EFFICIENCY OF FEED UTILIZATION BY THREE-BREED CROSS STEERS

Efficiency of lysine utilization by growing steers.

This study evaluated the efficiency of Lys utilization by growing steers. Five ruminally cannulated Holstein steers (165 ± 8 kg) housed in metabolism crates were used in a 6 × 6 Latin square design; data from a sixth steer was excluded due to erratic feed intake. All steers were limit fed (2.46 kg DM/d), twice daily, diets low in RUP (81% soybean hulls, 8% wheat straw, 6% cane molasses, and 5% ...

The effect of breed and individual heterosis on the feed efficiency, performance, and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers.

This study was conducted to evaluate maternal breed effects, direct breed effects, and individual heterosis on subsequent steer performance, carcass, and feed efficiency traits. This was a consecutive 2-yr trial using 158 steers. The same dam breeds, Angus (AN) and purebred Simmental (SM), were used both years. Also, the same AN and SM sires (n=11) were used both years. Steers were AN, SM, or A...

Rumen Microbiome from Steers Differing in Feed Efficiency

The cattle rumen has a diverse microbial ecosystem that is essential for the host to digest plant material. Extremes in body weight (BW) gain in mice and humans have been associated with different intestinal microbial populations. The objective of this study was to characterize the microbiome of the cattle rumen among steers differing in feed efficiency. Two contemporary groups of steers (n=148...

Effect of compensatory growth on feed intake and feed conversion efficiency of heavyweight steers

Compensatory growth is an integral part ofNew Zealand beef production systems (Nicol and Kitessa, 1997) with restricted winter nutrition followed by good spring and summer feeding enabling a better fit with seasonal pasture production. Purchasers of store cattle (including feedlotters) often prefer animals with a previous history of perturbed growth because they believe they can benefit from hi...

Cow Feed Efficiency Unknowns, Including Utilization of Range Forages