PSIX-22 Use of programmed gain on backgrounding beef steers.

Abstract The objective of this study was to examine how a short-term programmed gain feeding protocol influences backgrounding steer performance and efficiency. Fifty beef steers (330.1 ± 22 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design. Prior to the study, steers were acclimated to a Roughage Intake System (Hokofarm Group, Emmeloord, the Netherlands) for 21 days in a single feedlot pen, blocked by body weight and assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: 1) ad libitum intake (CON), or 2) Programed compensatory gain (PGG). The PGG treatment was fed ad libitum for 14 d, followed by a restricted feeding period from d 14 to 42 to achieve a target gain of 0.91 kg/steer/daily, and then returned to ad libitum intake through d 64 All steers were fed a common backgrounding diet containing (DM Basis) 45% corn silage, 17.5% cracked corn and 30% dry distillers grains (1.12 NEg Mcal/kg). Over the 64 d backgrounding period, there was no difference (P > 0.15) between the CON and PGG for initial body weight, ADG (1.81 vs. 1.73 ± 0.05 kg/d, for CON and PGG), or final body weight (441 vs. 438 ± 4.53 kg, for CON and PGG, respectively). During the restricted intake period, ADG was significantly different (P < 0.01) between the two treatments, as expected, however the PGG steers outgained their programmed gain at 1.27 kg/d compared to 1.65 kg/d for the CON steers, and dry matter intake (DMI) during this period for PGG steers was approximately 53% of that of the CON steers. Over the 64 d feeding period, gain to feed (GF) was significantly greater (P < 0.01) for the PGG steers compared to the CON steers at 0.19 and 0.16, respectively. This was driven by significantly greater (P < 0.01) GF for the PGG steers during the restricted period (0.18 compared to 0.13 for CON) and the ad libitum period after the programmed feeding (P < 0.01; 0.18 and 0.15 for PGG and CON, respectively). Similarly, total DMI was significantly reduced by 25% (P < 0.01) over the 64 d feeding period for the PGG steers (569 ± 18.85 kg/hd) compared to the CON steers (755 ± 18.85 kg/hd). The results of this study suggest that short periods of nutrient restriction when backgrounding steers can improve feed efficiency without sacrificing weight gain or body weight when transitioning to the finishing phase.