The objectives of this research were to test interactions of supplement type, liquid versus dry, and forage type, hay versus corn stover, on digestibility and ruminal metabolism of beef cattle. Ruminally fistulated steers were fed in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: 1) hay with liquid supplement, 2) hay with dry supplement, 3) corn stover with liquid supplement, and 4) corn stover with dry supplement. The liquid supplement was molasses and glycerin based (23.3% CP and 1.63 Mcal/kg NEm) whereas the dry supplement was ground corn based (16.8% CP and 1.81 Mcal/kg NEm). Each period, steers were adapted to diets for 14 d and samples were collected for 8 d. In situ disappearance was determined by a 24-h incubation of Dacron bags, containing soybean hulls, in the rumen. There were no interactions ( ≥ 0.25) of supplement and forage type on DMI, apparent total tract digestibility, or ruminal pH. There was a tendency ( = 0.08) for a forage × supplement type interaction for in situ NDF disappearance (ISNDFD). There were no differences in ISNDFD in steers fed hay, but liquid supplement increased ISNDFD in steers fed corn stover. There were no main effects ( ≥ 0.12) of supplement type on DMI, apparent total tract or in situ digestibility, or ruminal pH. There was a supplement × hour interaction ( = 0.04) for acetate concentrations. Although no effect occurred at 0 h after feeding, at 3 and 6 h after feeding, acetate concentrations were reduced in steers fed liquid supplements when compared with those fed dry supplements. In addition, there was a supplement × hour ( = 0.02) interaction for butyrate concentrations, where at all time points, butyrate concentrations increased ( ≤ 0.01) in steers fed liquid supplements when compared with those fed dry supplements. Steers fed hay had increased DMI ( < 0.01) and apparent total tract NDF digestibility ( = 0.07) when compared with steers fed corn stover, regardless of supplement type. At 0, 1.5, and 18 h after feeding, ruminal pH was greater ( ≤ 0.01) in cattle consuming corn stover when compared with those fed hay, regardless of supplement type. However, steers fed hay had increased ( < 0.01) concentrations of acetate and total VFA compared with steers fed corn stover, regardless of supplement. Feeding liquid supplement increased ISNDFD when steers were fed corn stover; however, these changes were not associated with differences in total tract digestibility. Regardless of forage type fed, the liquid supplement increased ruminal butyrate concentrations.

The objectives of this research were to test interactions of supplement type, liquid versus dry, and forage type, hay versus corn stover, on digestibility and ruminal metabolism of beef cattle. Ruminally fistulated steers were fed in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: 1) hay with liquid supplement, 2) hay with dry supplement, 3) corn stover with liquid supplement, and 4) corn stover with dry supplement. The liquid supplement was molasses and glycerin based (23.3% CP and 1.63 Mcal/kg NEm) whereas the dry supplement was ground corn based (16.8% CP and 1.81 Mcal/kg NEm). Each period, steers were adapted to diets for 14 d and samples were collected for 8 d. In situ disappearance was determined by a 24-h incubation of Dacron bags, containing soybean hulls, in the rumen. There were no interactions ( ≥ 0.25) of supplement and forage type on DMI, apparent total tract digestibility, or ruminal pH. There was a tendency ( = 0.08) for a forage × supplement type interaction for in situ NDF disappearance (ISNDFD). There were no differences in ISNDFD in steers fed hay, but liquid supplement increased ISNDFD in steers fed corn stover. There were no main effects ( ≥ 0.12) of supplement type on DMI, apparent total tract or in situ digestibility, or ruminal pH. There was a supplement × hour interaction ( = 0.04) for acetate concentrations. Although no effect occurred at 0 h after feeding, at 3 and 6 h after feeding, acetate concentrations were reduced in steers fed liquid supplements when compared with those fed dry supplements. In addition, there was a supplement × hour ( = 0.02) interaction for butyrate concentrations, where at all time points, butyrate concentrations increased ( ≤ 0.01) in steers fed liquid supplements when compared with those fed dry supplements. Steers fed hay had increased DMI ( < 0.01) and apparent total tract NDF digestibility ( = 0.07) when compared with steers fed corn stover, regardless of supplement type. At 0, 1.5, and 18 h after feeding, ruminal pH was greater ( ≤ 0.01) in cattle consuming corn stover when compared with those fed hay, regardless of supplement type. However, steers fed hay had increased ( < 0.01) concentrations of acetate and total VFA compared with steers fed corn stover, regardless of supplement. Feeding liquid supplement increased ISNDFD when steers were fed corn stover; however, these changes were not associated with differences in total tract digestibility. Regardless of forage type fed, the liquid supplement increased ruminal butyrate concentrations.

Feeding cattle liquid supplements has become increasingly popular in the feedlot industry; however, optimal inclusion of liquid supplements in feedlot cattle diets is not known. The objectives of this study were to determine the optimal inclusion of liquid supplementation to maximize growth performance and improve carcass characteristics, as well as estimate the energy value of liquid supplementation when used as a direct corn replacement, for feedlot steers fed a concentrate-based diet. Two hundred and eighty steer calves were stratified by BW into light (BW = 208 ± 9 kg; n = 24) and heavy (BW = 275 ± 8 kg; n = 16) pens. Pens within BW block were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 supplements: 1) dry at 4.5% inclusion (0LIQ), 2) liquid (a proprietary blend from Quality Liquid Feeds; Dodgeville, WI) at 4.5% inclusion (4.5LIQ), 3) liquid at 9% inclusion (9LIQ), or 4) liquid at 13.5% inclusion (13.5LIQ). The remainder of the diet was 47.5% to 55.5% dry rolled corn, 20% corn silage, and 20% modified wet distillers grains with solubles (DM basis). Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design and linear and quadratic were examined to determine effects of increasing dietary concentrations of liquid. Steers fed 4.5LIQ and 9LIQ had greater (quadratic; P ≤ 0.05) final BW, HCW, and NEm and NEg, and less DMI as a percent of BW compared to steers fed 13.5LIQ. Steers fed 0LIQ were intermediate and not different from other treatments. However, ADG and total BW gain did not differ (P ≥ 0.15) among treatments. Despite the lack of treatment effect on live measures of gain, feeding steers 4.5LIQ and 9LIQ resulted in greater carcass ADG (quadratic; P = 0.03), total carcass gain (quadratic; P = 0.04), and more efficient carcass gain (quadratic; P ≤ 0.01) compared to carcasses from steers fed 13.5LIQ. Feeding steers a liquid supplement at 9% of the diet, DM allowed for the greatest final BW and ADG in this study; however, there was no benefit of increasing liquid to 13.5%.

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