PSXV-22 - Effect of inclusion of dried citrus pulp in the receiving supplement for newly received stocker cattle

Citrus pulp is a source of flavonoids which have been found to have antioxidant properties. Thus, the objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of feeding dried citrus pulp on performance of newly received calves. Crossbred beef heifers (n = 254, initial body weight = 248 ± 5.9 kg) were obtained on 3 dates (block, 8 pens/block). Treatments were: 1) a corn and distillers’ grains based receiving supplement (control) or 2) a receiving supplement that contained 20% dried citrus pulp (replacing a portion of the corn). Upon arrival from regional livestock markets, cattle had access to hay and water and rested overnight then were processed the next day in which they received an identification tag, were vaccinated with a clostridial and a 5-way modified live bovine respiratory viral, dewormed, weighed, branded, and ear notched for detection of persistent infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus. Each truckload was assigned randomly to pens resulting in 8 pens with 9 to 12 heifers/pen. Pens were assigned randomly to 1 of the 2 treatments. Cattle were offered bermudagrass hay and water for ad libitum intake and were offered up to 1.8 kg/day of their appropriate receiving supplement. Overall average daily gain for the 42-day receiving period was increased (P < 0.01) for calves fed the supplement that included dried citrus pulp (1.01 kg/day) compared to the calves fed the control supplement (0.90 kg/day). However, the percentage of calves treated for clinical bovine respiratory disease was increased (P < 0.05) for calves fed the citrus pulp containing supplement (14% morbidity) compared to control calves (7% morbidity). The supplementation of dried citrus pulp to calves improved growth performance, but did not reduce the incidence of clinical bovine respiratory disease during the receiving period; however, clinical morbidity was low for both treatments.