224 Impact of bunk management strategy on animal performance, carcass characteristics, and hydrogen sulfide gas concentrations in steers fed modified distillers grains with solubles

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts of bunk management on animal performance, carcass characteristic, and hydrogen sulfide gas concentrations in beef steers fed modified distillers grains with solubles (MDGS; DM basis). One hundred and thirty-nine steers (initial BW = 240 ± 5.17 kg) were allocated into 16 pens and assigned to one of two treatments: 1) Control-managed bunks: bunks devoid of feed prior to feeding; and 2) Long-managed bunks: bunks with approximately 2.54cm of feed remaining at the time feeding. Treatments were applied during a 28-d adaptation period, during which time, steers were adapted to a common finishing ration containing 25% MDGS (DM basis). Ruminal hydrogen sulfide gas was collected by rumenocentesis from two steers from each of three pens per treatment on d 0, 7, 14, and 28, which correspond to days of diet transition. Animal performance data were collected throughout the study and carcass characteristic data were collected when steers reached market weight. There were no differences (P < 0.13) in BW, ADG, or F:G between treatments during the adaptation period or throughout the entire study. Steers managed with long bunks had greater (P = 0.001) intake during adaptation; however, overall DMI was not different (P = 0.14) between treatments. Hydrogen sulfide gas concentrations were not affected by the day x treatment interaction (P = 0.30) but were affected by day (P = 0.003) with hydrogen sulfide concentrations increasing throughout adaptation. Hydrogen sulfide concentrations tended (P = 0.07) to be greater in steers with long-managed bunks vs. control-managed bunks. There were no differences (P > 0.53) in carcass characteristics. In summary, bunk management had no effect on performance or carcass characteristics and only tended to impact hydrogen sulfide gas concentrations.