Life Sciences Commons^™

Surveillance Of Ticks Parasitizing Tennessee Beef Cattle And Investigations Into The Microbial Communities Of Cattle Associated And Questing Amblyomma Maculatum, David Paul Theuret

Masters Theses

Despite the risks that ticks and tick-borne disease pose to the beef cattle industry, many Tennessee producers are unaware of the dangers they represent. This mindset could facilitate the invasion and establishment of exotic ticks and pathogens that would devastate the cattle industry. Current control practices rely on chemical methods, which are not effective long-term; therefore, investigations into creating an integrated approach to control would create more sustainable methods. This study aims to address this through two objectives: The first is to determine the species composition, seasonal prevalence, geographic distribution and diversity of ticks on Tennessee cattle. The second is …

Understanding The Contributions Of Beef Cattle To Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Elizabeth Stewart, Eric Thacker, Matthew D. Garcia, Juan J. Villalba

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes current and projected beef consumption, methane, nitrogen, beef cattle production, and possibilities for more sustainable beef production.

Collection Of Biological Material For Commercial Genomic Testing In Beef, Matthew D. Garcia, Kevin Heaton, Linden Greenhalgh

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes collecting biological material for commercial genomic testing of beef cattle. It includes a description of materials needed, methods of collecting including blood, ear notching, or tissue collection, and how to ship and store samples.

Effects Of Gestational Dietary Intake On Calf Growth And Early Feedlot Performance Of Offspring, Jose M. Gardner

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Fetal programming is a relatively new and quickly growing field of research in the livestock industry. The concept of fetal programming is simply defined as the effects a change in maternal nutritional intake has on offspring, whether it be a genetic or physical change. The intention of this study was to specifically look at the effects of nutrient restriction of cows during the second trimester of gestation on the growth and performance of the resulting calves.

In this study, thirty-two cows of predominantly angus influence from the Utah state university herd were chosen, naturally bred to a pure bred angus …

Succession Planning And Perceived Obstacles And Attractions For Future Generations Entering Beef Cattle Production, Lee L. Schulz, Georgeanne M. Artz, Patrick J. Gunn

Journal of Applied Farm Economics

This study provides valuable insights into cow-calf producer and feedlot operator succession plans for transferring cattle operations upon exiting the industry. Across both cow-calf producers and feedlot operators, about 50% expect to be raising cattle for 10 more years or less; however, about 39% of these producers do not have a succession plan in place. Cow-calf producers view a rural lifestyle, self-employment, working with livestock, and working with family as the biggest attractions to future generations entering beef cattle production. Cow-calf producers view environmental regulations, land tax policy, and expansion of corn and soybean acres as the biggest obstacles. Feedlot …

The Difference Between Two Implants And No Implants In Nebraska Steers, Bailie Boyce

Undergraduate Research Journal

A small-pelleted implant placed under the skin on the back of the ear of a calf can help increase average daily gains (ADG) by 10-20% when compared to non-implanted calves (Payne 2012). As a result of increased feed efficiency from the implant(s), less feed is needed, which in return decreases the costs of production by 5-10% (Payne 2012). Implants can influence weight gain in cattle, resulting in an overall increase in beef supply for producers. Implants work by slowly dissolving under the skin to release a small amount of artificial hormones daily anywhere from 60 to 120 days. They are …

Economic Selection Index Development For Beefmaster Cattle I: Terminal Breeding Objective, Kathleen P. Ochsner, M. D. Macneil, Matthew L. Spangler

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to develop an economic selection index for Beefmaster cattle in a terminal production system where bulls are mated to mature cows with all resulting progeny harvested. National average prices from 2010 to 2014 were used to establish income and expenses for the system. Phenotypic and genetic parameter values among the selection criteria and goal traits were obtained from literature. Economic values were estimated by simulating 100,000 animals and approximating the partial derivatives of the profit function by perturbing traits one at a time, by 1 unit, while holding the other traits constant at their …

Economic Selection Index Development For Beefmaster Cattle Ii: General-Purpose Breeding Objective, Kathleen P. Ochsner, M. D. Macneil, Ronald M. Lewis, Matthew L. Spangler

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

An economic selection index was developed for Beefmaster cattle in a general-purpose production system in which bulls are mated to a combination of heifers and mature cows, with resulting progeny retained as replacements or sold at weaning. National average prices from 2010 to 2014 were used to establish income and expenses for the system. Genetic parameters were obtained from the literature. Economic values were estimated by simulating 100,000 animals and approximating the partial derivatives of the profit function by perturbing traits 1 at a time, by 1 unit, while holding the other traits constant at their respective means. Relative economic …

The Impact Of Training Strategies On The Accuracy Of Genomic Predictors In United States Red Angus Cattle, J. Lee, Stephen D. Kachman, Matthew L. Spangler

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Genomic selection (GS) has become an integral part of genetic evaluation methodology and has been applied to all major livestock species, including beef and dairy cattle, pigs, and chickens. Significant contributions in increased accuracy of selection decisions have been clearly illustrated in dairy cattle after practical application of GS. In the majority of U.S. beef cattle breeds, similar efforts have also been made to increase the accuracy of genetic merit estimates through the inclusion of genomic information into routine genetic evaluations using a variety of methods. However, prediction accuracies can vary relative to panel density, the number of folds used …

Weaning Strategies In Beef Cattle To Reduce Stress, Matthew Garcia, Kerry Rood, Clark Israelsen

All Current Publications

This fact sheet considers weaning strategies for beef cattle, including the advantages and disadvantages of fenceline weaning, and twostep weaning.

Evaluation Of Estrous Response Patches As A Tool To Determine Optimum Timing For Artificial Insemination And If Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Is Needed At Timed-Ai In Beef Cattle, Danilo Demeterco

LSU Master's Theses

Two experiments evaluated using an estrous-detection patch to identify animals that are in standing estrus at split-timed AI (STAI) and the necessity of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) injection at STAI on a 7-Day CO-Synch + CIDR protocol. In experiment 1 (n=216) and in experiment 2 (n=101), multiparous lactating crossbred beef cows were stratified by age, BW, BCS, and post-partum interval to 2 treatment groups: CTRL=timed-AI (TAI) at 72h post CIDR removal, or TRT=STAI at 72 or 84h post CIDR removal. All females received GnRH plus a CIDR on d0, prostaglandin-F2α, CIDR removal, and an Estrotect estrous-detector patch on d7. At …

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 …

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 …

Acknowledgments, Livestock And Meat Industry Council Inc, Biological Variability

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Listed below are individuals, organizations, and firms that have contributed to the beef research program through financial support, product donations, or services. We appreciate your help!

Cattlemen’S Day 2017, Full Report

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Full Cattlemen's Day 2017 publication, including research articles on beef cattle management, nutrition, and meat science.