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Feed Efficiency is Better and Activity is Greater in Growing Cattle Limit-Fed a High-Energy Diet During the Growing Phase Compared to a Traditional Roughage-Based Diet Fed for Ad Libitum Intake

Authors

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to compare performance impacts of a high-energy diet limit-fed at 2.2% of body weight (BW) daily on a dry matter (DM) basis to a traditional roughage-based diet fed forad libitumintake during the growing phase.

Study Description:Three hundred seventy crossbred heifers (initial BW = 496 ± 44 lb) were used in a receiving and growing study at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Unit in the spring of 2020. Animals were fed once daily at 7:00 a.m. Bunks were visually observed, and feed refused was estimated.Ad libitumfeed refusal was targeted at 20 lb. A pen scale was used to measure weekly pen BW, adjust feed offerings, and to calculate pen performance.

The Bottom Line:Growing heifers limit-fed a high-energy diet at 2.2% of BW daily on a DM basis had 35% better feed efficiency and were more active by 23 minutes per day, on average, than heifers full-fed a traditional roughage-based diet.

Keywords: Limit feeding, growing cattle, growth performance

How to Cite: Scilacci, M. A. , Titgemeyer, E. C. , Montgomery, S. P. , Spore, T. J. , Tarpoff, A. J. , O'Quinn, T. G. , Hollenbeck, W. R. & Blasi, D. A. (2022) “Feed Efficiency is Better and Activity is Greater in Growing Cattle Limit-Fed a High-Energy Diet During the Growing Phase Compared to a Traditional Roughage-Based Diet Fed for Ad Libitum Intake”, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports. 8(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.8225