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Adding more energy leads to changes in cattle finishing patterns.

January 18, 2022

3 Min Read
Holstein steers
HAPPY WHEN FED: These Holstein steers do well on the rice and corn mix they’re receiving today. They finish faster than when fed a ration without rice. Sam Hahn

Changing the diet of cattle can be a tough transition, especially when a farm has used the same diet for almost 20 years. There are many challenges that could occur along the way, and it may not always work out for the better.

For a farm in Vanderburgh County, Ind., it was worth the risk. The hope was that Holstein feeders would finish better, and the farm could make a better profit selling corn. The results were positive.

“There was a gradual increase in corn and bean prices, so we considered selling to profit, but it was not an easy decision,” Will Hart says. “We were not sure yet how we could get the cattle the protein and other nutrients that would take the place of the decrease in corn in their diet.”

Adler Holsteins has around 70 head of cattle and has finished Holsteins since 2005. Prior to changing the ration, Adler Holsteins was seeing great results. With the previous feeding program, cattle were getting one-third corn in the ration, and were finishing in 17 to 18 months.

Once the diet changed, so did the makeup of the Holsteins. Now they’re finishing in around 15 months, and are shorter in height and rounder, or wider, in stature. The cattle have put on a considerable amount of extra fat after switching to a different ration.

“We were not expecting much of a change but were hoping it would not backfire on us. We felt confident with the research we put into the decision,” Hart says. They reached out to other local cattle producers to see what they would recommend.

What they converted to is an almost “Rice Krispy-like” feed to mix with corn, called crisp rice. The only three ingredients are rice flour, sugar and sea salt. The crisp rice comes on crates and is relatively cheap.

The diet is more abundant in protein and sugar, which is why Hart believes the cattle are finishing quicker with more cover. After mixing in the crisp rice, corn makes up only 20% of the ration.

“It is hard to switch over an entire feeding program, but the results were worth it,” Hart says.

Science behind the change

Ron Lemenager, professor of animal sciences at Purdue University, believes there could be a few reasons for the changes to be this drastic.

“A high-energy diet will close the epiphyseal plate sooner; the energy will then be allotted to muscle and fat when the plates close,” he explains.

Epiphyseal plates are sections of cartilage that are located on the ends of bones. It is where the bones grow and add length. Once closed, this cartilage turns to bone and no longer needs energy.

Lemenager also believes the sea salt in the crisp rice may reduce intake at a feeding. Since the cattle feed off gravity feeders, they feed when they desire. Cattle may “snack feed” more often. This would allow for a steadier state of the rumen and rate of fermentation.

Adler Holsteins plans on sticking with this new feeding program. It’s more cost effective for the farm. The cattle are fatter, so the farm is profiting more off the cattle as well as selling more of their corn crop directly.

Hahn is a senior in agricultural communication at Purdue University.

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