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A recent study at Kansas State University was conducted to determine the comparative value of dry-rolled corn, distiller's dried grains and wheat middlings for receiving diets for growth performance, morbidity and mortality. Feed intake is typically low and highly variable in stressed feeder calves following transportation and introduction into a feedlot. However, excessive feed intake may cause digestive problems which can further challenge a steer's ability to cope with weaning, co-mingling and transportation stresses. Two 28-day experiments were conducted using 620 exotic and British cross weaned steer calves fed either a standard corn-based diet or ones based on distiller's grain or wheat middlings. All diets were approximately 60 percent concentrate and 40 percent alfalfa hay for roughage. After purchase from sale barns in Ohio and Indiana, the steers were transported to the KSU Beef Cattle Research Center in Manhattan, placed in a large pen and given free access to long stem prairie hay and water. They were processed within 24 hours of arrival. During processing, weight and temperature were recorded, and the steers were injected with Bovisheild IV, Fortress-7, in-jectable Ivomec and implanted with Synovex S. They were also mass treated with Micotil. In each study, calves were randomly assigned to their respective treatments of feed and placed in pens of 22 to 32 head per pen. The cattle were revaccinated with Bovishield IV 12 to 14 days after initial processing. The steers received their respective rations once-a-day. The animals were checked daily for signs of respiratory disease and were placed as candidates for treatment. The affected animals were treated if they exhibited elevated temperatures or showed clinical signs for two consecutive days. After treatment the steers were returned to their original pens and were retreated after 48 hours. A third treatment, a combination of Biomycin 200 and Tylan 200, was administered intramuscularly. The steers were reweighed at the end and average daily gains feed efficiencies were established. In the first trial, the steers fed corn had a better rate of gain and were more efficient than those fed the middling-based diet. However, in the second trial feed intake and gain were greater for those fed distiller's grains, but there was no difference in feed efficiency between the two groups. Overall, cattle fed the wheat middling-based diet tended to have poorer gain and efficiency than those fed corn. There was no noticeable difference in the percentage of cattle treated for respiratory disease between the feeding groups. When corn was replaced by distiller's dried grains, feed intake and daily gain were slightly improved, but feeding efficiency did not change. |
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