370 The effect of corn silage harvest DM and rumen undegradable protein supplementation in silage growing diets growing beef cattle

Rumination and activity behaviours are important welfare indexes in beef-cattle housing. The main objective of the present study was to assess whether the automatic collars are able to reliably assess the rumination and activity patterns of beef heifers. For this purpose, individual rumination time and activity (RT and AT respectively) were continuously recorded using an automatic neck-collar system (Hr-Tag, SCR Engineers Ltd, Israel) on the three trials performed. For Experiment 1, 60 Italian crossbred heifers were randomly assigned to one of two experimental diets for 9 months: the corn–silage diet (CS), which included 50% forage on a dry-matter (DM) basis (43% corn–silage, 7% wheat straw) and the hay diet (HAY), with 57% forage on DM basis (28.5% grass hay, 28.5% alfalfa hay). Heifers consuming HAY diet showed greater (P < 0.05) RT (min/day) and AT (bits/day) than did those on CS diet. Rumination time per kilogram of dry matter and per kilogram of amylase- and sodium sulfite-treated neutral detergent fibre corrected for ash residue (aNDFom) intake were similar in the two experimental groups, while RT per kilogram of physical effective NDF (peNDF) intake was greater (P < 0.05) in the CS group than in the HAY one. Daily rumination and activity patterns (min/2 h and bits/2 h respectively) were significantly different between CS and HAY groups. In the second experiment, 32 beef heifers were randomly allocated in two homogeneous pens, each containing eight animals, and two non-homogeneous ones, in which animals were added at different periods. The AT of non-homogeneous pens was significantly higher than that of the homogeneous ones, suggesting a distress condition for values higher than 309 bits/day AT. In the third experiment, RT and AT of three animals with respiratory disease were collected using the automatic collar system and compared with AT and RT of the healthy animals. Sick animals presented a significantly lower RT and higher AT than did the healthy ones. The cut-off to distinguish sick from healthy heifers was set to 537 bits/day AT and 381 min/day RT. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that automatic collars can reliably monitor different rumination and activity behaviours of beef animals in various management conditions and different health statuses.

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337 The evaluation of brown midrib corn silage hybrids and silage inclusion for finishing beef cattle

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.2527/asasmw.2017.337 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 95 (suppl_2) ◽

pp. 164-164

Author(s):

F. H. Hilscher ◽

C. J. Bittner ◽

J. N. Anderson ◽

G. E. Erickson

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Brown Midrib ◽

Finishing Beef Cattle

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The effect of energy or protein supplementation on embryo survival rate in ewes

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0308229600028233 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 1995 ◽

pp. 55-55

Author(s):

M.G. Diskin ◽

J.P. Hanrahan

Keyword(s):

Survival Rate ◽

Litter Size ◽

Protein Supplementation ◽

Ovulation Rate ◽

Reproductive Efficiency ◽

Protein Supplement ◽

Embryo Survival ◽

Rumen Undegradable Protein

Embryo survival rate is a major factor determining litter size and overall reproductive efficiency in sheep. In sheep, as ovulation rate increases the proportion of embryos surviving decreases. There is evidence, from cattle, that feeding a rumen-undegradable protein supplement enhances embryo survival rate. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect on embryo survival rate in high prolific ewes of feeding an energy or protein supplement.

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Effects of source and concentration of neutral detergent fiber from roughage in beef cattle diets on feed intake, ingestive behavior, and ruminal kinetics

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa107 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Rodrigo S Goulart ◽

Ricardo A M Vieira ◽

Joao L P Daniel ◽

Rafael C Amaral ◽

Vanessa P Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Latin Square ◽

Nutrient Digestibility ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Ingestive Behavior ◽

Rumen Content ◽

Residence Times

Abstract The objectives of this research were to evaluate the effects of source and concentration of α-amylase-treated neutral detergent fiber (aNDF) from roughage on feed intake, ingestive behavior, and ruminal kinetics in beef cattle receiving high-concentrate diets. Six ruminally cannulated Nellore steers (408 ± 12 kg of body weight) were randomly assigned to a 6 × 6 Latin square design with six diets: 10% aNDF from corn silage (10CS); 20% aNDF from corn silage (20CS); or four diets containing 10% aNDF from corn silage and 10% aNDF from one of the following sources: sugarcane (SC), sugarcane bagasse (SCB), soybean hulls (SH), or low oil cottonseed hulls (LOCH). The parameters of passage and degradation kinetics were estimated based on a two-compartmental model with gamma- and exponential-distributed residence times. The nonlinear models were fitted by nonlinear least squares, and a linear mixed-effects model was fitted to all variables measured from the Latin square design that were related to intake, digestibility, digestion kinetic parameters, and residence times. Mean particle size (MPS) between roughage sources (CS, SCB, and SC) and coproducts (SH and LOCH) was affected (P < 0.05). Dry matter intake (DMI) was not affected (P > 0.05) by 20CS, SC, SH, or LOCH. Steers fed 20CS or LOCH diets had 16% and 20% greater DMI, respectively, (P < 0.05) than steers fed 10CS diet. Steers fed SCB consumed the least dry matter (DM). The SH and LOCH diets had lower MPS values (about 8.77 mm) in comparison to 20CS, SCB, and SC diets (about 13.08 mm) and, consequently, affected (P < 0.05) rumen content, ruminal in situ disappearance, nutrient digestibility, and solid fractional passage rate. Chewing time was affected (P < 0.05) by roughage sources and concentration. Lower values of distance travel inside the rumen (min/cm) were observed (P < 0.05) for the SCB and SC diets in comparison with any other diet. Except for SCB, there was no difference (P > 0.05) in rumen fill, among other treatments. Mean daily ruminal pH was not affected (P > 0.05) by 20CS, SCB, SC, and LOCH diets, and it ranged from 6.1 to 6.23. Total short-chain fatty acids concentration was affected (P < 0.05) by roughage source and concentration. Based on our results, we recommend that under Brazilian finishing diets, replacing roughage sources, except for SCB, based on aNDF concentration of the roughage in high-concentrate diets containing finely ground flint corn does not affect DMI.

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Effect of rumen-undegradable protein supplementation and fresh forage composition on nitrogen utilization of dairy ewes

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.2010-3656 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 94 (1) ◽

pp. 416-425 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

C. Mikolayunas ◽

D.L. Thomas ◽

L.E. Armentano ◽

Y.M. Berger

Keyword(s):

Protein Supplementation ◽

Nitrogen Utilization ◽

Dairy Ewes ◽

Rumen Undegradable Protein

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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

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txz168 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 129-140 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jordan A Johnson ◽

Brittney D Sutherland ◽

John J McKinnon ◽

Tim A McAllister ◽

Gregory B Penner

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Feed Ratio ◽

Final Body Weight ◽

Liver Abscesses ◽

Finishing Beef Cattle

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.

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Impact of corn silage moisture at harvest on performance of growing steers with supplemental rumen undegradable protein, finishing steer performance, and nutrient digestibility by lambs1

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txz011 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 761-774 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

F Henry Hilscher ◽

Dirk B Burken ◽

Curt J Bittner ◽

Jana L Gramkow ◽

Robert G Bondurant ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dry Matter ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Nutrient Digestibility ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Feed Ratio ◽

Finishing Cattle ◽

Distillers Grains With Solubles ◽

Finishing Diets ◽

Rumen Undegradable Protein

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.

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