{"id":{"repo_id":"uiuc","oai_identifier":"oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/110856"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uiuc/oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/110856","repository":{"repo_id":"uiuc","name":"University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign","base_url":"https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh"},"display":{"title":"Using different levels of direct-fed microbials during an acidosis challenge and the effects of distillers grains on feeding behavior in the feedlot","abstract":"Ruminal acidosis is a prevalent, costly metabolic disorder in beef feedlot cattle characterized by low rumen pH and can lead to a multitude of health problems and poor animal performance. Direct-fed microbials (DFM) are naturally occurring microorganisms that can be used to improve rumen fermentation and alleviate nutritional disorders. The objective was to determine the effect of different levels of a DFM to mediate a subacute acidosis challenge in beef cattle. Eighteen ruminally-cannulated steers (BW = 662 ± 90 kg) were used in a completely randomized design with 6 steers in each period. Two steers in each period were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: blank media (NCON), a low dose of Megasphaera elsdenii at 108 CFU/day and proprietary strain (LME), and a high dose of Megasphaera elsdenii at 109 CFU/day and proprietary strain (HME). A basal diet (45% forage) was fed ad libitum on d 1-7. On d 6-12, all treatments were dosed before feeding. To induce acidosis, steers were fasted for 24 h on d 8 and were fed the challenge diet (10% forage) ad libitum on d 9-15. On d 16-18, all steers were fed the basal diet for the recovery phase. Data were analyzed as repeated measures using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4. Dry matter intake was not affected (P = 0.76) by treatment. Rumen pH, redox, ammonia, and volatile fatty acids were not affected by treatment (P ≥ 0.11). A treatment by time effect (P < 0.01) was observed for lactate levels; LME and HME had decreased lactate levels from 9-15 h after feeding on d 9 compared with NCON. A tendency for a treatment by time effect (P = 0.08) was observed for butyrate; HME had greater butyrate 21 and 24 h after feeding on d 9 compared with NCON and LME. Time affected (P < 0.01) ruminal pH with a marked decrease on d 9 and increase on d 18. Rumen redox was also affected by time (P < 0.01) and peaked on d 10, but did not return to baseline until d 18. Overall, results indicate M. elsdenii in HME and LME can decrease initial lactate accumulation during subacute acidosis in feedlot cattle. The objective of experiment 2 was to determine the effect of low inclusion levels of DDG on feeding behavior in heifers consuming a high moisture corn-based diet in the finishing phase. Simmental × Angus heifers (N = 90; 323 ± 50 kg) were fed for 180 d. Heifers were blocked by initial BW into 2 groups, stratified by sire, and assigned to 15 pens with 6 heifers each. Pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments: 1) 0% dried distillers grains inclusion (0DG), 2) 7% dried distillers grains inclusion (7DG), or 3) 14% dried distillers grains inclusion (14DG). Heifers were fed in GrowSafe (GrowSafe Systems Ltd., Airdrie, AB, Canada) bunks for determination of individual feed intake and feeding behavior. Distillers grains was replaced with high moisture corn, soybean meal, and urea. Heifers were weighed on consecutive days upon start of trial and before slaughter. On d 181, heifers were slaughtered, and carcass data were collected. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4. Dietary treatments did not affect (P > 0.59) body weight, average daily gain, and G:F. Longissimus muscle (LM) area was affected (P = 0.02) by distillers inclusion with 7DG having the smallest LM area, 14DG being intermediate and 0DG the largest. There was a treatment by time effect (P = 0.05) for DMI with 0DG having increased DMI compared to 7DG and 14DG for the last 70 d of the trial; however, differences in overall DMI were not detected. Treatment affected (P > 0.01) bunk visit duration and head down count with 7DG and 14DG having less minutes per day. Bunk visit frequency was also less variable (P = 0.02) for both distillers treatments despite no effect (P ≥ 0.58) on variation in bunk visit duration and head down. Both diets including DDG also had a tendency (P = 0.08) to have decreased variation in DMI. Heifers fed 14DG also had a tendency (P = 0.06) to have less variation in meal frequency. However, heifers fed 0DG had a tendency (P = 0.07) less variation in meal duration. While dietary inclusion of distillers grains had minimal effects on overall heifer performance, bunk visit duration and head down count was decreased with dietary inclusion of distillers grains. Therefore, low levels of distillers inclusion can affect feeding behavior of heifers fed high moisture corn-based diets during the finishing phase.","abstract_html":"Ruminal acidosis is a prevalent, costly metabolic disorder in beef feedlot cattle characterized by low rumen pH and can lead to a multitude of health problems and poor animal performance. Direct-fed microbials (DFM) are naturally occurring microorganisms that can be used to improve rumen fermentation and alleviate nutritional disorders. The objective was to determine the effect of different levels of a DFM to mediate a subacute acidosis challenge in beef cattle. Eighteen ruminally-cannulated steers (BW = 662 ± 90 kg) were used in a completely randomized design with 6 steers in each period. Two steers in each period were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: blank media (NCON), a low dose of Megasphaera elsdenii at 108 CFU/day and proprietary strain (LME), and a high dose of Megasphaera elsdenii at 109 CFU/day and proprietary strain (HME). A basal diet (45% forage) was fed ad libitum on d 1-7. On d 6-12, all treatments were dosed before feeding. To induce acidosis, steers were fasted for 24 h on d 8 and were fed the challenge diet (10% forage) ad libitum on d 9-15. On d 16-18, all steers were fed the basal diet for the recovery phase. Data were analyzed as repeated measures using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4. Dry matter intake was not affected (P = 0.76) by treatment. Rumen pH, redox, ammonia, and volatile fatty acids were not affected by treatment (P ≥ 0.11). A treatment by time effect (P &lt; 0.01) was observed for lactate levels; LME and HME had decreased lactate levels from 9-15 h after feeding on d 9 compared with NCON. A tendency for a treatment by time effect (P = 0.08) was observed for butyrate; HME had greater butyrate 21 and 24 h after feeding on d 9 compared with NCON and LME. Time affected (P &lt; 0.01) ruminal pH with a marked decrease on d 9 and increase on d 18. Rumen redox was also affected by time (P &lt; 0.01) and peaked on d 10, but did not return to baseline until d 18. Overall, results indicate M. elsdenii in HME and LME can decrease initial lactate accumulation during subacute acidosis in feedlot cattle. The objective of experiment 2 was to determine the effect of low inclusion levels of DDG on feeding behavior in heifers consuming a high moisture corn-based diet in the finishing phase. Simmental × Angus heifers (N = 90; 323 ± 50 kg) were fed for 180 d. Heifers were blocked by initial BW into 2 groups, stratified by sire, and assigned to 15 pens with 6 heifers each. Pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments: 1) 0% dried distillers grains inclusion (0DG), 2) 7% dried distillers grains inclusion (7DG), or 3) 14% dried distillers grains inclusion (14DG). Heifers were fed in GrowSafe (GrowSafe Systems Ltd., Airdrie, AB, Canada) bunks for determination of individual feed intake and feeding behavior. Distillers grains was replaced with high moisture corn, soybean meal, and urea. Heifers were weighed on consecutive days upon start of trial and before slaughter. On d 181, heifers were slaughtered, and carcass data were collected. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4. Dietary treatments did not affect (P &gt; 0.59) body weight, average daily gain, and G:F. Longissimus muscle (LM) area was affected (P = 0.02) by distillers inclusion with 7DG having the smallest LM area, 14DG being intermediate and 0DG the largest. There was a treatment by time effect (P = 0.05) for DMI with 0DG having increased DMI compared to 7DG and 14DG for the last 70 d of the trial; however, differences in overall DMI were not detected. Treatment affected (P &gt; 0.01) bunk visit duration and head down count with 7DG and 14DG having less minutes per day. Bunk visit frequency was also less variable (P = 0.02) for both distillers treatments despite no effect (P ≥ 0.58) on variation in bunk visit duration and head down. Both diets including DDG also had a tendency (P = 0.08) to have decreased variation in DMI. Heifers fed 14DG also had a tendency (P = 0.06) to have less variation in meal frequency. However, heifers fed 0DG had a tendency (P = 0.07) less variation in meal duration. While dietary inclusion of distillers grains had minimal effects on overall heifer performance, bunk visit duration and head down count was decreased with dietary inclusion of distillers grains. Therefore, low levels of distillers inclusion can affect feeding behavior of heifers fed high moisture corn-based diets during the finishing phase.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Huizenga, Kaylie A."],"institution":"University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign","degree_name":"M.S.","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Animal Sciences","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["McCann, Joshua C","Shike, Daniel W","Berger, Larry L"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2021,"date_issued":"2021-09-17T04:06:52Z","date_published":"2021-09-17T04:06:52Z","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:24:52Z","subjects":["direct-fed microbial","acidosis","distillers grains","feeding behavior","feedlot","cattle"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["Copyright 2021 Kaylie Huizenga"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/2142/110856","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["McCann, Joshua C","Shike, Daniel W","Berger, Larry L"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Huizenga, Kaylie A."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2021-09-17T04:06:52Z","2023-09-17T04:07:01Z","2021-04-29","2021-05"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["text","Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Animal Sciences"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["M.S."]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["direct-fed microbial","acidosis","distillers grains","feeding behavior","feedlot","cattle"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2021 Kaylie Huizenga"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/2142/110856"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Ruminal acidosis is a prevalent, costly metabolic disorder in beef feedlot cattle characterized by low rumen pH and can lead to a multitude of health problems and poor animal performance. Direct-fed microbials (DFM) are naturally occurring microorganisms that can be used to improve rumen fermentation and alleviate nutritional disorders. The objective was to determine the effect of different levels of a DFM to mediate a subacute acidosis challenge in beef cattle. Eighteen ruminally-cannulated steers (BW = 662 ± 90 kg) were used in a completely randomized design with 6 steers in each period. Two steers in each period were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: blank media (NCON), a low dose of Megasphaera elsdenii at 108 CFU/day and proprietary strain (LME), and a high dose of Megasphaera elsdenii at 109 CFU/day and proprietary strain (HME). A basal diet (45% forage) was fed ad libitum on d 1-7. On d 6-12, all treatments were dosed before feeding. To induce acidosis, steers were fasted for 24 h on d 8 and were fed the challenge diet (10% forage) ad libitum on d 9-15. On d 16-18, all steers were fed the basal diet for the recovery phase. Data were analyzed as repeated measures using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4. Dry matter intake was not affected (P = 0.76) by treatment. Rumen pH, redox, ammonia, and volatile fatty acids were not affected by treatment (P ≥ 0.11). A treatment by time effect (P < 0.01) was observed for lactate levels; LME and HME had decreased lactate levels from 9-15 h after feeding on d 9 compared with NCON. A tendency for a treatment by time effect (P = 0.08) was observed for butyrate; HME had greater butyrate 21 and 24 h after feeding on d 9 compared with NCON and LME. Time affected (P < 0.01) ruminal pH with a marked decrease on d 9 and increase on d 18. Rumen redox was also affected by time (P < 0.01) and peaked on d 10, but did not return to baseline until d 18. Overall, results indicate M. elsdenii in HME and LME can decrease initial lactate accumulation during subacute acidosis in feedlot cattle. The objective of experiment 2 was to determine the effect of low inclusion levels of DDG on feeding behavior in heifers consuming a high moisture corn-based diet in the finishing phase. Simmental × Angus heifers (N = 90; 323 ± 50 kg) were fed for 180 d. Heifers were blocked by initial BW into 2 groups, stratified by sire, and assigned to 15 pens with 6 heifers each. Pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments: 1) 0% dried distillers grains inclusion (0DG), 2) 7% dried distillers grains inclusion (7DG), or 3) 14% dried distillers grains inclusion (14DG). Heifers were fed in GrowSafe (GrowSafe Systems Ltd., Airdrie, AB, Canada) bunks for determination of individual feed intake and feeding behavior. Distillers grains was replaced with high moisture corn, soybean meal, and urea. Heifers were weighed on consecutive days upon start of trial and before slaughter. On d 181, heifers were slaughtered, and carcass data were collected. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4. Dietary treatments did not affect (P > 0.59) body weight, average daily gain, and G:F. Longissimus muscle (LM) area was affected (P = 0.02) by distillers inclusion with 7DG having the smallest LM area, 14DG being intermediate and 0DG the largest. There was a treatment by time effect (P = 0.05) for DMI with 0DG having increased DMI compared to 7DG and 14DG for the last 70 d of the trial; however, differences in overall DMI were not detected. Treatment affected (P > 0.01) bunk visit duration and head down count with 7DG and 14DG having less minutes per day. Bunk visit frequency was also less variable (P = 0.02) for both distillers treatments despite no effect (P ≥ 0.58) on variation in bunk visit duration and head down. Both diets including DDG also had a tendency (P = 0.08) to have decreased variation in DMI. Heifers fed 14DG also had a tendency (P = 0.06) to have less variation in meal frequency. However, heifers fed 0DG had a tendency (P = 0.07) less variation in meal duration. While dietary inclusion of distillers grains had minimal effects on overall heifer performance, bunk visit duration and head down count was decreased with dietary inclusion of distillers grains. Therefore, low levels of distillers inclusion can affect feeding behavior of heifers fed high moisture corn-based diets during the finishing phase.","Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2023-05-01","The student, Kaylie Huizenga, accepted the attached license on 2021-04-26 at 16:51.","The student, Kaylie Huizenga, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2021-04-26 at 17:01.","This Thesis was approved for publication on 2021-04-29 at 13:45.","DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #16553 on 2021-09-16 at 20:14:18","Made available in DSpace on 2021-09-17T04:06:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 HUIZENGA-THESIS-2021.pdf: 594332 bytes, checksum: 1afe63e3fa37a051e5a6b7b49c7da91e (MD5) LICENSE.txt: 4212 bytes, checksum: 92e32a35d79394614e7b650eefe3c7d1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2021-04-29","Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 118702 Lift date: 2023-09-17T04:07:01Z Reason: Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD system","Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD system","Limited"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Using different levels of direct-fed microbials during an acidosis challenge and the effects of distillers grains on feeding behavior in the feedlot"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["McCann, Joshua C","Shike, Daniel W","Berger, Larry L"],"dc:creator":["Huizenga, Kaylie A."],"dc:date":["2021-09-17T04:06:52Z","2023-09-17T04:07:01Z","2021-04-29","2021-05"],"dc:description":["Ruminal acidosis is a prevalent, costly metabolic disorder in beef feedlot cattle characterized by low rumen pH and can lead to a multitude of health problems and poor animal performance. Direct-fed microbials (DFM) are naturally occurring microorganisms that can be used to improve rumen fermentation and alleviate nutritional disorders. The objective was to determine the effect of different levels of a DFM to mediate a subacute acidosis challenge in beef cattle. Eighteen ruminally-cannulated steers (BW = 662 ± 90 kg) were used in a completely randomized design with 6 steers in each period. Two steers in each period were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: blank media (NCON), a low dose of Megasphaera elsdenii at 108 CFU/day and proprietary strain (LME), and a high dose of Megasphaera elsdenii at 109 CFU/day and proprietary strain (HME). A basal diet (45% forage) was fed ad libitum on d 1-7. On d 6-12, all treatments were dosed before feeding. To induce acidosis, steers were fasted for 24 h on d 8 and were fed the challenge diet (10% forage) ad libitum on d 9-15. On d 16-18, all steers were fed the basal diet for the recovery phase. Data were analyzed as repeated measures using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4. Dry matter intake was not affected (P = 0.76) by treatment. Rumen pH, redox, ammonia, and volatile fatty acids were not affected by treatment (P ≥ 0.11). A treatment by time effect (P < 0.01) was observed for lactate levels; LME and HME had decreased lactate levels from 9-15 h after feeding on d 9 compared with NCON. A tendency for a treatment by time effect (P = 0.08) was observed for butyrate; HME had greater butyrate 21 and 24 h after feeding on d 9 compared with NCON and LME. Time affected (P < 0.01) ruminal pH with a marked decrease on d 9 and increase on d 18. Rumen redox was also affected by time (P < 0.01) and peaked on d 10, but did not return to baseline until d 18. Overall, results indicate M. elsdenii in HME and LME can decrease initial lactate accumulation during subacute acidosis in feedlot cattle. The objective of experiment 2 was to determine the effect of low inclusion levels of DDG on feeding behavior in heifers consuming a high moisture corn-based diet in the finishing phase. Simmental × Angus heifers (N = 90; 323 ± 50 kg) were fed for 180 d. Heifers were blocked by initial BW into 2 groups, stratified by sire, and assigned to 15 pens with 6 heifers each. Pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments: 1) 0% dried distillers grains inclusion (0DG), 2) 7% dried distillers grains inclusion (7DG), or 3) 14% dried distillers grains inclusion (14DG). Heifers were fed in GrowSafe (GrowSafe Systems Ltd., Airdrie, AB, Canada) bunks for determination of individual feed intake and feeding behavior. Distillers grains was replaced with high moisture corn, soybean meal, and urea. Heifers were weighed on consecutive days upon start of trial and before slaughter. On d 181, heifers were slaughtered, and carcass data were collected. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4. Dietary treatments did not affect (P > 0.59) body weight, average daily gain, and G:F. Longissimus muscle (LM) area was affected (P = 0.02) by distillers inclusion with 7DG having the smallest LM area, 14DG being intermediate and 0DG the largest. There was a treatment by time effect (P = 0.05) for DMI with 0DG having increased DMI compared to 7DG and 14DG for the last 70 d of the trial; however, differences in overall DMI were not detected. Treatment affected (P > 0.01) bunk visit duration and head down count with 7DG and 14DG having less minutes per day. Bunk visit frequency was also less variable (P = 0.02) for both distillers treatments despite no effect (P ≥ 0.58) on variation in bunk visit duration and head down. Both diets including DDG also had a tendency (P = 0.08) to have decreased variation in DMI. Heifers fed 14DG also had a tendency (P = 0.06) to have less variation in meal frequency. However, heifers fed 0DG had a tendency (P = 0.07) less variation in meal duration. While dietary inclusion of distillers grains had minimal effects on overall heifer performance, bunk visit duration and head down count was decreased with dietary inclusion of distillers grains. Therefore, low levels of distillers inclusion can affect feeding behavior of heifers fed high moisture corn-based diets during the finishing phase.","Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2023-05-01","The student, Kaylie Huizenga, accepted the attached license on 2021-04-26 at 16:51.","The student, Kaylie Huizenga, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2021-04-26 at 17:01.","This Thesis was approved for publication on 2021-04-29 at 13:45.","DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #16553 on 2021-09-16 at 20:14:18","Made available in DSpace on 2021-09-17T04:06:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 HUIZENGA-THESIS-2021.pdf: 594332 bytes, checksum: 1afe63e3fa37a051e5a6b7b49c7da91e (MD5) LICENSE.txt: 4212 bytes, checksum: 92e32a35d79394614e7b650eefe3c7d1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2021-04-29","Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 118702 Lift date: 2023-09-17T04:07:01Z Reason: Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD system","Author requested closed access (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD system","Limited"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["http://hdl.handle.net/2142/110856"],"dc:language":["en"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2021 Kaylie Huizenga"],"dc:subject":["direct-fed microbial","acidosis","distillers grains","feeding behavior","feedlot","cattle"],"dc:title":["Using different levels of direct-fed microbials during an acidosis challenge and the effects of distillers grains on feeding behavior in the feedlot"],"dc:type":["text","Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Animal Sciences"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["M.S."],"thesis:institution_name":["University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:24:52Z"}