Travis. D. Maddock  , Brian Kreft  , Robert J. Maddock  , Vernon L. Anderson  , Gregory P. Lardy  , 
    Effect of Including Flax in Beef Creep Feed on Performance and Subsequent Carcass Characteristics,
    Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances,
    Volume 5,Issue 2,
    2006,
    Pages 156-160,
    ISSN 1680-5593,
    javaa.2006.156.160,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=javaa.2006.156.160)
    Abstract: Ninety-six cow-calf pairs with steers (663±9 kg initial cow BW; 168±1 kg initial calf BW) were stratified by cow age and steer weight and allotted randomly to one of 12 pastures. Pastures were assigned randomly  to  four  treatments:  1)  no  creep feed (CON); 2) 0% flax (55% wheat middlings, 39.5% soy hulls; CRP;  DM  basis);  3)  low  flax (12.5% flax, 26.0% wheat middlings, 56.0% soy hulls; LOW; DM basis); or 4) high flax (25.0% flax, 69.5% soy hulls; HIGH; DM basis). All supplemented calves were offered CRP ad libitum for 21 d to  acclimate  calves to feed. Diets were offered ad libitum for 37 d prior to weaning. Calves were then co-mingled and fed a growing diet for 98 d after which they were fed a finishing diet for 143 d. Following finishing,  cattle  were  transported to an abattoir, harvested, carcasses chilled for 24 h and carcass data and loin samples were  collected.  Creep-fed  calves had greater pre-weaning ADG (p=0.05) than CON calves. Growing period ADG was not affected (p=0.34) by creep feed; however, creep-fed calves tended (p=0.11) to have greater finishing ADG. Flax addition had no effect on growing or finishing ADG (p=0.36 and 0.71, respectively) compared to CRP-fed calves. Creep-fed calves had greater HCW (p=0.05) and lower marbling scores (p=0.08) than CON. Calves fed flax had lower marbling scores (p=0.06) than those fed CRP; however, calves  fed  HIGH had greater marbling scores (p=0.08) than those fed LOW. Including flax in nursing steer creep feed for the last 37 d prior to weaning did not affect nursing calf or post-weaning performance, but may decrease marbling scores.
    Keywords: Beef steers;carcass composition;creep feed;flax;grazing