Syngenta Enogen Corn Fed as Corn Grain and Corn Silage in Diets Containing Corn Coproducts Did Not Enhance Diet Digestibility in Growing Heifers

Objective: Evaluate the effect of feeding corn grain and corn silage from Enogen corn (EC; Syngenta Seeds, LLC., Downers Grove, IL) or conventional corn (CON) in diets containing either wet distillers grain (WDG; ICM Biofuels, St. Joseph, MO) or Sweet Bran [proprietary wet corn gluten feed (WCGF); Cargill Animal Nutrition, Blair, NE] on intake and digestibility in growing cattle. Study Description: Eight ruminally cannulated crossbred heifers (initial body weight = 816 ± 94 lb) were used in an intake and digestibility study designed as a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square. Four consecutive, 15-day periods consisted of 10 days for diet adaptation, 4 days of fecal sampling, and 1 day of ruminal sampling. Heifers were fed once daily at 10:00 a.m. Chromic oxide (Cr2O3) was used as an external digestion marker to calculate apparent total-tract diet digestibility. Results: Heifers eating EC tended to have greater starch digestibility (P = 0.07) than heifers eating CON. No differences (P \u3e 0.34) in dry matter or fiber digestibilities were observed between corn sources. There were coproduct × hour interactions for concentration of ruminal ammonia (P \u3c 0.01) and two branched chain fatty acids, isobutyrate (P \u3c 0.01) and isovalerate (P \u3c 0.01). In heifers fed WCGF, isobutyrate and isovalerate concentrations reached a peak at 2 hours after feeding, then declined between 2 and 24 hours after feeding. Heifers fed WDG isobutyrate and isovalerate concentrations were greatest at 0 hours after feeding. Differences between concentrations of isobutyrate and isovalerate can be explained by differences in protein digestibility of WCGF and WDG. The Bottom Line: Enogen corn hybrids fed as dry rolled corn and corn silage in diets containing corn coproducts did not result in better diet digestibility compared to conventional corn hybrids, but diets containing WDG may offer better growth performance (Scilacci et al., 2022) for growing cattle due to more ruminally undegradable protein compared to diets containing WCGF

Digestibility of Dry Matter is Better and Manure Output is Lower in Growing Cattle Limit-Fed a High-Energy Diet During the Growing Phase Compared to a Traditional Roughage-Based Diet Fed for Ad Libitum Intake

Objective: Evaluate the impact on intake and digestion of a high-energy diet limit-fed at 85% of the ad libitum daily consumption of a roughage-based diet on a dry matter (DM) basis compared to a traditional roughage-based growing diet in growing cattle. Study Description: Eight ruminally cannulated crossbred Angus heifers (body weight = 450 ± 24 lb) were used in a cross-over design with two consecutive 15-day periods at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Unit. Two dietary treatments were fed: (1) 45 Mcal of net energy for gain (NEg) per 100 lb of DM fed for ad libitum DM intake (45AL), or (2) 60 Mcal NEg per 100 lb of DM limit-fed at 85% of 45AL diet intake on a DM basis (60LF85%). Both diets contained 40% of DM as Sweet Bran (Cargill Animal Nutrition, Blair, NE). Heifers were fed once daily at 10:00 a.m. Each 15-day period included 10 days for diet adaption, 4 days for fecal sampling, and 1 day for ruminal sampling. Daily nutrient intake was measured and apparent total-tract diet digestibility using chromic oxide (Cr2O3) marker was determined. Results: Ruminal pH was greater (P \u3c 0.01) from 10:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. just before feeding for heifers fed 60LF85% than 45AL heifers. Diet digestibility was improved by 5.2% (P \u3c 0.01) and fecal DM output 35% lower (P \u3c 0.01) in heifers fed 60LF85% than heifers fed 45AL. The Bottom Line: Heifers limit-fed a high-energy diet based on corn and Sweet Bran had greater ruminal pH during the overnight hours, better diet digestibility, and reduced output of manure than heifers full-fed a traditional roughage-based diet

Syngenta Enogen Corn Fed as Corn Grain and Corn Silage in Diets Containing Corn Coproducts Did Not Enhance Growth Performance of Growing Heifers

Objective: Evaluate the effect of feeding corn grain and corn silage from Syngenta Enogen corn hybrids (EC; Syngenta Seeds, LLC., Downers Grove, IL) or conventional corn hybrids in diets containing either wet distillers grain (WDG; ICM Biofuels, St. Joseph, MO) or Sweet Bran (WCGF; Cargill Animal Nutrition, Blair, NE) on growth performance in growing cattle. Study Description: Three hundred eighty-four crossbred heifers [initial body weight (BW) = 582 ± 42 lb] were used in a completely randomized design, 81-day receiving and growing study, with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of four dietary treatments. Experimental diets were formulated to contain 30% WDG or 30% WCGF on a dry matter (DM) basis and provide 51 megacalories of net energy for gain per 100 lb of DM daily. Diets were fed ad libitum once daily. The Bottom Line: Our results revealed no effect of replacing conventional corn grain and silage with Enogen corn grain and silage on the growth performance of growing cattle, but diets containing WDG resulted in a better gain to feed ratio and average daily gain in growing heifers compared to diets containing WCGF

Feed Efficiency is Better and Activity is Greater in Growing Cattle Limit-Fed a High-Energy Diet During the Growing Phase Compared to a Traditional Roughage-Based Diet Fed for Ad Libitum Intake

The objective of this experiment was to compare performance impacts of a high-energy diet limit-fed at 2.2% of body weight (BW) daily on a dry matter (DM) basis to a traditional roughage-based diet fed for ad libitum intake during the growing phase. Study Description: Three hundred seventy crossbred heifers (initial BW = 496 ± 44 lb) were used in a receiving and growing study at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Unit in the spring of 2020. Animals were fed once daily at 7:00 a.m. Bunks were visually observed, and feed refused was estimated. Ad libitum feed refusal was targeted at 20 lb. A pen scale was used to measure weekly pen BW, adjust feed offerings, and to calculate pen performance. The Bottom Line: Growing heifers limit-fed a high-energy diet at 2.2% of BW daily on a DM basis had 35% better feed efficiency and were more active by 23 minutes per day, on average, than heifers full-fed a traditional roughage-based diet

A Limit-Fed, High-Energy Diet Fed During the Growing Phase Does Not Negatively Affect Subsequent Feedlot Growth Performance or Carcass Merit Compared to Feeding a Traditional Roughage-Based Diet Ad Libitum During the Growing Phase

Objective: The objective of this experiment was to compare the subsequent growth performance and carcass impacts of a high-energy diet limit-fed at 2.2% of body weight (BW) or a traditional roughage-based diet fed ad libitum during the growing phase. Study Description: Three hundred seventy crossbred heifers (initial BW = 496 ± 44 lb) previously used in a 90-day growing study at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Unit were transported to a commercial feedlot (Pratt Feeders, Pratt, KS) for finishing where cattle were fed a common diet. The two backgrounding diets included: (1) 45 Mcal of net energy for gain (NEg) per 100 lb of dry matter (DM) fed for ad libitum intake (45AL), or (2) 60 Mcal NEg per 100 lb of DM limit-fed at 2.2% of BW daily on a DM basis (60LF2.2). Both diets contained 40% of DM as Sweet Bran (Cargill Animal Nutrition, Blair, NE). Cattle were sorted by weight group (light or heavy) and backgrounding diet (45AL or 60LF2.2) and placed in one of four pens. Finishing growth performance and carcass characteristics were measured. Results: Heifers previously fed 60LF2.2 had greater morbidity (P \u3c 0.01) than heifers fed 45AL. No effect (P ≥ 0.52) of backgrounding diet was observed in measured carcass characteristics. The Bottom Line: Although heifers previously limit-fed a high-energy diet during the growing phase appeared to have greater incidence of morbidity in the feedlot compared to heifers previously fed a traditional roughage-based diet, previous backgrounding diet had little or no carryover effect on feedlot growth performance or carcass characteristics measured

Differences in Rumination and Animal Activity Can Be Quantified by Utilizing New Technologies

Objective: Utilizing new technologies such as Allflex eSense Ear Tags to (Allflex Livestock Intelligence, Madison, WI) evaluate the impacts of limit feeding a high-energy diet in the backgrounding phase on daily rumination and activity in growing cattle. Study Description: This project was conducted in conjunction with the performance backgrounding study at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Unit in 2019. Crossbred heifers (n = 418) were outfitted with an ear tag that measured rumination and activity throughout the day and the 84-day backgrounding study. This data was continuously collected via an onsite antenna, downloaded to a computer, and analyzed in a software program. The Bottom Line: High-energy, limit-fed cattle ruminate less than high roughage, ad libitum cattle by 45 minutes in this study. There were no detected differences in animal activity

Subsequent Carcass Merit of Feedlot Cattle May Be Improved by Limit Feeding a High-Energy Diet During the Backgrounding Phase

Objective: Determine and analyze the impact of limit feeding a high-energy diet in the backgrounding phase, primarily based on dry-rolled corn and Sweet Bran (Cargill Animal Nutrition, Blair, NE), on animal performance in the finishing phase and carcass merit. Study Description: This project was a continuation of the performance backgrounding study previously conducted at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Unit. All cattle were shipped to Pratt Feeders (Pratt, KS) on August 26–27, 2019, and were fed in four separate feed groups (approximately 100 head/pen) according to standard operating practices at the feed yard. Original backgrounding treatment integrity was maintained. Cattle were processed at National Beef (Dodge City, KS) on January 14 and February 4, 2020, and carcass data were obtained. The Bottom Line: Limit feeding a high-energy diet to cattle in the backgrounding phase appears to improve muscle deposition, especially in the light-sort cattle during the finishing phase

Limit-Fed, High-Energy Diets Can Achieve Improved Feed Conversion Rates Without Compromising Rate of Gain When Compared to Conventional High Roughage Diets

Objective: Compare and determine the effects on animal performance between a conventional high roughage diet and a limit-fed, high energy diet during the receiving and growing phase. Study Description: Crossbred heifer calves (n = 418) originating from Texas and New Mexico were used to determine performance when limit-fed a high energy diet initially offered at 85% of feed intakes from cattle fed a conventional high roughage diet ad libitum at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Unit. The Bottom Line: Limit-feeding a high energy diet consisting primarily of dry-rolled corn and Sweet Bran (Cargill Animal Nutrition, Blair, NE) can improve rate of gain while significantly decreasing dry matter consumption over conventional high roughage diets fed ad libitum, and cattle exhibit greater muscling and fat deposition