Large or Food Animal and Equine Medicine Commons^™

Impact Of Grazing Spring Rye On Subsequent Crop Yields And Profitability, Ashley C. Conway, Robert G. Bondurant, Fred H. Hilscher Hilscher, Jay Parsons, Daren Redfearn, Mary E. Drewnoski

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Steers (729 ± 19 lb BW) grazed in two November-planted cereal rye fields for 22 d in April, either with or without an ionophore in their free choice mineral supplement. Subsequent corn yields were measured to assess impact of planting cereal rye as a cover crop (not grazed) or grazing the rye compared to a no rye control. There was no statistical impact of rye or grazing on subsequent corn yield. Supplying an ionophore in the mineral did not uniformly improve gains across fields. However, gains were high at 3.2 lb/d and were able to offset the cost of planting …

Nitrate Concentrations Of Annual Forages Grown For Grazing In Nebraska, Mary E. Lenz, Rebecca J. Kern, Carrie E. Orvis Orvis, Mary E. Drewnoski

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Annual forage samples sent by producers to Ward Laboratories Inc. for nitrate analysis were evaluated to determine which cover crop species in Nebraska are most likely to accumulate nitrates, and how often the accumulated nitrates are considered toxic by traditional recommendations. Additionally, nitrate levels of cover crop mixes grown in research trials were analyzed to ensure species differences were repeated when grown together in the same fields. Brassicas accumulate more nitrate than small grains, millet, sorghum/sudan grasses, or cover crop mixes. Brassicas accumulated levels of nitrate considered moderately to highly toxic in 48% of the samples. The other cover crop …

Effect Of Rapeseed Inclusion In Late-Summer Planted Oats Pasture On Growing Performance Of Beef Steers, Hannah E. Riley, Kristin E. Hales, Steven D. Shackelford Shackelford, Harvey C. Freetly, Mary E. Drewnoski

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Fall cover crops have been shown to be an effective way to background calves into the winter. An oat monoculture was planted in late summer at 100 lb/ac and compared to oats planted at 50 lb/ac with rapeseed included at 3 lb/ac. Initial forage yield was not affected by the inclusion of rapeseed with fall oat. Calf gain tended to be greater and cost of gain was decreased when rapeseed was included. Including rapeseed in late summer planted oats may be beneficial for producers who want to graze growing calves in the fall.

Economics Of Field Pea Supplementation For Cattle Grazing Crested Wheatgrass, Braden C. Troyer, Hannah L. Greenwell, Andrea K. Watson Watson, James C. Macdonald, Karla H. Jenkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Heifers grazing crested wheat grass were supplemented either field peas or dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) at 0.4% or 0.8% of body weight. Heifers supplemented with field peas had 10% lower daily gain compared to their DDGS supplemented counterparts. The decision to supplement field peas for producers depends on the price at which field peas can be acquired, as well as the distance that DDGS has to be hauled in order to be utilized. Field peas are a viable option in western Nebraska as a supplement for grazing cattle when DDGS is unavailable or field peas are in excess …

Effects Of Supplemental Soypass In Forage-Based Diets Containing Distillers Grains On Performance Of Growing Steers, Tyler J. Spore, Zachary E. Carlson, Galen E. Erickson Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Andrea K. Watson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

SoyPass was supplemented in two grass hay diets containing 20% or 35% wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) to analyze the effects on growing cattle performance. The SoyPass supplement replaced 0, 30, or 60% of dietary WDGS for a total of 6 treatments with a factorial design. Substituting SoyPass into the diet did not affect average daily gain (ADG) of calves; however, calves consuming the 35% WDGS diet gained 31% more than the 20% WDGS treatment calves. Dry matter intake (DMI) and feed to gain (F:G) increased linearly in the 35% WDGS diet with the inclusion of SoyPass. In the …

Effects Of Isolated Nutrients In Distillers Grains On Total Tract Digestibility And Digestible Energy In Forage Diets, Tasha M. King, Melissa L. Jolly-Breithaupt, Hannah C. Hamilton Hamilton, Galen E. Erickson, Jim C. Macdonald

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A digestion study was conducted to evaluate the contribution of individual nutrient components of distillers grains on nutrient digestibility and digestible energy. All diets contained 56% brome hay with a control diet containing either 40% corn; or 40% modified distillers grains. Four additional diets compared the contribution of fat, protein, fiber, and solubles components of distillers grains. No differences were observed for digestibility of DM, OM, and NDF among treatments. Feeding the isolated protein resulted in similar digestible energy to modified distillers grains, suggesting the bypass protein component contributes heavily to energy in distillers.

Confined Cow-Calf Production System And Post-Weaning Management Impact On Calf Production, Shelby E. Gardine, Brad M. Boyd, F. Henry Hilscher Hilscher, Galen E. Erickson, Karla H. Jenkins, Andrea K. Watson, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Calf performance was measured in a 3-yr study with a 2 × 2 factorial treatment design: 1) cow-calf production system (dry lot feeding or grazing corn residue) and 2) directly finishing calves or growing prior to finishing. Calves wintered on cornstalks were lighter at weaning than calves wintered in the dry-lot. However, following the finishing period, there were no effects of pre-weaning production system on final body weight or hot carcass weight. Calves directly adapted to a finishing diet had greater gain and improved efficiency compared to calves fed a grower diet prior to finishing. However, calves that were grown …

Impacts Of 40 Years Of The Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory On Beef Cattle And Range Systems, Jack C. Whittier, Kelly W. Bruns, Rick N. Funston Funston, Jerry D. Volesky, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Don C. Adams

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The University of Nebraska (UNL) Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory (GSL) is a 12,800-acre research ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills. In 1978, Elmer “Pete” and Abbie Gudmundsen gifted the former Rafter C Ranch to the University of Nebraska Foundation. Thus, 2018 was the 40th year of UNL oversight of GSL. To the credit of UNL Administration, GSL development for range livestock research was delegated to a team of Research and Extension Specialists chaired by Dr. Don Clanton. Other members of that original team were Jim Nichols, Range Science; Gene Deutscher, Reproductive Physiologist; Dick Clark, Agricultural Economist; and Ivan Rush, Beef Extension Specialist. …

Evaluation Of Lactation Demands On Nutrient Balance In Two Calving Seasons In Range Cows Grazing Sandhills Upland Range, Travis Mulliniks, Don C. Adams

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A modeling study evaluated the effects of milk production level on nutrient balance in March-and May-calving cows grazing Sandhills upland range during the breeding season. Forage quality of upland range peaks in June and steadily declines in July until November. In March-calving cows, metabolizable protein (MP) and energy were deficient by July 1 in all milking potential cows, which is exacerbated in greater milking potential cows. May-calving cows with 20 to 30 lbs of milk are predicted to enter the breeding season with a deficiency in MP and energy. In an effort to match cow type to environment in the …

Impact Of Cow Size On Cow-Calf And Subsequent Steer Feedlot Performance, Molly Benell, Jacki A. Musgrave, Rick N. Funston Funston, J. Travis Mulliniks

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

This study retrospectively evaluated the effect of cow size on cow-calf performance and post-weaning steer feedlot performance of cows at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, Whitman. Cows were categorized at small, medium, or moderate within cow age from 13 years of data. Small cows had decreased reproductive performance, weaned smaller calves, and produced steer progeny with smaller carcass weights. In this dataset and under the environmental and management conditions at Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, overall productivity of the cowherd decreased as cow size decreased with 1,150 to 1,200 lb cow being the most productive cow size.

Effects Of Maternal Late Gestation Nutrition On May-Born Steer Progeny, Alicia C. Lansford, Jacki A. Musgrave, T. L. Meyer, Rick N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

May-calving dams were assigned to graze either sub-irrigated meadow or upland range with or without supplementation (1 lb/d 33% CP). Treatment began at approximately 160 d of gestation. Supplementation continued for 85 ± 2 d, while grazing system treatment continued for 116 ± 2 d. Steer progeny were backgrounded after weaning and then assigned to either a short or long yearling feedlot system. Dam supplementation tended to decrease marbling score within both feedlot systems. Short yearling steers had an increased percentage of carcasses grade USDA low Choice or greater if their dams grazed meadow in late gestation. Long yearling steers …

Effects Of Maternal Late Gestation Nutrition On May-Born Heifer Progeny, Alicia C. Lansford, Jacki A. Musgrave, Rick N. Funston Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

May-calving dams in late gestation grazed either sub-irrigated meadow with or without supplement or upland range with or without supplement. Supplementation was 1 lb/d of a 33% CP (DM) supplement. Heifer progeny from these dams were followed through their first and second breeding seasons. Both dam grazing and supplement treatment affected heifer progeny BW and BCS. Heifers born to dams who grazed meadow in late gestation attained a greater percentage of mature BW at the start of their first breeding season and increased pregnancy rates as primiparous cows. Grazing of meadow by May-calving dams in late gestation may increase stayability …

Economic Analysis Of Beef Systems, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Shebly E. Loeffelholz, Karla H. Jenkins Pas, Andrea K. Watson, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Economic analysis of complete beef production systems is important. An analysis of 5 systems was conducted. Three of the systems were based on cows calving in March, June or August and grazing Sandhills range and corn residue. The other 2 systems were based on complete confinement feeding or confinement in the summer and corn residue grazing in the winter. The range-based systems gave similar results, however, complete confinement was not competitive. Partial confinement with stalk grazing was competitive with range-based systems. Stalk grazing is very economical and important for many cow-calf systems.

The Effect Of Cow Udder Score On Subsequent Calf Performance In The Nebraska Sandhills, Joslyn K. Beard, Jacki A. Musgrave, Rick N. Funston Funston, J. Travis Mulliniks

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Cow records were evaluated over a 5-yr period to investigate how cow udder score affected calf growth and carcass performance. Cows from 2 calving herds, March and May, were classified as bad or good based on udder scores recorded at calving. Calves suckling dams with bad udders performed similarly during the pre-weaning period to good udder counterparts, with no differences in overall steer feedlot performance between udder groups. However, steers suckling good udder cows had heavier carcass weights and greater back fat thickness.

2019 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Cow/Calf

• The Effect of Cow Udder Score on Subsequent Calf Performance in the Nebraska Sandhills
• Economic Analysis of Beef Systems
• Effects of Prepartum Nutrition on May-Calving Cows and Progeny
• Effects of Maternal Late Gestation Nutrition on May-Born Heifer Progeny
• Effects of Maternal Late Gestation Nutrition on May-Born Steer Progeny
• Impact of Cow Size on Cow-Calf and Subsequent Steer Feedlot Performance
• Evaluation of Lactation Demands on Nutrient Balance in Two Calving Seasons in Range Cows Grazing Sandhills Upland Range
• Impacts of 40 Years of Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory on Beef Cattle and Range Systems

Growing

• Confined Cow-Calf Production System and Post-Weaning Management …

Impact Of Corn Silage Inclusion On Finishing Cattle Performance, Hannah C. Hamilton, F. Henry Hilscher, Zachary E. Carlson Carlson, Brad M. Boyd, Andrea K. Watson, Jim C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Cattle fed high grain diets with little to no roughage are typically at greater risk for acidosis and reduced dry matter intake and average daily gain. An individual feeding study was conducted to compare different inclusions of corn silage used as a roughage source on finishing performance and liver abscess rate. Treatments consisted of 3 inclusions of corn silage at 0, 7.5 and 15% of the diet DM and a control treatment with 7.5% alfalfa. There were no differences for live animal performance or carcass characteristics. There were also no differences in liver abscess incidence. Feeding corn silage at 15% …

Effects Of Urea And Distillers Inclusion In Finishing Diets On Steer Performance And Carcass Characteristics, Bradley M. Boyd, James C. Macdonald, Matthew K. Luebbe, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplemental urea in dry rolled corn based finishing diets containing low inclusions of distillers grains. Treatments were set up in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement. The first factor was wet distillers inclusion at either 10, 15, or 20% of diet DM. The second factor was urea inclusion at either 0, 0.5, or 1.0% of diet dry matter. Increasing inclusion of distillers linearly improved feed conversion and linearly reduced dry matter intake. An interaction for feed efficiency was observed where there was no effect of added urea when 10% or 20% …

Evaluation Of The Energy Value And Nutrient Digestibility Of Distillers Grains That Have Undergone A Fiber Separation Process In Finishing Diets, Shelby A. Garland, Melissa L. Jolly-Breithaupt, Hannah C. Hamilton Hamilton, Galen E. Erickson, James C. Macdonald, Ryan A. Mass

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A digestion study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding a new, high protein distillers grains and corn bran plus solubles on nutrient digestibility. Treatments included a corn-based control, high protein distillers at both 20% and 40%, corn bran plus solubles, traditional wet distillers grains and traditional dry distillers grains all at 40% of diet DM. Feeding high protein distillers grains or corn bran plus solubles resulted in decreased digestibility compared to corn or traditional wet and dry distillers grains, but increased energy intake. Traditional wet and dry distillers grains also resulted in decreased digestibilities while energy intake was …

Evaluation Of An Algal Biomass As An Ingredient In Cattle Feed, Mitchell M. Norman, Zachary E. Carlson, F. Henry Hilscher Hilscher, Andrea K. Watson, Galen E. Erickson, Bruce W. Brodersen, J. Dustin Loy, Jonathan W. Wilson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A study was conducted evaluating the effects of feeding condensed algal residue solubles (CARS; available in 2019 in Blair, NE area) to finishing cattle for 100 days. Four levels of CARS were evaluated with 5 steers and 5 heifers individually fed per level of inclusion. The diets consisted of 70% dry rolled corn with CARS displacing corn at 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5% of dry matter. Increasing CARS inclusion resulted in a linear decrease in intake, a quadratic increase in daily gain, and a linear decrease in feed:gain. Calculations showed a linear increase in dietary net energy as …

Evaluation Of Reimplant Window With Revalor-200 ® On Steer Performance And Carcass Characteristics, Caitlin A. Ohnoutka, Brad M. Boyd, F. Henry Hilscher Hilscher, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Grant I. Crawford, Jim C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A feedlot study utilizing 800 crossbred steers (initial BW = 727 ± 55 lb) compared 5 different terminal implant (Revalor-200) times (160, 120, 100, 80, or 40 d prior to harvest) for steers fed 180 days on performance and carcass characteristics. All steers were implanted with Revalor-IS as an initial implant at trial initiation. Carcass-adjusted final BW, ADG, and F:G responded quadratically, with cattle implanted 80 to 120 d prior to harvest being the greatest. However, there was less than a 2% difference in performance between 120 and 80 days on terminal implant. Hot carcass weight responded quadratically, with no …

Effects Of Backgrounding And Feedlot System Strategies On May-Born Steer Performance, Alicia C. Lansford, Jacki A. Musgrave, T. L. Meyer, Rick N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

May-born steers were backgrounded to achieve either a high or low rate of gain. The high rate of gain was achieved by offering steers meadow hay ad libitum and 4 lb/d of a 33% CP (DM) supplement, while the low rate of gain consisted of steers grazing meadow and offered 1 lb/d of the same supplement. After backgrounding, one-half of the steers from each group entered the feedlot in May as short-yearlings, while the remainder grazed upland range until entering the feedlot as long-yearlings in mid-September. Hot carcass weight was greater for steers backgrounded to achieve a high rate of …

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 …

Improved Reference Genome For The Domestic Horse Increases Assembly Contiguity And Composition, Theodore S. Kalbfleisch, Edward S. Rice, Michael S. Depriest Jr., Brian P. Walenz, Matthew S. Hestand, Joris R. Vermeesch, Brendan L. O'Connell, Ian T. Fiddes, Alisa O. Vershinina, Nedda F. Saremi, Jessica L. Petersen, Carrie J. Finno, Rebecca R. Bellone, Molly E Mccue, Samantha A. Brooks, Ernest Bailey, Ludovic Orlando, Richard E. Green, Donald C. Miller, Douglas F. Antczak, James N. Macleod

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Recent advances in genomic sequencing technology and computational assembly methods have allowed scientists to improve reference genome assemblies in terms of contiguity and composition. EquCab2, a reference genome for the domestic horse, was released in 2007. Although of equal or better quality compared to other first-generation Sanger assemblies, it had many of the shortcomings common to them. In 2014, the equine genomics research community began a project to improve the reference sequence for the horse, building upon the solid foundation of EquCab2 and incorporating new short-read data, long-read data, and proximity ligation data. Here, we present EquCab3. The count of …

Establishing Hematology And Serum Chemistry Reference Intervals For Wild Hawaiian Monk Seals (Neomonachus Schauinslandi), Angela C. Kaufman, Stacie J. Robinson, Dori L. Borjesson, Michelle Barbieri, Charles L. Littnan

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Hematology and serum chemistry reference intervals have been previously established for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi) as an imperative measure for health assessments. Monitoring the health of the wild population depends upon reference intervals that are context specific; hence we developed reference intervals from fresh samples, as opposed to frozen, from wild monk seals. This study builds on the number of parameters from previous efforts by using samples collected between 2004 and 2015 from wild monk seals. Blood samples were analyzed by a single veterinary diagnostic laboratory within 24 hr of collection from apparently healthy, wild …

Genomic Approaches To Identify Important Traits In Avian Species, Bhuwan Khatri

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focusses on identifying different molecular markers that have impact on overall poultry production. Chapter one reviews microRNA (miRNA), copy number variation (CNV) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) as markers suggested in different avian species by various studies. It reviews modern genomic approaches that are employed for next generation sequencing data analysis and verification.

Chapter two seeks to identify and validate the muscle specific miRNAs in the breast muscle of modern broilers and its foundational chicken line. Small RNA sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed mature miRNAs in the breast muscles of these two chicken lines. Results showed …

Effects Of Kernel Processing At Harvest Of Brown Midrib Corn Silage On Finishing Performance Of Steers, Lauren A. Ovinge, F. Henry Hilscher, Curtis J. Bittner Bittner, Bradley M. Boyd, John N. Anderson, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A 2 × 3 factorial finishing study evaluated kernel processing in three corn silage hybrids on finishing performance of yearling steers fed 40% silage. The three hybrids included a control corn silage (CON), a brown midrib (bm3), and a brown midrib with a softer endosperm (bm3-EXP). No interactions were observed between hybrids and kernel processing (P > 0.45). Feeding both bm3 hybrids increased dry matter intake and average daily gain over CON (P < 0.01). Cattle fed bm3-EXP and bm3 had lower feed to gain than CON (P = 0.04), with no differences between the two brown midrib hybrids. Feeding silage that has undergone kernel processing decreased dry matter intake with similar average daily gain, which decreased feed to gain by 2.6% at 40% inclusion compared to non-processed silage (P = 0.10). The improvement in silage is calculated to be 6.5% (2.6/40) when kernel processing was utilized as compared to not kernel processing the corn silage hybrids.

Impact Of Ramaekers Immune Primer On Finishing Beef Cattle Performance And Liver Abscess Rate, Hannah C. Wilson, F. Henry Hilscher, Bradley M. Boyd Boyd, Jim C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A feedlot study was conducted comparing a natural feed additive (Ramaekers Immune Primer) to Tylan or nothing on receiving and finishing performance. There were no differences for final BW, ADG, F:G, HCW, marbling, LM area, or fat thickness due to treatment. Liver abscess incidence and severity were reduced in steers fed Tylan, no differences were noted between Ramaekers Immune Primer and no additive. There was no difference in number of cattle treated for respiratory illness. Steers on the Ramaekers Immune Primer treatment had lower feed intake during the receiving period but had similar ADG and numerically better F:G at day …

Effect Of Backgrounding System On Performance And Profitability Of Yearling Beef Steers, Cody A. Welchons, Robby G. Bondurant, F. Henry Hilscher Hilscher, Andrea K. Watson, Galen E. Erickson, Jim C. Macdonald

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Five summer management strategies were compared following grazing corn residue through winter. Cattle were assigned to be 1) summer finished, 2) graze bromegrass, 3) graze bromegrass and fed distillers grains at 0.6% of BW, 4) backgrounded in a drylot pen to gain 1.70 lb/d, or 5) backgrounded in a drylot pen to gain 2.35 lb/d. Results differed by year, however, in general as backgrounding ADG increased, days required on feed to reach an equal fat endpoint decreased. In year 1, ADG of cattle grazing bromegrass was less than cattle backgrounded in pens. There was no difference in finishing ADG for …

Effect Of Continuous Or Rotational Grazing On Growing Steer Performance And Land Production, Cody A. Welchons, Robby G. Bondurant, F. Henry Hilscher Hilscher, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Andrea K. Watson, Jim C. Macdonald

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Individual animal performance and animal production per acre were evaluated for steers grazing smooth bromegrass over 2 consecutive years. Treatments consisted of steers continuously grazing smooth bromegrass and initially stocked at either 4.0 animal unit months (AUM)/ac (HI) or 2.8 AUM/ac (LO) or steers rotationally grazing smooth bromegrass and initially stocked at 4.0 AUM/ac (ROT). Average calculated stocking rate for the LO, HI, and ROT treatments was greater than initial stocking rates due to the use of put and take animals. In vitro organic matter digestibility and crude protein of rotationally grazed pastures was relatively constant as the grazing season …

Effects Of Movement And Activity Behavior In A Pasture System Compared To Time, Jace R. Stott, Mitchell B. Stephenson, Kathryn J. Hanford Hanford

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

During the summer of 2016 seventeen cows were fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking collars to evaluate activity characteristics of cattle on rangelands. Data collected included daily distance traveled, average distance from water, daily time spent at water, daily area covered, and percent of day spent active (traveling or grazing). These variables were analyzed weekly to assess changes in behavior as time within pastures increased during three time periods of the growing season. Based on data collected from mid-May to mid-September, cattle showed little changes throughout the grazing season as to levels of activity through different periods of a …