THE INFLUENCE OF STAGE OF MATURITY OF AN ENSILED LEGUME–GRASS MTXTURE ON GROWTH AND PERFORMANCE OF WINTERED HEREFORD STEER CALVES

1964 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-265
Author(s):  
D. E. Waldern ◽  
W. T. Burns

Yield of total digestible nutrients (T.D.N.) per acre from an alfalfa – red clover – timothy mixture stored as silage was higher when harvested early (bud) than at medium (2% bloom) or late (full bloom) maturity. Protein declined and crude fiber increased with advancing maturity. When fed to beef steer calves, digestive coefficients as a per cent in early, medium, and late-cutting silage, for protein, 50.2, 56.0, 35.7; crude fiber, 64.9, 68.2, 54.9; energy, 57.3, 65.2, 48.3; total digestible nutrient content, 58.1, 62.0, 48.5; average daily nitrogen retention in grams, 22.1, 29.7, 0.86. Differences between treatments for the above measurements were significant (P < 0.05) only for early vs. late or medium vs. late silage, but not for early vs. medium silage. Concentration of total rumen volatile fatty acids was significantly higher for early over medium and late silage.Results from the winter feeding trial for steers fed early, medium, or late silage were: average daily gain in pounds, 0.81, 0.46, 0.28; pounds of T.D.N. per pound of gain, 6.5, 13.1, 16.4. Steer calves wintered on early legume–grass silage gained more (P < 0.05) and required less T.D.N. per pound of gain than those wintered on medium or late silage, while calves fed medium silage out-gained and required less feed per pound of gain than those fed late silage (P < 0.05).Differences in daily gain between groups were reflected in carcasses of three animals slaughtered from each group. Animals were slaughtered after being fed a standard silage for 100 days following the experimental period. Eye of lean, fat cover, dressing percentage, and carcass grades were superior for steers fed early silage.

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1265 ◽  
Author(s):  
KC Williams ◽  
BJ Blaney

Maize naturally infected with Fusarium graminearum and containing 11.5 mg nivalenol (NIV) kg-1 and 3 mg zearalenone (ZEA) kg-1 was fed to grower and pregnant pigs in five experiments. Inclusions of infected maize at 500 and 750 g kg-1 in diets for grower pigs caused a deterioration of all performance traits in a 14 day experiment: voluntary feed intake (VFI) from 2-17 kg day-1 (control) to 1.45 and 1.09 kg day-1; average daily gain (ADG) from 0.79 kg day-' (control) to 0.50 and 0.45 kg dayV1; and feed conversion ratio (FCR) from 2.45 (control) to 3.49 and 3.23 respectively. In a paired-feeding experiment of 8 weeks duration, the VFI, ADG and FCR of grower pigs progressively worsened with increasing infected maize content. However, when pigs were fed a nutritionally similar control diet at intakes matched to those achieved by pigs given the mycotoxin-containing diets, their ADG and FCR were not significantly different (P > 0.05). The nutrient similarity of these diets was confirmed in an independent metabolism study measuring apparent digestibility and nitrogen retention. Feeding pigs with infected maize caused a marked and dose dependent depression (P < 0.05) in white cell and neutrophil counts. In two studies with sows, a comparison was made between a control diet and one containing 600 g kg-1 infected maize when each diet was formulated to the same nutrient content and sows fed at 2 kg day-1. In one study, diets were offered from when pregnancy was confirmed at 30 days post-mating until slaughter approximately 35 days later. In the second study, the diets were offered either from day of mating or from 30 day post-mating with all sows being slaughtered approximately 35 days later. In both studies, the infected maize diet had no adverse effect on the conception rate nor on the number and weight of foeti at slaughter compared to controls. In the second study, total white cell and lymphocyte counts were lower (P < 0.05) in sows fed the infected maize diet.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 193-193
Author(s):  
Eduardo Colombo ◽  
Reinaldo F Cooke ◽  
Alice Brandão ◽  
Jacob Wiegand ◽  
Kelsey Schubach ◽  
...  

Abstract This experiment evaluated the impacts of bovine appeasing substance (BAS) administration on performance, health, and physiological responses of feedlot cattle during a 45-d receiving period. A total of 342 recently-weaned Angus-influenced steers, originating from 16 cow-calf operations, were obtained from an auction yard on d -1 and road-transported (12 h) to the feedlot. Upon arrival on d 0, body weight (BW) was recorded and steers were ranked by BW and source and assigned to receive BAS (Nutricorp, Araras, SP, Brazil; n = 171) or placebo (diethylene glycol monoethyl ether; CON; n = 171). Treatments (5 mL) were topically applied to the nuchal skin area of each animal. Within treatment, calves were allocated to 1 of 24 drylot pens (12 pens/treatment) and received a free choice total-mixed ration from d 1 to 45. Calves were assessed for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) signs and feed intake was recorded from each pen daily. Steer BW was again recorded on d 1, 7, 17, 31, and 45, whereas blood samples were collected from 5 steers/pen concurrently with each BW assessment. Average daily gain was greater (P = 0.05) in BAS vs. CON calves, although final BW did not differ (P = 0.36) between treatments. No treatment effects were detected for feed intake (P = 0.95), resulting in greater (P = 0.05) feed efficiency in BAS vs. CON steers. No treatment effects were detected (P ≥ 0.37) for plasma concentrations of haptoglobin, whereas plasma cortisol concentrations were greater (P = 0.05) in CON vs. BAS steers on d 7 (treatment × day; P = 0.07). Incidence of BRD was greater (P ≤ 0.05) in BAS vs. CON on d 6 to 10 and d 18 to 21 (treatment × day; P &lt; 0.01), although overall BRD incidence did not differ (P = 0.24) between treatments. The number of antimicrobial treatments required per steer diagnosed with BRD symptoms to recover from sickness was greater (P = 0.04) in CON vs. BAS calves. No treatment differences were detected (P ≥ 0.41) for mortality incidence, or proportion of steers removed from the experiment due to extreme sickness. Results from this experiment indicate BAS administration upon feedlot entry improved average daily gain by enhancing feed efficiency. Administration of BAS facilitated earlier detection of BRD and reduced the need for antimicrobial treatments. Collectively, these results suggest BAS administration as a promising strategy to benefit performance and immunocompetence of feedlot receiving cattle.


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_3) ◽  
pp. 467-468
Author(s):  
Igor M Ferreira ◽  
Iorrano A Cidrini ◽  
Karla Oliveira ◽  
Luciana Sousa ◽  
Laura F Prados ◽  
...  

Abstract The objective was to evaluate the effects of forage allowance on the performance and pregnancy rate of Nellore heifers submitted to the fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) at 14±1 months. The experimental period was divided into the growing phase (GP; 173d) and breeding season (83d). Ninety weaned Nellore heifers [169±19 kg of body weight (BW); 210±28 days of age] were blocked by initial BW and randomly assigned to receive different forage allowance: (1) High (HFA; 7.17 kgDM/kgBW; and (2) Low (LFA; 3.27 kgDM/kgBW); and divided into 6 paddocks (2.15 to 2.4 ha each one). The grazing method used was continuous stocking with a variable stocking rate where treatment conditions were established varying the stocking rate on pasture (put-and-take). The supplement consisted of corn, soybean meal, urea, monensin, sodium chloride and minerals mix (80% TDN and 24% CP) and was provided daily (ad libitum; expected intake around 1% of BW). The final pregnancy rate was determined after two FTAI (d256). Heifers BW at the end of the GP was greater (P &lt; 0.01) for HFA vs. LFA (268 vs. 255 kg). The overall average daily gain (ADG) was greater 68 g/d for animals maintained in HFA than LFA (P &lt; 0.01; 0.713 vs. 0.645 kg/d). Supplement intake (kg/animal/d) had no treatment effect (P = 0.117). On d173, forage allowance affected (P &lt; 0.01) the backfat thickness obtained by real-time carcass ultrasound (HFA = 3.08 vs. LFA = 2.85 mm). The pregnancy rate had no treatment effect (P = 0.223; on average 61%). However, the pregnant heifers per hectare had treatment effect (P = 0.036; HFA = 3.78 vs. LFA = 2.72 pregnant heifers/ha). In conclusion, the low forage allowance reduces the animal performance and affects the carcass composition but provides a greater number of pregnant heifers per hectare.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 160-161
Author(s):  
José A Martinez-Aispuro ◽  
German D Mendoza ◽  
Jose L Cordero ◽  
Marco A Ayala ◽  
Pedro A Hernandez ◽  
...  

Abstract The objective of this experiment was to evaluate four levels of a natural vitamin E on lamb performance, blood metabolites, rumen metabolism and meat quality characteristics. Thirty-six male lambs (29.24 SD 2.54 kg Hampshire x Suffolk) were used in a completely randomized experimental design. Treatments consisted of dietary inclusion of Herbal E-50 (Nuproxa) at 0, 1, 2 and 3 g/kg dry matter (DM) for for 60 days in lambs that did not receive any additional source of vitamin E. A quadratic response was observed on daily gain, final body weight, feed conversion, intake blood cholesterol and glucose. The estimated optimal level of herbal E obtained of herbal E levels for average daily gain was 1.76 ± 0.10 g/kg and 1.84 ± 0.77 g/kg for feed conversion. Ruminal pH and the major volatile fatty acids were not affected by herbal E. A quadratic response was observed on blood cholesterol (P < 0.10) and glucose (P < 0.01). Dietary herbal E increased linearly counts of erythrocytes (P < 0.05), platelet (P < 0.10), proteins and globulins (P < 0.01) whereas the albumin/globulin ratio was linearly reduced (P < 0.01). Meat texture was improved (quadratic; P < 0.05) and the reducing/antioxidant capacity was improved linearly (P < 0.001) with herbal E. Redness measured at 7 d was also improved with herbal E (P < 0.05; lineal effect). The lamb performance can be improved with 1.8 g/kg Herbal E 50 in finishing lamb diets. The inclusion of herbal E feed plant additive improved the daily gain in finishing lambs, feed efficiency and improved meat oxidative stability.


2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 42553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Do Vale Maciel ◽  
Francisco Fernando Ramos de Carvalho ◽  
Ângela Maria Vieira Batista ◽  
Evaristo Jorge Oliveira de Souza ◽  
Laura Priscila Araújo Amaro Maciel ◽  
...  

 The aim of this study was to evaluate the replacement of Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon spp.) by maniçoba hay or silage (Manihot glaziovii Muell. Arg) on sheep intake and performance. Twenty-four male Santa Ines animals were used, with initial body weight of 19.77 ± 1.95 kg and average age of 160 days. The animals were distributed in three treatments (Tifton 85 hay-TH, Maniçoba hay-MH and Maniçoba silage-MS), arranged in a randomized blocks design, with 8 replicates per treatment. The feedlot period lasted for 71 days. The means of the variables were tested by Tukey’s test at 5% probability. Sheep fed MH presented higher dry matter intake (p > 0.05) than those fed TH (1.17 kg day-1 vs 1.06 kg day-1). Neutral detergent fiber intake was higher (p > 0.05) for MH-fed sheep (0.394 kg day-1) when compared to MS (0.340 kg day-1). The digestibility of total carbohydrates was higher (p > 0.05) for MH diet (0.71 g kg-1) than TH (0.67 g kg-1). The average daily gain and body weight at slaughter did not differ (p > 0.05) among treatments. Maniçoba hay or silage can replace Tifton 85 hay in sheep diets. 


1994 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. O. Freudenberger ◽  
C. J. Burns ◽  
K. Toyokawa ◽  
T. N. Barry

SUMMARYRed clover (RC) and perennial ryegrass (PRG)-based forages were cut fresh during late spring/early summer and fed at similar levels of dry matter (DM) intake to rumen fistulated castrated red deer kept indoors in metabolism pens. RC contained higher concentrations of total N and non-protein cell contents than PRG and lower concentrations of fibre. Rumen pool size and fractional outflow rates of liquid (13·3 ν. 15·1%/h) and of paniculate matter (2·5 ν. 3·9%/h) were lower for deer fed RC than PRG. Apparent digestibility of energy and fibre, rumen fibre fractional degradation rate and rumen fractional disappearance rate of non-protein cell contents were all higher for RC than for PRG deer. Nitrogen retention was similar for deer fed both forages. However, the concentration, pool size and outflow of ammonia from the rumen, together with urinary N excretion, were all much greater for deer fed RC than those fed PRG. The acetate: propionate ratio in rumen volatile fatty acids (VFA) was lower for the RC than the PRG group. It was concluded that the greater fibre digestion in deer fed RC was due to a faster rumen fractional degradation rate and a longer particulate mean retention time in the rumen, and that the very rapid outflow of water from the rumen relative to particulate matter in deer fed RC (5·5:1 ν. 3·8:1) may explain why deer are not susceptible to rumen frothy bloat when grazing RC. One reason for the greater voluntary feed intake (VFI) of deer grazing RC than those grazing PRG may be due to its greater concentration of protein and non-protein cell contents and their more rapid degradation and removal from the rumen.


2006 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 480-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Terré ◽  
Alex Bach ◽  
Maria Devant

Nineteen calves were reared in individual pens (IP), and twenty calves were grouped in four pens of five calves each (GP) to study the effects of grouping on behaviour and performance. All calves were on an enhanced-growth feeding programme and had unlimited access to starter. Total dry matter intake (DMI) body weight (BW), serum urea, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), cortisol, insulin, and glucose concentrations, and immune response to vaccination were measured. Behaviour patterns categorized as: non-nutritive oral behaviour, cross-sucking, inter-sucking, and self-grooming, were monitored 20 min following the morning and afternoon milk replacer consumption, and at the same times after weaning. There were no differences in final BW and starter DMI between treatments. The decrease of average daily gain (ADG) during the week following weaning was more pronounced in GP than in IP calves. Serum NEFA concentration increased at the beginning of the study in IP calves but serum urea concentrations were greater in GP than in IP calves the week after weaning. Self-grooming increased in both treatments throughout the study but GP calves increased non-nutritive oral behaviour and decreased cross-sucking and inter-sucking behaviours throughout the study. Rearing calves in groups following an enhanced-growth feeding programme did not increase starter intake. Furthermore, cross-sucking and inter-sucking behaviours in calves reared in groups did not seem to cause increased metabolic or immunological distress.


2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 717-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Beiranvand ◽  
M. Khorvash ◽  
G. R. Ghorbani ◽  
A. Homayouni ◽  
L. Bachmann ◽  
...  

Beiranvand, H., Khorvash, M., Ghorbani, G. R., Homayouni, A., Bachmann, L. and Kargar, S. 2014. Evaluation of ketogenic vs. glucogenic substrates as energy sources in starter diets for Holstein dairy calves. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 717–723. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of the inclusion of granular sugar and sodium propionate as ketogenic and glucogenic substrates, respectively, in calf starter diets on the performance, weaning age, rumen fermentation characteristics and plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (βHBA). Twenty-one newborn male Holstein calves were housed in individual pens until 10 wk of age, receiving starter ad libitum, fresh water free choice, and fed four liters of pasteurized waste milk daily until weaning. Calves were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: (1) no supplemental additive (Control); (2) granular sugar (5% of dietary DM; Sugar); and (3) sodium propionate (5% of dietary DM; Propionate). Overall, no differences were observed among treatments for starter intake, average daily gain, feed efficiency, day of weaning, body weight at weaning and at the end of the study. Body measurements including body length, hip height, hip width, and heart girth were remained unchanged among treatments. Ruminal fluid pH (5.36 to 5.58) and concentrations of total volatile fatty acids (93.1 to 101.6 mM), acetate (43.6 to 53.1 mM), propionate (30.5 to 35.1 mM), and ratio of acetate to propionate (1.42 to 1.89) were not affected by treatments over the experimental period. However, the concentration of butyrate was greater at 35 and 70 d of age in calves receiving Sugar compared with calves receiving Propionate, but not compared with the Control. Greater blood βHBA at 45, 60 and 70 d of age was noticed in calves fed Sugar compared with those fed Control and Propionate. In conclusion, according to the concentrations of supplemental ketogenic and glucogenic substrates used in the current experiment, sugar and sodium propionate in starter diets did not improve calf performance.


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 290 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. H. Nguyen ◽  
M. C. Barnett ◽  
R. S. Hegarty

The effects of dietary nitrate supplementation and defaunation on methane (CH4) emission, microbial protein outflow, digesta kinetics and average daily gain were studied in lambs fed chaff containing 4.1% crude protein in dry matter. Twenty ewe lambs were randomly allocated in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment (0% or 3.1% calcium nitrate supplementation and defaunated or faunated protozoal state). Nitrate supplementation increased blood methaemoglobin concentration (P < 0.05), rumen volatile fatty acids, ammonia concentration, dry matter intake, microbial protein outflow, average daily gain, dry matter digestibility, clean wool growth and wool fibre diameter (P < 0.01). Nitrate increased CH4 production (g/day) due to greater dry matter intake, but did not affect CH4 yield (g/kg dry matter intake). Nitrate-supplemented lambs had a shorter total mean retention time of digesta in the gut (P < 0.05). Defaunation reduced CH4 production and CH4 yield by 43% and 47%, but did not cause changes in dry matter intake, microbial protein outflow, average daily gain or clean wool growth. Defaunation decreased total volatile fatty acids and the molar percentage of propionate, but increased the molar percentage of acetate (P < 0.05). Interactions were observed such that combined treatments of defaunation and nitrate supplementation increased blood methaemoglobin (P = 0.04), and decreased CH4 yield (P = 0.01).


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