| Popis: |
Objective The objective of this experiment was to measure feedlot performance, rumination, ruminal pH, and carcass characteristics of cattle consuming a finishing diet with increasing levels of corn stalks (CS). Materials and Methods Fifty cross-bred steers (initial BW = 302 ± 27 kg) were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 dietary treatments: 5% (5CS; n = 17), 10% (10CS; n = 17), or 15% (15CS; n = 16) CS in a finishing diet based on steam-flaked corn. Experimental design was a randomized complete block, and data were analyzed using generalized random coefficients models. Rumination (min/d) was recorded from all the steers, and half of the steers (n = 27) received an indwelling rumen bolus to monitor pH. Results As CS inclusion rate increased, ADG and G:F decreased (P ≤ 0.05) linearly, whereas DMI of cattle consuming 10CS and 15CS was greater (P ≤ 0.05) than those consuming 5CS. Ruminal pH tended (P Applications Results of this study indicate that optimal dietary roughage inclusion of CS should be between 5 and 10% to optimize feedlot performance while maintaining rumination and ruminal pH. |
