed ratio was greater (P = 0.04) for BG (0.172 kg/kg) than CG (0.162 kg/kg) but did not differ from BCG (0.165 kg/kg). Furthermore, average daily gain (2.07 kg/d) and final body weight did not differ among treatments (P ≥ 0.25). Hot carcass weight (HCW) was 6.2 kg greater (372.2 vs. 366.0 kg; P < 0.01) and dressing percentage was 0.57 percentage units greater (59.53 vs. 58.96 %; P = 0.04) for steers fed CS than BS, respectively. There was no effect of dietary treatment on the severity of liver abscesses (P ≥ 0.20) with 72.0% of carcasses having clear livers, 24.4% with minor liver abscesses, and 3.6% with severe liver abscesses. Digestibility of DM, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and starch were greater for BG (P < 0.01) than CG or BCG. As expected, grain source affected the appearance of grain kernels in the feces (P ≤ 0.04). Feeding CS silage increased the appearance of fractured corn kernels (P = 0.04), while feeding BS increased fiber appearance in the feces (P = 0.02). Current results indicate that when dry rolled, feeding BG resulted in improved performance and digestibility compared with CG and BCG. Even at low inclusion levels (8% of DM), CS resulted in improved carcass characteristics relative to BS.

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 138-139
Author(s):  
Hannah C Wilson ◽  
Henry Hilscher ◽  
Zachary E Carlson ◽  
Bradley M Boyd ◽  
Andrea K Watson ◽  
...  

Abstract A feedlot study was conducted comparing a natural feed additive (essential oils blend) at varying silage inclusions on receiving and finishing performance. The study utilized 480 crossbred steers (initial shrunk BW 296 kg ± 7.72 kg) in 48 pens with 10 steers/pen and 8 pens per treatment. Treatments were designed as a 2 × 3 factorial with 3 inclusions of corn silage [14, 47, 80 %; dry matter (DM) basis] with or without (+, -) the inclusion of an essential oils (EO) blend. All treatment diets contained 16% modified distillers grains plus solubles and 4% supplement with dry-rolled corn replacing corn silage (CS) on a DM basis. Steers were fed at 80% CS inclusion and adapted to 47% and 14% CS over a 10 and 24-d period, respectively. Cattle fed 80% CS were fed for 238 days, 47% CS for 195 days, and 14% CS were fed for 168 days to a common backfat of 1.28 cm (P > 0.59). There were no interactions for corn silage inclusion and the inclusion of essential oils on final body weight (FBW), dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), gain to feed ratio (G:F), hot carcass weight (HCW), longissimus muscle (LM) area, marbling, or calculated yield grade (CYG; P > 0.15). There was no significant difference for FBW, DMI, ADG, G:F, HCW, LM area, marbling, or CYG for cattle fed EO or no EO. However, there was a quadratic response for FBW, ADG, G:F, HCW, marbling and CYG with increased inclusion of corn silage (P < 0.04). Feeding corn silage at greater inclusions decreased animal performance but increased final body weight when fed to an equal fatness. Essential oils did not affect animal performance or carcass characteristics. However, feeding greater amounts of corn silage can be an economical way to finish cattle.


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 667
Author(s):  
Khaleel I. Jawasreh ◽  
Ahmad H. Al-Amareen ◽  
Pauline Y. Aad

Advances in molecular genetics have allowed the identification of genes that can enhance livestock production. The aim of this study was to investigate possible relationships between the calpastatin (CAST) Hha1 gene polymorphisms and growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in Awassi sheep. A total of 87 blood samples were collected from two-week-old Awassi ram lambs. The amplification of the CAST Hha1 gene yielded a fragment of 622 bp. Three CAST genotypes were found in Awassi sheep: MM for two fragments (385 bp and 281 bp), MN for three fragments (622 bp, 385 bp, and 281 bp), and NN for only one fragment (622 bp). The M and N allele frequencies of the CAST Hha1 genotypes were 0.765 and 0.235, respectively, while the genotypic frequencies of MM, MN, and NN were 0.586, 0.356, and 0.057, respectively. Based on CAST Hha1 gene polymorphisms, three groups of lambs (MM: n = 8; MN: n = 6; and NN: n = 3 genotypes) were subjected to a fattening period of 70 days to investigate growth performance and meat characteristics. Only the final body weight and longissimus muscle width were significantly different between the three genotypes, while no significant differences were detected in any other carcass characteristics and meat quality parameters. In this study, new variants were observed in CAST using the Hha1 restriction site, potentially assisting in Awassi sheep breeding and selection programs to improve final body weight and longissimus muscle width.


Author(s):  
B.D. Sutherland ◽  
J.A. Johnson ◽  
J.J. McKinnon ◽  
T.A. McAllister ◽  
G.B. Penner

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of feeding barley silage (BS) or corn silage (CS) with dry-rolled barley (BG), dry-rolled corn (CG), or a blend of barley and corn grain (BCG), on growth performance and nutrient digestibility, the latter predicted using near-infrared spectroscopy for backgrounding cattle. Steers (n = 288) were stratified by body weight (BW) into 24 pens and pens were randomly assigned to one of six treatments (n = 4) in a 2 × 3 factorial design. Main factors included BS or CS in combination with BG, CG, or BCG. There were no silage × grain interactions. Dry matter intake (DMI; P = 0.018) and final BW (P = 0.004) were greater for steers fed CS than BS, but average daily gain (1.01 kg d−1) and gain-to-feed ratio (0.10 kg kg−1) were not affected by silage or grain source. Steers fed CS also had greater dry matter, organic matter, crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), starch, and gross energy digestibility values (P < 0.01) than BS. Feeding BG increased starch, neutral detergent fiber, ADF, and CP digestibility values (P ≤ 0.01) over CG and BCG. Relative to BS, feeding CS increased DMI, final BW, and nutrient digestibility, whereas dry-rolled BG improved nutrient digestibility when compared with CG and BCG in backgrounding diets.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 81-82
Author(s):  
Ning Lu ◽  
Carine M Vier ◽  
Gustavo Silva ◽  
Luis E Zaragoza ◽  
Brandon Knopf ◽  
...  

Abstract Our objective was to determine the effects of increasing dietary standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine (Lys) on the growth performance of grow-finish pigs. A total of 1,120 pigs (PIC 337×Camborough, initially 39.0±0.82 kg) were used in a 77-d study. Pigs used in the study were sired by boars ranked in the top 15% of a selected PIC elite boar stud based on index. Pens of pigs were blocked by body weight and randomly allotted to 1 of 5 treatments, which consisted of 85, 95, 105, 115, and 125% of the PIC2016 SID Lys recommendations within each phase. Diets were corn-soybean meal-based and formulated to be iso-caloric. Treatments were achieved with increasing feed-grade amino acids. There were 9 mixed-gender pens per treatment and 24 or 25 pigs per pen. Data were analyzed using generalized linear and nonlinear mixed models with pen as the experimental unit. Competing models included linear, quadratic polynomial (QP), broken-line linear (BLL), and broken-line quadratic (BLQ). Increasing dietary SID Lys from 85 to 125% marginally improved overall average daily gain (ADG, quadratic, P = 0.056), gain to feed ratio (G:F, quadratic, P = 0.062), and final body weight (linear, P = 0.075). There was no evidence for treatment effects on mortality and removals (P &gt; 0.10). The best-fitting models for ADG were QP and BLL. The QP model estimated the maximum ADG at 110.6% (95% CI: 93 to &gt;125%), with 99% of maximum ADG achieved at 97.4%. The BLL plateau was estimated at 105.0% (95% CI: 74 to 136%). The best-fitting model for G:F was QP, estimating the maximum G:F at 107.8% (95% CI: 92 to &gt;125%). In conclusion, the estimated optimum overall SID Lys for 39- to 119-kg pigs sired by high index boars ranged from 105.0 to 110.6% of PIC2016 SID Lys recommendation within each phase, depending on the response criteria and statistical model.


Author(s):  
Michael O Wellington ◽  
Michael A Bosompem ◽  
Lucas A Rodrigues ◽  
Daniel A Columbus

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of long-term feeding of graded levels of DON on performance, nutrient utilization, and organ health of grower-finishing pigs. A total of 240 mixed-sex grower-finisher pigs (35.9 ± 1.1 kg initial body weight) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments (6 pigs/pen; 10 pens/treatment) for 77 d. Diets consisted of a control diet without DON (CONT) and diets containing 1, 3, or 5 ppm DON (DON1, DON3, or DON5). Nitrogen-balance was determined in 1 pig/pen during week 6 and 12 of the study. Growth performance measures were taken weekly for average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and gain:feed (GF) until d 77. Blood samples were collected on d 0, 14, 42, 56, and 84 from 1 pig/pen for analysis of indicators of liver and kidney function. On d 7, ADG and ADFI for pigs fed DON3 and DON5 diets were lower (P &lt; 0.05) compared to DON1- and CONT-fed pigs. Overall ADG and ADFI (d 0-77) were lower in DON3- and DON5-fed pigs compared to CONT and DON1 pigs (P &lt; 0.05), with no difference in GF (P &gt; 0.05). Final body weight was reduced in DON3- and DON5-fed pigs (P &lt; 0.05) compared to CONT and DON1, which were not different (P &gt; 0.05). No significant (P &gt; 0.05) treatment effects were observed on carcass characteristics. In the grower-phase, protein deposition (PD) was reduced in DON3 and DON5 pigs compared to CONT and DON1 pigs (P &lt; 0.05). In the finisher phase, PD was not affected by dietary treatment (P &gt; 0.05). There was no effect of dietary treatment on the majority of selected serum chemistry (P &gt; 0.05). In summary, pigs exposed to diets containing &gt; 1 ppm DON had reduced growth performance with little or no effect on nitrogen utilization, organ health, or carcass characteristics, suggesting that the negative effects of DON may be largely due to depressed feed intake.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 185-186
Author(s):  
Hadley Williams ◽  
Leandro Del Tuffo ◽  
Jason C Woodworth ◽  
Joel M DeRouchey ◽  
Steve S Dritz ◽  
...  

Abstract This study evaluated the effect of an algae-clay-complex-based feed additive (ACC, Olmix Group, Brehan, France) and diet formulation regimen on growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs. A total of 1,188 pigs (PIC 337×1050, initially 49.5 kg) were used in a 90-day study. There were 27 pigs per pen and 11 replications per treatment. Dietary treatments were arranged in a 2×2 factorial with main effects of ACC (none or 0.10% until 100 kg body weight and 0.05% thereafter) and dietary formulation regimen (High vs Low). High diets were formulated to maximize growth with added fat and no dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). Low diets were formulated to contain approximately 150 kcal/kg less net energy (NE), 30% DDGS, no added fat, and were formulated 0.10% below the standardized ileal digestible (SID) lys requirement based on the SID Lys:NE ratio as estimated in the High diets. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. There were no ACC × formulation interactions (P &gt;0.220) for growth or carcass characteristics. Overall, ADG was greater (P=0.027) for pigs fed diets with ACC compared with those fed diets without ACC with no change in ADFI or G:F (P &gt;0.180). This was a result of late finishing (d 56 to 90) ADG and G:F increase (P&lt; 0.019) for pigs fed diets with ACC compared with those fed no ACC. Also, pigs fed High diets had improved (P&lt; 0.047) ADG, ADFI, G:F and final body weight compared to pigs fed Low diets. For carcass characteristics, pigs fed High diets tended to have greater (P=0.067) loin depth and had greater (P&lt; 0.001) carcass weight than pigs fed low diets with no evidence for differences between the control and pigs fed ACC (P &gt;0.05). The addition of ACC resulted in improved ADG and G:F in late finishing, but did not affect carcass characteristics.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-140
Author(s):  
U. E. Ewa

The performance of broiler chickens fed boiled, boiled with potash (akanwu) (BWA) or boiled and mix with enzyme (BME) mucuna seed meal( MSM) were investigated. 120 a week old broiler chicken were randomly assigned to 4 treatment diets in a completely randomized experiment that lasted for 49 days. The diets were made of control (soya bean based), D2 (5% boiled MS), D3 (5% BWA MSM) and D4 (5% BME). The proximate composition of mucuna was determined. Other parameters measured were: feed intake, weight gain, and carcass characteristics of broilers. The crude protein content ranged from 22.10-22.16%, while the energy level ranged from 2996.10-3003.60kcal/kg. For growth performance, significance differences (P<0.05)exist for final body weight, ,total weight gain, daily weight gain and feed to gain ratio except for initial body weight, total feed intake, daily feed intake and mortality. BME gave the best growth performance in terms of significant (P<0.05) higher final body weight (2566.50g), total weight gain (2489.20g), and better feed to gain ratio (2.25) than the control which had: 2198.30g, 2095.10g and 2.56 for FBW, TWG and FGR respectively. For the carcass characteristics, chickens fed diet 4(BME) was not significantly (P>0.05) different from the control for dressed weight and dressed weight percentage. Control diet had the highest breast cut (31.87%) and diet 4 had the lowest (28.57%) while D4 had the highest thigh cut (18.34%) but the control had the lowest (16.41%). For cost per kg weight gain and gross margin, D4 gave 235.03 and 708.64 respectively, which compared (P>0.05) with the control ( 231.71, 746.68). The revenue and gross margin valuesobserved were direct indices of the biological effects observed in the growth performance (Table 4). From the above, Diet 4 which is boiled mucuna seed meal mixed with enzyme is therefore chosen as the best in terms of cost/Kg weight gain, revenue and gross margin in that it compared favorably with the control diet (D1).  


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