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The effect of feeding a barley/canola meal pellet to feedlot steers on performance, rumen fermentation, and eating behaviour

Date

2007

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

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Publisher

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Type

Degree Level

Masters

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 steers. Results show performance during backgrounding was improved but finishing performance depressed in PB steers. Further research is necessary to reduce the risk of SARA when feeding PB during finishing.

Description

Keywords

acidosis, barley, beef, canola meal, processing

Citation

Degree

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Department

Animal and Poultry Science

Program

Animal and Poultry Science

Advisor

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