K-State Research and Extension

Objectives: Study effects of two limit-fed diets formulated to provide two levels of dietary energy and offered at two different intake rates to target similar gains and analyze the efficacy of a novel DNA-immunostimulant administered on arrival.

Study Description: A 56-day pen study was conducted utilizing 370 Angus × Brahman heifers shipped from Florida (1,455 mi) to study the effects of limit-feeding at 2 intakes based on prior research conducted at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Unit, Manhattan, KS, to achieve similar gains and effects of Zelnate under the dietary conditions.

Effects of Zelnate1 administered on arrival and energy level and       intake on performance
	Diet					P–value
	50 Mcal net energy for gain/100 lb dry matter offered at 2.4% of body weight daily		60 Mcal net energy for gain/100 lb dry matter offered at 2.2% of body weight daily		SE	Zelnate	Diet	Zelnate × diet
Item	No Zelnate	Zelnate	No Zelnate	Zelnate
Number of pens	8	8	8	8
Number of animals	93	93	91	93
Initial body weight, lb	476	488	502	498	26	0.82	0.14	0.47
Final average daily gain, lb/day	2.3	2.3	2.4	2.2	0.07	0.41	0.75	0.26
Final dry matter intake, lb/day	13.2	13.8	12.6	12.5	0.57	0.50	0.01	0.36
Final dry matter intake, % of body weight	2.45	2.50	2.21	2.23	0.02	0.07	<0.01	0.46
Final gain:feed, lb:lb	0.17	0.17	0.19	0.18	0.01	0.24	0.03	0.80

¹Bayer Animal Health, Shawnee Mission, KS.

The Bottom Line: Limit-feeding a higher-energy, lower-roughage diet at 2.2% of body weight daily is a more efficient feeding strategy than offering a higher-roughage, lower-energy diet at 2.4% of body weight daily to achieve similar gains, and Zelnate administered on arrival had no effect on performance or health.

View full research report by authors T.J. Spore, S.P. Montgomery,¹ E.C. Titgemeyer, G.A. Hanzlicek, C.I. Vahl, T.G. Nagaraja, W.R. Hollenbeck, R.A. Wahl, and D.A. Blasi at http://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr/vol4/iss1/

¹ Corn Belt Livestock Services, Papillion, NE, 68046