Night feeding to reduce bird predation in feedlots

During times of heavy infestations by birds, feedlots can have 25 to 30% increases in feed usage, thereby resulting in large economic losses. Because starlings, blackbirds, grackles, and other avian pests normally feed during daylight hours, we hypothesized that feeding cattle at night would minimize feed contamination and feed loss due to bird infestation. Crossbred beef heifers (n=96; 770 lb) were used to evaluate the effects of feeding at night on performance and carcass characteristics. Heifers were fed for 107 days during the months of November to March, when large bird populations were observed. Feed was delivered once daily at approximately 10:00 a.m. for heifers with continuous access to feed and 30 minutes before dusk for heifers that had access to feed only at night. Feed calls for heifers fed at night were managed so that no feed remained in the bunk at dawn, whereas the control heifers were allowed ad libitum access to feed. Daily feed deliveries per animal (21.51 vs. 18.15 lb for heifers fed continuously or only at night, respectively) were decreased by 16% (P<0.01) when cattle were provided access to feed only at night, but daily gain was not different. Feed efficiency was improved by 14% (P=0.05) with night time feeding, but carcass weights and dressing percentage remained similar. Overall, feeding cattle only during hours of darkness yielded similar growth performance compared to cattle fed continuously. However, feed efficiency was improved substantially, which we attribute to reduced theft by birds

Dakota Gold®-brand dried distiller’s grains with solubles: effects on finishing performance and carcass characteristics

A 153-day trial was conducted using 345 heifers to determine optimal level of Dakota Gold dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS) in finishing diets based on steam-flaked corn. Diets contained six levels of DDGS: 0%, 15%, 30%, 45%, 60%, and 75%. DDGS affected average daily gain, final weight and hot carcass weight, all of which increased with 15% DDGS and then decreased as additional DDGS was added. Growth performance of heifers fed 30% DDGS was similar to those fed no DDGS. In general, heifers were overfinished, with 61% being Yield Grade 3 or greater and 83% grading Choice or Prime. Backfat tended to decrease with addition of DDGS, and kidney, pelvic, and heart fat and marbling scores tended to be greatest for intermediate levels of DDGS. Percentage of carcasses grading Choice or Prime tended to be lower for heifers fed 60 or 75% DDGS

Effect of grain sorghum particle size and digest “M” enzyme treatment on performance of growing steers

A 73-day growing study utilizing 203 crossbred steers (681 lb) and a digestion trial examined the effect o f sorghum grain particle size on rumen fermentation, ration digestibility, and performance of growing steers fed 37% grain and 63% ground alfalfa. Dry-rolled grain sorghum p article sizes in both trials were about 2000, 1500, and 1000 microns, for the coarse- (CR), medium- (MR), and fine-rolled (FR) treatments , respectively. Coarsely rolled corn (2000 microns) was included as a positive control. In the growing study, half of sorghum was treated at feeding time with an enzyme product, Digest “M”. The rations were 35 to 37% dry grain plus ground alfalfa hay and supplement. Total ration dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, and starch digestibilities increased linearly (P<.02) with decreasing sorghum grain particle size. Rumen pH, ammonia and total volatile fatty acid concentrations, and acetate-to-propionate ratio were unaffected by grain type or particle size. Dry matter intake was not influenced by grain types or particle size. Steers fed FR sorghum gained 9% faster (P<.03) during the first 28 days and tended to gain faster (5%, P<.14 ) over the entire trial than those fed CR sorghum , with gains on MR sorghum being intermediate. FR sorghum produced 6% more efficient gains (P<.07) than CR, and MR grain was intermediate. Digest “M” enzyme treatment of the sorghum grain had no influence. Feed con versions of CR, MR, and FR sorghum were 93, 94, and 99% of corn. This research indicates that grain sorghum in high roughage backgrounding programs should have a maximum average particle size of 1000 microns

Performance and carcass characteristics of finishing steers fed dried, full-fat corn germ

Three hundred and fifty-eight crossbred beef steers (average initial weight 701 lb) were fed finishing diets containing 0, 5, 10, or 15% full-fat corn germ to evaluate effects on growth performance and carcass characteristics. Steers were placed into dirt-surfaced feedlot pens (12 to 16 head each) in December 2000 with a total of six pens per diet. Average daily gains during the 155-day finishing period were 2.83, 2.99, 3.01 and 2.93 lb/day for cattle fed 0, 5, 10, and 15% corn germ, respectively. Dry matter intakes decreased linearly (P<0.05) with increasing concentrations of full-fat corn germ in the diet. Relative to cattle fed no corn germ, efficiencies were improved by 8, 11, and 9% for cattle fed 5, 10, or 15% germ, respectively. Feeding corn germ also reduced the incidence of liver abscesses (P<0.05) compared to cattle fed the control diet. Dried, full-fat corn germ can be used successfully in cattle finishing diets to increase energy density and animal performance

Effects of melengestrol acetate (MGA) on performance and carcass quality of feedlot heifers

Sixty yearling heifers (827 lb initial body weight) were fed finishing diets an average of 95 days. To eliminate social interaction and riding, they were fed in individual pens. Diets were formulated using steam-flaked corn and alfalfa hay. Thirty of the heifers were given 0.5 mg/head daily of MGA. Feed intakes, daily gains, and feed efficiencies were not significantly affected by MGA. However, heifers fed MGA had a greater percentage of carcasses grading USDA Prime and Choice. There also was greater incidence of USDA yield grade 3 and 4 carcasses with MGA supplementation. MGA generally increased fat deposition, but had no significant effect on feedlot performance of individually fed heifers

Effect of feeding conventional or high-moisture, steam-flaked corn to finishing heifers

Finishing heifers were fed diets containing either conventional (18% moisture) or high-moisture (36% moisture) steam-flaked corn. Increasing moisture concentration in flakes increased starch availability (P<0.01), but feeding heifers high-moisture flakes decreased (P<0.05) dry matter intake and average daily gain compared to heifers fed conventional flakes. Feeding heifers high-moisture flakes also numerically reduced hot carcass weight and ribeye area, but caused (P<0.01) heifers to deposit more fat over their 12th rib. Extreme levels of moisture in flaked corn improve starch availability but do not appear to increase heifer performance or carcass value. The interaction between moisture and flake density needs further evaluation

Relationship of blood glucose concentration at arrival to performance and carcass characteristics of beef heifers

Crossbred yearling heifers (n = 394) were used to compare the effect of high or low blood glucose measured at arrival on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics. A blood sample was collected when heifers arrived at the Beef Cattle Research Center, and heifers were sorted into two groups: high or low blood glucose. The mean blood glucose concentration of the heifers was 57 ± 2 mg/dL in the low group and 78 ± 2 mg/dL in the high group. Heifers that had low blood glucose at arrival consumed more feed (P=0.02), tended to have increased final bodyweight and rate of gain (P<0.10), had increased backfat thickness (P<0.05), and tended to have heavier hot carcass weights and fewer standard carcasses (P<0.10) compared with heifers that had high blood glucose at arrival

Comparison of concentrated separator byproduct and cane molasses for finishing heifers

We compared concentrated separator byproduct (CSB) to cane molasses on feedlot performance and carcass merit of 394 crossbred yearling beef heifers fed for 148 days. Sugar beet molasses undergoes a process in which approximately half of the sugar is removed, concentrating protein and mineral in CSB. Compared with cane molasses, CSB has more crude protein, ash, and moisture. Two diets based on steam-flaked corn containing either CSB or cane molasses at 5% (dry matter basis) of the diet were fed. Feedlot performance was similar between heifers fed the two diets (P>0.23). Apparent dietary concentrations of net energy for gain (NEg), calculated from performance, were similar (P=0.21) for the CSB and cane molasses diets. The apparent NEg for cane molasses and CSB were not statistically different (P=0.20); the NEg concentrations of cane molasses and CSB were 0.21 and 0.50 ± 0.15 Mcal/lb, respectively. Carcass characteristics were similar between diets. Based on our data, CSB and cane molasses have a similar feeding value and energy content in beef finishing diets that are based on steam-flaked corn