Education Commons^™

2008 Beef Cattle Report, Dennis R. Brink

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

2008 compilation of articles on University of Nebraska–Lincoln beef cattle research in four areas: cow/calf, growing, beef feedlot, beef products and analytical methods.

Rp 357 Quality And Yield Grades For Beef Carcasses, Dennis E. Burson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

There are two types of beef grades in the United States--quality grades and yield grades. Beef carcasses may carry a quality grade, a yield grade or both a quality and yield grade.

Quality grades indicate expected palatability or eating satisfaction of the meat; yield grades are estimates of the percentage of boneless, closely trimmed retail cuts from the round, Join, rib and chuck.

Federal meat grading is a voluntary service packers request and pay for on an hourly fee basis. Meat grading should not be confused with meat inspection, which is mandatory and ensures the safety and wholesomeness of our …

Factors Influencing Grazing Tolerance, Behave

All Current Publications

This publication discusses the different factors that influence grazing intolerance.

G97-1324 Beef Cattle Implant Update, Dicky D. Griffin, Terry L. Mader

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses the mechanism of action and use strategies for growth promoting implants, including expected responses and cost analysis.

Introduction

Growth promoting implants have been used extensively in beef production for over 30 years. Significant changes in implants and implanting strategies have occurred. Prior to 1987, available implants were estrogenic agents which metabolically enhanced nutrient use to enhance growth. These products improved feed efficiency 5-10 percent and daily gains from 5-15 percent. In 1987, the androgenic (tissue building) agent, trenbolone acetate, was approved for use in growth promoting implants. This compound had an additive effect with existing estrogenic implants. …

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 …

G90-978 Byproduct Feedstuffs For Beef And Dairy Cattle, Don J. Kubik, Rick Stock

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide details the type of byproduct feedstuffs available for beef and dairy cattle, a description of their characteristics and discussion of their nutrient value. Byproduct feeds have become a stabilizing factor in the economic success of many beef and dairy operations. Byproduct feeds are the residue that remains after feeds have been processed. The processing of soybeans into soybean meal results in a large supply of soybean hulls. Processing corn into high fructose syrup provides corn gluten feed and corn bran. Converting corn starch into ethanol provides distillers grains. Hominy, a byproduct of processing corn starch for human consumption, …

Ec89-265 Ammonia Treatment Of Low Quality Forages, Richard J. Rasby, Ivan G. Rush, John Ward, Terry Klopfenstein

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Increased costs of production have caused livestock producers to reduce feed costs whenever possible. Low quality crop residues, because of their availability, receive attention and offer considerable potential for reducing feed costs for cattle producers; however, because they are low in digestibility, intake by livestock is reduced. Treatment of low quality crop residues with anhydrous ammonia improves digestibility or total digestible nutrients (TDN) and increases consumption of these forages. The positive effects of ammonia treatment on digestibility and intake of low quality forages make them a viable possibility in feeding programs.

G87-851 Improving Reproductive Performance And Productivity Of Beef Herds, Gene H. Deutscher

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

NebGuide discusses management practices that can be used to improve reproduction and productivity of beef herds. The major objective of cow-calf producers should be to wean a calf from each cow every year. The average calf crop weaned in Nebraska is estimated at 80 calves weaned per 100 cows in breeding herds. A realistic goal is 90 to 95 calves weaned per 100 cows.

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 …

G84-694 New Protein Values For Ingredients Used In Growing Cattle Rations, Rick Stock, Terry L. Mader, Terry Klopfenstein

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide assigns new protein values to feeds and describes two new systems for evaluating supplemental protein sources. Information about protein sources has changed greatly in the last 10 years. Words like "bypass," "escape," or "slowly degraded" have been used to describe some proteins. These terms have the same meaning and refer to a protein source's ability to escape breakdown in the rumen. Ingredient tables usually only list the crude protein content of feeds. Although this has been a useful system, it does not adequately evaluate supplemental protein sources. Digestible protein values have helped describe some forages, but can be …

G84-716 Management Of The Weanling Calf, Paul Q. Guyer, Donald B. Hudson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide outlines a program for preventing sickness and death losses in newly weaned calves, including stress prevention, vaccinations, nutrition, and treatment of sick calves.

Sickness and death loss following weaning robs both calf producers and cattle feeders of potential profits. The weanling calf has not acquired adequate immunity to the variety of diseases that plague the beef industry. At weaning and/or shipping, the calf is usually subjected to various stresses, in addition to being separated from its mother, that contribute to disease outbreaks. A program for minimizing weight loss, sickness, and death in newly weaned calves should include: 1) …

G83-666 Breeding Soundness Examination Of Beef Bulls, James A. Gosey

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide describes factors to consider when evaluating a beef bull's reproductive ability. These include the reproductive tract, semen and mating desire. A herd bull that will settle a higher percentage of cows during a limited breeding season is essential to a successful cow-calf operation. In many cow-calf operations, however, the bull's role in the herd's reproductive performance is taken for granted. The bull's fertility is several times more important than that of a cow. Each bull can be expected to settle as many as 30 cows. The bull also contributes half of the genetic potential of the entire calf …

G82-590 Feeder Cattle Grades, Keith E. Gilster, H. Dwight Loveday

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide describes the ten USDA feeder cattle grades.

The purpose of the USDA Feeder Cattle Grades is to sort feeder cattle into similar groups that will facilitate their selling and buying. These grades can also be used for sorting feeder cattle into similar outcome groups in a feedlot. Differences in frame size and muscle thickness score are the basis for the USDA Feeder Cattle Grades.

Feeder cattle are given a grade score that is coded for both frame size (large, medium and small) and thickness (1, 2 and 3). For example, a large frame, thick feeder steer would have …

G79-476 Composition Of Feeds In Relation To Cattle Nutrition, Paul Q. Guyer, Foster G. Owen

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide examines the major nutritional components of cattle feed. Plants serve as the major source of feed for livestock. Nutrients required for maintenance and production are provided by various plants and plant derived feeds along with small amounts from non-plant sources. The major constituents of plants are water, carbohydrates, protein, fat, minerals and vitamins. Both plants and animals contain these nutrients, but the relative proportions vary more in plants.

G76-308 Principles Of Beef Cattle Selection, H.A. Fitzhugh, Jr.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Selection of superior seedstock leads to lasting genetic improvement by increasing the frequency of "desirable" genes and decreasing frequency of "undesirable" genes. The definition of "desirable" varies. Nature favors genes which improve fitness to survive and thrive in the natural environment. Man should favor genes which improve biological and economic efficiency of beef production.

The concepts, definitions, formulas and symbols that are the tools necessary for effective selection programs are discussed in this publication.

G74-136 Grain Sorghum Processing For Beef Cattle, Rick Stock, Terry L. Mader

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses the feeding value of grain sorghum relative to corn and various grain processing methods for grain sorghum.

It has been widely recognized that grain sorghum (milo) must be processed to be efficiently used by finishing cattle. Grain sorghum shows more improved utilization from processing than corn, wheat and barley. Dry ground or rolled grain sorghum has a relative feeding value of 85% to 95% (avg 90%) of dry rolled corn. Processing grain sorghum by more sophisticated methods (early harvesting, steam-flaking, etc.) greatly enhances its feeding value.

Chemical composition suggests that there should be less difference in the …

G74-142 Harvesting And Preserving Hay Crop Silage, Rick Grant, Rick Stock

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide describes principles of successful hay crop harvest, silage preservation, management techniques to obtain high quality hay crop silage, and proper use of silage storage facilities.

Most hay (legume and grass) crops can be ensiled, or made into silage, successfully. For best feeding value and preservation, consider the special requirements for ensiling each crop.

Hays to be ensiled should be selected on the basis of economics. Which are the most profitable for supplying nutrients? For example, legumes have a relatively higher value for dairy herds than for beef finishing operations because of dairy cows' higher requirement for protein.

G74-100 Feeding High Moisture Corn, Terry L. Mader, Paul Q. Guyer, Rick Stock

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

In recent years the use of high moisture grain has become more popular due to the increased costs of handling and dry feed grains. For cattle feeders in particular, storing grains as high moisture is one practice that can improve their competitive position and reduce costs. Using high moisture grains allows greater opportunity to design a system that will minimize harvest, storage and feed processing costs.

Grains such as sorghum and wheat have been stored as high moisture, but corn is the principal high moisture grain stored. High moisture corn can be processed and stored as whole shelled corn, ground …

G73-14 Grain Processing For Feedlot Cattle, Paul Q. Guyer

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Several changes have occurred in the cattle feeding business which have focused attention on grain processing. The first of these was, the arrival of big feedlots provided an opportunity to use larger and more sophisticated processing equipment at reasonable cost per ton of feed produced. Also, the need to minimize feed separation and digestive disturbances encouraged the use of more sophisticated methods of processing.

A second development that is now focusing attention on grain processing is the rapidly increasing costs of equipment, fuel and labor involved in grain processing. In recent years, these have been increasing more rapidly than the …