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Narrowing the Dietary Amino Acid
Gap in Growing Feedlot Calves
AminoGain ®
Co-Product Grower
Widespread use of corn
co-products, either distillers grains (DG) or corn gluten feed (CGF),
have brought about changes in the diets of growing and finishing
cattle. In both the grow yard and feedyard, the days of a
corn/alfalfa/ supplement ration are past and limits of how much
wet feed an animal will consume are being tested.
Corn co-products have the potential to provide inexpensive
protein and energy in grow and finish rations. Due to the ever
increasing need to demonstrate strong gain and efficiency with
cheap cost of gain in farmer-feeder and commercial settings, the
number of operations using co-products has grown and the level
of co-product usage in feedlot/grow diets has also increased.
With movement to co-product based diets, several issues which
need addressed have arisen. Dietary protein was previously
sourced from multiple origins in forms that are generally high
in degradability. Current diets have protein primarily derived
from a single source (corn, DGs and CGF), that can be high in
bypass value.
 Protein
(in a rumen-bypass form) found in current diets is desirable in
calves needing additional protein flow to the intestine, in
order to reach maximal gain. Up to roughly 900 lb of body
weight, an animal's weight gain is primarily lean tissue driven
and a deficit exists between the
empirical amount of protein the rumen microbial population is
capable of producing and what the animal actually needs to reach
genetic potential for gain (see Figure 1).
If the overall amino acid profile reaching the small intestine
matches the profile needed for lean tissue gain, gain will occur
in an efficient manner. Microbial protein presents a nearly
perfect amino acid profile to the small intestine. So, if the
bypass protein amino acid composition is correct, in most cases
the animal will realize an improved gain and efficiency (given
energy level is correct and sufficient biological need exists).
 However,
if the amino acid profile of post-ruminal flow does not match
biological needs for lean tissue gain, performance will not
respond to the added amino acids from bypass protein or
performance might even be further limited. In evaluating current
diets, a producer should realize that the amino acid profile of
corn DGs and CGF do not match the amino acid profile of lean
tissue very well.
This disparity in amino acid profile
translates to the presence of needed bypass amino acids in the
intestine in growing calves, but several of the individual amino
acids are deficient to the point that growth will not reach
genetic potential and efficiency can be
lost (see Figure
2 on first page).
These
deficient amino acids represent the limiting amino acid(s) for
growth. Improving performance parameters in the growing calf
 consuming a diet containing DGs or CGF rests in the ability to
predict limiting amino acids and subsequently provide those
limiting amino acids in a bypass form, given sufficient energy,
vitamins and minerals are fed and management is adequate.
Through internal research and development, ADM Alliance
Nutrition® developed AminoGain Co-Product Grower to address
challenges presented by current diets and provide improved cost
of gain through improved ADG and feed efficiency. In development
of AminoGain Co-Product Grower, limiting amino acids were
identified and a blend of bypass amino acid sources were
combined to provide the needed limiting amino acids, while
minimizing addition of amino acids already present in sufficient
quantities (see Figure 3).
As with all ADM Alliance Nutrition products, AminoGain
Co-Product Grower is formulated to optimize ruminal fermentation
so that the animal will produce maximal microbial protein and
have optimal feedstuff digestion. Technology has also been
included which will help the animal cope better with elevated
sulfur loads, which can lead to decreased performance,
polioencephalomalacia (brainers) and death. Thiamine and an
additional complete vitamin/mineral package have been added to
AminoGain Co-Product Grower as well.
Pure scientific theory
does not always prove itself in live animal research. Therefore,
AminoGain Co-Product Grower was evaluated at an ADM Alliance
Nutrition state-of-the-art research facility. Crossbred steers
(655.6 lb) were fed a diet consisting of 32% cracked corn, 3%
cane molasses, 20% corn silage, 20% DDGS, 20% soy hulls and 5%
experimental supplement for 56 days. AminoGain Co-Product Grower
was compared to a traditional urea based feedlot supplement.
Over the 56 days, cattle fed AminoGain Co-Product Grower
realized average daily gain (ADG) improvement of 9.9%, dry
matter intake increase of 0.88%, and feed efficiency improvement
of 8.9%.
A subsequent validation study was completed with similar diets
over 56 days. At the conclusion of this study, data showed ADG
improved by 13% and feed efficiency improved 17.5%. Cost of gain
was reduced by 6.4% as a result of using AminoGain Co-Product
Grower. Current real world data from Midwestern commercial
feedyards is also available from ADM Alliance Nutrition sales
representatives. A summary of present data (as of January 10,
2010) is shown in Table 1. Data is compiled from steers and
heifers with diverse cattle quality, feeding programs, and
health strategies.
Data is compiled
courtesy of four cooperator feedyards. As expected, quality of
cattle will have the largest impact on performance of cattle
consuming AminoGain Co-Product Grower. Cattle possessing greater
genetic potential respond to a greater degree than do "common"
cattle. Simply explained, the lower the growth potential of an
animal, the more likely that animal can have post-ruminal
protein needs met by rumen microbes and limited response will be
observed when feeding AminoGain. As genetic potential improves,
the gap between amino acid needs and those supplied by rumen
microbes widens.
This is a situation where AminoGain Co-Product Grower will have
a substantial impact on performance. An implant program will
have an effect on response to the feeding program. More
aggressive implant programs produce greater response to the
AminoGain program than do less aggressive programs. Feeding rate
on AminoGain Co-Product Grower is 1-2 lb/ head/day, with all
research conducted at the 1 lb feeding rate. All legal drug
options are available in the product.
Products:
Feedlot Growing Cattle
AminoGain Co-Product Grower (53497AAA)
Stocker Cattle:
NFCM
AminoGrower 6 Pellet (53853AAA)
NFCM
AminoGrower 12 Pellet (53916AAA)
Bull Developer:
AminoGain SCB Bull 12
(54030AAA)
Cree Feed:
Rough-N-Ready 15.7 AG/RB (53852AAA)
Also see our Technical Information Sheet on
AminoGain
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