The present study investigated the effects of the supplemental dietary energy source on early lactating cows in a positive energy balance. Cows in the control group were fed a basal total mixed ration containing high-quality hay as forage, and the dietary concentrate to forage ratio was 45:65. The corn supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in the milk fat content (P < 0.05) and a l...

Six ruminally cannulated steers were used to determine the effects of altering dietary concentrates on fiber digestion. Diets contained 30, 60 or 90% of a concentrate based on flaked sorghum grain plus a 50:50 mixture of wheat straw and alfalfa hay. Total tract digestibility of NDF was not altered, but digestibility of potentially digested NDF (PDF) decreased (P less than .05) from 92 to 48% as...

Angus-cross steers (n = 128; initial BW = 270 ± 3.8 kg) were used in a 3-yr study to assess effects of forage species grazed before slaughter versus concentrate finishing on carcass and meat quality. At the completion of the stockering phase, steers were randomly allotted to mixed pasture (MP; n = 36/yr) or corn-silage concentrate (CON; n = 12/yr) finishing treatments. At 40 d before harvest, M...

Forage is included in beef cattle growing or finishing diets for several reasons. Nutritionally, forage provides protein, vitamins and minerals. When included as a minor component of high grain finishing diets, forage may increase feed intake and reduce nutritional disorders due to increased salivation, rumination and passage rate. Manipulating dietary moisture content through inclusion of dry ...

this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of extruded linseed on milk production, dry matter intake and reproduction performance of 300 holstein lactating cows (35±15 days in milk; 41±9/8 kg/day of milk production). cows were utilized in a completely randomized experimental design, comprised of: 2 treatments (concentrate containing 7 percent extruded linseed vs control) with a number of ...