Animal Science, Department of
First Advisor
James MacDonald
Second Advisor
Galen Erickson
Third Advisor
Mary Drewnoski
Date of this Version
8-2019
Document Type
Article
Citation
Brinton, M. M. 2019. Evaluation of Alpha Amylase Containing Corn on Beef Cattle Performance and Digestibility and Double-Cropped Annual Forages Following Corn Harvest. M.S. Thesis. Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln.
Abstract
One digestion and three feedlot trials evaluated the effect of a new corn hybrid containing an α-amylase enzyme trait, Syngenta Enogen Feed Corn (SYT-EFC) on site and extent of digestion, ruminal fermentation parameters, and feedlot performance. Experiments utilized corn containing the enzymatic gene (SYT-EFC) compared to commercially available corn (CON), processed as corn silage (CS) kernel processed or not (KP), dry-rolled corn (DRC), high-moisture corn (HMC), or a blend of DRC and HMC. Growing calves fed high inclusions of CS, displayed increased G:F when CS was KP, resulting in a 6.5% improvement in G:F. Hybrid and kernel processing did not impact digestibility of the corn silages. Finishing cattle fed SYT-EFC as DRC, HMC, or a blend saw no significant improvement in performance or carcass characteristics when compared to CON treatments. Cattle fed DRC based finishing diets with wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) increasing at 0%, 15%, 30%, or 45% had increased G:F when fed SYT-EFC. Inclusion of SYT-EFC and 0% WDGS resulted in a 4.3% increase in G:F compared to the CON treatment. Overall, feeding SYT-EFC corn hybrids would suggest limited improvements in feed efficiency in specific diets.
Advisor: James C. MacDonald
Comments
A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science, Major: Animal Science, Under the Supervision of Professor James C. MacDonald. Lincoln, Nebraska: August, 2019
Copyright 2019 McKenna M. Brinton