The effect of feeding a barley/canola meal pellet to feedlot steers on performance, rumen fermentation, and eating behaviour
Year: 2007
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Two trials were conducted to evaluate effects of feeding barley/canola meal pellets on feedlot performance, subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA), and feeding behaviour in feedlot steers.In trial 1, 350 beef steers (285 ± 22 kg) were backgrounded and finished on pelleted barley and canola meal (PB) or rolled barley and canola meal (RB) diets.Backgrounding DMI was lower (P < 0.05) for PB steers but ADG did not differ (P > 0.05) and feed efficiency (FE) tended (P < 0.1) to be improved.During finishing and the total trial DMI and ADG were lower (P < 0.05) but FE was improved (P < 0.05) for the PB treatment.Steers fed PB were on feed longer (P < 0.05).Steers fed PB showed more variation in DMI (P < 0.05) than steers fed RB.Carcass composition and quality were similar between the treatments.Trial 2 utilized 4 ruminally fistulated beef steers in a 4 x 4 latin square, 2 x 2 factorial trial.Factors were processing (pelleted vs. rolled) and grain type (barley vs. corn).All treatments included canola meal.Each 23 d period consisted of a 19 d adaptation period followed by a 24 h rumen fluid collection period, and a 24 h eating behaviour study.There were no grain type x processing interactions (P > 0.05) or effect of grain type (P > 0.05) on any of the variables.Eating behaviour did not differ (P < 0.05) between treatments.Processing had no effect (P > 0.05) on rumen ammonia or volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, proportion of acetate or butyrate, or rumen osmolality.Steers fed pelleted grain had lower (P < 0.05) rumen pH measurements, a greater (P < 0.05) molar proportion of propionate, and decreased (P < 0.05) acetate:propionate ratio.To reflect the feedlot trial corn was removed from the model.Rumen VFA concentration was higher (P < 0.05) and pH lower (P < 0.05) for the PB which made this project possible: Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development Program in Saskatchewan, the Canadian Wheat Board, and our two Japanese partners, Shogo Takeda of Takeda Farm Co., Ltd, and Takashi Takeda of Takushoku Co., Ltd., both from Hokkaido, Japan.I would also like to extend thanks to Poundmaker Agventures Ltd. for providing cattle for the feedlot trial.
Author: Logan Mae Williams
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1525647851