Impact of Chromium Propionate Supplementation and Days of Adaptation on Energy Status in Newly Weaned Steer Calves<sup>*</sup>

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the influences that supplemental dietary chromium propionate (CrP; 0 or 0.4 mg•kg −1 added to the total diet on a DM basis) has on plasma indicators of energy status in newly weaned steers upon introduction to the feedlot. For this experiment single source, Angus steers (n = 28; BW = 289 ± 12.0 kg) from a ranch in Western South Dakota were weaned and immediately shipped 579 km to the Ruminant Nutrition Center (RNC) in Brookings, SD. Steers were allotted to one of four 7.6 m × 7.6 m pens (2 pens/diet; 7 steers/pen) at 4 d post-arrival to the RNC and test diets were initiated. No anabolic implant was used in this study. Subsequent BW measurements were obtained at 1400 h, to accommodate a post-prandial timing for blood sampling. This was 4 h after initial access to feed, and immediately prior to the afternoon feed delivery. Weights and blood sampling occurred on d 5, 12, 19, and 33. Whole blood samples were collected from all steers via jugular venipuncture and separated as plasma. There were no diet x * This experiment was funded by the South Dakota Agriculture Experiment Station and the Beef Nutrition Program,