Search

Two experiments evaluated different fat sources and levels on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and economic impact in commercial finishing pigs. In experiment 1, 2,160 pigs (337 × 1,050, PIC; initially 37.3 ± 0.93 kg) were used. Pens of pigs were blocked by initial body weight and randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments. Three of the four dietary treatments included: 0%, 1%, and 3% choice white grease. The final treatment contained no added fat until pigs were approximately 100 kg, and then a diet containing 3% fat was fed until marketing. Experimental diets were fed over four phases and were corn–soybean meal based with 40% distillers dried grains with solubles. Overall, increasing choice white grease decreased (linear, P = 0.006) average daily feed intake (ADFI) and increased (linear, P = 0.006) G:F. Pigs fed 3% fat only during the late-finishing phase (~100 to 129 kg) had similar G:F compared to pigs fed 3% for the entire study during the late-finishing phase, and intermediate G:F overall. Increasing fat tended to increase (linear, P = 0.068) hot carcass weight (HCW). Feed cost increased (linear, P ≤ 0.005) and income over feed cost decreased (linear, P ≤ 0.041) as choice white grease increased. In Experiment 2, 2,011 pigs (PIC 1,050 × DNA 600; initially 28.3 ± 0.53 kg) were used. Pens of pigs were blocked by location in the barn and randomly assigned to one of five dietary treatments arranged in a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial with main effects of fat source (choice white grease or corn oil) and level (1% or 3% of the diet) and a control diet with no added fat. Overall, increasing fat, regardless of source, increased (linear, P < 0.001) average daily gain (ADG), decreased (linear, P = 0.013) ADFI, and increased (linear, P < 0.001) G:F. Increasing fat increased (linear, P ≤ 0.016) HCW, carcass yield, and backfat depth. There was a fat source × level interaction (P < 0.001) in carcass fat iodine value (IV), where IV increased to a greater extent in pigs fed corn oil with only a small increase in IV in pigs fed diets with choice white grease. In conclusion, these experiments suggest that increasing fat from 0% to 3%, regardless of source, produced variable responses in ADG but consistently improved G:F. Increasing fat increased HCW, carcass yield, and backfat depth, but feeding diets containing corn oil increased carcass IV. With the ingredient prices used, the improvement in growth performance did not justify the extra diet cost from increasing fat from 0% to 3% in most situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two experiments evaluated different fat sources and levels on growth performance and carcass characteristics in commercial finishing pigs. In Exp. 1, pigs (n = 2,160 337 × 1050, PIC; initial BW 37.3 ± 0.93 kg) were used. Pens of pigs were blocked by initial BW and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments. Three of the treatments included: 0, 1, and 3% choice white grease fed throughout the trial. The final treatment contained no added fat until pigs were approximately 100 kg, and then the diet containing 3% fat was fed. Experimental diets were fed over 4 phases and were corn-soybean meal-based with 40% dried distillers grains with solubles. There were 27 pigs per pen and 20 replications per treatment. Overall, increasing choice white grease decreased (linear, P = 0.006) ADFI and increased (linear, P = 0.006) G:F without influencing ADG (Table 1). Pigs fed 3% fat only during the late finishing phase (approximately 100 to 129 kg) had similar G:F compared with pigs fed 3% fat for the entire study. Increasing fat tended to increase (linear, P = 0.068) HCW. In Exp. 2, pigs (n = 2,011 PIC 1050 × DNA 600; initially 28.3 ± 0.53 kg) were used. Pens of pigs were blocked by location in the barn and randomly assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments arranged in a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial with main effects of fat source (choice white grease or corn oil) and level (1 or 3% of the diet) and a control diet with no added fat. There were 16 replications per treatment with 21 to 27 pigs per pen. Overall, increasing fat, regardless of source, increased (linear, P < 0.001) ADG, decreased (linear, P = 0.013) ADFI, and increased (linear, P < 0.001) G:F. Increasing fat increased (linear, P ≤ 0.016) HCW, carcass yield, and backfat depth (Table 2). There was a fat source × level interaction (P < 0.001) in belly fat iodine value (IV), where IV increased to a greater extent in pigs fed diets containing corn oil with only a small increase in IV in pigs fed diets with choice white grease. In conclusion, the results from these experiments suggest that increasing fat from 0 to 3%, regardless of source, produced variable responses in ADG but consistently improved G:F. Increasing fat increased HCW, carcass yield, and backfat depth, but feeding diets containing corn oil increased belly fat IV to a greater magnitude than choice white grease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2-yr study was conducted to evaluate the effects of level and source of fat in the diet of gestating beef cows on their prepartum performance and birth weight of progeny. Each year, 75 multiparous (≥3 calving) pregnant Angus cows were stratified by BW (663 ± 21.5 kg) and BCS (2.6 ± 0.12; 1 to 5 scale) and randomly assigned to 1 of 15 outdoor pens. Subsequently, each pen was randomly assigned to 1 of 3 (n = 5) treatments: a low-fat diet (LF ; 1.4 ± 0.12% EE) consisting of grass-legume hay, barley straw, and barley grain, or 1 of 2 high-fat diets (HF ; 3.3 ± 0.20% EE) that included either a canola seed (CAN) or a flaxseed (FLX) based pelleted feed. Diets were formulated to meet the requirements of pregnant beef cows during the last 2 trimesters of gestation (0.183 ± 4.8 d), adjusted for changes in environmental conditions, and offered such that each pen on average received similar daily amounts of DE (31.2 ± 2.8 Mcal/cow), CP (1.36 ± 0.13 kg/cow), and DM (12.9 ± 1.0 kg/cow). Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design with contrasts to separate the effects of level (LF vs. HF) and source (CAN vs. FLX) of fat. After 160 d on trial, conceptus corrected-BW (CC-BW) of LF cows (708 kg) and the proportion of overconditioned cows (13.2%) were greater (P ≤ 0.04) than those of HF, with no difference (P ≥ 0.84) between CAN and FLX for CC-BW (697 kg) and proportion of overconditioned cows (3.6% vs. 2.9%). Feeding FLX diet during gestation resulted in cows with a greater (P ≤ 0.01) concentration of conjugated linolenic acid (0.12% vs. 0.05%) and n-3 (0.58% vs. 0.37%) fatty acids, and a tendency (P = 0.09) for conjugated linoleic acid concentration (1.05% vs. 0.88%) to be greater in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) when compared with cows fed the CAN diet. By the end of gestation, serum NEFA concentration of LF cows (592 µEq/L) was lower (P < 0.01) than that of HF cows, and FLX cows had greater (P < 0.01) serum NEFA concentration than CAN cows (636 vs. 961 µEq/L). Cows receiving the LF diet during gestation gave birth to lighter (P < 0.01) calves compared with those receiving the HF diets (40.2 vs. 42.9 kg), with no difference (P = 0.24) between calves born to CAN (42.4 kg) and FLX (43.3 kg) cows. In conclusion, these results suggest a partitioning of the ME in pregnant beef cows that is dependent on the type of dietary energy, resulting in heavier calves at birth for cows fed high-fat diets. Also, the type of fatty acid in the diet of gestating beef cows affected the fatty acid profile in SCAT and serum NEFA concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of supplemental feeding of full-fat extruded cottonseed pellets (FFECS) compared with tallow on carcass characteristics, sensory traits, retail display color, and fatty acid profiles, especially CLA isomers in finishing heifers. Twenty-one Angus heifers (450 ± 5 kg) were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 experimental diets: 1) 100% supplemental fat from tallow at 4.1% of ration DM (TAL), 2) a 50:50 ratio of supplemental fat from a combination of tallow at 2.1% and FFECS at 12.8% of ration DM (TAL/ECS), and 3) 100% supplemental fat from FFECS at 25.6% ration DM (ECS). All rations were formulated to contain 7.5% fat on a DM basis. Heifers were individually fed, ad libitum, for 82 d, and BW, G:F, DMI, ADG, and body composition via ultrasound were collected at 3 to 4 wk intervals. After 82 d on feed heifers were slaughtered under federal inspection, and carcass characteristics were measured (at 24 h). The LM was removed for retail display color (1, 3, 6, 10 d), Warner-Bratzler shear force (1, 3, 7, 14, 21 d postmortem aging), sensory analysis (1, 7, 14, 21 d postmortem aging), and fatty acid profile analysis. Subcutaneous fat, including all layers, was removed from the LM for fatty acid profile analysis, and ground beef patties (80:20) were produced with lean from the brisket and fat from the plate for retail color analysis (1, 2,4, 7 d). Supplemental fat source did not influence feedlot performance for any of the traits measured (P > 0.12) or any carcass traits related to yield, quality, or LM color at the 12th- to 13th-rib interface (P > 0.15). Supplemental fat source did not affect Warner-Bratzler shear force or any sensory traits (P > 0.20), but LM steaks became more tender as postmortem aging time increased up to 14 d (P < 0.01). During retail display of LM steaks and beef patties, the only difference was LM steaks from ECS were darker (lower L* value) than TAL or TAL/ECS steaks (P < 0.02). As display time increased, LM steak and beef patty objective and subjective color deteriorated (P < 0.01). Although feeding FFECS compared with tallow increased linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) in both intramuscular and subcutaneous fat (P < 0.04), this did not lead to an increase in total CLA content (P > 0.90). Full-fat extruded cottonseed pellets are interchangeable with tallow in heifer finishing diets without impacting feeding performance, meat quality, shelf life color, or CLA content of adipose sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calf milk replacer fat source was evaluated to determine the effect on performance and scour data when fed to Holstein bull calves. A total of 54 calves with an initial weight of 47.6 kg were randomly assigned according to body weight and blood gamma globulin concentration to three all-milk protein milk replacer treatments: 1) 22% CP / 20% fat from edible lard; 2) 22% CP / 20% fat from edible lard and butterfat (1:1); or 3) 22% CP / 20% from butterfat. Calf milk replacer was fed averaging 775 g per calf, daily. Milk replacers were medicated (28 g neomycin/kg, 14 g oxytetracycline/kg). Calves were individually housed in crates and fed equal amounts 2 times daily at 700 and 1615 hours. No starter was fed during this 28 day trial. Weight gain, feed efficiency, daily scour scores (1-4 score: l=normal, 2=loose, 3=water separation, 4=3 with severe dehydration) and scour days were calculated weekly for the four week trial period. Calves fed milk replacer containing edible lard had reduced (P<.05) incidence and severity of scours. Edible lard is an excellent fat source for milk replacer fed calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]