Rapidly Transitioning Cattle to a Finishing Diet with RAMP®

Authors

• Cody J. Schneider, Universitiy of Nebraska--Lincoln
• Brandon L. Nuttelman, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• Dirk Burken Burken, Universitiy of Nebraska--LincolnFollow
• Galen E. Erickson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• Terry Klopfenstein, Universitiy of Nebraska--LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2013

Citation

Published in 2013 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report.

Comments

Copyright © 2013 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Abstract

Cattle were transitioned from RAMP to a finishing diet over 27 or 28 days by decreasing RAMP (100 to 0%) and increasing finisher (0 to 100%) gradually over 4 steps or rapidly in fewer days and with fewer steps. Following adaptation, cattle were fed a common diet until slaughter. Grain adaptation treatment did not affect performance or carcass characteristics. Cattle can transition from RAMP to a finishing ration containing 47.5% Sweet Bran® in fewer days with fewer step diets without negatively affecting performance compared to more gradual transition from RAMP to a finishing diet.