D. L. Rankins

Nitrogen and energy metabolism and serum constituents in lambs given broiler poultry litter processed by three deep-stacking methods

Poultry litter has been used as an economical nitrogen (N) source in ruminant diets. However, litter must be processed to eliminate pathogens. Broiler poultry litter was processed by three different deep-stack methods: (1) uncovered, (2) covered with 0.1524 mm clear polyethylene, and (3) aerated by placing perforated pipe 1 m apart within the stack. Stack temperature was measured for 28 days. The litter was used to formulate experimental diets (186 g litter per kg), while the control diet contained urea as the N source. All diets contained 100 g/kg cottonseed hulls, 16 to 17 g/kg limestone, varying amounts of cracked maize and added retinol. The control diet contained 131 g/kg crude protein (CP) while the litter diets contained 125 g/kg CP. The diets were offered to 16 crossbred wether lambs (37 (s.e. 6·1) kg) in individual metabolism crates for 16 days. Blood was collected at the initiation and termination of the trial. Covering litter with plastic decreased temperature ivithin the stack ( P 0·05) among the diets. Apparent digestibility for N was less ( P 0·05). Covering deep-stacked broiler poultry litter improved N digestibility by proportionately 0·15 compared with uncovered litter. Serum chloride was decreased while serum urea was increased ( P

SOUTHERN SECTION INTERDISCIPLINARY BEEF CATTLE SYMPOSIUM: Forage and co-product systems for stockers in the South: Have fundamental shifts in markets changed the optimal system?

Stockering calves in the southern United States has been an economically viable enterprise for decades. Historically, the system that yielded the best opportunity for profitability was to purchase lightweight calves (130 kg to 220 kg) in autumn, add 100 to 200 kg of BW gain, and sell them in the spring. In most years, the value of the BW gain was worth more than the cost of BW gain in this system. With the exponential price increases in feed, fuel, and fertilizer during 2008 and the significant increase in cattle prices, it is prudent to assess the potential for continued profitability in this segment of the beef industry. Evaluation of 37 grazing experiments indicated that the forage systems most likely to result in inexpensive costs of BW gain for stocker calves involve tall fescue with legumes or ryegrass with small grains. Even with increased input prices, these systems still yield economical BW gain for stocker calves. Likewise, many diets can be blended to produce ADG of 1 kg using co-products that are abundant across the South. With many of these co-products, the most important performance factor in determining their value is G:F. In several experiments, DMI has exceeded 3% of BW in stocker calves, and the resulting G:F has been less than desirable. Several experiments have reported G:F of 0.13 to 0.16, resulting in economical BW gain, whereas some experiments have reported G:F as low as 0.09, which could result in BW gain that costs more to produce than it is worth. From 1979, the value of BW gain for stocker calves in Alabama has averaged US

Use of Soybean Hulls in Broiler Litter-Based Diets Fed to Beef Cattle

1.05/kg. However, in the last 3 yr, the value of BW gain has risen to

The importance of by-products to the US beef industry

2.32/kg. Fundamental shifts in feed, fuel, and fertilizer prices experienced in the United States between 2005 and 2010 have markedly changed the amount of capital needed to purchase several hundred stocker calves and to provide adequate feedstuffs for BW gain. However, the value of BW gain associated with producing feeder calves from those stockers has experienced a concomitant increase. The optimal system still uses high-quality cool-season forages and supplementation with co-product feeds. With this system, a significant margin of profit still exists for the Southeastern stocker cattle production system.

The effects of distillers dried grains with solubles on apparent nutrient digestibility and passage kinetics of Boer×Spanish castrated male goats

Abstract Gurung, N.K. and Rankins, Jr., D.L. 2001. Use of soybean hulls in broiler litter-based diets fed to beef cattle. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 19: 193–201. Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing com with soybean hulls (SH) in broiler litter (BL)-based diets on nutrient digestibilities and growth rate. Trial 1: 32 predominantly Angus steers (initial body weight = 274±16 kg) were fed one of four diets over a 112-day period (four steers/pen; two pens/diet). The diets were as follows: 1) 500 g/kg BL and 500 g/kg cracked, corn (corn), 2) 500 g/kg BL, 375 g/kg corn and 125 g/kg SH, 3) same as # 2 and 4) 500 g/kg BL, 250 g/kg corn and 250 g/kg SH. Diets 1, 3 and 4 were supplemented with 1.55 kg of chopped Coastal Bermuda grass hay per steer per day. Diet 2 received no hay. Total, daily dry matter intake and average daily gains were increased by hay supplementation (P<0.05). Addition of soybean hulls increased average daily gains in a linear manner (P<0.05). Soybean hull addition had a quadratic effect on apparent digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, gross energy, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and crude protein (P<0.05). Trial 2: 60 Angus X Charolais heifers (initial body weight = 193±14 kg) were allowed to one, of the following five diets (four heifers/pen, there pen/diet). 1),500 g/kg BL and 500 g/kg corn, 2) 500 g/kg BL. 375 g/kg corn and 125 g/kg SH. 3)500 g/kg BL, 250 g/kg Corn and 250 g/kg SH, 4) 500 g/kg BL, 125 g/kg corn and 375 g/kg SH, and 5) 500 g/kg BL and 500 g/kg SH There were no differences in total daily feed intakes between diets (P>0.05) and average daily gains were also similar between treatments (P>0.05)

Antioxidant status affects color stability and tenderness of calcium chloride-injected beef.

The use of by-products as nutrient sources for beef cattle will continue to be driven by economics. As landfill prices continue to escalate, more by-product will become economically viable as cattle feed. These considerations will be counter-balanced by safety concerns. American consumers are becoming increasingly concerned with the production aspects of their food. The environmental concerns associated with additional landfills will have to be balanced against which by-products consumers will accept in the production of the beef that they consume. These will most assuredly heighten over the coming years.

Feeding broiler litter to beef cattle

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different inclusion rates of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) on apparent nutrient digestibility, and passage kinetics in meat goats. Four uniform mature Boer×Spanish castrated goats (51.4±0.9 kg BW) were used in a 4×4 Latin square experimental design. Animals had free-choice access to twice daily 36.5% bermudagrass hay (BGH) and 63.5% concentrates containing 0, 12.7, 25.4 and 38.1% of DDGS (dry matter[DM]basis; w/w proportion) replacing corn and soybean meal in the diet. Concentrates were isonitrogenous with 16% crude protein (CP). Each period consisted of 16 days for diets adjustment followed by 5 days of total fecal and urine collection for the digestion and passage kinetics. Concentrate and hay offered and refused, fecal and urine outputs were monitored daily. The ytterbium-marked BGH was used to determine the passage kinetics. Results indicated that with the inclusion of DDGS increased ether extract (EE) concentrations of total diets from 2.91 (0% DDGS) to 4.33% (38.1% DDGS). No differences were observed in DM and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) digestibility (P>0.05) among treatments. However, DDGS supplementation had a quadratic effect on apparent digestibilities of acid detergent fibre (ADF) and EE (P=0.04). Passage kinetics and nitrogen utilisation were unaffected by DDGS inclusion (P>0.05). Results of this experiment indicated that DDGS can replace up to 38.1% of diet DM for Boer×Spanish castrated goats with no adverse effects on nutrient digestion and passage kinetics.