Impact of Cleaning Frequency on Nitrogen Balance in Open Feedlot Pens

Pen cleaning frequency of feedlot pens was evaluated during the summer of 2001 and 2002. Dry matter, organic matter and nitrogen recoveries were evaluated on a per head basis. Cleaning pens monthly compared to cleaning at the end of the feeding period resulted in significantly more DM, OM and N recovered. Cleaning pens every month increased N removal by 7.0 lb per steer (49.9% increase) above manure N removed at the end of the feeding period

Phosphorus Requirement for Finishing Heifers

Sixty head of crossbred heifers (614 lb initial BW) were individually fed one of five levels of phosphorus of 0.10, 0.17, 0.24, 0.31, 0.38 % of diet DM with supplemental P from monosodium phosphate. Heifers were fed an energy-dense diet composed primarily of corn starch and corn fiber to minimize P from corn. When compared to the other four levels, heifers fed at the 0.10 % P level had lower DMI, ADG and final BW. Heifers fed 0.10%P had lower plasma P concentration. Breakpoint analysis of ADG suggests that the P requirement for finishing heifers is 0.115% P of diet DM within the range of 8.2 to 10.3g P/day (0.104 and 0.127% P on a DM basis)

Effect of Wet and Dry Distillers Grains Plus Solubles and Supplemental Fat Level on Performance of Yearling Finishing Cattle

Two finishing trials were conducted to compare the addition of fat from either wet or dry distillers byproducts (WDGS; DDGS) to that provided from one of two commercially available fat sources (corn oil, Trial 1; tallow, Trial 2). In Trial 1, feed conversion and ADG decreased linearly as level of corn oil increased, while feed conversion and ADG were improved numerically as the level of WDGS increased in the diet. In Trial 2, no differences in performance were observed comparing cattle fed dry distillers grains plus solubles to cattle fed diets containing tallow. WDGS provided 12 and 17% more net energy for gain when fed at 20 and 40% of the diet compared to a dry rolled/high moisture corn mix

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Optimizing corn use by finishing cattle through wet corn milling by-products and corn processing

Five finishing trials and an economic analysis were conducted to optimize corn use by feedlot cattle through corn processing and wet corn milling by-products. Data are available for feeding dry-rolled corn with by-products such as wet corn gluten feed (WCGF), steep liquor, corn bran, and germ meal to finishing cattle. However, limited data are available for feeding these by-products with more intensively processed corn. Our objectives were to determine the effects of by-products fed in finishing diets that contained corn that was processed more intensively than rolled corn, energy values of processed corn, and cost of processing. Processing corn in finishing diets that contained 25% WCGF (DM basis) improved calculated net energy for gain estimates for fine-ground (5.1%), rolled high-moisture (10.3%), ground high-moisture (10.9%), and steam-flaked corn (15.4%) compared to dry-rolled corn. Feeding WCGF at levels of 10, 20, 25, 30, and 35% (DM basis) in steam-flaked corn based diets did not affect average daily gain or feed efficiency compared to 0% inclusion of WCGF. Wet corn gluten feed is mostly a combination of steep liquor and corn bran. Higher ratios of steep to bran in WCGF increased feed efficiency when by-products were fed at 25% of diet DM in steam-flaked corn based diets. Drying corn bran did not affect its energy value. Feeding by-products with more intensively processed corn appears to be a viable option in feeding finishing cattle. To determine if this is the case, cost of processing corn more intensively must be know. Corn processing costs were estimated to be between $0.81 and$1.58 per t for dry rolling, $3.07 and$4.71 per t for ensiling high-moisture, and $6.23 and$9.57 per t for steam-flaking corn. Using these estimated costs, feeding WCGF with intensively processed corn can have economic benefits

Sodium Chloride Levels for Finishing Feedlot Heifers

A trial was conducted to establish a NaCl level that maximizes intake and performance while minimizing excretion of Na to the environment. Fifty-nine individually fed yearling heifers (803 lb) were fed 113 days. NaCl was added to a corn-based feedlot diet at levels of 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.375 and 0.5 % of diet DM. No difference in ADG, DMI or F/G were observed with different levels of NaCl. Results suggest NaCl inclusion in the diet likely is not necessary to maintain acceptable feedlot performance

Prediction of Net Energy Adjuster for Feedlot Cattle When Using the 1996 Beef Cattle NRC Model

Data from 277 treatment means in 15 previous beef cattle studies were used to develop equations to predict net energy adjusters throughout the feeding period to better predict gain with the National Research Council’s 1996 Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle model. Early in the feeding period the net energy adjuster reduces the energy to correct for overprediction of gain and late in the feeding period the net energy adjuster increases energy to correct for under prediction of gain. The average NE adjusters were 0.88 and 1.08 for the beginning and end of the feeding period

Performance and Economics of Sorting Yearling Steers by Feedlot Initial Body Weight

Four groups of long yearling steers were used to evaluate the effect of sorting by feedlot initial body weight on performance and feedlot economic variables during the feeding period. Steers were sorted into the lightest 25%, middle 50%, and heaviest 25%, along with a nonsorted control. Steers were marketed by sort treatment: heavy two weeks prior, middle one week after, and light three weeks after the unsorted control steers. Sorting did not affect dry matter intake, average daily gain, marbling, 12th rib fat thickness, USDA yield and quality grades, or economic analysis; however, sorting did increase days on feed, feedlot final BW, and hot carcass weight

Performance and Economics of Yearlings Developed with Intensive Winter Management, and Partial Season Grazing

Two experiments were conducted over two years to evaluate effects of two developmental systems on performance and economics of long yearling steer production. Steers were wintered in the normal system with corn residue grazing and dry lot hay feeding, with 5 lb per day wet corn gluten feed as a supplement. Intensively managed steers were given 6 lb per day wet corn gluten feed and implanted with Ralgro® at the beginning of the wintering period and Synovex S® at the beginning of the dry lot phase. In addition, intensively managed steers were removed from summer pasture early. Intensive system steers were marketed in October and normal system steers were marketed in November following a finishing period. Economic analysis indicated a performance and economic advantage to the intensive system, when marketing the steers after the wintering period or after the summer grazing period; however, if steers were marketed after feedlot finishing, profitability estimates were not different

Wet Corn Gluten Feed and Alfalfa Hay Levels in Dry-Rolled Corn Finishing Diets

One hundred ninety-two yearling steers were fed 132 days (June to October) to determine if roughage levels could be reduced in dry-rolled corn finishing diets containing wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) and to evaluate the effects on N volatilization. Finishing diets contained either 0 or 35% WCGF and 0, 3.75, or 7.5% alfalfa hay. Intake, ADG, and carcass weight increased as level of alfalfa hay increased, or when WCGF was fed. Feed conversions of cattle fed 35% WCGF were improved 4.4% compared to conversions of cattle fed no WCGF at 0% alfalfa hay. Within 35% WCGF diets, efficiency decreased as alfalfa hay inclusion increased. Nitrogen loss from pens with cattle fed 0 and 35% WCGF was not different, averaging nearly 80%. These data suggest alfalfa hay can be decreased from conventional levels when diets contain WCGF