A metabolism trial was conducted to evaluate transitioning cattle from RAMP® directly to a finishing diet without an adaptation period. Adaptation programs included either a 4-step system that decreased RAMP (100 to 0%) while increasing inclusion of the finishing ration (0 to 100%) gradually over 4 steps or a 1-step system where cattle were fed RAMP for 10 days and switched directly to a 47.5% Sweet Bran® finishing ration on day 11. Abruptly transitioning cattle in 1 step to a finishing ration containing 47.5% Sweet Bran decreased average pH while increasing time below pH 5.3 and pH variation compared to the 4-STEP system. Eating time increased as a result of 1-step when cattle were on the final finishing ration

Erickson, Galen E., Erickson

Klopfenstein, Terry

Schneider, Cody J.

Shreck, Adam L.

English

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department 
2013 
Effects of Abruptly Transitioning Cattle from RAMP® to a 
Finishing Diet on Ruminal pH and Feed Intake 
Cody J. Schneider 
Universitiy of Nebraska--Lincoln 
Adam L. Shreck 
Universitiy of Nebraska--Lincoln 
Galen E. Erickson Erickson 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, gerickson4@unl.edu 
Terry Klopfenstein 
Universitiy of Nebraska--Lincoln, tklopfenstein1@unl.edu 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr 
Schneider, Cody J.; Shreck, Adam L.; Erickson, Galen E. Erickson; and Klopfenstein, Terry, "Effects of 
Abruptly Transitioning Cattle from RAMP® to a Finishing Diet on Ruminal pH and Feed Intake" (2013). 
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports. 737. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/737 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Beef Cattle 
Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 
Page 82 — 2013 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report  © The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved.
Effects of Abruptly Transitioning Cattle from RAMP® to a 
Finishing Diet on Ruminal pH and Feed Intake
Cody J. Schneider
Adam L. Shreck
Galen E. Erickson
Terry J. Klopfenstein1
Summary
A metabolism trial was conducted 
to evaluate transitioning cattle from 
RAMP® directly to a finishing diet with-
out an adaptation period. Adaptation 
programs included either a 4-step system 
that decreased RAMP (100 to 0%) while 
increasing inclusion of the finishing ra-
tion (0 to 100%) gradually over 4 steps 
or a 1-step system where cattle were fed 
RAMP for 10 days and switched directly 
to a 47.5% Sweet Bran® finishing ration 
on day 11. Abruptly transitioning cattle 
in 1 step to a finishing ration containing 
47.5% Sweet Bran decreased average pH 
while increasing time below pH 5.3 and 
pH variation compared to the 4-STEP 
system. Eating time increased as a result 
of 1-step when cattle were on the final 
finishing ration. 
Introduction
Grain adaptation programs using 
RAMP have been shown to increase 
ADG and improve feed efficiency over 
the entire finishing period compared 
to traditional grain adaptation with 
alfalfa hay (2012 Nebraska Beef Cattle 
Report, p.85). Improved performance 
during the finishing period may be 
due to a reduction in subclinical aci-
dosis or a change in eating behavior. 
A feedlot study found that cattle fed 
RAMP for 10 days can be transitioned 
rapidly to a 47.5% Sweet Bran finish-
ing ration in as little as three days 
using 3 steps, or in four days using 1 
step without negatively affecting per-
formance (2013 Nebraska Beef Report, 
pp. 78-79). The objective of the cur-
rent metabolism study was to evalu-
ate the effects of transitioning cattle 
from RAMP directly to a finishing 
ration without an adaptation period 
on DMI, eating behavior, and ruminal 
pH of ruminally fistulated steers.
Procedure
A 35-day metabolism trial was 
conducted using seven ruminally fis-
tulated steers (BW = 1,065 ± 110 lb). 
Treatments were imposed during the 
grain adaptation period (Table 1). Con-
trol steers (n = 4) were gradually adapt-
ed to a finishing diet using a 4-step 
system (4-STEP) which decreased 
RAMP inclusion (100 to 0%) while in-
creasing inclusion of finishing ration (0 
to 100%) equally over 4 periods (4, 6, 
6, and 6 days), RAMP was mixed with 
finishing ration 1 (47.5% Sweet Bran, 
40% high-moisture corn (HMC), 7.5% 
alfalfa hay (AH) and 5% supplement, 
DM basis; F1) and fed as a single diet. 
The 1 step adaptation system (1-STEP; 
n = 3) involved feeding RAMP for 10 
days and switching directly to F1 on d 
11. F1 was fed for 14 days for 1-STEP 
and 6 days for 4-STEP. Following F1, a 
second finisher (F2), which contained 
(DM basis) 25% Sweet Bran, 22.5% 
modified distillers grains with solubles, 
40% HMC, 7.5% AH and 5% supple-
Table 1. Dietary composition (%) and days for 4-STEP or 1-STEP RAMP adaptation (DM). 
Adaptation: 1 2 3 4 Finisher 1 Finisher 2
4-STEP (day)
RAMP
Alfalfa
HMC1
Sweet Bran
MDGS2
Supplement3
(1-4)
100
—
—
—
—
—
(5-10)
75
1.9
 10
11.9
—
 1.2
(11-16)
50
3.8
 20
 23.7
—
2.5
(17-22) 
25
5.6
30
 35.6
—
 3.8
(23-28)
—
7.5
 40
 47.5
—
5
(29-35)
—
7.5
 40
25
 22.5
5
1-STEP (day)
RAMP
Alfalfa
HMC1
Sweet Bran
MDGS2
Supplement3
(1-10)
100
—
—
—
—
(11-24)
—
7.5
 40
 25
—
5
(25-35)
—
7.5
 40
25
 22.5
5
1High moisture corn.
2Modified distillers grain with solubles.
3Supplement formulated to provide 25 g/ton Rumensin and 12 mg/lb thiamine (DM).
ment, was fed for 7 and 11 days for 
4-STEP and 1-STEP, respectively. All 
diets contained 25 g/ton Rumensin® 
and 12 mg/lb thiamine. Steers were 
individually housed in box stalls and 
were offered ad libitum access to feed 
and water and fed once daily at 0800 
hour. Feed intake was continuously 
monitored using feed bunks suspended 
on load cells to determine intake rate 
and meals per day. Feed refusals were 
collected daily, weighed, and a 10% 
representative sample was retained and 
dried in a forced-air oven at 60ºC for 
48 hours to obtain DMI. 
Wireless pH probes were placed 
into the rumen of each steer for 
the trial duration. Each probe was 
attached to a weighted enclosure 
designed to maintain the electrode in 
the ventral sac of the rumen. Ruminal 
pH was recorded at 1 minute inter-
vals. On days 9 and 22 of the trial each 
probe was briefly removed from the 
rumen, before feeding, to download 
pH data and recalibrate the probe. 
Data from the first days of F1 and 
F2 were analyzed to compare the two 
systems using the GLIMMIX pro-
cedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, 
N.C.) Steer was the experimental unit 
© The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved. 2013 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report  — Page 83 
and was treated as a random effect, 
and day was treated as a repeated 
measure. 
Results
Intakes of F1 and F2 were similar 
statistically for 4-STEP and 1-STEP  
(P > 0.4; Table 2). One steer on 
1-STEP had reduced DMI (50%) for 
two days along with low ruminal pH 
and high pH variation within d on F1, 
suggesting acidosis. After the period 
of reduced intake, DMI increased to 
a level consistent with other animals 
on the 1-STEP treatment for the 
remainder of the trial. Although 
1-STEP likely caused acidosis in this 
steer, the 1-STEP treatment has been 
evaluated in a feedlot study and no 
adverse effects on performance were 
observed when compared to 4-STEP 
(2013 Nebraska Beef Report pp. 80-81). 
Eating time was greater for 1-STEP 
compared to 4-STEP when fed F1  
(P = 0.02) or F2 (P = 0.07), but meals/
day were similar (P > 0.65) across 
treatments for F1 and F2. A change in 
eating time suggests the abrupt step 
changed eating behavior.
Average ruminal pH was lower 
while fed F1 (P = 0.03) or F2 (P = 0.02) 
for 1-STEP cattle compared to 4-step 
(Table 2; Figure 1). Cattle adapted 
with 1-STEP had greater time below 
pH 5.3 and pH 5.6 while fed F1  
(P = 0.03) or F2 (P = 0.01) compared 
to 4-STEP. While on F2, 1-STEP cattle 
had a lower minimum pH (P = 0.01) 
compared to 4-STEP. Magnitude of 
pH change and pH variance were 
not different (P > 0.44) while cattle 
were fed F1. However, magnitude of 
pH change and ruminal pH variance 
were greater (P < 0.04) for 1-STEP 
compared to 4-STEP for F2. Abruptly 
transitioning cattle from RAMP to 
Table 2.  Effects of 4-STEP or 1-STEP adaptation methods on intake, intake behavior, and ruminal pH 
the first six days cattle were fed finisher 1 (F1) and finisher 2 (F2).
Item
First 6 days of F1
P-value
First 6 days of F2
P-value4-STEP 1-STEP 4-STEP 1-STEP
DMI, lb/day
Intake Rate, %/hour
Eating time, min
Meals/day, n
Average pH
Maximum pH
Minimum pH
pH change
pH variance
Time < 5.6, min
Area < 5.61
 27.2
 16.9
 310
 9.5
5.84
6.63
5.26
1.38
 0.127
 471
 96
 25.2
 20.6
 368
 8.9
5.60
6.37
5.07
1.29
 0.099
 807
 217
0.53
0.12
0.02
0.77
0.03
 <0.01
0.06
0.47
0.44
0.03
0.02
 23.8
 17.4
 304
8.7
 5.83
6.49
5.29
1.20
 0.084
 403
 71
 27.4
 18.7
 397
 9.1
5.64
6.58
5.04
1.55
 0.158
 762
 210
0.40
0.47
0.07
0.65
0.02
0.23
0.01
0.03
0.04
0.01
0.02
1Area under curve (magnitude of pH < 5.6 by minute).
Figure 1.  DMI and average ruminal pH of cattle transitioned to a finishing in 1-STEP or 4-STEPs.
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
M
I,
 lb
6.6
6.4
6.2
6.0
5.8
5.6
5.4
5.2
A
ve
ra
ge
 r
u
m
in
al
 p
H
4-STEP DMI
1-STEP DMI
4-STEP pH
1-STEP pH
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 25
Days
high-grain finishing diets containing 
47.5% Sweet Bran decreased average 
pH while increasing time below pH 
5.3 and pH variation compared to the 
4-STEP system. Eating behavior was 
affected by 1-STEP with cattle eating 
longer each day when compared to 
4-STEP. This change in behavior was 
likely due to lower ruminal pH but 
could reduce acidotic insults if this 
behavior continues throughout feed-
ing period. 
1Cody J. Schneider, research technician, 
Adam L. Shreck, research technician, Galen 
E. Erickson, professor, Terry J. Klopfenstein, 
professor, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 
Department of Animal Science.


Effects of Abruptly Transitioning Cattle from RAMP® to a Finishing Diet on Ruminal pH and Feed Intake

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department 2013 Effects of Abruptly Transitioning Cattle from RAMP® to a Finishing Diet on Ruminal pH and Feed Intake Cody J. Schneider Universitiy of Nebraska--Lincoln Adam L. Shreck Universitiy of Nebraska--Lincoln Galen E. Erickson Erickson University of Nebraska-Lincoln, gerickson4@unl.edu Terry Klopfenstein Universitiy of Nebraska--Lincoln, tklopfenstein1@unl.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr Schneider, Cody J.; Shreck, Adam L.; Erickson, Galen E. Erickson; and Klopfenstein, Terry, "Effects of Abruptly Transitioning Cattle from RAMP® to a Finishing Diet on Ruminal pH and Feed Intake" (2013). Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports. 737. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/737 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Page 82 — 2013 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report  © The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved.Effects of Abruptly Transitioning Cattle from RAMP® to a Finishing Diet on Ruminal pH and Feed IntakeCody J. SchneiderAdam L. ShreckGalen E. EricksonTerry J. Klopfenstein1SummaryA metabolism trial was conducted to evaluate transitioning cattle from RAMP® directly to a finishing diet with-out an adaptation period. Adaptation programs included either a 4-step system that decreased RAMP (100 to 0%) while increasing inclusion of the finishing ra-tion (0 to 100%) gradually over 4 steps or a 1-step system where cattle were fed RAMP for 10 days and switched directly to a 47.5% Sweet Bran® finishing ration on day 11. Abruptly transitioning cattle in 1 step to a finishing ration containing 47.5% Sweet Bran decreased average pH while increasing time below pH 5.3 and pH variation compared to the 4-STEP system. Eating time increased as a result of 1-step when cattle were on the final finishing ration. IntroductionGrain adaptation programs using RAMP have been shown to increase ADG and improve feed efficiency over the entire finishing period compared to traditional grain adaptation with alfalfa hay (2012 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, p.85). Improved performance during the finishing period may be due to a reduction in subclinical aci-dosis or a change in eating behavior. A feedlot study found that cattle fed RAMP for 10 days can be transitioned rapidly to a 47.5% Sweet Bran finish-ing ration in as little as three days using 3 steps, or in four days using 1 step without negatively affecting per-formance (2013 Nebraska Beef Report, pp. 78-79). The objective of the cur-rent metabolism study was to evalu-ate the effects of transitioning cattle from RAMP directly to a finishing ration without an adaptation period on DMI, eating behavior, and ruminal pH of ruminally fistulated steers.ProcedureA 35-day metabolism trial was conducted using seven ruminally fis-tulated steers (BW = 1,065 ± 110 lb). Treatments were imposed during the grain adaptation period (Table 1). Con-trol steers (n = 4) were gradually adapt-ed to a finishing diet using a 4-step system (4-STEP) which decreased RAMP inclusion (100 to 0%) while in-creasing inclusion of finishing ration (0 to 100%) equally over 4 periods (4, 6, 6, and 6 days), RAMP was mixed with finishing ration 1 (47.5% Sweet Bran, 40% high-moisture corn (HMC), 7.5% alfalfa hay (AH) and 5% supplement, DM basis; F1) and fed as a single diet. The 1 step adaptation system (1-STEP; n = 3) involved feeding RAMP for 10 days and switching directly to F1 on d 11. F1 was fed for 14 days for 1-STEP and 6 days for 4-STEP. Following F1, a second finisher (F2), which contained (DM basis) 25% Sweet Bran, 22.5% modified distillers grains with solubles, 40% HMC, 7.5% AH and 5% supple-Table 1. Dietary composition (%) and days for 4-STEP or 1-STEP RAMP adaptation (DM). Adaptation: 1 2 3 4 Finisher 1 Finisher 24-STEP (day)RAMPAlfalfaHMC1Sweet BranMDGS2Supplement3(1-4)100—————(5-10)751.9 1011.9— 1.2(11-16)503.8 20 23.7—2.5(17-22) 255.630 35.6— 3.8(23-28)—7.5 40 47.5—5(29-35)—7.5 4025 22.551-STEP (day)RAMPAlfalfaHMC1Sweet BranMDGS2Supplement3(1-10)100————(11-24)—7.5 40 25—5(25-35)—7.5 4025 22.551High moisture corn.2Modified distillers grain with solubles.3Supplement formulated to provide 25 g/ton Rumensin and 12 mg/lb thiamine (DM).ment, was fed for 7 and 11 days for 4-STEP and 1-STEP, respectively. All diets contained 25 g/ton Rumensin® and 12 mg/lb thiamine. Steers were individually housed in box stalls and were offered ad libitum access to feed and water and fed once daily at 0800 hour. Feed intake was continuously monitored using feed bunks suspended on load cells to determine intake rate and meals per day. Feed refusals were collected daily, weighed, and a 10% representative sample was retained and dried in a forced-air oven at 60ºC for 48 hours to obtain DMI. Wireless pH probes were placed into the rumen of each steer for the trial duration. Each probe was attached to a weighted enclosure designed to maintain the electrode in the ventral sac of the rumen. Ruminal pH was recorded at 1 minute inter-vals. On days 9 and 22 of the trial each probe was briefly removed from the rumen, before feeding, to download pH data and recalibrate the probe. Data from the first days of F1 and F2 were analyzed to compare the two systems using the GLIMMIX pro-cedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, N.C.) Steer was the experimental unit © The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.  All rights reserved. 2013 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report  — Page 83 and was treated as a random effect, and day was treated as a repeated measure. ResultsIntakes of F1 and F2 were similar statistically for 4-STEP and 1-STEP  (P > 0.4; Table 2). One steer on 1-STEP had reduced DMI (50%) for two days along with low ruminal pH and high pH variation within d on F1, suggesting acidosis. After the period of reduced intake, DMI increased to a level consistent with other animals on the 1-STEP treatment for the remainder of the trial. Although 1-STEP likely caused acidosis in this steer, the 1-STEP treatment has been evaluated in a feedlot study and no adverse effects on performance were observed when compared to 4-STEP (2013 Nebraska Beef Report pp. 80-81). Eating time was greater for 1-STEP compared to 4-STEP when fed F1  (P = 0.02) or F2 (P = 0.07), but meals/day were similar (P > 0.65) across treatments for F1 and F2. A change in eating time suggests the abrupt step changed eating behavior.Average ruminal pH was lower while fed F1 (P = 0.03) or F2 (P = 0.02) for 1-STEP cattle compared to 4-step (Table 2; Figure 1). Cattle adapted with 1-STEP had greater time below pH 5.3 and pH 5.6 while fed F1  (P = 0.03) or F2 (P = 0.01) compared to 4-STEP. While on F2, 1-STEP cattle had a lower minimum pH (P = 0.01) compared to 4-STEP. Magnitude of pH change and pH variance were not different (P > 0.44) while cattle were fed F1. However, magnitude of pH change and ruminal pH variance were greater (P < 0.04) for 1-STEP compared to 4-STEP for F2. Abruptly transitioning cattle from RAMP to Table 2.  Effects of 4-STEP or 1-STEP adaptation methods on intake, intake behavior, and ruminal pH the first six days cattle were fed finisher 1 (F1) and finisher 2 (F2).ItemFirst 6 days of F1P-valueFirst 6 days of F2P-value4-STEP 1-STEP 4-STEP 1-STEPDMI, lb/dayIntake Rate, %/hourEating time, minMeals/day, nAverage pHMaximum pHMinimum pHpH changepH varianceTime < 5.6, minArea < 5.61 27.2 16.9 310 9.55.846.635.261.38 0.127 471 96 25.2 20.6 368 8.95.606.375.071.29 0.099 807 2170.530.120.020.770.03 <0.010.060.470.440.030.02 23.8 17.4 3048.7 5.836.495.291.20 0.084 403 71 27.4 18.7 397 9.15.646.585.041.55 0.158 762 2100.400.470.070.650.020.230.010.030.040.010.021Area under curve (magnitude of pH < 5.6 by minute).Figure 1.  DMI and average ruminal pH of cattle transitioned to a finishing in 1-STEP or 4-STEPs.302520151050DMI, lb6.66.46.26.05.85.65.45.2Average ruminal pH4-STEP DMI1-STEP DMI4-STEP pH1-STEP pH0 5 10 15 20 25 30 25Dayshigh-grain finishing diets containing 47.5% Sweet Bran decreased average pH while increasing time below pH 5.3 and pH variation compared to the 4-STEP system. Eating behavior was affected by 1-STEP with cattle eating longer each day when compared to 4-STEP. This change in behavior was likely due to lower ruminal pH but could reduce acidotic insults if this behavior continues throughout feed-ing period. 1Cody J. Schneider, research technician, Adam L. Shreck, research technician, Galen E. Erickson, professor, Terry J. Klopfenstein, professor, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Department of Animal Science.

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Effects of Abruptly Transitioning Cattle from RAMP® to a Finishing Diet on Ruminal pH and Feed Intake

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