Using a mixture of cottonseed hulls and cottonseed meal to replace alfalfa hay in diets for stressed feeder calves

One 28-day receiving experiment was conducted using 625 exotic × British cross heifers to evaluate growth performance and morbidity on receiving diets that contained either alfalfa hay or a pellet composed of 65% cottonseed hulls and 35% cottonseed meal as the roughage source. Heifers fed the cotton byproduct pellet consumed more feed (P<0.01) but tended to be less efficient than those fed alfalfa hay. Daily gain was comparable between diets (P>0.05), and the percentages of heifers diagnosed, treated, or retreated for respiratory disease were similar

Evaluation of Ralgro® on pasture and subsequent feedlot performance and carcass merit of mexican crossbred steers

A pasture/feedlot field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a single Ralgro® implant during the stocker phase on steer grazing performance and subsequent feedlot performance and carcass merit. A total of 2,764 steers of Mexican origin averaging 449 lb were assembled in Texas and shipped to Kansas, where they grazed on three intensively-early-stocked Flint Hills pastures. At initial processing, the steers were individually weighed and randomly assigned to either a non-implanted control group or a Ralgro implant group. Ralgro steers gained more (23 lb; P<0.01) than controls during the 82- to 93-day grazing phase. Following the grazing phase, all steers were shipped to a commercial feedlot in southwestern Kansas where steers from each pasture were individually weighed and given a single Component E-S® implant. Immediately after processing, steers from each pasture were sorted into either a light- or heavy-weight pen, regardless of pasture implant treatment, resulting in six feedlot pens. Days on feed ranged from 127 to 197. Control steers gained faster (P<0.01) during the feedlot phase; however, Ralgro steers had higher cumulative weight gains across the combined pasture and feedlot phases (P<0.01) and averaged three fewer days on feed (P<0.05). There were no significant differences for marbling, fat thickness, ribeye area, KPH fat, or yield grade. Ralgro steers had lower (P<0.05) quality grades because of a higher incidence (P<0.001) of steers with B and C carcass maturities

Refractive index: a rapid method for determination of starch availability in grains

Steam-flaked corn samples were used in a series of experiments to determine if refractive index could be used as a rapid, inexpensive method to predict starch availability. Results were best when samples were incubated for 15 min with 500 to 600 active units of enzyme/gm of grain prior to measuring on a hand-held refractometer. Correlations to starch availability determined from gas production by a commercial lab were R=.64 for whole flakes and R=.79 when samples were ground. Samples of corn flaked to different densities produced estimates of solubility similar to an in situ dry matter disappearance assay (R2 = .84, P < .01). Furthermore, refractive index yielded estimates of starch solubility that were well related to a commercial lab’s measures of glucose release for samples of flaked corn that were stored for 0 to 48 hours subsequent to flaking

Effects of grain processing and lipid addition to finishing diets on cattle performance and blood constituents

Experiments were conducted to evaluate effects of grain processing and lipid source on finishing cattle performance, carcass characteristics, and plasma concentrations of glucose, urea, and α-amino nitrogen (amino acids). Eighty yearling Hereford x Angus steers (847 lb) were fed diets containing either steam-flaked corn or dry-rolled corn, both fed with and without 4% added tallow. In a fifth diet, ground flaxseed (equivalent to 4% lipids) replaced a portion of steam-flaked corn. Diets were fed once daily for 85 days. As expected, cattle fed steam-flaked corn were more efficient than steers fed dry-rolled corn. Adding tallow had little effect on performance. Including flaxseed resulted in performance similar to that with tallow addition. Plasma glucose concentrations measured 2 hours after feeding were higher for steers fed steam-flaked corn than for steers fed dry-rolled corn, and were higher for cattle fed tallow than for those fed no supplemental fat. Steers fed the flax/steam-flaked corn combination had lower plasma glucose concentrations 2 hours after feeding than those fed steam flaked corn with added tallow (P<0.05). Steam flaking corn increased performance and elevated glucose concentrations compared to dry rolling, suggesting that increasing the ruminal degradable starch allowed for a greater supply of substrates for gluconeogenesis. Adding flaxseed resulted in lower levels of plasma glucose after feeding, compared to tallow

Alfalfa hay and wet corn gluten feed levels in steam-flaked corn finishing diets

A 153-day finishing experiment was conducted using 631 heifers to determine optimum alfalfa hay and wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) combinations in steam-flaked, corn-based diets. Diets contained either 2 or 6% alfalfa hay and 25, 35, or 45% WCGF (dry basis). Performance was similar (P>0.16) for cattle fed 2 or 6% alfalfa hay. Gain efficiencies (P<0.05) and fat thickness (P<0.10) declined linearly with increasing amounts of WCGF. For heifers fed 2% alfalfa hay, ribeye area increased with increasing dietary WCGF. However for heifers fed 6% alfalfa hay, ribeye area decreased with increasing dietary WCGF. Liver abscesses were lowest for heifers fed 35% WCGF. Alfalfa hay fed at 2% of diet dry matter is sufficient for steam-flaked corn diets containing 25, 35 or 45% WCGF

Increasing levels of Rumensin® in limit-fed, high energy, growing diets for beef steers and effects on subsequent finishing performance

One hundred sixty-four crossbred beef steers were used to determine optimal Rumensin ® concentrations in limit-fed, high-energy, growing diets. Diets contained 30, 40, or 50 grams of Rumensin per ton of dry matter (R30, R40, and R50). Average daily gain and feed efficiency during the growing phase were not different (P>.80) among treatments. Steers that received R50 in the growing phase had the highest average daily gains during the finishing phase (P<.05). This resulted in heavier carcass weights for R50 than R30 (P<.05) and R40 (P<.12). Feed efficiencies during the finishing phase were not different among treatments (P>.40)

Effects of high-grain or high-roughage transition diets on finishing performance of cattle previously fed high-concentrate growing diets

Three hundred twenty-eight crossbred beef steers previously fed high-concentrate growing diets had ad libitum access to one of two transition diets prior to initiation of the finishing phase. Transition diets consisted of 58% steam-flaked corn and 30% alfalfa hay or of 23% steamflaked corn and 65% alfalfa hay (DM basis). Average daily gains, dry matter intakes, and feed efficiencies during the transition phase were greater for steers fed the high-grain diet than for steers fed the high-roughage diet (P<.01). This resulted in heavier carcass weights at the end of the subsequent finishing phase for steers fed the high-grain transition diet (P<.05). Average daily gains and feed efficiencies in the finishing phase were not affected by the type of diet fed during the transition phase (P>.20)

Steam-flaked corn diets containing combinations of wet corn gluten feed and alfalfa hay: effects on diet digestibility and ruminal characteristics

Twelve ruminally cannulated Jersey steers were used to measure digestibility and ruminal characteristics of steam-flaked corn based diets containing combinations of wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) and alfalfa hay (AH). Starch intake was lower (P<0.05), but neutral detergent fiber intake was higher (P<0.05) as AH and WCGF increased in the diet. Ruminal pH was increased by AH (linear, P<0.05) and tended (P<0.07) to increase with WCGF. Feeding higher levels of WCGF tended to increase passage rate (P=0.17) and decreased (P<0.05) total tract organic matter digestibility. Flaked corn diets containing at least 25% WCGF may contribute enough roughage to allow reduction of alfalfa hay levels

Alfalfa hay levels in limit-fed, high-energy, growing diets for beef steers

One hundred sixty-four crossbred beef steers were used in a 102-day growing study to determine optimum levels of alfalfa hay in limit-fed, high-energy, growing diets. Diets contained steam-flaked corn and 40% Sweet Bran® brand wet corn gluten feed (dry matter basis) with 0, 10, or 20% ground alfalfa hay. A fourth diet containing steam-flaked corn (no Sweet Bran) and 20% ground alfalfa hay was used as a control. Average daily gains and feed efficiencies in the growing phase were greater (P<.05) for cattle fed no alfalfa than for cattle fed the control, 10% alfalfa, or 20% alfalfa diets. Steers fed the control and 20% alfalfa diets had increased rates of dry matter intake (P<.05) compared to those fed no alfalfa. At the end of the growing phase, all cattle were placed on a common finishing diet and fed for 101 days. Dry matter intakes during the finishing phase for cattle previously fed no alfalfa were numerically less than intakes for cattle fed other diets and significantly less than intakes for cattle previously fed the control diet. Feed efficiencies were greater for cattle previously fed 20% alfalfa diets than those fed the control diet (P<.05). Average daily gains did not differ (P>.40) among diets during the finishing phase

Combinations of wet corn gluten feed and steam flaked corn in finishing cattle diets

A 152-day experiment was conducted using 615 crossbred steers to evaluate cattle performance when steam-flaked corn in finishing diets was replaced partially with wet corn gluten feed (CGF). Finishing diets contained no wet CGF (0CGF) or 30 and 60% CGF on a dry matter basis (30CGF and 60CGF). Ruminal and fecal pH increased linearly (P<.01) as the proportion of wet corn gluten feed increased. Cattle fed 60CGF gained less than those fed 30CGF (P<.01) and were less efficient than cattle fed 0CGF or 30CGF (P<.05). Dressing percentage was lower (P<.03) for cattle fed 60CGF compared to cattle fed 30CGF. Incidence of liver abscesses increased linearly (P<.01) as the level of CGF increased. Replacing steamflaked corn with wet CGF at 30% of the diet did not alter performance