Interpretive Summary: Roughage level and supplemental fat for newly received finishing calves: effects on growth performance, health, and physiological responses

By: Vinícius N Gouvêa, Mario O Oliveira, Hiam Jardel M Giacomelli, Eduardo A Colombo, Fernanda Batistel, Flávio A P Santos, Glenn C Duff, Rodrigo S Marques, Reinaldo F Cooke

The low intake of feed that beef calves exhibit during the first weeks after feedlot arrival results in inadequate nutrient intake, especially energy, which leads to low rates of gain and decreased immune function and likely increases the risks for respiratory diseases. Increasing the energy density of receiving diets (Mcal/kg of dry matter) could result in increased energy intake of newly received finishing cattle. In this experiment, we evaluated the effects of two roughage levels (wheat hay at 30% [R30] or 60% [R60]; dry matter [DM] basis) combined with two levels of supplemental fat (yellow grease at 0% [−FAT; no supplemental fat] or 3.5% [+FAT]; DM basis). Calves-fed R30 tended to have greater average daily gain and final body weight than calves-fed R60. Gain efficiency (gain:feed ratio; G:F) was greater for calves-fed R30 than calves-fed R60. Feeding +FAT tended to increase average daily gain compared to −FAT diet, and G:F was greater for calves-fed +FAT than −FAT. In summary, feeding 30% roughage diets or adding 3.5% of yellow grease increased G:F during the feedlot receiving period, with minimal impact on morbidity rate from respiratory disease.