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Effects of Sugar Beets on Steer Backgrounding Performance, Sheep Nutrient Metabolism, and Rumen Fermentation Characteristics

A performance and metabolism study were performed to evaluate the effects of sugar beets on steer backgrounding performance, sheep nutrient metabolism, and rumen fermentation characteristics. In both experiments, four dietary treatments were used where sugar beets replaced 0% (0SB), 15% (15SB), 30% (30SB), or 45% (45SB) of barley on a DM basis. Forty-eight Angus steers were used in a completely randomized design to conduct the 50 d performance study. Neither ADG nor G:F were effected (P ≥ 0.33) by treatment. In the metabolism study, a 4 x 4 replicated Latin Square design was used to observe the effects of increasing dietary inclusion of sugar beets on the nutrient metabolism and ruminal ferme ntation characteristics of eight growing wethers. A cubic effect (P = 0.04) was observed for nitrogen balance. Propionate concentration decreased linearly (P = 0.05) with increasing sugar beets in the diet. The acetate to propionate ratio increased linearly (P = 0.03) with increasing sugar beets in the diet. Butyrate concentration demonstrated a treatment × time effect (P = 0.01), where butyrate concentration increased with increasing sugar beets in the diet at 1300. Rumen pH exhibited a quadratic effect (P = 0.05) at 1300 h, with 15SB having the greatest pH and 45SB having the least pH. Our results allow us to conclude that replacing barley with sugar beets up to 45% of the diet dry matter will have no deleterious effects on steer backgrounding performance or sheep nutrient metabolism, but may alter rumen fermentation patterns.