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The Effect of Night-Time Feeding on Steer Performance After Terminal Sort.
Madeline R Mancke1, Brad J White1, Eduarda M Bortoluzzi2
1Beef Cattle Institute, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|June 26, 2026
Summary
Evening feeding did not impact feeder steer performance or welfare during mild heat conditions. Cattle experienced increased water intake and open mouth breathing on hotter days, regardless of feeding schedule.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Agriculture
- Environmental Physiology
Background:
- Heat stress significantly impacts feeder cattle performance and welfare.
- Limited research exists on mitigating heat stress through feeding time adjustments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of evening feeding versus morning feeding in mitigating heat stress in feeder cattle.
- To assess the impact of feeding schedules on steer performance and welfare indicators.
Main Methods:
- A pen-level randomized controlled trial compared evening (PM) and morning (AM) feeding schedules.
- Data collected included feed delivery, water consumption, health events, and open mouth breathing prevalence.
- Statistical models analyzed treatment group and temperature-humidity index (THI) effects.
Main Results:
- The study period experienced minimal heat stress (THI ≥ 80 on only 14% of days).
- No significant differences in performance or welfare outcomes were observed between PM and AM feeding groups.
- Water consumption tended to increase, and open mouth breathing significantly increased on high THI days, irrespective of feeding schedule.
Conclusions:
- Evening feeding did not demonstrate a benefit for mitigating heat stress under the conditions of this study.
- Further research is needed to explore evening feeding strategies in feedyards with more severe heat stress conditions.
