Utilization of Crop Residues and Highly Lignified Waste Products in Wintering Rations for Beef Cows

Although residues and waste fiber can be fed in many types of ruminant rations at low levels as a replacement for the forage, greater usage can probably be found in maintenance or wintering rations. A crop residue or waste material is no better than its available nutrient composition. How closely this nutrient composition will meet the requirement of animals determines how the material can be used and what supplemental feeds are required. The nutrient requirement of 1,100 lb. dry pregnancy mature cows in the middle third of pregnancy could be used as a basis for requirements for a maintenance or wintering ration for breeding stock

Pine Sawdust as a Roughage Substitute in Beef Finishing Rations

Previous reports discussed toxicity trials with untreated sawdust, indicating no toxicity to ruminants when fed up to 25% of the ration. The low digestibility (7-10%) of softwood sawdust produced from the mills in western South Dakota limits its usage as a major ration component. The objective of this experiment is to demonstrate the usage of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) sawdust as a nonnutritive roughage component in beef finishing rations

Pine Sawdust as a Roughage Replacement in Feeder Cattle Diets

Eight lots, five or six heifers each, (42 heifers total) were fed one of four diets for 119 days to study the effect of sawdust inclusion in a growing diet on the performance of feeder calves. The diets were alfalfa-concentrate, sawdust-concentrate, corn silage and sawdust silage. (See table 1 for specific diet composition). Trace mineral salt and dicalcium phosphate were fed free choice and vitamin A was supplemented to provide a calculated 10,000 to 12,000 I.U. per head per day. Brome-alfalfa loose hay was provided for the first week during adaptation to the experimental diets

Pine Needle Abortion Among Cows Grazing Foothill Ranges

The frequent occurrence of pine needle abortion in cattle grazing foothill ranges having tree stands of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) causes management problems for many ranchers in South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, and California as well as many areas in Canada. Surveys (1973-75) covering eight counties in western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming indicate the area loss to be approximately 700 calves annually even with good management to prevent pregnant cows from consuming pine needles. Loss of the cow as well from infection of a retained placenta is not unusual. In 1975, for example, one rancher lost 38 calves from pine needle abortion and 12 of the cows thereafter from infection resulting fram retained placentas. Investigations are in progress to isolate and identify the causative factor in pine needles. Ranchers assumed the factor to be present in needles only during late winter and early spring since this was the period when abortions were noted with cattle

Pine Sawdust as a Roughage Replacement in Cattle Finishing Diets

Two lots of 12 heifers each were full fed daily one of two diets for 115 days to study the effect of sawdust replacement of ground alfalfa in a finishing diet on the performance and carcass characteristics of beef heifers. Diet composition is shown in table 1. Trace mineral salt and dicalcium phosphate were provided free choice

Toxicity Study Using Pine Sawdust as a Roughage Replacement in Gestating Beef Heifer Rations

The purpose of this was to determine what difficulties might be encountered as a result of feeding raw pine sawdust to beef heifers during the last trimester of gestation

Delignification of Ponderosa Pine Sawdust and Bark by Peroxyacetic Treatments

The purpose of this study was to determine effectiveness of peroxyacetic acid in improving the digestibility of highly lignified fibrous materials such as ponderosa pine sawdust and bark. Peroxyacetic acid is used as a delignifying agent in the making of paper from tree fibers

Isolation of the Abortive Factor in Ponderosa Pine Needles

Chick embryos can serve as an economical means to screen pine needle extracts for possible abortive components which affect cattle grazing alpine pastures. Lipid-like extracts from pine needles did not appear to be toxic to chick embryos, while carbohydrates components were toxic at low levels. Protein components were not screened in this study

Utilization of Aspen Trees as Ruminant Feed Component

When traditional roughages are in short supply or high in price, other fibrous feed sources for ruminants should be considered if available at a competitive price. One such fibrous material shown to have potential as a ruminant feed is the aspen tree (Populus tremuloids Michx.) harvested in its entire form to include bark, leaves and trunk. The aspen tree is the most widespread tree species in North America and the least utilized. Estimates exceed 6 million acres of mature trees in an area which would include the Black Hills (58,000 acres), the Great Lakes region and the Rock Mountain region. Since the tree responds to harvest by thirtyfold reproduction from the remaining stump and root, it becomes a highly renewable source of fiber. Previously, when aspen wood was properly supplemented to correct nutrient deficiencies such as protein, the final mixed ration was a satisfactory replacement for 80% alfalfa in growing rations for cattle (A.S. Series 76-19). The objective of this experiment was to further explore the use of aspen as the roughage portion of both growing and finishing rations. An attempt was also made to determine if chicken manure could partially replace soybean meal as a protein supplement in a ration having aspen as a major component

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