PERFORMANCE OF HEREFORD × SHORTHORN BULLS AND STEERS RAISED IN NORTHERN ONTARIO AND FED DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GRASS SILAGE AND HIGH MOISTURE BARLEY

1983 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 861-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. VEIRA ◽  
A. FORTIN ◽  
M. IVAN ◽  
G. BUTLER ◽  
J. G. PROULX

Over a 2-yr period, 44 bulls and 44 implanted steers of Hereford × Shorthorn breeding were fed, from weaning to slaughter, diets of grass silage with 0, 0.45, 0.9 or 1.35 kg barley dry matter (DM)/100 kg liveweight. Each animal was slaughtered when it had 8 mm of fat over the loin as determined by ultrasound measurement. As the level of barley in the diet increased the rate of gain increased (P < 0.01), as did DM intake (P < 0.05) while feed required per kilogram gained and days on feed decreased. Bulls and steers responded in a similar manner to the different diets. Bulls gained faster (P < 0.01) on similar intakes of DM with the result that feed required for kilogram gain was less for bulls (P < 0.05). There was no difference (P > 0.05) in days to market for bulls and steers. There was no consistent effect of diet on carcass characteristics. However, castration resulted in lighter (P < 0.01) slaughter and carcass weights as well as a smaller (P < 0.01) rib eye area. Key words: Cattle, castration, diet, growth, carcass

1983 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. KUNG Jr. ◽  
B. W. JESSE ◽  
J. W. THOMAS ◽  
J. T. HUBER ◽  
R. S. EMERY

Whole barley was treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in laboratory trials. Dry matter disappearance from nylon bags in the rumen of whole barley treated with 2.5, 3.5, or 4.9% NaOH for 30 h was 59.6, 72.4, and 93.0%, respectively, compared with 82.2% for untreated ground barley. In a subsequent lactation trial, 24 Holstein cows (eight per treatment) were fed high moisture ground ear corn, high moisture rolled barley or high moisture whole barley treated with 3.5% NaOH. Milk persistencies tended to be greater for cows fed high moisture rolled barley, next for ground ear corn and least for NaOH-treated barley. Milk composition was similar for all treatments. Dry matter intake was greatest for cows fed ground ear corn and lower for those fed the barley diets. Alpha-linked glucose and pH of feces were similar for cows fed ground ear corn and high moisture rolled barley diets, but fecal pH was lower and alpha-linked glucose concentrations three times greater for NaOH-treated barley. Digestibility percents of dry matter, acid detergent fiber and nitrogen were 61.4, 25.3, 64.7 for ground ear corn; 64.4, 38.0, 67.1 for high moisture rolled barley; and 56.8, 43.2, 54.8 for NaOH-treated barley, respectively. Rumen grain turnover estimated by excretion of ytterbium in feces was greatest for NaOH-treated barley (9.09%/h), intermediate for ground ear corn (6.10%/h) and lowest for high moisture rolled barley (4.93%/h). Key words: Dairy, sodium hydroxide, high moisture grains


2001 ◽  
Vol 137 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. CARSON ◽  
B. W. MOSS ◽  
L. E. R. DAWSON ◽  
D. J. KILPATRICK

The study investigated the effects of lamb genotype produced from hill flocks on feed efficiency, carcass characteristics and meat quality in animals finished on either a high forage:concentrate ratio diet (HFC) or a low forage:concentrate ratio diet (LFC). Purebred Scottish Blackface (BXB) lambs were compared with Blue-Faced Leicester×Scottish Blackface (BLXB) and Texel×Scottish Blackface (TXB) lambs. Purebred Cheviot (CXC), Suffolk×Cheviot (SXC) and Texel×Cheviot (TXC) lambs were also investigated. Lambs on the LFC diet were offered grass silage and concentrates mixed in the proportion of 0·80 silage and 0·20 concentrates on a dry matter basis. The LFC diet consisted of 0·20 grass silage and 0·80 concentrates on a dry matter basis. Representative lambs were slaughtered at the start of the experiment and on reaching 38 and 46 kg live weight. Averaged over the two slaughter weights, within the Blackface cross lambs, BXB had a lower liveweight gain (P < 0·01) than either BLXB or TXB (138, 207 and 203 (S.E. 11·1) g/day, respectively). Within the Cheviot cross lambs, CXC had a lower liveweight gain (P < 0·05) than SXC (188 v. 220 (S.E. 11·1) g/day), while SXC and TXC (204 g/day) had similar liveweight gains. Lambs on the LFC diet had a higher dressing proportion (P < 0·001) compared with lambs finished on the HFC diet (0·466 v. 0·434 (S.E. 0·0018) kg carcass per kg live weight). Averaged over the two slaughter weights BXB lambs had a lower (P < 0·05) dressing proportion than the other genotypes. Carcass conformation classification (assessed on a five-point scale) was higher (P < 0·001) in lambs finished on the LFC diet (3·0 v. 2·4 (S.E. 0·04)). Conformation classification was higher in lambs produced from Cheviot compared with Blackface ewes (P < 0·05). Within the Blackface cross lambs, BXB and BLXB lambs had a lower conformation classification (P < 0·001) than TXB lambs (2·4, 2·4 and 2·9 (S.E. 0·08) respectively). Within the Cheviot ewes, TXC lambs had a higher (P < 0·001) classification than either CXC or SXC (3·1, 2·7 and 2·7 (S.E. 0·08) respectively). Lambs finished on the LFC diet had a higher fat classification score compared with lambs on the HFC diet (P < 0·001) (3·4 v. 2·8 (S.E. 0·04)). Fat classification was similar across all genotypes. Lambs finished on the LFC diet had a lower ash content in the carcass than lambs finished on a HFC diet (P < 0·01) (44 v. 47 (S.E. 0·8) g/kg). Lamb genotype and dietary forage:concentrate ratio had no significant effect on cooking loss, sarcomere length, Warner–Bratzler shear force and L* values. Ultimate pH (pHU) was not influenced by dietary forage:concentrate ratio, but was significantly (P < 0·01) higher in BXB lambs compared with BLXB, TXB, CXC and TXC lambs. Lambs offered the LFC diet during the finishing period had significantly higher values for a* (P < 0·05), b* (P < 0·001), C* (P < 0·001) and H0 (P < 0·05) than lambs offered a HFC diet. Of these parameters only b* was significantly affected by lamb genotype, with BXB lambs having a lower value (P < 0·05) than the other genotypes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arto Kalevi Huuskonen ◽  
Maiju Pesonen

The objective of the present experiment was to study the effects of the third-cut grass silage compared with the first- and second-cut silages on intake, performance and carcass characteristics of finishing bulls. A feeding experiment comprised 45 Simmental bulls which were fed a total mixed ration ad libitum. The three dietary treatments included either first-, second- or third-cut grass silage (550 g kg-1 dry matter), rolled barley (435 g kg-1 dry matter) and a mineral-vitamin mixture (15 g kg-1 dry matter). Dry matter and energy intakes and growth rates of the bulls increased when either first- or third-cut silages were used instead of the second-cut silage. This was probably due to differences in digestibility, which was the lowest in the second-cut silage. There were no differences in intake or growth between the first- and third-cut silage-based rations. No significant differences in carcass traits among the feeding treatments were observed.


1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 811-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. KENNELLY ◽  
G. W. MATHISON ◽  
G. de BOER

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


1979 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 727-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. MATHISON ◽  
L. P. MILLIGAN ◽  
J. WOHLLEBE ◽  
R. M. ELOFSON

Alfalfa-bromegrass or alfalfa-bromegrass-timothy forage was treated with SO2 as a silage preservative at levels of 0, 0.14, 0.36 and 0.66% of the fresh forage weight while filling eight concrete stave silos (2.4 m in diameter × 6.1 m high). There was retention in the silage of 38–59% of the applied SO2. Although SO2 treatment did not (P > 0.05) influence silage pH or have a consistent effect on temperature, the ammonia N content of the silage was reduced (P < 0.01) from 10.9% of the total N in the control silage to 5.2% of the total N in the silage treated with 0.66% SO2. Silage acetate and lactate concentrations were also lowered (P < 0.01) by SO2 treatment. Butyrate and ethanol concentrations were very low and not (P > 0.05) affected by the preservative. The silage conserved with SO2 and hay harvested from the same fields were assessed using 80 steers in a feeding trial of 55 days. SO2 treatment had no consistent effect on dry matter intake; however, the rates of gain of the steers fed silage preserved with 0.36 and 0.66% SO2 were 26 and 23% higher (P < 0.05), respectively, than those of steers fed untreated silage. Feed dry matter to gain ratio decreased (P < 0.05) from 12.5 to 9.3 as the SO2 treatment level was increased from 0 to 0.66%. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in rate of gain, dry matter intake or the feed to gain ratio between steers fed hay and those fed the silage without SO2 treatment. It was concluded that SO2 exhibited potential as a good silage preservative when applied at rates of between 0.36 and 0.66% of the forage weight.


1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 181-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. ZoBell ◽  
L. A. Goonewardene ◽  
D. F. Engstrom

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


1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 1079-1088 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. FORREST

Sixty small-framed yearling Hereford and Hereford cross steers initially averaging 268 kg were reared on pasture from May to October, divided into two (30 each) approximately equal weight groups and placed in a feedlot. The steers were serially slaughtered in groups of 10 (five heaviest from each treatment) after 0, 35, 70, 98, 126 or 154 days of feedlot finishing on either grass or corn silage supplemented with 0.9–2.3 kg-head−1∙day−1 of a mixed grain ration containing 5% molasses. Average gains on pasture were 0.80, 0.75 and 0.54 kg/day for the consecutive 59, 48 and 61 day periods between 9 May and 24 Oct. Steers finished on corn silage gained significantly faster (P < 0.05) and had significantly more dissectable rib fat when slaughtered (0.82 kg/day; 27.6%) than steers finished on grass silage (0.51 kg/day; 24.6%). Six of the 10 steers slaughtered off pasture graded B1 or C1 while one of the feedlot steers graded B1 and the remaining 53 graded A1 or A2. The subjective carcass fat color score of the steers slaughtered off pasture averaged 4.7 which was significantly greater than the fat color of the feedlot finished steers (3.0–3.6). The corn silage steers had a color rating of 3.4 while the grass silage steers rated 3.7. The results of this experiment indicate that yearling steers reared on pasture and finished between 35 and 70 days on grass or corn silage with low concentrate supplementation will produce acceptable carcasses in terms of grade and subjective fat color score. Key words: Growth, carcass characteristics, steers, pasture, silage


2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maiju Pesonen ◽  
Markku Honkavaara ◽  
Helena Kämäräinen ◽  
Tiina Tolonen ◽  
Mari Jaakkola ◽  
...  

The objectives of this experiment with Hereford (Hf) and Charolais (Ch) bulls offered grass silage-based diets were to determine the effects on performance, carcass traits and meat quality of the proportion of concentrate in the diet, and the inclusion of rapeseed meal (RSM) in the barley-based concentrate. The two concentrate proportions were 200 and 500 g kg-1 dry matter, fed without or with RSM. The Ch bulls tended to achieve higher gain, produced less fat, had a higher percentage of meat from high-priced joints and had a lower degree of marbling in their meat compared to the Hf bulls. Dry matter and energy intakes, growth performance and carcass conformation improved with increasing concentrate level. Intake parameters and conformation improved more with the Ch bulls than with the Hf bulls as a consequence of increased concentrate allowance. RSM had only limited effects on the performance, carcass traits or meat quality.


1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 779-786 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. H. ROBINSON ◽  
J. J. KENNELLY

High-moisture barley (HMB) was ensiled in polyethylene silage bags. Treatments applied to 30% moisture HMB as a percentage of dry matter (DM) were: none, 1% ammonia, 2% ammonia, and 1.5% sulphur dioxide. A fifth treatment was the addition of 1.5% sulphur dioxide to 20% moisture HMB. Barley samples were ruminally incubated to estimate degradability of DM and nitrogen (N). Ruminally incubated bags were also introduced to the duodenal cannulae and collected in feces to estimate true whole-tract digestion. Sulphur dioxide treatment, or moisture content, had no influence on ruminal degradability, with the exception of increased degradation rate of potentially degradable N for 20 vs 30% HMB, or whole-tract true digestion. Ammoniation resulted in net reduction in rate of ruminal DM release due to shift of soluble DM to the potentially degradable fraction, and decrease in the potentially degradable fraction degradation rate. Ammoniation increased barley N content up to 44% with no change in rate of ruminal N release. Whole-tract true DM digestion was higher for ammoniated barley but N digestion was not influenced. Sulphur dioxide appears to offer no advantages beyond grain preservation, whereas ammoniation offers potential by reducting rate of ruminal DM release, and providing a source of slow release nonprotein N, without affecting post-ruminal digestibility. Key words: High-moisture barley, ammonia, sulphur dioxide


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