PSVI-28 - The effects supplementing tannin blend on growth performance, energetic efficiency, and carcass characteristics of calf-fed steers

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

3:00 PM – 4:15 PM MT

Location: 140 Aztec/110 Galisteo

Presenting Author(s)

Brooke C. Latack

Livestock Advisor
University of California Cooperative Extension
Holtville, California, United States

Author(s)

PC

Pedro H. V. Carvalho

Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado, United States

Author(s)

MF

Marcos V. C. Ferraz

Professor
University of California - Davis
Davis, California, United States
LH

Lucas G. Hollerbach

University of California - Davis
Holtville, California, United States
CT

Chilove Theusme

University of California - Davis
Holtville, California, United States
RZ

Richard A. Zinn

Professor
University of California - Davis
Holtville, California, United States

Abstract: Objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of tannin supplementation on cattle growth performance, energetic efficiency, and carcass characteristics of calf-fed steers. One hundred and sixty dairy steer calves with initial body weight (IBW) of 129.85 ± 3 kg, were blocked by IBW and randomly assigned to 40 pens (4 steers/pen; 10 pens per dietary treatment). Dietary treatments were: 1) Control (no additives); 2) MON (30 mg/kg monensin); 3) TAN (15 g/kg ByPRO^®; 70% condensed tannin; Silvateam USA, Tontitown, AR); 4) MON+TAN (30 mg/kg monensin + 15 g/kg ByPRO^®). All steers were fed a similar steam-flaked corn-based diet (63.5% steam-flaked corn, 12.0% hay, 17.5% of dry distillers grains with solubles, 4.0% cane molasses, and 3.0% vitamin/mineral supplement). All cattle were slaughtered after 328 days of feed. There were no effect (P ≥ 0.13) of dietary treatment on final body weight (615 ± 22 kg), overall average daily gain (1.48 ± 0.07 kg/day), overall dry matter intake (7.93 ± 0.39 kg/day), overall gain to feed ratio (0.187 ± 0.07), and overall observed vs. expected net energy for maintenance and gain (1.00 ± 0.03 and 1.00 ± 0.04, respectively). However, cattle receiving MON or MON+TAN supplementation increased (P ≤ 0.04) live body weight and gain to feed ratio in the first 112 days on feed compared to cattle in the control treatment. Moreover, cattle in the 2 dietary treatments receiving monensin supplementation tended (P ≤ 0.09) to increase average daily gain and gain to feed ratio on the first 112 days on feed compared to cattle in the control treatment. There were no effect (P ≥ 0.22) of feed additive supplementation on hot carcass weight (380.7 ± 14.7 kg), dressing percentage (61.83 ± 1.05%), kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (3.32 ± 0.19%), backfat thickness (0.73 ± 0.12 cm), longissimus muscle area (83 ± 4.83 cm²), marbling score (494 ± 48), and calculated yield grade (2.94 ± 0.24). Moreover, there were no effect (P ≥ 0.55) of dietary treatment on percent of liver abscess incidence, regardless of diet, calf-fed steers in the current study had 3.75% of liver with abscess.