In this episode of Diving Into Diets on Bovine Science with BCI, Dr. Brad White and Dr. Philip Lancaster discuss a 2026 study examining whether lower-protein finishing diets can improve performance in long-fed feedlot steers. The researchers compared industry-standard 13.5% crude protein diets to reduced 11.5% crude protein diets over roughly 206 days on feed and found that cattle on the lower-protein diet achieved slightly heavier carcass weights and improved dressing percentages without sacrificing overall growth. The conversation explores how excess dietary protein may increase the animal’s energy costs for nitrogen excretion, potentially reducing efficiency. They also discuss implications for feed costs, nitrogen emissions, and modern feeding strategies that rely heavily on corn byproducts.

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