Evaluation of corn processing method and Sweet Bran inclusion on beef cattle performance and nutrient digestion and individual Sweet Bran components on nutrient digestion

One feedlot trial (Exp. 1) and one digestion trial (Exp. 2) were conducted to evaluate the interaction of corn processing method and Sweet Bran inclusion on nutrient digestion, ruminal fermentation parameters, and feedlot performance. In Exp. 1 when no Sweet Bran was fed, cattle fed steam-flaked corn (SFC) had greater ADG, HCW and a 12.4% improvement in feed efficiency compared to cattle fed a high-moisture corn/ dry-rolled corn (HMC/DRC) blend. However, as Sweet Bran increased in the diet to 40%, cattle fed HMC/DRC had greater improvements in ADG and HCW than cattle fed SFC resulting in similar performance at 40% Sweet Bran. Steers fed Sweet Bran in SFC diets had no improvement in feed efficiency while cattle fed HMC/ DRC diets displayed a 5.6% linear improvement in feed efficiency as Sweet Bran increased in the diet to 40%. As a result, feed efficiency was only improved by 5.3% for SFC diets when compared to HMC/DRC diets containing 40% Sweet Bran. Additionally, as Sweet Bran increased in the diet, cattle fed both SFC and HMC/DRC had greater DMI in both experiments and as a result, greater digestible energy (DE) intakes. Increased DE intakes improved ADG and feed efficiency when feeding Sweet Bran in Exp 1. and matched with greater DMI and increased DE observed in Exp. 2. Overall, feeding Sweet Bran in HMC/DRC based finishing diets makes HMC/DRC diets more competitive with SFC-based finishing diets allowing producers without steam-flaking capabilities to achieve similar gains and more similar conversions. An additional digestion trial (Exp. 3) was conducted to evaluate individual Sweet Bran components (corn bran, mixed steep, and solvent-extracted germ meal) on nutrient digestion and ruminal fermentation parameters. Dry matter and organic matter digestibility were lowest for bran, intermediate for solvent extracted germ meal, and greatest for steep and the corn control. Neutral detergent fiber digestibility was lowest for control and intermediate for bran and steep with a tendency for solvent extracted germ meal to have the greatest digestibility. Steep and solvent-extracted germ meal had energy densities similar to the corn control, while bran had a lower energy density. Additionally, apparent energy digestibility was greatest for steep and control and least for bran with solvent extracted germ meal being intermediate. These data suggest the the physical and nutrient digestibility characteristics of bran, steep, and SEM are complementary when fed in combination and contribute to the higher energy value of Sweet Bran compared to DRC. Advisors: James C. MacDonald & Galen E. Erickso

Evaluation of Ankom F58 Filter Bags Compared to Beakers for Analysis of Neutral Detergent Fiber

Feed ingredient, feed refusals, duodenal and fecal samples were analyzed to compare two methods of determining neutral detergent fiber. All samples were weighed into Ankom F58 fiber bags and Analyzed using an Ankom 2000 automated fiber Analyzer. Results were then compared to the Van Soest beaker method. The fiber values determined from both methods were within 3.5% of one another, with the beaker method being consistently greater compared to the Ankom method, except for fecal samples. Variability in fiber estimates for ingredients, feed refusals, and feces translated to substantial inconsistency in estimated neutral detergent fiber digestibilities among treatments. It is important to utilize a technique that results in correct neutral detergent fiber values because these values are used to further calculate digestibility of diets

Effects of Individual Sweet Bran Components in Beef Finishing Diets on Nutrient Digestion

Sweet Bran is a branded wet corn gluten feed recognized for improving rumen health, energy intake, and gains in finishing cattle. Eight ruminally cannulated steers were utilized in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin Square design to evaluate the effect of individual Sweet Bran components on total tract digestibility and rumen fermentation parameters. Three Sweet Bran components (solvent extracted germ meal, corn bran, and mixed steep) were included at 40% of diet dry matter in their respective treatment, with a steam-flaked corn control diet. Total tract dry matter and organic matter digestibility were least for bran, intermediate for solvent extracted germ meanl, and greatest for steep and control diets. Neutral detergent fiber digestibility was least for control and intermediate for bran and steep with a tendency for solvent extracted germ meal to have the greatest fiber digestibility. Overall, steep and solvent extracted germ meal have similar energy densities as the steam-flaked corn control, and bran and solvent extracted germ meal are highly digestible fiber sources. The nutrient and physical characteristics of steep, solvent extracted germ meal, and bran are complementary and may contribute to the greater energy value of Sweet Bran compared to dry-rolled corn

Strategies for DDGS Supplementation Frequency to Frazing Yearling Streers

Infrequent supplementation saves labor and may reduce animal performance, but recent research with reduced fat distillers grains has provided inconsistent results. This experiment evaluated the effects of daily and three times a week supplementation of dried distillers grains on yearling steer performance grazing smooth bromegrass pastures from May to August. Daily supplemented steers received 5.6 pounds of dry matter per steer of dried distillers grains with solubles 7 days/week. The three times a week supplemented steers received 13.0 pounds of dry matter per steer of dried distillers grains with solubles three days/week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday). A control treatment received no supplementation. Providing distillers grains supplement increased gain by 0.89 pounds per day compared to non-supplemented cattle. Daily supplementation of dried distillers grains increases gain by 0.31 pounds per day compared to three times a week supplementation and a non-supplemented control. Supplementing distillers gains three times per week may reduce ADG by 10% compared to daily supplementation

Evaluation of Encapsulated \u3ci\u3eMegasphaera Elsdenii\u3c/i\u3e in an Accelerated Beef Step-Up Program and an Acidosis Challenge Event

A 100-day metabolism study with 40 ruminally cannulated steers, individually fed, was conducted to determine the efects of daily feeding of encapsulated Megasphaera elsdenii along with a one-time dose of Lactipro NXT on dry matter intake, rumen organic acid concentration, lactate disappearance and native and specific strains of Megasphaera elsdenii concentration following an acidosis challenge. Steers fed Megasphaera elsdenii daily had greater intake after an acidosis event. Cattle fed daily Megasphaera elsdenii also had a faster rate of lactic acid disappearance after an acidosis event. Feeding Megasphaeara elsdenii daily may result in a faster recovery time, after an acidosis event, comapred to a one-time drench of Megaspharea elsdenii

Disclosing disease mechanisms with a spatio-temporal summation paradigm

Background: We develop the logic for a stimulus that can evaluate cone-dependent spatial summation and detail the modelling and interpretation of thresholds obtained with this stimulus. Methods: Fifteen observers participated, including two young normals tested extensively in control experiments, and a clinical trial based on four observers with age related macular degeneration (AMD), four age-similar controls and five young observers. Monocular spatial summation functions were measured with contrast-modulated Gabor targets that approximated the optimal visual contrast detector. Thresholds were returned from a yes/no adaptive psychophysical algorithm. By fine titration along the size domain it was demonstrated that the spatial summation of normal observers can be adequately described by a two-component model. A reduced set of variables are proposed for clinical applications and the model was applied to data derived using these variables in persons with AMD and age-similar controls. Results: We do not find a significant age-related loss of contrast sensitivity in our normal group. On the other hand, persons with early AMD exhibited a 0.41 log unit loss of sensitivity (P=0.04) from age-similar controls, without any change in their maximum summation area (Amax). Conclusions: The nature of the spatial summation is consistent with the interpretation that early AMD produces a decrease in cone input to post-receptoral mechanisms in the absence of neural remodelling