Feedlot Research
Growing and finishing studies evaluate the usefulness of the many feeds available in North Dakota. Management practices for feeding “natural” calves are being evaluated. Feedlot performance, carcass traits, and taste panel studies are compared. Feedlot research includes management and husbandry of calves, mitigation of winter weather stress, facilities development for working animals, stabilizing pen surfaces and water fountain styles. Feeder cattle for feedlot studies are raised on the Research Center, procured from area ranches, purchased from area sale barns, or secured from other Research Centers. Many research studies are conducted in collaboration with scientists on campus, and at other Research Centers.
- Unharvested Corn Can be Feed for Cattle - 10/29/2019
- NDSU Extension Offers Fall Cattle Checklist - 9/25/19
- Diet Changes Help Beef Cattle Cope with Winter Weather - 3/15/19
- Compare Alternative Feed Value, Prices - 3/13/19
- Combined Feed Value and Protein and Energy Calculator
- Please save the combined feed value and protein and energy calculator file to your computer and open in Microsoft Excel to use the calculator.
- Beef Production Incomes and Expenses for South Central North Dakota 2010-2014
- Increasing costs combined with a lower trending market will reduce profit margins, making management decisions even more important.
- 2019 Impacts of Inclusion of either 25 or 50% Modified Distillers Grains (DM Basis) in Feedlot Rations on Ruminal Hydrogen Sulfide Concentration and Blood Oxygen Concentration in Steers
- Our objectives were: 1) to evaluate the impacts of feeding either 25 or 50% distillers grains under two bunk management methods on animal performance and carcass characteristics, and 2) evaluate the impacts of feeding either 25 of 50% distillers grains under two bunk management methods on hydrogen sulfide gas concentrations in the rumen.
- 2019 Effects of Pen Cleaning on Feedlot Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Beef Steers Fed during the Winter in the Northern Great Plains
- The objective of this study was to determine the effects of winter pen cleaning methods on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of steers.
- 2019 Dakota Feeder Calf Show 2018-2019 - Discovering Value in North Dakota Calves
- Superior growth and carcass characteristics of North Dakota calves are identified with producers participating in the Dakota Feeder Calf Show.
- 2019 Corn Silage Intercropping Summary
- A trial was initiated in 2018 to begin screening possible companions to pair with corn. The focus of the pairing was legume crops. The goal of the research was to find combinations that could increase the potential silage tonnage and quality.
- 2018 Impacts of Bunk Management on Animal Performance and Hydrogen Sulfide Concentrations of Steers Fed 25% Modified Distillers Grains with Solubles
- The focus of this project was to examine the impact of bulk management strategy on animal performance, carcass characteristics, and hydrogen sulfide gas concentration in beef steers fed 25% modified distillers grains with solubles.
- 2018 Feeding North Dakota-born Calves to Finish in North Dakota- DFCS
- The Dakota Feeder Calf Show Feedout project was developed to discover the actual final value of spring-born beef steer calves, provide comparisons between herds, and benchmark feeding and carcass performance.
- 2017 Retained Ownership of Calves - A Year to Remember
- The Dakota Feeder Calf Show feedout project assists cattle producers in identifying cattle with superior growth and carcass characteristics.
- 2016 Feeding Whole or Rolled Corn in Feedlot Steer Backgrounding and Finishing Diets
- The study evaluated feeding corn whole compared to rolled corn.
- 2016 Evaluation of Different Exogenous Enzymes to Improve Fiber Digestibility of Soybean Hulls
- The objective of this study was to identify enzyme additives that consistently increase fiber digestibility of soybean hulls used in creep rations.
- 2016 Effects of Synbiotics on Rumen Fermentation
- Synbiotics are the combination of pre- and probiotics. Studies have shown that synbiotics exhibited synergistic effects such as increasing beneficial bacteria in the rumen.
- 2016 Discovering Value in North Dakota Calves: The Dakota Feeder Calf Show Feedout Project XVI (2015-2016)
- The Dakota Feeder Calf Show Feedout goal is to determine calf value based on feedlot and carcass performance.
- 2015 Influence of Two Fat Levels of Dry Distillers Grains in Diets with Corn or Barley on Steer Growing and Finishing Feedlot Performance
- Corn distillers grain is produced at multiple ethanol plants in North Dakota. Primarily three moisture levels of corn distillers grain product are available: dry (~90-95% dry matter, DDGS), modified (49-52% dry mater, MDGS) or wet (< 48% dry matter; WDGS). The current process typically involves a step to remove corn oil (fat) during ethanol production. This oil removal may alter the nutrient density of the resulting distillers grain feedstuff, which in turn could affect animal performance.
- 2015 Feedlot Beef Manure as a Source of Nitrogen for Wheat and Nitrogen Strategies to Increase Wheat Protein Content
- Previous research at the Carrington REC has shown that plots fertilized with manure show similar yields to plots fertilized with commercial fertilizers, but the protein content is in general lower on the manure plots. The study objective was to assess the effects of beef feedlot manure application in combination with strategic commercial fertilizer applications to improve wheat protein content.
- 2015 Effects of Whole or Rolled Corn with 20 or 40 Percent Grass Hay on Finishing Performance of Yearling Steers
- Crossbred yearling steers were used to evaluate feeding whole or dry-rolled corn in diets with 20 or 40 percent of the diet dry matter included from grass hay.