Animal Sciences Commons^™

Increasing Levels Of Condensed Distillers Solubles And Finishing Performance, Anna C. Pesta, Brandon L. Nuttelman, William A. Griffin Griffin, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Effects of adding 0, 9, 18, 27, or 36% condensed corn distillers solubles (CDS) to finishing diets containing a blend of dry-rolled and high-moisture corn and no other byproducts, were evaluated. As CDS replaced corn, DMI decreased linearly, while ADG and F:G increased quadratically. Feeding up to 36% CDS may effectively reduce dietary inclusion of corn, while improving ADG and F:G in finishing diets, with calculated maximal ADG at 20.8 and best F:G at 32.5% inclusion of CDS (DM).

Feeding Condensed Distillers Solubles In Finishing Diets Containing Wdgs Or Synergy, Anna C. Pesta, Brandon L. Nuttelman, William A. Griffin Griffin, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Effects of adding 0, 7, 14, or 21% condensed distillers solubles (CDS) to diets containing either 20% modified distillers grains (MDGS) or 20% Synergy (a combination of modified distillers grains and wet corn gluten feed) were evaluated. A byproduct by CDS level interaction was observed for final BW, hot carcass weight, and ADG. Cattle fed Synergy had greater DMI than cattle fed MDGS. In MDGS diets at 14% CDS and in Synergy diets at 21% CDS, ADG was maximized. Increasing CDS level in both types of diets improved F:G linearly.

Wet Distillers Grains And Ratios Of Steam-Flaked And Dry-Rolled Corn, Cody A. Nichols, Karla H. Jenkins, Galen E. Erickson Erickson, Matt K. Luebbe, Stephanie A. Furman, Brandon L. Sorensen, Kathryn J. Hanford, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Feeding different ratios of dryrolled corn (DRC) and steam-flaked corn (SFC) in diets that contain 0 or 35% wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) was evaluated. As SFC replacedDRC in diets containing no WDGS, F:G improved. Varying SFC and DRC ratio in diets containing 35% WDGS did not impact F:G. Feeding WDGS increased hot carcass weight, and fat depth while feeding different ratios of corn impacted marbling deposition. Wet distillers grains appears to reducethe positive impacts of feeding SFC in finishing diets when included at 35% of diet DM.

Effect Of Corn Processing On Feedlot Steers Fed Sugarbeet Pulp, Cody A. Nichols, Matt K. Luebbe, Karla H. Jenkins Jenkins, Galen E. Erickson, Stephanie A. Furman, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Impact of feeding three levels of beet pulp (0, 10, 20%, DM basis) with either dry-rolled corn (DRC) or steamflaked corn (SFC) in feedlot rations was evaluated. Final BW, DMI, and ADG decreased linearly as beet pulp replaced corn in the diet. Beet pulp linearly decreased HCW, 12^th rib fat, and yield grade. Corn processing had no impact on carcass characteristics. Feeding SFC improved F:G, compared to feeding DRC. The inclusion of beet pulp in the diet did not impact F:G, however, because of the decrease of both DMI and ADG.

Distillers Grains With Solubles And Ground Ear Corn In Feedlot Diets, Terry L. Mader

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

In a 162-day finishing study, steers were fed various levels of dried distillers grains with solubles (DGS) with ground ear corn harvested at 45% moisture, and compared with steers fed 25% DGS, rolled corn, and corn silage. Steers fed the highest level of DGS (37.5% of diet DM) with ground high-moisture ear corn had the lowest ADG and DMI, but F:G tended to be improved by feeding 25% and 37.5% DGS with ear corn as compared with feeding rolled corn plus corn silage. Feed cost of gain (COG) and total COG was most favorable (4.4% lower than control) for cattle …

Meta-Analysis Of The Effect Of Dietary Sulfur On Feedlot Health, Cody A. Nichols, Virgil R. Bremer, Andrea K. Watson Watson, Crystal D. Buckner, Jana L. Harding, David R. Smith, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A meta-analysis of University of Nebraska– Lincoln finishing trials was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary sulfur on feedlot health. An interactionbetween level of dietary sulfur and forage NDF (P = 0.07) affected the incidence of polioencephalomalacia (PEM) cases. For a given level of dietarysulfur the relative risk for PEM decreasedas forage NDF increased. Rumen degradable sulfur (RDS) was estimated for feedstuffs fed to cattle includedin the analysis. As level of RDS increased in the diet, the incidence of PEM increased (P < 0.01). Rumen degradable sulfur is a better measure of PEM risk because it accounts for the dietarysulfur that contributes to hydrogen sulfide production.

Complete-Feed Diet Ramp™ In Grain Adaptation Programs, Cody J. Schneider, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Kelsey M. Rolfe Rolfe, William A. Griffin, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Cattle were adapted to a common finishing diet over 22 days by decreasing RAMP (100 to 0%) and increasing finisher (0 to 100%) either as a blend in a traditional grain adaptation system or a two-ration program. The control treatment decreased alfalfa hay inclusion (45 to 7.5%) while corn inclusion increased. Steers adapted using RAMP were more efficient than traditionally adapted cattle. Using RAMP as an ingredient improved ADG compared to the traditional grain adaptation program.

Use Of Complete-Feed Diets Ramp™ And Test Starter For Receiving Cattle, Cody J. Schneider, Brandon J. Nuttelman, Kelsey M. Rolfe Rolfe, William A. Griffin, David R. Smith, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Performance of newly arrived 576 lb steer calves, fed two complete feeds or a control ration was evaluated. Treatment diets were fed for 30 or 31 days and includeda control receiving diet consisting of alfalfa hay, Sweet Bran^® , dry-rolled corn, and supplement or one of two complete feeds: RAMP and Test Starter which contained a high level of Sweet Bran and a minimal amount of forage. RAMP increased ADG when compared with the control diet. Cattle fed Test Starter had similar performance to the control receiving diet.

Feeding Modified Distillers Grains With Solubles And Wet Corn Gluten Feed (Synergy) To Adapt Cattle To Finishing Diets, Marco G. Dib, Jhones O. Sarturi, Kelsey M. Rolfe Rolfe, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Ron Lindquist

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

An experiment with 236 steers and eight pens per treatment (14 or 15 steers/pen) evaluated two grain adaptation treatments. Treatments included adapting steers by decreasing alfalfa (CON) or decreasing a combination of distillers grains and corn gluten feed (SYNERGY) followed by feeding a common finishing diet to slaughter. Performance and carcass traits did not differ between adaptation systems. A combination of MDGS and SYNERGY can be used to adapt beef cattle to feedlot diets with efficacy of the traditional, foragebased method.

Using Beet Pulp To Adapt Cattle To Finishing Diets, Cody J. Schneider, Matt K. Luebbe, Karla H. Jenkins Jenkins, Stephanie A. Furman, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Cattle were adapted to a common finishing diet over 21 days by traditional adaption, reducing alfalfa hay inclusion (46 to 6%) or beet pulp (BP) adaption programs. A low beet pulp treatment (BP decreased from 18 to 6% and alfalfa hay from 34 to 6%) and a high BP treatment in which both BP and alfalfa hay were decreased from 26 to 6% were compared. Adapting cattle with high BP tended to decrease DMI during the adaption period. Both BP adaption programs increased ADG over the entire feeding period. Replacing up to 50% of alfalfa hay with BP during grain …

Effect On Performance And Nutrient Mass Balance Of Feeding Micro-Aid In Wet Distillers Grains Plus Solubles Diets, Annie J. Doerr, Brandon L. Nuttelman, William A. Griffin Griffin, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Joshua R. Benton, Mike J. Rincker

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Finishing cattle performance and mass balance were evaluated when Micro- Aid^® was fed in diets containing wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS). There was no difference in performance and carcass characteristics between treatments. In a WINTER experiment, cattle fed Micro-Aid had a greater amount of OM and DM removedin manure. Micro-Aid in the diet increased the amount of manure N and decreased N losses in the WINTER. There was no difference in N excreted in manure or lost via volatilization in the SUMMER experiment.

Feedlot Manure Utilization As Influenced By Application Scheme And Diet, Andrea K. Watson, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Richard K. Koelsch, Raymond E. Massey, Joseph H. Harrison

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The BFNMP$ program was utilized to study effects of dietary nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and N volatilization on economics of manure utilization. Feeding high CP (18.7%) and P (0.5%) diets increased manure net value $6.92/ head compared to manure with a traditional diet (13.3% CP and 0.3% P) being fed. Spreading this manure on a four-year P basis is economical and environmentally friendly.

Chemical Treatment Of Low-Quality Forages To Replace Corn In Cattle Finishing Diets, Adam L. Shreck, Brandon L. Nuttelman, William A. Griffin Griffin, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Michael J. Cecava

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A finishing experiment evaluated substitution of corn with crop residues in diets containing wet distillers grains. Corn stover, corn cobs, and wheat straw were alkaline treated at 50% moisture or fed without chemical treatment at 20% inclusion. Chemical treatment improved performance compared to untreated. Compared to control (10% roughage), treated diets had similar performance and carcass merit. Economic analysis revealed $6.46, $21.42, and $36.30 average profit per head advantage for diets containing treated residues relative to control when corn was priced at $3.00, $4.50, and $6.00 per bushel. Feeding chemically treated crop residues and wet distillers grains is a cost-effective …

Reducing Particle Size Enhances Chemical Treatment In Finishing Diets, Adam L. Shreck, Brandon L. Nuttelman, William A. Griffin Griffin, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Michael J. Cecava

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Three hundred-sixty calf-fed steers were fed either treated or untreated corn stover that was previously ground through a 1-in or 3–in screen. Treated stover diets improved ADG and F:G compared to untreated. Reducing particle size improved ADG and F:G but did not influence DMI. Compared to a control diet with 5% roughage and 15 percentage units more corn, diets with 20% treated corn stover had similar F:G, ADG, DMI, and carcass quality. Up to 15% additional corn can be replaced with treated corn stover when diets contain wet distillers grains, and may be further enhanced by reducing particle size before …

Factors Influencing Profitability Of Calf-Fed Steers Harvested At Optimum Endpoint, Mallorie F. Wilken, Adam L. Shreck, Larry L. Berger Berger

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Four years of data from calf-fed steers were utilized in determining factors that affect profitability of cattle marketed at an optimum endpoint. Profitability was evaluated on a live weight basis assuming $112/cwt selling price and $180/cwt dressed price. Profit was compared as corn price and Choice-Select spread increased. Overall, carcass weight was the dominant factor in determining profitability. However, at $7 corn, feed efficiency had the most influence on profit. As expected, yield grade decreased and marbling score increased in importance as Choice- Select spread increased. Under these scenarios, profitability was greatly affected by hot carcass weight, with efficiency being …

Impact Of Sorting Prior To Feeding Zilpaterol Hydrochloride On Feedlot Steers, Erin M. Hussey, Galen E. Erickson, Brandon L. Nuttelman Nuttelman, William A. Griffin, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Kyle J. Vander Pol

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Crossbred yearling steers (n = 1000; 755 ± 23 lb) were utilized to evaluate effects of sorting and feeding zilpaterol hydrochloride (Zilmax^®) on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and economics. Treatments were: unsorted negative control (–CON); unsorted Zilmax fed positive control (+CON); and three treatments where the heaviest 20% of steers within the pen were identified at beginning (EARLY), 100 days from harvest (MIDDLE), or 50 days from harvest (LATE) and marketed 28 days earlier. Dry matter intake was not different. Gain and G:F were improved by feeding Zilmax. Carcasses from the +CON and steers sorted EARLY, MIDDLE, and …

Condensed Distillers Solubles And Beef Shelf Life, Kimberley A. Varnold, Chris R. Calkins, Asia L. Haack Haack, Jerilyn E. Hergenreder, Siroj Pokharel, Lasika S. Senaratne, Anna C. Pesta, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Condensed distillers solubles were fed to cattle at 0, 9, 18, 27, or 36% inclusion. There were no effects on objective steak color, subjective discoloration, Warner-Bratzler shear force, moisture content, fat content, or oxidation values. Diet did not affect polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in meat, but the control diet had higher total unsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids than all other treatments. Feeding condensed distillers solubles to cattle has no detrimental effects on shelf life.

Effects Of Antioxidants On Beef In Low And High Oxygen Packages, Spencer W. Bolte, Lasika S. Senaratne-Lenagala, Chris R. Calkins Calkins, Siroj Pokharel, Kimberley A. Varnold

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Color, lipid, and protein stability of beef strip loin steak treated with different antioxidants (tocopherol, tertiary butyl hydroquinone, rosemary, or combinations of two of the antioxidants) and packaged in low oxygen (2-5% O₂) or high oxygen (80% O₂) modified atmosphere packages were studied. The application of tertiary butyl hydroquinone on steaks prior packaging (either in low- or high-oxygen modified atmosphere packages) was significantly effective in minimizing color and lipid oxidation during retail display. Under modified atmosphere packaging (lowor high-oxygen modified atmosphere packaging), oxidation of myoglobin color pigments and lipids were unrelated to beef tenderness.

Dietary Antioxidants And Beef Tenderness During Retail Display In High O2, Lasika S. Senaratne-Lenagala, Chris R. Calkins, Siroj Pokharel Pokharel, Amilton S. De Mello Jr., Martin A. Andersen, Stephanie A. Furman

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Aged (8 and 29 days) strip loins, from cross-bred steers fed dry-rolled corn-based finishing diets containing 0 or 30% wet distillers grains with a synthetic antioxidant blend (AGRADO®PLUS) were packaged in high oxygen modified atmosphere packages (80% O₂:20% CO₂) and studied for decreased tenderness compared to steaks packaged in oxygen-permeable film during retail display. Steaks aged longer and packaged in high oxygen modified atmosphere packages decreased in tenderness, likely due to increased protein oxidation (more carbonyls and less free thiols), during retail display. Feeding AGRADO PLUS tended to decrease tenderness and increased protein oxidation during retail …

Subprimal Freezing And Thawing Rates Affect Beef At Retail, Justine J. Hosch, Jerilyn E. Hergenreder, Kim A. Varnold Varnold, Asia L. Haack, Lasika S. Senaratne, Siroj Pokharel, Chris R. Calkins, Catie Beauchamp, Brandon Lobaugh

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Ribeye, strip loin and top sirloin butt subprimals were either fast or slow frozen and then fast or slow thawed. Steaks were cut, placed in retail display for 8 days, and compared to fresh-never-frozen product for retail color and purge loss. Thaw purge loss was higher for slow thawed subprimals, with fast thawed product having the greatest purge loss during display. Overall, total purge loss was roughly 2-5% higher for all slow thawed products. Color data indicated frozen-thawed beef subprimals are comparable to fresh-never-frozen subprimals in color stability during day 1-4 of retail display. Total purge loss was increased for …

2012 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report (Complete)

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Cow/Calf

Supplementing Gestating Beef Cows Grazing Cornstalk Residues

Effect of Corn Stalk Grazing and Baling on Cattle Performance and Irrigation Needs

Nutritive Value and Amount of Corn Plant Parts

Wheat Straw, Distillers Grains, and Beet Pulp for Late Gestation Beef Cows

Influence of Weaning Date and Pre-partum Nutrition on Cow-Calf Productivity

Effect of Calving Period on Heifer Progeny

Evaluating Conventional and Sexed Semen in a Commercial Beef Heifer Program

Late Gestation Supplementation Impacts Primiparous Beef Heifers and Progeny

Nutritional Regime and Antral Follicle Count Impact Reproductive Characteristics in Heifers

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A(VEGFA) in Ovulatory Follicles

Oocyte mRNA and …

Effects Of Ramp™ On Feed Intake And Ruminal Ph During Adaptation To Finishing Diets, Cody J. Schneider, Adam L. Shreck, Galen E. Erickson Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A metabolism trial was conducted using an adaption strategy where RAMP inclusion was decreased (100 to 0%) while increasing inclusion of the finishing ration (0 to 100%) was compared to a traditional adaption (Control) where alfalfa hay inclusion was decreased (45 to 7.5%) while increasing corn. Adapting cattle with RAMP increased DMI, had no effect on average pH, pH variance, or magnitude of change compared to Control. Grain adaption with RAMP is a viable alternative to traditional grain adaptation.

Heifer Development: Think Profit, Not Just Cost Or Revenues, Matthew C. Stockton, Roger K. Wilson, Richard N. Funston Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Recent research on the economics of optimal beef replacement heifer size development reinforced the established economic principle that revenue or cost optimization are not equal to profit optimization. A modified profit function was used to analyze simulated results which demonstrated the differences among the three measures. In the case of optimizing pregnancy rates, a heifer must be heavier to optimize productivity as measured by revenue verses profit. Similarly in the case of cost minimization, the reduction in developmental expenses results in less profit except in the case where the economically optimal sized heifer equals that of the size chosen to …

Feeding Field Peas In Finishing Diets Containing Wet Distillers Grains Plus Solubles, Anna C. Pesta, Stephanie A. Furman, Matt K. Luebbe Luebbe, Galen E. Erickson, Karla H. Jenkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A finishing study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding 0 or 20% field peas in dry-rolled corn-based diets with 0 or 30% wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS). There was an interaction for DMI, in which WDGS had no effect in diets without peas, but increased DMI by 2.7 lb in diets containing peas. Peas decreased DMI by 1.3 lb in diets with no WDGS but had no effecton DMI in diets containing WDGS. A peas × WDGS interaction also was observed for F:G with WDGS decreasing F:G by 12% in diets without peas, but having no impact …

Influence Of Weaning Date And Prepartum Nutrition On Cow-Calf Productivity, Kelsey M. Rolfe, L. Aaron Stalker, Terry J. Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Richard N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

October weaned cows had greater average BCS and BW compared to December weaned cows; however, the level of supplementation on winter range did not impact BCS or BW. Subsequent pregnancy rates (96.5% - 98.5%) were not influenced by weaning date or any winter treatments. Steer progeny showed no differences in feedlot entry BW, final BW, DMI, ADG, or carcass characteristics; and there were no differences in percentage cycling before breeding or in pregnancy rates of heifer progeny.

Oocyte Mrna And Follicle Androgen Levels Associated With Fertility, Ningxia Lu, Jacqueline Smith, Vanessa Brauer Brauer, Adam Summers, William E. Pohlmeier, Kevin A. Beavers, Renee M. Mcfee, Kevin Sargent, Jill Kerl, Robert A. Cushman, Andrea S. Cupp, Jennifer R. Wood

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The environment that the oocyte develops in (follicle) and the mRNA that is produced (mRNA abundance) during development were examined. Androgen levels within the follicle were higher in heifers (≤ 2 years) that never established a pregnancy compared to cows that stayed in the herd at least 3 years and had at least one successful pregnancy. These high androgen levels were associated with increased abundance of several candidate mRNAs in the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC), which includes the oocyte and somatic cells immediately surrounding the oocyte, isolated from the dominant follicle. The data suggest that androgen levels represent a marker for …

Evaluating Conventional And Sexed Semen In A Commercial Beef Heifer Program, Tonya L. Meyer, Richard N. Funston, Kelly Ranch Ranch, James M. Mcgrann, Sexing Technologies, Abs Global

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Heifers (n = 500) were fed 0.5 mg/ day of melengestrol acetate for 14 days, and 19 days later, administered PGF_2α. Following PGF_2α, heifers were detected for estrus and artificially inseminated (AI) approximately 18-24 hours later. Three days following PGF_2α, heifers not detected in estrus were given GnRH and AI. Heifers were AI with one of two sires, either conventional or sexed semen, creating four possibilities for AI sire. Pregnancy rate was greater for conventional than sexed semen. In addition, more heifers detected in estrus were pregnant than heifers time AI. Further research is …

The Simmental Breed: Population Structure And Generation Interval Trends, Lynsey K. Whitacre, Matthew L. Spangler

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Pedigree data from the American Simmental Association from 1986-2008 were used to analyze the pedigree structure and changes in generation intervals over time within the Simmental breed. The number of breeders that accounted for 10% of sires of sires (SS), sires of dams (SD), dams of sires (DS), and dams of dams (DD) were 3, 5, 5, and 16, respectively. States with the greatest influenceon the four pathways of selection (SS, SD, DS, and DD) included Montana, South Dakota, Kansas, and Texas. In general, generation intervals for the four pathways decreased by year of birth over the time span of …

Economic Analysis Of Keeping A Nonpregnant Cow, Trenton Bohling, Darrell R. Mark, Richard Rasby, David R. Smith

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Abnormally large numbers of nonpregnant cows in cow-calf herds may be caused by diseases like trichomoniasis or a culmination of environmental factors such as heat stress during breeding and abnormally cold winters and wet spring conditions. Typically, producers sell nonpregnant females and replace them with bred heifers or cows. The five-year cash flow budgets developed in this study suggest that in some circumstances it is economically feasible to keep a nonpregnant cow.

Beef Heifer Development And Profitability, Matthew C. Stockton, Roger K. Wilson, Richard N. Funston Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The determination of the ideal breeding size of beef replacement females is traditionally centered on maximizing pregnancy rate. Relevant physical and economic relationships were combined into a bioeconomic systems model that identified key profit factors. This system-wide approach encapsulated the physical relationships with relevant costs and revenues, including annual and seasonal variations and measures relative to profitability through the application of an incomplete or modified profit function. Optimaloutcomes were relative to heifer size and management regime.