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2000 Beef Research Report Livestock Research and Education Livestock
projects at the Carrington Research Extension Center are designed to be of
direct benefit to the beef producers throughout the state and region.
This publication provides results and information on activities
accomplished during the recent past in beef production.
A separate bison research summary is also available. Table of Contents The Beef Cow/Calf Enterprise
Developing a Commercial
Range Cake with Crambe Meal
Woodrow Poland, Vern Anderson and Lee Tisor Potato
Co-product as a Feed Source for Lactating Mature Cows and Heifers Sclerotinia
Infected Sunflowers as a Feed Source for
Pregnant and Non-pregnant Mature Beef Cows
Vern Anderson and Eric Bock Management
Characteristics of High and Low Profit Beef Cow Producers
in East-Central North Dakota
Steve Metzger
The Beef Feedlot Malting
Barley Co-products or Wheat Midds in Corn based Diets
for Growing Yearling Steers
Vern Anderson and Eric Bock Effects
of Tempering and a Yeast/Enzyme Mixture on Intake, Ruminal Fermentation, and
In Situ Disappearance in Steers Fed Barley Based Finishing Diets Evaluation
of Temper Rolled Barley and a Yeast/Enzyme Supplement on the Performance and
Carcass Traits of Growing and Finishing Feedlot Steers
Vern Anderson and Eric Bock Effects
of Processing Field Peas in Steer Grower Diets Identification
of Fast Growing Genetics Facilities A
Recap on Two Years of Assessing Waste Management Systems
for Livestock Operations
Scott Birchall Demonstration
of Lignite Ash for Feedlot Surfaces – Project Update
Scott Birchall Special Articles North
Dakota Barley Feeders, LLLP Proposes to Add Value to ND Commodities
Dr. Vern Anderson and Audie Baca
Developing
a Commercial Range Cake with Crambe Meal W.
Poland1, V. Anderson2 and L. Tisor1 Summary Biologically, crambe meal is a viable protein supplement that can be effectively used in beef cattle diets. Grazing cattle readily consume supplements containing lower concentrations of crambe meal. Higher levels of crambe meal inclusion may limit supplement consumption. Ultimate inclusion of crambe meal in grazing supplements may be limited to 50% of supplement formulation. The intake-reducing potential of supplements containing higher levels of crambe meal may prove beneficial as an intake limiter in grazing supplements. Current FDA restrictions appear to be the major limitation to aggressively using crambe meal in commercial grazing supplements. Introduction Crambe (Crambe abyssinica), a member of the plant family Cruciferae, is an erect annual with large pinnately lobed leaves, white flowers and spherical seeds (Martin et al., 1976). It is a cool-season crop adapted to north central and northwestern states and adjacent areas in Canada. Good quality seed contains about 32% oil and 20 to 30% crude protein. The erucic acid content of the oil ranges from 50 to 60%. The oil has many industrial uses and demand for the oil is increasing the number of crop acres seeded to crambe in the northern Great Plains. Crambe meal, primarily residue following oil extraction of crambe seed, has been shown to be a viable supplemental protein source for beef cattle (Anderson et al., 1993; Anderson and Trautman, 1995; Caton et al., 1995; Anderson, 1998). Crambe meal contains certain sulfur compounds that are known to elicit a strong or sharp flavor, which may affect palatability in livestock when fed in high concentrations. In North Dakota, the meal is marketed at salvage values in spite of recent research data demonstrating its usefulness as a protein supplement in cattle diets. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) currently restricts the use of crambe meal to a maximum of 4.2% of diet dry matter for feedlot cattle only. Additional studies further demonstrating the usefulness of crambe meal as a viable protein supplement for grazing beef cattle could be useful in petitioning FDA to reduce or remove feeding restrictions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of crambe meal inclusion on intake preference of a range cake when offered to grazing beef cows and yearlings grazing stockpiled perennial forage. Materials and Methods Two trials with grazing animals were used to evaluate supplement preference in October 1999, at the Dickinson R/E Center. The first involved dry beef cows and the second fall-born beef yearlings. Four supplements (Table 1) were utilized in the evaluations. Pelleted supplements included either 0, 25, 50 or 75% crambe meal. The same supplements were used in each evaluation. In the first evaluation, 19 crossbred cows were randomly allotted to one of two predominately crested wheatgrass pastures that had not been previously grazed that year. Four concrete feed bunks were placed into each pasture. Cattle were given simultaneous access to all supplements. Supplements were offered in separate bunks within a pasture. Initial bunk selection for each supplement was made randomly and bunk selection was changed weekly. Bunks were checked daily and fresh supplement added, if necessary, to maintain approximately a maximum daily offering. Maximum daily offering for each supplement was set at 11.3 kg (25.0 lb) for the first three days and 22.7 kg (50.0 lb) for the remainder of the evaluation. Unconsumed supplement (ort) was removed from the bunk weekly and weighed. Preference for individual supplements was expressed as weekly consumption, where consumption was defined as the difference between supplement delivered and ort. Supplements were offered for a total of 25 days. The second evaluation involved 24 crossbred, fall-born yearling calves. Calves were blocked by sex and allocated within block to one of two predominately native range pastures. Pasture had experienced minimal grazing pressure in the year of the experiment and most of the forage present was stockpiled spring growth. Management of the evaluation was identical to the previous cow evaluation. Two of the calves in this evaluation became sick during the course of the evaluation (day 20 and day 23). Blood samples were collected from sick and apparently healthy animals on day 23 and whole blood (subset of animals) and plasma (all animals) profiles were conducted at a local hospital. Sick animals were removed from the study on day 23. Veterinarian suggestions based upon verbal description of the problem or verbal description and visual assessment were possible lead poisoning or polioencephalomalacia (PEM; thiamin deficiency). Results Potential supplement deliveries to cows (Figure 1) increased from week 1 to week 2, with intakes leveling off subsequent to week 2. This was a function of experimental protocol. Total supplemental intake (as a percentage of potential; Figure 2) increased until week 3. Consumption of supplement was affected by supplement composition (Figure 3). Cows consumed all of the 0% and 25% supplements offered from the beginning of the evaluation. Consumption of the 50% supplement increased steadily through week 4. Cows consumed all of the 50% supplement offered in week 4. Consumption of the 75% supplement increased through week 3 and declined slightly in week 4. Potential supplement deliveries to yearlings increased from week 1 to week 2 and fluctuated slightly between weeks 2 and 4 based upon number of animals present. Some difficulty was experienced in week 2 with maintaining yearlings in their respective pastures and some movement between pastures was observed during this week. Total supplemental intake increased until week 3 and then declined in week 4. Consumption of supplement was affected by supplement composition. Yearlings consumed all of the 0%, 25%, and 50% supplements by weeks 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Consumption of the 75% supplement increased until week 3 and then declined in week 4. Whole blood (Table 2) and plasma (Table 3) analysis of sick and apparently healthy animals suggested that sick animals experienced elevated plasma total bilirubin, asparate aminotransferase, glucose, creatinine and sodium. Plasma urea nitrogen and calcium were depressed in sick animals. Other blood constituents were not affected by health status. Thyroxine concentration was not different due to health status. Discussion Preference for supplements containing crambe meal was evaluated in beef cows and yearlings grazing stockpiled perennial forage. Cattle readily consumed control supplements containing wheat midds and canola meal. Supplements containing small amounts (25%) of crambe meal were readily consumed with little or no lag period. However, when crambe meal constituted a substantial percentage (75%) of the supplement formulation, supplemental intake was reduced. Given an appropriate period of time (< 4 weeks), cattle adapted to supplements containing up to 50% crambe meal. The intake-reducing characteristic of crambe meal when fed in high concentrations may have the potential of being exploited as an intake regulator in range fed supplements. Further work in this area would seem warranted. Plants in the mustard family (e.g. rapeseed, mustard, turnips, kale) contain goitrogens that can impair thyroid function when consumed in sufficient quantities (Ensminger and Olentine, 1978). Some similar sulfur-containing compounds are present in crambe meal. Plasma thyroxine concentrations did not indicate a problem with thyroid function in this study due to the consumption of crambe meal. Two possible causes for two of the yearlings being pulled from the study included lead poisoning or PEM. Hematologic abnormalities, which may be indicative of lead poisoning (Aiello, 1998), were not present in the animals that were apparently sick. Additionally, a source of lead contamination was not found in the pastures where the yearlings were grazing. Polioencephalomalacia is considered to be a metabolic neurologic disease that is seen worldwide, primarily in domestic ruminants (Aiello, 1998). Incidence is highest in feedlot animals, but can occur in pastured animals particularly if they are fed substantial quantities of grain supplements. Feeding diets that are high in concentrate (i.e. low in roughage) and high in sulfur have been implicated in PEM. There is relative constant amount of sulfur in naturally occurring proteins (Kincaid, 1988), thus diets that are relatively high in protein would also be relatively high in sulfur. Due to experimental protocol, cattle in this experiment had the opportunity to consume rather large quantities of a high-concentrate, high-protein supplement. These characteristics may have resulted in 2 of the 43 animals used in this study experiencing PEM. Implications Biologically, crambe meal is a viable protein supplement that can be effectively used in beef cattle diets. Current FDA restrictions appear to be the major limitation to aggressively using crambe meal in commercial grazing supplements. Ultimate inclusion of crambe meal in grazing supplements may be limited to 50% of supplement formulation. The intake-reducing potential of supplements containing higher levels of crambe meal may prove beneficial as an intake limiter. References Aiello, S.E. 1998. The Merck veterinary manual (8th edition). Merck and Co., Inc. NJ. Anderson, V.L. 1998. Performance, metabolic and physiological effects of crambe meal as a protein source for beef cattle. Ph.D. Dissertation, North Dakota State University, Fargo. Anderson, V.L. and W.D. Slanger, S.L. Boyles and P.T. Berg. 1993. Crambe meal is equivalent to soybean meal for backgrounding and finishing beef steers. J. Anim. Sci. 71:2608-2613. Anderson, V.L. and B. Trautman. 1995. Crambe meal in creep feed for beef calves. J. Anim. Sci. 74(Suppl. 1):35. Caton, J.S., V.I. Burke, V.L. Anderson, L.A. Burgwald, P.L. Norton and K.C. Olson. 1994. Influence of crambe meal as a protein source on intake, site of digestion, ruminal fermentation and microbial efficiency in beef steers fed grass hay. J. Anim. Sci. 72:3238-3245. Ensminger, M.E and C.G. Olentine. 1978. Feeds and nutrition - complete. The Ensminger Publishing Co. CA. Kincaid, R. Macro elements for ruminants. In: The ruminant animal: digestive physiology and nutrition. D.C. Church, editor. Prentice Hall, NJ. Martin, J.H., W.H. Leonard and D.L. Stamp. Principles of field crop production. Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. NY.
Potato Co-product as a Feed Source for Lactating Mature Cows and Heifers V.L. Anderson
and E. J. Bock Introduction The North Dakota potato industry has developed to a point where the disposal of its by-products is a serious problem. The disposal options are: landfill, land application, or livestock. Ruminant livestock have the capacity to consume relatively large amounts of potato by-product in a variety of forms and moisture levels. Most of the high-energy grains (corn and barley) grown in the state are processed for commercial applications. The by-products from these processing methods yield a high protein, high fiber, and modest energy feedstuff. The livestock sector in North Dakota is in need of a high energy, low fiber product. Potato by-products contain substantial energy in the form of starch with low fiber levels. This trial compared a potato by-product based diet to a traditional corn silage based diet for lactating mature cows and heifers.
Materials and Methods Sixty-two mature lactating cows and 29 heifers were allotted to six pens at the Carrington Research Center and blocked by weight. Cows were fed either potato by-product or corn silage as an energy source with the rest of the diet consisting of straw, alfalfa hay, wheat midds, and a vitamin/mineral premix. Diets were balanced to meet the nutrient requirements of the lactating mature cows and heifers (NRC, 1996). Cows and heifers were weighed on consecutive days and body condition scores were assigned at beginning and end of trial. Weights were taken every 28 days during the trial as well. Cows and heifers were fed a totally mixed diet once per day in a fenceline bunk.
Results and Discussion Both cows and heifers had similar dry matter intake between the two treatments. However, the cows fed potato by-product had an advantage in average daily gain of 0.5 lb/day above the control treatment and the heifers fed potato by-product had a 0.65 lb/day advantage. This would suggest that more starch was available for energy in the potato by-product due to the lower fiber fraction. The cost/hd/day was less expensive for the potato by-product treatments by $0.15 for both the cows and heifers. This savings added up to $18/hd for the duration of the trial. Body condition scores also varied between treatments. As noted in Table 2, cows and heifers fed potato by-product had a greater change in BCS than the control treatment with an advantage of .36 and .13 respectively. As stated before, this was also most likely due to the increased energy availability in the potato by-product. No difference was noted in ADG of the calves between the two treatments. From this we can summarize that milk output was not affected by treatment.
Implications Overall, both diets yielded satisfactory results. It appears that feeding potato by-product does have advantages over a traditional corn silage based diet. We observed higher weight gain, a greater change in body condition score, as well as cost savings. Sclerotinia Infected Sunflowers as a Feed Source for Pregnant and Non-pregnant Mature Beef Cows V.L. Anderson and E. J. Bock Introduction Sclerotinia, or white mold, is a fungus that affects sunflowers during periods of prolonged exposure to wet conditions. Due to the large amount of sunflowers rejected by processes in some years, producers are looking for a different way to utilize these infected sunflowers or their screenings. Research on the topic of feeding sclerotinia-infected sunflowers to cattle has not been conducted. Conservative advice has been to use caution when feeding this product. The goal of this trial was to measure the effect of sclerotinia-infected sunflower screenings (SISS) on intake, weight gain, body condition score, and blood metabolites of both pregnant and non-pregnant cows.
Materials and Methods Mature crossbred cows (n = 15) were allotted to one of four treatments. The treatments consisted of pregnant cows consuming sclerotinia-infected sunflower screenings; and non-pregnant cows consuming sclerotinia-infected sunflower screenings, sclerotinia-infected sunflower screenings and durum midds, or durum midds. The sunflower screenings contained 52% sclerotia bodies on an air-dry weight basis. Diets (Table 2) were formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of the pregnant mature cows and the non-pregnant mature cows (NRC, 1996) and to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Cows were weighed at the start and end of the trial. Totally mixed rations were fed to appetite in fenceline bunks. Blood was drawn by venipuncture in vacuum tubes and plasma aspirated and frozen in duplicate vials at the start and end of the trial. Plasma samples were analyzed for the large animal blood profile.
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