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Brown WE, Holdorf HT, Johnson SJ, Kendall SJ, Green SE, White HM. In utero choline exposure alters growth, metabolism, feed efficiency, and carcass characteristics of Holstein × Angus cattle from weaning to slaughter. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skad186. [PMID: 37305985 PMCID: PMC10294555 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Feeding rumen-protected choline (RPC) to late gestation dairy cows has potential to affect growth in offspring. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of in utero choline exposure on the growth, feed efficiency (FE), metabolism, and carcass quality of Angus × Holstein cattle. Multiparous Holstein cows pregnant with male (N = 17) or female (N = 30) Angus-sired calves were enrolled 21 d prepartum and randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments varying in quantity and formulation of RPC. The treatments included a control with 0 g/d supplemental RPC (CTL), supplemental RPC fed at the recommended dose (RD) of 15 g/d from either an established RPC product (RPC1RD; ReaShure; Balchem Corp.) or choline ion from a concentrated RPC prototype (RPC2RD; Balchem Corp.), or a high dose (HD) of RPC2 fed at 22 g/d (RPC2HD). From 2 to 6 mo of age, calves were group housed and offered 2.3 kg grain/hd/d (42% CP) with ad libitum grass hay, and stepped up to a complete finishing diet by 7 mo (12.0% CP; 1.34 Mcal/kg NEg). Weight and height were measured monthly. Animal FE was measured in individual pens for 35 d at 8 mo. Feed intake was measured daily, and blood was obtained on day 18 during the FE period. Afterwards, cattle were group housed and offered a free-choice finishing diet until slaughter, where carcass yield and quality characteristics were measured. Mixed models were used in PROC MIXED (SAS, 9.4) with the fixed effects of treatment, sex, time, their interactions, and the random effect of calf. Month was the repeated measure, and preplanned contrasts were used. Blood and FE data were analyzed with the fixed effect of dam choline treatment, calf sex, and the interaction. Increasing dose of RPC tended to increase weight over the entire study period. Feeding any RPC increased hip and wither height compared with CTL, and increasing RPC dose linearly increased hip and wither height. Treatment and sex interacted on DMI whereby increasing RPC intake linearly increased DMI for males but not females. Compared with control, feeding any RPC decreased plasma insulin, glucose, and an insulin sensitivity index (RQUICKI). In utero choline exposure increased kidney-pelvic-heart fat and marbling score. Mechanisms of action for intrauterine choline exposure on offspring growth, metabolism, and carcass characteristics should be explored as they have direct implications for profitability for cattle growers and feeders.
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Affiliation(s)
- William E Brown
- Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Henry T Holdorf
- Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Sara J Johnson
- Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Sophia J Kendall
- Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Sophia E Green
- Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Heather M White
- Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
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Basiel BL, Felix TL. Board Invited Review: Crossbreeding beef × dairy cattle for the modern beef production system. Transl Anim Sci 2022; 6:txac025. [PMID: 35399737 PMCID: PMC8989152 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txac025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Current trends in the United States dairy industry suggest that crossbred beef × dairy calves are replacing a proportion of the calf-fed Holstein steers slaughtered for beef each year. Economic pressures value preweaned beef × dairy calves at a premium over preweaned dairy bull calves; however, there is little modern data to support that intensively fed crossbred calves maintain their premium value over dairy steers across the supply chain. Data from international production systems and from historic research suggests that beef × dairy cattle had greater average daily gains and converted feed to gain more efficiently than dairy steers. Regarding carcass characteristics, across the literature crossbreds consistently yielded heavier carcasses that had lower proportions of trim than dairy steers. Fewer comparisons of beef × dairy and dairy steers exist in the literature for other economically relevant carcass characteristics such as ribeye area, backfat, marbling, tenderness, and eating quality. Existing published data are inconsistent among studies, highlighting the necessity for more research tailored to the United States beef production system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey L Basiel
- Department of Animal Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Tara L Felix
- Department of Animal Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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Tong C, Yang G, AoenBolige, Terigen, Li H, Li B, Li Z, Zheng Q. Screening of Salt-Tolerant Thinopyrum ponticum Under Two Coastal Region Salinity Stress Levels. Front Genet 2022; 13:832013. [PMID: 35186046 PMCID: PMC8855210 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.832013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
To accelerate the exploitation and use of marginal soils and develop salt-tolerant forage germplasm suitable for the coastal regions of China, seven lines of decaploid tall wheatgrass [Thinopyrum ponticum (Podp.) Barkworth and D. R. Dewey, 2n = 10x = 70] were transplanted under low (.3%) and high (.5%) salt conditions for a comprehensive analysis at the adult-plant stage. Differences were observed among these materials, especially in terms of grass yield, agronomic characteristics, and physiological and biochemical indices. Line C2 grew best with the highest shoot total fresh and dry weights under all conditions except for the milk-ripe stage in Dongying in 2019. The total membership value of C2 also reflected its excellent performance after transplanting. As superior germplasm, its relatively high antioxidant enzyme activities and chlorophyll a/b ratio suggested C2 may maintain normal metabolic and physiological functions under saline conditions. Furthermore, decaploid tall wheatgrass as a forage grass species has a high nutritive value beneficial for animal husbandry. Accordingly, line C2 may be used as excellent germplasm to develop salt-tolerant cultivars in the Circum-Bohai sea.
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Carvalho PHV, Westphalen MF, Silva FAS, Felix TL. Effects of forage inclusion and cattle breed on apparent digestibility and ruminal pH of steers fed a whole shelled corn-based diet. Transl Anim Sci 2021; 5:txab221. [PMID: 34988378 PMCID: PMC8706821 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txab221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives were to evaluate the effects of cattle breed, Holstein or Angus, and forage inclusion on total tract digestibility and ruminal pH in cattle fed a whole shelled corn-based diet. Six Holstein and six Angus steers were assigned to a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. Factors included breed, Holstein or Angus, and forage inclusion at 0%, 8%, or 16% forage (dry matter [DM] basis). Steers were fed in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square, split-plot design. Each period consisted of 14 d diet adaptation followed by 7 d of sample collection. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedures in SAS (v9.4 SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). Repeated measures were used to analyze changes in ruminal pH over time. There was no interaction of breed × diet (P ≥ 0.19) on dry matter intake (DMI) or digestibility; however, Holstein steers had greater (P = 0.03) DMI than Angus steers. Despite the impact of breed on intake, there was no effect (P ≥ 0.33) of breed on diet digestibility. Digestibility of DM increased (linear; P < 0.01) as forage was removed from the diet, but there were no differences (P ≥ 0.32) in Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) and starch digestibility. However, due to the change in diet, NDF intake digested on a grams per day basis increased (P ≤ 0.01) and starch intake digested (g/d) decreased (P = 0.01) as forage inclusion increased. There was a tendency for breed × diet interaction (P = 0.08) on ruminal pH. Holstein steers fed 8% or 16% forage had greater ruminal pH than Holstein steers fed 0% forage; but, ruminal pH of Angus steers was not altered by diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro H V Carvalho
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Mariana F Westphalen
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Flavia A S Silva
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Tara L Felix
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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Gou X, Tsunekawa A, Tsubo M, Peng F, Sun J, Li Y, Zhao X, Lian J. Seasonal dynamics of cattle grazing behaviors on contrasting landforms of a fenced ranch in northern China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 749:141613. [PMID: 32836130 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The number of livestock per unit area is commonly used as a proxy of grazing pressure in both experimental studies and grassland management. However, this practice ignores the impact of landform heterogeneity on the spatial distribution of grazing pressure, leading to localized patches of degraded grassland. The spatial distribution of actual grazing density thus needs to be examined. Owing to the corresponding changes in resource availability and energy consumption as livestock move across an elevation gradient, we predict that livestock will preferentially use low-land and that different temporal patterns of grazing pressure will occur in the contrasting landforms. GPS location data and a machine learning technique were used to identify the seasonal pattern and the factors driving grazing pressure on a fenced ranch. Over both low-land and sand-dune landforms, the proportion of time that livestock spent on foraging increased from 63% in July to 67% in August and 69% in September, and non-foraging behavior decreased correspondingly. In low-land, the log-transformed average foraging density significantly increased from 0.61 (i.e., total foraging behaviors in 5 days measured at 50-s intervals per 10 × 10 m grid) in July to 0.66 in August and 0.88 in September, whereas there was no significant change on sand-dunes. From July to September, the relative area of low-land foraged by cattle accounted for 31%, 35%, and 36%, respectively, and in sand-dunes the proportions increased from 45% to 47% to 51%. In low-land, the foraging density was negatively correlated with biomass (P = .07), total digestible nutrients (P < .05), and crude protein (P = .06) and positively correlated with acid detergent fiber (P < .05), whereas no such relationships were observed in sand-dunes. Our results indicate that topographic features should be considered when managing livestock, especially during periods with adverse conditions of herbage quality and quantity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Gou
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori 680-8553, Japan.
| | - Atsushi Tsunekawa
- Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan.
| | - Mitsuru Tsubo
- Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan.
| | - Fei Peng
- International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori 680-0001, Japan; Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 73000, China.
| | - Jian Sun
- Synthesis Research Centre of Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), 11A, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Yulin Li
- Naiman Desertification Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tongliao 028300, China.
| | - Xueyong Zhao
- Naiman Desertification Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tongliao 028300, China.
| | - Jie Lian
- Naiman Desertification Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tongliao 028300, China.
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Effects of cattle breed and corn processing on ruminal pH and volatile fatty acid concentrations, and apparent digestibility. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2020.114659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Carvalho PHV, Pinto ACJ, Millen DD, Felix TL. Effect of cattle breed and basal diet on digestibility, rumen bacterial communities, and eating and rumination activity. J Anim Sci 2020; 98:5818448. [PMID: 32271920 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to compare ruminal total tract digestibility, bacterial communities, and eating and rumination activity between Holstein and Angus steers fed grain- or forage-based diets. Six Holstein steers (average body weight [BW] = 483 ± 23 kg) and six Angus steers (average BW = 507 ± 29 kg), previously fitted with rumen cannulae, were fed in a crossover design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of four treatments: 1) Holsteins fed a grain-based diet, 2) Holsteins fed a forage-based diet, 3) Angus fed a grain-based diet, and 4) Angus fed a forage-based diet. Each period was 35 d with 26 d of diet adaptation and 9 d of sample collection. On days 1 and 2 of collection, feeding activity was recorded for 48 h. On day 3, rumen contents were sampled to measure ruminal pH at 0, 3, 6, 12, and 18 h after feeding. A portion of the strained ruminal fluid was subsampled at 0, 3, and 6 h for volatile fatty acids (VFA) analysis. Rumen contents were subsampled at 3 h for analysis of bacterial communities. From day 4 to 8, total fecal excretion, feed, and refusals samples were collected and analyzed for dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and starch. On days 8 and 9 (0 and 3 h post-feeding, respectively), total reticulorumen evacuation was conducted and contents were weighed. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedures in SAS (v9.4 SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). Repeated measures were used to analyze changes in ruminal pH and VFA over time. There were no interactions of diet × breed (P ≥ 0.07). While the main effects of diet were expected, unique to these data is the fact that bacterial diversity and richness were reduced (P < 0.01) in cattle fed grain-based diets. There was no main effect (P > 0.34) of breed on total tract DM, organic matter, and starch digestibility, but Angus cattle had greater (P = 0.01) NDF digestibility than Holsteins. The increased NDF digestibility may be associated with a numerical (P = 0.08) increased numbers of bacterial species in Angus steers compared with Holstein steers. Holstein steers also spent more time (P ≤ 0.05) ruminating than Angus steers. There was no effect (P > 0.80) of breed on reticulorumen content at feeding time; however, Holstein steers had greater (P = 0.04) reticulorumen content on a wet basis 3 h post-feeding. Although Holstein steers spent more time ruminating, Angus steers were better able to digest NDF when compared with Holsteins, regardless of basal diet, and this improvement may be related to changes in bacterial communities in the rumen or to rumination activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro H V Carvalho
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
| | - Ana C J Pinto
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
| | - Danilo D Millen
- Department of Animal Production, College of Technology and Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Dracena, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tara L Felix
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
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Nair J, Xu S, Smiley B, Yang HE, McAllister TA, Wang Y. Effects of inoculation of corn silage with Lactobacillus spp. or Saccharomyces cerevisiae alone or in combination on silage fermentation characteristics, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance of growing beef cattle. J Anim Sci 2020; 97:4974-4986. [PMID: 31679029 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skz333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of a novel silage inoculant containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain 3 as a direct fed microbial (DFM) on the ensiling, aerobic stability, and nutrient digestibility of whole-crop corn silage and growth performance of beef cattle. Treatments included uninoculated corn silage (CON) or corn silage inoculated with a mixture of 1.1 × 105 cfu g-1 fresh forage Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus buchneri (INOC1) or 1.0 × 104 cfu g-1 fresh forage S. cerevisiae strain 3 (INOC2) or a mixture of INOC1 and INOC2 (INOC3). Silage in INOC1 had lower (P = 0.03) proportion of lactate, with acetate (Ac) proportion ranking as INOC1 > INOC3 > INOC2 (P < 0.01). In terminal silage, numbers of lactic acid bacteria were greater (P = 0.05) for INOC1 than CON and INOC2, while yeast counts tended (P = 0.08) to be greater for INOC2 than INOC3 on day 3 of aerobic exposure. Aerobic stability of corn silage was not impacted by inoculation with S. cerevisiae strain 3. Heifers fed INOC2 and INOC3 had lower (P < 0.01) ruminal Ac concentration than those fed CON. Apparent total tract digestibilities of DM, OM, ADF, and NDF were greater (P ≤ 0.03) for heifers fed INOC2 than those fed CON. Growth performance was similar across treatments, excepting DMI as percent of BW tended to be lower (P = 0.08) for INOC2 steers compared to CON steers. These results suggest that S. cerevisiae strain 3 has potential as a component in a fourth generation DFM silage inoculant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayakrishnan Nair
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge AB, Canada
| | - Shanwei Xu
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Brenda Smiley
- DuPont Pioneer, Forage Additive Research, Johnston, IA
| | - Hee-Eun Yang
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge AB, Canada
| | - Tim A McAllister
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge AB, Canada
| | - Yuxi Wang
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge AB, Canada
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The transit of external markers throughout the ruminant digestive tract: 2. The estimation of fiber digestibility, ruminoreticular fill, and related biases. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2020.114420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Qiu Q, Gao C, Aziz ur Rahman M, Cao B, Su H. Digestive Ability, Physiological Characteristics, and Rumen Bacterial Community of Holstein Finishing Steers in Response to Three Nutrient Density Diets as Fattening Phases Advanced. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8030335. [PMID: 32120877 PMCID: PMC7142484 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8030335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study is to track the dynamic alterations in nutrient intake and digestion, rumen fermentation and plasma metabolic characteristics, and rumen bacterial community of Holstein finishing steers in response to three nutrient density diets as fattening phases advanced. A total of eighteen Holstein steers were randomly allocated into three nutrient density groups and steers in each group were fed under a three-phase fattening strategy, with nutrient density increased in each group when fattening phase advanced. Results showed that both fattening phase and dietary nutrient density significantly influenced the nutrient digestion, most of the rumen fermentation parameters, and part of bacteria at phylum and genus levels. Individually, dietary nutrient density affected the concentrations of plasma alanine aminotransferase and urea N, bacterial richness and evenness. All determined nutrient intake and plasma biochemical parameters, except for alanine aminotransferase and triglyceride, differed among fattening phases. Spearman correlation analysis revealed strong correlations between fiber intake and bacterial richness and evenness, rumen fermentation characteristics and certain bacteria. Moreover, Patescibacteria abundance was positively correlated with ambient temperature and plasma total protein. These results indicate that rumen fermentation and nutrient digestion were influenced by both dietary nutrient density and fattening phase, and these influences were regulated by certain rumen bacterial community and ruminal bacteria may be affected simultaneously by ambient temperature. This study may provide insights into diet optimization and potentially adaptive mechanism of rumen bacterial community in response to fattening phases and gradually climatic change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghua Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (Q.Q.)
| | - Chaoyu Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (Q.Q.)
| | - Muhammad Aziz ur Rahman
- Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 35200, Pakistan
| | - Binghai Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (Q.Q.)
- Correspondence: (B.C.); (H.S.); Tel.: +86-010-62733850 (B.C.); +86-010-62814346 (H.S.)
| | - Huawei Su
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (Q.Q.)
- Correspondence: (B.C.); (H.S.); Tel.: +86-010-62733850 (B.C.); +86-010-62814346 (H.S.)
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S. Allen
- Department of Animal Science; Michigan State University; East Lansing Michigan
| | - James G. Coors
- Department of Agronomy; University of Wisconsin; Madison Wisconsin
| | - Gregory W. Roth
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences; Pennsylvania State University; University Park Pennsylvania
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Winterholler SJ, McMurphy CP, Mourer GL, Krehbiel CR, Horn GW, Lalman DL. Supplementation of dried distillers grains with solubles to beef cows consuming low-quality forage during late gestation and early lactation. J Anim Sci 2012; 90:2014-25. [PMID: 22648755 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2011-4152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Three experiments were conducted to evaluate supplementation of dried distillers grains with solubles (DGS) to spring-calving beef cows (n = 120; 541 kg of initial BW; 5.1 initial BCS) consuming low-quality forage during late gestation and early lactation. Supplemental treatments included (DM basis) 1) 0.77 kg/d DGS (DGSL); 2) 1.54 kg/d DGS (DGSI); 3) 2.31 kg/d DGS (DGSH); 4) 1.54 kg/d of a blend of 49% wheat middlings and 51% cottonseed meal (POS); and 5) 0.23 kg/d of a cottonseed hull-based pellet (NEG). Feeding rate and CP intake were similar for DGSI and POS. In Exp. 1, cows were individually fed 3 d/wk until calving and 4 d/wk during lactation; total supplementation period was 119 d, encompassing 106 d of gestation and 13 d of lactation. Tall-grass prairie hay (5.6% CP, 50% TDN, 73% NDF; DM basis) was fed for ad libitum intake throughout the supplementation period. Change in cow BW and BCS during gestation was similar for DGSI and POS (-5.0 kg, P = 0.61 and -0.13, P = 0.25, respectively) and linearly increased with increasing DGS level (P < 0.01). Likewise, during the 119-d supplementation period, BW and BCS change were similar for DGSI and POS (-72 kg, P = 0.22 and -0.60, P = 0.10) and increased linearly with respect to increasing DGS (P < 0.01). The percentage of cows exhibiting luteal activity at the beginning of breeding season (56%, P = 0.31), AI conception rate (57%, P = 0.62), or pregnancy rate at weaning (88%, P = 0.74) were not influenced by supplementation. In Exp. 2, 30 cows from a separate herd were used to evaluate the effect of DGS on hay intake and digestion. Supplementation improved all digestibility measures compared with NEG. Hay intake was not influenced by DGS (P > 0.10); digestibility of NDF, ADF, CP, and fat linearly increased with increasing DGS. In Exp. 3, milk production and composition were determined for cows (n = 16/treatment) of similar days postpartum from Exp. 1. Daily milk production was not influenced by supplementation (6.3 kg/d, P = 0.25). Milk fat (2.1%) and lactose (5.0%) were not different (P > 0.10). Milk protein linearly increased as DGS increased (P < 0.05) and was greater for DGSI compared with POS. Similar cow performance was achieved when cows were fed DGS at the same rate and level of CP as a traditional cottonseed meal-based supplement. Increasing amounts of DGS did not negatively influence forage intake or diet digestibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Winterholler
- Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
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Effect of breed, season and pasture moisture gradient on foraging behaviour in cattle on semi-natural grasslands. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2007.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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