Supplementing Monensin And Rumen Undegradable Protein To Late-Gestation Heifers,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Supplementing Monensin And Rumen Undegradable Protein To Late-Gestation Heifers, Dempster M. Christenson, Rick N. Funston
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
This study evaluates the effects of supplementing late-gestation heifers with rumen-undegradable protein and monensin on weight gain, feed efficiency, and reproductive performance, and subsequent impact on progeny. We hypothesized that supplementation would enhance growth and feed efficiency, ultimately improving cow and calf performance. Previously synchronized artificially inseminated heifers were fed ad libitum hay for 89 d prior to calving. Feed was top dressed with chelated mineral with or without monensin, dried distillers’ grains, or dried distillers’ grains and monensin. Supplementation with rumen undegradable protein increased growth rate and decreased calving difficulty with no further effects on cow …
Effect Of Feeding Whole Soybeans, Roasted Soybeans, Or Distillers Grains In Silage-Based Growing Beef Diets,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Effect Of Feeding Whole Soybeans, Roasted Soybeans, Or Distillers Grains In Silage-Based Growing Beef Diets, Melissa K. Bausch, Rebecca Mcdermott, Jim C. Macdonald, Pablo L. Loza, Galen E. Erickson
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
An individual feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding raw whole soybeans (WSB), roasted whole (RSB) soybeans or distillers grains (MDGS) at three inclusions (7%, 14%, or 21% of diet dry matter) on growing performance, compared to a common control diet (0%) with urea. The greater inclusions of roasted soybeans or distillers grains increased gain and efficiency in growing cattle. Cattle fed the 21% inclusion of roasted soybeans were the most efficient, likely due to the protected protein increasing rumen undegradable protein content, and the additional energy from the higher levels of fat and …
Live Biomass Estimation With Canopeo In Rangeland Systems,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Live Biomass Estimation With Canopeo In Rangeland Systems, Hannah K. Allen, Mitchell B. Stephenson, Daniel R. Uden
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
This project evaluated Canopeo, a free smartphone app that estimates fractional green canopy cover (FGCC), as a tool for monitoring aboveground biomass in Nebraska Sandhills rangelands. Live biomass was significantly higher in August than in June with some variability by year. FGCC showed a moderately strong relationship with current-year live biomass collected in either June or August. These results indicate that, in addition to producers’ field knowledge, Canopeo images taken with a smartphone or digital camera can offer a quick, visual estimate of forage conditions. This method may help reduce the need for labor intensive and destructive …
Effect Of An Accelerated Adaptation Protocol On Performance And Health Of Feedlot Steers Drenched With Lactipro,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Effect Of An Accelerated Adaptation Protocol On Performance And Health Of Feedlot Steers Drenched With Lactipro, Rebecca L. Mcdermott, Samuel E. Loy, Isaque F. Vicci, Mark Corrigan, Braden C. Troyer, Galen E. Erickson, Jim C. Macdonald
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
A finishing study evaluated the effects of an accelerated adaptation protocol in conjunction with Lactipro on performance and health of steers. Five adaptation programs were evaluated with steers adapted to a finishing diet in 21, 14, 7, or 0 days. An additional accelerated adaptation program provided intensive feed delivery with 0-d adaptation. Cattle assigned to the 21-d and 0-d adaptations gained faster and consequently had greater HCW compared to the 7-d and 14-d adaptation, resulting in a quadratic response for ADG and HCW. The 0-d adaptation with intensive feed delivery had similar ADG and HCW compared to …
Energy Value Of High-Moisture Corn In Feedlot Cattle Diets Derived Through Meta-Analysis,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Energy Value Of High-Moisture Corn In Feedlot Cattle Diets Derived Through Meta-Analysis, Alfredo Dicostanzo
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
Cattle feeders or their nutritionists who rely on high-moisture corn (HMC) use a standard adjustment to energy content of the diet based on observation or previous research reports. Because moisture content of HMC is the result of many field and harvest factors, a common adjustment to the energy value of HMC applied to all conditions may not be appropriate. The hypothesis that moisture content of HMC determines its energy concentration was tested. Through a meta-analysis, it was determined that feed intake was depressed while energy content of HMC increased at greater moisture content. A simple method to …
Effects Of Feeding Raw Soybeans Or Roasted Soybeans To Feedlot Steers,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Effects Of Feeding Raw Soybeans Or Roasted Soybeans To Feedlot Steers, Melissa K. Bausch, Jim C. Macdonald, Pablo L. Loza, Galen E. Erickson
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
A feedlot study compared feeding raw or roasted soybeans, soybean meal, or distillers grains to a dry-rolled corn with urea control on finishing cattle performance and carcass traits. Cattle fed roasted soybeans had improved marbling and gained more weight over the feeding period than cattle fed whole soybeans. Feed conversion was improved in the steers fed the roasted and whole soybean containing diets over steers that consumed the distillers grains diet. Cattle fed soybean meal and distillers grains had similar performance and carcass characteristics in this experiment. Cattle fed soybeans, soybean meal, or distillers had better gains …
Effect Of Using Either Synovex Primer Or Synovex Choice Compared To Not Implanting On The Performance Of Growing Steers,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Effect Of Using Either Synovex Primer Or Synovex Choice Compared To Not Implanting On The Performance Of Growing Steers, Sawyer D. Starrett, Rebecca L. Mcdermott, Sofia Suarez Lorences, Pedro Henrique Jota Fernandes, Dirk Burken, Jessica L. Sperber, Galen E. Erickson, Jim C. Macdonald
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
A 120-day winter-growing study utilized 576 head of steers to evaluate three dry lot implant strategies on the growth of steers. The three implanting strategies included a non-implanted control, Synovex® Primer™, or Synovex Choice®. While on harvested corn residue fields, steers were supplemented with 4 lb Sweet Bran and 0.375 lb of a vitamin and mineral package. The targeted gain for the non-implanted control was 1.25 lb/d. Both Synovex Primer and Synovex Choice increased ADG over the non-implanted control cattle by 7.5% and 12.7%, respectively. Additionally, Synovex Choice had a 4.8% increase in ADG over Synovex Primer. …
Evaluation Of Ferappease Administered At Arrival And Time Of Reimplant On Feedlot Performance And Carcass Characteristics Of Yearling Beef Steers,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Evaluation Of Ferappease Administered At Arrival And Time Of Reimplant On Feedlot Performance And Carcass Characteristics Of Yearling Beef Steers, Carsten L. Loseke, Galen E. Erickson, Jessica L. Sperber
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
Cattle experience stress in the feedlot during handling events such as initial processing and reimplant that can negatively impact morbidity and mortality, feedlot performance, and carcass outcomes. Application of a maternal Bovine Appeasing Substance (mBAS) marketed as FerAppease (FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals) has been hypothesized to mitigate stress in cattle. A commercial feedlot study compared the effectiveness of FerAppease applied in 10mL doses to yearling native beef steers at initial processing and reimplant to a placebo product on cattle performance, morbidity and mortality parameters, and carcass traits. Steers administered FerAppease tended to have improved feed conversion on …
Effect Of Feed Access Time On Feedlot Cattle Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Feeding Behavior And Ruminal Ph,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Effect Of Feed Access Time On Feedlot Cattle Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Feeding Behavior And Ruminal Ph, Carsten L. Loseke, Rebecca L. Mcdermott, Josh R. Benton, Keara O'Reilly, Galen E. C. Erickson, Jim C. Macdonald
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
Bunk management is crucial for modern feedlots, and understanding the ideal time to target a slick bunk is important. A feedlot study compared the effect of providing finishing cattle with 12, 15, 18, 21, or 24 hours of access to feed on performance, carcass characteristics, feeding behavior, and ruminal pH. As access time to feed increased, feed intake and day-to-day variation of feed intake increased linearly, while gain and feed conversion were unchanged. Cattle with greater access time to feed spent more time per day at the bunk, and consumed feed more slowly. A cubic effect on …
Evaluation Of Lysoforte Extend On Rumen Fermentation Parameters, Rumen And Total Tract Digestion, And Fatty Acid Digestion,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Evaluation Of Lysoforte Extend On Rumen Fermentation Parameters, Rumen And Total Tract Digestion, And Fatty Acid Digestion, Anna Kobza, Dalton Anderson, Jerilyn Hergenreder, Jim C. Macdonald
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
Supplemental fat fed in finishing diets in recent years has generally increased in price. This digestibility study evaluated LYSOFORTE Extend, a lysophospholipid based nutritional emulsifier, in beef finishing diets containing tallow or corn oil. Five ruminally and duodenally cannulated steers were used in a 5 × 5 Latin Square design. Treatments followed a 2 × 2 +1 factorial: 1) No Oil (negative control), 2) Corn Oil (3.5%), 3) Tallow (3.5%), 4) Corn Oil + LFE (8 g/d), and 5) Tallow + LFE (8 g/d). Cattle fed the negative control diet had greater dry matter intake than cattle …
Evaluation Of Renergy On Finishing Steer Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, And Liver Abscess Prevalence And Severity,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Evaluation Of Renergy On Finishing Steer Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, And Liver Abscess Prevalence And Severity, Sofia Suarez Lorences, Jeff Heldt, Pablo L. Loza, Galen E. Erickson
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
A feedlot study evaluated the effects of Renergy™ (Selko USA) and Rumensin® (Elanco Animal Health) on growth performance, carcass traits, and liver abscess severity in finishing beef cattle. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, cattle were fed one of four diets: control (no additive), Renergy, Rumensin, or both additives combined. A significant interaction between Renergy and Rumensin was observed for feed conversion, with a tendency for interaction in dry matter intake (DMI). Cattle fed Renergy tended to have lower DMI and lower average daily gain, though DMI did not differ between cattle fed both additives and …
Evaluation Of Enteric Methane From Cattle Adapted Using Ramp Vs. A Traditional Forage Program Stepped Up To Different Finishing Diets,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Evaluation Of Enteric Methane From Cattle Adapted Using Ramp Vs. A Traditional Forage Program Stepped Up To Different Finishing Diets, Jack T. Fort, Isaque F. Vicci, Josh R. Benton, Rebecca L. Mcdermott, Jim C. Macdonald, Maggie E. Youngers, Galen E. Erickson
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
A 93-day finishing experiment evaluated feeding RAMP (Cargill Corn Milling, Blair NE) during diet adaptation and finishing diet containing 20% Sweet Bran compared to a traditional adaptation program using forage with a finishing diet without Sweet Bran on methane and carbon dioxide production, animal performance and carcass characteristics in beef steers. Cattle were measured using a calorimetry emission barn to quantify the production of methane and carbon dioxide during step 1 of adaptation and 1 time during finishing diet. Feeding RAMP did not significantly reduce methane but did reduce the ratio of methane to carbon dioxide during …
Evaluation Of Enteric Methane From Cattle Adapted To The Same Finishing Diet Using Ramp Versus Forage,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Evaluation Of Enteric Methane From Cattle Adapted To The Same Finishing Diet Using Ramp Versus Forage, Jack T. Fort, Isaque F. Vicci, Josh R. Benton, Rebecca L. Mcdermott, Jim C. Macdonald, Maggie E. Youngers, Galen E. Erickson
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
A 139-day finishing experiment evaluating the effects of feeding RAMP (Cargill Corn Milling, Blair NE) during diet adaptation compared to a traditional forage program on methane and carbon dioxide emissions was done to corroborate a previous study (2025 Nebraska Beef Report, pp. 55-58). Cattle were measured using a calorimetry emission barn to quantify the production of methane and carbon dioxide during step 1 of adaptation and 1 time during a common finishing diet. Feeding RAMP had no statistical reduction in methane or carbon dioxide production during step 1. When cattle were fed the same finishing …
Health Indicators Worsened By Moderate-Intensity Heat Stress Are Only Partially Recovered By Ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Health Indicators Worsened By Moderate-Intensity Heat Stress Are Only Partially Recovered By Ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation, Melanie R. White, Shelley A. Curry, Ashley A. Hahn, Jessica L. Petersen, Ty B. Schmidt, Dustin T. Yates
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
Heat stress throughout the summer and into the fall is a persistent hurdle for growing and finishing cattle in Nebraska. Minimizing the impact of heat on growth and well-being of cattle is critical to the productivity and profitability of beef production. This project aimed to evaluate the effect of an anti-inflammatory dietary supplement, ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA), on physiological indicators of stress during a 4-day moderate-intensity heat challenge. Heat stress elevated core body temperature and respiration rates as expected but did not impact circulating inflammatory biomarkers. Heart rate variability measurements indicative of adrenergic stress and …
Modulation Of Heat Stress Responses In Cattle Supplemented With Dietary Ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Modulation Of Heat Stress Responses In Cattle Supplemented With Dietary Ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Shelley A. Curry, Melanie R. White, Ashley A. Hahn, Dustin T. Yates
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
Heat stress in beef cattle triggers physiological and metabolic disturbances that compromise performance, health, and welfare. In this study, Red Angus heifers exposed to heat stress for 5 days exhibited elevated body temperatures, increased heart and respiration rates, and altered hematological and acid–base parameters. A commercial ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) dietary supplement failed to improve heat stress-reduced ribeye area or red blood cell parameters but did resolve the reduction in blood chloride concentrations, which is consistent with restoration of electrolyte balance and hydration under heat stressed conditions. These results indicate that ω-3 PUFA supplementation offers some …
Impact Of Storage And Cooking Temperature On Listeria Innocua Growth In Plant-Based And Beef Proteins,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Impact Of Storage And Cooking Temperature On Listeria Innocua Growth In Plant-Based And Beef Proteins, Esther Vanoverbeke, Oliver Munezero, Gary A. Sullivan, Samodha C. Fernando
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
Listeriosis, caused by Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria spp., is a food-borne illness, that accounts for 260 deaths annually. The objective of this study was to identify how storage method and cooking temperature impacts Listeria innocua growth in ground beef and plant-based protein patties. Patties (162 ground beef; 162 plant-based) were used in 3 replications. For each replication, patties were either inoculated (1×108 CFU) or not inoculated and stored for 26 hr at refrigeration, freezer, or room temperature. Three patties per storage method were cooked to either 145°F or 165°F and were plated before/after cooking. Nine patties …
Inclusion Of Palm Oil Products In Finishing Diets On Ground Beef Quality And Retail Stability,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Inclusion Of Palm Oil Products In Finishing Diets On Ground Beef Quality And Retail Stability, Anna Kobza, Galen E. Erickson, Jim C. Macdonald, Mitch L. Norman, Josh R. Benton, Rebecca L. Mcdermott, Long Zou, Kyra L. Elliott, Anna G. Hilton, Chad A. Russell, Jessie C. Morrill
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
Rising costs and availability of supplemental fats have increased interest in alternative fat sources in feedlot finishing diets, including palm oils. This experiment evaluated how refined, bleached, and deodorized (RBD) palm oil products included in the diet of feedlot finishing steers affect beef fat color and ground beef shelf-life. Steers were fed diets with no supplemental fat (No Oil), corn oil (Corn Oil), whole palm (Whole Palm), palm stearin (Stearin), or palm olein (Olein) at 4% dietary DM. Subcutaneous fat from cattle fed corn oil was more yellow than that from No Oil or palm oils. Ground …
Development Of A Shelf-Stable Proxy For Camera-Based Beef Grading Systems,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Development Of A Shelf-Stable Proxy For Camera-Based Beef Grading Systems, Anna G. Hilton, Jessie C. Morrill
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
The American Meat Science Association's USDA Grading Committee recently expressed the need for a proxy device to verify that various camera grading systems produce consistent readings. To fulfill this need, we developed a proxy device made from 3D printed epoxy resin and other materials. The proxy was designed to have a known fat thickness and ribeye area. The proxy has a ribeye area of approximately 14 square inches and a fat thickness that ranges from 0.4 - 0.6 inches depending on the exact measurement location. The amount of marbling in the proxy can be adjusted incrementally and …
Prediction Of Intramuscular Fat Content Of Beef Longissimus Muscle,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Prediction Of Intramuscular Fat Content Of Beef Longissimus Muscle, Kyra L. Elliott, Willy J. Horne, Bucky L. Gwartney, Jessie C. Morrill
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
In this study, we report the percentage of extractable intramuscular fat that is associated with beef longissimus muscle from a range of USDA marbling scores. The marbling scores were determined by two beef grading camera systems. We also assessed the utility of an open-source imaging software (ImageJ) for objectively quantifying the percentage of intramuscular fat, represented by pixels, in digital images of beef longissimus muscle.
Are Midwest Region Extension Professionals Prepared To Answer Food Safety Questions About Various Meat Products?,
2026
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Are Midwest Region Extension Professionals Prepared To Answer Food Safety Questions About Various Meat Products?, Esther Vanoverbeke, Byron D. Chaves
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports
Summary with Implications
Forty-eight million consumers in the U.S. get a foodborne illness each year; 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die. Approximately one-third of those illnesses are related to animal-based foods, including meat. With meat-like alternatives being more readily available, it is critical to ensure these foods are handled appropriately to reduce foodborne illnesses. This project evaluated the food safety knowledge of extension professionals related to plant-based products and meat alternatives. A survey was distributed via the North Central Region Extension Center to Extension professionals (N=52). Most respondents, 58%, neither agreed or disagreed that plant-based meats/meat alternatives are microbiologically riskier …
