Life Sciences Commons^™

Investigation Of Breeding Objectives And Indexes-In-Retrospect, Hunter F. Valasek

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis presents two projects that investigate the impacts of breeding objectives and indexes-in-retrospect within the beef cattle industry. The first project synthesized how changes due to planning horizon, breeding system, and sale endpoint in the economic breeding goal of cattle influence the relative emphasis of traits as well as the re-ranking of selection candidates. A total of three breeding systems that represent straightbred and crossbred cattle were used along with six planning horizons (2, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 50 yrs.) for both a weaning and slaughter point of sale. The combination of these different breeding objective attributes resulted …

Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Two Contrasting Beef Systems From Birth To Slaughter In Eastern Nebraska, Levi Mcphillips

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Over the last 15 years, the increase in land use for corn and soybean has come at the expense of acres of grasslands and perennial forages employed in conventional beef-production systems. Implementing alternative cow-calf production systems into existing cropping systems may be a solution for reduced land availability and reducing total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Therefore, GHG from a conventional (CONV) pasture-based cattle production system with cows wintered on corn residue and summer grazing of brome pasture were compared to partial-confinement system (ALT) with cows and calves in a drylot during the summer and grazing cover crops and corn residue …

Estimation Of Breed Effects And Genetic Parameters For Age At Slaughter And Days To Finish In A Multibreed Beef Cattle Population, Lindsay Upperman

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cattle efficiency during the finishing phase is a crucial factor in determining profit in the beef cattle industry. Economically relevant traits associated with efficient production include age at slaughter (AAS) and days to finish (DtF). Selection to reduce the number of days an animal takes to reach a finish endpoint would ultimately reduce production costs, increase net profits, and result in a more sustainable production system. However, most harvested animals are from commercial herds, necessitating the use of indicator traits from seedstock animals for selection. Potential indicator traits include ultrasound measurements that could be genetically correlated to DtF traits. The …

Understanding Rumen Microbial Community Structure And Function Towards Decreasing Methane Emissions, Allison L. Knoell

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Resource use is continually being limited due to this growth, therefore, production of high-quality animal protein sources, such as meat and milk, are challenged. The rumen microbiome is extensive and serves to provide several metabolic requirements for the animal for growth. Recently, a significant amount of research is being driven towards understanding the rumen microbiome due to its large effect on metabolic requirements.

A study was conducted to replace alfalfa with nonforage fiber sources in dairy cows. It was determined milk yield and intake are maintained when nonforage fibers replace forage sources, while decreasing methane levels. Water consumption decreased when …

Interaction Of Urea With Frequency And Amount Of Distillers Grains Supplementation For Growing Steers On A High Forage Diet, Haley F. Linder

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Two studies were conducted to determine interactions of urea inclusion to a dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) supplement fed at two amounts and two frequencies to steers on a high forage diet. In Exp. 1, 120 steers were fed individually for 84 d. Steers received ad libitum grass hay and 1 of 8 treatments. Supplement was fed either every day (D) or 3x/week (ALT), amount of supplement fed was 6.36 kg/week (LO) or 12.73 kg/week (HI), and contain either no urea (-U) or 1.3% urea (+U). Hay DMI and steer BW were measured. In Exp. 2, 8 ruminally cannulated …

Improving The Accuracy Of Genomic Predictions: Investigation Of Training Methods And Data Pooling, Johnna Baller

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

One of the primary factors in the response to selection is the accuracy of selection. This study focused on methodologies to predict breeding values (BV) accurately within multi- and single-step genomic evaluations. Factors including cross-validation methods, dependent variables, and genotyping strategies were assessed on the accuracy of genomic BV while using multi-step prediction in real and simulated data. In both cases, random clustering led to largest estimated accuracies compared to clusters based on k-means, k-medoids, and principle component analysis, but differences in bias were not detected. Using deregressed estimated BV (EBV) to estimate SNP effects led to larger accuracies and …

Evaluation Of Protein Utilization In Low And High Protein Forage Sources And The Economic Value Of Supplementing Field Peas (Pisum Sativum) To Growing Cattle Grazing Crested Wheatgrass Pastures, Braden C. Troyer

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Field peas are widely grown in the panhandle of Nebraska; however, markets quickly become saturated. A two year experiment was conducted comparing field peas to dry distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) as a protein supplement. The objective was to establish a price producers could pay for field peas relative to DDGS. There was a significant difference in ADG due to type of supplement (P = 0.02). Field pea supplemented heifers had 10% lower ADG compared to DDGS supplemented heifers. Economically, this means if DDGS is priced at or $124.58/ 909 kg DM a producer could pay $2.89/ 27 kg, …

Attainment And Maintenance Of Pubertal Cyclicity May Predict High A4 Cows With Reduced Fertility, Sarah Nafziger

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Puberty attainment was investigated in heifers. Blood samples were collected from weaning until breeding during 6 years from heifers born in 2012-2017. Plasma progesterone concentrations ≥ 1 ng/ml were used to indicate cyclicity, and heifers were categorized into one of four puberty groups using SAS: 1) Early heifers reached puberty before March 12 and cycled continuously during the sampling period, 2) Typical heifers reached puberty on or after March 12 and cycled continuously, 3) Start-Stop heifers had at least one occurrence of progesterone ≥ 1 ng/ml but discontinued cycling during the sampling period, and 4) Non-Cycling heifers had no occurrence …

Identifying Breed Effects For Cow Mature Weight, Madeline J. Zimmermann

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Mature weight (MWT) in beef cattle has increased over the past 30 yr. In general, larger cows are costlier to maintain than smaller cows, and their profitability depends on their production environment. A wide range of beef production environments exist in the United States. There are also a variety of beef cattle breeds that can be chosen and mated to create a type of cow which will be optimally suited to excel in a given environment. However, there remains a need for tools allowing effective comparison among breeds to facilitate such decision making. Unfortunately, estimated progeny differences ( …

Corn Residue Stocking Rate Affects Cattle Performance But Not Subsequent Grain Yield, L. A. Stalker, H. Blanco-Canqui, Jennifer A. Gigax, A. L. Mcgee, T. M. Shaver, S. J. Van Donk

West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte

This study investigated effects of stocking rate on cattle performance, quality and quantity of corn residue, and impact of residue removal on grain yield for 5 yr at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln West Central Water Resources Field Laboratory near Brule, NE. Four removal treatments—1) no removal (control), 2) grazing at 2.5 animal unit month (AUM)/ ha, 3) grazing at 5.0 AUM/ha, and 4) baling—were applied to a center pivot–irrigated corn field (53 ha). The field was divided into eight 6.6-ha paddocks to which replicated treatments were assigned. Samples of residue were collected in October and March (before and …

Seasonal Variation In Vitamin D Status Of Beef Cattle Reared In The Central United States, E Casas, J D. Lippolis, L A. Kuehn, T A. Reinhardt

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The objective was to retrospectively measure seasonal sunlight-associated variation in serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) in beef cattle. The concentration of 25OHD was measured in crossbred animals born from March to May in 2011 and 2012. Vitamin D status 2 to 3 mo after birth (period 1) was only available for 2012 calves and was measured in June 2012. Period 1 animals had serum 25OHD concentrations of 26.3 +- 1.5 ng/mL. The 25OHD concentrations for late summer (period 2) were 46.6 +- 1.4 and 51.0 +- 1.5 ng/mL for 2011 and 2012, respectively. Serum concentration of 25OHD in early …

Late Gestation Supplementation Of Beef Cows Differing In Body Condition Score: Effects On Cow And Calf Performance, D. W. Bohnert, L. A. Stalker, R. R. Mills, A. Nyman, S. J. Falck, R. F. Cooke

West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte

A 2-yr study utilizing 120 mature, crossbred (Angus × Herford) cows/year, evaluated the influence of cow BCS and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) supplementation during late gestation on cow performance and productivity of subsequent offspring. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial in a randomized complete block design with 2 BCS and with or without DDGS supplementation. Cows were nutritionally managed to enter the last trimester of gestation with a BCS of approximately 4 (LBCS) or 6 (HBCS) and were thereafter managed in a single herd (initial BCS were 4.4 and 5.7 for LBCS and HBCS treatments, …

Case Study: The Effects Of Maternal Nutrition On Steer Progeny Performance, A. F. Summers, K. H. Ramsay, Richard N. Funston

West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte

Two locations on a commercial ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills were used to determine the effects of maternal nutrition on male progeny. Crossbred, spring-calving, multiparous cows were managed in a year-round grazing system. Cows at one location (yr 1 = 754; yr 2 = 700) received the equivalent of 0.95 kg/d (DM; 31.6% CP; HN) of supplement, and cows at the second location (yr 1 = 673; yr 2 = 766) received 0.37 kg/d (DM; LN) of the same supplement delivered 3 times weekly while grazing winter range from December through February. After weaning, a random group (yr 1 = …

Effects Of Maternal Nutrition On Conceptus Growth And Offspring Performance: Implications For Beef Cattle Production, Richard N. Funston, David M. Larson, K. A. Vonnahme

West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte

Developmental programming is the concept that a maternal stimulus or insult at a critical period in fetal development has long-term effects on the offspring. Historically, considerable effort has been made to understand how nutrition influences health and productivity during the postnatal period. Whereas maternal nutrition during pregnancy plays an essential role in proper fetal and placental development, less is known about how maternal nutrition affects the health and productivity of the offspring. Conceptus growth is sensitive to direct and indirect effects of maternal dietary intake. Even from the earliest stages of embryonic life, when nutrient requirements for conceptus growth are …

A Comparison Of Melengestrol Acetate Fed At Two Dose Levels To Feedlot Heifers, G. E. Sides, J. T. Vasconcelos, R. C. Borg, O. A. Turgeon, W. C. Koers, M. S. Davis, K. Vander Pol, D. J. Weigel, C. M. Tucker

Panhandle Research and Extension Center

A randomized complete block design was used to compare the effects of feeding melengestrol acetate (MGA) at 0.4 (0.4M) and 0.5 (0.5M) mg/d per head on feedlot performance, estrus activity, and carcass characteristics of commercial beef heifers (n = 1,418; 10 pens/ treatment). Within 48 h of arrival at the research site, heifers were assigned to treatment, processed according to feedlot protocol, and administered an abortifacient. After adaptation to a 95% concentrate diet, MGA was supplied at either 0.4 or 0.5 mg/head daily. Estrus activity was monitored twice daily and summarized as a count of heifers showing estrus within a …

2008 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report Summaries, Richard J. Rasby, Galen E. Erickson, Dennis R. Brink

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Reports on recent beef research are briefly summarized in this publication. Summaries of the research featured in the 2008 Beef Report appear here. Topics include cow-calf, growing, finishing and beef products.

Case Study: Dried Distillers Grains As Creep Feed For Yearling Beef Cattle Grazing Sandhill Range, R. N. Funston, D. C. Adams, M. C. Stockton

West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte

Seventy-nine crossbred steers and heifers born in June or August were stratified by weight, calving group, and sex and assigned to treatment or control. Yearlings in the treatment group (TRT; n = 40) grazed native summer Sandhill range and had access to ad libitum dried distillers grains (DDG) pellet in a creep feeder for 54 d of a 63-d grazing period. Control (CON; n = 39) yearlings grazed in an adjacent pasture without DDG. Immediately after the grazing period, yearlings were placed in a feedlot and fed to a similar finish end point. Individual forage and DDG intake …

G1420 Direct Sales Of Beef, Paul Swanson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide offers producers suggestions for selling beef directly to consumers.

Successful direct selling of beef to consumers requires a different mind-set from our traditional sale of commodity beef to processors, wholesalers and retailers. The much closer relationship of the beef producer to the actual consumer creates many opportunities to provide more income from each individual animal and for the consumer to receive a product which is generally not available in the store. A growing number of consumers are interested in purchasing beef that is produced locally, on small farms or ranches, humanely raised, without implants, without the feeding of …

Mp99-40 The Economics And Control Of Insects Affecting Beef Cattle In Nebraska (Northern Great Plains), John B. Campbell, Gustave D. Thomas

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Livestock insect control should be considered an integral part of an efficient beef herd health program.

This extension circular discusses the behavior and control of these major insect parasites of range and pasture cattle in Nebraska: stable fly, horn fly, face fly, cattle grubs, cattle lice, cattle scabies, horse and deer flies, mosquito, black fly, and biting midges (gnats).

G97-1314 Medication Withdrawal In Beef Cattle, Dicky D. Griffin, Dale Grotelueschen

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide lists the current withdrawal times for medications used in beef cattle.

Using proper livestock medications is very important. Proper use not only ensures maximal benefits from the medication but minimizes the chances of an unwanted residue. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association has worked hard to develop a premiere quality assurance program. In conjunction with other national and state beef and veterinary associations, the Beef Quality Assurance program now extends to almost every state in the nation. As a result, the safety and quality of beef has never been better. The outstanding record includes having an extremely low rate …

G96-1301 Income Tax Issues Related To Scaling Down Or Liquidating A Beef-Cow Operation, Gary Bredensteiner

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses the tax implications of reducing or shutting down a beef-cow operation.

Downsizing cattle numbers is occurring through herd reductions and complete liquidations. Whether partial or complete, liquidations have income tax implications. Those implications vary depending on the timing of liquidation, origin of the animals liquidated, nature of the liquidation, and organizational structure of the business. This publication considers the tax situation of the sole proprietor beef cattle business owner who uses cash accounting for tax purposes.

While the information contained in this document is thought to be accurate, it should not be used as a substitute for …

Ec95-137 Producing And Marketing Proso Millet In The High Plains, D. D. Baltensperger, Drew J. Lyon, R. Anderson, Tom Holman, C. Stymieste, J. Shanahan, Lenis Alton Nelson, Karen L. Deboer, Gary L. Hein, J. Krall

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Proso millet, Panicum miliaceum (L.), is a warm season grass capable of producing seed 60 to 90 days after planting. It has been called millet, hog millet, and yellow hog. It has been grown in many countries of the world including China, the former Soviet Union, Afghanistan, Romania, Turkey, and India.

Historically, proso production in the High Plains has been quite variable, depending on the survival of the winter wheat crop, government programs, and market price.

Proso can be used in several ways. Proso millet grain is used as bird and livestock feed in the United States and for livestock …

G94-1231 Harvesting Corn And Sorghum For Silage, Rick Grant, Rick Stock

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This publication describes how to make high-quality corn and sorghum silage.

Quality Silage

Silage feeding quality is determined by 1) the nutrient content of the crop stored, 2) the stage of maturity and moisture content when harvested and 3) the effectiveness of silage preservation.

G93-1172 Starting Cattle, Dicky D. Griffin, Louis Perino, Don Hudson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide gives guidelines to help feedlot operators prepare and establish a plan for starting new cattle on feed that minimizes stress, reduces morbidity (sickness) and improves performance.

An animal's first few weeks in a feedlot can influence performance throughout the entire feeding period. The cattle are adapting to a new environment and may be exposed to disease, some for the first time. It is vitally important to prevent and deal with health problems at this time to prevent loss of performance.

Cattle entering the feedlot encounter a range of problems that arise from several sources, including health and nutritional …

Mp92-64 The Stable Fly: A Pest Of Humans And Domestic Animals, Gustave D. Thomas, Steven R. Skoda

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Many species of flies are pests. Many people, if you were to ask them about flies, would be at least vaguely aware of the potential to flies to transmit disease organisms. But yet, for the most part, a fly is a fly is a fly. Sayings like "It must be about to rain, the house flies are biting" are still common and show a general need for more, readily accessible information, particularly about some of the pest flies.

Stable flies, obligate blood-feeders, are very important pests to the cattle industry and, at times, are pests to other groups (they're most …

G89-915 Testing Livestock Feeds For Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, Sheep And Horses, Rick Grant, Bruce Anderson, Richard J. Rasby, Terry L. Mader

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide provides tips on how to determine feeds you should analyze and nutrients to measure. It tells how to interpret the results of feed analysis.

Why Test Feeds?

Nutrient concentration can vary considerably in feeds, especially forages. Protein in alfalfa hay can range from 10 to 25 percent or more of the dry matter; grass hay will contain between four and 18 percent protein.

Use feed tests to target specific feeds to different livestock. Feed high quality forage to the most productive livestock or when nutrient needs are highest. Feed lower quality forage to animals with lower nutrient needs. …

G89-915 Testing Livestock Feeds For Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, Sheep And Horses (Revised April 1997), Rick Grant, Bruce Anderson, Richard J. Rasby, Terry L. Mader

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide provides tips on how to determine feeds you should analyze and nutrients to measure. It tells how to interpret the results of feed analysis.

Why Test Feeds?

Nutrient concentration can vary considerably in feeds, especially forages. Protein in alfalfa hay can range from 10 to 25 percent or more of the dry matter; grass hay will contain between four and 18 percent protein.

Use feed tests to target specific feeds to different livestock. Feed high quality forage to the most productive livestock or when nutrient needs are highest. Feed lower quality forage to animals with lower nutrient needs.

G89-915 Testing Livestock Feeds For Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, Sheep And Horses, Rick Grant, Bruce Anderson, Richard J. Rasby, Terry L. Mader

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide provides tips on how to determine feeds you should analyze and nutrients to measure. It tells how to interpret the results of feed analysis.

Why Test Feeds?

Nutrient concentration can vary considerably in feeds, especially forages. Protein in alfalfa hay can range from 10 to 25 percent or more of the dry matter; grass hay will contain between four and 18 percent protein.

Use feed tests to target specific feeds to different livestock. Feed high quality forage to the most productive livestock or when nutrient needs are highest. Feed lower quality forage to animals with lower nutrient needs. …

G88-878 Management For Disease Prevention In Feedlots, Gene White, Duane Rice, Don Hudson, Dale Grotelueschen

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

When cattle are put in feedlots, they change diets and environments. This NebGuide discusses ways to minimize possible losses caused by those changes. Cattle are a vital link in the human food chain in the United States. The utilized agricultural area in this country is about 1.06 million acres, of which 64 percent is range (government and private). Grazing is the only practical method of harvesting these valuable resources. Ruminants convert forage produced by the soil nutrients, water and solar energy to a high quality protein source for humans. The feedlot phase of cattle feeding follows the utilization of roughages …

Mp51 Distillers Grains, Glen Aines, Terry Klopfenstein, Rick Stock

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

In the conventional production of alcohol from grain for fuel, byproducts are produced with excellent feeding value for ruminants. Appropriate use of these byproducts aids the efficient production of animals and enhances the economics of alcohol production. In the fermentation of corn to produce alcohol, the starch in the corn is converted to alcohol and carbon dioxide. The nutrients in the corn other than starch are concentrated about three times because corn is about two-thirds starch. Even though starch is high in energy, the one-third of the corn remaining in the byproduct after fermentation contains as much energy per pound …