7 Effects of Syngenta Enogen Feed Corn (SYT-EFC) and corn processing methods fed with byproducts on finishing cattle performance and carcass characteristics

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this pooled analysis was to evaluate the effect of Syngenta Enogen Feed Corn (SYT-EFC) and corn processing methods with byproducts on finishing cattle performance and carcass characteristics. Treatment factors consisted of SYT-EFC or commercial corn (CON) processed as dry-rolled (DRC) or high-moisture corn (HMC). Byproduct comparisons were 0, 18, or 30% distillers grains inclusions or with 30% Sweet Bran to determine if SYT-EFC effect was impacted by byproducts. Seven trials (n = 2,340 steers; initial BW = 327 ± 20 kg) consisting of 252 pen means with 12 treatments were analyzed utilizing contrasts. Feeding SYT-EFC as DRC resulted in heavier final BW (P ≤ 0.03) and greater 12th rib fat (P < 0.01) compared to CON. There was a linear interaction between hybrid and distillers for G:F (P < 0.01). As distillers increased, G:F improved at a greater rate for CON compared to SYT-EFC. Feeding SYT-EFC as DRC with increasing distillers was not significantly different (P ≥ 0.68) from CON for G:F, but was 3% better than CON with 0% distillers. Feeding SYT-EFC as DRC with 18% distillers resulted in heavier final BW (P < 0.01) compared to 0 or 30% distillers. Feeding SYT-EFC as DRC with Sweet Bran resulted in heavier final BW (P ≤ 0.02) and greater ADG (P < 0.01) compared to CON. This increase in ADG with no difference in DMI, resulted in SYT-EFC diets having a 5.08% increase in feed efficiency (P < 0.01). The improvement for the corn is calculated to be 9.58% (5.08 / 0.53) when SYT-EFC was fed with Sweet Bran compared to a CON corn hybrid. No positive effects were observed when SYT-EFC was processed as HMC. These data suggest that SYT-EFC is better than CON hybrids when distillers inclusion is low or when fed with Sweet Bran.