Effect of Ruminally-Protected Lysine Supplementation to Growing Cattle on Growth and Subsequent Finishing Performance

K J Hazlewood,M S Grant,G A Ducharme,E C Titgemeyer,D A Blasi

doi:10.4148/2378-5977.8235

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ruminally-protected lysine supplementation fed during the growing phase to cattle limit-fed a corn-based diet, and to evaluate the subsequent finishing performance.

Highlights

Lysine is an essential amino acid, meaning it is not synthesized in the body in adequate quantities to support the body’s demand and, must be supplied through the diet
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ruminally-protected lysine supplementation fed during the growing phase to cattle limit-fed a corn-based diet, and to evaluate the subsequent finishing performance
Study Description: For 77 days, a group of 338 steers limit-fed at 2.4% of body weight daily on a dry matter basis were allocated to treatments providing 0, 3, or 6 g/day of lysine from Smartamine ML (Adisseo, Alpharetta, GA), or containing blood meal plus ruminally-protected methionine from Smartamine M

Summary

Results

Steers supplemented with 3 g/day of lysine appeared to have the greatest response during the growing phase, having the heaviest body weights on day 77, and greatest average daily gains and gain:feed ratios. Cattle that received 3 g/day of lysine during the growing phase maintained the weight advantage, relative to the control, established during the growing phase. Cattle receiving 6 g/day of lysine during the growing phase performed best during the finishing phase. Cattle receiving 3 and 6 g/day of lysine during the growing phase had carcasses that were 8 and 16 lb greater, respectively, than the control. The Bottom Line: When fed corn-based diets, supplementation of ruminally-protected lysine during the growing phase may improve growth performance of cattle during the growing and/or finishing phase, leading to improvement in greater carcass weights. Appreciation is extended to Pratt Feeders (Pratt, KS) for providing cattle used in this experiment and feeding the cattle during the finishing phase. This beef cattle nutrition is available in Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: https://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr/vol8/iss1/16

Introduction

Experimental Procedures

Results and Discussion