Effects of crude protein concentration and degradability on performance, carcass

characteristics, and serum urea nitrogen concentrations in finishing beef steers

Introduction
Before 1996, crude protein (CP) concentration in beef herb diet was assumed that the
beef herb was digestible at a steady rate across steam-flaked grains and nonprotein source. The
history of the subject is that CP concentration was not studied before on how it affects on growth
and development of cattle.
The researchers intend to discover the best percentage of CP concentration in cattle diet
to lower waste and get quality of beef steer with allocated time. This allows ranchers to combine
CP concentration with other nourishments so the beef cattle to digested and fermentable faster.
This topic is of value to both the ranchers and to scientists. It tells them what would be
the best level of CP concentration to give to the cattle in order to compute the amount to feed to
the steers. It also predicts effects that this feeding level would result in faster way to send cattle
to butcher house and diets of each the feeding schedules. The hypothesis was by giving the beef
cattle the CP concentration of 12% to 13% will reduce waste and amplify the beef cattle.
To amplify the beef cattle the ratio of degraded:undergraded CP (DIP:UIP) should be use.
Degraded intake protein (DIP) are able to breakdown in the rumen of cattle by utilize the existing
bacteria with protein and ammonia to create microbial activities. DIP is very important for
growth and lactose production. Undergraded intake proteins (UIP) are digested in the
abomasums (stomach) of cattle.
Materials and Methods
The researchers gathered data from 300 beef steers in Clayton New Mexico plus 75
existing beef steers from the ranch and 236 steers from Lubbock Texas. They gave them feed

from each different location. The first thing that they do is to inoculate the steers. Then they
treat for disease-carrier parasites. They measure their weight, then give ear-tags to show which
steers are being studies. Then they give them vitamins A and D. Cattle then placed on order of
lightest to heaviest weight in the block. In the experiments, the researchers studied the diets of
each feeding station and with the weighing and feeding techniques of each station and combined
each of these with the evaluation of the carcass.
The studied includes, nine treatments of three CP concentrations (11.5%, 13%, and
14.5%) and three supplemental CP (urea, partially urea and cottonseed meal, all cottonseed
meal) (Gleghorn et al. 2706). In experiment 1, diet consists of premixes of 90% dry matter
(DM) such as ground sorghum grain, limestone, dry matter (DM) and many more ingredients. In
experiment 2, the cattle diet was similar to experiment 1 except only 80% DM was used and
alfalfa hay replaced steam flaked corn, cottonseed meal, and urea. Hemoglobin samples was
gathered for of the Serum Urea Nitrogen (SUN) beef steer to evaluate in the health condition of
kidneys and liver.
Data collected were feed bunk samples and ingredient samples for DM and CP
concentration calculations. After the amount is left over each feeding, they measured the leftover amount and calculated dry matter intake (DMI). The left over amount will be the
recommended DMI for the cattle. These results will then be compared to see if increase in
protein supplementary would be beneficial for the cattle compare to corn-based diet.
In experiment 1, they measured the back-fat thickness by ultrasound observation of
animals. If it is greater than 10 millimeters, then the steer get sent to the butcher-house. The
cadaver of beef steer measurement includes weight, backfat thickness, internal organs, includes
lipid of internal organs, adipose tissue and liver status. In experiment 2, they used ultrasonic

probe to measure the backfat has to be within 11.4 to 12.7 millimeters by the time send to
butcher-house.
Results
In experiment 1, four animals died from health problems and 15 animals did not meet the
backfat thickness and so were not sent to the slaughterhouse and 356 animals were slaughtered.
In experiment 2, 3 animals were too heavy, 8 had health problems, 3 died from sickness and 222
were slaughtered.
The scientist found the 13% CP concentration affected average daily grain (ADG) by a
factor of two in the complete feeding cycle. ADG was also increased linearly when using urea as
a form of protein and least were complete cottonseed meal. The DMI increased linearly between
56 and 84 day on feed but did not affect overall DMI. When CP concentration increase will also
increase gain:feed (G:F) ratio linearly at the beginning to 28 day but did not affect overall period.
Increase in urea will increase linearly of G:F and carcass overall weight for overall period. The
final weight (fat plus muscle) cadaver of cattle was heaviest at 13% CP, lower at 11.5% and
14.5%. Final weight also increased linearly when used urea as a protein source. Hemoglobin
samples found CP concentration of 11.5% and 13% CP had lower SUN. While 14.5% CP had
highest SUN concentrations.
Discussion
The information gather prove hypothesis wrong because they found there were no
different in using crude protein verse protein in form of urea. The overall period did not affect
significantly. The authors summary the research as, our findings do not support the hypothesis
that a blend of DIP and UIP is necessary in supplemental CP because ADG and (G:F) ratio were
consistently higher for cattle supplemental CP sources with 100% urea (Gleghorn et al. 2712).

The studied found that using urea as a source of protein tends to be better than using CP
concentration. Because the cattle final weight (fat plus muscle) was heavier. The data concluded
to use steam-flaked corn-based and use 13% CP would optimize the cattle diet. The results mean
it is unnecessary to use CP concentration and if use over 13% CP might cause blood urea in beef
steer.
The limitation was not specified in the research. Neither experiment discussed what
causes the cattle to die, only briefly mentioned that cattle die due to health issues. Authors fail to
mention the living condition of the cattle such as hygiene and the amount of fluid intake.

Bibliography
Gleghorn, J.F., N. A. Elam, M. L. Galyean, G. C. Duff, N. A. Cole and J. D. Rivera. "Effects of
Crude Protein Concentration and Degradability on Performance, Carcass
Characteristics, and Serum Urea Nitrogen Concentrations in Finishing Beef Steers.
American Society of Animal Science. 82 (2004): 2705-2717. Print.