340 - Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Beef Steers Consuming Finishing Diets with an Added Nutritional Packet in a Calf-fed System

Monday, June 27, 2022

10:50 AM – 11:05 AM CT

Location: Oklahoma City Convention Center, 301 A/B

Presenting Author(s)

CR

Camron J. Rush

Undergraduate Student
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX

Author(s)

JO

Jhones O Sarturi, n/a

Associate Professor
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
DH

Darren H. Henry

Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia – Tifton Campus, Tifton, GA 31793-5766, USA
Tifton, GA
FC

Francine M. Ciriaco

University of Georgia
Tifton, GA
Dale R. Woerner, PhD

Cargill Endowed Chair in Sustainable Meat Science
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
NH

Nelson O. Huerta-Leidenz

Research Associate
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
Whitney L. Crossland, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
AL

Alejandra M. Lopez

Master's Student
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas
Kaliu G. Scaranto Silva

Masters Student
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas
Kaue Tonelli Nardi

Masters Student
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
SP

Sarah Peters

Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
MD

Mikala Di Manna

New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM
JH

Jordan Hinds

Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
YS

Yasmim Saes

Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
Andrea M. Osorio-Doblado, MA

Research Assistant
University of Georgia
Tifton, GA
KC

Kymberly Coello

University of Georgia
Tifton, GA
Angel A. Quijada

Research Scholar
University of Georgia
Tifton, GA

Abstract: The effects of a nutritional packet containing a direct-fed microbial combined with vitamins/electrolytes offered to beef steers in a calf-fed system on growth performance and carcass characteristics were evaluated. Angus crossbred steer-calves (n = 60; BW = 234 ± 4 kg) were assigned to a randomized complete block design (block = body weight; steer = experimental unit) and stratified into two treatments: a) control (no packet, finely-ground corn carrier only); and b) 30 g of DM/animal-daily of a nutritional packet [live-yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae; 8.7 Log CFU/g), Vitamin C (5.4 g/kg of Ascorbic acid), Vitamin B1 (13.33 g/kg of Thiamine hydrochloride), and electrolytes of sodium chloride (80 g/kg) and potassium chloride (80 g/kg)]. Animals were individually offered [electronic feed-bunks (Smart-Feed/C-Lock Inc.)] a steam-flaked corn-based finishing diet ad libitum, once daily for 233 d. Treatments were offered during the first (phase-1) and last (phase-2) 60 d on feed. Body weight measurements were taken every 30 d before feeding. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Steers offered the nutritional packet had 14% less (P < 0.01) intake and 18% greater gain efficiency during the initial 30-d on feed, while such advantage did not (P ≥ 0.26) persist when accounting for the initial 60 d for either variable. Overall intake (d0 to d233) was 6% greater (P = 0.02), while carcass-adjusted ADG (1.61 vs. 1.56), and carcass-adjusted gain efficiency (0.198 vs. 0.204) were unaffected (P ≥ 0.44) compared with control, respectively. Dressing percent of steers offered the packet was 1 percentage-unit greater (P = 0.02), while other carcass variables were unaffected (P ≥ 0.33). Calf-fed steers seem to benefit from such nutritional packet during the initial 30 d after feedlot arrival, while both superior intake and dressing percentage appears to last until cattle harvest.