Increasing dietary phosphorus level for finishing yearling Holstein steers

The need for refining dietary nutrient levels and limited information regarding Holstein steer and phosphorus supplementation led to the objective of examining the response of removing supplemental dietary phosphorus from a corn-based finishing diet offered to yearling Holstein steers. Two groups of yearling Holstein steers were utilized to study responses of increasing dietary phosphorus level during the finishing period. In Exp. 1, 96 Holstein steers (419 kg) were blocked into four weight groups. Dietary treatments included no additional phosphorus (NDC) or the inclusion of dicalcium phosphate (DCP) to achieve 0.30% phosphorus (P) in the complete diet. Daily gain, DMI and carcass traits were not different (p>0.05). Overall gain efficiency was slightly lower for NDC (p<0.05). Exp. 2 consisted of 78 Holstein steers (491 kg) blocked into two weight groups. Steers were harvested on d 84 and 112 d on test with carcass data collected following a 48-h chill. No differences (p>0.05) were detected for DMI, ADG or gain efficiency. No differences (p>0.05) were detected in carcass characteristics in this experiment. Percent bone ash, calcium, P, and bending moment also did not differ among treatments (p>0.05). Removing supplemental phosphorus in the feedlot diet did not produce adverse effects on steer performance, carcass, or rib bone characteristics for yearling Holstein steers.