Conventional vs. Naturally fed Cattle (with and without feed additives)
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Cattle are typically fed in a "conventional" way a feedlots. This includes that addition of growth promoters, such as monensin, to their feed. Natural cattle are not given any feed additives or growth promo tents on feedlots. We wanted to see if either group had a lower rate of ammonia emission from their manure.
The Problem
Feedlot cattle are typically given growth promotions and feed additives to increase growth and feed efficiency. This leads to shorter times to harvest and maintains a lower cost of meat products. However, the public is starting to request a more natural meat product devoid of antibiotics and hormones. This has led to more feedlots feeding natural cattle. The downside to feeding natural cattle is that the time to market is longer and feed efficiency is lower, leading to a higher cost of production and end product. Additionally, feed additives such as ionophores have been shown to increase nitrogen (N) retention, reducing N excretion and subsequent ammonia volatilization. By determining the difference in ammonia volatilization between the two groups and evaluating the cost effectiveness of production, we can see if natural or conventional cattle are more practical.
Background
Feed additives and implants are commonly used by the feedlot industry to promote increased growth and feed efficiency in cattle. Growth promoters, such as ionophores (i.e. monensin) and hormonal implants, have been show to increase ADG and feed efficiency and lower the cost of production over naturally produced (no additives) cattle (46). Monensin has also been shown to lower ruminal ammonia levels, increase N retention, and decrease N excretion in urine and feces (47). This is due to the ionophores ability to increase utilization of dietary N. It has been shown that cattle use less that 30 % of the N contained in their feed, and excrete the rest in urine (50 to 80 %), and feces (20 to 50 %) (9, 32). Monensin increases the amount of N utilized by the animal and reduces N excretion, thus decreasing subsequent ammonia volatilization from the excreted N.
Experimental Method
Method. Two treatments will be used for this study, naturally fed cattle (NAT) given no feed additives and conventionally feed cattle (CON) given feed additives (i.e. monensin). The naturally fed cattle act as a control to compare the supplemented cattle to. All pens sampled will be new cattle of a similar age. CON cattle are grouped by sex, but NAT cattle typically are not. To limit sex effects, and even number of steer and heifer pens will be sampled for CON cattle.
Results and Cost Analysis
Results. Coming Fall 2008....
Cost Analysis. Coming Fall 2008....
The Solution
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