Diethylstilbestrol for Wintering, Pasturing and Fattening Beef Cattle

Since the approval of stilbestrol for cattle feeding, numerous experiments have been conducted to determine its value with various rations and feeding systems. Several questions have been raised. What are the effects of stilbestrol over a long period of time? What effects will stilbestrol administration during the pasture season have on later feed-lot performance when stilbestrol is given again? How long are implants effective? What are the comparative effects of implants and feeding stilbestrol under various feeding systems and the effects of the two methods of administration on carcass grade and carcass characteristics? These are important questions and present research in these areas is limited or not conclusive. The trial reported here was conducted to obtain more specific information on these problems

Processing of Oats in Limited Grain Rations for Wintering Calves

Hay fed to appetite along with 5 to 6 lb. of grain is a common ration for growing calves for herd replacements or later feedlot finishing. Feeding could be simplified and costs reduced by feeding grain in the whole form. Studies with corn have often shown some improvement in weight gain and feed efficiency from processing the grain for cattle where the roughage level exceeds about 20% of the dry ration. Sorghum grain, wheat and barley appear to benefit more from processing than does corn grain

Dry and High-Moisture Corn as Affected by Processing and Type of Diet

High-moisture grains have received considerable emphasis in cattle feeding research and by feedlot operators during recent years. Large quantities of grain are harvested at high-moisture contents because of harvesting and other advantages associated with the high-moisture content or because of unfavorable natural drying conditions. Drying grain is expensive, and it would appear that first consideration should be given to storing and using the grain in the high-moisture form if it is to be fed livestock

Dry and High-Moisture Grain Fed Whole or Rolled With Hay or Haylage in Cattle Finishing Diets

In a previous experiment (A.S. Series 70-20 ) , steers were fed dry or reconstituted high-moisture corn grain , whole or rolled , at 1 lb . per 100 lb . of body weight with alfalfa-brome hay or reconstituted haylage to appetite from weights of about 500 to 825 lb . Higher rates of gain with lower feed requirements were obtained with high-moisture corn and haylage than from dry corn and hay. The greatest benefits from the moist feeds resulted when high-moisture corn and haylage were fed together. There appeared to be a slight advantage for rolling the corn under these conditions of limited grain and full-fed roughage. The cattle were also used in a finishing experiment where diet treatments were the same as during the growing experiment, except the roughage portion of the diet was limited to low levels with corn grain full-fed. This finishing experiment is reported herein

Dry and High-Moisture Corn Fed Whole or Rolled With Corn Silage in Cattle Growing-Finishing Diets

One area of research in beef cattle feeding that is receiving major emphasis at this station is the comparative value of dry and high-moisture grain under various conditions of use and the benefits of processing in comparison to feeding as whole grain. Previous research has involved levels of roughage and moisture content of the roughage (hay or haylage). In this experiment, dry or high-moisture corn grain was fed whole and rolled with a limited feed of corn silage with urea or soybean meal furnishing the supplemental protein

Nitrate and Vitamin A Interrelationship in Sheep

Several researchers have demonstrated that dietary nitrate reduced liver stores of vitamin A in ruminants. However, it has not been shown whether the effect is due to a more rapid depletion of existing vitamin A stores or to a lowered depatic deposition of the vitamin. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of nitrate on plasma vitamin A, hepatic vitamin A and performance of lambs during a growing period (experiment 1) and vitamin A depletion and repletion periods (experiment 2)

Vitamin A and Carotene Nutrition of Lambs

Research on the vitamin A requirements of sheep, and more especially the vitamin A value of carotene, is more limited than that with cattle. The objective of this experiment was to study effects of various levels of vitamin A and carotene supplementation with lambs previously depleted of vitamin A stores. Liver storage and blood levels of vitamin A following repletion were considered the primary measures of the value of the various levels of supplementation

Effect of Various Chlorides and Calcium Carbonate on Calcium Phosphorus, Sodium, Potassium and Chloride Balance and Their Relationship to Urinary Calculi in Lambs

Various salts have been used in ruminant rations in attempts to reduce the incidence of urinary calculi. The relative effectiveness of 0.5 and 1.5% levels of ammonium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium chloride and calcium carbonate for the prevention of urinary calculi in sheep has been reported previously (South Dakota Sheep Field Day Reports, 1965). The studies reported herein were conducted to further determine the edegree of protection afforded sheep against urinary calculi by the feeding of various salts, and to determine their effect on excretion and retention of the minerals

Aspen Material as a Feed Ingredient in Ruminant Rations

Aspen (Populus tremuloides), covering in excess of 58,000 acres in the Black Hills area and over 3 million acres in the Upper Great Lakes area, has not been harvested in sufficient amounts to perpetuate growth. Periodic harvesting is not only necessary to assure an aspen stand but younger trees are needed as a source of food for grouse, deer and other wildlife. Although aspen serves as a source of fiber for paper, lumber, insulation and other industrial uses, it is presently not used for these purposes in the Black Hills region. In all regions where aspen grows whether or not it has other uses, substantial stands have reached maturity (60 to 70 years old) and will die without production of replacement trees if harvesting programs are not initiated. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks is beginning such a program. In 1974 they were faced with the problem of utilization of harvested aspen trees. The purpose of this study was to determine the level at which the harvested aspen material could be fed to ruminants if corrected for know nutrient deficiencies such as protein and vitamin A. Of the hardwoods, aspen wood appears to have potential as a ruminant feed because of its low lignification (encrustation of fibers) and lack of known toxic constituents

The Use of Alfalfa Products as the Fiber Portion of Beef Finishing Diets

This experiment was a continuation of research with alfalfa products as supplements and various types of high roughage and high grain rations. Products compared were alfafa haylage, conventional dehydrated alfalfa meal and an alfalfa pressed-cake by-product. Alfalfa press cake is a by-product of the commercial product Pro-Xan, a leaf protein concentrate extracted from high quality, green-chopped alfalfa. The press cake, even with the soluble proteins removed, contains approximately 17% crude protein. Since it is a new product, its potential as a feed has yet to be established. It seemed appropriate to compare it to other alfalfa products now in common suage