Beef Science Commons^™

2026 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The 2026 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report brings together applied research, emerging technologies, and management insights that directly address the evolving challenges and opportunities facing today’s beef industry. This year’s collection includes 36 articles that span the full beef production system, from cow/calf and forage management to feedlot nutrition, animal health, behavior, meat quality, and sustainability, providing science-based guidance grounded in real-world production contexts.

Cow/Calf Nutrition, Reproduction, and Management

This section highlights management strategies that influence reproductive success and long-term herd performance. Articles focus on late-gestation heifer nutrition and practical applications of artificial insemination to support efficient, productive cow/calf systems.

Forage, …

Comparison Of Spayed Heifer Performance To Intact Heifers Fed Melengestrol Acetate On Feedlot Performance And Carcass Characteristics, Tate S. Johnson, Rebecca L. Mcdermott, Halden J. Clark, Jim C. Macdonald, Jessica L. Sperber

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

Pregnancy and estrous cycle management are critical considerations when feeding intact heifers in the feedyard. Alternatively, producers can opt to spay heifers, which eliminates hormonal fluctuations associated with the estrous cycle. A proportion of U.S. feedlots have spayed heifers on feed, although there is limited data comparing the performance of spayed heifers to intact heifers. A commercial feedlot experiment was conducted to compare performance between spayed and intact heifers fed melengestrol acetate. Intact heifers had greater ADG and tended to have greater DMI compared to spayed heifers, although no difference in feed conversion was observed. Carcass weight …

Effect Of Ovarian Characteristics And Propylene Glycol Supplementation On Pregnancy Rates Per Ai In Suckled Beef Cows Subjected To A 7-Day Co-Synch Fixed-Time Ai Protocol Across Seasons, Body Condition Scores, And Postpartum Intervals, Pachara Pearodwong, Sarawanee Khunmanee, Kajohn Nitiwararuk, Thuwanon Boonkerd, Thananon Junsuri, Andrew A. Ponter, Winai Kaewlamun

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The present study evaluated the independent effects of ovarian characteristics and oral propylene glycol (PG) supplementation on pregnancy rates in suckled beef cows subjected to the 7-day CO-Synch + CIDR fixed-time AI (FTAI) protocol across different seasons, body condition scores (BCS; 5-point scale), and parturition-to-FTAI intervals. Cows received a CIDR insert and 10 μg GnRH on day -10, followed by 25 mg PGF2α at CIDR removal on day -3, and another 10 μg GnRH 72 h later (day 0). In Study 1, the ovarian characteristics of 36 cows were assessed transrectally on days -10 and 0 relative to the FTAI. …

Recovery And Characterization Of Moraxella Species From Bovine Specimens, Laura G. Leger

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The family Moraxellaceae is made up of a diverse group of 24 named species that fall into three phylogenetic groups. While most Moraxella spp. act as commensal respiratory and/or ocular flora of mammals, some are associated with disease. One of these diseases, infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), has significant welfare and economic impacts to both cattle and cattle producers. Moraxella bovis is the only experimentally determined cause of IBK, however, an association of Moraxella bovoculi with disease has been proposed. Currently, available vaccines do not have high levels of efficacy in the field. Culture based methods are the gold standard for …

Environmental Effects On Preweaning Calf Health, Lindsay L. Waechter-Mead

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Neonatal calf health is an important factor in the productivity and profitability in the beef cattle industry, influencing preweaning survival, growth, and long-term performance. The overall objective of this thesis is to characterize risk factors that contribute to health issues in young beef calves. The first objective is to review literature exploring the environmental factors affecting preweaning morbidity and mortality, including hypothermia, precipitation, and wind. Management strategies such as the effect of environmental conditions of calving location, body condition score in dams at parturition, and the impacts of dystocia on calf health will also be discussed. Gaps in current research …

Artificial Insemination Of Beef Heifers With Multi-Sire Semen, Dempster Christenson, Jordan M. Thomas, Daniel J. Kelly, Richard N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

This study compared pregnancy rates of beef heifers artificially inseminated with multi-sire semen to single-sire semen. It was hypothesized pregnancy rates resulting from multi-sire semen would be increased compared to single-sire semen. Heifers were artificially inseminated with semen from one of three single-sires or semen from a combination of the same three sires. Pregnancy rates did not significantly differ. Paternity testing suggests sire parentage can be unequal when semen is mixed from multiple sires. In summary, producers can expect similar pregnancy rates using single-sire and multi-sire semen, but progeny may have unequal sire representation.

The Impact Of A Pgym Variant On Myophosphorylase Deficiency In Red Angus Composite Cattle And Changes In The Skeletal Muscle Transcriptome Due To The Intramuscular Administration Of Lidocaine In Wether Lambs, Mackenzie Christin Batt

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Project 1 focused on eight calves in a Nebraska herd (composite Simmental, Red Angus, Gelbvieh) that displayed exercise intolerance during forced activity. Available sire pedigrees contained a paternal ancestor within 2-4 generations in all affected calves. Pedigrees of the calves’ dams were unavailable, however, the cows were ranch-raised and retained from prior breeding seasons, where bulls used for breeding occasionally had a common ancestor. Therefore, it was hypothesized that a de novo autosomal recessive variant was causative of exercise intolerance in these calves. A genome-wide association analysis followed by whole-genome sequencing led to the identification of a variant in the …

Impact Of Strategic Postweaning Supplementation On March- And May-Born Yearling Range Heifer And Calf Growth And Performance In The Nebraska Sandhills, Josie Nicole Crouch

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Three experiments were conducted at the Gudmundsen Sandhills laboratory near Whitman, Nebraska. Experiment 1, a retrospective regression analysis, evaluated the impact of heifer percentage of mature body weight (BW) at breeding on heifer performance, subsequent pregnancy rates, and calf production. Overall pregnancy rates were greater (P < 0.01) for heifers at 60 to 70% of mature BW than 50 to 55%, with no differences in pregnancy rates (P ≥ 0.15) after 2-years of age. Heifers at 50 to 60% of mature BW had a greater (P = 0.05) proportion give birth in the first 21-d. A higher percentage of mature BW at breeding resulted in greater (P < 0.01) BW at birth and weaning for offspring.

Experiments 2 and 3 were 3-year studies that evaluated the impact …

Artificial Insemination And Fetal Programming In Beef Production Systems, Dempster M. Christenson

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Pregnancy to artificial insemination and late gestation fetal programming of the next calf crop are central to genetic development, reproductive longevity, calf crop productivity, and efficiency of cow/calf ranching. The purposes of this research are to find methods to improve pregnancy rate to artificial insemination, the growth and reproductive health of pregnant heifers, and the productivity of their offspring. In the first of four studies we found that extending the period of progesterone administration in an estrus synchronization protocol did not significantly hasten estrus response or increase pregnancy rate to artificial insemination, but timing of estrus within the melengestrol acetate …

Identifying Barriers To Data Use On U.S. Beef Cow-Calf Operations And Developing Solutions To Improve Cow-Calf Record-Keeping, William Isaac Jumper

Theses and Dissertations

Cattle health and production records (CHPR) are data collected by cattle producers and veterinarians in the form of measurements, observations, counts of events over time, and physiologic attributes that describe individual and group-level health and production. These data are useful to both veterinarians and cattle producers for making evidence-based decisions on cow-calf operations. Currently, there are no uniform, industry-wide methods of capturing and recording CHPR in the U.S. cow-calf industry. Although many cow-calf producers in the U.S. are thought to collect some form of CHPR, it is believed that relatively few are doing so in an electronic manner that facilitates …

Pharmacokinetics Of Single Feeding Of Cannabidiol In Cattle: A Pilot Study, Haley Cornette

Honors College Theses

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a substance that has been used in complementary medicine for many years. However, modern medicine has little knowledge of how this substance is utilized and metabolized in ruminant animals. Regulations on quality assurance and use in animals are lacking, and CBD supplementation in livestock is not approved. If CBD supplements can be shown to be safe and effective, detection in the animal will be important for determining regulation of use. A withdrawal period can then be established to allow time for deterioration of product to safe levels before livestock products enter human markets. This study sought to …

Epidemiological Survey Of Bovine Babesia And Theileria Parasites In Buffaloes In District Dera Ismail, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Waseem Ullah, Arsalan Khan, Akhtar Ali, Imtiaz Ali Shah, Umm E. Aimen, Imtiaz Khan, Abdul Wadood Jan, Saqib Ali Rustam

Journal of Bioresource Management

Piroplasmosis (babesiosis and theileriosis) are the leading blood parasites responsible for significant economic losses to the dairy enterprises. These parasites are transmitted by Ixodid ticks from a diseased animal to a healthy animal. This study was executed to determine the prevalence of Theileria and Babesia in water buffaloes in District Dera Ismail Khan for their risk assessment. During this trial, 350 random blood samples were obtained from buffalos within the region of District Dera Ismail Khan and examined for Babesia and Theileria parasites using Giemsa staining technique under an oil immersion lens. Forty-eight blood samples were found positive and the …

Exploring How Maternal Phosphorus Status Affects Calf Growth And Performance, Elizabeth Lafferty

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study will focus on how maternal phosphorus status of beef heifers affects the growth and performance of their calves. Heifers have been offered free-choice mineral with either 0 or 4% supplemental phosphorus from 30 days after weaning until calving. A study by H. Hilfiker, a University of Arkansas honors student, investigated the effects of these treatments from 30 days after weaning until 60 days after the breeding season when heifers were confirmed to be bred or open. For this developing heifer project 64 crossbred Angus heifers were assigned randomly into 8 groups (8 heifers/ group) before assigning each group …

The Efficacy Of Extended-Release Eprinomectin For The Reduction Of Horn Flies, Face Flies, And Fecal Egg Counts Of Parasitic Nematodes In Replacement Beef Heifers, Sophia F. Landers

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of extended-release eprinomectin against horn flies, face flies, and fecal egg counts of parasitic nematodes in crossbreed replacement beef heifers. Fifty-four heifers were randomly placed into three treatment groups (N=18 heifers/treatment). Group 1 was administered the labeled dosage of extended-release eprinomectin on day 0. Group 2 acted as the negative control. Group 3 received the anthelmintic injection once a quarter of the heifers in the group reached the threshold treatment level for horn flies (N=200 flies/animal; day 41). Nematode infections were measured via fecal egg counts while horn and face …

Associations Among Beef Cattle Genotypes, Neospora Caninum Infection, And Reproductive Performance, Ryan James Page

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Reproductive performance is crucial for sustained financial success in the beef cattle industry. This dissertation includes a population study that quantified the incidence of Neospora caninum infections in the central region of the United States and tested its relationship with reproductive performance in beef cattle. Trial one of that study concluded that 6.9% of open, replacement heifers (n = 1306) tested seropositive. The second trial in that project found that 9.6% of the breeding age females (n = 500) tested were seropositive for Neospora caninum; and that state in which the cattle lived and age impacted (P < 0.05) infection rate. Breed composition, number of farm dogs on the ranch, and use of total mixed rations were not associated (P > 0.1) with seropositive …

Environmental Sampling Techniques For Herd-Level Surveillance Of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus, Jaden Carlson

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Control of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) relies on resource-intensive individual animal sampling to detect and remove persistently infected (PI) cattle. Herd-level surveillance tools would be useful for herds with unknown BVDV status and for monitoring herds with BVDV-free status. The overall objective of this thesis is to explore the viability of BVDV surveillance at a herd-level using samples collected without handling individual animals. The first objective was to determine the feasibility of using stable flies as a sampling tool to detect BVDV. The second objective was to determine the feasibility of using drinking water to detect BVDV. To accomplish …

Evaluating The Epidemiology And Management Of Bovine Congestive Heart Failure, Adam Bassett

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A form of congestive heart failure is increasingly reported as a cause of death in feedlot cattle located at moderate altitude (≤ 1,524 m.). Significant knowledge gaps exist in the epidemiology and management of this form of bovine congestive heart failure (BCHF) regarding frequency and timing of BCHF cases and ways in which beef cattle producers and veterinarians can mitigate this condition. These knowledge gaps present major barriers to understanding the mechanism of BCHF and mitigating the consequences of BCHF. The purpose of this thesis is to summarize current knowledge about BCHF, define gaps in knowledge for which more research …

The Effect Of Bovine Galectin-1, A Conceptus Secretory Protein, On The Endometrial Transcriptome, Lindsay Faye Grose

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Early embryonic loss in cattle is detrimental to reproduction thus, the profitability of both the beef and dairy industries. Therefore, an important aspect of study is to find techniques that beef or dairy producers could use to decrease early embryonic loss Galectin-1, the protein that was investigated in this research is important in modulating the maternal immune system in rodent and human early pregnancies by promoting fetomaternal immune tolerance. The role of galectin-1 within the reproductive tissues has not been thoroughly investigated in cattle. Galectin-1 is located in the caruncular and intercaruncular regions of the bovine endometrium, specifically the maternal …

Effects Of Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Yeast Supplementation And Supplementation Frequency On Immune Parameters, Performance, And Digestibility Among Periparturient Beef Cows And Calves, Janine Swartz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Effects of enzymatically hydrolyzed yeast (EHY) and supplementation frequency (FREQ) on immune parameters among beef cows and calves was evaluated. Eighty multiparous (parity = 4.2 ± 0.3) cows were fed a common brome hay-based diet (CP = 8.0 ± 0.17%). Cows were blocked by expected calving date and stratified by body condition score (BCS) before random assignment of treatment. Beginning 88 ± 5 d prior to parturition, cows were provided 1 kg daily or 3 kg every 3 d of a soybean hull-based supplement (CP = 34.0, % of DM) that contained 0 or 3 g/kg EHY. The daily supplement …

Regulation Of Alpha-Herpesvirus Reactivation From Latency By Stress, Insun Kook

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Bovine herpes virus 1 (BHV-1) and Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) are crucial etiological viral agent of clinical diseases. HSV-1 and BHV-1 establish latent infection in sensory neurons. Periodically, reactivation from latency occurs resulting in virus excretion and transmission. Stress increases corticosteroid levels and the incidence of HSV-1 and BHV-1 reactivation from latency. The synthetic corticosteroid, dexamethasone (DEX) mimics stress and induces BHV-1 and HSV-1 reactivation. However, molecular mechanisms by which corticosteroid mediates viral reactivation are not well understood. My dissertation has focused on elucidating events that induce BHV- 1 or HSV-1 reactivation during the early stages of stress-induced escape …

Evaluation Of Pre-Harvest Screening For Antibiotics And Flunixin Meglumine In Cattle, Shuna A. Jones

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Many antibiotics and medications used in the treatment of animals have a withdrawal time; residues are a concern for the meat industry. The most recently published 2009 USDA-FSIS Residue Program Data Report listed 135,389 Inspector-in-Charge-Generated (IICG) residue samples from 43,142,500 beef and dairy cattle inspected that year at harvest. Of these samples, 1,306 contained violative antibiotic residues and 327 violative flunixin meglumine residues. Two classes of antimicrobials comprised over half of the documented violative antimicrobial residues (beta-lactams that include ceftiofur and sulfa drugs that include sulfadimethoxine). While the violative residue rate seems small, violative residues are unacceptable. Management of carcasses …

Sheep Updates 2007 - Part 5, Bindi Murray, John Karlsson, Johan Greeff, Carolina Viñoles Gil, B. L. Paganoni, K. M. M. Glover, J. T. B. Milton, G. B. Martin, Hugh Dove, Bill Mckiernan, John Wilkins, Paul Greenwood, Linda Cafe

Sheep Updates

This session covers six papers from different authors:

GENETIC IMPROVEMENT

1. Breech Strike Resistance: Selecting for resistance traits reduces breech strike, Bindi Murray, John Karlsson, Johan Greeff, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

2. Breeding Merino Sheep for Worm Resistance increases profit in a Mediterranean Environment, John Karlsson and Johan Greeff Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia

FEEDING

3. Embryo lasses were not increased when Merino ewes that had lost weight were supplemented with lupins, C. Viñoles Gil, B.L. Paganoni, K.M.M. Glover, J.T.B. Milton & G.B. Martin, School of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, …

Bulletin 3967 - Cyanogenetic Plants Of Western Australia, T E H Aplin

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

This article deals with those native, naturalized and cultivated plants, which by virtue of contained cyanogenetic glycosides, are known to be poisonous or potentially poisonous to livestock in Western Australia.

Cyanogenetic glycosides are chemical compounds which contain a cyanogen (cyanide) radical combined with a sugar molecule. The sugar moiety may differ in glycosides obtained from different plants, and as a consequence glycosides from different plants, containing different sugar moieties, may be given different names.

When a cyanogenetic glycoside is broken down by enzyme action, through injury to the plant or by microbial action in the digestive system of the animal, …

Cancer Eye Of Cattle, M R. Gardiner, J. L. Anderson, D. E. Robertson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Cancer of the eye and eyelids is mainly a disease of cattle, although it occasionally occurs in most species of animals and in man. It is the most common cancer in cattle, especially in certain breeds.

Prevent Worms In Cattle, G C De Chaneet

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

PARASITIC gastro enteritis, caused by roundworms, is a common cause of economic loss in calves, yearlings and occasionally cows in south-western Australia. Losses could be prevented if stock owners realised the full effects of these parasites, and understood the causes of worm infestation.

Inoculation Abscesses Can Downgrade Carcasses, M R. Gardiner

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE presence of inoculation abscesses in meat is one of the lesser known causes of downgrading or rejection of carcasses, but these abscesses have caused increasing concern in recent years.

They have obvious importance in export carcasses.

Black-Leg In Cattle, F C. Wilkinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

BLACK-LEG is still a serious disease of cattle in the South West coastal region, causing deaths in young cattle.

The disease is characterised by hot swollen muscles, acute lameness and rapid death.

Cattle affected are usually 6 to 12 months old, in fat condition, and grazing on lush pastures.

Eye Cancer In Cattle, E P. Meyer

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE CONDITION known as eye cancer occurs in all ages and breeds of cattle but is most common in certain strains of the Hereford breed that have non-pigmented or mottled eyes and eyelids.

A yearly incidence of up to 5 per cent can occur in susceptible herds.

Bovine Tuberculosis Control In Western Australia : Past, Present And Future, M R. Gardiner

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

TWENTY YEARS AGO, tuberculosis was a widespread and serious disease in the dairy cattle of Western Australia.

Besides having a marked depressing effect on the economy of the dairying industry, bovine tuberculosis was a constant hazard to humans coming in contact with it.

Remarkable Success Of Bovine T.B. Eradication Campaign, J Shilkin

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Less than 20 years ago Perth dairy herds had the highest T.B. incidence of any Australian capital city and half of the Kalgoorlie cattle had the disease.

Why this was so and how the eradication campaign has reduced the incidence of less than 0.3 per cent, in 128,000 cattle is discussed in this article.