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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Livestock Nutrient Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #208969
Title: Effect of dietary fat concentration and wet sorghum distiller's grains plus solubles on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of finishing heifers

Author
item SILVA, JULIO
item Cole, Noel
item BROWN, MICHAEL
item MITCHELL, DAVID
item PONCE, CHRISTIAN
item SMITH, DOUGLAS

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2007
Publication Date: 7/8/2007
Citation: Silva, J.C., Cole, N.A., Brown, M.S., Mitchell, D.L., Ponce, C.H., Smith, D.R. 2007. Effect of dietary fat concentration and wet sorghum distiller's grains plus solubles on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of finishing heifers [abstract]. In: Journal of Animal Science, Volume 85, Supplement 1, Annual Meeting of American Society of Animal Science, July 8-12, 2007, San Antonio, Texas. T335.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Three hundred ninety-eight crossbred yearling heifers (initial BW = 373.5 kg) were used in two experiments to examine the effect of dietary fat concentration on the feeding value of wet sorghum distiller's grains plus solubles (WSDGS). Treatments included two 92% concentrate diets based on steam-flaked corn (SFC) with 0% or 3% added fat from yellow grease and three diets with 15% WSDGS and either 0, 1.5, or 3% added fat from yellow grease (4 pens/treatment within study). Heifers were fed an average of 106 d before slaughter. Overall DMI was 6.1% greater (P < 0.01) for heifers fed WSDGS than for those fed SFC. Among heifers fed WSDGS, DMI was greatest for heifers fed 1.5% fat (P = 0.04; quadratic). Overall ADG was 5% greater (P = 0.04) for WSDGS compared to SFC. Among WSDGS, ADG tended to be greater for 1.5% fat (P = 0.12; quadratic). The ADG:DMI did not differ between SFC with 0 or 3% fat, nor was ADG:DMI altered by replacing a portion of SFC with WSDGS (P > 0.36). However, ADG:DMI increased linearly as more fat was added to WSDGS diets (P = 0.06). Hot carcass weight was increased an average of 5 kg (P = 0.05) when WSDGS replaced a portion of SFC, but carcass weight was greatest for heifers fed WSDGS with 1.5% fat (P = 0.09, quadratic). Heifers fed SFC without fat had a larger LM area, lower marbling score, less rib fat, and a lower yield grade (P < 0.08) than heifers fed SFC with 3% fat. Heifers fed WSDGS had more rib fat and a higher yield grade (P < 0.03) than heifers fed SFC. Inclusion of fat in SFC diets did not alter the distribution of carcass quality grades, but SFC with 3% fat produced fewer (P = 0.01) yield grade 1 carcasses than when fat was not fed. Feeding WSDGS did not alter carcass quality grade distribution compared to feeding SFC, but WSDGS produced fewer yield grade 3 carcasses (P = 0.03) than SFC. Heifers fed WSDGS had a higher DMI and greater ADG than heifers fed SFC, but gain efficiency did not differ. Adding more than 1.5% fat to diets containing WSDGS tended to reduce growth performance.