Meat Science Commons^™

Impact Of Diet And Quality Grade On Shelf Life Of Beef Steaks, Nicolas A. Bland, Felipe A. Ribeiro, Nicolas J. Herrera, Morgan L. Henriott, Kellen B. Hart, Chris Calkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Steers were fed a diet containing dry rolled corn, steam flaked corn, dry rolled corn with 30% dried distillers grains, or steam flaked corn with 30% dried distillers grains. Strip loins from upper 2/3 Choice and Select- grade carcasses were obtained to evaluate the effects of diet and quality grade on shelf life characteristics. Strip loins were aged for 2, 9, 16, or 23 days. Results suggest that steaks from cattle fed steam flaked corn (with or without dried distillers grains) and from cattle fed dried distillers grains (regardless of corn type) had higher levels of many unsaturated fatty acids, …

Effect Of Urea And Distillers Inclusion In Dry- Rolled Corn Based Diets On Heifer Performance And Carcass Characteristics, Bradley M. Boyd, Kristin E. Hales, Andrew P. Foote, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Crossbred heifers (n=96, BW = 810 ± 20) were utilized to evaluate the effects of increasing wet distillers grains plus solubles and urea inclusion in a dry rolled corn based finishing diet on performance and carcass characteristics. Heifers were individually fed using a calan gate system with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Factors included distillers inclusion at either 10 or 20% of diet DM and urea inclusion at either 0.2 or 1.4% of diet DM. Th ere was no difference for final body weight, average daily gain, and feed conversion on a live or carcass adjusted basis …

Dose Titration Of Wet Distillers Grains Plus Solubles Replacing Syngenta Enogen Feed Corn And Interaction Between Corn Type And Distillers Inclusion, Mckenna M. Brinton, Bradley M. Boyd, Brianna B. Conroy, Hannah C. Wilson, J. C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

incomplete 2×4 factorial finishing study evaluated the effect of corn hybrid fed as dry- rolled corn, and inclusion level of wet distillers grains plus solubles on finishing performance of yearling steers. Th e two hybrids included a conventional commercial corn and Syngenta’s Enogen Feed Corn which contains an alpha amylase enzyme trait. Diets contained 0, 15, 30, or 45% with Syngenta Enogen Feed Corn and 0 or 30% wet distillers grains plus solubles in control corn diets. Increasing wet distillers grains plus solubles with Syngenta Enogen Feed Corn linearly increased hot carcass weight, dry matter intake, and average daily gain, …

Impact Of Feeding Syngenta Enhanced Feed Corn As Dry- Rolled Corn, High- Moisture Corn, Or A Blend To Finishing Yearlings, Mckenna M. Brinton, Bradley M. Boyd, F. Henry Hilscher, Levi J. Mcphillips, J. C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A finishing study evaluated the effect of corn hybrid and processing type on finishing performance of yearling steers. Treatment design was a 2×3+1 factorial, with two hybrids that included a conventional commercial corn (CON) and Syngenta’s Enogen Feed Corn (EFC). Corn was processed and fed as dry- rolled corn (DRC), high- moisture corn (HMC), or a 50:50 blend of the two for each hybrid. An additional treatment included 50% EFC DRC and 50% CON HMC, to evaluate a blend of the two hybrids and processing types. An interaction between hybrid and processing method was observed for ADG and F:G. Cattle …

Eff Ect Of Revalor- Xh, Revalor- 200, And Combination Revalor- Ih/Revalor- 200 On Yearling Heifer Growth Performance And Carcass Characteristics, Zachary E. Carlson, Galen E. Erickson, Caitlin A. Coulson, D. J. Jordon, Robert J. Cooper, Tony L. Scott, Sheri J. Bundy, Brandon L. Nuttelman

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A commercial feedlot trial tested three implant strategies (Revalor- 200 on day 0, Revalor- IH on d 0 and re- implanted with Revalor- 200 on d 56, or Revalor- XH on d 0) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of heifers fed for 138 d. Th ere were no differences observed for final body weight, dry matter intake, or average daily gain on a live basis among implant strategies. Heifers implanted with Revalor- IH/200 combination had greater carcass- adjusted final body weight and improved feed conversion compared to Revalor- 200 and Revalor- XH. Hot carcass weights, dressing percent, and LM …

Evaluation Of Two Implant Strategies, Revalor- Xh Or A Combination Revalor- Ih/Revalor- 200 On Heifer Growth Performance And Carcass Characteristics, Zachary E. Carlson, Galen E. Erickson, Bill D. Dicke, Marshall N. Streeter

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A commercial feedlot trial examined effects of two implant strategies (Revalor- IH on d 1 and re- implanted with Revalor- 200 on d 101 or Revalor- XH on d 1) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of heifers fed 183 days. Th ere were no differences between implant strategies for final body weight, dry matter intake, and average daily gain. Heifers implanted with the combination IH/200 treatment had improved carcassadjusted feed conversion, greater LM area, and lower calculated yield grade compared to heifers implanted with XH. Th e response in growth performance between the two implant strategies suggests that the …

Chopped Sugar Beets For Growing And Finishing Cattle, K. H. Jenkins, Brianna Conroy

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Crossbred steers (n=270; 645 lb, ± 3 lb) were used in a 2 × 3 factorial treatment design in a growing (54 d) and finishing study (130 d). Th e factors were 0 or 44% sugar beets (dry matter basis) in place of dry rolled corn, during the growing phase and 0, 15, or 30% sugar beets during the finishing phase. Daily gain was not different for the growing treatments but the calves on the 44% sugar beet treatment had less dry matter intake than those on the 0% sugar beet treatment, making them 5.5% more efficient. However, during the …

Nutrient Digestibility Of Condensed Algal Residue Solubles In Beef Cattle Fishing Diets, Mitchell M. Norman, Hannah C. Wilson, Andrea K. Watson, Galen E. Erickson, Jonathan W. Wilson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Condensed algal residue solubles (CARS) were evaluated in finishing cattle diets. Six treatments were evaluated (2 × 3 factorial arrangement), CARS inclusion in the diet at 0, 5, or 10% of diet dry matter with 0 or 20% wet distillers grains. Th e remainder of the diets consisted of 57.5– 87.5% dry rolled corn, 7.5% sorghum silage and 5% supplement. Increasing wet distillers grains in the diet had no effect on dry matter and organic matter intake but decreased dry matter and organic matter digestibility. Increasing CARS inclusion in the diet resulted in lower dry matter and organic matter intake …

Growth And Performance Of Terminal Sired Calves Grazing Range Or Meadow Pasture, Robert L. Ziegler, Tonya L. Meyer, Jacki A. Musgrave, J. C. Macdonald, J. Travis Mulliniks, Rick N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Multiparous dams were assigned to be bred by artificial insemination or natural service to bulls with terminal traits. Additionally, the cow- calf pairs grazed upland range or sub- irrigated meadow from June 1 to weaning in November. Two weeks aft er weaning, calves entered the feedlot as calffeds. Natural service range calves had the lightest weaning weights, final live weights, and hot carcass weights. Additional days on feed may be required for natural service range calves to reach similar body weights and carcass characteristics as other treatments. Average daily gain and feed conversion was improved in calves that grazed range …

Evaluation Of Masters Choice Corn Silage On Growing Steer Performance, Jiehua Xiong, Bradley M. Boyd, Levi Mcphillips, Kyle Vosburgh, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A growing study evaluated three corn silage hybrids on growing steer performance. Th e three hybrids were: a conventional hybrid- Farm Choice (CON) commonly grown in Eastern Nebraska which served as the control, Masters Choice hybrids MCT6365 RIB (MC1) selected to improve fi ber and starch digestion and MCT6733 GT3000 (MC2) that has been selected to improve fi ber digestion in cattle. Relative to CON, feeding hybrid MC1 resulted in similar DMI, but numerically increased ADG which significantly improved F:G compared to CON. Feeding MC2 led to greater DMI, similar ADG, and poorer (greater) F:G compared to CON. Feeding Masters …

Comparing March And May Calving Systems In The Nebraska Sandhills, Mckay R. Erickson, Devin L. Broadhead, J. A. Musgrave, Rick N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Three production years for March and May calving, Red Angus- based cows and their off spring from the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory (GSL), Whitman, NE, were evaluated. Steer progeny were evaluated through harvest and carcass data collected. Calf birth body weight (BW) and breeding BW were greater for May calves vs. March; however, adjusted weaning BW was greater for March calves. Pregnancy rates, weaning rates, calving interval, calving difficulty, and calf vigor were similar between calving systems. Udder score was greater for March cows. Compared with March calf- fed steers, May calf- fed steers had greater hot carcass weight (HCW), longissimus …

Effect Of Age Of Dam On Heifer Progeny Performance, Joslyn K. Beard, J. A. Musgrave, Kathy Hanford, Rick N. Funston, J. Travis Mulliniks

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Cattle records were gathered and evaluated over a 12- yr period to investigate how cow age impacts heifer progeny growth and reproductive performance. Cow records from March and May calving herds, were categorized into young, moderate, and old groups based on their age at calving each year in the herd. Heifer calves born to young cows had lighter body weight at birth and adjusted 205- d BW than heifers from moderate and old cows. Heifer pre-breeding BW and pregnancy determination BW were not influenced by dam age. However, age of dam does impact the percentage of heifers to reach puberty …

Evaluation Of Rumen Undegradable Protein Sources Fed In An Organic Production System, Elizabeth A. Schumacher, Galen E. Erickson, F. Henry Hilscher, Levi J. Mcphillips, Zac E. Carlson, Mary E. Drewnoski, Jim C. Macdonald, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Fifty- eight Holstein steers with an initial body weight of 469 lb were fed 1 of 5 dietary treatments containing different rumen undegradable protein (RUP) sources: control with no supplemental protein, field peas, field peas plus fish meal, soybean meal, and SoyPass, a treated soybean meal high in RUP. These protein sources replaced corn in a base diet of 65% dry rolled corn, 30% alfalfa haylage, and 5% supplement in order to balance for metabolizable protein (MP). Th e objective of this study was to compare how rumen undegradable protein sources that can be found in organic production systems affect …

Table Of Contents 2020 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Cow/Calf

Evaluation of Level of Milk Potential on Nutrient Balance in 2- and 4- Year- Old May- Calving Range Cows Grazing Sandhills Upland Range............................ 5

Effect of Age of Dam on Heifer Progeny Performance ........................... 8

Effect of GnRH Injection at - 72 h in MGA- PG Estrus Synchronization Protocol.................................. 10

Efficacy of a Second Injection of Prostaglandin F2α in Yearling Beef Heifers Following Previous Estrus Synchronization ....................... 12

Evaluation of Commercial Genomic Tests for Maternal Traits in Crossbred Beef Cattle ..................................... 14

Combined Analysis on the Effects of Late Gestation Supplementation in a Spring Calving Beef Herd .................................................... 16 …

Evaluation Of The Water Footprint Of Beef Cattle Production In Nebraska, Tyler J. Spore, Mesfin Mekonnen, Christopher M.U. Neale, Andrea K. Watson, James C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Data were compiled on feed usage to model the amount of water needed to produce beef in typical Nebraska production systems. Production systems where cows were wintered on corn residue utilized 18% less water than systems utilizing native range as a wintering source, because of water allocations. Therefore, the water footprint (gallons of water required to produce one pound of boneless meat) was decreased by 18%. In addition, increasing the dietary inclusion of distillers grains from 0% to 40% decreased the water footprint in the finishing phase by 29%, again based on water allocation. Utilizing corn residue and distillers grains …

Effect Of Supplemental Protein And Glucogenic Precursors On Digestibility And Energy Metabolism, Tasha M. King, Joslyn K. Beard, Mitch M. Norman, Hannah C. Wilson, Jim C. Macdonald, J. Travis Mulliniks

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A metabolism study was conducted to evaluate the impact of increasing levels of glucogenic precursors on diet digestibility and acetate clearance. Four supplementation strategies containing 0, 30, 40, and 70 g of supplemental glucogenic potential were supplied to a basal diet of bromegrass hay. Addition of glucogenic potential in the form of rumen undegradable protein improved dry matter, organic matter, and acid detergent fiber digestibility efficiency of acetate utilization in growing lambs fed moderate- quality hay. However, no additive effect of supplementing propionate salts and rumen undegradable protein were observed in this study. Th is would suggest that rumen undegradable …

Impact Of Shade In Beef Feed Yards On Performance, Body Temperature, And Heat Stress, Tommy M. Winders, Bradley M. Boyd, Casey Macken, Andrea K. Watson, J. C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A study using crossbred steers was conducted at a commercial feedyard in Eastern NE to determine the effects of shade on cattle performance, ear temperature, panting scores, and cattle activity. Cattle with shade had greater dry matter intake, average daily gain and lower panting scores while movement and ear temperature were not different between treatments. Over the course of the experiment three weather events were selected to be analyzed separately (two heat events and one cool event) based on wind adjusted temperature- humidity index. Providing shade during heat event 1 resulted in greater intakes and lower panting scores, while providing …

Evaluation Of Fluidquip Fiber Stream Dried Distillers Grains Plus Solubles On Performance And Carcass Characteristics In Finishing Diets, Aksel R. Wiseman, Bradley M. Boyd, Levi J. Mcphillips, Galen E. Erickson, Andrea K. Watson, Scott L. Tilton

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A finishing study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) from the MSC- fi ber stream of the FluidQuip post- fermentation fiber separation process compared to conventional DDGS at two inclusion levels (20% and 40% of diet dry matter). Inclusion of DDGS from MSC or conventional processing methods resulted in increased dry matter intake and daily gain. Despite increased gain, feed conversion tended to be worse for MSC DDGS. Daily gain tended to respond quadratically with increasing inclusion of conventional DDGS with gain increasing from 0 to 20% inclusion, but decreasing from 20 …

Impact Of Feeding Natursafe® (An Immune Support Product) On Beef Quality, Morgan L. Henriott, Kellen B. Hart, Nicolas J. Herrera, Felipe A. Ribeiro, Nicolas A. Bland, Bucky L. Gwartney, Chris Calkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Th e objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding NaturSafe® and the potential impact on meat quality characteristics in beef. Steers were fed one of five diets: a control with dietary antibiotics, a control without dietary antibiotics, or a diet without antibiotics containing 12 g/d/, 15 g/d/, or 18 g/d/ of NaturSafe® for a period of 112 d. Following harvest, strip loins were collected, aged for 13 or 29 d and placed under retail display conditions for 0 or 7 d. Feeding NaturSafe® at 12 g/d or 15 g/d resulted in tenderness (shear force) values less …

Effects Of Relative Humidity On Meat Quality In Dry Aged Beef, Felipe A. Ribeiro, Soon K. Lau, Morgan L. Henriott, Nicolas J. Herrera, Nicolas A. Bland, Jeyamkondan Subbiah, Chris Calkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

During dry- aging, water is transferred from the interior to the meat surface and is subsequently evaporated to the surrounding environment. Th ere is a common belief in the meat industry that rapid drying creates a hard crust on the meat surface, which would act as a protective barrier against moisture loss, holding moisture on the inside of the product. Th is phenomenon is called case hardening. If this hypothesis is correct, drying at low relative humidity would be recommended in order to get case hardening and avoid excessive yield loss. Th is study was conducted to evaluate the effects …

Comparing Shredlage® And Conventional Silage As A Roughage Component In Steam- Flaked Corn Diets For Finishing Cattle, Brianna Conroy, Matt Jaynes, Robbi Pritchard, Karla H. Jenkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A study was conducted at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center feedlot evaluating SHREDLAGE® processed at 26.5 mm and 1 mm gap; by CLAAS, to conventional chopped corn silage at 13 mm with a standard CLAAS processor set to 1 mm, as a roughage source at two inclusions for cattle fed steam- flaked corn based finishing diets. Yearling steers (930 lb) were fed finishing diets containing 9 or 14% (dry matter basis) conventionally chopped corn silage or corn SHREDLAGE® in a 2 × 2 factorial treatment arrangement. Cattle fed rations containing SHREDLAGE had greater final body weight, hot carcass weight, …

Evaluation Of Fractionated Distillers Grains (High Protein And Bran Plus Solubles) On Performance And Carcass Characteristics In Finishing Diets, Shelby A. Garland, Bradley M. Boyd, F. Henry Hilscher Hilscher, Galen E. Erickson, Jim C. Macdonald, Ryan A. Mass

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A finishing study evaluated the effect of feeding a new, high protein distillers grains along with corn bran plus condensed distillers solubles compared to traditional wet distillers grains, traditional dry distillers grains and a corn-based control. Each byproduct replaced corn at 40% of the diet dry-matter. Intake was not affected by treatment; however gain and carcass weight were greater and feed conversion improved for high protein distillers and corn bran plus solubles than either type of traditional distillers grains or corn. Based on feed efficiency, the feeding values of high protein distillers grains and corn bran plus solubles are 121% …

Impact Of Grazing Spring Rye On Subsequent Crop Yields And Profitability, Ashley C. Conway, Robert G. Bondurant, Fred H. Hilscher Hilscher, Jay Parsons, Daren Redfearn, Mary E. Drewnoski

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Steers (729 ± 19 lb BW) grazed in two November-planted cereal rye fields for 22 d in April, either with or without an ionophore in their free choice mineral supplement. Subsequent corn yields were measured to assess impact of planting cereal rye as a cover crop (not grazed) or grazing the rye compared to a no rye control. There was no statistical impact of rye or grazing on subsequent corn yield. Supplying an ionophore in the mineral did not uniformly improve gains across fields. However, gains were high at 3.2 lb/d and were able to offset the cost of planting …

Economics Of Field Pea Supplementation For Cattle Grazing Crested Wheatgrass, Braden C. Troyer, Hannah L. Greenwell, Andrea K. Watson Watson, James C. Macdonald, Karla H. Jenkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Heifers grazing crested wheat grass were supplemented either field peas or dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) at 0.4% or 0.8% of body weight. Heifers supplemented with field peas had 10% lower daily gain compared to their DDGS supplemented counterparts. The decision to supplement field peas for producers depends on the price at which field peas can be acquired, as well as the distance that DDGS has to be hauled in order to be utilized. Field peas are a viable option in western Nebraska as a supplement for grazing cattle when DDGS is unavailable or field peas are in excess …

Effects Of Backgrounding And Feedlot System Strategies On May-Born Steer Performance, Alicia C. Lansford, Jacki A. Musgrave, T. L. Meyer, Rick N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

May-born steers were backgrounded to achieve either a high or low rate of gain. The high rate of gain was achieved by offering steers meadow hay ad libitum and 4 lb/d of a 33% CP (DM) supplement, while the low rate of gain consisted of steers grazing meadow and offered 1 lb/d of the same supplement. After backgrounding, one-half of the steers from each group entered the feedlot in May as short-yearlings, while the remainder grazed upland range until entering the feedlot as long-yearlings in mid-September. Hot carcass weight was greater for steers backgrounded to achieve a high rate of …

Impact Of Dietary Fat Source On Beef Tenderness, Felipe A. Ribeiro, Katherine I. Domenech-Perez, Nicolas J. Herrera Herrera, Kellen B. Hart, Chris R. Calkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Steers were finished on either a corn control, 40% full-fat modified distillers grains plus solubles, 40% de-oiled modified distillers grains plus solubles, or 38% de-oiled modified distillers grains plus solubles plus 2% corn oil diet to evaluate the effects of dietary fat source on the mechanism of beef tenderization . Feeding modified distillers grains plus solubles increased polyunsaturated fatty acid content in the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane and increased free Ca²⁺ concentration early postmortem. Steaks from cattle fed de-oiled modified distillers grains and de-oiled modified distillers grains plus corn oil were more tender at 2 d of aging when compared …

Quality Effects On Beef From Cattle Fed High-Protein Corn Distillers Grains And Other Ethanol By-Products, Kellen B. Hart, Felipe A. Ribeiro, Morgan L. Henriott, Nicolas J. Herrera, Chris R. Calkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding high protein corn distillers grains on fresh beef quality. Steers were fed one of five diets, either a corn control, high protein distillers grains plus solubles, dry distillers grains plus solubles, wet distillers grains plus solubles, or bran plus solubles diet. Strip loins were aged for 2, 9, or 23 days and placed under retail display conditions for 0 or 7 days. Dietary treatment had no effect on tenderness within each aging period. There were also no differences between treatments for proximate composition, free calcium in the muscle, …

Comparison Of Traditional And Alternative Curing Ingredients On Curing Reactions In A Model Meat System, Faith D. Rasmussen, Gary A. Sullivan

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

To meet consumer trends, alternative curing ingredients are used to replace sodium nitrite and cure accelerators. Due to the complexity of meat, it is challenging to compare traditional and alternative ingredients for curing reactions. Using a model system, sources of nitrite (traditional, sodium nitrite and alternative, cultured celery juice powder), salt, and cure accelerators (traditional, sodium erythorbate, or alternative, cherry juice powder) at ingoing sodium nitrite concentrations of 10, 50, 100, 150, or 200 ppm were evaluated for curing reactions. More complete curing reactions were indicated by a higher concentration of cured meat pigment, and lower sulfhydryl groups. Lower residual …

Pooled Analysis Of Individually Fed Finishing Trials, Brett A. Melton, James C. Macdonald, Andrea K. Watson Watson, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A pooled analysis of 21 finishing trials (2002–2016; 1530 animals) with cattle individually fed in Calan gate barns was conducted. Mixed model regression analysis following random coefficient methodology was used to evaluate relationships between performance variables and carcass characteristics. Gain had a greater effect on efficiency (R² = 0.72) compared to intake (R² = 0.02). The relationship between gain and efficiency was cubic, while intake had a quadratic relationship. The cubic response of gain relative to efficiency was continually increasing with relatively slight curves in the line heavily influenced by points that lay on the ends of the …

Effect Of Adding Urea To Finishing Diets Containing Two Different Inclusions Of Distillers Grains On Steer Performance And Carcass Characteristics, Bradley M. Boyd, James C. Macdonald, Matthew K. Luebbe, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The effects of adding urea to a dry rolled corn based finishing diet containing low inclusions of distillers grains was evaluated. Treatments were designed as a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement with factors consisting of wet distillers inclusion (either 12 or 20% of diet DM) and urea inclusion (0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2% of diet DM). There were no significant interactions observed between distillers inclusion and urea inclusion in the diet. Increasing inclusion of distillers grains improved carcass adjusted average daily gain and feed conversion and reduced dry matter intake. Increasing distillers inclusion also increased 12th rib fat and had a …