Meat Science Commons^™

Effects Of Dietary Fat Source And Monensin On Methane Emissions, Vfa Profile, And Performance Of Finishing Steers, Anna C. Pesta, Andrea K. Watson, Robert G. Bondurant Bondurant, Samodha C. Fernando, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A finishing study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary fat source and presence or absence of monensin on performance, methane (CH4) emissions, and ruminal VFA profile of cattle. No effects on performance or VFA profile were observed. Inclusion of modified distillers grain plus solubles (MDGS) in the diet tended to increase measures of CH4 production when compared to other fat sources (corn oil or tallow), while inclusion of monensin in the finishing diet was not significant for CH4 production.

Impact Of Heifer Development System On Subsequent Gain And Reproduction, Hazy R. Nielson, John D. Harms, Adam F. Summers Summers, Rebecca A. Vraspir, Rick N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Replacement heifers from 2 different calving herds (March and May) were fed ad libitum hay and 4 lb of supplement/day, or were allowed to graze meadow and received 1 lb of supplement/day from mid-January to mid-April prior to both breeding seasons. Heifers from both calving herds that received hay had a greater average daily gain during the treatment period compared with meadow grazing heifers. However, heifers grazing meadow experiencedcompensatory gain during their respective breeding season, resulting in similar body weights at pregnancy diagnosis for March-calving heifers. The proportion of heifers that attained pubertybefore breeding and became pregnant was similar between …

A Comparison Of Two Implant Protocols: Synovex-Choice/Synovex-Plus Vs. Synovex-S/Revalor-S On Steer Feedlot Performance And Carcass Characteristics, Hazy R. Nielson, Adam F. Summers, Rick N. Funston Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

In a 2 year study, implant strategies were compared utilizing Synovex® Choice followed by Synovex Plus® or Synovex® S followed by Revalor® S. Spring-born crossbred steers were blocked by BW and randomly assignedto receive either Synovex Choice or Synovex S as the initial implant. Approximately100 days later, steers were reimplanted with Synovex Plus or Revalor S. Steers were slaughtered after 205 days on feed. There was no difference in average daily gain or hot carcass weight between treatment groups. Furthermore, there were no differences in yield grade, marbling score, or proportion of steers grading USDA Choice. Both implant regimens resulted …

Effects Of Ingestion And Collection Bag Type On Nutrient Composition Of Forage Samples From Esophageally Fistulated Cattle, Jacqueline A. Musgrave, Jared Judy, Aaron Stalker Stalker, Terry Klopfenstein, Karla Jenkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Ingestion and mastication of forage samples adds ash. Generally, levels of CP were lower and NDF and IVOMD were similar for post-ingested versus pre-ingestedforage. Bag type (screen vs. solid) generally did not affect ash, NDF, or IVOMD. Bag did not affect CP of alfalfabut CP of grass samples from screen bags was lower than solid bags. More fresh than dry forage was recovered through the esophageal opening.

Effect Of Diet On The Rumen Microbial Community Composition Of Growing Cattle And The Role It Plays In Methane Emissions, Allison L. Knoell, Christopher L. Anderson, Anna C. Pesta Pesta, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Samodha C. Fernando

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

To understand the relationship betweenmicrobial community and methane, the microbial community of the rumen was examined by esophageally tubing cattle on a common diet and on 10 treatment diets. Microbial community analysis via 16S taq sequencing displayed structuring of microbial communities (Bacteria and Archaea) by diet. This study demonstrates that diet influences microbial community composition within the rumen, and the potential capacity to develop dietary interventionstrategies for methane mitigation and animal performance.

Effects Of Grazing On Nebraska Sandhills Meadow Forage Nutrient Content, Jared V. Judy, Jacki A. Musgrave, L. Aaron Stalker Stalker, Karla H. Jenkins, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Nebraska Sandhills subirrigated meadow pastures were used to measure the effects of grazing on forage nutrient content in summer pastures. Non-grazed pastures had greater diet CP content than grazed pastures early in the grazing season. By late July, grazed vs. non-grazed pastures did not differ in diet CP content. Non-grazed pastures had greater in vitro organic matter disappearance compared with grazed pastures from late July through September; however, early summer pastures were not affected. Observed results indicate the greatest differences in nutrient content between grazed and non-grazed meadow pastures occur early and late in the grazing season when the majority …

Dried Distillers Grains Supplementation Of Calves Grazing Irrigated Corn Residue, Mandi Jones, James C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Robby Bondurant

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Steer calves grazing irrigated corn residue received supplementation of dried distillers grains plus solubles (DGS) at 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, or 1.1% of body weight. Steers were individually supplemented daily through Calan gates. Daily gain improved linearly (0.77 lb/head/day to 2.21 lb/head/day) with increasing supplementation (1.5 lb/day to 7 lb/day). Supplementing DGS to calves grazing corn residue increased gain during the winter period.

Evaluation Of Changes In Nutritional Quality Of Corn Residue Over Time, Mandi Jones, James C. Macdonald, Terry J. Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson, Keith Glewen, Andrea K. Watson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Irrigated corn residue was sampled across time in order to determine changes in quality and proportion of corn residue as the plant dried and was exposed to effects of weathering. Corn plants from two hybrids were planted on two different planting dates and harvested at periodic intervals from August 2012 to December 2012. Proportions of stem, blade/sheath, husk/shank, and cob made up smaller components of total plant DM as it matured, with the largest relative reduction occurring in the blade/sheath or stem. Hybrid impacted TDN values primarily because the 119 day hybrid was less mature at the early sampling dates.

Efficacy Of Bovatec 2.2 Mineral Blocks For Cattle Grazing Crested Wheatgrass Pastures, Karla H. Jenkins, Jacob A. Hansen, Matt K. Luebbe Luebbe

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A grazing study was conducted to determine if providing Bovatec® in a trace mineralized salt block would improve cattle performance over cattle provided a trace mineralized salt block without an ionophore while maintaining block consumption below 2 oz/head/day. Average daily block intake was 1.40 and 1.25 oz/day for the Bovatec and control cattle, respectively. Lasalocid consumption was 193 mg/head/day. Although cattle consuming the Bovatec block gained 5% more than the control cattle, this was not significant (1.75 vs 1.67 lb/day, respectively). Supplying an ionophore through a self-feeding block may not improve gain compared to supplying mineral alone in a self-feeding …

Using Enspira To Improve Fiber Digestion, Jana L. Harding, Adam L. Shreck, Melissa L. Jolly-Breithaupt Breithaupt, Galen E. Erickson, James C. Macdonald

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A metabolism study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing a fibrolytic enzyme (Enspira™) on total tract digestion of a finishing diet. In situ NDF digestibilities of the corn bran, HMC, corn residue, and corn silage were not different between the treatments. Rate of digestion of the corn residue and corn silage was lower for the enzyme treatment compared to the control. Averageruminal pH was not significantly different between the two treatments. Correspondingly, there was no difference in VFA profile. There were no differences in DM, OM, NDF, ADF, or hemicellulose digestibilities between the control and enzyme treatment.

Effects Of Replacing Corn With A Pelleted Treated Corn Stover And Distillers Grains On Performance Of Finishing Cattle, Jana L. Harding, Curtis J. Bittner, Dirk B. Burken Burken, Galen E. Erickson, James C. Macdonald

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A finishing study evaluated the effectsof replacing 10, 20, or 30% corn (DM basis) with pelleted treated corn stover and distillers grains in a diet containing either 20 or 40% modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) on finishing cattle performance. Steers consuming 10, 20, or 30% of the pelleted feed with 40% MDGS had equal or similar performance to the control diet with 40% MDGS. Cattle consuming 10% pelleted feed with 20% MDGS had similar efficiencies as the control diet; however, feeding the pellet at 20 or 30% of the diet DM with 20% MDGS decreased feed efficiency.

Effect Of Corn Residue Removal On Subsequent Crop Yields, Mary E. Drewnoski, L. Aaron Stalker, James C. Macdonald Donald, Galen E. Erickson, Kathy J. Hanford, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of corn residue harvest on subsequent crop yields. In a long-term study (16 years), cattle grazing corn residue in the spring (February to the middle of April) or the fall (November through January) slightly improved subsequent soybean yields and had no effect on corn yields in an irrigated field maintained in an annual corn-soybean rotation at Mead, Neb. In a five-year study, fall grazing (December through January) or baling of corn residue had no effect on subsequent corn grain yields in a field maintained in continuous corn production at Brule, Neb. These …

Effect Of Feeding Distillers Grains In Different Phases Of Production On The Fatty Acid Profile And Oxidation Of Frozen, Cooked Beef Links, Brandy D. Cleveland, Amy L. Redfield, James C. Macdonald Donald, Tommi F. Jones, Gary A. Sullivan

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Lipid oxidation of cooked ground beef links made from cattle fed different diets and with different concentrations of added natural antioxidants was compared to evaluate product shelf life. Fatty acid composition was analyzed on raw lean, composite, and fat portions from each shoulder clod. Samples without antioxidants were the most oxidized, with no differences between other antioxidant concentrations throughout frozen storage. An increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids was found in beef when finished on modified distillers grains but did not result in increased oxidation. Therefore, the addition of natural antioxidants was effective at reducing oxidative rancidity regardless of animal diet.

A Basic Mechanism Of Beef Tenderization: Feeding Wet Distillers Grains Plus Solubles Contributes To Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Membrane Instability, Michael D. Chao, Katherine I. Domenech, Chris R. Calkins Calkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Feeding wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) could increase polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentration in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membrane, thereby altering membrane integrity, resulting in more rapid post-rigor calcium leakage, greater enzyme activity and improved tenderness. Steers were finished on either 0% WDGS or 50% WDGS. Steaks from steers fed WDGS were more tender and had greater free calcium concentrations. Feeding WDGS also increased proportions of PUFA in SR membrane and altered SR lipid and phospholipid profiles. These findings suggest that feeding increased concentrations of WDGS in the finishing diet can possibly increase meat tenderness through the proposed mechanism.

Feeding Elevated Levels Of Corn Silage And Mdgs In Finishing Diets, Dirk B. Burken, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Curtis J. Bittner Bittner, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A finishing experiment evaluated substitution of corn silage and modified distillers grains with solubles (MDGS) in place of corn. The experimental arrangementwas a 2 X 2 + 1 factorial with diets containing 15 or 45% corn silage and 20 or 40% MDGS as well as a control containing 5% cornstalks and 40% MDGS. There were no interactions between corn silage and MDGS inclusion for carcass adjusted performance. As corn silage inclusion increased in the diet, there was a modest reduction in ADG and an increase in F:G. When MDGS inclusion was increased, ADG and F:G were improved. Cattle fed 40% …

The Effects Of Corn Price, Shrink, And Harvest Moisture On Corn Silage Economics, Dirk B. Burken, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Economic assumptions were applied to corn production to set corn silage prices for breakeven corn production, whether harvested for corn grain or corn silage. Price levels were used for the calculation of returns per finished steer as corn silage inclusion increased in finishing diets containing distillers grains. As corn price increased, the economics of feeding elevated concentrations of corn silage became more favorable. The economic importance of shrink and harvest moisture content were assessed. As corn price increases and the inclusion of corn silage increases, corn silage management decisions have greater economic importance.

Digestibility Of De-Oiled Modified Distillers Grains Plus Solubles In Forage-Based Diets, Meredith L. Bremer, Sarah J. Peterson, Adam L. Shreck Shreck, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, James C. Macdonald

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Over half of Nebraska’s ethanol plants are removing oil from distillers grains via centrifugation of the thin stillage constituent. Removing oil by this method does not impact intake or total tract digestibility in beef cattle growing diets. However, increasing the concentration of de-oiled distillers grains in the diet significantly improved intake and digestibility. Thus, concentration of distillers grain in the diet has a greater impact on total tract digestibility than the fat content in forage-based diets.

Feeding Value Of De-Oiled Wet Distillers Grains Plus Solubles Relative To Normal When Fed With Either Dry-Rolled Corn Or Steam-Flaked Corn In Beef Finishing Diets, Meredith L. Bremer, Marie E. Harris, Jake A. Hansen Hansen, Karla H. Jenkins, Matt K. Luebbe, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A 128-day finishing study utilized 328 yearling steers to determine the effects of feeding de-oiled wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) in dry rolled corn (DRC) or steam-flaked corn (SFC) diets relative to normal fat WDGS. No significant interactions were observed, but cattle fed DRC had greater DMI and were less efficient than those consuming SFC. Linear improvements in ADG and F:G were observed as concentration of de-oiled WDGS increased from 0 to 35%. Numerically cattle fed normal WDGS were more efficient than cattle fed de-oiled WDGS.

Response To Increasing Concentrations Of De-Oiled Modified Distillers Grains Plus Solubles In Beef Feedlot Diets, Meredith L. Bremer, Curtis J. Bittner, Dirk B. Burken Burken, Galen E. Erickson, James C. Macdonald

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A 154-day finishing study, utilizing 378 calf-fed steers, was conducted to evaluate the response to feeding increasing concentrations of de-oiled modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) on cattle performance and carcass characteristics. Two additional diets were fed to compare de-oiled MDGS to normal MDGS at either 15 or 30% inclusion. Increasing concentration of de-oiled MDGS in the diet resulted in a linear improvement in F:G. When comparing 30% de-oiled to normal MDGS, there was a tendency for 3.4% improvement in F:G for cattle fed normal MDGS diets over those fed de-oiled MDGS.

Comparison Of Wet Or Dry Distillers Grains Plus Solubles To Corn As An Energy Source In Forage-Based Diets, Nerissa A. Ahern, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Terry J. Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, James C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Four experiments were conducted comparing wet or dry distillers grains plus solubles to each other or to corn as an energy source in forage-based diets. Diets included dry distillers grains plus solubles, wet distillers grains plus solubles or dry-rolled corn, with sorghum silage, grass hay and supplement. Data were pooled to generate ADG at differing inclusions allowing energy value of wet distillers grains plus solubles to be calculated relative to dry-rolled corn. The energy value of distillers grains plus solubles fed at 15% of diet DM was 137% and fed at 30% of the diet DM was 136% relative to …

Impact Of Algae Supplemented Diets Combined With Antioxidants On The Nutritional Profile, Quality Attributes, And Storage Stability Of Chicken Breast Meat, Rebecca G. Norcross

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Consumers’ demands for ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are at all-time high. Algae, a common source of PUFAs, and antioxidants are both used as supplements in livestock feeds, are known to affect the overall quality of meat. To implement PUFA deposits into broiler meat, this study evaluated combining antioxidants and algae in broiler feed to enhance the breast meat quality. Broilers were fed diets supplemented with 50 IU Vitamin E or 200 g/ton EconomasE (EcoE, an antioxidant pack) plus 10 IU Vitamin E, with or without 0.5% algae extract (SP-1). The feed oil was partially oxidized soybean oil (POV: 86 …

Dehydrated Citrus Pulp Alters Feedlot Performance Of Crossbred Heifers During The Receiving Period And Modulates Serum Metabolite Concentrations Before And After An Endotoxin Challenge, J. T. Cribbs, B. C. Bernhard, T. R. Young, M. A. Jennings, N.C. Burdick Sanchez, J. A. Carroll, T. R. Callaway, T. B. Schmidt, B. J. Johnson, R. J. Rathmann

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

English × Continental heifers (n = 180) were sourced in 2 loads (219.3 ± 16.0 and 221.4 ± 16.4 kg, respectively) from commercial auction barns to study the effects of feeding dehydrated citrus pulp (DCP) on feedlot performance of newly received heifers. A completely randomized block design was used with BW nested within arrival load and blocked by BW into 3 dietary treatments (36 pens, 5 heifers/ pen, 12 blocks, 3 pens/block, and 12 pens/treatment). Treatment diets contained 1) 0% DCP (control diet [CON]), 2) 10% DCP, or 3) 20% DCP on a DM basis. Diets containing DCP were exchanged …

Case Study: Producer Concerns And Perceptions Regarding The Effect Of Methane On Cattle Production And The Environment: A Survey Of Nebraska Producers, B. M. Boyd, A. Jones, Lisa Franzen-Castle, K. Jenkins, Richard J. Rasby, Matt K. Luebbe, Richard R. Stowell, Samodha C. Fernando, Galen E. Erickson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Enteric methane production from cattle and its effect on climate change has been a topic of debate. Multiple studies have explored methods to reduce cattle enteric methane production while simultaneously improving performance. However, most strategies developed have not been widely implemented by cattle producers. Knowledge of producer concerns and perceptions on methane production from cattle and its effect on the environment may be limited. Therefore, the objectives of this survey were to determine what Nebraska producers know about methane production by cattle and how it affects performance and to determine whether different age groups, regions of Nebraska, and production size …

Development Of A Row-Crop Tractor Data Acquisition System, James Roeber, Santosh Pitla, Roger M. Hoy, Joe D. Luck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Numerous advancements in machinery performance on row-crop agricultural tractors have been made in recent years. Currently, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) only tests predetermined points (E.g., max. power, max. torque) for drawbar and hydraulic power. This method of testing has been used for many years with the tractor at a steady state which is usually not typical of row-crop operations. A data acquisition system (DAQ) was designed that records implement energy consumption (E.g., drawbar loading, PTO power, and hydraulic power). The system used a LabVIEW program and a compact data acquisition system (cDAQ) to record data from …

An Application Of Mesh Enrichment Analysis In Livestock, Gota Morota, F. Moreno, James L. Petersen, Daniel C. Ciobanu, K. Tsuyuzaki, I. Nikaido

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

An integral part of functional genomics studies is to assess the enrichment of specific biological terms in lists of genes found to be playing an important role in biological phenomena. Contrasting the observed frequency of annotated terms with those of the background is at the core of overrepresentation analysis (ORA). Gene Ontology (GO) is a means to consistently classify and annotate gene products and has become a mainstay in ORA. Alternatively, Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) offers a comprehensive life science vocabulary including additional categories that are not covered by GO. Although MeSH is applied predominantly in human and model organism …

Optimizing The Use Of Fibrous Residues In Beef And Dairy Diets, James C. Macdonald, G. E. Erickson, P. J. Kononoff, T. J. Klopfenstein

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Increased corn prices over the past decade have altered land use away from traditional forage in favor of corn. Accordingly, beef and dairy producers have had to adopt non-traditional forage resources into their production systems, many of which have become available as a result of increased corn production. Byproducts of the wet and dry milling industries have been used to replace both corn and forage in beef and dairy diets. Byproducts containing corn bran have large amounts of readily digestible hemicellulose. The use of byproducts may increase milk production, ADG, and G:F in dairy, beef growing, and beef finishing diets, …

Microbial Diversity And Activity In The Nematostella Vectensis Holobiont: Insights From 16s Rrna Gene Sequencing, Isolate Genomes, And A Pilot-Scale Survey Of Gene Expression, Jia Y. Har, Tim Helbig, Ju H. Lim, Samodha C. Fernando, Adam M. Reitzel, Kevin Penn, Janelle R. Thompson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

We have characterized the molecular and genomic diversity of the microbiota of the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, a cnidarian model for comparative developmental and functional biology and a year-round inhabitant of temperate salt marshes. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene clone libraries revealed four ribotypes associated with N. vectensis at multiple locations and times. These associates include two novel ribotypes within the ε-Proteobacterial order Campylobacterales and the Spirochetes, respectively, each sharing 99% 16S rRNA identity with Endozoicomonas elysicola and Pseudomonas oleovorans, respectively. Species-specific PCR revealed that these populations persisted in N. vectensis asecually propagated under laboratory …

Effect Of Harvest Method On In Vitro Digestibility Of Corn Residues, Janessa J. Updike, Jana L. Harding, Terry J. Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, James C. Macdonald

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

New corn residue harvesting methods were evaluated to determine the impacts of altering the proportions of plant part that are composed in a round bale. In vitro techniques were used to assess the organic matter digestibility of corn residue bale harvested with different proportions of stalks, leaves, and husk. As husk comprised a greater proportion of the bale, digestibility appeared to increase when compared with a conventional bale of cornstalks.

Exogenous Administration Of Lipids To Steers Alters Aspects Of The Innate Immune Response To Endotoxin Challenge, Nicole C. Burdick Sanchez, Jeffery A. Carroll, Janet R. Donaldson, Joe O. Buntyn, Ty B. Schmidt

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

This study examined the effects of increasing energy availability from both dextrose and lipid treatments on the proinflammatory response to LPS in Holstein steers. Steers were randomly assigned to one of three groups: saline at 0.5 ml/ kg body weight (Control) or 50% dextrose [0.5 ml/kg body weight (Dextrose) to mimic calm cattle’s response to LPS] administered immediately prior to LPS (0.5 mg/kg body weight at 0 h) or continuous lipid emulsion infusion from –1 to 6 h [Intralipid 20% (Baxter, Deerfield, IL USA); 0.5 ml/kg/hr (Lipid) to mimic temperamental cattle]. Concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were greater in …

Mesh Ora Framework: R/Bioconductor Packages To Support Mesh Over-Representation Analysis, Koki Tsuyuzaki, Gota Morota, Manabu Ishii, Takeru Nakazato, Satoru Miyazaki, Itoshi Nikaido

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Background: In genome-wide studies, over-representation analysis (ORA) against a set of genes is an essential step for biological interpretation. Many gene annotation resources and software platforms for ORA have been proposed. Recently, Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms, which are annotations of PubMed documents, have been used for ORA. MeSH enables the extraction of broader meaning from the gene lists and is expected to become an exhaustive annotation resource for ORA. However, the existing MeSH ORA software platforms are still not sufficient for several reasons.

Results: In this work, we developed an original MeSH ORA framework composed of six types of …