Three hundred twenty-eight crossbred beef
steers previously fed high-concentrate growing
diets had ad libitum access to one of two transition
diets prior to initiation of the finishing phase.
Transition diets consisted of 58% steam-flaked
corn and 30% alfalfa hay or of 23% steamflaked
corn and 65% alfalfa hay (DM basis).
Average daily gains, dry matter intakes, and
feed efficiencies during the transition phase were
greater for steers fed the high-grain diet than for
steers fed the high-roughage diet (P<.01). This
resulted in heavier carcass weights at the end of
the subsequent finishing phase for steers fed the
high-grain transition diet (P<.05). Average daily
gains and feed efficiencies in the finishing phase
were not affected by the type of diet fed during
the transition phase (P>.20).
