159 Effect of dry or Temper Rolling of High or low Protein Wheat and its Impact on Rumen Parameters, Liver Abscesses, and Growth Performance of Feedlot Cattle. (21st September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meadows, Amanda C; Terry, Stephanie; Penner, Gregory B; McAllister, Tim A; Ribeiro, Gabriel O
• Is Part Of: Journal of animal science. Volume 100(2022)Supplement 3
• Page Start: 68
• Page End: 68
• Publication Date: 2022-09-21
• Subjects: wheat -- beef cattle -- protein; Livestock -- Periodicals; Livestock; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 636.005
• DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac247.134
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8812

Abstract

Abstract: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of low (13%, LP) or high protein (18%, HP) wheat grain subjected to dry (DR) vs temper rolling (TR) on growth performance, rumen parameters, and liver abscesses of feedlot steers. A backgrounding (BG) to finishing (FN) feedlot trial was performed using 160 302 ± 34 kg; 24 ruminally cannulated) Angus steers blocked by weight and randomly assigned to 16 pens. Cannulated steers (3 per pen) were housed within 8 pens equipped with a feed intake monitoring system. BG diets contained 35% wheat grain, 60% barley silage, and 5% supplement on a DM basis. Transition (TN) diets included sequential increases to the proportion of wheat grain in the total mixed ration to achieve a FN diet comprised of 85% wheat grain, 10% barley silage, and 5% supplement. Rumen pHs were measured with an indwelling logger and rumen samples were collected in each phase. Steers fed the HP-DR and LP-TR diets had lower (P≤0.03) ruminal pH than HP-TR during the TN phase. Tempering HP wheat reduced (P<0.001) the generation of fine particles during rolling. During BG and TN, steers fed diets containing HP wheat had higher (P<0.001) ruminal NH3 concentrations than the LP treatments. NH3 measurements during the FN phase were higher (P=0.01) for the LP-DR treatment compared to the LP-TR treatment. Greater (P≤0.01) C2:C3 ratios were noted for HP wheat diets during the BG and FN phases whereas the C2:C3 ratio was reduced (P<0.001) with TR wheat during the FN phase. Greater (P= 0.01) NEgs were assessed for FN steers fed LP wheat. Steers fed HP wheat had more severe (P<0.001) abscesses. Results suggest that HP wheat may limit the growth performance of FN cattle and increase the severity of liver abscesses.