This experiment investigated the response by calves to different levels of protein during the first four weeks of feedlot adaptation using soybean meal, urea or a combination of the two sources. Following the adaptation period, the calves were continued on experiment for a growing phase to compare soybean meal and urea as supplements to corn silage

Embry, L. B.

Gates, R. N.

English

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South Dakota State UniversityOpen PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access InstitutionalRepository and Information ExchangeSouth Dakota Cattle Feeders Field Day Proceedingsand Research Reports, 1975 Animal Science Reports1975Soybean Meal or Urea During Feedlot Adaptationand Growing of CalvesR. N. GatesSouth Dakota State UniversityL. B. EmbryFollow this and additional works at: http://openprairie.sdstate.edu/sd_cattlefeed_1975Part of the Animal Sciences CommonsThis Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Reports at Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access InstitutionalRepository and Information Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in South Dakota Cattle Feeders Field Day Proceedings and Research Reports,1975 by an authorized administrator of Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. For moreinformation, please contact michael.biondo@sdstate.edu.Recommended CitationGates, R. N. and Embry, L. B., "Soybean Meal or Urea During Feedlot Adaptation and Growing of Calves" (1975). South Dakota CattleFeeders Field Day Proceedings and Research Reports, 1975. Paper 7.http://openprairie.sdstate.edu/sd_cattlefeed_1975/7South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota Department of Animal Science Agricultural Experiment Station A.S. Series 75-25 Soybean Meal or Urea During Feedlot Adaptation and Growing of Calves R. N. Gates and L. B. Embry Urea and other nonprotein nitrogen (NPN) compounds are frequently used as the supplemental source of protein for feedlot cattle. A period of adaptation appears to be required before the ruminant develops the ability to utilize NPN efficiently as a source of dietary protein. When urea is used as a major source of supplemental protein, cattle may suffer from a period of reduced performance while this adjustment is being made. Protein level in the ration, amount of NPN, energy content of ration, previous treatment, animal size and condition are factors which may affect the degree and time at which performance is reduced. It has been suggested that some improvement in performance may be obtained by feeding preformed protein such as soybean meal during this period of feedlot adaptation before introducing urea in the ration. This experiment investigated the response by calves to different levels of protein during the first 4 weeks of feedlot adaptation using soybean meal, urea or a combination of the two sources. Following the adaptation period, the calves were continued on experiment for a growing phase to compare soybean meal and urea as supplements to corn silage. Procedures The animals used in the experiment were steer calves purchased at a cattle auction. All calves (108 Hereford-Angus and 36 Angus) had been raised on the same ranch and were weaned about 2 weeks prior to time of purchase. During these 2 weeks, they grazed a field of standing forage sorghum without supple­mental feeds. All calves had previously received vaccinations commonly associ­ated with preconditioning treatment. No additional vaccinations were given except for blackleg. After the calves arrived at the feedlot, they were offered a ration of 4 lb. of alfalfa-brome hay with a full feed of corn silage for about l week. The calves were allotted into 24 pens of 6 calves each on basis of weight and breed group for the experiment which consisted of a 4-week adaptation phase and a growing phase. The initial weight on experiment was about 360 lb. which was approximately the same as the purchase weight. Each animal was implanted with 36 mg of zeranol near the beginning of the experiment. Adaptation Phase The rations during this phase of the experiment were a full feed of corn silage and one of six supplement treatments which were formulated to compare levels and sources of supplemental protein with corn silage fed to calves following weaning and shipping. Soybean meal and urea were used to provide variation in source of supplemental protein with each used at two levels. Ingredient composition of the supplements is shown in table 1. 27 - 2 -The soybean meal and urea supplements were formulated to contain about 32% protein. The corn supplement was fortified to supply the same supplemental levels of vitamin A, vitamin E and the combination of chlortetracycline and sulfamethazine as the soybean meal and urea supplements. All supplements were formulated to contain approximately the same amounts of calcium and phosphorus and to contain adequate amounts of trace minerals with sulfur added to those with urea. All supplements were fed at 4 lb. daily during the 4-week adaptation phase. The combination supplements were equivalent to 2 lb. of each supplement which were combined. Four pens of calves received each of the six supplements. An injectable grubicide was used on the calves. Treatment levels were approximately 1, 2 or 3 cc per 100 lb. of body weight with a nontreated control. These four grub control treatments were balanced between supplement treatments. Weights were obtained at 14 and 28 days to measure effects of supplement treatment on weight gains of the calves following weaning and shipping. Growing Phase Following the 4-week adaptation phase, the calves were continued on a growing phase for an additional 110 days (138 days total). Corn silage was fed to appetite as during the first 4 weeks. Ingredient composition of the supple­ments was the same as for the adaptation phase of the experiment except chlor­tetracycline at 35 mg/lb. of supplement was substituted for the chlortetracycline­sulfamethazine combination. Only three supplements--corn, soybean meal or urea--were fed during this phase. Levels of supplements were reduced to 2 lb. per head daily. Calves previously fed the com-soybean meal and the soybean meal supplements were fed the soybean meal supplement. Those previously fed the corn-urea, soybean meal­urea and urea supplements were fed the urea supplement. The corn supplement was reduced to the 2-lb. level for this group. The corn silage fed for the first 80 days of the experiment was low yielding with a small amount of grain (estimated 20 to 30 bushels per acre) because of dry weather during the growing season. It was harvested in a dry condition because of an early frost. Samples for determinations of dry matter taken at approximately weekly intervals during the experiment averaged 44.8% with a protein content of 9.63% on a dry basis. That fed for the remainder of the 138 days was from irrigated corn. While it was well-eared, yield was reduced by the early frost. Average dry matter content was 51.7% with 8.67% protein on a dry basis. Feeding was once daily during both phases of the experiment in outside, paved pens without access to shade or shelter. The experiment was terminated after 138 days when available corn silage was used up. 28 - 3 -Results Results of feedlot performance presented as the accumulative performance to date by weigh periods are shown in table 2 with performance stated as percent of corn control shown in table 3. There was no evidence that the grub control treatments had any effect on response to dietary treatments. Therefore, feedlot performance for supplement treatments has been averaged across grub control treatments. Adaptation Phase Problems were encountered in getting the calves to eat the supplement with 8.44% urea. It was found necessary to dilute this supplement with the corn supplement. Therefore, this treatment was similar to that for the urea-corn group especially during the first 2 weeks. In view of the problems encountered, it would not appear advisable to offer supplements with as much as 8.44% urea along with corn silage to calves during feedlot adaptation following weaning and shipping. Results during the first 4 weeks of the experiment show an advantage for protein supplementation in comparison to the corn control (tables 2 and 3). The soybean meal-com and the soybean meal-urea supplements appeared to off er a small advantage over the urea-com supplement during this time. The higher level of protein supplementation from soybean meal (SBOM-SBOM) did not improve performance over the lower level (SBOM-corn) . Other than for the high-urea supplement, there appeared to be no important effects of type of supplementation on feed consumption. Thus, calves making faster rates of gain had lower feed requirements. Growing Phase Average daily gains were lower at termination of the growing experiment than after 4 weeks except for the initial high-urea treatment. This resulted from the lower initial performance by this group of calves. Otherwise, there was essentially no difference in rate of gain between type of protein supple­ments. However, all types of supplements, with the exception mentioned, resulted in daily rates of gain about 0.30 lb. (17.5%) more than for no supple­mental protein. Calves fed the higher level of soybean meal (SBOM-SBOM) during the first 4 weeks had a lower rate of gain during the first month following the reduction in level of supplementation. There appears to be no satisfactory explanation for this temporary reduction in performance. At other times during the growing experiment, relatively uniform performance was obtained from soybean meal and urea supplements with essentially no effect of the adaptation treatment. Feed consumption was improved by protein supplementation. Calves fed urea supplements consumed slightly more feed than those supplemented with soybean meal. This resulted in slightly higher feed requirements for calves fed urea supplements. Improvement over the corn control amounted to 11.4% for soybean meal and 8.7% for urea, excluding the initial high-level urea group. 29 - 4 -Summary Results of the experiment show a need for supplemental protein with corn silage rations for calves to obtain optimum weight gains and feed efficiency following weaning and shipping (corn silage 8.7 to 9.6% protein, dry basis). Calves fed 4 lb. daily of a urea-com supplement with 4.22% urea (about 16% protein) had a slightly lower rate of gain after 4 weeks than calves fed a soybean meal-com supplement with a similar level of protein. After this ini­tial 4-week period of adaptation, weight gain, feed consumption and feed effi­ciency differed only slightly between these two groups of calves when fed 2 lb. daily of supplements with about 32% protein using soybean meal or urea (8.44% urea) as the supplemental protein to corn silage. Problems were encountered in getting calves to eat a urea-corn supplement with 8.44% urea upon arrival at the feedlot following weaning. It would appear that this level of urea is too high in a supplement offered with corn silage to calves following weaning and shipping. After the initial 4 weeks, these calves performed about the same when fed 2 lb. of a 32% protein supplement containing 8.44% urea as did calves offered a supplement with a lower level of urea during feedlot adaptation. Supplementing the calves with the higher level of protein (4 lb. of 32% protein) either from soybean meal (SBOM-SBOM) or urea (SBOM-urea) offered essentially no improvement in performance over the SBOM-corn supplement (4 lb. of 16% protein) after 4 weeks or at various stages of the growing phase of the experiment. Table 1. Ingredient Composition of Protein Supplements (Adaptation Phase) Corn Urea- SBOM- Urea-SUEElement corn corn SBOM SBOM % % % % % Corn 91. 39 86.61 58.50 53. 72 25.62 SBOM 33.59 33.59 67.18 Urea (45% N) 4.22 4.22 Calcium-phosphorus 4.76 4.83 4.14 4.21 3.52 supplement a Limestone 1.57 0.91 1.59 0.93 1.60 TM salt (regular) 2.08 2.08 2.08 2.08 2.08 TM premix 0.20 0 .20 0 .10 0 .10 Ca sulfate 1.15 1.15 Vitamin A (30,000 IU/g), 33.33 g 33.33 g 33.33 g 33.33 g 33.33 g 10,000 IU/lb. of supplement Vitamin E, (100,000 IU/lb.), 45.45 g 45.45 g 45.45 g 45.45 g 45.45 g 100 IU/lb. supplement Aureo-S 700 (350 mg each 8.75 g 8.75 g 8.75 g 8.75 g 8.75 g c:rc and SMZ/4 lb. supplement) a Ca, 18 to 21.5%; P, 18.5%. 30 Urea % 81.84 8.44 4.90 0 .25 2.08 0.20 2.29 33.33 45.45 8.75 g g g - 5 -Table 2. Soybean Meal or Urea During Feedlot Adaptation and Growing of Calves--Weight Gain and Feed Data November 13, 1974, to April 2, 1975--138 days Corn- SBOM- SBOM- Urea- Urea- Urea-Ada2tation 2hase control SBOM corn SBOM corn urea Growing phase Corn SBOM SBOM Urea Urea Urea Number of animals 23 24 24 24 24 24 Avg. init. shrunk wt., lb. 347 347 348 347 348 349 Avg. final shrunk wt. , lb. 575 614 615 617 621 608 Avg. daily gain, lb. 14 days 2.07 2.46 2.79 2.54 2.50 2.59 28 days 1.92 2.31 2.23 2.28 2.08 1.83 56 days 1.92 1.56 2.14 2.28 2.15 2.12 82 days 1.88 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.01 2.05 110 days 1.82 2.18 2.14 2.15 2.11 2.05 138 days (filled) 1.69 1.98 1.98 1.96 1.91 1.85 138 days (shrunk) 1.66 1.94 1.94 1.95 1.97 1.88 Avg. daily ration, lb. 14 days 18.33 17.46 18.54 18.15 18.24 15.62 28 days 21.61 21.31 21.06 21.54 21.57 19.94 56 days 23.45 23.90 23.50 24.16 24.40 23.78 82 days 24.65 25.37 24.90 26.24 25.92 26.04 llO days 23.58 24.71 24.51 25.66 25.33 25.39 138 days 23.48 24.45 24.34 25.70 25.31 25.33 Feed/ 100 lb. gain, lb. 14 days 892 714 668 721 735 606 28 days 1134 925 948 953 1038 1108 56 days 1226 1542 1138 1060 1134 1128 82 days 1312 1160 1132 1188 1288 1278 110 days 1306 1136 1146 1194 1203 1212 138 days (filled) 1396 1235 1232 1314 1325 1368 138 days (shrunk) 1424 1264 1258 1317 1284 1350 31 - 6 -Table 3. Soybean Meal or Urea During Feedlot Adaptation and Growing -0£ Calves--Percent of Corn Control November 13, 1974, to April 2, 1975--138 days Percent of corn control Corn SBOM- SBOM- Urea- Urea- Urea-AdaEtation Ehase control SBOM corn SBOM corn urea Growing 2hase Corn SBOM SBOM Urea Urea Urea lb. % % % % % Number of animals 23 24 24 24 24 24 Avg. init. shrunk wt., lb. 347 100 100 100 101 101 Avg. final shrunk wt., lb. 575 107 107 107 108 106 Avg. weight gain, lb • 14 days 29 121 134 124 121 128 28 d·ays 54 120 115 119 109 94 56 days 108 81 111 119 112 110 82 days 154 117 118 118 107 109 110 days 200 120 118 120 116 116 138 days (filled) 233 118 117 116 113 110 138 days (shrunk) 229 117 117 118 119 113 Avg. daily ration, lb. 14 days 18.33 95 101 99 100 85 28 days 21.61 99 97 100 100 92 56 days 23.45 102 100 103 104 101 82 days 24.65 103 101 106 105 106 110 days 23.58 105 104 109 107 108 138 days 23.48 104 104 109 108 108 Feed/ 100 lb • gain, lb. 14 days 892 80 75 81 82 68 28 days 1134 82 84 84 92 98 56 days 1226 126 93 86 93 92 82 days 1312 88 86 91 98 97 110 days 1306 87 88 91 92 93 138 days (filled) 1396 88 88 94 95 98 138 days (shrunk) 1424 89 88 92 90 95 32 

Soybean Meal or Urea During Feedlot Adaptation and Growing of Calves

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Soybean Meal or Urea During Feedlot Adaptation and Growing of Calves

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