Search

Two hundred crossbred beef steers (initial body weight = 404.5 ± 16.7 kg) were used to determine the effects of graded levels of wet sorghum distiller's grain and one level of wet com distiller's grain included in steam-flaked corn-based diets of finishing beef steers on performance and carcass characteristics. The five dietary treatments (dry matter basis) included: 1) a standard finishing diet (CON); 2) a diet containing 5% wet sorghum distiller's grain replacing steam-flaked com (5%); 3) a diet with 10% wet sorghum distiller's grain (10%); 4) a diet containing 15% wet sorghum distiller's grain (15%); and 5) a diet with 10% wet corn distiller's grain (C10%) replacing steam-flaked com. Cattle were on feed for an average of 133 d. A randomized complete block design was used with pen as the experimental unit (eight pens per treatment). There was a tendency for a linear decrease in dry matter intake (DMI; P = 0.15) for the overall feeding period as the level of sorghum distiller's grain increased in the diet. In addition, cattle fed the C10% diet tended to consume less DM than those fed the 15% {P = 0.10). A linear decrease in overall average daily gain (ADG; P = 0.01) was noted for cattle fed increasing quantities of sorghum distiller's grain, and this effect was more evident when ADG was adjusted to a common dressing percent (carcass-adjusted ADG; P = 0.001). Feed efficiency, expressed as feed:gain ratio (F:G) followed the same trend (P = 0.12) as overall ADG, as did the carcass-adjusted F:G (P = 0.001). Hot carcass weight and longissimus muscle area decreased linearly (P = 0.009) as the concentration of sorghum distiller's grain increased in the diet. Yield grade increased linearly (P = 0.09) with increasing sorghum distiller's grain level. Steers fed the C10% treatment decreased fat thickness at the 12'*^ rib interface, and kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (P < 0.04) than with the 10% sorghum distillers grain diet. There were no effects on dressing percent, marbling, number of carcasses grading Choice, or the number of liver abscess (P > 0.26). Because of conflicting data from previous research conducted primarily with dry-rolled com-based diets, further research is needed to confirm the lack of response noted in the present study from the replacement of steam-flaked com with wet distiller's grains in the diets of finishing beef cattle.

Sorghum is the fifth most important cereal grain in the world after wheat, rice, maize, and barley. Incidence of molds and mycotoxins in commercial animal feed mills, if it exists, is a very serious problem. The first study was conducted to investigate the impact of three levels of sorghum infected with ergot alkaloids on the reproductive performance of swine. Eighteen sows were placed on one of three treatments containing 0 ppm, 12 ppm and 24 ppm ergot alkaloids. With the exception of the control treatment, the same sows were used during the first and second parities. There were six sows per treatment group. Results indicated that combined gain of 28 d old nursing pigs was higher (P < 0.05) for the 24 ppm ergot alkaloids treatment than for 12 ppm. During the first parity, interval to estrus was less (P < 0.05) for the 24 ppm ergot alkaloids treatments than for 12 ppm. Variables that were affected by the level of ergot alkaloids during the second parity were weight of live pigs bom and lactation feed intake. The number of live pigs bom was higher {P < 0.05) for 24 ppm and 12 ppm than for 0 ppm ergot alkaloids. Additionally, lactation feed intake was higher (P < 0.05) for 0 ppm than for 12 ppm. Gain at day 28 was the only variable affected by the treatments, when results were combined for parity one and parity two. Gain at day-28 was higher {P < 0.05) for 0 ppm and 24 ppm ergot alkaloids than for 12 ppm. Overall, variables that were affected by the infestation of grain sorghum by the ergot alkaloids were pig gain to day-28; lactation feed intake and interval to next estrus. The second project investigated the performance of 24 wether lambs fed corn, brown midrib-100, fame and Cow Vittles II silages. Silage is a palatable high-yielding source of nutrients for ruminants. In this study, silages supplemented were either cottonseed meal, coated cottonseed or uncoated cottonseed. Sorghum silages compared to com silage increased (P < 0.01) intakes of magnesium, copper, zinc, iron and manganese. Intakes of dry matter, nitrogen, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, copper, potassium, sulfur, manganese and iron were higher (P < 0.01) for brown midrib- 100 than for the mean of fame and Cow Vittles II. Additionally, intakes of copper, manganese and iron were higher (P < 0.01) for fame than for Cow Vittles.

The use of grain sorghum as a feedstuff for feedlot and dairy cattle is a common practice in the southwestern United States. A decline in the use of grain sorghum has been noted over the past decade. This decline has occurred because of the high degree of variability in grain sorghum as compared to corn in physical and chemical properties. Therefore, it was the intent of this research to determine the exact cost of steam flaking corn and sorghum, to determine the role of cultivar on utilization of sorghum grain by ruminants, and to develop indices and equations which determine flake quality and starch availability utilizing numerous whole grain factors, flake measurements, and starch texture data. US No 2 corn and US No. 2 grain sorghum were steamed exactly 20, 30, or 40 minutes and then flaked utilizing a laboratory steam flaker. Corn required more (P

Not Available

Not Available.

NOT AVAILABLE

Not available

Not available

Not available

Not available

Not available

Not available

Not Available.

Not available

Not available

Not available

Not available

Not available

NOT AVAILABLE

Not available

Not Available.

Not Available.

Not available

Not available