Increasing hay inclusion in silage-based receiving diets and its effects on performance and energy utilization in newly weaned beef steers

Abstract

The influence of grass hay (GH) inclusion in replacement of corn silage in receiving diets on growth performance and dietary net energy (NE) utilization was evaluated in newly weaned beef steers (n = 162 Charolais-Red Angus cross steers; initial body weight [BW] = 278 ± 13.4 kg). Treatments were (DM basis): 1) 0% GH, 2) 10% GH, or 3) 20% GH inclusion in replacement of corn silage in receiving diets fed to newly weaned beef steers for 56 d. The study was conducted from October to December of 2019. Data were analyzed as randomized complete block design with pen serving as the experimental unit for all analyses. Increasing dietary inclusion of hay had no influence (P ≥ 0.11) on final BW, ADG, gain:feed or observed/expected dietary NEM and NEG, observed/expected dry matter intake (DMI), or observed/expected ADG. GH inclusion increased (linear effect, P = 0.01) DMI. Observed DMI for all treatments was approximately 15% to 17% less than anticipated based upon steer growth performance and tabular NE values. Evaluation of observed/expected ADG was 31% to 37% greater than expected for the steers in the present study. Particles less than 4 mm increased (linear effect, P = 0.01) and greater than 4 mm decreased (linear effect, P = 0.01) as GH replaced corn silage in the receiving diet. As the proportion of particles greater than 4 mm increased, cumulative ADG was decreased. These data indicate that GH should be considered in corn silage-based receiving diets to improve DMI. In high-risk calves, improved DMI could result in a lesser incidence of morbidity, although no morbidity was observed in any steers from the present study.

Evaluation of batch fraction, corn silage inclusion level, and mixing duration on long particle distribution of finishing diets for beef cattle

“… Blom et al (2020) demonstrated that as the mixer unloads, there is a linear increase in the proportion of long particles fed that results in greater intake, poorer gain, and reduced gain to feed (average daily gain/dry matter intake) in steers during the feedlot receiving phase. Smerchek et al (2020) demonstrated that as particles greater than 4 mm increase, there is a reduction in average daily gain by approximately 0.02 kg for each percentage point increase in particles greater than 4 mm in the diet.…”

Effect of Dietary Calcium Propionate Inclusion Level and Duration in High-Risk Newly Received Stocker Calves: Growth Performance, Body Fat Reserves, and Health

“…However, this approach leads to a 17% increase in morbidity rate and a 24% increase in the number of days requiring medical treatment (morbidity severity) [13]. On the other hand, increasing the proportion of forage in the diet decreases the morbidity rate by 1.3% [14] and improves DMI by 9% [15], but it also reduces ADG by 8.3% [14]. Despite the decrease in morbidity among the calves, it fails to compensate for the economic loss associated with the reduced productivity of calves fed with high forage proportions [4,16,17].…”

Galyean Appreciation Club Review: revisiting nutrition and health of newly received cattle—what have we learned in the last 15 years?

“…Unfortunately, very little data exist regarding silage vs. hay fed to high-risk cattle. Smerchek et al (2020) used Charolais × Red Angus weaned steers to examine replacing silage with graded levels of grass hay (0%, 10%, and 20% of the dietary DM) in silage-based receiving diets. DMI increased linearly as the percentage of hay inclusion increased, but hay level did not affect ADG.…”