Life Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Growing-Season Prescribed Burning On Vigor Of Sericea Lespedeza In The Kansas Flint Hills: I. Suppression Of Seed Production And Canopy Dominance, J. A. Alexander, W. H. Fick, J. Lemmon, G. A. Gatson, G. W. Preedy, K C. Olson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) is a highly fecund noxious weed in Kansas and surrounding states. Individual plants are capable of producing greater than 1,000 seeds annually. Vigorous seed production allows sericea lespedeza to rapidly infiltrate native and cultivated grasslands; seed can be transported great distances via farm machinery and the alimentary canal of wild and domestic herbivores. In Kansas alone, sericea lespedeza infests more than 700 square miles of pasture, primarily in the Flint Hills region. The resulting damage to native habitats for wildlife and pasture quality for domestic herbivores has been devastating.
The predominant grazing management practice …

Effects Of Growing-Season Prescribed Burning On Vigor Of Sericea Lespedeza In The Kansas Flint Hills: Ii. Plant-Species Composition, J. A. Alexander, W. H. Fick, J. Lemmon, G. A. Gatson, G. W. Preedy, K C. Olson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Fire has, for centuries, been a key force for sustainability of native ecosystems in the Kansas Flint Hills. Prior to the arrival of European settlers, prescribed and wild fires occurred at less than 3-year intervals in the tallgrass prairie region. As a result, native tallgrass plant communities adapted to fire at regular intervals and plant-species composition became stable on a geologic time scale.
Currently, prescribed fire is used in the Kansas Flint Hills as a treatment for control of woody-stemmed invasive species such as eastern red cedar, honey locust, and roughleaf dogwood. These fires are generally applied in March and …

Horn Fly Control And Growth Implants Are Effective Strategies For Heifers Grazing Flint Hills Pasture, S. S. Trehal, J. L. Talley, K. D. Sherrill, T. Spore, R. N. Wahl, W. R. Hollenbeck, Dale Blasi

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Horn flies (Haematobia irritans(L.)) are considered the most important external parasite that negatively affects pasture-based beef systems with losses estimated to exceed $1 billion annually to the U.S. beef industry. Control strategies have relied heavily on insecticide applications to control horn flies and are implemented when the economic threshold of 200 flies/animal have been exceeded. When horn fly populations are maintained below 200 flies/animal by treating them with insecticides then the level of stress annoyance behaviors such as leg stomping, head throwing, and skin twitching decreases while grazing increases. While most stocker operators utilize some type of fly …

Zelnate On Arrival Could Decrease The Likelihood Of Subsequent Pulls In Suspect Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex Cases, T. Spore, S. P. Montgomery, G. A. Hanzlicek, W. R. Hollenbeck, R. N. Wahl, J. E. Sears, Dale Blasi

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Antimicrobial metaphylaxis is an important tool used for the prevention of Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex; a disease with a large economic impact that typically affects newly-weaned beef calves that are marketed and transported a distance from their origin.

There are questions involving the potential benefit of Zelnate, a novel non-antibiotic technology designed to activate an animal’s natural immunity to fight Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex, being used either solely or in combination with metaphylaxis at the time of initial processing of high risk calves. More knowledge is also needed regarding the possible effects of repeated use of Zelnate when subsequent therapy …

Route Of Mannheimia Haemolytica And Pasteurella Multocida Vaccine Administration Does Not Affect Health Or Performance Of Receiving Heifers, T. Spore, M. E. Corrigan, T. R. Parks, C. S. Weibert, M. L. Detray, W. R. Hollenbeck, R. N. Wahl, Dale Blasi

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Light weight stocker calves often experience health problems shortly after arrival to feeding facilities. Preventative health programs are routinely administered to calves upon arrival to reduce the incidence of Bovine Respiratory Disease. The major route of vaccine administration in cattle is via injection through either intramuscular or subcutaneous routes. Several products have been introduced that utilize the intranasal route of vaccine administration. There are several reasons why intranasal vaccine administration may be more beneficial: 1) Intranasal vaccine administration alleviates concerns that injections pose for Beef Quality Assurance programs. 2) Intranasal vaccine administration may be less stressful on the animal. 3) …

Intermittent Feeding Of Tylan Reduces Use Of In-Feed Antibiotics While Still Controlling Incidence Of Liver Abscesses In Finishing Steers, H. C. Muller, R. G. Amachawadi, H. M. Scott, J. S. Drouillard

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Liver abscesses are a cause of concern for many feedlots across the country as they lead to a decrease in feedlot performance of finishing cattle as well as a decrease in the final carcass value. Loss in carcass value is due to not only the abscessed liver being condemned, but also due to trim loss associated with the condemned liver. The macrolide drug tylosin phosphate is the drug of choice for metaphylactic treatment of liver abscesses in feedlot cattle. The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug for over-the-counter use, however, from January 2017 all medically important (used in human …

Producer Opinions On Antibiotic Use In The Beef Industry, T. Lee, C. D. Reinhardt, E. F. Schwandt, D. U. Thomson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Antibiotic use in the beef industry is of increasing interest to consumers and has become a point of discussion for producers, veterinarians, and professional scientists in recent years. With the vast amount of information available on the internet and social media, consumers are becoming more knowledgeable about beef production practices and the use of antibiotics in the food animal industries. Furthermore, scientists have devoted a large amount of time and money to research to investigate consumer opinions and perspectives about management practices used in food animal production. However, many of these investigations fail to include the opinions and perspectives of …

Antioxidant Feeding Does Not Impact Incidence Or Severity Of Liver Abscesses, H. C. Muller, C. L. Van Bibber-Krueger, J. S. Drouillard

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Liver abscesses are a large source of economic loss in feedlot cattle. Not only do liver abscesses lead to a decrease in feedlot performance, but these livers are condemned in the abattoir and can also lead to a further decrease in carcass value due to trim loss. Tylosin phosphate is a metaphylactic macrolide drug that effectively decreases the occurrence of liver abscesses. The drug is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for over-the-counter use. However, in January 2017 the FDA will require a veterinary feed directive for medically important antibiotics (antibiotics that are used in human health) used in …

Decline In Brahman Breed Influence Of Beef Calf Lots Marketed By Video Auction From 1995 To 2015, E. D. Mccabe, M. E. King, K. E. Fike, K. L. Hill, G. M. Rogers, K. G. Odde

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Brahman cattle are widely known for their ability to tolerate hot and humid climates as well as for their insect and parasite resistance. An estimated 40% of all beef cows in the United States are located in the southern region, which has a relatively hot climate. Historically, many of these beef cows have had at least some Brahman influence. The opportunity to evaluate potential changes in the influence of the Brahman breed on beef calves produced in the United States was available through lots of beef calves marketed through a video auction service. The objective was to characterize the potential …

Survey Of Cattle Feedlot Facilities In The High Plains Region Of The United States, J. C. Simroth, D. U. Thomson, E. F. Schwandt, S. J. Bartle, C. K. Larson, C. D. Reinhardt

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Defining the appropriate dimensions and type of feeding facilities for feedlot cattle fed in outdoor pens is important because the characteristics of these facilities have a significant impact on the performance, welfare, and health of cattle housed in those facilities, as well as a considerable impact on the final cost of the project. Although multiple sources can be found in the literature that provide recommendations with regard to design of facilities to be used in outdoor feeding facilities for feedlot cattle, there are no published data that describe the dimensions and type of feeding facilities currently used by the feedlot …

Differences In Efficacy Between Gamithromycin, Tilmicosin, And Tulathromycin As Metaphylactic Treatments In High Risk Calves For Bovine Respiratory Disease, T. Miller, M. E. Hubbert, E. F. Schwandt, D. U. Thomson, C. D. Reinhardt

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The cost of Bovine Respiratory Disease to the beef industry due to death, poorer conversions, and therapy is estimated to cost more than $3 billion per year. Identifying and mitigating Bovine Respiratory Disease in cattle can be difficult due to the increased susceptibility for Bovine Respiratory Disease in high risk cattle. One management option to minimize an outbreak of respiratory disease is the use of metaphylaxis, the mass treatment of a group of calves to reduce the incidence and adverse effects of respiratory disease on high risk animals. Criteria used to determine the necessity of metaphylactic treatment against Bovine Respiratory …

Prevalence Of Horns In A Pen Does Not Affect Incidence Of Carcass Bruising In Feedlot Cattle, M. E. Youngers, E. F. Schwandt, D. U. Thomson, J. C. Simroth, S. J. Bartle, M Siemens, C. D. Reinhardt

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Disbudding and dehorning are two common practices done to remove horns from cattle to prevent injury to handlers and other cattle and to reduce bruising of carcasses. Bruised carcasses result in substantial reduction in profit due to trim loss, increased sanitation risk, and loss in time on the rail during processing. Previous research has indicated that cattle with horns increased hide damage of cohorts and caused injury to handlers. Cattle with horns cause circular shaped bruises that lead to trim loss due to bruising. Cattle with tipped horns do not have a lower bruising rate than cattle with intact horns. …

Twenty-Four Hour Holter Monitoring In Finishing Cattle Housed Outdoors, D. A. Frese, J. D. Thomason, C. D. Reinhardt, S. J. Bartle, D. N. Rethorst, G. H. Loneragan, E. F. Schwandt, D. U. Thomson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring, in the form of Holter monitoring, has been used in human and veterinary medicine for decades as an aid in the diagnosis and determination of appropriate therapy of heart rhythm disturbances. Within veterinary medicine, Holter monitors have been primarily used in companion animal species, yet little attention has been given to food animal species. Moreover, the heart rhythm in clinically normal cattle fed high concentrate diets and housed outdoors in confined drylot facilities has not been previously reported. In order to properly identify pathologic arrhythmias in cattle, the normal rhythm and arrhythmia prevalence in healthy cattle should …

Water Intake In Growing Beef Cattle, C. M. Ahlberg, K. Allwardt, A Broocks, K Bruno, A. Taylor, C. Krehbiel, C. Richards, S. Place, U. Desilva, D. Vanoverbeke, R. Mateescu, M. M. Rolf

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Water is an essential part of livestock and human diets and is often thought of as an inexpensive, readily available renewable natural resource. However, the amount of competition between humans, wildlife, feed production, and livestock for high-quality water is increasing, not only from the effects of drought but from the pressure of a growing global population (Nardone et al., 2010). With limited resources available for production agriculture, there is a need to identify and select for efficient animals that can produce more product with fewer inputs. Although some work has been done in dairy cattle, very little data is available …

Feeding A Novel Trace Mineral At Lower Levels To Grazing Stocker Cattle Does Not Impair Performance, C. S. Weibert, W. R. Hollenbeck, S. B. Laudert, J. D. Kubick, Dale Blasi

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

When grazing stocker cattle on native Flint Hills pasture, optimizing growth rate is important in determining overall profitability. The correct selection of mineral supplements is an important decision that can be used to help promote overall productivity during a grazing season.

Evaluation Of Trace Mineral Sources On Newly Arrived Stocker Cattle, C. S. Weibert, W. R. Hollenbeck, S. B. Laudert, J. D. Kubick, Dale Blasi

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Light weight stocker calves experience variable degrees of physiological and psychological stressors as they are assembled from various marketing points and transported to their destination. Susceptibility to disease in young, long hauled calves is greatly enhanced and the consequence of sickness is a major cause for poor production outcomes. Enhanced nutritional trace mineral programs that contain zinc, copper, and manganese from organic or hydroxy sources may be more efficacious as a means of minimizing disease or realizing improved performance than the sulfate form of these respective trace minerals.

Feeding Nucleotides With Corn Germ Meal Or Dried Corn Distillers Grains Does Not Promote Growth Performance Of Receiving And Growing Calves, M. L. Detray, S. P. Montgomery, E. Titgemeyer, A. E. Wertz-Lutz, Christopher Vahl, A. T. Schilling, W. R. Hollenbeck, Dale Blasi

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Corn germ meal is often used in swine and poultry diets, but very little information exists on the effects on beef cattle and on newly arrived stressed cattle. When formulating receiving and growing diets, calf health and stress are important factors to consider. Including nucleotides, an immune-boosting feed additive may aid in gastrointestinal health of an animal and furthermore improve growth performance. The objective of these experiments was to determine: 1) the effects of corn germ meal in comparison to dried corn distillers grains on growth performance and 2) the effects of nucleotides on growth performance, by receiving and growing …

Receiving Stocker Cattle Performance Is Similar With Either Corn Or Sorghum Wet Distillers Grains, A. C. Vesco, A. K. Sexten, E. Titgemeyer, W. R. Hollenbeck, L C. Grimes, Dale Blasi

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Distillers grains are an excellent energy and protein feed source for beef cattle. Corn distillers grains have been fed to beef cattle for many years, but sorghum distillers grains are becoming more popular and may be more cost effective than corn. Sorghum is very comparable to corn in terms of energy, but has a higher crude protein value. All distillers grains are available in a wet and dry form. The moist texture of wet distillers grains can help to reduce sorting at the bunk and appears to improve intake in young calves. The objective of this study was to evaluate …

High Energy Digestible Fiber-Based Diets Improve Efficiency In Growing Heifers, T. Spore, S. P. Montgomery, G. A. Hanzlicek, K. T. Cavalli, W. R. Hollenbeck, R. N. Wahl, E. Titgemeyer, Christopher Vahl, Dale Blasi

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

An inherent challenge of long hauled, highly stressed calves is decreased feed intake upon destination arrival. Highly stressed, newly received stocker calves not consuming adequate amounts of energy are prone to a variety of disorders such as Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex and decreased performance throughout the feeding period. One mechanism that can be used to increase energy intake upon arrival is to make the diet more energy dense. Often times, this is accomplished by the addition of cereal grains high in fermentable carbohydrate including starch. Unfortunately, this has also been linked to increasing morbidity due to metabolic disorders. The goal …

Supplemental Zinc Sulfate Interacts With Optaflexx In Feedlot Heifers, C. L. Van Bibber-Krueger, R. G. Amachawadi, H. M. Scott, J. M. Gonzalez, J. S. Drouillard

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Optaflexx is a beta-adrenergic agonist, and is fed to cattle during the final 28 to 42 days on feed to improve growth rate and feed efficiency. Beta-adrenergic agonists are repartitioning agents that stimulate muscle deposition at the expense of fat deposition. Zinc is a trace mineral element that functions as an important component of many enzyme systems, including those associated with nucleic acid synthesis and metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates, thus making it an essential nutrient for growth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate growth, carcass characteristics, and plasma urea nitrogen concentrations in finishing heifers supplemented with Optaflexx …

Particle Size Of Dry-Rolled Corn Affects Starch Digestibility But Not Feedlot Performance, E. F. Schwandt, J. Wagner, T. Engle, S. J. Bartle, D. U. Thomson, C. D. Reinhardt

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Dry-rolling corn is a common practice in feedlots located in the Midwestern and Northern Plains regions of the United States. Optimizing total digestive tract starch utilization in diets containing dry-rolled corn is essential for maximizing efficiency. However, recommendations often suggest that grain be coarsely cracked to avoid producing an excessive amount of fine material that could potentially increase the rate of fermentation, reduce rumen pH, and cause digestive disturbances.

Wet distillers byproducts may be effectively used as a protein and energy source for feedlot finishing cattle and can replace a portion of the dry-rolled corn in the diet. The average …

Flake Density, Roll Diameter, And Flake Moisture All Influence Starch Availability Of Steam-Flaked Corn, E. F. Schwandt, M. E. Hubbert, D. U. Thomson, Christopher Vahl, S. J. Bartle, C. D. Reinhardt

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Steam-flaked corn is commonly fed in feedlot finishing diets because steam-flaking improves starch availability and nutrient utilization, thus improving the overall feeding value of corn. In most operations which utilize steam-flaked corn, grain is processed to a pre-determined flake density by setting the rolls to a specific separation distance and using tension to hold rolls together. Flaked grain is most often produced to a bulk density between 24 and 32 lb/bu, with a common recommendation of 27 lb/bu for corn; however, flake density among steam-flakers within a single mill and among feedlots can vary greatly. Flaking to a similar density …

A Survey Of Dry Processed Corn Particle Size And Fecal Starch In Midwestern U.S. Feedlots, E. F. Schwandt, D. U. Thomson, S. J. Bartle, C. D. Reinhardt

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Optimizing grain processing practices in cattle feeding operations is critical to reaching maximum feed utilization efficiency. An increased degree of grain processing has consistently shown improved dry matter and starch digestibility; however, it exists with conflicting results on improving performance in finishing cattle. These inconsistencies are likely due to diet composition, such as roughage and co-product level, that could offset the effects of reduced particle size on rate of fermentation thus reducing the risk of digestive dysfunction.

Finishing diets are commonly formulated with processed grain to increase utilization of starch and improve animal performance. Processing methods including steam-flaking, grinding, or …

Length Of Aging Has Greater Effect Than Lactic Acid Treatment On Color Stability Of Beef Chuck Muscles, G. D. Mccoy, T. A. Houser, T. G. O'Quinn, E. A. Boyle, K. J. Phelps, J. M. Gonzalez

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Lactic acid spray washes are widely used as an antimicrobial intervention in the beef industry. Sprays are typically applied to the exterior of carcasses and subprimal cuts to reduce or eliminate potential pathogenic bacteria. While the efficacy of these washes has been proven, other questions remain about their effect on color attributes of meat when applied to subprimal cuts. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a lactic acid subprimal wash on the color stability of beef chuck rolls.

Steak Location Within The Semitendinosus Muscle Impacts Metmyoglobin Accumulation On Steaks During Retail Display, K. J. Phelps, T. G. O'Quinn, T. A. Houser, J. M. Gonzalez

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Beef color is a major attribute consumers utilize to make purchasing decisions. It is estimated poor color shelf-life of beef steaks costs the meat industry more than $1 billion annually. Shelf-life color is influenced by a balance of two biochemical processes within steaks: metmyoglobin reducing ability and oxygen consumption. Steaks that exhibit a greater metmyoglobin reducing and a reduced oxygen consumption are typically characterized as more color stable. Characteristics of the muscle fiber or muscle cell are what determine the properties of a steak. Commonly, muscles with more oxidative fibers have an elevated oxygen consumption and reduced metmyoglobin reducing ability. …

Brahman Genetics Negatively Impact Protein Degradation And Tenderness Of Longissimus Lumborum Steaks, But Do Not Influence Collagen Cross-Linking, K. J. Phelps, D. D. Johnson, M. A. Elzo, C. B. Paulk, J. M. Gonzalez

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Beef tenderness is an important factor contributing to consumer eating satisfaction of beef products. Tenderness is dependent on several factors including: breed-type, postmortem age time, myofibrillar muscle protein degradation, and collagen content. During the past 30 years, numerous studies have indicated steaks from cattle with a greater percentage of Brahman genetics are tougher than steaks from Bos taurus cattle. The cause of tougher steaks is commonly attributed to Brahman cattle having a greater calpastatin activity which inhibits calpains, the enzymes responsible for myofibrillar protein degradation during the postmortem aging process. Some researchers have reported calpastatin activity was poorly correlated to …

Tenderness, Juiciness, And Flavor Contribute To The Overall Consumer Beef Eating Experience, L. N. Drey, T. G. O'Quinn

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Overall beef palatability can be attributed to three primary traits, tenderness, juiciness, and flavor, as well as the interaction among these traits (Smith and Carpenter, 1974). Multiple authors have worked to identify which of these palatability traits contributes the most to overall eating satisfaction and have historically identified tenderness as the most important palatability trait (Savell et al., 1987; Miller et al., 1995a; Savell et al., 1999; Egan et al., 2001). Overall eating quality of beef steaks may excel at one or even two of these traits, yet fail to meet consumer eating expectations due to the unsatisfactory level of …

Marbling Texture Does Not Affect Consumer Preference Of Beef Strip Loin Steaks, K. R. Vierck, J. M. Gonzalez, T. A. Houser, E. A. Boyle, T. G. O'Quinn

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In the beef industry, U.S. Department of Agriculture quality grades and marbling levels have long been associated with beef palatability and eating experience. Marbling score and maturity are the two major components of USDA quality grade. Traditionally, marbling texture has not been considered a factor of marbling score; however, there are often discernments at both the packer and retail level, as more than 75% of branded beef programs supervised by USDA-AMS have a specification of fine or medium textured marbling (USDA, 2015). Additionally, in some cases, fine and medium textured steaks are graded higher than their coarse counterparts, which results …

Coarse Marbled Beef Is Juicier And More Flavorful Than Fine Or Medium Marbled Beef, K. R. Vierck, J. M. Gonzalez, T. A. Houser, E. A. Boyle, T. G. O'Quinn

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Beef palatability and eating experience is driven primarily by U.S. Department of Agriculture quality grade and marbling levels. Beef USDA quality grade consists of both marbling levels and maturity. Conventionally, marbling texture has not been a consideration of quality grades. Currently, only one study has assessed the effects of marbling texture on beef palatability. Despite this, preferences for fine or medium marbling exist with both packers and retailers, as approximately 75% of branded beef programs under the supervision of USDA-AMS require fine or medium textured marbling, which equates to losses of premiums for packers and producers (USDA, 2016). The objective …

Angus Ground Beef Has Higher Overall Consumer Acceptability Than Grass-Fed Ground Beef, F. Najar, E. A. Boyle, T. G. O'Quinn, R. Danler, S. Stroda, L. N. Drey, K. R. Vierck, G. D. Mccoy

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Ground beef is considered one of the major sources of animal protein in the U.S., accounting for approximately 40% of beef consumption per capita (USDA, 2011). Consumers’ concern about animal welfare, sustainable production, and low fat products has influenced purchasing decisions, resulting in an increased demand for grass-fed ground beef (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, 2007). Grass-fed cattle are fed natural based forages or grass-hay, thus resulting in a higher deposition of omega-3 fatty acids in meat. Meat from grain-fed cattle has a lower omega-3 content due to the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid profile found in a …