scholarly journals Effects of agronomic factors on yield and quality of whole corn plants and the impact of feeding high concentrations of corn silage in diets containing distillers grains to finishing cattle1

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. Burken ◽  
B. L. Nuttelman ◽  
J. L. Gramkow ◽  
A. L. McGee ◽  
K. M. Sudbeck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Corn Silage ◽  
Distillers Grains ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Harvest Time ◽  
Marbling Score ◽  
Finishing Diets ◽  
Plant Yields ◽  
Corn Plants ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Corn Grain

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.

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 ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Distillers Grains ◽  
Experimental Unit ◽  
Marbling Score ◽  
Finishing Cattle ◽  
Finishing Diets ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
Gate System ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
Extension Center

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.

Net Energy Evaluation of Cattle-Finishing Rations Containing Varying Proportions of Corn Grain and Corn Silage

1972 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 851-856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert D. Vance ◽  
R. L. Preston ◽  
V. R. Cahill ◽  
E. W. Klosterman
Keyword(s):  
Corn Silage ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Energy Evaluation ◽  
Corn Grain

scholarly journals 221 Optimizing sugar inclusion in high roughage diets for growing cattle

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 129-129
Author(s):  
Allison VanDerWal ◽  
Josh Zeltwanger ◽  
Alfredo DiCostanzo
Keyword(s):  
Corn Silage ◽  
Distillers Grains ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Growing Cattle ◽  
Dietary Sugar ◽  
Red Angus ◽  
Dietary Treatments ◽  
High Forage ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Corn Grain

Abstract Producers wishing to background cattle may not have access to grain in certain regions of the country or when grain price is high. Sugar sources may replace grain under these circumstances. The objective of this study was to determine optimum sugar concentration based on daily gain and feed conversion in high-forage diets fed to growing cattle. Ninety-two Angus crossbred (Ranch 1) steers (n = 60; 339 + 11 kg BW) and heifers (n = 32; 309 + 14 kg BW), and 89 Red Angus crossbred (Ranch 2) steers (338 + 16 kg BW) were randomly allocated (5 to 7 hd/pen) within ranch and sex to one of 15 pens in each of two (north or south side) locations within a deep bedded confinement feedlot. Target dietary treatments were designed to contain supplemental sugar inclusion of 0%, 3.5%, 7% or 10.5% (8, 7, 8 or 7 replicate pens in each treatment, respectively) using a molasses-based supplement containing 56.8% sugar and 7.4% urea. Diets were comprised (DM basis) of hay (12%), corn silage, dry distillers grains (14.5%), dry rolled corn and a liquid supplement (5%); corn grain and corn silage inclusion varied from 21% to 32% and from 29% to 36%, respectively, to accommodate supplemental sugar. This resulted in dietary sugar concentrations of 4.3%, 7.3%, 10.3% and 13.3% or 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9%, respectively, as supplemental sugar. As concentration of sugar increased, DMI increased linearly (P < 0.006) with no change in ADG (P = 0.22) resulting in linearly decreasing feed conversion efficiency (P = 0.032). Iterated ME concentration of supplemental sugar was similar to that of corn grain (P > 0.06). Given the appropriate conditions, sugar may replace dry rolled corn and corn silage in high roughage diets for growing cattle.

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

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 ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Production ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Distillers Grains ◽  
Finishing Diets ◽  
Finishing Steers ◽  
Wet Distillers Grains

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.

scholarly journals 229 Evaluation of Wheat Blended with Corn in Finishing Diets Containing Wet Distillers Grains

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 134-134
Author(s):  
Caitlin Coulson ◽  
Bradley M Boyd ◽  
Brianna Conroy ◽  
Galen E Erickson
Keyword(s):  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Distillers Grains ◽  
Marbling Score ◽  
Improve Performance ◽  
Finishing Cattle ◽  
Finishing Diets ◽  
Wet Distillers Grains ◽  
Cattle Performance

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.

scholarly journals 45 Effect of Increasing Corn Silage Inclusion in Finishing Diets with or Without Tylosin on Performance and Liver Abscesses

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 31-32
Author(s):  
Hannah C Wilson ◽  
Bradley M Boyd ◽  
Levi J McPhillips ◽  
Andrea K Watson ◽  
James C MacDonald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Final Body Weight ◽  
Finishing Diets ◽  
Liver Abscesses ◽  
Corn Prices ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Viable Method ◽  
Antibiotic Control ◽  
Treatment Design

Abstract Elevating corn silage inclusion in finishing diets has been investigated and suggests feeding more silage in farming and feeding operations improves profitability, despite decreased gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (G:F). Feeding more silage may decrease liver abscesses and the need for antibiotic control of abscesses. A finishing study was conducted to assess the impact of silage inclusion in finishing diets to reduce the incidence of liver abscesses in beef cattle. A total of 640 (BW = 334 ± 25 kg) steers were utilized in a 2 × 2 factorial treatment design with two levels of corn silage (15 and 45%, diet DM), with or without tylosin for control of abscesses. This study utilized 32 pens of cattle with 20 steers per pen and 8 pens per treatment. There was an interaction for liver abscesses (P = 0.05) and a tendency for an interaction for performance (P = 0.10) between silage and tylosin inclusion but not for carcass traits (P ≥ 0.20). Cattle fed 15% corn silage had the greatest incidence of liver abscesses (34.5%) compared to other treatments (P = 0.05), and abscess rate was decreased to 19% if tylosin was fed. Feeding 45% silage was also effective at lowering liver abscess rates which were 12.4% regardless of whether an antibiotic was fed. Feeding corn silage at 45% of diet DM was as effective as feeding an antibiotic to cattle on 85% concentrate diets. Feeding corn silage at greater inclusions decreased ADG (P ≤ 0.01) but increased final body weight when fed to an equal fatness. However, feeding corn silage at 45% was more economical compared to feeding 15% corn silage, especially at higher corn prices, provided shrink is well managed. Feeding elevated concentrations of corn silage may be an economically viable method to control liver abscesses without antibiotic use.

Influence of feeding increasing levels of dry or modified wet corn distillers’ grains plus solubles in whole corn grain-based finishing diets on hepatic and renal mass, and glutathione peroxidase and urea cycle enzyme activities in finishing cattle

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Salim ◽  
K. M. Wood ◽  
J. P. Cant ◽  
K. C. Swanson
Keyword(s):  
Glutathione Peroxidase ◽  
Enzyme Activities ◽  
Urea Cycle ◽  
Distillers Grains ◽  
Synthetase Activity ◽  
Cycle Enzyme ◽  
Finishing Diets ◽  
Corn Distillers ◽  
Urea Cycle Enzyme ◽  
Corn Grain

Salim, H., Wood, K. M., Cant, J. P. and Swanson, K. C. 2015. Influence of feeding increasing levels of dry or modified wet corn distillers’ grains plus solubles in whole corn grain-based finishing diets on hepatic and renal mass, and glutathione peroxidase and urea cycle enzyme activities in finishing cattle. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 95: 407–415. Forty-two cross-bred steers (BW=357±5.8 kg) fed whole corn grain-based finishing diets were used in a completely randomized block (60, 120, or 180 d on feed) design (2×3 factorial arrangement of treatments plus control) to determine the effect of inclusion level [0 (control), 16.7, 33.3, and 50% of diet DM) and form (dry (DDGS) or modified wet (MWDGS)] of distillers’ grains plus solubles (DGS) on hepatic and renal glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and hepatic urea cycle enzyme activities. Kidney weight (g kg−1of BW) increased linearly (P=0.004) with increasing inclusion levels of DGS. There were no effects (P≥0.11) of dietary treatment on hepatic and renal GPx activity (U g−1, U mg−1of protein, and kU liver−1). Hepatic carbamoyl phosphate synthetase activity (kU liver−1and U kg−1of BW) tended to linearly increase (P=0.09 and P=0.10, respectively) with increasing inclusion level of DGS. Hepatic ornithine transcarbamoylase and argininosuccinate synthetase activity (kU liver−1and U kg−1of BW) increased linearly (P≤0.05) with increasing inclusion levels of DGS. These data indicate that steers adapt to feeding up to 50% DGS by increasing kidney mass and activity of urea cycle enzymes in liver to allow for clearance of excess nitrogen. Also, hepatic and renal GPx activity, as an indicator of Se status, is not affected when typical finishing diets are fed.

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