Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

Alternate methods of fattening steers in Eastern Oregon

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/jw827f20t

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  • Studies were conducted at the Squaw Butte Experiment Station during two consecutive years to : (1) compare various internal indicators and chromic oxide to estimate forage intake and fecal production, (2) compare methods of producing slaughter weight steers using maximum quantities of forage and minimum quantities of grain. Actual fecal output of six 208 kg steers was correlated to chromic oxide (Cr₂0₃) estimates of fecal output for collection times of 0700, 1200, 1700 and composite with respective correlation coefficients of .63, .59, .80 and .79. The average recovery of Cr₂0₃ was 94.05⁺- 3.91%. Estimates of forage intake using lignin(L), crude fiber (CF), nitrogen (N) and indigestible dry matter were correlated to actual forage consumption with respective coefficients (r) of .92, .93, .96 and .89. No significant differences were found between collection times of 0700, 1200, 1700 and the composite sample for L, CF or N estimates of forage consumption. Estimates of forage consumption were most accurately predicted by the L and CF methods. Three trials conducted using a total of 129 Hereford or Hereford X Angus steers evaluated the performance of steers on irrigated pasture and crested wheatgrass range during the growing phase (trials 1 and 2). The steers were allotted to various finishing regimes from the growing study. These included finishing on irrigated pasture, on range and in the feedlot using two 40% roughage based rations for trial 1 and four 40% roughage based rations in trial 2. Trial 3 was conducted using fall born steers which were either immediately sent to the feedlot and fed two 38% straw based rations, put on irrigated pasture prior to going to the feedlot or grazed on irrigated pasture, wintered on a 100% forage diet of 2/3 alfalfa and 1/3 grass hay and then finished on crested wheatgrass range the following spring. Faster (P<.05) gains were made on crested wheatgrass range than on either alfalfa-fescue or clover-fescue irrigated pastures. Steers finished on irrigated pasture and range made greater daily gains than steers receiving the 40 roughage rations in the feedlot of trial 1. The feedlot steers gained faster in trial 2 with the range steers gaining the least (P<.05). In both trials the feedlot groups had greater (P<.05) 24 hour carcass weights due to a longer feeding period. Carcass grades were lowest for the alfalfa-fescue steers. Overall desirability of the beef was greatest for the feedlot steers. Daily gains were lowest (P<.05) for the fall born steers finished on crested wheatgrass as compared to steers finished on 40% roughage rations. Carcass weight, grade and marbling scores were not significantly different between treatments. Less than 86 kg of barley was used to produce slaughter weight steers from the crested wheatgrass range treatment.
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