scholarly journals Influence of Megasphaera elsdenii and feeding strategies on feedlot performance, compositional growth, and carcass parameters of early weaned, beef calves

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 863-875
Author(s):  
Jonathan C DeClerck ◽  
Zain E Wade ◽  
Nathan R Reeves ◽  
Mark F Miller ◽  
Brad J Johnson ◽  
...  

Abstract Simmental–Angus calves [n = 135; 72 steers and 63 heifers; body weight (BW) = 212.4 kg ± 36.1] were early weaned (~5 mo) to evaluate multiple feeding regimens (conventional vs. aggressive energy diets ± Megasphaera elsdenii NCIMB 41125 (M. elsdenii culture (MEC); Lactipro Advance; MS Biotec Inc., Wamego, KS) in order to elucidate the optimal development strategy. Objectives were measured by tracking the effects of caloric density and oral drenching of growing phase performance and subsequent carcass traits. The 72-d experiment featured three groups: 1) control (CON), fed exclusively a 35% roughage diet; 2) aggressive (AGR), fed a blend of a 10% and 35% roughage diets; 3) MEC, fed the same diet as AGR and drenched with 50 mL of M. elsdenii NCIMB 41125 on day 1. A subset of calves (n = 45) was equipped with wireless rumination tags (Allflex Flex Tag; SCR Engineers, Ltd; Netanya, Israel), which logged daily rumination and general activity. Skeletal growth variables were assessed by measuring wither and hip height pretrial and posttrial. Ultrasonography provided additional resolution concerning growing phase compositional gain, which was later verified by carcass data collection. Data were analyzed as a nested analysis of variance with BW and gender serving as blocking factors. The increased caloric density of the diets administered to MEC and AGR calves resulted in greater average daily gain and gain:feed values compared with CON even during the first 21 d of diet acclimation (P ≤ 0.05). Additional fiber concentration of CON diets led to increased rumination times in 9 of the 10 wk of trial (P ≤ 0.10). No differences amongst treatments were detected for skeletal variables or ultrasound 12th rib fat. Cattle fed CON diets posted 3.4% inferior BW at the end of the growing period trial and a 3.8% reduction in hot carcass weight (HCW), reinforcing the theory that intensifying caloric intake during the growing phase does not compromise future feedlot performance. Ultrasound marbling scores for MEC-treated cattle were 19° greater than AGR treated cattle (P ≤ 0.05) at the end of the growing phase trial. Nearly the exact same advantage (22°) was observed in the cooler 5 mo later (P = 0.42). Implying MEC metabolically imprinted cattle to favor marbling development. It appears that maximizing dietary caloric density in light-weight calves does not adversely affect the growth curve, while oral dosing of MEC during the growing period may be a precursor for enhanced quality grade.

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 159-169
Author(s):  
Jonathan C DeClerck ◽  
Nathan R Reeves ◽  
Mark F Miller ◽  
Bradley J Johnson ◽  
Gary A Ducharme ◽  
...  

Abstract One hundred forty-four cull cows (body condition score = 2.10 ± 0.61; BW = 456 ± 47 kg) were organized into a 2 × 2 factorial design (48 pens, 12 pens/treatment, and 3 cows/pen) to evaluate the effect of dietary roughage level and oral drenching of Megasphaera elsdenii NCIMB 41125 (M. elsdenii culture; Lactipro Advance; MS Biotec Inc., Wamego, KS) on performance and carcass characteristics. Cattle were finished over a 42-day realimentation period, and aggressively stepped up over a 10-day period to either a high roughage finisher (HRF; 25% roughage) or a low roughage finisher (LRF; 10% roughage). Within diet, cattle were administered no probiotic or 100 mL of M. elsdenii culture (M. elsdenii NCIMB 41125, 2 108 cfu/mL) on day 0. No diet × probiotic interactions were detected (P ≥ 0.15), suggesting that the magnitude of the response was not influenced by the concentrate level of the diet. The main effect of diet triggered several significant responses. Decreasing roughage level tended to improve average daily gain (ADG) by 9.7% (0.26 kg, P = 0.08), while decreasing dry matter intake (DMI) by 0.9 kg (P = 0.09), provoking a 19.7% enhancement of feed efficiency (0.036 units, P < 0.01). However, interim data revealed declines of performance parameters among both diets with a significant difference between treatments only documented during the final phase of the realimentation period. During the final 14 days, LRF posted a 0.68 kg increase in ADG (P = 0.05) and a 2.0 kg decrease in DMI (P = 0.01), translating to improved feed efficiency (0.054 units, P = 0.03). This suggests that increasing the caloric density of finishing diets may help offset the regression of performance typically observed following a compensatory gain. No carcass traits were impacted by either diet or M. elsdenii culture (P ≥ 0.08). Overall, oral drenching of M. elsdenii culture tended to augment ADG (0.26 kg, P = 0.08) and carcass ADG (0.20 kg, P = 0.10). Implying that M. elsdenii culture was effective at alleviating the acidosis risk prompted by the rapid step-up period employed in the trial and may help capitalize on the narrow timeline of compensatory gain in cull cow realimentation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 160-161
Author(s):  
Erin L Deters ◽  
Emma Niedermayer ◽  
Olivia N Genther-Schroeder ◽  
Christopher Blank ◽  
Remy Carmichael ◽  
...  

Abstract To assess effects of a novel rumen-protected folic acid (RPFA) supplement, 180 Angus-cross steers (292 ± 18 kg) were blocked by body weight to pens and randomly assigned to dietary treatments (n = 6 pens/treatment): target intake of 0 (CON), 30 (RPFA-30), 60 (RPFA-60), 90 (RPFA-90), 120 (RPFA-120), or 150 (RPFA-150) mg RPFA·steer-1·d-1. Steers were weighed on d -1, 0, 55, 56 (end of growing), 86, 87, 181, and 182. Liver and blood were collected (two steers/pen) before trial initiation and at the end of growing and finishing. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design using ProcMixed of SAS (fixed effects of treatment and block; experimental unit of pen). Liver abscess scores were analyzed using ProcGenmod of SAS. Contrast statements evaluated polynomial effects of RPFA and compared CON vs. RPFA-30. At end of growing, RPFA linearly increased plasma folic acid (P < 0.01) and linearly decreased plasma glucose (P = 0.01). Liver folic acid concentrations at end of growing were greatest for CON, RPFA-90, and RPFA-120 (cubic P = 0.01), and growing period (d 0 to 56) average daily gain and gain:feed were greatest for CON and RPFA-120 (cubic P ≤ 0.03). At end of finishing, RPFA linearly increased plasma folic acid concentrations (P < 0.01), and liver folic acid concentrations were lesser for CON vs. RPFA-30 (P = 0.04). Severe liver abscess percentage tended to be greater for CON vs. RPFA-30 (P = 0.09), while dressing percent was lesser for CON vs. RPFA-30 (P = 0.04). Overall (d 0 to 182) carcass-adjusted gain:feed tended to be greater for CON vs. RPFA-30 (P = 0.09). Although RPFA increased plasma folic acid concentrations throughout the study, feedlot performance was not improved, possibly due to low vitamin B12 status (plasma < 200 pg/mL) of steers, regardless of treatment.


2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
L. Piaggio ◽  
M. de J. Marichal ◽  
A. Pastorín

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of restricted grazing of an improved natural pasture as an alternative to conventional protein supplements for weaned lambs grazing natural pastures during summer–autumn. Two natural pastures that differed in dry matter allowances were used as basal diets. Sixty Corriedale lambs, 3 months old, were divided into 10 homogeneous groups. For each natural pasture, one group of lambs was randomly assigned to one of the following treatments (at 10 lambs/ha): continuous grazing (control); control + protein block (150 g/lamb. day); control + soybean meal (100 g/lamb. day); control + supplemental protein obtained from grazing for 3 h/day a natural pasture improved with Lotus uliginosus cv. Maku; or same as previous, except that grazing was allowed 1 in 3 days. Performance results (final bodyweight, average daily gain, and difference between initial and final body scores) were analysed as a completely randomised block design with subsampling. Lambs grazing 3 h/day or 1 in 3 days on improved pasture or supplemented with soybean meal showed better (P < 0.05) performance than non-supplemented lambs. Lambs consuming the protein block performed similarly (P > 0.05) to control lambs. The experiment demonstrated that feeding strategies using controlled grazing of natural pastures improved with lotus Maku or soybean meal supplementation are effective to achieve target growth rates of weaned lambs grazing natural pastures in summer–autumn.


2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 685-692
Author(s):  
D. R. Ouellet ◽  
L. Faucitano ◽  
D. Pellerin ◽  
M. D’Amours ◽  
R. Berthiaume

Two experiments were conducted to determine the relationship between corn particle size and soybean meal treatment on growth, diet digestibility, and nitrogen balance of growing steers. In the first experiment, 40 medium-frame beef steers (250 ± 11 kg) were fed individually for 140 d a diet based on grass silage offered for ad libitum consumption and supplemented with either 3.5 kg of DM d-1 of cracked corn (CC) or ground corn (GC) and with 450 g of DM d-1 of solvent extracted (SS) or lignosulfonate-treated soybean meal (Soypass™ SP). Dry matter intake was not affected by treatments and averaged 8.6 ± 0.3 kg d-1 (P > 0.10). Average daily gain was higher for animals receiving the ground corn than those fed cracked corn. Feed to gain ratio was not affected by treatments. There was an interaction between treatments for plasma urea-N concentration, with source of soybean meal having no effect with CC. When compared with SS, SP supplement reduced plasma urea-N when fed with GC. No effect of soybean meal and its interaction with corn processing was observed on growth performance. In the second experiment four additional steers were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to evaluate diet digestibility and nitrogen balance. There was an interaction between treatments for starch apparent digestibility and N retained, the values being respectively, 90, 86, 93, and 92% (SEM = 1.2; P < 0.01) and 36, 42, 44 and 41 g d-1 (SEM = 2.8; P < 0.03) for CCSS, CCSP, GCSS and GCSP, respectively. Altogether, the results indicate a slight advantage to reduce particle size of corn in growing steers fed grass silage. However, soybean meal treatment resulted in limited effects on growth and digestion. Key words: Rumen carbohydrate, undegradable protein, performance, steers


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 298-299
Author(s):  
Bailey L Basiel ◽  
Chad D Dechow ◽  
Tara L Felix

Abstract Objectives were to compare feedlot performance and carcass traits of F1 beef × Holstein steers and Holstein steers. Angus or Limousin × Holstein crossbred [n = 27; age = 12 ± 3 months; body weight (BW) = 435 ± 8 kg] and Holstein (n = 20; age = 11 ± 2 months; BW = 400 ± 9 kg) steers were fed at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Livestock Evaluation Center for 111 days. Feed intake was recorded using the GrowSafe Feed Intake Monitoring System (Model 4000E, GrowSafe Systems Ltd., Calgary AB, Canada). The diet contained corn silage, dried distillers grains, soybean meal, and cracked corn and was formulated to meet or exceed the requirements of beef cattle (NASEM, 2016). Growth performance variables of interest and carcass measurements were analyzed with the Mixed procedure of SAS (SAS 9.4; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). USDA assigned quality grades (QG) and yield grades (YG) were analyzed the with GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Breed was a fixed effect in all models. There were no differences (P &gt; 0.05) between breeds in average daily gain or feed efficiency. Crossbreds exceeded Holsteins in initial (P &lt; 0.01) and final BW (P = 0.01), dry matter intake (P = 0.03), hot carcass weight (P &lt; 0.01), backfat (P = 0.03), and ribeye area (REA; P &lt; 0.01). Thirty-five percent (35%) of the Holsteins received a QG of Choice or above while 74% of crossbreds graded USDA Choice or above (P = 0.01). However, 75% of Holsteins were YG 2 or lower while only 45% of crossbreds achieved YG 2 or less (P = 0.05). There was no improvement in efficiency when crossbreds were compared to Holsteins; however, carcasses from crossbreds were more likely to grade USDA Choice or above while yielding greater REA and backfat than Holsteins.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 41-42
Author(s):  
Marion Lautrou ◽  
Candido Pomar ◽  
Philippe Schmidely ◽  
Marie-Pierre Létourneau-Montminy

Abstract To optimize the use of dietary P by pigs, 5 feeding strategies were studied in a 3-phase feeding trial on 240 pigs (initial bodyweight (BW) of 31 kg): 1) C-C-C providing 100% of digestible phosphorus (Pdig, 4.3 g/kg STTD) and calcium (Ca, 9.7 g/kg) requirement to maximize bone mineralization, 2) L-L-L 60% of the Pdig and Ca requirements of C-C-C, 3) Phyt-Phyt-Phyt (phosphate-free, with phytase, 750, 686, 390 FTU/kg), providing 60% of Pdig and Ca requirements in phase 1, then 100%, 4) and 5) C in phases 1 and 3, and 60% of the need for Pdig in phase 2, associated with 65% of the requirements for Ca (N) or 80% (H), namely C-N-C and C-H-C. The BW and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured at the beginning and end of each phase. The BMC gain (gBMC), average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were calculated by phase. In phase 1, ADG was lower in the Phyt group than the C group (1.05 vs 1.10 kg/d, P &lt; 0.01) and the BMC of group C and gBMC were higher than those of the Phyt and B groups (P &lt; 0.05). In phase 2, C-C and Phyt-Phyt groups had similar BMC due to higher gBMC in the Phyt-Phyt (27.1 vs 18.4 g/d, P &lt; 0.01). At the end of phases 2 and 3, C-C-C, C-N-C and C-H-C groups had similar BMC. The Phyt and B groups showed an increased phosphorus-use efficiency during phases 1 and 2 (+20% vs C). Phosphorus retention was also higher in the C-N-C and C-H-C groups, during the depletion in phase 2 (+24% vs C, P&lt; 0.05). These results showed the potential of a depletion-repletion strategy including free phosphate diet to reduce phosphorus intake and excretion without affecting final growth performance and bone mineralization because of increased minerals utilization efficacies.


2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 615-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. C. Swanson ◽  
M. Ko ◽  
C. J. Mader

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of corn or soybean hull incorporation into haylage-based diets on backgrounding calf performance and subsequent feedlot performance. Crossbred steers [n = 48, initial body weight (BW) = 303 ± 3.4 kg] were individually fed dietary treatments consisting of: (1) haylage [17.5% crude protein, dry matter (DM) basis; control], (2) haylage + 20% (DM basis) cracked corn, and (3) haylage + 20% (DM basis) soybean hulls during a 112-d backgrounding period. After the backgrounding period, all steers were adapted to a common high moisture corn-based finishing diet and fed until an ultrasound estimated backfat thickness of 7 mm was obtained. During the backgrounding period, steers fed cracked corn or soybean hulls had greater (P < 0.01) average daily gain, dry matter intake and gain:feed and lower (P = 0.05) plasma urea N as compared with controls. However, when finished on a common high-concentrate diet, steers previously fed cracked corn had greater (P < 0.08) average daily gain, final body weight, and longissimus muscle area than those fed soybean hulls, suggesting that source of supplemental energy during the backgrounding period may influence subsequent feedlot performance. Key words: Beef cattle, backgrounding, energy supplementation


2004 ◽  
Vol 20 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 55-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Bahelka ◽  
P. Fľak ◽  
Anna Lukácová

The effect of own performance traits of meat breed boars on fattening and carcass parameters of progeny in two different test stations (Bucany and Nitra) was evaluated. Own performance traits of boars were average daily gain (ADG) from birth to 100 kg live weight, backfat thickness (BF) and lean meat content (LMC) in field conditions. Progeny of boars was housed in pairs (gilt and barrow) and fed standardized feed mixture semi ad libitum. Progeny test lasted from 30 to 100 kg live weight. There were evaluated following parameters: ADG and feed consumption/kg gain (FC) at test from 30 to 100 kg live weight, slaughter weight (SW), proportion of meaty cuts (PMC) proportion of ham (PHAM), eye muscle area (EMA), and BF. At Bucany and Nitra was found the effect of genotype of boars on progeny BF and/or FC respectively. Better tested boars from own performance test individually as well as a group achieved in progeny better fattening and carcass traits than worse tested boars at Bucany (+33 g ADG, -0.21 cm BF, +2.34 % PMC). Progeny performance from better evaluated boars at Nitra did not exceed the progeny performance from worse tested boars. There was found significant effect of dams on progeny performance.


1963 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. N. Plank ◽  
R. T. Berg

Four trials, involving 124 pigs, were conducted to study the effects of differing planes of nutrition on swine characteristics and to study the relative response of specific genetic groups of pigs to these differing planes. Seasonal and sex effects were also evaluated. Equalized limited feeding to a scale of 75 per cent of the U.S. N.R.C. recommended levels for bacon hogs was compared to liberal feeding wherein pigs were fed to appetite three times daily and to ad libitum feeding.Winter-fed pigs grew slower, were less efficient, had a higher dressing percentage and shorter carcasses than summer-fed pigs.As the plane of nutrition increased, average daily gains increased, feed conversion ratios were correspondingly inferior, dressing percentage rose, backfat thickness increased and area of loin and total Record of Performance score decreased.Females outgained barrows under equalized limited feeding, whereas barrows outgained females at a similar feed requirement by eating more feed under liberal feeding. Female carcasses were superior to those of barrows with a tendency for the differences to be greater under the equalized limited feeding system.Genotype × plane of nutrition interactions were significant for average daily feed consumed (P <.05), average daily gain (P <.01), length (P <.05), and total R.O.P. score (P <.01). Under equalized limited feeding pigs with the ability to gain both rapidly and efficiently tended to produce superior carcasses while under liberal feeding rapid gains seemed to reflect mainly increased feed consumption and a trend toward inferior feed conversion and fatter carcasses.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 170-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan C DeClerck ◽  
Loni W Lucherk ◽  
Nathan R Reeves ◽  
Mark F Miller ◽  
Bryan C Bernhard ◽  
...  

Abstract Thin, beef, cull cows [n = 144; initial body weight (BW) = 465.8 ± 56.9 kg, initial body condition score (BCS) = 2.13 ± 0.68] were serially slaughtered to evaluate the relationship between ractopamine hydrochloride (RH) administration and days on feed (DOF) on feedlot performance and carcass cutout value in a lean cow market. Cows were organized into a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (48 pens, 8 pens per treatment, 3 cows per pen) and blocked by BW nested within pregnancy status. Treatment pens were top-dressed 400 mg per cow per day of RH (Actogain 45; Zoetis, Parsippany, NJ) for the final 28 d prior to slaughter to cows spending 28, 42, or 56 DOF. Pen served as the experimental unit, for all calculations. No RH × DOF interactions were detected (P ≥ 0.11), indicating that despite a majority of compensatory gain occurring during the first 28 d of the trial, the magnitude of the RH response was not affected by DOF. Compared to controls, RH incited improvements in feedlot performance, but had a greater extent on carcass weight gain and efficiency. Specifically, RH improved average daily gain (ADG) by 13.7% (P = 0.04) and carcass ADG by 16.9% (P = 0.02) Cattle fed RH displayed a 15.5% improved gain to feed ratio (P = 0.02) and a 20% improved carcass gain to feed ratio (P = 0.05). Inclusion of RH in the finishing diet increased hot carcass weight by 4.5% (P = 0.05; 12.9 kg). However, supplementation of RH did not alter red meat yield (P ≥ 0.16), but provoked a 11.1% improvement in lean maturity (P &lt; 0.01). Evaluation of the main effect of DOF provided insight into the compensatory state of beef cull cows on a high-concentrate diet. Serial slaughter offal weights presented confounding results. With additional DOF, a numerical increase in liver weights (P = 0.20) suggested that organ tissue replenishment occurred throughout the trial, and cattle experienced compensatory gain during the entire feeding phase. In contrast, lung and heart weights were not altered, while kidney tended to decrease linearly (P = 0.08) despite additional DOF. Furthermore, extending DOF generated a linear increase in dry matter intake (P &lt; 0.01) yet a tendency for a decline in ADG (P = 0.10), reinforcing the premise that most of compensatory gain occurred during the first 28 d of the trial. If thin (BCS ≤ 4), healthy candidates can be finished, feeders can reap the benefits of an additive relationship between compensatory gain and RH.


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