Animal Sciences Commons^™

Supplementing Modified Wet Distillers Grains With Solubles To Long Yearling Steers Grazing Native Range, Kelsey M. Rolfe, William A. Griffin, Terry Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Galen Erickson, Dennis Bauer

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Modified wet distillers grains with solubles (MDGS) were supplemented on the ground to yearling steers with access to native range during summer grazing. Supplemented steers had greater ADG than non-supplemented steers, and were heavier entering the feedlot. Supplemented steers also required 24 fewer days in the feedlot to reach a constant end point, compared to non-supplemented steers. Energy calculations suggest 1.0 lb of MDGS replaced 0.65 lb of summer range.

Effects Of Adaptation Diets Containing Wet Distillers Grains With Solubles Or Wet Corn Gluten Feed On Ruminal Ph, Intake And Hydrogen Sulfide, Jhones O. Sarturi, Galen Erickson, Terry Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Judson Vasconcelos, Marco G. Dib, Kelsey Rolfe

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A grain adaptation metabolism trial was conducted to compare wet corn gluten feed (WCGF, Sweet Bran®, Cargill) to wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS). In both strategies, co-products were fed at decreasing levels (87.5% to 35% of DM). The WCGF step-up strategy resulted in greater DMI than WDGS for cattle fed steps 1, 2, and 3. The average of ruminal pH was lower for WDGS with steps 2 and 3 compared to WCGF. No differences in H₂S between treatments were observed. Both WCGF and WDGS adaptation strategies resulted in safe ruminal pH, DMI, and H₂S, even …

Effects Of Sulfur Content Of Distillers Grains In Beef Cattle Finishing Diets On Intake, Ruminal Ph, And Hydrogen Sulfide, Jhones O. Sarturi, Galen E. Erickson, Terry Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Judson Vasconcelos, Kelsey Rolfe

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A metabolism study was conducted to evaluate dietary sulfur (S) in beef cattle finishing diets formulated with wet and dry distillers grains with solubles (DGS) containing low (0.82%) and high (1.16%) S concentration. There was no interaction between moisture and S for intake, DM digestibility, or hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). Steers fed low S DGS consumed more feed than steers fed high S DGS. Subtle differences were observed for ruminal pH variables. Propionate and butyrate concentrations decreased when high sulfur DGS was fed. Sulfur of DGS impacts intake, VFA, and ruminal H₂S concentration. Wet DGS may be …

Intramuscular Tenderness And Muscle Fiber Orientation Of Beef Round Muscles, Lasika S. Senaratne, Chris Calkins, Amilton S. De Mello Mello, Siroj Pokharel, Jeremy B. Hinkle

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Intramuscular tenderness and muscle fiber orientation variations of beef round m. adductor femoris (AF), m. biceps femoris (BF), m. semimembranosus (SM), and m. semitendinosus (ST) were investigated. The first two proximal steaks of long head of BF were more tender than the rest. The tenderness decreased from the middle of the ST muscle to both ends. The anterior sides of the long head BF and ST were tougher than their posterior sides. The first four steaks of the SM were more tender than rest of the muscle. There was a significant tenderness increment from the middle of the AF to …

Shelf Life Of M. Longissimus Lumborum From Beef Fed Antioxidants And Wet Distillers Grains, Lasika S. Senaratne, Chris Calkins, Judson Vasconcelos Vasconcelos, Amilton S. De Mello, M. A. Andersen, Stephanie A. Furman, Siroj Pokharel

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Crossbred steers (n = 483) were fed dry-rolled corn based finishing dietscontaining 0 or 30% wet distillers grains with the synthetic antioxidants, ethoxyquin and tertiary butyl hydroquinone (AGRADO®PLUS). Synthetic antioxidants reduced lipid and color deterioration of strip steaks at the end of the retail display period under high or atmosphericoxygen packaging conditions.

Integration Of Dna Marker Information Into Breeding Value Predictions, Matthew L. Spangler, Stephen D. Kachman, Kathryn J. Hanford Hanford, Mark Thallman, Gary Bennett, Warren M. Snelling, Larry Kuehn, John Pollak

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Calves from 20 herds representing seven breeds were genotyped with a reduced DNA marker panel for weaning weight. The marker panel used was derived using MARC Cycle VII animals. The results suggest marker effects based on this small panel are not robust across breeds and that methodology exists to integrate genomic information into the prediction of breeding values in a single breed context.

Statistics Used In The Nebraska Beef Report And Their Purpose

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The purpose of beef cattle and beef product research at UNL is to provide reference information that represents the various populations (cows, calves, heifers, feeders, carcasses, retail products, etc.) of beef production. Obviously, researchers cannot apply treatments to every member of a population; therefore, they must sample the population. The use of statistics allows researchers and readers of the Nebraska Beef Report the opportunity to evaluate separation of random (chance) occurrences and real biological effects of a treatment. Following is a brief description of the major statistics used in the beef report. For a more detailed description of the expectations …

Influencing Steer Performance Through Maternal Nutrition, Adam F. Summers, Kenneth H. Ramsay, Jim Teichert Teichert, T. L. Meyer, Rick N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Cows were fed a 28% CP cube at one of two supplement levels, high (HN) or low (LN), while grazing dormant winter range during late gestation to determine the effects of maternal supplementation level on male progeny performance and carcass characteristics. Steer initial BW did not differ between treatments; however, year 1 steers from cows fed higher supplement levels had greater final BW, HCW, marbling scores, and carcass value compared with steers from cows receiving lower supplement levels. Year 2 HN steers had greater proportions grading USDA quality grade modest or greater when compared to steers from both treatments in …

Marketing Source-Verified Beef To Restaurant Patrons, Kimberly A. Varnold, Chris Calkins, B. Lynn Gordon Gordon, Wendy I. Umberger

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

To determine consumer ordering behaviors in high-end restaurants and to see if consumers are interested in the origin of their beef, both an online survey and in-restaurant taste testing were conducted. About two-thirds of the participants in the in-restaurant taste testing ordered the steak with either the state or farm-of-origin description. Compared to a non-source verified steak, taste participants were willing to pay $4.74 more for the steak with the state-of-origin description, and $8.75 more for the steak with the farm-of-origin description. Almost all of the participants acknowledged the best beef comes from the Midwest, specifically naming Nebraska as a …

Replacement Of Grazed Forage With Wdgs And Poor Quality Hay Mixtures, Sandra Villasanti, L. Aaron Stalker, Terry Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Walter H. Schacht, Jerry D. Volesky

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A grazing study was conducted at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, Whitman, Neb., to evaluate the effects of mixtures of wet distillers grains (WDGS) and straw or hay on grazed forage intake. There was no difference in ADG between the control and 70% hay/30% WDGS; however, steers supplemented with 60:40 blends of straw or hay with WDGS had higher ADG than the other two treatments. Range forage intake was decreased by 44% to 54% when steers were supplemented with the mixes. Feeding a mixture of WDGS and low-quality harvested-forage to cattle grazing rangeland may allow increasing stocking rate without decreasing animal …

Protein, Fiber, And Digestibility Of Selected Alternative Crops For Beef Cattle, Jennifer A. Walker, Karla H. Jenkins, Terry Klopfenstein Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Field peas, dry edible beans, pumpkins, chicory, beets, and beet pulp grown in western Nebraska were analyzed for their salvage value in beef cattle diets when they do not meet specifications for human consumption. The digestibilities of all the crops were high (61-88%). Beet pulp, beet root, and chicory root were low in CP (< 7%) while all other crops were greater than 9%. Neutral and acid detergent fiber were ≤ 50%. Lectins in raw dry edible beans force them to be limited to < 2% of diet DM. Palatability of chicory root can reduce intake.

Feedlot Cattle Performance When Fed Silage And Grain From Second-Generation Insect Protected Corn, Parental Line Or Reference Hybrids, Barry M. Weber, Brandon L. Nuttelman, William A. Griffin Griffin, Galen Erickson, Terry Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Feed conversion and carcass characteristics of cattle fed second generation insect-protected (Bt) corn and corn silage was compared to those fed a nontransgenic parental hybrid and two commercially available nontransgenic reference hybrids. Finishing performance and carcass characteristics were not influenced as a result of corn source.

Performance Of Growing Cattle Fed Corn Silage Or Grazing Corn Residue From Second Generation Insect-Protected (Mon 89034), Parental, Or Reference Corn Hybrids, Barry M. Weber, Brandon L. Nuttelman, William A. Griffin Griffin, Joshua R. Benton, Galen Erickson, Terry Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Effects of feeding second generation insect-protected transgenic corn (MON 89034) on growing steer performance was evaluated in two experiments. In Experiment 1, a corn silage-based diet was fed to growing steers in pens, and the transgenic test hybrid was compared to a non-transgenic parental hybrid and two commercially available reference hybrids. In Experiment 2, steers grazing corn residue of the transgenic test hybrid were compared to steers grazing a non-transgenic parental hybrid. In both experiments, growing performance was not affected by source of corn silage or residue.

2011 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Cow/Calf

• Winter Grazing System and Supplementation of Beef Cows During Late Gestation Influence Heifer Progeny
• Influencing Steer Performance Through Maternal Nutrition
• Integration of DNA Marker Information into Breeding Value Predictions
• Granulosa Cell Gene Expression is Altered in Follicles from Cows with Differing Reproductive Longevity

Growing

• Performance of Growing Cattle Fed Corn Silage or Grazing Corn Residue from Second Generation Insect-protected (MON 89034), Parental, or Reference Corn Hybrids
• Nutrient Composition of Spoiled Wet Byproducts Mixed and Stored with Straw
• Use of Dry Rolled Corn, Dry or Wet distillers Grains Plus Solubles as an Energy Source in High Forage Diets for Growing …

Low-Fat Wet Distillers Grains And Beef Quality, Asia L. Haack, Amilton S. De Mello Jr., Siroj Pokharel Pokharel, Lasika Senaratne, Jerilyn Hergenreder, Kim Varnold, Chris Calkins, Galen Erickson, Timothy Carr, D. Dwain Johnson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A low-fat (4.72%) wet distillers grain (LFWDG) diet was compared to a traditional wet distillers grain with solubles (WDGS) diet and a corn-based diet. All wet distillers diets increased polyunsaturated fatty acids in comparison to the control. The LFWDG diet caused greater oxidative rancidity and had a decreased shelf life; however, there was no change in sensory properties. The LFWDG diet evaluated in this study caused decreased oxidative stability of the muscle compared to the TWDGS and the control diets.

Digestibility Of Crop Residues After Chemical Treatment And Anaerobic Storage, Adam L. Shreck, Crystal D. Buckner, Galen Erickson Erickson, Terry Klopfenstein, Michael J. Cecava

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate factors affecting crop residue digestibility. Corn stover, corn cobs, and wheat straw were alkaline treated at low (35%) or high (50%) moisture and then anaerobically stored at 30 °C or 40 °C. Chemical treatment increased in vitro DM digestibility of all residues by 14 to 21 percentage units (35% to 62% improvement). Samples stored at 50% DM and 40oC were most digestible. Cobs were inherently more digestible than straw or corn stalks. Percentage of total improvement in DM digestibility by optimizing DM, ambient temperature, and chemical treatment was: stalks, 43%; wheat straw, 38%;, and …

Comparing Different Drying Methods For Distillers Grains And Its Effects On Feedlot Cattle Performance, Brandon L. Nuttelman, William A. Griffin, Galen Erickson Erickson, Terry Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of drying distillers grains plus solubles on cattle performance. The control diet contained no distillers grains. The six additional diets contained 35% distillers grains that were 1) wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS), 2) dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS), 3) dried distillers grains plus wet solubles at time of feeding (DDG + Solubles), 4) dried distillers grains plus solubles plus water (DDGS + H₂O), 5) modified distillers grains with solubles added prior to drier (MDGSPre), and 6) modified distillers grains with solubles added after the drier (MDGSPost). Cattle fed …

Review: Lipid Addition To Corn Finishing Diets, Virgil R. Bremer, Galen Erickson, Terry Klopfenstein Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The fat content of distillers grains with solubles (DGS) partially accounts for DGS feeding value being greater than corn. Finishing diets containing DGS to supply up to 8% of diet DM as fat may be fed without depressing cattle performance. However, feeding diets containing 8% diet fat with corn oil depresses cattle performance. The difference in rumen metabolism of these two fats is due to physical protection of DGS fat from interaction with rumen microbes. Due to an unknown mechanism, condensed corn distillers solubles, a liquid fat source, does not limit ruminal metabolism like corn oil. Optimum dietary fat level …

Meta-Analysis Of Feeding Calf-Feds Or Yearlings Wet Distillers Grains With Different Corn Processing Types, Virgil R. Bremer, Kathryn J. Hanford, Galen Erickson Erickson, Terry Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Meta-analyses of University of Nebraska–Lincoln feedlot research feeding wet corn distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) with dry-rolled corn (DRC) and high moisture corn (HMC) to either calf-feds or yearlings was conducted to calculate the feeding values of WDGS relative to corn. The feeding valueof wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) was superior to dry-rolled corn (DRC) and high moisture corn (HMC). The feeding value of WDGS was greater for yearlings than for calf-feds. The combination of WDGS and HMC provided cattle performance superior to DRC with or without WDGS.

Relationship Between Morbidity And Performance In Feedlot Cattle, Galen Erickson, Virgil R. Bremer, Terry Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, David R. Smith, Kathryn J. Hanford, Robert E. Peterson, Luis O. Burciaga-Robles, Dan B. Faulkner, Clint R. Krehbiel

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Five datasets from Canada, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Nebraska were used to determine the impact of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) on performance, with emphasis on dry matter intake (DMI) and feed to gain ratio (F:G). Data included pens and individually fed cattle. In general, cattle treated for BRD had lower DMI and average daily gain (ADG) with little to no effect on F:G. When BRD occured early in the feeding period (days), little change in performance was observed.

Effects Of Glycerin In Steam Flaked Corn Feedlot Diets, Justin P. Moore, Stephanie A. Furman, Galen Erickson Erickson, Judson Vasconcelos, William A. Griffin, Todd Milton

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Glycerin was fed at 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9% (DM basis) in a steam-flaked, corn-based (SFC) diet to determine the effects on performance and carcass characteristics. Glycerin linearly increased (P = 0.02) final BW, ADG linearly increased (P = 0.02), and F:G linearly decreased (P < 0.01) by 7.1%. The data  suggests glycerin can be added up to 9% inclusion to improve performance.

Economic Impact Of Sulfur Levels In Distillers Grains Diets Fed To Beef Cattle, Jhones O. Sarturi, Darrell Mark, Galen Erickson Erickson, Terry Klopfenstein, Judson Vasconcelos, Virgil R. Bremer

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

An economic evaluation of a growth performance study (2011 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 62-64) comparing wet or dry distillers grains with solubles (DGS) containing varying levels of sulfur was conducted. Diets containing DGS were more profitable than the control diets containing no co-product (Control). Wet DGS showed greater profitability than Control and dry DGS diets. Sulfur content in dry DGS did not affect profitability. Profits were lowest for Control and greatest for wet DGS (0.82% S) at 30% inclusion. Low sulfur concentration in wet DGS allows shipment to feedlots further away.

Effects Of Sulfur Concentration In Distillers Grains With Solubles In Finishing Cattle Diets, Jhones O. Sarturi, Galen Erickson, Terry Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Judson Vasconcelos, Joshua R. Benton, William A. Griffin

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Effect of dietary sulfur on beef cattle fed diets containing wet or dry distillers grains with solubles (DGS) was evaluated. Sulfur concentration in DGS was either 0.82 or 1.16%. Steers (n = 120; IBW = 761 ± 75 lb) were individually fed ad libitum. Intake decreased when wet and dry 1.16% S DGS were fed. Gain decreased as wet DGS that was 1.16% S increased in the diet to 40%. Feeding wet DGS improved F:G, regardless of sulfur content. Fat thickness and HCW decreased as wet and dry 1.16% S DGS increased in the diet. High sulfur DGS reduced DMI …

Effects Of The Synthetic Antioxidants On Shelf Life Of M. Psoas Major And M. Triceps Brachii Muscles From Beef Fed Wet Distillers Grains, Lasika S. Senaratne, Chris Calkins, Judson Vasconcelos Vasconcelos, Amilton S. De Mello, M. A. Andersen, Stephanie A. Furman, Siroj Pokharel

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Feedlot finishing steers (n = 483) were randomly allotted to four dry-rolled corn based diets containing 0 or 30% wet distillers grains with or without the synthetic antioxidants supplementation (ethoxyquin and tertiary butyl hydroquinone in AGRADO®PLUS). This study intended to minimize detrimental effects of feeding wet distillers grains on color and lipidoxidation of beef tenderloin and clod heart muscles during retail display by feeding a synthetic antioxidant mixture. Feeding AGRADO®PLUS significantly reduced meat discoloration and lipid oxidation.

Economic Analysis Of Supplementing Ddgs To Grazing Steers, Andrea K. Watson, Terry Klopfenstein, Galen Erickson Erickson, Darrell Mark, Walter H. Schacht

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A five-year study from 2005-2009 was conducted to evaluate differences in three grazing management strategies for backgrounding calves on smooth bromegrass pastures. Economic budgets were used to calculate profit differences. Steers supplemented an average of 5.3 lb/day of distillers grains were 90 lb heavier than either of the unsupplemented groups, which resulted in increased revenue of $49.38 for supplemented steers. Land costs were the same per AUM for all treatments but were decreased on a per head basis for pastures with supplemented cattle because cattle were stocked at higher rates than the control. Profit was greatest for the supplemented steers, …

Supplementing Ddgs To Steers Grazing Smooth Bromegrass Pastures, Andrea K. Watson, William A. Griffin, Terry Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Galen Erickson, Kelly R. Brink, Walter H. Schacht

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Five years of data were summarized to evaluate cattle and pasture performance when smooth bromegrass pastures were fertilized or cattle were supplemented daily with dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) on nonfertilized pastures. Cattle were supplemented at 0.6% of BW for an average of 158 days. Supplemented cattle gained 0.59 lb/day more than unsupplemented cattle. As forage quality declined over the grazing season, ADG also declined but the cattle’s response to DDGS supplementation increased. Each 1 lb of DDGS supplement replaced approximately 1 lb of forage intake. Pastures with supplemented cattle had increased forage production compared to control pastures but …

Evaluation Of Feedlot And Carcass Performance Of Steers Fed Different Levels Of E-Corn, A Potential New Feed Product From Ethanol Plants, Corineah M. Godsey, Matt K. Luebbe, Joshua R. Benton, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Carlos Ibanez, Pablo Guiroy, Matthew A. Greenquist, Jeff Kazin

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A pre-process fractionation produces a feed product called E-corn, which is low in fat and contains heat-treated starch. E-corn replaced dry rolled corn at 0, 20, 40, or 60% (DM basis) in finishing diets containing either 30% wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) or 30% wet corn gluten feed (WCGF). E-corn level x byproduct type interactions were not observed. Dry matter intake increased quadratically to E-corn inclusion level (P = 0.04), while F:G responded cubically with 20% and 60% E-corn inclusion having the lowest F:G (P = 0.02). However, when E-corn level increased from 0 to 60% of diet DM, …

Evaluation Of Storage Covers When Wet Distillers Byproducts Are Mixed And Stored With Forages, Dana L. Christensen, Kelsey Rolfe, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Wet corn co-products were mixed with forage and stored in 55 gallon barrelswith different covers mimicking bunker storage methods to determine shrink losses and spoilage. Three mix combinations and seven cover treatments were used to compare spoilage levels of covered co-product mixes vs. uncovered mixes. Spoilage and losses of the mix were effectively reduced with all covers, with losses reduced from 8 to 9% when uncovered, to 1 to 5% when different cover treatments were used.

Alternative Muscles For Traditional Japanese And Korean Beef Recipes, Chris R. Calkins, Amilton S. Demello, Lasika S. Senaratne, Kanae Watanabe

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

This research was conducted to identify alternative cuts that would be acceptable in popular dishes in Japan and Korea in order to encourage usage of a broader portion of beef carcasses that qualify for export. Typical dishes were tested twice (6 panels per country) using traditional and three alternative beef muscles. Dishes were compared regarding appearance, aroma, juiciness, tenderness, flavor, and overall acceptability by natives of each country who served as panelists. Japanese dishes were sukiyaki (sauté), shabu-shabu (hot pot), and yakiniku (grill); Korean dishes were jang jo rim (boiled), miyeok-guk (soup), and kalbi (grill). Alternative muscles were selected because …

Comparing Ensiled Or Fresh Mixed Wet Distillers Grains With Solubles With Straw At Two Inclusions In Growing Calf Diets, Crystal D. Buckner, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson, William A. Griffin, Joshua R. Benton

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

This study evaluated feeding ensiled or freshly mixed wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) with straw at 2 blends and the effect of an inoculum with the ensiled mixture on steer calf performance. Treatments included 30 or 45% WDGS (DM basis) mixed with straw and fed either as a fresh mix or ensiled with and without a microbial inoculum. No significant interactions were observed between type and level of mix. Steers fed the ensiled mixes had higher ADG and lower F:G compared to those fed the fresh mix.