New feeding approaches
Free access to feed and constant roughage levels in the finishing diet are still practised in the cattle feeding industry. These practices, however, are not without problems. Once cattle have consumed high energy diets for 80-120 days, feed intake will often decrease and the cattle tend to “stall-out,” gaining poorly with low efficiency. Restarting the cattle by increasing the roughage level (20-40 percent) for four-10 days is sometimes used in an attempt to re-establish a higher intake.
Alternate practices may encourage more uniform feed intake, decrease the incidence of digestive setbacks and reduce roughage use because of its higher cost on a nutrient basis. Additionally, these practices may reduce dietary boredom.
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- Researchers at Texas Tech University in Lubbock have developed two feeding systems to try and prevent problems associated with ad libitum feeding.
Limited maximum intaked is a system for starting cattle in the feedlot. After reviewing feed intake patterns over the first weeks of many experiments, it became obvious that when cattle were fed ad lib, they markedly increased their intake during the second and perhaps third week, which was followed by a marked reduction in feed intake during the third or fourth week.
Researchers drew an “eyeball” line through the feed intake data in such a way that the peaks and valleys in intake would be equalized. Their reasoning was if cattle were not allowed to consume feed above this smooth line, they might be inclined to consume more during those times when consumption would be naturally inclined to fall.
Studies showed that calves started on feed this way consumed less feed, but maintained the same rate of gain at a higher feed efficiency. Carcass grades and yield criteria were not affected.
Incoming weights on cattle can be used to calculate maintenance net energy requirements that can then be multiplied by the maximum recommended intake levels. Texas research suggests that this should be 2.1, 2.3, 2.5 and 2.7 times the calculated maintenance energy needs of the cattle for weeks one, two, three and four, respectively.
If cattle are not eating due to significant sources of stress, the level of LMI should be held at the initial level (eg. 2.1) until the cattle begin to eat. Adequate bunk space is essential for LMI. Inadequate bunk space may be partially alleviated by multiple feedings each day or by having special starter pens with 12-14 inch (30-35 cm) bunk space per head.
The LMI regime can be applied simultaneously with a step-up program (increasing concentrate/decreasing roughage).
- Stair-Step rations. The use of time-dependent, nutritionally regulated growth regimens, known as stair-step rations, appears to increase the lean body mass of beef steers without sacrificing the animal’s final slaughter weight.
At North Dakota State University in Fargo, steers were fed according to an alternating two-two-two-two month schedule beginning with an energy restricted diet (75 percent of National Research Council recommendations) for two months followed by a re-alignment diet (105% of NRC) for two months. The cycle was repeated over the next four months.
Steers on the stair-step rations received an overall 10 percent energy restriction for the entire trial period, compared with the control steers. No differences in overall gain or feed efficiency were noted.
The compensatory growth which occurred during the re-alignment phase had a significant influence on the way cattle put on fat and muscle.
Steers fed stair-step rations had a 16 percent decrease in their muscle fat and a general decrease in internal fat around the kidney, pelvic and heart areas.
– Animal Nutrition Update
