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

Effect of Different Growth Patterns on Feedlot Performance and Carcass Traits of Moderately Large Framed Feeder Calves

Dry matter intake of Charolais and Limousin sired crossbred steers was restricted to allow three distinctly different postweaning growth patterns. Growth patterns represented were LL--allow 2.8 lb ADG throughout the feeding period; LH -- same as LL until 80% of slaughter weight, then allow ad Libitum DMI; or HH--ad Libitum feed intake throughout. Ad Libitum fed steers consumed 23% more dry matter (P\u3c.001) had higher ADG (3.81 vs 3.09 Lb/head/day; P\u3c.01) than steers on restricted feed intake up t o 80% of slaughter weight. Feed efficiency was similar regardless of feeding rate in the early growth curve. Steers switched from restricted to ad Libitum feed intake exhibited compensatory gains (P\u3c.01), while DM1 did not differ from steers previously fed ad Libitum. While feeding program affected cumulative feedlot ADG and DMI (P\u3c.05) and days on feed, feed efficiency and total dry matter consumed were not affected. LL feeding resulted in lower marbling scores and a lower percentage choice grade in carcasses of similar weights. Growth pattern had no effect on carcass composition estimated from 9-10-11 rib section when adjusted to a common carcass weight

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

Effect of Early Weaning on Feedlot Performance and Carcass Characteristics of High Growth Potential Feeder Calves

Steer and heifer calves produced at Ft. Meade were used to evaluate early weaning and accelerated feeding as a management tool when retaining ownership of calves. Calves were weaned at 5 1/2 (EM) or 7 mo (NW) of age and started immediately on a 60% grain feeding program. Slaughter dates represented mean calf ages of 385 or 425 days and days on feed ranged from 179 to 257 days. Range conditions were good and early weaning had little effect on calf weight at any point in the feeding period. Feeding high grain diets to EW calves did not have any detrimental effects on feedlot performance when compared to NW. Early weaned calves produced carcasses that were 5 lb. heavier (P\u3c.05) than carcasses from NW cattle but had no other effects on carcass traits. Days on feed affected marbling scores independently of calf age or weaning group. EW appears to be a useful tool for reducing marketing interval for retained ownership cattle and for improving marbling scores of cattle at young ages

Preweaning Processing Anthelmintic Treatment and Post weaning Effects of Sulfamethazine Based Medications on Performance Traits and Oocyst Shedding in Weaned Calves

Two trials were conducted to evaluate antibiotic therapies for feeder calves originating in western South Dakota. In Trial 1, processing-anthelmintic treatment 28 days before weaning reduced ranch gains and provided no advantage in feedlot gains when calves were reprocessed. Processing included deworming, grubicide treatment, implanting and vaccination. Sulfamethazine medication caused transient improvements in feedlot performance during the feedlot receiving period in both trials. Supertherapeutic treatment with AS 700 offered no advantage in feedlot performance over therapeutic feeding in these calves. Sulfamethazine exposure suppressed coccidia oocyst shedding and appears to be an effective means of controlling coccidiosis and shipping fever complex for newly received calves

Optimun Levels of Dietary Crude Protein and Monensin for Steer Calves on Limit-Fed, High Concentrate Diets

One hundred ninety-two Angus and Angus x Limousin calves (611 lb) were randomly allotted to one of four Levels of crude protein intake and three dosages of monensin in an 80% concentrate diet. Intake of the complete diet was restricted to allow 2.2 lb average daily gain over an 86-day period. Crude protein was fed at 90, 100, 110 or 120% of the gram daily requirement described by NRC. Monensin was fed at 120, 180 or 240 mg/head/day. Each 10% increase in dietary crude protein caused a .13 lb increase in ADG, a .34 unit improvement in feed efficiency and .90 mg/dl increase in plasma urea nitrogen (P\u3c .001). Increasing monensin from 120 to 180 mg/head/day improved ADG .19 lb per day and feed/gain .56 units (P\u3c.01). There was no additional response to feeding monensin at 240 mg/head/day

Effects of Estradiol-Trenbalone Acetate Implant Combinations on Feedlot Performance and Carcass Traits of Two Steer Types

Hereford x Angus (HA) and predominantly Gelbvieh cross (Gx) steer calves either received no implant (control) or were implanted initially and again at 77 days on feed with a combination of estradiol and trenbalone acetate based implants. Calves were started on feed in December weighing 677 Ib and fed for 146 to 167 days. Fed for a common period of time, implanting steers increased (Pc.05) ADG, dry matter intake, final weight, carcass weight, rib fat thickness and yield grade. Implanting reduced (Pc.01) marbling scores. Gx steers were heavier and grew more rapidly than HA steers. There were no interactions between breed type and implant treatments for any variables measured. The action of implants to depress marbling scores is not overcome by increasing steer weight and condition to levels similar to nonimplanted controls

High-Moisture Ear Corn and Corn Silage in Backgrounding Cattle Diets

One hundred ninety-two Angus x Limousin steer calves (560 lb) were used in an 85-day backgrounding trial. Dietary crude protein levels of 90, 100, 110 and 120% of the NRC factorial equation recommendation were used within ad libitum-fed corn silage diets (CS) arid limit-fed chopped high-moisture ear corn (HMEC) diets. The objective was to determine if optimum dietary crude protein levels differed between these two basal diets when fed at similar levels of a net energy of gain. By design of the experiment, daily dry matter intake of HMEC diets was lower than CS diets (P\u3c.001). ADG was similar across basal diets and feed conversion was improved (P\u3c.001) with HMEC diets. Dietary crude protein level did not affect ADG. Quadratic decreases in the protein efficiency ratio occurred as dietary crude protein Level increased (P\u3c.01). Plasma urea N (PUN) levels were higher in calves fed HMEC diets (P\u3c.05) arid increased quadratically with increasing dietary crude protein level on day 56 (P\u3c.05). This study suggests the NRC factorial equation estimates the gram daily crude protein requirement and can be used without modification to predict dietary crude protein needs of limit-fed feeder calves

Hydrolyzed Feather Meal as a Protein Supplement for Steer Calves Fed Corn Silage

Hydrolyzed feather meal (HFM) was evaluated for soybean meal replacement value in corn silage diets fed t o steer calves. One hundred ninety-two steers (692 lb) were fed corn silage diets formulated to contain 11.5% crude protein. Hydrolyzed feather meal was substituted for soybean meal at levels providing 0, 25, 50 or 75% of the supplemental protein. Overall performance for the 98-day feeding trial was as follows: 2.10 lb average daily gain; 17.91 lb/day dry matter (DM) intake and 8.58 DM/gain. Protein supplements had no effect on performance, indicating that cost per unit protein is the primary consideration when formulating supplements containing HFM for growing calves fed high quality corn silage

Effects of Preconditioning on Pre- and Postshipment Performance and Health of Feeder Steers

Four hundred steer calves were used to determine the effect of preconditioning on performance and health of calves fed either a high or low energy diet. In each of 2 years, 200 steer calves were selected from four western South Dakota ranches to participate in the study. Preconditioned (PC) calves were treated according to the South Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association and Cooperative Extension Service\u27s guidelines for the Green Tag program. Preconditioning and implanting with zeranol produced a heavier calf at market time. No difference in weight loss during transit was noted between the PC and control treatments (CO), but implanted calves lost more weight than those not implanted (5.51 vs 4.92%). Preconditioned calves gained faster (3.04 vs 2.68 lb/head/day) and consumed more dry matter (13.94 vs 11.98 lb/head/day) the first 28 days in the feed lot than CO. Implanted calves had improved average daily gain (ADG) (2.27 vs 1.98 lb/head/day) and feed efficiency (F/G; 5.76 vs 6.55) over nonimplanted calves during this time. By completion of the feeding period. CO calves were more efficient. Feeding a high energy diet (HE 60% concentrate) resulted in increased dry matter intake (DMI; 13.84 vs 12.09 lb/head/day) and F/G (5.18 vs 4.62) during the initial 28 days and improved ADG (3.16 vs 2.94 lb/head/day) and F/G (6.15 vs 6.53) overall compared to calves fed the low energy diet (LE)