Transitioning Cattle from RAMP® to a Finishing Diet With or Without an Adaptation Period

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 gradually over 28 days by decreasing RAMP (100 to 0%) and increasing finisher (0 to 100%) gradually over 4 steps, rapidly in 2 steps or abruptly without an adaptation step. Following adaptation, cattle were fed a common finishing diet for the remainder of the feeding period. Transitioning cattle from RAMP to a finishing diet in 2 steps or without an intermediate step did not affect performance or carcass characteristics compared to a more traditional 4-step program. Cattle transitioned directly from RAMP to a finishing ration had greater among day intake variation and lower DMI after the abrupt transition but had less DMI variation following a transition to final finishing diet. Cattle fed RAMP for 10 days can be transitioned to a finishing ration containing 47.5% Sweet Bran® abruptly without negatively affecting performance.