Investigating the Effects of Distillers Grains on Heifer Feeding Behavior in the Finishing Phase
The objective was to determine the effect of low inclusion levels of dried distillers grains (DDG) on feeding behavior in heifers consuming a high-moisture corn-based diet in the finishing phase. Simmental × Angus heifers (N = 90; 323 ± 50 kg) were fed for 180 d. Heifers were blocked by initial body...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/7/1905 |
| _version_ | 1797528660359512064 |
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| author | Kaylie A. Huizenga Joshua C. McCann |
| author_facet | Kaylie A. Huizenga Joshua C. McCann |
| author_sort | Kaylie A. Huizenga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The objective was to determine the effect of low inclusion levels of dried distillers grains (DDG) on feeding behavior in heifers consuming a high-moisture corn-based diet in the finishing phase. Simmental × Angus heifers (N = 90; 323 ± 50 kg) were fed for 180 d. Heifers were blocked by initial body weight (BW) into two groups, stratified by sire, and assigned to 15 pens with six heifers each. Pens were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments: 0% DDG inclusion (0DG), 7% DDG inclusion (7DG), or 14% DDG inclusion (14DG). Treatments did not affect (<i>p</i> > 0.59) BW, average daily gain, and gain:feed. Although there was a treatment × time effect (<i>p</i> = 0.05) for dry matter intake (DMI), with 0DG having greater DMI during the last 70 d, no differences in overall DMI were detected. Treatment affected (<i>p</i> < 0.01) bunk visit duration and head down duration, with 7DG and 14DG having less minutes per day. Bunk visit frequency (<i>p</i> = 0.02) was less variable for heifers fed 14DG and DMI tended (<i>p</i> = 0.08) to be less variable for both distillers treatments. While dietary inclusion of DDG has minimal effects on overall heifer performance, low levels of DDG inclusion can affect feeding behavior and intake variation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:01:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4142898042db4e409505c4222f348b6e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:01:29Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-4142898042db4e409505c4222f348b6e2023-11-22T01:52:08ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-06-01117190510.3390/ani11071905Investigating the Effects of Distillers Grains on Heifer Feeding Behavior in the Finishing PhaseKaylie A. Huizenga0Joshua C. McCann1Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USADepartment of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USAThe objective was to determine the effect of low inclusion levels of dried distillers grains (DDG) on feeding behavior in heifers consuming a high-moisture corn-based diet in the finishing phase. Simmental × Angus heifers (N = 90; 323 ± 50 kg) were fed for 180 d. Heifers were blocked by initial body weight (BW) into two groups, stratified by sire, and assigned to 15 pens with six heifers each. Pens were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments: 0% DDG inclusion (0DG), 7% DDG inclusion (7DG), or 14% DDG inclusion (14DG). Treatments did not affect (<i>p</i> > 0.59) BW, average daily gain, and gain:feed. Although there was a treatment × time effect (<i>p</i> = 0.05) for dry matter intake (DMI), with 0DG having greater DMI during the last 70 d, no differences in overall DMI were detected. Treatment affected (<i>p</i> < 0.01) bunk visit duration and head down duration, with 7DG and 14DG having less minutes per day. Bunk visit frequency (<i>p</i> = 0.02) was less variable for heifers fed 14DG and DMI tended (<i>p</i> = 0.08) to be less variable for both distillers treatments. While dietary inclusion of DDG has minimal effects on overall heifer performance, low levels of DDG inclusion can affect feeding behavior and intake variation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/7/1905distillers grainsfeeding behaviorfeed behavior variationfeedlot |
| spellingShingle | Kaylie A. Huizenga Joshua C. McCann Investigating the Effects of Distillers Grains on Heifer Feeding Behavior in the Finishing Phase Animals distillers grains feeding behavior feed behavior variation feedlot |
| title | Investigating the Effects of Distillers Grains on Heifer Feeding Behavior in the Finishing Phase |
| title_full | Investigating the Effects of Distillers Grains on Heifer Feeding Behavior in the Finishing Phase |
| title_fullStr | Investigating the Effects of Distillers Grains on Heifer Feeding Behavior in the Finishing Phase |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating the Effects of Distillers Grains on Heifer Feeding Behavior in the Finishing Phase |
| title_short | Investigating the Effects of Distillers Grains on Heifer Feeding Behavior in the Finishing Phase |
| title_sort | investigating the effects of distillers grains on heifer feeding behavior in the finishing phase |
| topic | distillers grains feeding behavior feed behavior variation feedlot |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/7/1905 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kaylieahuizenga investigatingtheeffectsofdistillersgrainsonheiferfeedingbehaviorinthefinishingphase AT joshuacmccann investigatingtheeffectsofdistillersgrainsonheiferfeedingbehaviorinthefinishingphase |