Ruminants finishing diet

Duckett, S. K., Andrae, J.G., Owens, F.N. 2002. Effect of high-oil corn or added corn oil on ruminal biohydrogenation of fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid formation in beef steers fed finishing diets. J. Anim. Sci. 80, 3353-3360. 

Soybean products are excellent sources of protein and energy for beef cattle. Approximately 7.0% of the SBM utilized in the United States is fed to beef catde. This is a much smaller portion than the quantities utilized by swine and poultry (Fig. 18.1). The purpose of this section is to describe the reason for this relationship and how recent research may increase the use of SBM in beef cattle diets in the future. With over 40 million growing and finishing beef cattle produced in the United States each year, this is a huge potential market for soybean products. To understand why only 7% of the SBM consumed by livestock and poultry is fed to beef catde, one has to begin with a discussion of the digestive physiology of ruminants. 

The meal is of low palatability and must be introduced into the diet gradually. Dietary rates of inclusion are generally low, being of the order of 25-30 kg/t of the total ration for adult ruminants, 25 kg/t for layers, broilers and turkeys, and 10 kg/t for calves, lambs, sows, and growing and finishing pigs. The meal is not used for weaner and creep-fed pigs or chicks. 

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