Life Sciences Commons^™

Greato+ Supplementation Leads To Greater Proportions Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids In The Small Intestines Of Holstein Steers, Ross L. Thorn, James S. Drouillard

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:This study aimed to determine if supplementation of GreatO⁺, an extruded blend of flaxseed and microalgae (NBO3, Manhattan, KS), in Holstein steers would lead to greater amounts of fatty acids, particularly omega-3s, in the small intestines.

Study Description:This study utilized 12 cannulated Holstein steers assigned to two treatments: with or without supplementation of GreatO⁺as a source of omega-3 fatty acids. Two periods were utilized, consisting of a 15-day adaptation interval and a four-day collection interval. After the end of the collection period, each steer was transitioned to the other treatment for the second period. …

The Effects Of Seasonal Prescribed Burning On Flint Hills Dung Beetle (Scarabaeinae) Populations, Herman Griese, Andrea Salazar, Victoria Pickens, Cassandra Olds

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:This study aimed to determine if the season of prescribed burning impacted dung beetle communities on pastures grazed by cattle in the Flint Hills.

Study Description:Dung beetle populations at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker unit were sampled biweekly for three months over the summer grazing period to determine if beetle populations varied between spring, summer, or fall burned pastures.

Results:At least eight species of dung beetles were identified with a total of 8,646 dung beetles collected. Dung beetle populations were not different (P>0.05) between spring, summer, and fall burned pastures although peak beetle populations …

A Novel Approach Of Using Electrostatic Field To Reduce Thawing Time And Improve Frozen Beef Quality, Grace E. Corrette, Haley J. Jeneske, Sara R. Hene, Linnea A. Rimmer, Larissa A. Koulicoff, Morgan D. Zumbaugh, Travis G. O'Quinn, Scott J. Eilert, Bret Flanders, Michael D. Chao

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of applying an electrostatic field (EF) on thawing characteristics, such as thawing speed and purge loss, as well as its impact on quality attributes during subsequent aging and retail display of beef.

Study Description:Striploins from both sides of USDA Choice carcasses (n = 12) were collected and portioned into four equal parts (n = 48). Portions were vacuum packaged and frozen at -40°F for 14 days and randomly assigned to one of four EF thawing treatments: 0 kV (control), 2.5 kV (EF-2.5), 5 kV (EF-5), and 10 kV …

Supplementation Of Methionine Or Choline Did Not Improve Health Or Growth Performance In High-Risk, Newly Received Beef Heifers, Madeline S. Grant, Dale A. Blasi, Evan C. Titgemeyer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:This study was conducted to determine if supplemental methionine or choline improves health or growth performance in high-risk, newly received beef heifers.

Study Description:In a 3-year experiment, 1,440 beef heifers (480 per year; 493 lb initial weight; Tennessee origin) were received in 15 truckloads (five per year) in October of 2020, 2021, and 2022. Heifers were limit-fed in 60-day receiving trials to evaluate the effects of supplemental methionine or choline on health and growth performance. Cattle received one of five treatments: control (no added methionine or choline); 5 or 15 g/day available methionine (8.33 or 25 g/day Smartamine …

Evaluation Of Thawing Curves Of Beef Strip Loin Steaks Using Various Thawing Methods, Lauren M. Frink, Lindsey K. Decker, Erin S. Beyer, Michael D. Chao, Morgan D. Zumbaugh, Jessie L. Vipham, Travis G. O'Quinn

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:The objective of this study was to evaluate and determine thaw rate and time of strip steaks thawed using methods that are recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and those commonly used by consumers.

Study Description:Strip steaks collected from a beef packing facility were randomly assigned a thaw method. Initially, steaks were vacuum packaged and then frozen at -40°F until thawed. Two thawing methods were USDA-approved: thawing in a refrigerator (REF) and in cold water (CW); while the other two methods evaluated are commonly used by consumers: thawing on the countertop (CT) and in hot water (HW). …

The Effects Of Thawing Methods On Trained Sensory Evaluation Of Beef Palatability Traits And Instrumental Measurements Of Quality, Lindsey K. Decker, Erin S. Beyer, Michael D. Chao, Morgan D. Zumbaugh, Jessie L. Vipham, Travis G. O'Quinn

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:Using beef strip loins steaks, evaluate six common thawing methods and assess the quality attributes through a trained panelist evaluation and an array of instrumental quality measures.

Study Description:Paired Low Choice strip loins (n = 15) were collected from a beef packing facility. The paired loins were fabricated into 1-in steaks and blocked into six blocks of four steaks. Each block was assigned a different thawing method, and each steak within the block a test, then aged 21 days and frozen. Thaw methods consisted of the four USDA-approved thaw methods: refrigerator (REF), cold water (CW), microwave (MIC), cooking …

Restricting Bunk Space Allotments To 6 Or 10 Inches Has Minimal Impact On Growth Performance In Limit-Fed Receiving Cattle, W. Cole Ellis, Zachary M. Duncan, Madeline S. Grant, William R. Hollenbeck, Evan C. Titgemeyer, Dale A. Blasi

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:The objective of our experiment was to determine if bunk allotments of 6, 10, 14, or 18 in per head in pens containing 18 to 28 head impacts growth performance of growing calves limit-fed a high-energy dietbased on corn and corn co-products.

Study Description:A total of 332 crossbred heifers were blocked by source, stratified by individual arrival weight, and assigned to a pen. Pens were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: 6, 10, 14, and 18 in of bunk space per head. Pens contained 18 to 28 head per pen. Heifers were limit-fed once daily at …

Effects Of Supplementing Corn Silage To Fall-Calving Heifers And Cows Grazing Tall Fescue On Cow Performance, J. Wyatt L. Banks, Jaymelynn K. Farney, Karol E. Fike, Jason M. Warner

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective was to test the effect of fescue cultivars and supplemental feeding of cows grazing fescue pastures on cow performance and pasture management. Primiparous and multiparous Angus-based crossed cows (n = 45) averaging 151 ± 7 d of gestation at turnout, were randomly allocated and stratified to pasture treatment by parity. Each pasture contained 3 cows of different ages, consisting of a young (first-calf heifer), middle-aged (3-5 yrs.), and old (≥ 6 yrs.) cow. Treatment was a 2 by 2 factorial design with two types of pasture (toxin producing or non-toxin producing fescue) and two levels of supplemental feeding …

Effects Of Supplementing Corn Silage To Fall-Calving Heifers And Cows Grazing Bermudagrass And Calf Performance And Physiology, J. Wyatt L. Banks, Jaymelynn K. Farney, Karol E. Fike, Jason M. Warner

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective was to test the effect of supplemental feeding on cows grazing bermudagrass pastures on cow-calf performance and pasture management. In a completely randomized design, (n = 24) primiparous and multiparous Angus-based cross cows were allocated to bermudagrass pasture with one of two levels of supplemental feeding (non-supplemented or supplemented at 1% of BW on a DM basis of corn silage). Each treatment consisted of (n = 4) pastures stocked with three cows of different ages, a young (first-calf heifer), middle-aged (3-5 yrs.), and old (≥ 6 yrs.) cow, each averaging 155 ± 14 d of gestation at turnout. …

Stocker Steer Gains And Fly Numbers As Impacted By Burn Date And Type Of Mineral On Tallgrass Native Range – Year 5, Jaymelynn K. Farney, Kloey Rash, Hailey Gillespie, Emily Black, Noelle Collins

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This study aims to evaluate effectiveness of two operational management systems for steer gains and fly control. The first strategy evaluated was pasture burn date of March (MAR) or April (APR). The second management strategy was free-choice mineral with spices (SPICE) or without spices (CON). Eight pastures (n = 281 steers; initial weight 566 lb) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial treatment structure. Steers were weighed individually, randomly assigned to treatment, and grazed for 89 days. Weekly, 33% of steers were photographed to count flies and evaluated for hair coat score. Steers that grazed pastures that were burned …

Long-Term Effects Of April, August, Or October Prescribed Fire On Yearling Stocker Cattle Performance And Native Rangeland Plant Composition In The Kansas Flint Hills, Zachary M. Duncan, Alan J. Tajchman, Jack Lemmon, William R. Hollenbeck, Dale A. Blasi, K. C. Olson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:The objective of our experiment was to determine if prescribed fire applied in April, August, or October influenced stocker growth performance or plant community characteristics in the Kansas Flint Hills over a 6-year period.

Study Description:A total of 1,939 yearling stocker cattle were assigned to one of three prescribed-burn treatments: spring (April 11 ± 5.7 days), summer (August 25 ± 6.2 days or fall (October 2 ± 9.0 days) over a 5-year period. Calves were grazed from May to August for 90 days. Individual body weights were recorded at the start and end of the grazing season. Native …

Reducing Tick Populations Through Prescribed Burning, Andrea Salazar, Herman Griese, Victoria Pickens, Cassandra Olds

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:Explore the effect of prescribed fire on tick population dynamics in the Kansas Flint Hills.

Study Description:Ticks were collected from spring (April), summer (August), or fall (September) burned pastures as well as control, unburned areas. Burning had been carried out for four consecutive years prior to this study. Tick populations were sampled every other week from March to August using material dragging and dry ice bait sampling methods. Tick species, sex, and life stage were identified morphologically and the total numbers for each burn treatment were calculated.

The Bottom Line:Consecutive burning of grazing pasture could be considered …

Effects Of Dietary Energy Concentration And Feed Intake On Growth Performance Of Newly Received Growing Cattle Fed Diets Based On Corn And Corn Co-Products, Colton D. Weir, Zachary M. Duncan, William R. Hollenbeck, Sean P. Montgomery, Tyler J. Spore, Dale A. Blasi

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:This study’s focus was to evaluate if feeding equal amounts of energy from a high-energy limit-fed diet has an effect on growth performance of growing beef cattle when compared to traditional high-roughagead libitumdiets.

Study Description:A total of 392 crossbred heifers were fed one of four experimental diets for a 70-day receiving period. Treatments included a high-roughage diet formulated to provide 45 Mcal of net energy for gain (NE_g) per 100 lb of dry matter (DM) and fed forad libitumintake (AL) or a high-energy diet formulated to provide 60 Mcal of NE_{g …}

Post-Weaning Feed Intake And Performance Of Bulls Developed In An Automated Feed Intake Management System, J. Wyatt L. Banks, Karol E. Fike, Jason M. Warner

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:Our objectives were to compare expected and observed dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain (ADG) using modeled nutrient requirement equations, and to evaluate change in DMI over time of beef bull calves fed in an automated feed intake system.

Study Description:Feed intake and performance data from purebred Angus, Hereford, and Simmental bull calves across two calf crops [birth years 2021 (n = 40) and 2022 (n = 37)] were utilized for this analysis. Projected DMI and ADG were calculated for each group of bulls by year on an individual basis using the Growing Bull module of …

Comparing The Performance Of Cattle Castrated Using Different Techniques Upon Arrival At The Feedlot, Tyler Blackwood, Tyler J. Spore, Michael D. Kleinhenz, William R. Hollenbeck, Dale A. Blasi, A. J. Tarpoff

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:To determine the least detrimental castration technique in terms of growth performance when castrating cattle upon entry to the feedlot.

Study Description:Intact bulls were sourced from the Southeastern U.S. and received at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Unit. After backgrounding, 700-lb bulls were castrated using various techniques, including banding, banding with splitting of the distal scrotum, use of the Henderson Tool, and use of a burdizzo clamp. A group of intact bulls served as a negative control group. Weights were obtained at regular intervals throughout the 56-day study to quantify and compare growth performance.

Results:The day …

Kansas State University Feedlot Boot Camp And Teaching Program: Growing Student Interest And Engagement In The Feedlot Industry, Danielle M. Stock, Pete Anderson, Karol E. Fike

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:Our objectives were to summarize the development and structure of the Kansas State University Feedlot Boot Camp and Teaching Program and examine student interest in careers in the feedlot industry after participation.

Study Description:Since 2019, 95 Kansas State University College of Agriculture undergraduate students participated in the Feedlot Boot Camp Program. The aim was to develop students’ knowledge, skills, and professional relationships in feedlot management to help meet the critical need for trained professionals in the industry. Components are a four-day Feedlot Boot Camp, student presentations, animal health day, and an optional feedlot internship. Students who completed all …

The Effects Of Thawing Method On Consumer Palatability Ratings Of Beef Strip Loin Steaks, Stephanie L. Witberler, Lindsey K. Decker, Erin S. Beyer, Morgan D. Zumbaugh, Michael D. Chao, Jessie L. Vipham, Travis G. O'Quinn

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:The objective of this study was to determine palatability differences in beef strip loin steaks among various U.S. Department of Agriculture approved thawing methods and those commonly utilized by consumers.

Study Description:Paired Low Choice beef strip loins (n=15) were collected and fabricated into six sections, each section was fabricated into 1-in steaks and assigned one of six thawing methods including: countertop, cook from frozen, cold water, hot water, microwave, and refrigerator. Steaks were cooked to an internal peak temperature of 160°F and consumers were given samples which they evaluated for juiciness, tenderness, flavor liking, overall liking, …

2024 Cattlemen's Day Full Report

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This report includes research conducted in 2023 on beef cattle management, nutrition, and meat science conducted at Kansas State University. Specific topics include effects of prescribed burning and grazing in the Flint Hills, managing livestock pests with prescribed range burning, feeding techniques and methods in feedlots, nutrition supplements for improved health management, and beef thawing methods and consumer palatability preferences.

Evaluation Of Grazing Options During Summer For Growing Heifers – Year 3, Jaymelynn K. Farney, Kloey Rash, Noelle Collins, Emily Black, Hailey Gillespie

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Developing methods to provide high quality forage through most of the year is important for cattle operations. The purpose of this study was to determine forage management options to offset the summer “slump” with fescue. Three grass pasture treatments (8 pastures total; 4 acres each) were used in a completely randomized design and stocked with growing heifers (n = 32; initial weight 559 ± 20 lb). Pasture treatments consisted of crabgrass (CRAB), bermudagrass (BERM), and sorghum-sudan interseeded into novel fescue (SS-FES). Novel fescue is fescue variety that has endophyte organism but does not produce toxin. Heifers were weighed and grazed …

Effect Of Corn Type And Form Of Supplement On Grazing Steers – Year 3, Jaymelynn K. Farney, Kloey Rash, Noelle Collins, Emily Black, Hailey Gillespie

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Eighty stocker steers were grazed on bromegrass from the middle of May to the beginning of November and were provided five different feeds while on grass during the summer. Treatments evaluated included (1) mineral only; (2) free-choice supplementation in the form of liquid feed (MIX30), or (3) block format (Mintrate 40 Red); and hand-fed supplements of 60% corn:40% dried distillers grains at 0.5% of body weight on a dry matter basis offered daily where the corn was either an (4) isoline corn (ISO; parent genetic line) or (5) Enogen feed corn (ENO; includes the alpha-amylase gene). Steers were weighed every …

Southeast Research And Extension Center Agricultural Research 2024

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The 2024 Southeast Research and Extension Center Agricultural Research report includes research conducted in the areas of beef cattle management, cropping systems, and forage crops.

A Multi-Trial Analysis Evaluating The Effects Of Pharmacological Levels Of Intellibond Copper On Growing-Finishing Pig Growth Performance And Carcass Characteristics, Hayden R. Kerkaert, Jason C. Woodworth, Joel M. Derouchey, Steve S. Dritz, Mike D. Tokach, Robert D. Goodband, Hilda Calderon Cartagena

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A multi-trial analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of pharmacological levels of added IntelliBond Copper (IBC) on growing-finishing pig growth performance and carcass characteristics compared to pigs fed control diets containing typical additions of copper from a trace mineral premix. Data with 331 observations within 8 trials were included in the final database. Inclusion rates for IBC were either 150 (7 trials), or 200 (1 trial) ppm. Pigs fed IBC throughout the entire grow-finish period had greater (P<0.05) overall ADG, ADFI, and final BW and tended (P= 0.085) to be more efficient than pigs fed control diets. There was no evidence for differences (P …

Weaning Method Evaluation For Beef Cattle, Jaymelynn K. Farney

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Weaning is a stressful event for calves. Various management practices have been suggested to reduce weaning stress. The purpose of this study was to evaluate three different weaning management practices on calf gains at weaning. Eighty-eight bull and heifer calves were assigned to one of three weaning treatments at two research locations. The weaning management options were abrupt weaning, fence-line weaning, and use of a nose-flap weaning device. Calves were weighed at the start of the measurement period and then two weeks later after weaning was completed. Calves that were weaned using the nose-flap method had significantly lower gains than …

Dietary Acid-Binding Capacity-4 Influences Nursery Pig Performance And Fecal Dry Matter, Ethan B. Stas, Mike D. Tokach, Jason C. Woodworth, Joel M. Derouchey, Robert D. Goodband, Jordan T. Gebhardt

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 360 pigs (200 × 400 DNA; initially 12.9 lb) were used to evaluate the impact of increasing the acid-binding capacity-4 (ABC-4) of the diet on nursery pig performance and fecal dry matter (DM). At weaning, pigs were allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments. There were 5 pigs per pen and 12 replications per treatment. Pigs were fed experimental diets in two phases with phase 1 being from d 0 to 10 post-weaning followed by phase 2 from d 10 to 23. Diets were formulated with increasing ABC-4 levels ranging from 150 meq/kg (diet 1, low ABC-4) …

Summary Of Methodology Used In Enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli (Etec) Challenge Experiments In Weanling Pigs And Quantitative Assessment Of Observed Variability, Payton L. Dahmer, Joel M. Derouchey, Jordan T. Gebhardt, Chad B. Paulk, Cassandra K. Jones

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Post-weaning diarrhea in pigs can be caused by the F4 or F18 strains of enterotoxigenicEscherichia coli(ETEC). To evaluate interventions for ETEC, experimental infection via a challenge model is critical. To our knowledge, there is a lack of explanation for the variability in responses observed across ETEC challenge studies. Our objective was to quantitatively summarize the responses and variability among recent ETEC challenge studies and develop a tool for sample size calculation. The most widely evaluated response criteria across ETEC challenge studies are growth performance, fecal consistency and bacterial shedding, intestinal morphology, and immune responses. Factors that contribute to …

Effects Of Almond Hull Inclusion On Growth Performance Of Limit-Fed Growing Cattle, Z. M. Duncan, Z. L. Debord, M. G. Pflughoeft, K. J. Suhr, W. R. Hollenbeck, F. K. Brazle, E. C. Titgemeyer, K. C. Olson, D. A. Blasi

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of almond hull inclusion and almond hull processing on growth performance of limit-fed growing beef cattle during a 56-day growing period.

Study Description:A total of 364 steers were assigned to one of four diets. The control diet contained (dry matter basis) 39.5% dry-rolled corn, 7.5% supplement, 40% wet-corn gluten feed, and 13% prairie hay. Almond hulls replaced prairie hay or prairie hay and dry-rolled corn and were fed at 13 and 26% of the diet, respectively. A subset of almond hulls was processed using a grinder mixer with …

Evaluation Of A Microencapsulated Form Of Zinc Oxide On Weanling Pig Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology, And Zinc Excretion, Payton L. Dahmer, Franco S. Matias-Ferreyra, Cassandra K. Jones

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 350 pigs (DNA 200 × 400; initially 13.31 ± 0.04 lb BW) were used in a 42-d study with 5 pigs per pen and 12 pens per treatment. At weaning, pigs were randomly allocated to pens and pens were randomly allotted to dietary treatments. Dietary treatments were: 1) negative control (standard nursery diet containing 110 ppm Zn from trace mineral premix); 2) control diet with 3,000 ppm added Zn in the form of ZnO in phase 1 and 2,000 ppm added Zn in the form of ZnO in phase 2 (High-ZnO); 3) control diet with 400 ppm …

Evaluation Of Anchovy Fish Meal With Or Without Added Fish Solubles On Nursery Pig Performance, Ethan B. Stas, Joel M. Derouchey, Mike D. Tokach, Jason C. Woodworth, Robert D. Goodband, Jordan T. Gebhardt

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 1,134 pigs (L337 × 1050 PIC; initially 10.4 lb) were used to evaluate anchovy fish meal with or without added fish solubles on nursery pig performance in a commercial environment. At weaning, pigs were allotted to 1 of 3 dietary treatments containing three different specialty protein sources added on an SID Lys basis. Dietary treatments consisted of a control diet containing enzymatically treated soybean meal at 7.0% of the diet, a diet containing 5.1% anchovy fish meal, and a diet containing 5.33% anchovy fish meal with added anchovy fish solubles. Pigs were fed experimental diets in phases …

Effect Of Sulfate Or Hydroxychloride Forms Of Zinc, Manganese, And Copper On Growth Performance, Weight Variation, Carcass Characteristics, And Economics Of Grow-Finish Pigs, Hilario M. Cordoba, Jason C. Woodworth, Robert D. Goodband, Joel M. Derouchey, Mike D. Tokach, Jordan T. Gebhardt, Chris P.A. Van De Ligt

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 1,026 grow-finish pigs (337 × 1050 PIC; initially 57.2 ± 0.73 lb) were used in a 124-d trial to compare sulfate and hydroxychloride forms of Zn, Mn, and Cu on growth performance, carcass characteristics, weight variation, and economics of grow-finish pigs. Pigs were housed in mixed gender pens with 27 pigs per pen and 19 pens per treatment. The treatments were structured as a completely randomized design and consisted of a control diet containing 150, 16, and 110 ppm of Cu, Mn, and Zn, respectively, from sulfate sources or the same inclusion provided by hydroxychloride sources. Experimental …

A Meta-Regression Analysis To Evaluate The Effects Of Narasin On Grow-Finish Pig Performance, Larissa L. Becker, Jordan T. Gebhardt, Mike D. Tokach, Jason C. Woodworth, Robert D. Goodband, Joel M. Derouchey, Jenna A. Seltzer, Roger A. Arentson, Michael Shields, Christopher L. Puls

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A meta-regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of added narasin in growing-finishing pig diets to predict the influence on average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency (G:F), and carcass yield. A database was developed containing 21 technical reports, abstracts, and refereed papers from 2012 to 2021 representing 35 observations for growth performance data in studies ranging from 35 to 116 days in length (overall data). In addition, within these 35 observations, individual period data were evaluated (143 observations) using weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly performance intervals (period data). Regression model equations were developed, and predictor variables were assessed with a …