Optimum extent of barley grain processing and barley silage proportion in feedlot cattle diets: Growth, feed efficiency, and fecal characteristics

2011 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Koenig ◽  
Karen Beauchemin
Keyword(s):  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Barley Grain ◽  
Feedlot Cattle ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Feed Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Grain Processing ◽  
Final Weight ◽  
Barley Silage

Koenig, K. M. and Beauchemin, K. A. 2011. Optimum extent of barley grain processing and barley silage proportion in feedlot cattle diets: Growth, feed efficiency and fecal characteristics. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 91: 411–422. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of forage proportion and extent of processing of barley grain on growth, intake, feed conversion efficiency, and fecal characteristics of feedlot cattle. Crossbred steers (120; 407±31 kg) were housed individually and assigned to 10 diets (n=12): two degrees of temper rolling of barley grain [processing index (PI) of 82% (standard) or 87% (coarse)] were combined with five levels of barley silage [3, 6, 9, 12, and 15% of dietary dry matter (DM)]. The PI was determined as the weight of grain after processing expressed as a percentage of the weight before processing. Cattle were slaughtered after 104–109 d on feed, at a final weight of 576 kg, SEM = 5.1. There were very few interactions between grain processing and silage proportion for the variables measured. Grain processing had no effect (P>0.05) on average daily gain (1.59 kg d−1, SEM = 0.057) or final weight. Feeding PI-87% barley tended to increase dry matter intake (DMI) over the experiment (7.63 vs. 7.34 kg d−1, SEM = 0.123, P=0.10) compared with feeding PI-82% barley. Higher DMI of cattle fed PI-87% barley corresponded to lower estimated starch digestibility, as a result of increased appearance of whole kernels and grain fragments in feces. Consequently, gain:feed ratio tended (0.210 vs. 0.219, SEM = 0.0035, P=0.06) to decrease by 4% with PI-87% versus PI-82% barley. Similarly, silage proportion had no effect on gain but DMI increased (P=0.05) linearly from 7.19 to 7.75 kg d−1 (SEM = 0.194) with increasing proportion of silage. Consequently, gain:feed ratio decreased linearly from 0.225 to 0.202 (SEM = 0.0056) with increasing silage proportion. Optimum proportion of barley silage to maximize feed conversion efficiency was 3 to 6% of DM. Decreasing the extent of barley processing or increasing the silage proportion may reduce the risk of acidosis, but feed conversion efficiency is lowered. Formulating diets to reduce the incidence of digestive disorders may decrease the cost of mortalities and treatment of sick animals, thereby improving animal health and welfare, but these costs are unlikely to offset the increased cost of gain in commercial feedlots.

scholarly journals Optimum roughage proportion in barley-based feedlot cattle diets: growth performance, feeding behavior, and carcass traits

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen M Koenig ◽  
Gwinyai E Chibisa ◽  
Gregory B Penner ◽  
Karen A Beauchemin
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
Barley Grain ◽  
Feedlot Cattle ◽  
Experimental Unit ◽  
Finishing Diets ◽  
Ruminal Acidosis ◽  
Barley Silage

Abstract High grain diets are fed to finishing beef cattle to maximize animal performance in a cost-effective manner. However, a small amount of roughage is incorporated in finishing diets to help prevent ruminal acidosis, although few studies have examined optimum roughage inclusion level in barley-based diets. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of roughage proportion in barley-based finishing diets on growth performance, feeding behavior, and carcass traits of feedlot cattle. Crossbred beef steers (n = 160; mean body weight ± SD, 349.7 ± 21.4 kg) were allocated to 20 pens that were assigned randomly to four dietary treatments (five pens of eight steers per treatment). The treatment diets contained barley silage at 0%, 4%, 8%, and 12% of dietary dry matter (DM). The remainder of the diets (DM basis) consisted of 80%, 76%, 72%, and 68% barley grain, respectively, 15% corn dried distiller’s grains, 5% mineral and vitamin supplement, and 32 mg monensin/kg diet DM. The diets were fed as total mixed rations for ad libitum intake (minimum of 5% refusal) once per day. Cattle were weighed on 2 consecutive days at the start and end of the experiment and on 1 d every 3 wk throughout the experiment (124 d). Two pens for each treatment group were equipped with an electronic feeding system (GrowSafe Systems Ltd., Calgary, Alberta) to monitor feed intake and feeding behavior of individual cattle. The data for dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), gain:feed (G:F) ratio, and carcass traits were analyzed as a completely randomized design with fixed effect of barley silage proportion and pen replicate as experimental unit. Feeding behavior data were analyzed similarly, but with animal as experimental unit. Averaged over the study, DMI increased linearly (11.1, 11.3, 11.7, 11.8 kg/d; P = 0.001) as barley silage proportion increased from 0%, 4%, 8%, and 12% of DM, but ADG was not affected (carcass-adjusted,1.90, 1.85, 1.87, 1.89 kg/d; P ≥ 0.30). Consequently, G:F ratio decreased linearly (carcass-adjusted, 168.9, 163.8, 158.5, 160.6 g/kg DMI; P = 0.023). When averaged over the study, proportion of barley silage in the diet had no linear or quadratic effects (P > 0.10) on meal frequency, duration of meals, intermeal duration, or meal size, but eating rate decreased linearly with increasing silage proportion (P = 0.008). There was no diet effect on liver abscesses (P ≥ 0.92), and effects on carcass characteristics were minor or nonexistent. We conclude that increasing the proportion of barley silage in a feedlot finishing diet at the expense of barley grain to minimize the incidence of ruminal acidosis may decrease feed conversion efficiency.

Feed conversion efficiency as a key determinant of dairy herd performance: a review

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 645 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. Beever ◽  
P. T. Doyle
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Dairy Farmers ◽  
Feed Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Stage Of Lactation ◽  
Feed Costs

This paper focuses on dairy herd performance in the United Kingdom and southern Australia, where feed costs have been estimated to comprise between 40 and 67% of the total costs of production. The efficiency of conversion of grazed pasture, home grown forages and purchased feeds into milk has a major bearing on farm profit. Feed conversion efficiency (FCE), defined as ‘kg milk of standardised composition with respect to protein and fat concentrations produced per kg feed dry matter consumed’, is a useful measure of the performance of a farm feeding system, but is seldom used by dairy farmers. It could also be defined as ‘g protein plus fat produced per kg feed dry matter consumed’, given that farmers are often paid for these components. The value of estimating FCE on an annual or shorter-term basis is discussed in relation to accepted principles of feed utilisation and dairy cow energy requirements. The implications of feed intake, conversion of ingested nutrients into absorbed nutrients and the subsequent utilisation of these nutrients for milk production or other purposes, as well as the effects of stage of lactation on FCE, are reviewed. Measuring FCE and identifying opportunities for improvement is relatively straightforward in housed feeding systems, but is more problematic under grazing. Hence, approaches and the key assumptions in estimating FCE in grazing situations, as well as possible limitations of these estimates, are discussed. Finally, a case study examining the potential impact of improved nutritional strategies on FCE and on margin over feed costs is presented. It is concluded that, to remain profitable, dairy farmers need to have a sound knowledge of cow nutrition, along with appropriate measures of FCE to monitor the performance of their milk production system. Such indicators of the biological performance of the farming system are most useful when used in conjunction with appropriate measures of economic performance.

INFLUENCE OF HIGH-MOISTURE BARLEY ON THE PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF FEEDLOT CATTLE

1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 811-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. KENNELLY ◽  
G. W. MATHISON ◽  
G. de BOER
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Free Choice ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Barley Grain ◽  
Feedlot Cattle ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
High Moisture ◽  
Feeding Value ◽  
Daily Gain

Three factorial experiments were conducted to determine the relative feeding value of dry barley (DB) and high-moisture barley (HMB), and to evaluate the influence of method of ensiling (Pit vs. Harvestore® (HAV) silo), source of roughage (hay vs. silage), and level of concentrate (90 vs. 75%) on the performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot cattle. In exp. 1, 252 steers (initial wt 357 kg) were assigned on the basis of weight to six treatments (two pens × 21 animals per pen). A mixed diet consisting of 85.2% barley grain (dry matter (DM) basis) was offered free choice. The barley portion of the ration consisted of either 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100% DB with the balance being HMB from a pit silo. The sixth treatment consisted of feeding 100% HMB for the first 57 d and 100% DB for the remainder of the trial. Overall average daily gain (ADG) for steers fed 100% DB (1.70 kg d−1) was significantly higher than observed for animals fed 100, 75 or 50% HMB (1.46, 1.49 and 1.56 kg d−1, respectively). The kg of feed DM required per kg gain (FC) varied between 5.76 and 7.13 and was not (P > 0.05) influenced by treatment. No differences (P > 0.05) were observed in carcass characteristics. In exp. 2, 360 steers (initial wt 340 kg) were allotted on the basis of weight to six treatments designed to evaluate the effect of source (Pit vs. HAV) and level of HMB, in diets containing 10.2% silage, on animal performance. Overall ADG (1.11 – 1.17 kg d−1), FC (6.66 – 7.01) and carcass characteristics were similar (P > 0.05) for animals fed Pit HMB, HAV HMB and DB. In exp. 3, 264 weanling calves (initial wt 216 kg) were allotted on the basis of weight to six treatments which differed in type of barley (HMB vs. DB), source of roughage (hay vs. silage) and level of concentrate (75 vs. 90%; DM basis). The feeding period was 127 d. Daily gains varied between 0.78 and 0.91 kg d−1 and FC ranged from 6.40 to 7.10 and were not influenced (P > 0.05) by source of barley or source or level of roughage. While animals fed DB had significantly higher ADG than those fed HMB in exp. 1, the overall results from the three experiments indicate that on a DM basis HMB has similar feeding value to DB, and that there is no major difference between Pit and HAV-stored HMB for feedlot cattle. Key words: High moisture, barley, cattle, gain, feed conversion

Effect of defaunation on body conformation changes, wool yield and fibre characteristics of growing lambs in a hot semiarid environment

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 789 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Santra ◽  
S. Parthasarathy ◽  
S. A. Karim
Keyword(s):  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Body Height ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Wool Fibre ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Feed Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Wool Yield ◽  
Fibre Characteristics

The efficacy of sodium laurel sulfate as a defaunating agent, as well as effect of defaunation on body confirmation changes, wool yield and fibre characteristics, were evaluated in growing lambs in a 90-day feeding experiment. Forty-five Malpura male weaner (90-day old) lambs were divided into three equal groups: defaunated, refaunated and faunated. The lambs of defaunated and refaunated groups were defaunated by oral administration of sodium laurel sulfate at the rate of 8 g/100 kg liveweight as a 10% aqueous solution. Six days after defaunation, all the lambs of the refaunated group were refaunated by inoculation of 100 mL rumen content per lamb drawn from a normal faunated sheep. All the experimental lambs were maintained under stall feeding on a complete feed containing 50 : 50 Pala (Ziziphus nummularia) leaf and concentrate. Treatments did not differ in intake of dry matter, digestible crude protein or digestible energy. Body height and paunch girth were greater (P < 0.01) in defaunated compared to refaunated and faunated lambs. With similar dry matter intake in the three experimental groups, liveweight gain, feed conversion efficiency and wool yield were higher (P < 0.01) in defaunated lambs. The wool fibre diameter and medullation percentage were higher (P < 0.01) in defaunated than refaunated and faunated lambs. It was concluded from the study that, with similar dry matter intake and plane of nutrition, the growth rate, feed conversion efficiency and wool yield were higher in defaunated lambs, as compared to refaunated and faunated lambs. Higher paunch girth in defaunated lambs resulted in a pot-bellied appearance of the animals.

Use of triticale silage in diets for growing steers

1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 181-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. ZoBell ◽  
L. A. Goonewardene ◽  
D. F. Engstrom
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Barley Grain ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
High Moisture ◽  
Key Words Barley ◽  
Barley Silage ◽  
Daily Gain

A total of 120 steers were fed either barley silage (BS) or triticale silage (TS) combined with barley (B) or high-moisture barley (HMB) grain, as a total mixed ration in a 2 × 2 factorial design with three replications. The barley and triticale yields were 9.8 and 8.7 t ha−1, respectively. No differences (P > 0.05) in weight, average daily gain, dry matter intake or feed efficiency were observed for treatments or interactions. TS can be used to replace BS at moderate levels in growing steer rations containing barley grain. Key words: Barley, triticale, silage, steers, performance

Performance of steers fed grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) of varying sorghum midge (Contarinia sorghicola) resistance

1993 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
DB Strachan ◽  
RD Dillon ◽  
RG Henzell
Keyword(s):  
Sorghum Bicolor ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Grain Sorghum ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Contarinia Sorghicola ◽  
Feed Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Sorghum Midge ◽  
Moderate Resistance

This experiment examined the association between the level of sorghum midge resistance of a grain sorghum hybrid and its ultilisation by cattle. Twenty-five Hereford steers were placed in individual pens and fed a feedlot ration (80% grain) for 8 weeks containing 1 of the following grain sorghum hybrids: Pacific 810, DK55plus (susceptible to midge); Barrier (low resistance to midge); AQL39/QL36, DK470 (moderate resistance to midge). There was no significant (P>0.05) difference between the hybrids in dry matter intake, liveweight gain, feed conversion efficiency, apparent nitrogen digestibility, and digestibility of the dry matter. No tannins were detected in the grain of any of the hydrids. It was concluded that the development of grain sorghum hybrids resistant to sorghum midge will not affect the utilisation of the grain in steers.

scholarly journals The impact of improving feed efficiency on the environmental impact of livestock production

2021 ◽  
pp. 187-208
Author(s):  
James K. Drackley ◽  
◽  
Christopher K. Reynolds ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Reactive Nitrogen ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Feed Conversion Efficiency ◽  
The Impact

This chapter examines the impact of improving feed efficiency on the environmental impact of livestock production. It starts by discussing the relation between greenhouse gases and dairy production, highlighting how important it is to the dairy sector to find ways of decreasing greenhouse gas output. The chapter then moves on to discuss the origins of methane and reactive nitrogen excretions in ruminants. A section on improving feed conversion efficiency is also included, which is then followed by a review of the nutritional practices that can be used to enhance feed conversion efficiency and decrease methane excretion. The chapter also examines the nutritional practices that can be used to increase milk protein efficiency and nitrous oxide excretion as well. Discussions on genetics and feed conversion efficiency and postabsorptive metabolism and feed conversion efficiency are also provided.

scholarly journals The influence of partial replacement of barley with dietary fat sources on growth and feed conversion efficiency of growing bulls

1992 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 267-278
Author(s):  
Alem Tsehai Tesfa ◽  
Mikko Tuori ◽  
Liisa Syrjälä-Qvist
Keyword(s):  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Wheat Bran ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Partial Replacement ◽  
Carcass Quality ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Feed Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Concentrate Mixture

This paper presents animal performance and carcass quality in an experiment conducted to observe the effect of replacing some of the barley in a concentrate mixture with different fat sources and wheat bran. The treatments were: concentrate mixture with no added fat (control); in the test feeds, some of the barley was replaced with 5 % of a fat source plus 10 % wheat bran, 1 % wheat molasses and 1 % Ca-lignosulphonate. The fat sources were rapeseed oil (RSO), calcium salt palm fatty acids (CaSFA), or tallow (TS). These four concentrate mixtures were fed to growing bulls with hay (45:55) at a rate of 85 g dry matter kg-1 metabolic body weight (W0.75). Partial replacement of barley with different fat sources slightly decreased dry matter intake and thereby reduced the daily intake of estimated metabolizable energy in all fat containing diets. Average daily weight gain was 1.20; 1.05; 1.05 and 1.08 kg for the control as to RSO; CaSFA and TS, respectively. Carcass weight was similar for all fat sources but slightly higher for the control diet, while dressing percentage was slightly lower for the control diet. Feeding RSO, TS or CaSFA had no effect on feed conversion efficiency in comparison to the control. No apparent difference was observed between treatments on carcass quality and palatability scores of the meat. Oleic and stearic acids were increased for RSO and TS containing diets as compared to the control and CaSFA containing diets.

Growth, feed intake and maternal performance of Angus heifers from high and low feed efficiency selection lines

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 1428 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. T. Morris ◽  
F. Y. Chan ◽  
N. Lopez-Villalobos ◽  
P. R. Kenyon ◽  
D. J. Garrick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Feed Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
High Feed ◽  
Maternal Performance ◽  
Angus Heifers

Feed conversion efficiency is an important factor affecting profitability for cow-calf production systems. One method of characterising feed conversion efficiency is by calculating residual feed intake (RFI), the difference between measured and expected feed intakes. A high RFI value indicates low feed efficiency while a low RFI value indicates high feed efficiency. The present experiment used 49 Angus heifers sired by Angus bulls selected for high or low RFI. The progeny were bred on commercial farms and then transferred to Massey University at weaning at ~200 days of age. The heifers were weighed at ~30-day intervals and were mated at 15 months, calved at 2 years old and reared their calf to ~160 days of age. Each heifer had recorded its own liveweight gain (from its weaning to weaning of its first calf), herbage intake at 350 and 450 days of age using the n-alkane technique and maternal performance (calf production). These records were analysed to estimate the RFI of each heifer, and to determine differences in RFI between selection lines. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in liveweight or dry matter requirements between selection lines at Day 350, but differences were significant (P < 0.05) at Day 450 such that the high feed efficiency line were 24.6 kg heavier and required an extra 0.32 kg/head.day of herbage. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between the two lines in herbage intake or RFI measured at either Days 350 or 450. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in pregnancy rates, calf birth dates or birthweights, estimated 24-h milk production or calf weaning weights between the two lines. This experiment shows that beef cattle selected for low RFI have higher growth rates and heavier liveweights than cattle selected for high RFI; both lines had similar calf production at first breeding.

scholarly journals PSXII-38 Effect of crude protein sources on feedlot performance and carcass traits of Nellore young bulls

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 426-426
Author(s):  
Juliano José R Fernandes ◽  
Lorena E L M Bomfim ◽  
Daniel Augusto A Teixeira ◽  
Victor R M Couto ◽  
Ana Laura A Lopes
Keyword(s):  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Feedlot Cattle ◽  
Feedlot Performance ◽  
Feed Withdrawal ◽  
Final Weight ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Different Sources

Abstract In this trial, 120 Nellore young bulls of ± 386kg kg initial weight were used to evaluate the effect of different sources of crude protein on the feedlot performance (finishing phase) and carcass characteristics. Animals were maintained in fifteen pens for 105 days. Animals were individually weighed and blocked by initial body weight. Pens within a block were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: (D14) Control diet including 14% of crude protein (CP) on dry matter; (D12) Inclusion of 12.5% CP/dry matter and (D11), inclusion of 11% of CP/dry matter. Feed offered was monitored daily as well as feed refusals were collected and weighed to determine the DMI and feed efficiency (F:G). Animals were weighed every 28 d after 16 h feed withdrawal for calculating ADG. The D14 and D12 treatments increased the final weight (P = 0.008) when compared to D11 (564.13; 550.96 and 529.73 kg, respectively). The D14 treatment increased the ADG (1.69 kg; P = 0.002) when compared to D12 (1.54 kg) and D11 animals (1.35 kg). The same was observed for DMI (P = 0.001) (10.40kg, 9.77kg e 8.68kg, respectively) and % BW (P = 0.001), when D14 had the greatest value (2.2%), and D11 the worst (1.90%). There were no effect of the treatments for F:G (P = 0.202). Hot carcass weight was increased by the D14 treatment (P = 0.006) (311.97kg; 300.55 and 289.30kg, respectively). However, the cooling losses were not affected (P = 0.0843), as well as were observed for dressing (P = 0.089). Nevertheless, the carcass daily gain was improved by the D14 (P = 0.02), with animals increasing 1.13 kg/d; D12 with 1.01kg/d and D11, 0.91 kg. In conclusion, the sources of crude protein can affect the feedlot cattle performance, in agreement with the Brazilian Nellore requirement program (Br-Corte). However, in this trial, diets with 14% of CP improved the animal’s performance.

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