Supplementing Yearling Summer Grazing Cattle with Fat and Protein and Subsequent Feedlot Performance

Yearling steers supplemented with protein (40% - 29% NPN - 19% from biuret) while grazing primarily crested wheat grass in the summer gained at a faster rate than control steers which were only provided a commercial salt/ mineral mix. A lower level of protein (20% - 6.7% NPN)/fat (15% -20%) combination supplement also increased gain over controls, but the supplement response was less than the higher protein supplement. Gain responses were greater during the latter part of the grazing season when forage quality was poorest. Supplementation intake varied but tended to be greater during the latter part of the grazing season. The control summer grazing cattle that gained at a slower rate did not compensate and gain faster when finished after the summer grazing season. When both the grazing and finishing phases were considered, cattle receiving either the protein or the protein/fat summer supplement gained 59 more pounds than the control mineral supplemented cattle. Carcass traits were similar for all cattle

Lipid Sources in Finishing Diets for Yearling Steers

Adding Synergy2 to a corn-based finishing diet to provide 1.12% lipid did not significantly increase steer performance in this trial or in pooled results between this trial and one reported in 1995. However, numerical increases were observed in daily gain and feed dry matter intake for Synergy when compared to control values. Pooled results for additions of pork fat (white grease) to provide 1.12 or 2.24% lipid were intermediate to those for the control and Synergy treatments. Any performance benefit attributed to Synergy may be as much from its effect on dry matter intake as it is from nutrient addition

Cull Dry Edible Beans in Growing Calf Rations

Including cull dry edible beans into diets for steer calves in two yearly trials produced slightly different results. In the first year, calculated net energy levels were higher in diets with 5 or 10% dry beans and daily gains were equal or better than for the no-bean diets. In the second year, with equal net energy values in rations containing 0, 7.5 or 15% dry beans, daily gains and feed intake decreased linearly with dry bean additions. Feed efficiency was improved as bean level increased

Cull Dry Edible Beans in Growing Calf Rations

Including cull dry edible beans into diets for steer calves in two yearly trials produced slightly different results. In the first year, calculated net energy levels were higher in diets with 5 or 10% dry beans and daily gains were equal or better than for the no-bean diets. In the second year, with equal net energy values in rations containing 0, 7.5 or 15% dry beans, daily gains and feed intake decreased linearly with dry bean additions. Feed efficiency was improved as bean level increased

Evaluation of Beef Cattle Range Supplements Containing Urea and Biuret

Two winter trials were conducted with 304 lactating range cows on dry grass to evaluate non-protein-nitrogen (NPN) in 30% protein supplements containing biuret (pure and feed grade), urea and extruded grain-urea. The NPN sources contributed one-half of the supplemental nitrogen with natural 15 and 30% protein supplements serving as negative and positive controls. Winter weight loss of cows was greater (P~.02) on the negative than on the positive control in both trials. The apparent utilization of all NPN sources was low and the utilization of urea and extruded grain-urea was less than pure or feed grade biuret. Rumen biuretolytic activity was apparent within 6 days and reached and maintained a high level of activity 20 days after the initiation of feeding biuret, even with intermittent supplementation. Apparent value of NPN supplements was slightly improved with 40% dehydrated alfalfa but not with methionine- hydroxy-analogue (MHA). Palatability of supplements was lowered by urea and especially by MHA and extruded grain-urea. In a third trial with yearling heifers fed prairie hay, gains were similar on natural protein and supplements containing urea or extruded grain-urea to provide one-half of the nitrogen. When the heifers were fed the same supplements but low quality winter harvested range grass, NPN utilization appeared to be low

The Effect of Feeding Pressed Sugar Beet Pulp in Beef Cattle Feedlot Finishing Diets

When the two trials were analyzed together, average daily gain was higher in the corn silage treatment compared to the two levels of beet pulp. However, feed to gain conversions between the treatments were not different. Beet pulp can serve as a substitute for corn silage and even though dry matter intake may be slightly affected, feed efficiency will be equal

Predicting Amount of Compensatory Gain

In North American beef production systems, the entire spectrum of restriction and compensation is found. The area of compensatory gain is complex and not well understood, but critically important to the economics of cattle feeding. Several compensatory gain studies from the University of Nebraska have been compiled. The range in compensation observed with cattle grazing season-long is 19-88 percent with a mean of 53 percent. From these grazing studies, days of restriction appear to be related to percentage compensation. In the feedlot, even relatively short restrictions trigger compensatory gain; however, feed efficiency response to compensatory gain i

EC97-277 Minerals and Vitamins For Beef Cows

Introduction Mineral supplementation programs range from elaborate, cafeteria-style delivery systems to simple white salt blocks put out periodically by producers. The reason for this diversity: little applicable research available for producers to evaluate mineral supplement programs. There is a need of information regarding mineral composition and availability from various feedstuffs (i.e. pasture grasses, hays, by-products, etc.) and the possible interactions between minerals in the digestive system. Also lacking is a data base to establish accurate estimates of mineral requirements for beef cattle. Assessing the consequence of mineral deficiencies in the cow, calf or stocker animal is difficult because slightly lowered weight gains in calves, reduced milk production and/or decreased reproduction rates may occur without visible signs of deficiency. At the same time, excess mineral consumption may cause reduced cow and/or calf performance without obvious signs of toxicity. Potential problems can occur due to mineral undernutrition in the cow herd; however, producers need sufficient information to establish a least cost method of correcting mineral undernutrition

Effects of Field Peas in Beef Finishing Diets

Feeding field peas was compared to using corn in beef finishing diets. Diets containing field peas at 0%, 20%, 40%, and 59% replacement of corn in ration DM were fed to 129 steers. Dry matter intake increased from the 0% to 40% diets, but decreased when 59% peas replaced corn compared to 40%. No significant differences in ADG and G:F were observed. Field peas can replace 59% of the corn DM in beef finishing diet with no significant differences in animal gain or feed efficiency

A Review of Corn Stalk Grazing on Animal Performance and Crop Yield

The highest cost to beef cow-calf and backgrounding operations is the feeding of stored feeds in winter months. Nebraska has an abundance of corn fields available for grazing following harvest. Utilization of corn crop residue is quite effective in reducing feed costs. There are a number of important considerations associated with residue utilization. Stocking rates, diet quality, genetically modified corn, subsequent crop yields and supplementation are discussed