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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Nutrition, Growth and Physiology » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #331702
Title: The effects of feeding increasing concentrations of corn oil on energy metabolism and nutrient balance in finishing beef steers

Author
item Hales Paxton, Kristin
item Foote, Andrew
item Brown-Brandl, Tami
item Freetly, Harvey

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/29/2016
Publication Date: 3/3/2017
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5678147
Citation: Hales, K.E., Foote, A.P., Brown-Brandl, T.M., Freetly, H.C. 2017. The effects of feeding increasing concentrations of corn oil on energy metabolism and nutrient balance in finishing beef steers. Journal of Animal Science. 95(2):939-948. doi: 10.2527/jas2016.0902.

Interpretive Summary: The use of added fat source is common in high-concentrate finishing diets. The objectives of our experiment was to determine if feeding increasing concentrations of added corn oil would decrease methane production and improve energy retention in finishing beef steers. Four treatments were used and consisted of: (1) 0% added corn oil; (2) 2% added corn oil; (3) 4% added corn oil; and (4) 6% added corn oil. The corn oil replaced dry-rolled corn in the diet. Intake did not differ across different dietary treatments, but methane production decreased as corn oil increased in the diet. From these data, we interpret that adding dietary fat decreases enteric methane production in addition to increasing the amount of energy retained as fat and carbohydrate instead of protein.

Technical Abstract: The use of added fat source is common in high-concentrate finishing diets. The objective of our experiment was to determine if feeding increasing concentrations of added dietary corn oil would decrease enteric methane production, increase the ME:DE ratio, and improve recovered energy (RE) in finishing beef steers. Four treatments were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square (n = 8; initial BW = 397 kg ± 3.8). Data were analyzed using a Mixed model with the fixed effects of period and dietary treatment and random effects of square and steer within square. Treatments consisted of: (1) 0% added corn oil (Fat-0); (2) 2% added corn oil (Fat-2); (3) 4% added corn oil (Fat-4); (4) 6% added corn oil (Fat-6). Dry matter intake or GE intake did not differ across diets (P > 0.39). As a proportion of GE intake, fecal energy loss, DE, and urinary energy loss did not differ by treatment (P > 0.27). Additionally, methane energy respired decreased linearly as corn oil increased in the diet (P < 0.01). No differences were detected in ME loss as a proportion of GE intake (P > 0.98); however, the ME:DE ratio increased linearly as corn oil increased in the diet (P < 0.01). No differences in RE or heat production as a proportion of GE intake were noted (P > 0.59). Dry matter digestibility did not differ across diets (P > 0.36). Digestibility of NDF as a proportion of intake responded quadratically increasing from 0% corn to 4% corn oil and decreasing thereafter (P = 0.02). Furthermore, ether extract digestibility as a proportion of intake increased quadratically, increasing from 0 to 4% corn oil inclusion before reaching a plateau (P < 0.01). No differences were detected in OM digestibility across treatments (P > 0.35). From these data, we interpret that adding dietary fat decreases enteric methane production and increases the ME:DE ratio, in addition to increasing the amount of energy retained as fat and carbohydrate.