Evaluation of Enteric Methane from Cattle Adapted Using RAMP vs. A Traditional Forage Program Stepped Up to Different Finishing Diets

Summary with Implications A 93-day finishing experiment evaluated feeding RAMP (Cargill Corn Milling, Blair NE) during diet adaptation and finishing diet containing 20% Sweet Bran compared to a traditional adaptation program using forage with a finishing diet without Sweet Bran on methane and carbon dioxide production, animal performance and carcass characteristics in beef steers. Cattle were measured using a calorimetry emission barn to quantify the production of methane and carbon dioxide during step 1 of adaptation and 1 time during finishing diet. Feeding RAMP did not significantly reduce methane but did reduce the ratio of methane to carbon dioxide during step 1 compared to adapting with 45% forage. No differences in methane production during the finishing phase was observed when either 0 or 20% Sweet Bran were fed. Adapting cattle with RAMP instead of forage likely reduces methane and carryover effects suggest that feeding Sweet Bran is similar to steam-flaked corn in finishing diets if cattle were adapted with RAMP.