Beef Science Commons^™

Effects Of Lasalocid And Energy Supplementation On Forage Intake, Energy Metabolism, And Performance Of Cattle Grazing Wheat Pasture, Autumn Tayler Pickett

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cattle grazing wheat pasture have the potential to gain BW exceptionally well, but excessive nitrogen intake results in increased excretion and increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Supplemental concentrates with the addition of an ionophore given to ruminants grazing wheat is a potential practice for producers to increase nitrogen efficiency while decreasing GHG emissions. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to quantify the effects of energy (2.95 kg/d) and lasalocid (200 mg/hd/d) supplementation on nutrient intake, energy metabolism, respiratory gas fluxes, and performance of grazing cattle. Methane emissions were not affected (P = 0.58) by treatment, hence methane intensity (P …

Associations Among Beef Cattle Genotypes, Neospora Caninum Infection, And Reproductive Performance, Ryan James Page

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Reproductive performance is crucial for sustained financial success in the beef cattle industry. This dissertation includes a population study that quantified the incidence of Neospora caninum infections in the central region of the United States and tested its relationship with reproductive performance in beef cattle. Trial one of that study concluded that 6.9% of open, replacement heifers (n = 1306) tested seropositive. The second trial in that project found that 9.6% of the breeding age females (n = 500) tested were seropositive for Neospora caninum; and that state in which the cattle lived and age impacted (P < 0.05) infection rate. Breed composition, number of farm dogs on the ranch, and use of total mixed rations were not associated (P > 0.1) with seropositive …

Louisiana Beef Cattle Marketing Strategies, Adam Barrilleaux

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to estimate the financial costs and returns of selected marketing strategies for cattle producers in the state of Louisiana. Cattle for the project were from the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center and commercial producers. Cattle were grouped by weight and sex and vaccinated, castrated, and handled using standard best management practices. The standard marketing practice for weaned calves in Louisiana of selling weaned animals at local stockyards was compared against alternative marketing of preconditioned calves through video auctions or after feedlot finishing. Feedlot cattle were sold both on live weight value and carcass weight …

An Evaluation Of The Susceptibility Of Goats To Larkspur Toxicosis, Kevin D. Welch, Clint A. Stonecipher, Dale R. Gardner, Benedict T. Green, Daniel Cook

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Larkspurs (Delphinium spp.) are a major cause of cattle losses in western North America, whereas sheep have been shown to be resistant to larkspur toxicosis. Goats are often used as a small ruminant model to study poisonous plants, even though they can be more resistant to some poisonous plants. It is not known how susceptible goats are to the adverse effects of larkspurs. In this study, we evaluated the susceptibility of goats to larkspur toxicosis by performing a dose-response study. We dosed goats with D. barbeyi collected near Cedar City, Utah at 3.3, 4.4, 6.6, 8.8 and 10.0 g …

A Historical Review Of Management Options Used Against The Stable Fly (Diptera: Muscidae), David F. Cook

Animal production and livestock research articles

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), remains a significant economic pest globally in situations where intensive animal production or horticultural production provide a suitable developmental medium. Stable flies have been recorded as pests of livestock and humans since the late 1800s to early 1900s. Over 100 years of research has seen numerous methodologies used to control this fly, in particular to protect cattle from flies to minimise production losses. Reduced milk production in dairy cows and decreased weight gain in beef cattle account for losses in the US alone of > $2000 million annually. Rural lifestyles and recreation are …

Evaluation Of Protein Sources And Holstein Finishing Systems For Organic Beef Production And A Comparison Of Single And Dual Implant Strategies In Finishing Heifers, Elizabeth A. Schumacher

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Two in situ experiments were conducted to compare the rumen undegradable protein content (RUP) and RUP digestibility of conventional and organic field peas, fish meal, dehydrated alfalfa, and soybean meal. Significant differences were detected between feed samples in both studies for all variables measured. Variation existed between sample types but the data did not suggest that organic and conventional feeds are different when processed with the same methods. A performance experiment was conducted utilizing individually fed Holstein steers comparing the effect of RUP source in a simulated organic production system. Dietary treatments were: no supplemental protein (NONE), field peas (FP), …

Calf Heath And Oxidative Stress, Samantha Cardin

Senior Honors Projects

In recent years, beef cattle operations such as farms and ranches in the U.S. have surpassed 900,000 and have been steadily increasing. With this rise in the beef industry, comes a greater concern for calf health since it has huge impacts on production and viability. There are multiple different factors that can affect calf health ranging from the intrauterine environment to conditions early on post parturition. An improper maternal environment during pregnancy can impact fetal growth because it can decrease the amount of nutrients reaching the calf. This can lead to low birth weights and undeveloped organ systems. Additionally, if …

Performance Of Elite Maize Genotypes Under Selected Sustainable Intensification Options In Kenya, Leonard Rusinamhodzi, Dan Makumbi, James M. Njeru, Fred Kanampiu

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Combining different cropping and tillage systems with different genotypes across several cropping seasons can reveal opportunities for sustainable intensification (SI). The objective of this study was to assess the performance of six maize genotypes under intercropping with conservation tillage (no-till) – two promising options for SI. The experiment was carried out over three years (or six cropping seasons) at Kiboko Research Station, Kenya with sole cropping and mouldboard ploughing as baseline production systems. Results showed that maize genotypes and cropping systems had a significant effect on yield, but the effect of tillage was not significant. Moreover, there was no significant …

Burial And Compaction Of Sandy Soils To Prevent Emergence Of Adult Stable Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) At The Soil Surface, David F. Cook, Robert A. Deyl, Jeremy B. Lindsey, Mario F. D'Antuono, Don Telfer, Ian R. Mcpharlin

Horticulture Research Articles

Stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans L.) remain a significant pest affecting livestock and rural communities on the Swan Coastal Plain around Perth, Western Australia. Vegetable crop residues remaining after harvest enable stable fly development. Left untreated they can produce from several hundred to >1,000 stable fly/m2 of post-harvest residues. We studied the effect of burial and compaction of sandy soils on adult emergence of stable fly and house fly (Musca domestica L.) (Diptera: Muscidae). Adults of both fly species can move up through 50 cm of loose, dry sand, however at depths greater than 60 cm, emergence rapidly declines …

Value Added Fed And Feeder Cattle Practices: Are They Paying?, Elliott James Dennis

Extension Farm and Ranch Management News

Summary

Some value added management programs clearly pay more than others and some do not pay at all. However, just like with a breeding or forage management strategy where not every year the cow gets bred back or the grass has sufficient protein, a value added program strategies premiums vary year to year. Switching the way cattle are managed and raised, handled, and fed requires planning and an understanding of labor and management capabilities. Not every cattle producer could or even should switch management practices an animal health protocol – even if premiums do exist. Thus, careful planning and consideration …

High Risk For Human Exposure To Rift Valley Fever Virus In Communities Living Along Livestock Movement Routes: A Cross-Sectional Survey In Kenya, Caroline Tigoi, Rosemary Sang, Edith Chepkorir, Benedict Orindi, Samuel Okello Arum, Francis Mulwa, Gladys Mosomtai, Samson Limbaso, Osama A. Hassan, Zephania Irura, Clas Ahlm, Magnus Evander

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Introduction Multiple outbreaks of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) with devastating effects have occurred in East Africa. These outbreaks cause disease in both livestock and humans and affect poor households most severely. Communities living in areas practicing nomadic livestock movement may be at higher risk of infection. This study sought to i) determine the human exposure to Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) in populations living within nomadic animal movement routes in Kenya; and ii) identify risk factors for RVFV infection in these communities. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used. Samples were collected from the year 2014 to 2015 in …

Impacts Of Beef Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations On Environmental Sustainability In The United States And Practices For Improvement, Laura Clark

VCU Phi Kappa Phi Award Winners

The geographic concentration of beef concentrated animal feeding operations [CAFOs] has changed the landscape of environmental sustainability for agriculture in the United States. As land availability has decreased, operations have struggled to maintain feasible practices to minimize environmental detriment. The United States Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] imposed rules to be followed as a means of mitigation, but the fast-paced rate of change minimizes effectiveness. The overall environmental sustainability of beef CAFOs has shifted from historical rates, leading to a need for reassessment. Part of this reassessment will include stronger environmental practices to be considered for implementation. I explored the role …

The Impact Of Cow Size On Cow–Calf And Postweaning Progeny Performance In The Nebraska Sandhills, Rob L. Ziegler, Jacki A. Musgrave, Tanya L. Meyer, R. Funston, Elliott James Dennis, Kathy Hanford, J. C. Macdonald, Travis Mulliniks

West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte

Optimizing beef production system efficiency requires an understanding of genetic potential suitable for a given production environment. Therefore, the objective of this retrospective analysis was to determine the influence of cow body weight (BW) adjusted to a common body condition score (BCS) of 5 at weaning-influenced cow-calf performance and postweaning steer and heifer progeny performance. Data were collected at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, Whitman, NE, on crossbred, mature cows (n = 1,607) from 2005 to 2017. Cow BCS at calving, prebreeding, and weaning were positively associated (P < 0.01) with greater cow BW. Increasing cow BW was positively associated (P < 0.01) with the percentage of cows that conceived during a 45-d breeding season. For every additional 100-kg increase in cow BW, calf BW increased (P < 0.01) at birth by 2.70 kg and adjusted 205-d weaning BW by 14.76 kg. Calf preweaning average daily gain (ADG) increased (P < 0.01) 0.06 kg/d for every additional 100-kg increase in cow BW. Heifer progeny BW increased (P < 0.01) postweaning with every additional 100-kg increase in dam BW. Dam BW did not influence (P ≥ 0.11) heifer puberty status prior to breeding, overall pregnancy rates, or the percentage of heifers calving in the first 21 d of the calving season. Steer initial feedlot BW increased by 7.20 kg, reimplant BW increased by 10.47 kg, and final BW increased by 10.29 kg (P ≤ 0.01) for every additional 100-kg increase in dam BW. However, steer feedlot ADG was not influenced (P > 0.67) by dam BW. Hot carcass weights of steers were increased (P = …

Myoglobin Post-Translational Modifications And Fresh Beef Color Stability, Yifei Wang

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Surface color of fresh beef is the major trait influencing consumers’ purchase decisions. Fresh beef color is determined by the myoglobin (Mb) redox stability. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) play a critical role in regulating Mb structure and functionality. This thesis focuses on the PTMs in Mb and their impact on fresh beef color stability.

In the first experiment, Mb PTMs in beef longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle during postmortem aging and their influence on fresh beef color stability were examined. Beef LL muscle from nine (n = 9) beef carcasses (24 h postmortem) were subjected to wet-aging for 0, 7, 14 …

Impact Of Postweaning Management Strategies On Beef Carcass Characteristics And Meat Quality, Christina Elaine Bakker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The overall objective of this dissertation was to determine the impact of selected post weaning management strategies on beef carcass characteristics and meat quality. The specific objectives were 1) determine the effect of a rumen-protected long chain fatty acids fed during finishing on live performance, serum fatty acid profile, carcass traits, and predicted carcass composition, and 2) determine effects of feeding brassica-based cover crops to cattle during backgrounding on live animal performance, carcass characteristics, tenderness, juiciness, and flavor of strip steaks, and case life of ground beef and strip steaks. Results from both objectives indicate post weaning management strategies do …

Characterization Of Bison Finishing And Harvest Systems: Effects On Carcass And Meat Quality Characteristics, Jessica Janssen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this thesis project were to 1) characterize the influence of finishing system (grain-finished vs. grass-finished) on carcass characteristics, meat quality, the nutritional composition, and consumer preference for bison meat 2) evaluate the effectiveness of beef camera grading technology on grain- and grass-finished bison carcass characteristics, and 3) characterize the influence harvest systems (on-ranch vs. commercial facilities) on animal stress response, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and consumer preference of bison heifers. For objectives 1 and 2: Grain- (n=108) and grass- (n=93) finished bison heifers were slaughtered at 28 mo of age, at approximately 20 h postmortem, carcass measurements …

Bedding Application And Increasing Dosage Of Trenbolone Acetate And Estradiol In Implants For Beef Steers: Influence On Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, And Circulating Metabolite Responses, Dathan T. Smerchek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Three randomized complete block design feedlot experiments were conducted over the course of two years. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of bedding use in confined beef steers. The third experiment evaluated the effects of implants containing increasing doses of trenbolone acetate (TBA) and estradiol benzoate (EB) in confined beef steers. Experiment 1 used Simmental × Angus steers (n = 240; initial body weight (BW) = 365 ± 22.5 kg). Experiment 2 used newly weaned Charolais × Red Angus steers (n = 162; initial BW = 278 ± 13.4 kg). Steers were allotted to 1 of 2 treatments: …

Partitioning Variation In Measurements Of Beef Carcass Traits Made Using Ultrasound, Bradie M. Schmidt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ultrasound technology provides cattle breeders a relatively quick, non-invasive, and economical way to gather carcass data on live animals. Ultrasound provides the means to accurately predict body composition and develop estimated breeding values; however, national cattle genetic evaluations assume homogenous additive genetic and residual variances. These assumptions may be violated when estimating genetic merit for carcass traits by ultrasound because of differences in variance due to scanning technician and image interpretation laboratory. The objective of this study was to partition the phenotypic variance of measurements of carcass traits that were made using ultrasound into components attributable to additive genetic effects, …

Effects Of Supplemental Whole Cottonseed On Weaned Calf Production, Zachary Debord

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This study compared the effect of supplemental whole cottonseed in a weaned calf ration on cattle productivity. Feed is the main cost for livestock production. Whole cottonseed supplementation may increase production and reduce the cost of gain for the ration. During the study, 18 beef calves were weaned and split into two groups and fed, with and without WCS, for 50 days to determine the effect of supplemental whole cottonseed. Productivity was determined by measuring average daily gains for each group and comparing cost of gain for each ration. It was determined that WCS did increase productivity of weaned calves …

Prediction Of Warner-Bratzler Shear Force, Intramuscular Fat, Drip-Loss And Cook-Loss In Beef Via Raman Spectroscopy And Chemometrics, Raquel Cama-Moncunill, Jamie Cafferky, Caroline Augier, Torres Sweeney, Paul Allen, Alessandro Ferragina, Carl Sullivan, Andrew Cromie, Ruth Hamill

Articles

Rapid prediction of beef quality remains a challenge for meat processors. This study evaluated the potential of Raman spectroscopy followed by chemometrics for prediction of Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), intramuscular fat (IMF), ultimate pH, drip-loss and cook-loss. PLS regression models were developed based on spectra recorded on frozen-thawed day 2 longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle and validated using test sets randomly selected 3 times. With the exception of ultimate pH, models presented notable performance in calibration (R2 ranging from 0.5 to 0.9; low RMSEC) and, despite variability in the results, promising predictive ability: WBSF (RMSEP ranging from 4.6 to 9 …