Animal Sciences Commons^™

Applying Corn Condensed Distillers Solubles To Hay Windrows Prior To Baling: Ii. Effects On Growing Cattle Performance, Jason M. Warner, Cody J. Schneider, Richard J. Rasby Rasby, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Mark Dragastin

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Two experiments evaluated the feeding value of grass hay bales previously treated with CCDS in growing cattle diets. In Experiment 1, heifers fed bales treated with 20% CCDS (DM) gained less than those fed an equal level of dried distillers grains plus solubles and nontreated hay. In Experiment 2, ADG and F:G linearly improved with increasing CCDS levels. Furthermore, supplementing cattle to meet metabolizable protein requirements when fed diets of CCDS and hay did not improve ADG at levels greater than 15% CCDS. Data indicate hay bales previously treated with CCDS are adequate for use in growing diets, confirming that …

Field Peas As A Binder For Dried Distillers Grains-Based Range Cubes, Alex H. Titlow, Jacob A. Hansen, Matt K. Luebbe Luebbe, Karla Jenkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A grazing study was conducted to determineif field peas are a good naturalbinder for dried distillers grains-based range cubes. Cattle supplemented dried distillers grains in the bunk or a 25% field pea/75% distillers grains cube fed on the ground gained similarly and outgained cattle supplemented dried distillers on the ground. A 25.6% loss of the distillers grains fed loose on the ground was estimated. The similar performance of cattle fed distillers grains in the bunk and those fed pea/distillers cube on the ground suggests field peas reduced distillers grains loss and therefore are an acceptable binder for distillers grains based …

Economic Analysis Update: Supplementing Distillers Grains To Grazing Yearling Steers, Stephanie K. Moore, Andrea K. Watson, Terry Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson, Walter H. Schacht

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A seven-year study from 2005-2011 was conducted to evaluate four grazing management strategies for backgrounding yearling steers on smooth bromegrass pastures. Economic budgets were used to calculate profit differences with current (April 2012) market prices. Overall, cattle receiving supplement had greater net returns, lower cost of gain, and lower breakeven prices. In recent years fertilizer prices have increased at a greater rate than land costs in Nebraska, making it more economical to use a lower stocking rate instead of fertilizing pastures. As land prices increase, the incentive to use either N fertilizer or DDGS supplementation increases.

Corn Residue Removal Effects On Subsequent Yield, Brian J. Wienhold, Gary E. Varvel, Virginia L. Jin Jin, Rob B. Mitchell, Kenneth P. Vogel

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Corn residue is used for forage and feed, but residue removal effects on soil properties and yield is a concern. Residue removal effects on corn yields and soil organic carbon is site specific. Removing 50% of the residue from rain fed sites reduced corn yield by 1.9 bu/ac, whereas removing 40% of the residue from irrigated sites increased corn yield by 15.4 bu/ac. However, removing 53% of the residue increased soil erosion by 30%. Agronomic practices such as reduced tillage, cover crops, or manure may offset residue removal impacts. Residue removal should be based on site-specific characteristics and management, but …

Evaluation Of A New Chemistry For Rangeland Grasshopper Control, Jeffrey Bradshaw, Karla Jenkins, Sean Doyle Whipple Whipple, Rick Patrick

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A grasshopper control study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a new class of systemic chemical. The new pesticide Prevathon^® (high and low levels) was compared to Coragen^®, Dimilin^®, and a nontreated check. Grasshoppers were numerically reduced the most by Coragen and Prevathon, though not significant. The highest level of Prevathon did not numerically impact beneficial insects in general. Biomass and forage quality were not significantly impacted by chemical treatment. However, forage biomass was numericallygreatest for the highest level of Prevathon. Prevathon appears to be an acceptable systemic pesticide for grasshopper control with minimal …

Replacing Steam-Flaked Corn And Dry Rolled Corn With Condensed Distillers Solubles In Finishing Diets, Alex H. Titlow, Adam L. Shreck, Stephanie A. Furman Furman, Karla Jenkins, Matt K. Luebbe, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The interaction between corn processing method and condensed distillers solubles (CDS) was evaluated using either steam-flaked corn (SFC) or dry rolled corn (DRC). As CDS replaced corn at either 15 or 30% of the diet DM, DMI intake decreased quadratically for both SFC and DRC. Within DRC- based diets, ADG increased quadratically with 15% CDS being greatest and F:G improved quadratically with 30% inclusion being best. When SFC was used as the grain source, ADG increased linearly and F:G improved quadratically with increasing levels of CDS. A greater performance response was observed with SFC compared to DRC when feeding increased …

Effects Of Feeding 44 G/Ton Rumensin® During Grain Adaptation On Animal Performance And Carcass Characteristics, Cody J. Schneider, Matt K. Luebbe, Karla Jenkins Jenkins, Stephanie A. Furman, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Cattle were adapted to a finishing diet over 20 days while feeding 33 or 44 g/ton (DM) of Rumensin. Following grain adaptation, all cattle were fed a common finishing diet containing 33 g/ton Rumensin for the remainder of the feeding period. Feeding 44 g/ton of Rumensin during the adaptation period did not affect performance during the adaptation period or over the entire feeding period when compared to the 33 g/ton adaptation level.

Including Next Enhance® Essential Oils In Finishing Diets On Performance With Or Without Rumensin® And Tylan®, Curtis J. Bittner, Galen E. Erickson, Karla Jenkins Jenkins, Matt K. Luebbe, Troy Wistuba

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Finishing cattle performance was evaluated using NEXT ENHANCE essential oils in finishing diets. Treatments consisted of 1) control (CON), 2) NEXT ENHANCE at 300 mg/day (NE), 3) Rumensin and Tylan at 360 and 90 mg/day, respectively (RT), or 4) NEXT ENHANCE plus Rumensin and Tylan (NERT). No NEXT ENHANCE by Rumensin/Tylan interaction was observed. Steers fed Rumensin/Tylan had decreased F:G and increased live final BW and marbling score. The prevalence of liver abscesses decreased 46% when steers were fed Rumensin/Tylan. Including NEXT ENHANCE in finishing diets did not impact performance or carcass characteristics.

The Effect Of Commensal Microbial Communities On The Fecal Shedding Of Shiga Toxin-Producing E. Coli (Stec) In Beef Cattle, Nirosh D. Aluthge, Yoshitha A. Wanniarachchi, Brandon L. Nuttelman Nuttelman, Cody J. Schneider, Terry Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson, Jayne E. Stratton, Samodha C. Fernando

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

This ongoing study compares the gut microbial community composition between shedding steers high in shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) counts and low-shedding steers. Shedders were identified among 170 beef animals over three time periods using selective microbiological culture media. The isolated bacterial cultures were confirmed to be STEC using PCR, 16s rRNA sequencing and a shiga toxin immunoassay. The most abundant strains found in the cattle feces were those belonging to the serogroups O111 (40.3%) and O157:H7 (37.3%), with O103 (8.3%), O26 (6.0%), O83 (4.5%), and O55 (3.0%) being detected in much lower numbers . Out of the 52 animals …

Anaerobic Digestion Of Finishing Cattle Manure, Andrea K. Watson, Galen E. Erickson, Terry Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Samodha C. Fernando, Jana L. Harding

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Utilizing manure from cattle fed distillers grains in anaerobic digesters improved methane production and DM degradation of manure compared to manure from cattle fed no distillers grains. Manure from cattle fed in open lot pens had soil contamination which decreased OM content and led to decreased total methane production (L/day), but not when expressed as methane/g OM. If ash buildup is avoided, open lot manure can be used as anaerobic digester feedstock.

Heifers With Low Antral Follicle Counts Have Low Birth Weights And Produce Progeny With Low Birth Weights, Adam F. Summers, Robert A. Cushman, Karl Moline Moline, Jeff Bergman, Andrea S. Cupp

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

To determine the relationship of antral follicle count and heifer BW, reproductive tract characteristics, and first-calf performance, Red Angus-composite heifers were used over three years. High antral follicle count heifers had greater BW from birth through pre-breeding. Progeny birth BW was greater for calves born to high antral follicle count heifers compared to low antral follicle count heifers. Taken together these data indicate a relationship between antral follicle counts and BW through the first breeding season and corresponding progeny, and continues to support a possible link between genes that influence growth and development and establishment of ovarian reserve.

Effect Of Two Estrus Synchronization Protocols On Reproductive Performance Of May Calving Cows, John D. Harms, Adam F. Summers, Jacqueline Musgrave Musgrave, Rick Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effectiveness of fixed-time AI utilizing one of two estrus synchronization protocols, CO-Synch or CO-Synch + CIDR, in May-calving cows. Cows synchronized with the CO-Synch + CIDR protocol had increased AI and overall pregnancy rates compared to cows synchronized utilizing the CO-Synch protocol. Due to increased AI pregnancy rates, CO-Synch + CIDR cows calved earlier, resulting in a greater proportion of cows calving within the first 21 days of the calving season compared to CO-Synch cows.

Efficacy Of Newborn Bovine Dna Samples Taken Via Different Mediums In Assigning Paternity, Jeremy T. Howard, Lynsey K. Whitacre, Matthew L. Spangler Spangler

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

DNA samples from 25 newborn calves taken via hair, ear notch, and nasal swabs were used to determine the efficacy of sampling method in assigning parentage. Nasal swab samples were collected at six time points from birth to 120 hours post-birth. Calf samples and all candidate sires were genotyped with a 99 SNP parentage panel. Nasal swab collection time did not result in significant differences in the ability to assign the correct sire, although differences were seen in apparent cleanliness of the sample. Clean nasal swab samples are comparable in efficacy to hair and ear notch samples in assigning parentage.

Effect Of Winter Supplementation Level On Yearling System Profitability, Kari L. Gillespie, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Cody J. Schneider Schneider, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Calves backgrounded in a forage-based system at a high winter supple- mentation level maintained a performance advantage through finishing. High level supplemented cattle gained an additional 0.2 lb. daily during finishing, consumed less total feed in the feedlot, required fewer days on feed to reach a common finish point and produced an additional 85 lb. of saleable live weight compared to cattle backgrounded at a low supplementation level. High level supplemented cattle returned $56.01 more than cattle fed a low level of supplementation during the winter backgrounding phase.

Nitrogen Fertilization And Ddgs Supplementation Reduces Annual Weeds In Pastures, John A. Guretzky, Laura K. Snell, John C. Soper Soper, Walter H. Schacht, Terry Klopfenstein, Stephanie K. Pruitt

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Ongoing research has found body weight (BW) gains of steers supplemented with corn dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) on unfertilized smooth bromegrass pasture (SUPP) to be greater than unsupplemented steers on N fertilized (FERT) and unfertilized, control (CONT) smooth bromegrass pasture. In the seventh year of the study, annual weeds increased to 20%, 9%, and 2% of relative cover within CONT, SUPP, and FERT pastures, respectively. Supplementation of DDGS on unfertilized pastures improves steer BW gains and reduces N inputs while providing intermediate resistance to annual weed invasion. AnnualN fertilization maximizes forage yield and minimizes annual weeds in pasture.

Effects Of Feeding Microbial Feed Additives On Growth Performance And Carcass Traits Of Steers Fed Steam-Flaked Corn-Based Diets With Wet Distillers Grains Plus Solubles, Matt K. Luebbe, Karla H. Jenkins, Stephanie A. Furman Furman, Kelly K. Kreikemeier

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of feeding two commercially available direct-fed microbials (DFM) on finishing steer performance fed steam-flaked corn based diets. Dietary treatments included a control diet without DFM, and two commercially available products (10-G and Bovamine). No significant differences were observed among treatments for animal performance or carcass characteristics. However, numeric advantages were observed for ADG and feed efficiency when cattle were fed a DFM.

The Effect Of Lameness On Average Daily Gain In Feedlot Steers, Giselle T. Kruse, Richard R. Randle, Douglas E. Hostetler Hostetler, Gary K. Tibbetts, Dicky D. Griffin, Kathryn J. Hanford, Terry Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson, Brandon L. Nuttelman, David R. Smith

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The objective of this study was to test the effects of lameness on average daily gain (ADG) of feedlot steers. We evaluated two feedlot health data sets: 1) 14,798 steers from a 14-year period (1993 to 2006) at the Meat Animal Research Center (USDA MARC) near Clay Center, Neb.; and 2) 16,766 steers from an 8-year period (2002 to 2009) at the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research and Development Center (ARDC) near Mead, Neb. The ADG for USDA MARC steers with lameness late in the feeding period (≥ 60 days) was 0.04 lb./day less than steers without lameness. The ADG …

1994 Beef Cattle Report, Darrell W. Nelson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Two grazing trials were conducted to determine i/protein or energy was first limiting in the spring-and fall-born nursing calf grazing native sandhills range. Spring-born calves supplemented with escape protein gained more rapidly than calves supplemented with energy or nonsupplemented controls. Fall-born calves supplemented with escape protein gained more rapidly than those supplemented with rumen degradable protein or energy and nonsupplemented controls early in the trial, but gained at a similar rate to the energy controls by the end of the trial. Milk intake was similar across treatments for both trials. Escape protein is more limiting in the young nursing calf …

1993 Beef Cattle Report

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Cow-Calf • Forage Systems Using Sandhills Subirrigated Meadows and Range: Beef Production Traits • Forage Systems Using Sandhills Subirrigated Meadows and Range: Economic Analysis • High Quality Meadow Hay as a Winter Supplement for Gestating Beef Cows in the Sandhills of Nebraska • Heifers Sired by Bulls with Either High or Low EPD's for Marbling Do Not Differ in Age at Puberty • Synovex C Affects Growth, Reproduction, and Calving in Heifers • Synthetic Progestins Influence Secretion of Luteinizing and Timing of Ovulation • Level of Progesterone Influences Pregnancy Rate in Beef Cows and Heifers • Combination of Factors (Ratios) …

1992 Beef Cattle Report, Darrell W. Nelson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Economic efficiency of beef production to weaning and to slaughter was estimated in three groups, different in milk available (low, medium, and high) to the calves but the same in growth potential. Efficiency was the ratio of income to expenses. Income was derived from cull cows and calves at weaning or carcasses of calves fed to slaughter. Feed and non-feed expenses for the cowherd and for calves to weaning or to slaughter were included. Efficiencies were estimated assuming observed reproductive rates and energy requirements for maintenance, as well as for equal reproductive rates and equal requirements for maintenance in the …

1991 Beef Cattle Report, Darrell W. Nelson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A two-year study tested the hypothesis that growth rate interacts with bull exposure to influence age at puberty in heifers. Heifers exposed to sterile bulls and fed to achieve a high growth rate (1.8 lb/day) attained puberty 73 days earlier than heifers not exposed to bulls and fed to a moderate growth rate (1.3 lb/day). Heifers exposed to bulls and fed to achieve a moderate growth rate attained puberty at ages similar to heifers not exposed to bulls and fed to a high growth rate. Furthermore. heifers receiving these two treatments attained puberty 23 days earlier than heifers not exposed …

1987 Beef Cattle Report, Irvin T. Omtvedt

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Eighty grain samples of various moisture levels were collected throughout the 1985 harvest season and analyzed for moisture by either moisture tester, microwave oven, or forced-air oven. The moisture tester was not as accurate as the forced-air oven when moisture level exceeded 19%. Microwave drying was as accurate as forced-air oven drying but was more variable between readings of the same sample.

1982 Beef Cattle Report, Roy G. Arnold

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A four-phase maximum forage system was evaluated in two trials over a two-year period. The fot:,r phases included: 1) cornstalk grazing (56 days), 2) stalklage feeding (121 days), 3) pasture grazing (112 days), and 4) finishing (96 days). In phase 1, weanling heifers gained about 1 lb per day grazing cornstalks, when supplemented with 2 lb of a 32 percent natural protein supplement. Adding monensin to the supplement resulted in an increase of. l lb in average daily gain (ADG). In phase 2, when heifers were fed stalklage twice weekly on winter pasture (trial 1), ADG and feed intake of …

1980 Beef Cattle Report, Leo E. Lucas

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Weighing steers three consecutive days at the beginning and end of the trial reduced variation and increased the probability of detecting a difference in daily gain and gain/protein ratios between treatments when compared to a standard weighing method (once at the beginning and once at the end of the trial). Regressing 1 initial, 1 final and 11 weekly weights also decreased variation and increased the probability of detecting treatment differences compared to the standard method, but was more variable than using three weights at the beginning and end of the trial.

Young, growing steers and lambs supplemented with natural protein …

1978 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, Leo E. Lucas, H. W. Ottoson, T. E. Hartung

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Retail value of wholesale meat cuts is influenced by quality and the proportion of lean, fat and bone. Wholesale cuts vary widely in value; for example, loins and ribs sell for more than rounds, rounds more than chucks, and chucks more than flanks, plates, or briskets. This value difference has prompted many attempts to find breeding and feeding systems that will increase the proportion of high-priced cuts.

Results shown here characterize the composition of carcass wholesale cuts from 14 breed combinations that were part of a cattle germ plasm evaluation program at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, …

1970 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, J. L. Adams, E. F. Frolik, H. W. Ottoson, F. E. Eldridge

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The use of high concentrate rations in finishing cattle has led to a rather high loss of livers due to abscesses.

The 1967 Statistical Summary of the Federal Meat Inspection Service of the USDA indicated the total number of cattle inspected was 27,859,980. Of these, 9.6% were condemned because of liver abscess. Considering the value of a liver to be about $3, the estimated loss to the industry because of condemnatIon due to abscess would be over $8 million annually.

The incidence of liver abscesses increases as the roughage level in a finishing ration decreases below 5% (Table I). The …

1967 Beef Cattle Progress Report Of Research Activities, E. F. Frolik, H. W. Ottoson, J. L. Adams

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Oral feeding of stilbestrol or implanting with stilbestrol or Synovex has resulted in increased weight gain and efficiency of gain for cattle fed finishing rations.

Combining oral feeding or stilbestrol with implanting did not give increased performance above that obtained from oral stilbestrol alone in two tests. Implanting cattle fed oral stilbestrol at the start of the feeding program with either stilbestrol or Synovex gave a similar pattern of performance to that obtained from oral stilbestrol alone.

1966 Beef Cattle Progress Report Of Research Activities, E. F. Frolik, H. H. Kramer

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Many beef cattle breeders in the United States and other countries are following the progress of the selection experiment at the Fort Robinson Beef Cattle Research Station, Crawford, Nebraska. Three lines of Hereford cattle from the same genetic foundation are under selection. Line 21 is selected for 200-day weight. Line 22 is selected for yearling weight. Line 23 is selected for an index combining yearling weight and a score for muscling and fat thickness.

Each line is operated as a closed herd so it will be possible to determine how much improvement in economic traits can be made by selecting …

1965 Beef Cattle Progress Report Of Research Activities, E. F. Frolik, H. H. Kramer

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Beef carcass evaluation work is designed to obtain production and carcass data on bulls, steers and heifers. One objective is to evaluate sex effects on growth and carcass traits. Another is to determine if sires rank the same in growth and carcass traits on their bull, steer and heifer progeny.

Preliminary results from the 1963 slaughter groups were reported in the 1964 Beef Cattle Progress Report. This report covers averages of 1963 and 1964 results. Results both years were similar.

Beef Cattle Progress Report, E. F. Frolik, H. H. Kramer

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Efficiency of sugar beet farming can be improved by feeding beet top silage to livestock.

In two recent trials at the Scotts Bluff Experiment Station lambs fed unwilted beet top silage as the only roughage gained significantly faster than lambs fed corn silage.

Amounts of concentrates were comparable (Nebraska Experiment Station Quarterly, Fall, 1962).

This experiment compared the feeding value of a complete mixture of unwilted beet tops and concentrate added at the time of ensiling, with beet top silage and concentrate handled separately. A conventional corn silage and concentrate ration was used as a control.

Results showed that a …