Growing Beef Flashcards
lignin
component in plants that helps rigidity but decreases digestibility
Result of too many non-structural carbohydrates?
rumen acidosis (but not enough also limited production)
urea
common source of nitrogen for cattle, which can use it to create AA in the rumen
How is energy calculated for ruminant diets?
from acidic and neutral detergent fibers
What three types of energy are “remove” between gross energy and net energy?
- indigestible (fecal loss)
- digestible (urinary and gaseous (methane)) loss)
- metabolizable (heat loss)
How to feed a growing beef steer?
high protein, pound of feed to pound of gain, efficient growth
HHow to feed a finishing steer?
high energy, ADG declininng, less efficient (eating more) but also less expensive than growing diet
Consequences of acidosis on a feedlot?
change in intake pattern, liver abscesses, change in feed efficiency
Measurable fiber content in ruminant diet?
Neutral edtergent fiber (NDF)
What % NDF is required to maintain a normal rumen?
27%
Goal of feedlot cattle?
sell a group of animals for more than total cost
Cost of Gain Factors
ingredient cost, feed efficiency, digestibility, breed, cold or hot environment, etc
Does the feed to gain ratio increase or decrease with weight gain?
decrease in that it takes more feed for the same gain (4:1 for smaller animals and 7:1 for bigger)
What breed requires more for maintenance - Holsteins or Angus?
holsteins
Less than 2 week old diet
milk, and only milk
2 weeks to 3 months Diet
milk and grass
4 to 7 months Diet
Grass and Milk, start grain
7 to 10 Months Diet
Forage and Grain, begin 60:40 then finish this period 40:60
10-14 Months Diet
Forage and Grain in 20:80 ratio
2 Ways the Acid is managed in the Rumen
- Absorb VFAs (sometimes exchanging with bicarbonate)
- Chewing! Increases saliva which increases bicarbonate
Does the rumen have a pH meter that communicates with the brain?
no! nothing tells the cow to chew more or anything like that
What % of the acid produced is neutralized by saliva?
~50%
Whattype of cattle spend the most time eating and ruminating - dairy cattle or feedlot cattle?
dairy cattle (produce twice as much saliva ~250L/day)
Effect of Rumination Time on pH
increased time ruminating increases rumen pH
Effect of Increased NDF on Rumination
Increased NDF results in increased ruminating
Effect of Non-Structural Carbohydrates/Starch on Rumen pH
increased starch leads to decreased rumen pH (acidosis)
