Interaction of Sweet Bran inclusion and corn processing method in beef finishing diets.

The study objective was to determine the effects of corn processing method and Sweet Bran (Cargill, Blair, NE) inclusion in beef finishing diets on performance and carcass characteristics. Four hundred and eighty crossbred yearling steers (363 ±â€…15 kg) were assigned to a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments, consisting of two corn processing methods, steam-flaked corn (SFC) or a high-moisture corn: dry-rolled corn blend (HMC: DRC), and three inclusions of Sweet Bran (0%, 20%, or 40% of diet dry matter). Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS as a generalized block design with pen as the experimental unit and block as a fixed effect. Dry matter intake increased linearly as Sweet Bran increased in the diet, regardless of corn processing method (P < 0.01). A corn processing × Sweet Bran interaction (P < 0.01) was observed for feed efficiency (G:F), average daily gain (ADG), and hot carcass weight (HCW). The G:F of steers fed SFC did not change with increasing Sweet Bran concentrations (P = 0.19) and the G:F of SFC-fed steers was 12.4% greater than those fed HMC:DRC without Sweet Bran, but was only 5.3% greater when Sweet Bran was included at 40% (P = 0.04). The ADG of steers increased linearly with increasing concentration of Sweet Bran in both SFC and HMC:DRC-based diets. However, the interaction occurred (P < 0.01) because ADG increased at a greater rate in HMC:DRC-based diets (1.93 to 2.21 kg/d for 0% and 40% Sweet Bran, respectively) compared to SFC-based diets (2.18 to 2.27 kg/d for 0% and 40% Sweet Bran, respectively;). Accordingly, while the ADG of steers fed SFC was 13% greater than steers fed HMC:DRC without Sweet Bran (P < 0.01), there was no difference in ADG due to corn processing method at 40% Sweet Bran (P = 0.30). In SFC-based diets, HCW tended to increase from 446 to 455 kg as Sweet Bran increased (P = 0.06). In HMC: DRC-based diets, HCW linearly increased from 421 to 449 kg (P < 0.01), resulting in similar HCW at 40% Sweet Bran (P = 0.28). These data suggest HMC:DRC-based diets are more competitive with SFC-based diets due to similar gains and more similar feed efficiencies when Sweet Bran is fed.

Impact of different corn milling methods for high-moisture and dry corn on finishing cattle performance, carcass characteristics, and nutrient digestion.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of different corn milling methods for high-moisture and dry corn on finishing cattle performance, carcass traits, and nutrient digestion. In experiment 1, steers (N = 600 [60 pens]; initial body weight [BW] = 402 ± 17 kg) were fed for 134 d to evaluate the effect of milling method and corn type on performance and carcass characteristics. Treatments were evaluated as a 2 × 3 factorial design with factors being milling method (Automatic Ag roller mill [ROLL] or hammer mill [HAMMER]) and corn type (high-moisture [HMC], dry [DC], or 50:50 blend of HMC and DC [BLEND]). There were no milling method × corn type interactions for final BW, gain (ADG), or dry matter intake (DMI; P ≥ 0.32), but there tended to be an interaction for G:F (P = 0.09). Cattle fed ROLL HMC had 4.7% greater gain:feed (G:F; P ≤ 0.01) with 55% lower fecal starch (P < 0.01) compared to HAMMER HMC, whereas processing did not impact (P = 0.74) G:F in DC diets. There were no further effects (P ≥ 0.14) on performance or carcass traits regardless of milling method or corn type. In experiment 2, seven ruminally fistulated steers were utilized in a 4 × 7 incomplete Latin rectangle to evaluate the effects of DC or HMC processed with either ROLL or HAMMER (2 × 2 factorial treatment design) on nutrient digestion. Feeding HMC decreased the amount of excreted dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM; P ≤ 0.01) regardless of mill type, but there was a tendency (P ≤ 0.13) for an interaction between corn type and mill type for DM and OM digestibility. There was no difference between milling treatments fed as HMC (P ≥ 0.69), but the HAMMER DC diet was more digestible than the ROLL DC (P = 0.05). As expected, HMC-based diets had greater (P < 0.01) starch digestibility compared to DC, but milling method had no impact on starch digestibility (P = 0.56). There were no differences (P = 0.56) in average ruminal pH, but HMC diets had greater variance (P = 0.04) and greater area less than pH 5.6 (P = 0.05) compared to DC based diets while milling method did not impact either (P > 0.33). Processing HMC with a roller mill improved G:F compared to processing with a hammer mill, but had little effect when corn was fed as dry corn or HMC:DC blend. Furthermore, feeding cattle HMC compared to DC increases nutrient digestibility, but milling method had little impact.

Two experiments tested how processing of corn grain for finishing cattle influences growth performance and nutrient digestion. Producers can use corn in dry or high-moisture form but normally use either a hammer mill or roller mill. When using high-moisture corn, we observed a 5% improvement in gain:feed (G:F) for rolling as compared to hammer milling, which is likely due to more uniform particle size and improved digestion. Unlike the performance study, milling method did not impact digestion for high-moisture corn. Using a hammer-mill for dry corn improved digestion compared to rolling which was not supported by improved performance in the finishing study. Using high-moisture corn increases risk of ruminal acidosis compared to dry corn, but also improves feed efficiency if acidosis can be minimized.

Pooled analysis on the effects of inclusion, moisture, and oil removal from distillers grains on cattle performance and economic returns in diets with different corn processing.

A synthesis of data including over 9,300 head of cattle and over 980 pen means was conducted to evaluate the effect of corn processing method, distillers grains type, oil removal from distillers, and dietary distillers concentration on cattle performance and total feeding costs under different historical price scenarios. The corn processing method was either steam-flaked corn, high-moisture or dry-rolled corn or a blend of the latter two and their effects on performance with and without distillers grains. Wet, modified, and dry distillers were analyzed as either full fat or de-oiled products in diets at various dietary concentrations with either corn type to determine cattle performance. Performance estimates were used to determine the inclusion level that minimized total finishing costs ($/head) for each diet given various assumptions on corn price, corn-to-distillers price ratio, supplemental protein cost, and steam flake processing cost. Feeding distillers grains in steam-flaked or high-moisture and dry-rolled corn diets resulted in improved feed conversion and reduced cattle feeding costs, including lower supplemental protein costs and lower total feeding costs compared with a diet without distillers. However, feeding diets with steam-flaked corn improved feed conversion regardless of distillers type or level of inclusion. Feeding full fat distillers improved feed conversion relative to de-oiled distillers. Cattle fed de-oiled distillers were more efficient than those fed diets containing no distillers grains. At all corn price and corn-to-distillers price ratios examined, feeding some level of distillers of any type produced a lower total feeding costs relative to a diet without distillers. Different robustness tests were conducted to determine the impact of varying steam flake corn processing costs and the cost of supplemental protein on the optimal level of distillers inclusion level. The break-even cost a producer could pay for steam-flaking corn varied but was significantly higher when corn price was high. Feeding distillers grains in steam-flaked or high-moisture and dry-rolled corn diets resulted in improved feed efficiency, reduced cattle feeding costs, including replacement of other supplemental protein and associated costs compared to a diet without distillers grains.

A pooled analysis of research was conducted to evaluate the effect of corn processing method, distillers grains type, oil removal from distillers, and distillers inclusion on cattle performance within studies conducted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln between 1992-2020. Two corn processing methods were included in the dataset, steam-flaked corn (SFC) or any combination of high-moisture (HMC) and dry-rolled corn (DRC), fed with and without distillers gains, a by-product of the dry milling ethanol industry. Distillers products were either wet, modified, or dry distillers grains plus solubles and were analyzed as both full fat and de-oiled products. Cattle performance resulting from feeding the six by-product combinations with both corn types was analyzed and then used to find the inclusion level that minimized the total feeding cost ($/head) given different corn prices and corn-to-distillers price ratios. Cattle had improved feed conversion when fed SFC compared with HMC:DRC in all diets. Cattle fed full-fat distillers grains had slightly improved feed conversions compared with de-oiled distillers grains. Cattle fed distillers grains diets had improved feed conversion compared with cattle fed control diets without distillers. Overall, feeding distillers grains in combination with either corn type offers benefits including improved feed conversions, lower finishing costs, and reduced reliance on supplemental protein sources compared to a diet without distillers.