Animal Science, Department of
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Date of this Version
2023
Citation
2023 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report
UNL Beef, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Abstract
The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of increasing lysine supply in finishing beef cattle diets. Crossbreed steers (n=120, BW=577 ± 2 lb) were individually fed using a Calen Gate system for 195 days. Animals received a common finishing diet (63% corn, 15% corn silage and 15% distillers grains) with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 g per day of supplemental rumen bypass lysine. High levels of lysine (5 or more g per day) in the diet decreased dry matter intake, carcass adjusted body weight with no impact on carcass adjusted feed efficiency. Hot carcass weight decreased as supplemental lysine increased in the diet with no impact on other carcass performance parameters. In conclusion, there were no improvements in performance as supplemental lysine increased in finishing beef cattle diets.
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Large or Food Animal and Equine Medicine Commons, Meat Science Commons, Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health Commons