Meat Science Commons^™

Effects Of Sorghum Wet Distillers Grains Plus Solubles In Steam-Flaked Corn–Based Finishing Diets On Steer Performance, Carcass Characteristics, And Digestibility Characteristics, E. K. Buttrey, K. H. Noel, F. T. Mccollum Iii, N. A. Cole, L. O. Tedeschi, James C. Macdonald

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of sorghum wet distillers grains (SWDGS) in finishing diets on steer performance, carcass characteristics, and nutrient digestibility. In Exp. 1, 240 steers (initial BW = 379 ± 1 kg) were fed steam-flaked corn–based diets with or without 25% SWDGS and 7.5, 10.0, or 12.5% alfalfa hay. There were no effects of alfalfa hay concentration on BW, DMI, ADG, or G:F (P ≥ 0.16). Including SWDGS reduced (P ≤ 0.05) ADG and G:F. Fat thickness decreased (P = 0.03) and DP tended to decrease (P = 0.09) linearly as level of alfalfa hay …

Effects Of Fat And/Or Methionine Hydroxy Analog Added To A Molasses-Urea-Based Supplement On Ruminal And Postruminal Digestion And Duodenal Flow Of Nutrients In Beef Steers Consuming Low-Quality Lovegrass Hay, R. Lopez, G. D. Bernhard, J. E. Guerra-Liera, S. A. Soto-Navarro, L. A. Balstad, M. K. Petersen, D. V. Dhuyvetter, M. S. Brown, C. R. Krehbiel

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Five crossbred beef steers (initial BW = 338.6 ± 7.8 kg) fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square design experiment to evaluate the effects of methionine hydroxy analog (MHA) and/or yellow grease (fat) added to a molassesurea- based supplement on intake and characteristics of digestion. Steers were fed low-quality hay (long-stem lovegrass Eragrostis curvula: 3.3% CP, 76.8% NDF; DM basis) ad libitum and supplemented with 0.91 kg/d (as fed) of 1 of 4 supplements in a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement of treatments. Supplemental treatments were 1) control (no supplement, …

Genetic Parameters For Docility, Weaning Weight, Yearling Weight, And Intramuscular Fat Percentage In Hereford Cattle, J. A. Torres-Vázquez, Matthew L. Spangler

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Cattle behavior, including measures of docility, is important to beef cattle producers not only from a human safety perspective but also due to potential correlations to economically relevant traits. Field data from the American Hereford Association was used to estimate genetic parameters for chute score (CS; n = 25,037), weaning weight (WW; n = 24,908), yearling weight (YW; n = 23,978), and intramuscular fat percentage (IMF; n = 12,566). Single-trait and bivariate animal models were used to estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations. All models included fixed effects of sex and contemporary group, defined as herd–year–season, and direct genetic and residual …

The Effects Of Technology Use In Feedlot Production Systems On Feedlot Performance And Carcass Characteristics, C. L. Maxwell, B. C. Wilson, C. F. O'Neill, B. K. Wilson, C. G. Hixon, C. L. Haviland, A. N. Grimes, M. S. Calvo-Lorenzo, D. L. Vanoverbeke, G. G. Mafi, C. J. Richards, D. L. Step, B. P. Holland, C. R. Krehbiel

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of feedlot production systems with and without the use of a β-adrenergic agonist compared to an all-natural production program on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics. Crossbred beef steers (n = 336; initial BW = 379 ± 8 kg) were randomized to 1 of 3 treatments in a randomized complete block design (RCBD; 14 steers/pen; 8 pens/treatment). Treatments consisted of an all-natural treatment (NAT), a conventional treatment (CONV), and a conventional treatment with a β-agonist (CONV-Z). All treatments were fed the same basal diet with NAT cattle receiving no growth promoting …

Qtls Associated With Dry Matter Intake, Metabolic Mid-Test Weight, Growth And Feed Efficiency Have Little Overlap Across 4 Beef Cattle Studies, Mahdi Saatchi, Jonathan E. Beever, Jared E. Decker, Dan B. Faulkner, Harvey C. Freetly, Stephanie L. Hansen, Helen Yampara-Iquise, Kristen A. Johnson, Stephen D. Kachman, Monty S. Kerley, Jaewoo Kim, Daniel D. Loy, Elisa Marques, Holly L. Neibergs, E. John Pollak, Robert D. Schnabel, Christopher M. Seabury, Daniel W. Shike, W. M. Snelling, Matthew L. Spangler, Robert L. Weaber, D. J. Garrick, Jeremy F. Taylor

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Background: The identification of genetic markers associated with complex traits that are expensive to record such as feed intake or feed efficiency would allow these traits to be included in selection programs. To identify large-effect QTL, we performed a series of genome-wide association studies and functional analyses using 50 K and 770 K SNP genotypes scored in 5,133 animals from 4 independent beef cattle populations (Cycle VII, Angus, Hereford and Simmental × Angus) with phenotypes for average daily gain, dry matter intake, metabolic mid-test body weight and residual feed intake.

Results: A total of 5, 6, 11 and 10 significant …

Effects Of Beef Production System On Animal Performance And Carcass Characteristics, C. L. Maxwell, C. R. Lopez, B. K. Wilson, B. T. Johnson, B. C. Bernhard, C. F. O'Neill, D. L. Vanoverbeke, G. G. Mafi, D. L. Step, C. J. Richards

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to evaluate conventional (CONV) and natural (NAT) beef production systems from annual pasture through finishing through grazing. Beef steers (n = 180, initial BW = 250 ± 19 kg) were assigned randomly to 2 treatments in the pasture phase. Steers were implanted with 40 mg of trenbolone acetate (TBA), 8 mg estradiol, and 29 mg tylosin tartrate (CONV), or received no implant (NAT). Steers on the 2 treatments grazed wheat or cereal rye for 109 d. Conventional steers had an 18.5% improvement in ADG (1.22 vs. 1.03 kg/d, P < 0.01) and a heavier final BW (385 vs. 366 kg, P < 0.01) compared with NAT steers. Following the pasture phase, steers (n = 160 steers, 5 steers/pen, 8 pens/treatment) were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial in the feedlot phase. Production system (NAT vs. CONV) was maintained from the pasture phase, and the second factor was 7 vs. 12% low-quality roughage (DM basis, LOW vs. HIGH). During finishing, CONV steers were given 120 mg of TBA and 24 mg estradiol at processing, fed monensin and tylosin, and fed zilpaterol hydrochloride for the last 20 d of the experiment. There were no program × roughage level interactions (P > 0.07). The CONV steers ate …

Beef Cattle Body Temperature During Climatic Stress: A Genome-Wide Association Study, Jeremy T. Howard, Stephen D. Kachman, Warren M. Snelling, E. John Pollak, Daniel C. Ciobanu, Larry A. Kuehn, Matthew L. Spangler

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Cattle are reared in diverse environments and collecting phenotypic body temperature (BT) measurements to characterize BT variation across diverse environments is difficult and expensive. To better understand the genetic basis of BT regulation, a genome-wide association study was conducted utilizing crossbred steers and heifers totaling 239 animals of unknown pedigree and breed fraction. During predicted extreme heat and cold stress events, hourly tympanic and vaginal BT devices were placed in steers and heifers, respect i v e l y. I n d i v i dua l s we r e genotyped with t h e BovineSNP50K_v2 assay and data …

The Effect Of Myostatin Genotype On Body Temperature During Extreme Temperature Events, J. T. Howard, Stephen D. Kachman, Merlyn K. Nielsen, Terry L. Mader, Matthew L. Spangler

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Extreme heat and cold events can create deleterious physiological changes in cattle as they attempt to cope. The genetic background of animals can influence their response to these events. The objective of the current study was to determine the impact of myostatin genotype (MG) on body temperature during periods of heat and cold stress. Two groups of crossbred steers and heifers of unknown pedigree and breed fraction with varying percentages of Angus, Simmental, and Piedmontese were placed in a feedlot over 2 summers and 2 winters. Before arrival, animals were genotyped for the Piedmontese-derived myostatin mutation (C313Y) to determine their …

Review: Life-Cycle, Total-Industry Genetic Improvement Of Feed Efficiency In Beef Cattle: Blueprint For The Beef Improvement Federation, Merlyn K. Nielsen, M. D. Macneil, J. C. M. Dekkers, D. H. Crews Jr., T. A. Rathje, R. Mark Enns, R. L. Weaber

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

On a life-cycle basis, beef animals are able to consume large amounts of low-cost, low-quality forages relative to higher-cost concentrates compared with pigs and chickens. However, of the 3, beef is still more expensive to produce on a cost–per–edible pound basis. Accordingly, there is need for genetic programs and management changes that will improve efficiency, sustainability, and profitability of beef production. Options include improving reproductive rate, reducing feed used for maintenance, or both, while not reducing output. A goal for improving efficiency of feed utilization is to reduce the amount or proportion of feed used for maintenance. Such reduction is …

Occurrence Of Hormonal Residues In Feedlot Cattle Waste, Terry L. Mader, Leslie J. Johnson, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt, Daniel D. Snow, William Kranz, Charles Shapiro, Simon Van Donk, David P. Shelton, David Tarkalson, T. C. Zhang, Steve Ensley

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Two identically designed studies were conducted in separate years at the UNL Haskell Agricultural Laboratory using 192 crossbred heifers (96/study). Within a study heifers (initial weight = 386kg) were randomly assigned to 2 groups (3 42.4 m × 14.6 m pens/group/year): 1) treatment (TRT) animals were administered synthetic hormones via subcutaneous implants [d 1, 36 mg zearalonal; d 35, 140 mg trenbolone acetate (TBA) and 14 mg of 17β-estradiol benzoate (Revalor-H)] and fed Melengesterol Acetate (MGA), and 2) control (CON) animals with no synthetic hormone provided. Throughout each study, feedlot pen surface samples were obtained from 4 equally-sized zones (5 …

Use Of A Complete-Feed Diet (Ramp) To Rapidly Transition Cattle To A Finishing Diet, C. J. Schneider, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Dirk Burken, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

A study evaluated transitioning cattle from RAMP to a finishing diet with fewer intermediate step diets and days fed during transition. Yearling crossbred steers (n = 390; BW = 341 ± 14 kg) were blocked and stratified by BW, and assigned randomly within strata to 40 feedlot pens, with 9 or 10 steers per pen. Treatments were different grain adaptation programs (27 or 28 d) involving blends of RAMP and finishing diet. A control adaptation program involved decreasing RAMP and increasing a 62.5% corn finishing diet (62.5% high moisture corn (HMC), 25% sweet bran, 7.5% alfalfa hay (AH), and 5% …

Use Of A Complete-Feed Diet (Ramp) In Grain Adaptation Programs Compared To Traditional Grain Adaptation Programs, C. J. Schneider, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Kelsey M. Rolfe Rolfe, William A. Griffin, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

A study evaluated using RAMP to adapt cattle to a high grain finishing diet. Yearling crossbred steers (n = 229; BW = 397 ± 28.4 kg) were consecutively weighed over 2 d, stratified by BW, and assigned randomly within strata to 18 feedlot pens, with 12 or 13 steers per pen. Treatments were imposed during grain adaptation (22 d) by decreasing RAMP (100 to 0%) and increasing finishing diet (0 to 100%). RAMP was fed either as a blend in a 1-diet system which was delivered twice daily (RAMP-1RS) or as 2 daily diets where RAMP was delivered in one …

Technical Note: Estimating Beef-Cattle Forage Demand: Evaluating The Animal Unit Concept, T. L. Meyer, L. A. Stalker, J. D. Volesky, D. C. Adams, R. N. Funston, T. J. Klopfenstein, Walter H. Schacht

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of BW and physiological status of a beef animal on forage intake. The experiment was repeated over 2 yr with 6 replications of 3 treatments per year: cow-calf pair (CCP, BW = 629 kg), nonlactating cow (NLC, BW = 503 kg), and yearling steer (YS, BW = 305 kg). The CCP was treated as one unit, with the sum of cow BW and calf BW comprising CCP BW. Calves averaged 42 d of age and 73 kg at the start of the experiment each year. Animals were housed in individual …

Calving Date And Wintering System Effects On Cow And Calf Performance I: A Systems Approach To Beef Production In The Nebraska Sandhills, W. A. Griffin, L. A. Stalker, D. C. Adams, R. N. Funston, T. J. Klopfenstein

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

A 4-yr study using 217 cows/yr (3/4 Red Angus, 1/4 Simmental) evaluated effects of calving date and wintering system on cow and calf performance from birth to harvest. Cows were assigned to 1 of 5 treatments: 1) March (Mar) calving cows wintered on native range, 2) Mar calving cows wintered on corn residue, 3) June (Jun) calving cows wintered on native range, 4) Jun calving cows wintered on corn residue, and 5) August (Aug) calving cows wintered on corn residue. Steers born in Mar entered the feedlot at weaning (calf-fed). Steers and heifers born in Jun and Aug were divided …

Smooth Bromegrass Pasture Beef Growing Systems: Fertilization Strategies And Economic Analysis, A. K. Watson, T. J. Klopfenstein, Walter H. Schacht, G. E. Erickson, D. R. Mark, Matt K. Luebbe, K. R. Brink, Matthew A. Greenquist

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

In recent years, prices for N fertilizer have increased dramatically, reducing net returns of fertilized pasture systems. A 5-yr study from 2005 to 2009 was conducted to evaluate management strategies and relative differences in profitability for 3 methods of backgrounding calves on smooth bromegrass pastures. Forty-five steers were used each year for a total of 225 animals in a randomized complete block design. Treatments included pastures fertilized in the spring with 90 kg N/ha (FERT), nonfertilized pastures with calves supplemented daily with dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) at 0.6% of BW (SUPP), and control (CONT) pastures that had no …

Supply Chain Performance Of The Australian Beef Industry: Comparing The Industry Structure, Inter-Firm Relationships And Knowledge Systems Of Western Australia And Queensland, Mohammad Nasir Uddin,, Nazrul Islam, Mohammed Quaddus

Books & book chapters

The meat and livestock industry in Australia accounts for more than 45 per cent of Australia’s total value of agricultural production, within which beef is the largest industry in value terms (Nossal, Sheng and Zhao 2008). But the industry is experiencing a long-term decline in terms of trade, and has lagged behind other industries in rates of productivity improvement (MLA 2008). As it is critical for the economy that the beef industry maintains profitability and sustainability, it is believed that the performance, competitiveness and success of the industry depends on improving cost efficiency and productivity of the whole supply chain …

Tympanic Temperature In Confined Beef Cattle Exposed To Excessive Heat Load, Terry L. Mader, John B. Gaughan, Leslie J. Johnson, G. Leroy Hahn

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Angus crossbred yearling steers (n=168) were used to evaluate effects on performance and tympanic temperature (TT) of feeding additional potassium and sodium to steers exposed to excessive heat load (maximum daily ambient temperature exceeded 32°C for three consecutive days) during seasonal summer conditions. Steers were assigned one of four treatments: (1) control; (2) potassium supplemented (diet containing 2.10% KHCO3); (3) sodium supplemented (diet containing 1.10% NaCl); or (4) potassium and sodium supplemented (diet containing 2.10% KHCO3 and 1.10% NaCl). Overall, additional KHCO3 at the 2% level or NaCl at the 1% level did not improve performance or heat stress tolerance …

Breeding For Improved Feed Conversion Efficiency, Alan Lymbery

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

Alan Lymbery reports on a trial that has started at Vasse Research Atation to investigate the impact of genetic improvement on feed conversion efficiency on costs of production.

Beef : Meating The Market, Greg Sawyer, Richard Morris, Geoff Tudor

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

Nearly half of Western Australia's beef production is consumed on the domestic market, but the scene is changing rapidly.

In this article Greg Sawyer, Richard Morris and Geoff Tudor review information on production systems performance, and carcase and quality measurements that may well serve wider market opportunities in the future.

Pilbara Steer Growth Evaluation : 1994 - 1996, Wayne Fletcher, Brian Mcintyre, Shane Cridland Dr, J L. James

Agriculture reports

Growth potential of steers in the Pilbara - a summary. The trial was conducted over a range of conditions on three locations. The pasture type at Wyloo, the Ashburton River frontage, which is regarded as one of the most productive pasture types in the area, combined with conservative stocking, a fresh paddock and excellent seasonal conditions during 1995, gives us an indication of the District's potential. In extrapolating any of these data to other cases, consideration must be given to adjustment base

Beefing Up Our Prospects, Trevor Boughton, Brad Mccormick

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

In the global fish pond the Western Australian beef industry is a minnow. Production is only 5.5 per cent of Australia's total and around 2 per cent that of the United States. Our output has remained static for the last decade while competition throughout the world has expanded. Moving forward to share the benefits of growing world markets or being left behind is the long-term choice facing the industry, according to TREVOR BOUGHTON and BRAD McCORMICK.

Beef Farms : Thriving Profits To Expensive Lifestyles, Bevan Kingdon, Greg Sawyer

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

Low wool prices in the last few years have stimulated interest in beef production in many areas of the State. Market sales at $500 and above for vealers sound attractive, but profitability of farms varies greatly. A BeefFarm Survey conducted by the Department of Agriculture has some interesting preliminary findings. Based on fairly modest returns for the operator's time, some farms are actually losing rather than making money on their beef enterprise, although potential profits are sizeable with good management. Interestingly, the biggest farms are not always the most efficient.

The Wokalup Beef Cattle Selection Experiment, Alan Lymbery, Mick Carrick, Patrick Donnelly

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

The aim of the Department of Agriculture's long-term beef cattle selection experiment at Wokalup is to examine the effects of selection for faster-growing cattle on biological traits that may influence the productivity of a commercial beef herd. Selection lines were established from Hereford and multibreed cattle in 1977. Twelve years of selection have produced an increase in growth rate to weaning of about 120 g per day in both lines. About 40 per cent of this increase is the result of permanent genetic improvement.

We plan to compare these characteristics in cattle from the selection lines with cattle that have …

The Pesticide Residue Problem In Beef Cattle : Success With Contaminated Power Poles In South Coastal Areas, Bob Mitchell

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

Western Australian beef producers faced a major crisis in 1987 because of organochlorine pesticide residues in some Australian beef cattle. We had to react quickly to find the sources of these residues and to keep contaminated cattle out of our abattoirs. Trace-backs led to 269 Western Australian properties in quarantine by the end of 1987. About 85 per cent of quarantined properties had cattle contaminated with pesticide residues from 'broadacre' sources, especially from potato and other horticultural crops. Another 10 per cent of properties were in quarantine because of contamination from basal treatment of timber power poles

Finishing Kimberley Cattle In The South-West, Brian L. Mcintyre, Bill Ryan, Neville Macintyre

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

The idea of integrating the Kimberley cattle industry with that in the south-west of Western Australia is no new, but until recently it had not been critically evaluated.

Over the past eight years the Department of Agriculture's Beef Cattle Branch has been assessing the performance of Kimberley cattle transported south for finishing in the agricultural areas.

This research has show that Kimberley weaners can be finished in the south, and that under the present (December 1988) economic conditions it is more profitable than running breeding cattle in the south-west and comparable with fattening store steers.

Beefin : Maximizing Profits From Feeding Beef Cattle Out Of Season, R G. Grieve, David Barker, Jim May

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

BEEFIN is a computer model that formulates profit maximising diets for finishing beef cattle to a specified carcass weight and fat thickness. It predicts cattle growth rate, feed conversion ratio, final liveweight, number of days on feed and the amount of available feedstuffs required to finish cattle to specification, The diets fulfil the animal's energy, protien, mineral and roughage requirements.

BEEFIN also calculates a profit and loss budget for the enterprise, performs a sensitivity analysis on changes in the price for both cattle and feed and determines the changes in feed prices needed before the composition of the diet is …

Prospects For Leucaena On The Ord, D Pratchett, Tim Triglone

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

For the past few years, the Department of Agriculture has been fattening cattle on the forage shrub leucaena which is grown under irrigation with pangola grass. About 400ha of leucaena is under commercial production in the Kimberley.

Cattle grazing leucaena show promising growth rates but other problems need to be overcome before its use is more widely adopted. Leucaena establishes slowly. It is also costly to transport fattened cattle to southern abbatoirs.

Weaning Kimberley Cattle Pays Off, D Pratchett, Stuart Young

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

Research results show that weaning Kimberley calves when they reach 140kg liveweight is one way of increasing herd productivity by changing management practices. However, removing the bulls from the breeding herd, rather than running them with the cows ywear round as is the practice, does not increase branding percentage.

Production From Heifers And First Calvers, G J. Sawyer

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

Heifers and first calvers present the major problems of the beef breeding herd. Reproduction rates, calf growth and survival of first calvers are generally much poorer than those of adult breeders.

Early successful reproductive performance is important in beef herds because of the high overhead cost of keeping breeding beef heifers or cows, Where possible, beef producers should aim to join heifers at 14 to 15 months of age. To achieve this goal, producers should set production targets for those animals. These targets will differ from farm to farm depending on when calves are turned off and the seasonal feed …

The Problems And Prospects Of The Kimberley Pastoral Industry, R B. Hacker

Resource management technical reports

The pastoral industry in the Kimberley region began in the early 1880s withthe introduction of cattle overlanded from Queensland and New South Wales into the East Kimberley and with the almost simultaneous introduction, by sea, ofboth sheep and cattle into the Fitzroy Valley.Occupation of the more accessible areas was gradually achieved by theprogressive extension of these two arms of settlement which ultimately metaround the present location of Fitzroy Crossing. Extensive development of themore rugged areas of the North Kimberley came later with the construction ofreasonable access roads to the few isolated stations which had been initiallyestablished in this area.