Meat Science Commons^™

Genetic Relationships Between Visual And Objective Measures Of Carcass Composition In Crossbred Lambs, H. E. Jones, G. Simm, W. S. Dingwall, R. M. Lewis

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic and phenotypic (coroariances between objective measures and carcass visual scores, as a test of the potential value afvisual scores in selection programmes to improve carcass composition in crossbred lambs. In each of 1986, 1987 and 1988, 22 Suffolk rams were chosen with either high or low scores on an index designed to increase lean growth rate. These rams were joined with 18 to20 crossbred ewes each and theirlambs were grov.J11 on grass to one of three target live weights (35·5, 41·5 and 47·0 kg) for slaughter. The carcasses of 1881 lambs …

Improving Feed Grains, Bruce P. Mullan

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

Clearly, to encourage grain growers to focus their production systems towards feed grains, it is important to first identify the reasons for variation in the nutritional value of grains and then to develop rapid, cheap, and accurate methods of measuring these factors. The analytical methods should ideally be suitable for application either at the site of grain delivery from the farm or within the place of stockfeed manufacture. This will mean the nutritional value of the grain can be known before it is used. The rational marketing of feed grains could then be achieved, with the benefits from more efficient …

Cattle, Environment, And Economic Change: A History Of Cherry County, Nebraska’S Cattle Industry, From Earliest Times To 1940, Gail Lorna Didonato

Department of History: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A modern cattle industry in Cherry County, Nebraska, developed as challenges of land use and pressures of economic change demanded new and flexible adaptation to the unique environment. Located in the Sandhills, a region only opened to legal white settlement after Indian removal in 1878, the area passed through phases of occupation. Open-range cattlemen drawn by lucrative local markets gave way to struggles over land use between farmers and ranchers. Early twentieth century legislation, the 1904 Kinkaid Act, designed to promote farm settlement, in the end, benefited ranchers the most. As the wedge to gain legal access to land ownership, …

The Influence Of Connective Tissue In Meat Tenderness (A Histological And Comparative Study), Rachael Anne Adams

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

There are several means of determining the tenderness of meat. Recently, a great deal of effort has been focused on connective tissue, or collagen, as a measure of tenderness. These foci have included biochemical determination of collagen types, the ratios of soluble and insoluble collagen, changes of collagen with age, and abundance of collagen.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the abundance of collage as a means of differentiating levels of tenderness , using histology. Steaks taken from the bovine tenderloin, inside round, and bottom round (eye) were observed histologically using special stains for connective tissue. This method, …

Consequences Of Differing Wool Growth Rates On Staple Strength Of Merino Wethers With Divergent Staple Strengths, A. C. Schlink, G. Mata, R. M. Lewis

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary protein intake after a period of weight loss on the wool components of staple strength for sheep with a history of low or high staple strength (18.0 vs 34 Nlktex). After being fed to lose 15% of their liveweight over 10 weeks, sheep within each staple strength group were assigned in equal numbers to either a low or high protein diet designed to re-gain initialliveweight in 8 weeks. Liveweight, feed intakes and the growth, fibre diameter and fibre length characteristics of wool were measured at regular intervals. After the weight …

Relationships Between In Situ Protein Degradability And Grass Developmental Morphology, R. B. Mitchell, D. D. Redfearn, Lowell E. Moser, R. J. Grant, K. J. Moore, B. H. Kirch

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The objective of this research was to determine the relationships between the morphological development and in situ ruminally degradable protein (RDP), ruminally undegradable protein (RUP), and microbial protein of two cool season grasses (intermediate wheatgrass and smooth bromegrass) and two warm season grasses (switchgrass and big bluestem). The initial growth of grass tillers grown near Mead, Nebraska was clipped at ground level six times during the 1992 growing season and morphologically classified. Mean stage was calculated. Forage was ground to pass a 2-mm screen and was incubated in ruminally fistulated steers for 16 h. The RUP was adjusted for microbial …

Proceedings, The Range Beef Cow Symposium Xv. December 9, 10 And 11, 1997, Rapid City, South Dakota

Range Beef Cow Symposium

The Range Beef Cow Symposium is sponsored by the Cooperative Extension Service and Animal Science Departments of South Dakota State University, Colorado State University, the University of Wyoming and the University of Nebraska. The Symposium has a reputation of being an excellent educational program for commercial cow-calf producers, industry and Extension personnel. It is held every other year with the location rotating among the cooperating states.

Agenda and Proceedings Contents

Morning Ramrod: Dr. Jim Males, Head, Department of Animal & Range Sciences, South Dakota State University

Welcome - Dr. Robert Wagner, President, South Dakota State University

Industry Issues

Food Safety …

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.

Ewe Fertility In The Star Accelerated Lambing System, R. M. Lewis, D. R. Notter, D. E. Hogue, B. H. Magee

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Effects of environmental factors such as ewe age, season of exposure, and time from lambing to exposure on fertility were evaluated using records on 1,084 Dorset ewes in the STAR accelerated lambing system. The STAR program consisted of five 30-d concurrent breeding and lambing periods per year beginning on January 1, March 15, May 27, August 8, and October 20. Fertility in the flock changed in a cyclic and predictable fashion during the year. Changes in prolificacy were less consistent but also tended to show cyclic variation. Matings that occurred within the typical breeding season (August, October, and January) were …

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

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.

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.

Sharing Information Benefits The Meat Industry, Michael Paton

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

Cronic health problems of livestock, seldom detected on farms, reduce the efficiency of abattoirs and returns to producers. But a major project providing information to producers from abattoirs is indicating how everyone could benefit from feedback.

Other On-Station Activities For Wool Pastoralists, Mark Stevens

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

The impact of low wool prices has been most severe on specialist wool growers who have little scope for diversification, particularly those in the pastoral area.

Although there are limited opportunities for new enterprises on all pastoral stations, individual pastoralists are examining other on-station activities to determine which ones might be suitable. In doing so, they are evaluating:

• location (proximity to a major highway or population centre);

• natural attractions (coast, gorges, river, wildflowers);

• natural resources (native fauna and flora); and

• water supply (quantity and reliability of good quality water).

Tough Times Call For A Review Of Farm Business Performance, Martin Van Bueren, John Young

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

Most Australian farm businesses specialising in wool production are operating at a loss at current wool prices. After both short term operating and long term costs of capital depreciation are accounted for, only a small number of wool growers are able to make a profit with the wool market indicator below 500c/kg.

Poor prices have stimulated wool growers to review their operations and look to ways of improving cash flow in the short term, such as diversifying into cropping. The downturn should also prompt growers to address the longer term trends of declining terms of trade and historically poor productivity …

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.

1994 Beef Cattle Report, Darrell W. Nelson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

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

New Lamb Marketing Opportunities, Tim Marshall

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

The changes to the future operations of the Western Australian Meat Marketing Corporation will provide increased opportunities for prime lamb producers.

In summary, these changes are the removal of acquisition from the domestic market while retaining it for lambs destined for export, and the establishment of the Corporation as a single desk seller on the export market.

This should result in increased domestic consumption of lamb, less reliance on lower priced export markets, a change in the type of lamb produced, and a reduction of imports of lamb from the Eastern States.

Control Of Cheesy Gland In Sheep, Michael Paton

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

Cheesy gland is a widespread problem in Western Australian sheep flocks. Less than 1 per cent of flocks are free of this disease, and all sheep in one line of 550 cull ewes slaughtered at Katanning Abattoir were infected.

A study of what affects new cheesy gland . infection found that shower dipping and keeping sheep under cover after shearing increased new infections. Farmers who shower dip sheep should consider vaccinating them against cheesy gland. Sheep should be let out into the open as soon as possible after shearing.

The total cost of the disease in Australia is about $30 …

1993 Beef Cattle Report

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

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

Swine Breed Differences In Agglutination Titers Following Vaccination With Sheep Red Blood Cells And Pasteurella Multocida (Serotype A), Kenneth Stalder

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

An investigation into the genetic differences in the humoral immune response of swine following vaccination with a sheep red blood cell solution (SRBC) and a commercially prepared Pasteurella multocida (serotype A) bacterin (PmA) was conducted on a total of 268 pigs from two individual trials. This study was also conducted to evaluate the humoral immune response of pigs to a non-pathogen (SPEC) and a known pathogen to swine (PmA). The pigs used in the first trial were from 22 litters born between January 1991 and July 1991. The pigs consisted of Hampshire x Yorkshire (n=114), purebred Yorkshire (n=70) and Hampshire …

Taking The Emu To Market, Paul Frapple, Ruth Hagan

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

Licensed, commercial emu farming in Western Australia is now five years old.

This year, 13,500 birds will be processed for their meat, skin and oil. Production has exceeded demand at prices which the industry considers fair because the industry is still developing marketd for these producys.

Without secure, long term markets, over-production will worsen as the turn-off in this State increases and emus become available from other Australian states and overseas.

The Department of Agriculture is assisting the industry to develop a viable industry.

1992 Beef Cattle Report, Darrell W. Nelson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

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

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 …

Veterinary Consultancy Boosts Piggery Profits, Ashley Mercy

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

A pilot Pig Herd Health Management Scheme co-ordinated by the Department of Agriculture has stimulated much increased involvement of veterinarians in the Western Australian pig industry. Co-ordinated by Ashley Mercy, principal veterinary officer (epidemiology) horn 1985 to 1989, the scheme demonstrated the value of having regular visits from veterinary consultants and in implementing programs to prevent disease and production problems occurring in herds.

1991 Beef Cattle Report, Darrell W. Nelson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

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

Beef & Forage Conference, June 13-14, 1990. Omaha, Nebraska

Range Beef Cow Symposium

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: IMPLICATIONS FOR BEEF PRODUCTION ● John E. Ikerd

Opportunities to Control Input Costs - An Iowa Perspective ● Daryl Strohbehn, Extension Beef Specialist, Iowa State University

INTEGRATED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ● Rick Rasby & Marshall Frasier, Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska

MATCHING BEEF COW TYPES TO LOW INPUT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ● Jim Gosey, Animal Science Department, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Low Input Growing-Finishing Systems ● Rick Stock, Terry Klopfenstein and Mike Sindt, Animal Science Department, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

PASTURE ESTABLISHMENT PRACTICES ● Stephen K. Barnhart, Extension Agronomist – Forages, Iowa State University

Growth and Response of …

The Western Australian Pig Health Monitoring Scheme, Ashley Mercy

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

Over 30,000 slaughter pigs from 245 Western Australian piggeries have been examined for the presence of 16 diseases since the Western Australian Pig Health Monitoring Scheme (PHMS) started in January 1987. The scheme was developed by the author in conjunction with Dr Chris Brennan, a pig veterinary consultant. Monitoring of slaughter pigs is an important part of providing an effective veterinary service to commercial piggeries. It can be used in accreditation schemes and to help in certifying herds free of particular disease

Beef Cattle Production On Surface-Mined Land In Central Appalachia, William O. Thom, H. B. Rice, David Adams, Charles May, Curtis Absher

Agriculture and Natural Resources Publications

Extensive acreages of reclaimed surface-mined land in Central Appalachia are currently producing forages that can be used in beef cattle production. During reclamation, after these areas were graded, they were seeded with grass and grass-legume mixtures to form a ground cover and to reduce soil loss. Usually in the past these areas have not been managed to provide forages for beef cattle, but they can economically support beef cattle production when managed correctly.

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