Addition of urea to finishing cattle diets containing steam-flaked corn and wet corn gluten feed

Authors

Sean P. Montgomery
J.J. Sindt
T.B. Farran
N.J. Pike
C.M. Coetzer
H.J. LaBrune
A.M. Trater
R.D. Hunter
R.A. Stock
James S. Drouillard

Keywords

Cattlemen's Day, 2001; Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution; no. 01-318-S; Report of progress (Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service); 873; Beef; Wet corn gluten feed; Urea; Finishing

Abstract

Three hundred thirty-nine crossbred beef heifers were used in a 74-day finishing study to evaluate effects of adding 0.5% urea to finishing diets containing steam-flaked corn and 34% (dry basis) Sweet Bran® wet corn gluten feed (WCGF). Diets were fed once daily ad libitum. Urea addition tended (P<0.06) to increase finishing average daily gain, to improve (P<0.12) feed efficiency, and to increase (P<0.06) fat thickness. Heifers fed urea had a lower percentage (P<0.03) of carcasses grading USDA Choice. This study suggests that finishing diets containing a combination of steam-flaked corn and WCGF may benefit from addition of urea as a source of supplemental ruminally available nitrogen.

Recommended Citation

Montgomery, Sean P.; Sindt, J.J.; Farran, T.B.; Pike, N.J.; Coetzer, C.M.; LaBrune, H.J.; Trater, A.M.; Hunter, R.D.; Stock, R.A.; and Drouillard, James S. (2001) "Addition of urea to finishing cattle diets containing steam-flaked corn and wet corn gluten feed," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 0: Iss. 1. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.1763