Including Sweet Bran in the Diet of Growing Feedlot Steers Increased Body Weight and Influenced Rate of Feed Disappearance.

This study assessed the effect of Sweet BranTM (SWBR; 40% DM inclusion; Cargill Corn Milling, Blair, NE) or modified distiller's grains (MDGS; 25% DM inclusion) in the diet of newly received feedlot steers on feeding behavior and growing period performance. Diets were formulated for similar metabolizable protein and DM. Two hundred sixteen freshly weaned Angus-cross steers (253 kg ± 18.1) were stratified by BW to 36 pens (n = 18 per treatment; 6 steers/pen). Individual BW were recorded on d 0, 28, and 60. Eight pens per treatment were utilized to assess rate of feed disappearance early (day 5 and 6) and late (53 and 54) during growing by weighing feed in bunks every 2 hours post-delivery for 12 consecutive hours. Feed weights were averaged across consecutive days within pen and timepoint. Slopes were calculated between each timepoint to determine rate of feed disappearance. Data were analyzed with Proc Mixed of SAS 9.4; diet was fixed effect and pen was experimental unit. Feed disappearance slopes were analyzed as repeated measures with the repeated effect of time. Body weights did not differ on d 28 (P ≥ 0.29), but d 60 BW and d 0 to 60 ADG were greater for SWBR than MDGS (P < 0.05). Steers fed SWBR had greater DMI throughout the trial (P < 0.05). Feed efficiency (G:F) did not differ throughout the trial (P ≥ 0.31). Rate of feed disappearance on d 5/6 was greater for SWBR between hours 6-8, and greater for MDGS from hours 10-12. On d 53/54, SWBR had increased feeding rate during hours 0-2, while MDGS was increased from hours 8-10. Steers fed SWBR had a greater rate of feed disappearance earlier in the day and had improved DMI and growth than steers fed MDGS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]