1. Post-Weaning Management and Nutrition Strategies for Beef Calves Lawton Stewart The University of Georgia April 3, 2013

2. The Beef Cattle Industry

3. Movement of Georgia Cattle

4. Social Perspective

5. Production Practices Important to Consumers Lacy et al., 2007 ? 1 2 3 4

6. Willingness to Pay Premiums Lacy et al., 2007 1 2 3

7. General Observations Consumer’s are mostly concerned about – Antibiotics – Hormones They are also concerned about animal welfare. They want to help the “small/local” producer. Increasing concern about origin of our food. They are willing to pay some premium for these products.

8. Economics of Production $$$$$ Lb of beef sold – Inputs=$$$$$ Lb of beef x $/lb Feed Cost Add valueMarketing & Production Strategy

10. The Beef Cattle Industry

11. Stocker Cattle Management and Nutrition

12. Basic Management Plan Genetics – Start at the beginning Record keeping – If you can’t measure it, you can’t change it. Procure cattle – maximize uniformity Weaning/starting cattle- insure health Minimize stress – Happy cattle = growing cattle Sound nutrition plan – No growth = No $$$ – Days of stockering (how long?) Have an outlet for cattle that fall out of your program

13. Genetics-Sire Selection Breed Type (Purebred or Composite) Select for economically important traits! Weaning weight Yearling weight Frame Marbling Muscling

14. Record Keeping Help producer make more informed decisions Improved marketing capability Contributes to traceability

15. Weaning Management Most crucial point in operation Calves have the potential to go North or South Dependent on management

16. Develop a Health Program Work with your local vet Deworm Vaccinate – IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV (a 4- or 5-way viral vaccine) – 7-way clostridial vaccine (Blackleg) – Mannheimia-Pasteurella Test for persistently infected BVD Implant (depending on market) Castrate (do as early in life as possible)

17. Identifying Sick Calves Early recognition is key Check cattle daily Easy to do at the trough Look for loners, unthrifty cattle, nasal discharge Do not hold out treatment to maintain “Natural” status

18. Developing a Nutritional Program 1.Set target gain – Should gain ~2-2.5 lb/d 2.Maximize forages as base – Pasture – Conserved forage 3.Develop an economical supplement

19. Understand Nutritional Requirements Medium-frame steer calves Wt (lb) Daily Gain (lb) Crude Protein (%) TDN (%) 4001.511.563.0 2.012.767.5 2.514.273.5 6001.59.863.0 2.010.567.5 2.511.473.5 8001.58.863.0 2.09.867.5 2.59.373.5 Understand how requirements change for different weights and rates of gain Tailor your nutritional program to: – Minimize cost – Meet optimal weight and body condition

20. Why Supplement? Increase stocking rates and forage utilization More uniform gains Hand-feeding tends to quiet cattle – more manageable Forces a closer observation of the cattle

21. Finishing Beef Cattle in Georgia and Developing a Feeding Strategy Lawton Stewart The University of Georgia April 3, 2013

22. Developing a Nutritional Program for the Feedlot Goals: Keep cattle gaining 3.0 lb/d Feed high grain diet (increase marbling) Feed some roughage to decrease metabolic disorders (acidosis)

23. Transition Period Diet is changing Rumen microbial population is transitioning

24. SMALL INTESTINE RUMEN Sources of Energy FiberStarch

25. Rumen Acidosis

26. Rumen Acidosis What does it mean? Health RumenUnhealthy Rumen Long papilae – increase surface area Optimal nutrient absorption Ideal pH: 6.0-6.2 Papilae are stunted Nutrient absorption reduced pH < 6.0 – decreased intake, diarrhea, grey manure pH < 5.5-5.0 – permanent damage

27. Avoid Metabolic Disorders Step up cattle onto finishing ration Over ~21 days Provide source of fiber Hay Grass Cottonseed hulls Silage Feed ionophore

28. Developing a Nutritional Program Stocker/Backgrounding 1. Set target gain Should gain ~2 lb/d 2. Maximize forages as base Pasture Conserved forage 3. Develop an economical supplement Finishing 1. Set target gain Usually ~3+ lb/d 2. Maintain ~10% of diet as roughage 3. Utilize high grain to improve quality 4. Utilize byproducts when possible

29. Nutritional Requirements Medium-frame steer calves Wt (lb) Daily Gain (lb) Crude Protein (%) TDN (%) 4001.511.563.0 2.012.767.5 6001.59.863.0 2.010.567.5 8001.58.863.0 2.09.867.5 1,0003.010.085.0

30. Byproduct Feeding What's available Price Evaluate on DM basis Look at $/nutrient Handling / Storage Minerals

31. Byproduct Pricing “I can get a ton of citrus pulp for $215 and/or cull carrots for $40 a ton. Which one do I get?” ItemDDGSCarrots Moisture, %1088 DM, lb/ton1800240 Price, $/lb DM $0.119$0.167

32. How to buy? Know the feed: 1. Price ($/ton) 2. Moisture (DM %) content 3. Nutrient content Crude Protein (CP %) Energy (TDN %) $/ton / % DM / % nutrient / 2000 lb = $/lb of nutrient Calculate value $215 / 90% / 25% CP / 2000 lb = $0.478/lb of CP Corn Gluten Feed $462 / 90% / 53% CP / 2000 lb = $0.491/lb of CP Soybean Meal

33. Seasonality of Energy Byproducts 201020112012

34. Seasonality of CP Byproducts

35. www.ugabeef.caes.uga.edu/tools

36. Byproduct Handling/Storage

37. Byproduct Minerals Supplement Ca to for proper Ca:P ratio (1.5:1) Avoid urinary calculi Monitor sulfur levels (<0.40%) Avoid polioencephalmalacia Cu deficiency N and P excretion Environmental impact

38. Example Rations (Stocker) Ingredient Increase wt gains on marginal forage Extend grazing of winter annuals ForageFree Choice Soyhulls (or Citrus pulp)50%60% Corn Gluten (or Distillers Grains)50%20% Peanut Hulls0%20% Comments: Feed 0.5% of BW per additional 0.5 lb/d on marginal forage Do not feed above 1.5% of BW Feed from 0.5% of BW up to free choice increase stocking rates or extend grazing

39. Example Rations (Finishing) SBMDDGCGF Ingredients Soybean meal4810.0%0.0% Corn- dry 62.0%47.0% Soy hulls 8.0% Corn gluten feed0.0% 25.0% Distiller grain0.0%25.0%0.0% Cottonseed hull10.0% citrus pulp 8.0% Ca carbonate 0.8% Sodium bicarb.1.0% Ammonium Chlori0.2% Mineral0.2%

40. Utilizing corn byproducts for beef cattle stockering and finishing operations in the southeastern United States J. R. Segers, R. L. Stewart, Jr., T. D. Pringle, M. A. Froetschel, A. M. Stelzleni J. R. Segers, R. L. Stewart, Jr., T. D. Pringle, M. A. Froetschel, A. M. Stelzleni

41. Corn Byproducts Corn silage = exceptional energy source  Deficient in CP for growing ruminants Excellent availability of DDGS and CGF in GA  Ethanol plant-Camilla, GA (FUEL, LLC)  Corn processor- Loudon, TN (A.E. Staley Mfg. Corp.) Corn silage = exceptional energy source  Deficient in CP for growing ruminants Excellent availability of DDGS and CGF in GA  Ethanol plant-Camilla, GA (FUEL, LLC)  Corn processor- Loudon, TN (A.E. Staley Mfg. Corp.) 41

42. Exp 1 - Stocker Trial Ga Mtn Research and Education Center, Blairsville, GA Stocker cattle fed for 84 d on corn silage (75% DM) based diet with one of three CP supplements (25% DM): 1.Corn Gluten Feed 2.Dried Distillers’ Grains 3.Soybean Meal & Ground Ear Corn (40:60) 42

43. Treatment ItemCGFDDGSSBM BW, lb 0670 668 84878895904 ADG 1, lb/d 2.1 a 2.5 b 2.6 b Feed intake, of BW1.88 ab 1.81 a 2.02 b F:G, lb7.4 b 6.4 a 6.3 a COG 2, $/lb$0.58 b $0.51 a $0.61 b 1 cumulative ADG 2 cost of gain – silage = $50/ton, CGF = $165/ton, DDGS = $170/ton, soybean meal = $410/ton, corn = $110 abc Within a row means without a common superscript differ (P<0.05). Stocker Performance Data 43

44. Exp 2 - Feedlot Trial Evaluate feedlot performance, compositional development, and carcass characteristics of steers supplemented with two corn byproducts. 44

45. Exp 2: Design and Treatments UGA Wilkins Beef Cattle Research Unit, Rayle, GA Steers (n=36) were fed using Calan Gates Treatments : 1.CGF ≈ 25% of diet 2.DDGS ≈ 25% of diet 3.SBM ≈ 25% (10% soybean meal, 15% corn) of the diet BW was measured at d 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 BCS, ultrasound data, were measured at d 0, 50, and 100 Carcass data was collected 24h postmortem Feedlot Site Stocker Site 45

46. Treatment 1 ItemCGFDDGSSBMSEM ADG 2, lb/d3.123.693.150.22 DMI, % BW2.292.142.090.06 F:G7.5 a 6.01 b 7.12 ab 0.42 COG 3, $/lb$0.56 b $0.48 b $0.73 a 0.05 1 CGF = corn gluten feed, DDGS = dried distillers grains plus soluble, SBM = soybean meal 2 cumulative ADG 3 cost of gain – CGF diet = $151.95/ton, DDGS diet = $159.95/ton, SBM diet = $214.98/ton ab Within a row means without a common superscript differ (P < 0.05) Feedlot Performance Data 46

47. Carcass Characteristics 47

48. Carcass Characteristics-Yield Treatment 1 ItemCGFDDGSSBMSEM HCW, lb7807727523.32 DP,%63.862.963.50.59 REA,in 2 12.0 12.30.50 FT, in0.480.440.470.04 KPH, %2.32.2 0.11 YG3.103.113.050.18 1 CGF = corn gluten feed, DDGS = dried distillers grains plus soluble, SBM = soybean meal 48

49. Treatment 1 ItemCGFDDGSSBMSEM Lean Color L* 2 43.73 a 41.21 b 40.67 b 0.78 a* 3 31.2929.5430.741.17 Marbling 4 494.2432.5457.523.44 Texture 5 1.421.751.500.17 Firmness 6 1.671.421.670.20 pH5.575.645.590.05 Maturity 7 Lean140 b 145 b 155 a 3.09 Skeletal1341361354.29 Overall1361311456.57 1 CGF = corn gluten feed, DDGS = dried distillers grains plus soluble, SBM = soybean meal 2 0=black, 100= white 3 Higher values indicate increased redness 4 100=practically devoid, 200=traces, 300=slight, 400=small, 500=modest, 600=moderate 5 5=course, 1=very fine 6 5=soft, 1=very firm 7 500=E, 100=A Carcass Characteristics-Quality 49

50. Implications Comparable performance at reduced feed cost make DDGS and CGF viable alternatives for Southeastern production systems Feedlot cattle fed DDGS as a protein supplement can reach an acceptable compositional endpoint more efficiently than those fed SBM 50