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Effect of Feeding a Corn Hybrid Containing Alpha Amylase on Finishing Cattle Performance and Carcass Characteristics
Two finishing trials were conducted to compare feeding a corn hybrid containing an alpha amylase enzyme (Syngenta Enhanced Feed Corn™; SYT-EFC) or a commercially available corn grain (CON) on steer performance and carcass characteristics. Experiment 1 utilized 300 calf-fed steers (298 ± 16 kg) with 10 steers per pen and 6 replications per treatment. Five treatments were evaluated in a 2x2+1 factorial arrangement as a randomized block design. Factors included corn trait (SYT-EFC or CON), corn by-product type [Sweet Bran (SB) or wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS)], and a 50:50 blend of SYT-EFC and CON with WDGS. Experiment 2 utilized 240 calf-fed steers (287 ± 15 kg) with 10 steers per pen and 6 replications per treatment. Dietary treatments included SYT-EFC, CON, a 50:50 BLEND of SYT-EFC and CON, and CON with an added enzyme supplement (NZ) in WDGS based diets. In Exp. 1, a corn trait X byproduct interaction was observed for ADG and G:F (P = 0.05 and 0.02, respectively). Steers fed SYT-EFC with SB had greater ADG and G:F than steers fed CON with SB, which had the lowest ADG and G:F. Based on corn grain concentration, there was a 14.9% improvement in G:F when SYT-EFC was fed compared to CON in SB diets. For diets containing WDGS, there were no differences (P ≥ 0.35) in final BW, DMI, ADG, or G:F, however, a 3.0% numerical improvement in G:F was observed for steers fed SYT-EFC compared to CON. No interactions were observed for any carcass characteristics (P ≥ 0.07), however, marbling score, fat depth, and calculated yield grade were greater (P < 0.01, P = 0.01, and P = 0.03, respectively) for steers fed SYT-EFC compared to CON. Fat depth and calculated yield grade were greater (P = 0.03 and P = 0.02, respectively) for steers fed SYT-EFC and BLEND compared with CON. In Exp. 2, final BW, ADG, and G:F were greater (P ≤ 0.03) for steers fed SYT-EFC, BLEND, and NZ compared to CON. On a corn grain basis, an 8.4% improvement in G:F was observed due to SYT-EFC versus CON. Hot carcass weights were greater (P < 0.01) for SYT-EFC, BLEND, and NZ compared to CON. These data suggest that feeding SYT-EFC improves G:F of feedlot cattle and the corn is 3.0-14.9% better than control corn hybrids.
Keywords: alpha amylase, corn hybrid, feedlot cattle