Steven C. Loerch1
The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences
Abstract
One hundred sixty steers were used to determine the effects of corn processing (whole versus rolled) and corn source (high oil corn versus normal corn) on performance and carcass characteristics. Steers were allotted to 20 pens and were fed 73% corn-based diets for 133 days. Processing high oil corn did not improve intake, feed efficiency or carcass characteristics. The main effect of corn type revealed that high oil corn did not affect gain but resulted in slight reductions in intake, improved feed conversion, and slightly higher average Yield Grade versus normal corn. Corn type did not affect percentage of Yield Grade 4 or 5 carcasses.
Introduction
Plant breeders have been able to modify corn genetics to increase the oil content of corn grain. Only limited information is available on the efficacy of high oil corn for finishing cattle. Grinding or rolling normal corn grain increases its energy value although this increase is less significant when low fiber finishing diets are fed. The physical characteristics of high oil corn kernels may differ from normal corn, thus, the impact of processing may differ between the two grain types.
The objectives of this trial were to determine the effects of corn processing (whole versus rolled) and corn source (normal corn versus Optimum® high oil corn) on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing steers.