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An experiment was conducted to evaluate impacts of RAMP (Cargill Corn Milling, Blair, NE) on methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, performance, and carcass characteristics of beef cattle during the grain adaptation phase and finishing phase. Crossbred steers [n = 64; initial body weight (BW) = 347 ±7 kg] were utilized in two treatments; RAMP, fed 100% RAMP during step one and then stepped up to a common finisher diet consisting of 65.5% steam-flaked corn (SFC), 22.5% Sweet Bran (SB), 8% wheat straw, and 4% supplement. The second treatment was control (CON) fed 30.5% SFC, 22.5% SB, 8% wheat straw 35% alfalfa hay, and 4% supplement during step one and then stepped up to the common finisher diet. There were 8 steers per pen and 4 paired replications. Replications were stepped up together and rotated through a twochamber emissions barn in 5-day cycles to measure CH4 and CO2 emissions at three time points: step one of step-up phase, early feeding phase (one week after starting the finishing diet), and later finishing phase (13 weeks after starting the finishing diet). Performance data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with treatment and BW block as fixed effects and emissions data analyzed with BW block and treatment as fixed effects and barn chamber as a covariate. Feeding RAMP during step one of the step-up phase led to a decrease in CH4, as g/d (P = 0.03) and a decrease in the CH4:CO2 ratio (P = 0.02). However, CH4 as g/kg of dry matter intake (DMI) was not affected by treatment (P = 0.25). Control steers had a decrease in CO2 as g/day (P = 0.03), but not as CO2 g/kg of DMI (P = 0.31). There were no differences in DMI (P = 1.00) during the step-up phase, averaging 10.3 kg/d for both treatments. For measures taken while all cattle were on the common finishing diet, RAMP did not reduce CH4, as g/d or g/kg DMI (P = 0.27), CO2 as g/d or g/kg DMI (P = 0.37), or CH4:CO2 (P = 0.12). There were no significant differences in DMI (P = 0.49) whole cattle were in the emissions barn during the feeding phase. There were no significant differences for interim (d 66) cattle performance including BW (mean 504 kg; P = 0.84), DMI (mean 9.7 kg; P = 0.27), ADG (mean 2.33 kg/d; P = 0.88), or G: F (mean 0.246; P = 0.30). Feeding RAMP to cattle during the grain adaptation phase resulted in a 12% decrease in methane emissions on a g per day basis without affecting cattle performance. This reduction in emissions didn't carry over into the finishing phase when a common diet was fed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metabolism experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of daily feeding of encapsulated Megasphaera elsdenii (M. elsdenii) NCIMB 41125 along with a one-time dose of Lactipro NXT (MS Biotec) on dry matter intake (DMI), rumen pH, in vitro lactate disappearance, volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, and lactate concentration. Ruminally cannulated crossbred steers (n = 40, initial BW 437 ± 98 kg) were individually fed a finisher diet consisting of 70% steam-flaked corn, 18% modified distillers grain plus soluble, and 7% alfalfa hay. Treatments were control (Con) steers which were given no M. elsdenii and four treatments that received LactiproNXT on day 1 and were given 0 (Drench), 1×106 (Low), 1×107 (Medium), or 1×108 (High) CFU of encapsulated M. elsdenii daily throughout the experiment fed as a top-dress. Adaptation to the finishing diet was accomplished in 19 days for Con steers and 9 days for steers in the Drench, Low, Medium, and High treatments. The experiment included five continuous periods: step-up (d 1-19); finishing (d 20-88); feed restriction (d 89, 24-h full feed restriction); challenge (d 90, cattle were fed at 150% of max DMI from finishing period); and recovery (d 91-94). Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with linear and quadratic effects of dose with drench as the intercept. There were no significant differences for DMI in the step-up, finishing, or challenge period. In the recovery period, DMI was greater for Low, Med, and High compared with Drench (P = 0.07) and there was a tendency for a linear increase in DMI with increasing the dose of M. elsdenii (P = 0.11). Recovery period DMI, expressed as a percentage of pre-challenge intake, was greater (P = 0.05) in steers fed M. elsdenii daily compared with Drench steers, and increased linearly (P = 0.06) as dose of M. elsdenii increased. Rumen pH in steers fed M. elsdenii daily was greater (P < 0.01) during the feeding period and tended to be greater during the challenge (P = 0.14) and recovery (P = 0.11) periods when compared with the Drench treatment. In vitro lactate disappearance tended to be greater (P = 0.13) in steers given M. elsdenii daily when compared with Con and Drench on d 88. For days 90, 91, and 92 combined, a treatment effect was observed for in vitro lactate disappearance with steers in the Low, Med, and High treatments having greater (P < 0.05) disappearance than Con steers, and Med steers having greater (P < 0.05) disappearance than all other treatments. An accelerated step up is possible with the drench and daily feeding of M. elsdenii. Daily feeding of M. elsdenii has a positive effect on cattle during and after an acidosis challenge event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental feed may be provided to cattle in grazing systems to increase ADG, but can be labor intensive. This study evaluated the performance of steers grazing smooth bromegrass pastures supplemented dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) either daily or three times per week. Crossbred steers (n = 144, initial BW 317 ± 1.25 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design with 3 treatments allocated randomly to 24 paddocks in one of 6 blocks. Treatments consisted of: 1) steers supplemented daily with 0.8% of BW (DM-basis) of DDGS, 2) steers supplemented three times a week with 1.86% of BW (DM-basis) of DDGS, and 3) steers that received no supplementation (control). All steers were implanted with 40 mg trenbolone acetate and 8 mg estradiol (Rev-G; Merck Animal Health, De Soto, KS) implants. Paddocks were divided equally into three strips and rotationally grazed. Put-and-take steers were utilized to match stocking rate with forage growth. Each treatment group rotated through three 0.81-hectare strips per pasture. Pre-graze and post-graze biomass was measured at ground level from each paddock at each rotation. Pre-graze biomass samples were used to determine forage availability. Grazing was initiated in early May with cattle removed from pastures in August, for a total of 97 grazing days. Data were analyzed with MIXED procedure of SAS with paddock as experimental unit and treatment and block as fixed effects. Treatment means of ADG and ending BW differed (P < 0.01) among treatments. The control calves gained 0.85 kg/d. The supplemented treatments significantly increased (P < 0.01) ADG compared with the control, with daily supplementation gaining 1.25 kg/d and 3x gaining 1.11 kg/d. The ADG was decreased (P < 0.01) with 3x a week compared with daily supplementation. The differences in ADG resulted in similar differences in final live BW. The control had a finial live BW of 398 kg and final live BW of both supplemented treatments was significantly increased (P < 0.01) when compared with the control treatment. Final live BW of 3x supplemented steers (423 kg) was decreased (P < 0.01) when compared with daily supplemented steers (436 kg). For steers grazing smooth bromegrass pastures, daily supplementation of DDGS resulted in greater gains and therefore greater final BW when compared with three times a week supplementation and the non-supplemented control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advancements in both vaccine technology and antibiotic therapy, bovine respiratory disease complex (BRD) remains the primary health challenge for cattle feeding operations in the United States. The strategy of limit-feeding calves during the early receiving period (first 28 days) has been proposed as a method to mitigate BRD risk, but limited data are available despite this strategy becoming more common. The objective of this study was to evaluate limit-feeding as a receiving protocol to determine impact on pull rates, receiving performance, and subsequent (Postreceiving) finishing performance. Steers (initial BW = 262 kg; n = 704) were blocked by arrival day (7 blocks) and housed in 44 open-lot pens. Pens were assigned to either limit-fed at approximately 75% of ad libitum or fed ad libitum for the 28-day receiving period. A subset of 216 steers in 14 pens was followed through finishing to evaluate carry-over effects in the finish period (192 days). Dry matter intake (DMI; P < 0.01), average daily gain (ADG; P < 0.01) and ending body weight (P < 0.01) were less for the limit-fed treatment compared with ad libitum due to the limitation of intakes as designed. Intake averaged 70.1% for limit-fed versus ad libitum whereas ADG was 72.6% for limit-fed compared with ad libitum. Because both DMI and ADG were decreased by similar amounts, G:F was not affected (P = 0.28). Numerically better G:F was observed for limit-fed cattle versus ad libitum but this 3.4% difference was not significant (P = 0.28). Morbidity rates for BRD were not statistically different, with ad libitum morbidity of 16.3% compared with 14.3% for limit-fed steers (P = 0.58) Low mortality for the receiving period was observed with 0.84% (3 steers) on limit-fed treatment, and 0% for the ad libitum treatment. For the subset of pens that were followed through finishing, there were no differences (P > 0.18) in ADG or DMI. While not statistically different, there was a 2.2% increase in ADG for steers that were limit-fed during the receiving period, which allowed for similar HCW and final BW (P = 0.39) at slaughter. Other carcass characteristics were also similar (P > 0.74) between steers received with an ad libitum or limit-fed program. No statistical difference (P = 0.29) in the rate of liver abscess occurrence was noted. In conclusion, there was no statistical difference between treatments in early-period morbidity or finishing performance between ad libitum and limit-fed receiving management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A finishing study used 240 crossbred steers (initial BW=340 ±24 kg) to evaluate performance, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid profiles of beef from finishing steers. Four inclusions (0, 10, 20, 30 % DM basis) of Green Grass displaced dry rolled corn in the finishing diet. Green Grass is a blend of herbs and plants imported from Korea that are high in omega-3 fatty acids with 13.9 % fat, 32.0 % CP, and 27.0 % Acid detergent fiber. The remaining diet consisted of 15 % WDGS, 20 % corn silage, and 6 % liquid supplement (DM basis). There were no differences in final BW, gain or carcass traits (P=0.14). Cattle were harvested over three slaughter days and were fed for 190, 199, or 203 days. Dry matter intake linearly increased (P = 0.04)as Green Grass inclusion increased in the diet. A linear response (P£0.01) to feeding Green Grass was observed for G:F, with steers fed Green Grass having lower feed efficiency than control cattle. The G:F of cattle fed Green Grass was 5.4, 3.4, and 6.8 % lower in G:F as inclusion increased suggesting Green Grass has 68.6 % the energy of corn it replaced. Steers fed 30 % Green Grass had a lower marbling score. Linear increases in alpha linolenic acid, trans-unsaturated fatty acids, and omega-3 fatty acids (P£0.01) were observed in steak samples from steers fed increasing inclusion of Green Grass. Including up to 30 % inclusion of Green Grass on a DM basis in finishing diets decreased G:F; however, it appeared to have no other effects on performance or carcass characteristics. Feeding Green Grass linearly improved omega-3 fatty acid concentration in beef. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]