Steer Performance Grazing Corn Residue and Supplemented with Modified Distillers Grains plus Solubles with or without Urea

A growing study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing growing calves grazing corn residue with modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS; 3 or 5 lb/d) and with or without urea on growth performance. There were no significant MDGS × urea inclusion interactions observed. Urea inclusion level (0 and 0.12 lb/d) did not affect supplemental intake, ADG, or ending BW. Steers fed 5 lb of MDGS had an increased ADG and a heavier ending BW compared to steers fed 3 lb MDGS daily. Supplemental urea is not necessary when supplementing at least 3 lb MDGS to steers grazing corn residue

The Effect of Harvest Method and Ammoniation of Corn Residue on Growing Calf Performance

A growing trial was conducted to determine the effect of feeding baled corn residue harvested using three different methods, with and without ammoniation of the residue. Residue harvested with the New Holland Cornrower™ with two rows of chopped stem added to the windrow resulted in a 9% increase in ADG compared to conventional rake and bale harvest or turning off the combine spreader and baling tailing. Ammoniation of residue increased ADG 67% (increase of 1.1 lb/d) over non-ammoniated residue. Feed efficiency was not affected by harvest method, but ammoniation decreased F:G by 13% compared to cattle fed non-ammoniated residue. Although alternative harvest technologies can improve ADG, ammoniation of corn residue has a considerably greater impact on cattle performance

Evaluation of Corn Distillers Solubles on Growing Steer Performance

A growing study evaluated increasing inclusions of corn distillers solubles (CDS) at 10, 20, 30, and 40%, or increasing wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) at 10, 20, 30, and 40% compared to a corn control. Corn was replaced by CDS or WDGS in each forage-based diet. Increasing CDS resulted in a quadratic increase for both DMI and F:G. Increasing WDGS linearly increased both DMI and ADG with no effect on F:G. The energy value of CDS is less than that of corn, whereas WDGS had an energy value similar to corn in growing diets with 50% brome hay. A 73.7% TDN value was determined for CDS at 40% inclusion in forage-based diets

Rumen Undegradable Protein and Bambermycins Supplementation of Calves Grazing Corn Residue

Steer calves grazing non- irrigated corn residue were supplemented with a corn residue and by- product pellet that contained either Soypass, soybean meal, or processed soybean meal at a rate of 4 lb / d. Additionally, a supplement was fed at 1 lb / d that provided 0 or 20 mg / steer daily of bambermycins (Gainpro®). There was no interaction between bambermycins inclusion and pellet type. Likewise, there was no effect of pellet type or bambermycins on ending BW or ADG. In order to maximize gain of calves grazing corn residue it is important to provide a supplement that ensures adequate levels of both energy and rumen undegradeable protein

Impact of Grazing Spring Rye on Subsequent Crop Yields and Profitability

Steers (729 ± 19 lb BW) grazed in two November-planted cereal rye fields for 22 d in April, either with or without an ionophore in their free choice mineral supplement. Subsequent corn yields were measured to assess impact of planting cereal rye as a cover crop (not grazed) or grazing the rye compared to a no rye control. There was no statistical impact of rye or grazing on subsequent corn yield. Supplying an ionophore in the mineral did not uniformly improve gains across fields. However, gains were high at 3.2 lb/d and were able to offset the cost of planting rye

Impact of Intake on Methane Production in Growing Steers

A study was conducted to evaluate the impact that level of intake has on methane and carbon dioxide production by growing steers. Two treatments were evaluated that included ad-libitum intake compared to limit-fed steers. The ad-libitum fed cattle had greater gains, similar feed efficiency and produced more methane and carbon dioxide per day, while the limit fed cattle produced more methane and carbon dioxide per pound of intake than the ad-libitum fed cattle

Effect of Backgrounding System on Performance and Profitability of Yearling Beef Steers

Five summer management strategies were compared following grazing corn residue through winter. Cattle were assigned to be 1) summer finished, 2) graze bromegrass, 3) graze bromegrass and fed distillers grains at 0.6% of BW, 4) backgrounded in a drylot pen to gain 1.70 lb/d, or 5) backgrounded in a drylot pen to gain 2.35 lb/d. Results differed by year, however, in general as backgrounding ADG increased, days required on feed to reach an equal fat endpoint decreased. In year 1, ADG of cattle grazing bromegrass was less than cattle backgrounded in pens. There was no difference in finishing ADG for summer backgrounded steers. In year 2, steers grazing bromegrass with no supplement had the lowest summer ADG but exhibited compensatory growth in the feedlot. Overall, backgrounding systems increase carcass weights when cattle are finished to an equal fat thickness

Impact of Intake on Methane Production in Growing Steers

A study was conducted to evaluate the impact that level of intake has on methane and carbon dioxide production by growing steers. Two treatments were evaluated that included ad-libitum intake compared to limit-fed steers. The ad-libitum fed cattle had greater gains, similar feed efficiency and produced more methane and carbon dioxide per day, while the limit fed cattle produced more methane and carbon dioxide per pound of intake than the ad-libitum fed cattle

Impact of Syngenta Enogen Feed Corn on Finishing Cattle Performance and Carcass Characteristics

Two finishing experiments were conducted to evaluate Syngenta Enogen Feed Corn containing an alpha amylase enzyme trait compared to the near negative isoline control corn at two locations on cattle performance and carcass characteristics. No statistical differences were observed for final BW, DMI, ADG, or F:G for steers fed Syngenta Enogen Feed Corn versus the near negative isoline control corn. Fat depth and calculated yield grade were greater for steers fed Syngenta Enogen Feed Corn; however, HCW and marbling scores were not different. Previous research has observed a 2.6% to 16.4% decrease in F:G when Syngenta Enogen Feed Corn was fed; however, under this study a 1.6% reduction in F:G was observed

Evaluation of Distillers Grains Components Singly or in Combination in a Calf Fed Feedlot Study

A finishing study was conducted to determine the value of the fiber, protein, fat, and solubles components from wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) alone or in combination for feedlot cattle in comparison to WDGS diets. The fiber portion alone did not improve F:G. When protein was included in the composite with fiber, F:G improved. With fat and solubles both added separately, F:G continued to improve. None of the components alone could make up the feeding value of WDGS, however the composite diet of fiber, protein, fat, and solubles combined matched the performance observed when WDGS is fed