Effects of wet corn gluten feed and roughage levels on performance, carcass characteristics, and feeding behavior of feedlot cattle

¹ Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock 79409-2141
² Cactus Research, Ltd., Cactus Feeders, Amarillo, TX 79116-3050

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: judson.vasconcelos{at}ttu.edu.

	Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding different levels of wet corn gluten feed (WCGF; Sweet Bran, Cargill, Inc., Blair, NE) and dietary roughage on performance, carcass characteristics, and feeding behavior of feedlot cattle fed diets based on steam-flaked corn (SFC). In Exp. 1, 200 crossbred steers (BW = 314 kg) were fed 4 dietary treatments (DM basis): a standard SFC-based diet containing 9% roughage (CON), and 3 SFC-based diets containing 40% WCGF, with either 9, 4.5, or 0% roughage. A linear (P = 0.04) increase in final BW and DMI (P < 0.01) was observed in diets containing WCGF as dietary roughage increased. Steers fed WCGF and higher levels of roughage had greater (P = 0.01) ADG than steers fed lower levels of roughage. Steers fed the CON diet had lower (P = 0.04) daily DMI and greater (P = 0.03) G:F than those fed WCGF. Most carcass characteristics of steers fed CON did not differ (P > 0.10) from those of steers fed WCGF. Based on feed disappearance and visual scan data, consumption rate did not differ (P > 0.10) among treatments; however, feeding intensity (animals present at the bunk after feeding) was greater for steers fed CON (P < 0.01) than for steers fed WCGF. In Exp. 2, 1,983 yearling crossbred steers (BW = 339 kg) were fed 4 dietary treatments (DM basis): a standard SFC-based control diet that contained 9% roughage (CON); and 3 SFC-based diets containing either 20% WCGF and 9% roughage or 40% WCGF with 9 or 4.5% roughage. Steers fed the CON diet tended to have lower final BW (P = 0.14), ADG (P = 0.01), and DMI (P < 0.01) than steers fed diets containing WCGF. Steers fed the 20% WCGF diet had greater (P = 0.08) G:F than steers fed the 40% WCGF diets. With 40% WCGF, increasing roughage from 4.5 to 9% decreased (P < 0.01) G:F and increased (P = 0.06) DMI. Gain efficiency was improved (P < 0.01) for steers fed CON vs. those fed diets containing WCGF, whereas HCW (P = 0.02) and dressing percent (P < 0.01) were greater for steers fed WCGF. Percentage of cattle grading USDA Choice was greater (P = 0.02) for cattle fed WCGF. Results suggest that replacing SFC with up to 40% WCGF increased ADG and decreased G:F when 4.5 to 9.0% roughage was supplied. More CON steers were present at the feed bunk during the first hour after feeding than WCGF steers, suggesting that including WCGF at 40% of the diet affected feeding behavior.

Key Words: beef cattle, feeding behavior, feedlot, roughage level, wet corn gluten feed

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