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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #424748
Research Project: Environmental and Management Influences on Animal Productivity and Well-Being Phenotypes

Location: Livestock Issues Research

Title: Effects of restricted feeding on enteric methane production and energy and nitrogen balance in growing steers

Author
item GRANT, MADDIE - Texas Tech University
item CANTERBURY, LANDON - Texas Tech University
item THOMPSON-SMITH, AUBREY - Texas Tech University
item DORNBACH, COLTEN - Texas Tech University
item CHILDRESS, KALLIE - Texas Tech University
item Broadway, Paul
item Sanchez, Nicole
item Neville, Bryan
item GALYEAN, MICHAEL - Texas Tech University
item HALES, KRISTIN - Texas Tech University

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/31/2025
Publication Date: 10/1/2025
Citation: Grant, M.S., Canterbury, L.G., Thompson-Smith, A.C., Dornbach, C.W., Childress, K.D., Broadway, P.R., Sanchez, N.C., Neville, B.W., Galyean, M.L., Hales, K.E. 2025. Effects of restricted feeding on enteric methane production and energy and nitrogen balance in growing steers. Journal of Animal Science Supplement. 103(Supplement 1). https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaf102.250.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaf102.250

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Dry matter intake (DMI) is a strong predictor of enteric methane production in beef cattle. Limit feeding is a management strategy that can increase gain efficiency in growing and finishing beef cattle. We evaluated the effects of restricted feed intake on energy balance using 7 beef × dairy steers (initial BW = 306 ± 18.5 kg) in a repeated Latin square design with 4 periods. Treatments included feed offered to slick bunk management to target no residual feed at 0730 h (100R) and 4, 8, and 12 % restriction of slick bunk management (96R, 92R, and 88R, respectively). Each experimental period consisted of a 14-d diet adaptation, 7 d of total fecal and urine collections, and a 24-h gas exchange collection using indirect respiration calorimeter headboxes. Dry matter (DM) intake, gross energy (GE) intake, and apparent DM digestibility did not differ among treatments (P = 0.71). Lack of differences in intakes of DM and GE resulted from restrictions being applied within periods of the Latin square and occasional feed refusals on a given day within periods. Fecal energy loss, digestible energy (DE), and urinary energy loss did not differ among treatments (P = 0.55). Methane energy loss and methane as a proportion of GE intake did not differ among treatments (P = 0.81). Metabolizable energy (ME), ME as a proportion of GE intake, and ME as a proportion of DE did not differ among treatments (P = 0.60). Heat production (HP) and HP as a proportion of GE intake did not differ among treatments (P = 0.87). Recovered energy (RE) and RE as a proportion of GE intake was not different among treatments (P = 0.95). Nitrogen intake and apparent nitrogen digestibility did not differ among treatments (P = 0.67). Fecal and urinary N excretion and fecal and urinary N excretion as a proportion of total N intake did not differ among treatments (P = 0.30). Therefore, retained N and retained N as a proportion of N intake did not differ among treatments (P = 0.47). Overall, no differences in energy or N balance were detected, likely because of the lack of differences in DMI.