Stephanie A. Furman

Evaluation of performance, carcass characteristics, and sensory attributes of beef from finishing steers fed field peas.

Whole field peas were fed at 0, 10, 20, and 30% of DM to 139 yearling steers (British cross; 409 ± 31 kg of initial BW) for a 119-d finishing period. Carcass data and Choice grade strip loins (n = 98) were collected from a commercial abattoir in Lexington, Nebraska. Consumer sensory and Warner-Bratzler shear force analyses were performed on 2.5-cm strip steaks. No differences (P ≥ 0.17) were observed in final BW, ADG, DMI, and G:F of steers. Likewise, no differences (P ≥ 0.23) were observed for HCW, LM area, fat thickness at the 12th rib, yield grade, and marbling scores. However, KPH responded quadratically to increasing dietary amount of field peas (P = 0.02). Regarding the sensorial analysis, feeding peas linearly increased subjective tenderness (P < 0.01) and led to a quadratic response of overall like ratings (P = 0.01) and flavor like ratings (P = 0.12). Feeding peas did not alter (P ≥ 0.64) juiciness, but decreased shear force values linearly when quantities were increased (P = 0.02). These data suggest that feeding peas does not affect steer performance or carcass characteristics differently from dry-rolled corn, but does improve objective and subjective tenderness, overall desirability, and flavor of beef. Field peas could be fed to cattle and give positive attributes to the quality of the meat up to 30% inclusion in the diet.

Effect of degradable intake protein supplementation in finishing diets containing dried distillers grains or wet distillers grains plus solubles on performance and carcass characteristics1

ABSTRACT Two finishing trials were conducted to determine whether supplemental degradable intake protein is necessary to optimize performance in dry-rolled corn (DRC) based finishing diets containing distillers grains. Diets without urea were deficient in degradable intake protein based on the NRC (1996) recommendations, yet all diets had positive metabolizable protein balances. In Exp. 1, individually fed, crossbred heifers (n = 58; BW = 383 ± 25 kg) were used in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Dietary treatments contained 10 or 20% dried distillers grains replacing DRC, with or without 0.80 or 0.63% urea, respectively (DM basis). Blood samples were analyzed for BUN. Heifers receiving urea or 20% dried distillers grains (P 0.10) were observed for performance or carcass characteristics for either experiment. These data indicate supply of ruminal degradable intake protein was adequate to maintain performance when at least 10% distillers grains was included in DRC diets.

Effects of feeding field peas in combination with distillers grains plus solubles in finishing and growing diets on cattle performance and carcass characteristics1

ABSTRACT Two studies were conducted to evaluate field peas and wet or dry corn distillers grains with solubles (WDGS and DDGS, respectively) in finishing and growing diets. In Exp. 1, British crossbred steers (n = 352, initial BW 356 ± 27 kg) were used in a randomized block design with factors being 0 or 20% field peas and 0 or 30% WDGS in dry-rolled corn (DRC) based finishing diets (DM basis). There was an interaction (P