Use of De‐oiled Dried Distillers Grains as a Source of Crude Protein in Finishing Cattle Diets

A de‐oiled distillers grains (dDGS) product was evaluated as a primary supplemental CP source in finishing diets. The 3 dietary treatments used were: SBM/Urea) as a control, typical of feedlot diets; dDGS) where dDGS replaced all of the SBM and some urea; and dDGS/SBM) where a 90% dDGS/10% SBM (N basis) blend was fed iso‐nitrogenous to the other diets. Eighteen pens of 8 steers each were fed these finishing diets for 132 d. There were no differences in steer performance or carcass traits attributable to diet. The dDGS product can be used effectively to replace oilseed meals and some of the urea in finishing diets

Feeding High Grain Diets to Steer Calves with Different Feedlot Arrival Weights

Crossbred steer calves (384 head) were used in a 2-year study to determine the effects of feedlot arrival weight and diet concentrate levels on feedlot performance and carcass variables. Steers were separated into Light (434 lb), medium (486 lb) and heavy (533 lb) groups based upon weights when they arrived at the feedlot. A low energy (LE) corn silage receiving and growing system was compared with a high energy (HE) system that involved feeding relatively higher levels of grain during receiving and growing periods. Calves were fed to similar fatness endpoints. Rate of gain was similar for weight groups, but lighter calves required more days on feed and were more efficient. Lighter calves also gained mare weight in the feedlot when slaughtered at a constant fat endpoint and weighed less than heavier arrival weight groups. High grain feeding during receiving and growing periods improved over all daily gains and feed efficiency but caused steers to reach the common fat endpoint at lighter weights. There were no interactions between arrival weight groups and feeding system. Nonfeed costs per unit slaughter weight were similar for each feeding system, indicating feed resources and feedlot turnover rate should be primary factors used in deciding which feeding system to employ

Respiratory Viruses and Antibodies in Preconditioned South Dakota Feeder Calves

Nasal swabs and blood samples were taken from a t o t a l of 400 calves on a preconditioning evaluation program during 2 years. Fifty calves from each of four South Dakota ranches were divided into preconditioned (PC) and control (CO) groups and sampled both on the ranch and in the feedlot. The preconditioning program followed the recommendations of the South Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association and the Extension Service and included vaccination with live virus vaccines for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) and parainfluenza-3 virus (PI3). In both years, viruses were isolated from calves on the ranches before vaccination. PI3 and IBR were readily isolated from calves that were vaccinated 2 weeks previously with a live intranasal IBR-PI3 virus vaccine. Fifty-six virus isolations were made from the 200 calves on arrival at the feedlot in the second year in contrast to six made the first year. Serum was tested for antibodies to IBR, BVD, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and PI3. Prevaccination antibodies were present to PI3 and BVD during the first year and to PI3, BM and RSV during the second year. Antibody levels varied among the ranches. Serologically, respiratory syncytial virus was present in the feedlot both years, although it was only isolated the second year. Serologic evidence from calves in the feedlot indicated that PI3 and RSV were the most prevalent viruses. There were no significant differences between the health scores of preconditioned and control calves and this may have been inf1uenced by the presence of other agents, i.e., respiratory syncytial virus and enteroviruses

Digestion and Metabolism of Diets Containing Increasing Levels of Corn Germ

A novel germ fraction is being generated by the BFrac™4 process. The 20% fat, dry, flowable material is a potential source of concentrated energy to include in Northern Plains feedlot diets. A metabolism study with wethers was conducted to evaluate how ruminants would respond to this additional fat intake in finishing diets. Total collections of urine and feces were conducted on 23 wethers fed pelleted, high‐corn content, iso‐nitrogenous diets that included 0, 10, 20, or 30% germ. Each 6‐d collection period followed 21 d adaptation periods. Increasing BFrac™ germ content caused (P \u3c 0.01) an increase in DMI and a linear (P \u3c 0.001) decrease in DM digestibility, probably due to the effect of DMI. There was a quadratic (P \u3c 0.01) increase in EE digestibility, plateauing at 10% germ. Dietary DE, kcal/g declined linearly (P \u3c 0.01) but DE intake (kcal/d) increased linearly (P \u3c 0.05) because of higher DMI. There was no (P \u3e 0.15) dietary effect on N digestibility, but there was a linear (P \u3c 0.01) reduction in N retained. The increase in DE intake and decrease in N balance suggest that diets containing 20% or 30% germ had an antagonistic impact on metabolism

Use of Sunflower Hulls as the Roughage Component of Finishing Diets for Yearling Steers

Sunflower hulls were substituted for grass-alfalfa hay as the roughage component of finishing diets for yearling steers. Feed intake was lower when sunflower hulls were fed, resulting in reduced rate of gain and increased feed conversion. When diets were formulated to contain 12% NDF rather than 10% roughage, performance of steers fed either roughage source was similar. Sunflower hulls because of low cost can be used in finishing diets at 5% of dry matter intake without affecting production costs. Feeding higher levels of unprocessed sunflower hulls is discouraged

Alternate Day Supplementation of Corn Stalk Diets for Ruminants with High or Low Ruminal Escape Protein Supplements

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding soybean meal (SBM) and corn gluten meal (CGM) based, isonitrogenous supplements at 24- or 48-hour intervals on corn stalk utilization. Exp. 1. Yearling rams were fed either protein supplement as 100 g daily or 200 g on alternate days. DM1 was lower (Pc.10) for the CGM than SBM based supplements. Protein source and interval of feeding did not affect (P\u3e.10) digestible dry matter intake (DDMI) or disappearance of dry matter (DMD), but an interaction was observed (P\u3c.05) between protein source and interval of feeding. Nitrogen retention was greater for CGM (P\u3c.10) and 48-hour supplementation (P\u3c.01). However, an interaction between protein source and interval of feeding occurred (P\u3c.10) for N retention. Exp. 2. Angus and Hereford x Anugs steers (119 head; 620 ± 1.9 Ib) allotted to 8-head pens were fed similar diets except supplements (46% crude protein) also provided 0 (OM) or 200 (200M) mg per head per day monensin. CGM supported higher (Pc.05) ADG and gain/feed (G/F) than SBM, but a protein by monensin interaction occurred (Pc.10) for ADG and GIF. There was an interval by monensin interaction for ADG (P\u3c.10) and DM1 (P\u3c.05). An interaction between protein and interval occurred for plasma urea N on day 1 (P\u3c.01) and day 2 (P\u3c.10) of the sampling period. CGM was an effective isonitrogenous substitute for SBM based supplements in these applications. Supplementation at 48-hour intervals supported higher N utilization. High intermittent dosages of monensin appeared detrimental to calf performance

Development of an in Vivo Model to Determine the Biological Value of Microbial Protein

A semi-purified diet (SPD) was fed to 12 wether lambs and one fistulated wether and evaluated for acceptability and ability to support growth. Ruminal pH and NH3 were monitored throughout the diet adaptation period. Treatments included three levels of dry matter intake; low intake (LI) 750 g-hd-l. d-l, medium intake (MI) 1125 g-hd-l..d-l and high intake (HI) 1500 g-hd-l.d-l. Digestibility of dry matter (DM, 70.6%), acid detergent fiber (ADF, 62.8%), nitrogen (N, 72.8%) and percentage digestible nitrogen retained (33.2%) were not different across intake levels. Indigestible ADF of the semi-purified diet appears to be a suitable solid phase marker for estimating DM digestibility if DM intake is accounted for. Regression analysis indicated indigestible ADF recovered in feces was related to indigestible ADF intake and DM intake as described by the equation Indigestible ADF recovered = 80.3824 +.852 (indigestible ADF intake) + .0426 DM intake; (r2 = ,7057; P\u3c .01)

Characterization of Frost-Damaged Immature Soybeans for Alfalfa and Alfalfa-Brome Hay, Corn Silage or Corn Based Diets

One compositional study and three single stage in vitro rumen fermentation experiments were conducted to characterize the feeding profile of frost-damaged immature soybeans (FDIS). Dauson and Dassel soybean plants were harvested at 86, 93, 100, 107 days post-planting and frozen at -5 C to contrast with natural frozen soybeans of the same varieties that were serially planted and harvested after the first killing frost. No differences between soybean variety were detected for crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) or dry matter content (DM). Crude protein and EE content differed (P\u3c.05) between maturities of artificially frozen (AF) soybeans. Only the EE content differed (P\u3c.01) with maturity of naturally frozen (NF) soybeans. Planting date had an effect (P\u3c.001) on composition of mature soybeans primarily due to increasing EE component. Exp. 1. Five levels of FDIS (0, 5,10, 15, 20%). three substrates (alfalfa hay, ALF), corn silage (CS), ground corn (WSC)) and two fermentation times (24 or 48 hours) were evaluated in single stage in vitro fermentations. FDIS supplementation had no effect on in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) of ALF or USC, indicating at the upper limit of FDIS supplementation had not been reached. IVDMD of corn silage was depressed (P\u3c.01) when FDIS exceeded 10%. Increasing levels of FDIS increased NH –N (P\u3c.01) but had no effect on VFA concentration in fermentation liquor. Exp. 2. Alfalfa-brome hay, ALF and CS were supplemented with FDlS for 48-hour IVDMD comparisons. IVDMD was not affected by substrate, but FDIS increased IVDMD of CS (P\u3c.001). Exp.3. Four treatments, soybean meal (SBM), heated mature raw soybeans (HMB), heated FDIS (HFDIS) and FDIS, were used to differentiate oil content and trypsin inhibitor effects on roughage fermentation. Only SBM increased IVDMD (P\u3c.05) of forages tested. FDIS included at 20% of the DM did not significantly decrease IVDMD of forages in most instances but may not stimulate digestion in the same manner as SBM

Three-Year Summary of Preconditioning Effects on Pre- and Postshipment Performance of Feeder Calves

Production efficiencies associated with preconditioning feeder calves have been evaluated using 600 calves obtained from four ranches over a 3-year period. Nonpreconditioned calves remained with their dams during preconditioning and all calves were shipped to a research feedlot on the same dates each year. Average daily gains of nonpreconditioned calves for 28 days prior to shipment were variable over years and related t o range conditions. ADG of nonpreconditioned calves during each year were 1.39, .2 and 2.12 b and differed (P\u3c .001) from preconditioned c a l f gains of 2.18, 1.81 and .91 lb for the 39 days prior to shipment. Preconditioning responses interacted with ranch and year, indicating ranch conditions will have a significant impact on results. By weaning 30 days earlier, dams of preconditioned calves lost less weight during this same period. This effect was more pronounced when range conditions were poor. Preconditioning did not affect feed lot morbidity or mortality. During the initial 56 days in the feedlot, preconditioned calves consumed more dry matter each year but gains were similar. There was no effect of preshipment management on ADG after 56 days on feed and in the initial 2 years feed efficiency was better for nonpreconditioned calves. This advantage in feed efficiency carried through to slaughter at about 240 days

Effectiveness of High Inclusion Liquid Feed for Finishing Steers

A finishing phase study was conducted to measure the effectiveness of replacing dry rolled corn with a high inclusion liquid feed for finishing steers. Treatments were based upon 3 supplements: 1) Control 3.3% inclusion meal-type supplement (CO); 2) Typical Liquid Supplement 4.5% inclusion liquid supplement (TLS); and 3) High Liquid Supplement 9.0% inclusion liquid supplement (HLS). Supplements displaced dry rolled corn in finishing diets. Five 5 pens of 7 or 8 yearling steers with an initial BW of 930 lb assigned to each treatment for the 119 d experiment. The assayed supplement inclusion averaged 3.35%, 4.48% and 8.97% for the CO, TLS and HLS treatments, respectively. In general, interim performance periods resulted in similar DMI across diets and the HLS diet generally improved ADG and F:G when compared to the CO diet. On a shrunk live BW basis cumulative F:G was lower for HLS than CO and tended to be lower than when TLS diet was fed. The HLS also tended (P = 0.08) to increase ADG compared to the TLS. These responses suggest the caloric value of the HLS exceeded the caloric value of the DRC that it replaced. The liquid supplements had no adverse effects on Quality Grade and tended to improve Yield Grade compared to CO. The high inclusion liquid supplement used in this study was an effective substitute for dry rolled corn in a finishing diet