Effect of Feed Access Time on Feedlot Cattle Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Feeding Behavior and Ruminal pH

Summary with Implications Bunk management is crucial for modern feedlots, and understanding the ideal time to target a slick bunk is important. A feedlot study compared the effect of providing finishing cattle with 12, 15, 18, 21, or 24 hours of access to feed on performance, carcass characteristics, feeding behavior, and ruminal pH. As access time to feed increased, feed intake and day-to-day variation of feed intake increased linearly, while gain and feed conversion were unchanged. Cattle with greater access time to feed spent more time per day at the bunk, and consumed feed more slowly. A cubic effect on average ruminal pH was observed, with cattle that had 12 hours of feed access having the highest pH, and cattle that had 15 and 18 hours of feed access having the lowest pH. Reducing access time to feed maintained intake with no loss in gain if access was greater than 15 hours, but reduced feed access time did not improve feed conversion.