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

Impact of Corn Oil Removal from Modified Distillers Grains Plus Solubles and Supplemental Corn Oil on Finishing Cattle Performance

A finishing study was conducted to evaluate removal of corn oil from modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) and replacement of supplemental corn oil on finishing cattle performance. Four treatments were evaluated: a corn control diet, 40% de-oiled MDGS, 38% de-oiled MDGS plus 2% corn oil to equal the fat content of full fat MDGS, or 40% full fat MDGS. There was a significant improvement in ADG and F:G for cattle fed de-oiled MDGS plus oil compared to other treatments. Cattle fed full fat MDGS had numerically lower ADG and numerically poorer F:G (3.7%) compared with cattle fed MDGS plus oil. Cattle fed de-oiled MDGS had greater intake and numerically higher ADG than full fat MDGS, however F:G was similar (1.2%). Even with the improvement in feed conversion, the benefit is too small to make adding corn oil to the diet economical at current prices

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

Evaluation of 0 or 300 mg of Optaflexx® on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Steers Fed to Different Degrees of Finish

A feedlot study evaluated the effects of ractopamine hydrochloride (Optaflexx®) dosage (0 or 300 mg/steer daily) and days on feed (118, 139, 160, 174 DOF) as a 2 × 3 + 1 factorial (steers fed 174 d were not fed Optaflexx) on performance of big yearlings. No interaction was observed between Optaflexx and days on feed. Feeding Optaflexx improved live final BW, carcass- adjusted ADG, carcass- adjusted feed conversion, and calculated yield grade. Increasing days on feed linearly increased live final BW, carcass-adjusted feed conversion, HCW, dressing percent, and marbling score but not ADG. Furthermore, a quadratic increase in LM area, 12th rib fat, and calculated yield grade was observed with days on feed. The response in added carcass weight due to feeding Optaflexx is the same with different lengths of time cattle are fed, and for large yearlings placed on feed

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

Comparison of Titanium® 5 PH- M versus Titanium® 5 plus NUPLURA® PH with the Presence or Absence of Monensin on Health and Performance of Newly Received Feedlot Calves Fed RAMP®

A receiving study was conducted to evaluate the effects of RAMP® with Rumensin® concentration (0 or 25.0 g/ton) given with one of two viral vaccinations (Titanium® 5 PH- M or Titanium® 5 plus NUPLURA® PH) on steer growth performance and morbidity. There were no significant vaccine by diet interactions observed. Neither vaccine treatment nor Rumensin® level affected intake, gain, or feed conversion. Vaccine type did not affect first pull (P = 0.19) or second pull morbidity rates (P = 0.52). These findings suggest that neither vaccine type nor Rumensin® concentration had any effect on steer growth performance or morbidity rate

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

Confined Cow-Calf Production System and Post-Weaning Management Impact on Calf Production

Calf performance was measured in a 3-yr study with a 2 × 2 factorial treatment design: 1) cow-calf production system (dry lot feeding or grazing corn residue) and 2) directly finishing calves or growing prior to finishing. Calves wintered on cornstalks were lighter at weaning than calves wintered in the dry-lot. However, following the finishing period, there were no effects of pre-weaning production system on final body weight or hot carcass weight. Calves directly adapted to a finishing diet had greater gain and improved efficiency compared to calves fed a grower diet prior to finishing. However, calves that were grown first produced 51 lb greater hot carcass weight. Directly finishing calves resulted in greater net profit as the extra hot carcass weight did not offset the cost of the additional 49 days in the feedlot. Wintering cows with calves on cornstalks instead of in a dry-lot resulted in lighter calves, but calves compensated in the feedlot