Meat Science Commons^™

Comparing The Impact Of Continuous And Virtually Fenced Rotational Grazing On Animal Behavior And Distribution, Logan Vandermark, Jameson Brennan, Krista Ehlert, Hector Menendez Iii

SDSU Beef Day 2022 Summary Publication

Study Description:

Six herds of yearling steers (n=127) will graze native summer pastures from May to August at the Cottonwood Field Station near Philip, South Dakota. Six pastures are divided into two groups: a continuous grazing (CG) treatment with a low, moderate, and high stocking density and a virtually fenced rotational (VFR) grazing system with the same stocking densities. VenceTM virtual fence collars were placed on all animals within the study and collected GPS data at 5-minute intervals. The CG collars are not actively managed. The VFR system is actively managed through the collars and rotated based on the amount …

Using Precision Technology To Measure Cattle Methane Emissions And Intake On Western South Dakota Rangelands, Lillian J. Mcfadden, Ken Olson, Krista Ehlert, Jameson Brennan, Amanda D. Blair, Hector Menendez Iii

SDSU Beef Day 2022 Summary Publication

Study Description:

Cattle DMI is an essential component of calculating cattle stocking rates, determining nutrient requirements, and evaluating feed efficiency. Cattle DMI and digestion of forages impact enteric greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; a major public and environmental concern. Increased GHG levels indicate energy loss during the rumen fermentation process. Obtaining data for rangeland cattle DMI and GHG emissions is needed to understand and enhance individual animal performance and reduce negative environmental impacts. We will develop enteric emissions and DMI relationships by conducting three feeding trials using the GreenFeed and SmartFeed Pro (C-Lock Inc. Rapid City, SD). The GreenFeed will measure …

Effects Of Environmental Gradients On The Abundance And Diversity Of Helminths Across 7 Bison Herds In The Upper Midwest, Bradly Wehus-Tow, Jeff M. Martin, Jameson Brennan

SDSU Beef Day 2022 Summary Publication

Study Description:

Data were collected from Wind Cave National Park and 6 satellite bison herds across the upper Midwest ranging across South Dakota, Indiana, and Kansas with a MAP gradient ranging from 34 to 82 mm and a MAT gradient ranging from 9 to 13°C. Fecal samples were collected non-invasively from 50 freshly voided bison dung patties at each herd. Helminth eggs were recovered and identified using sugar floatation; Trichostrongyle-type eggs were hatched by coproculture to identify to species. Preliminary findings indicate that general abundance of trichostrongyle-type helminths increases by 2.3 EPG per 1°C and by 0.2 EPG per mm, …

Influence Of Beef Carcass Chilling Rate On Steak Case Life And Quality Traits, Trevor Dehaan, Lydia Hite, Erin Gubbels, Christina Elaine Bakker, Amanda D. Blair, Judson Grubbs, Keith Underwood

SDSU Beef Day 2022 Summary Publication

Study Description:

Twelve head of fed beef cattle were harvested at the SDSU Meat Laboratory over two days. Carcasses were allotted into two weight groups based on hot carcass weight (HCW): Heavyweight (HW) and Lightweight (LW). Data logging thermometers were placed in the left side of each carcass within the round, loin, rib, and chuck primals to track temperature decline. Carcass measurements including 12th rib fat thickness, ribeye area and marbling score were collected approximately 48 hours postmortem. Steaks from each primal were collected to measure Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), objective and subjective color.

Serving Beef In Usda Child Nutrition Programs In South Dakota: Development Of An Faq, Anna Barr, Mikayla Hardy, Andrea Alma, Heather Hopwood, Joanna Studt

SDSU Beef Day 2022 Summary Publication

Study Description:

The project occurred in partnership with four organizations representing state, tribal, and federal affiliations. The authors collaborated to compile and answer questions. Questions that were not answered by the authors’ organizations were asked to the SD Animal Industry Board and USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Bovine Respiratory Microbiota Of Feedlot Cattle And Its Association With Disease, Jianmin Chai, Sarah F. Capik, Beth Kegley, John T. Richeson, Jeremy G. Powell, Jiangchao Zhao

Animal Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD), as one of the most common and costly diseases in the beef cattle industry, has significant adverse impacts on global food security and the economic stability of the industry. The bovine respiratory microbiome is strongly associated with health and disease and may provide insights for alternative therapy when treating BRD. The niche-specific microbiome communities that colonize the inter-surface of the upper and the lower respiratory tract consist of a dynamic and complex ecological system. The correlation between the disequilibrium in the respiratory ecosystem and BRD has become a hot research topic. Hence, we summarize the pathogenesis …

Effects Of Increasing Dietary Zinc Sulfate Fed To Gestating Ewes: Ii. Milk Somatic Cell Count, Microbial Populations, And Fatty Acid Composition, C. M. Page, R. M. Knuth, T. W. Murphy, D. C. Rule, B. Bisha, J. B. Taylor, W. C. Stewart

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Objective: The objective of the research was to evaluate the effects of increasing dietary Zn sulfate concentration for primiparous gestating ewes on subsequent milk SCC, intramammary microbial identifications, and fatty acid composition.

Materials and Methods: Commercial white-face (WF; n = 27) and black-face (BF; n = 24) ewes (age ≈18 mo; BW = 87.48 ± 8.37 kg) were sorted into breed-type groups and within groups ranked by BW, and then, they were randomly divided into 3 dietary supplement treatment groups: CON (n = 13; 40 mg/kg Zn; ≈1 × NASEM recommendations), Zn500 (n = 21; 500 mg/kg Zn; …

Effects Of Harvest Season On Carcass Characteristics Of Lambs In The Intermountain West, J. R. Whaley, T. W. Murphy, C. L. Gifford, W. J. Means, J. P. Ritten, H. N. Mckibben, C. M. Page, W. C. Stewart

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Objective: The objectives of this study were to survey characteristics including hot carcass weight (HCW), 12th rib fat thickness (RFT), body-wall thickness (BWT), longissimus muscle area (LMA), USDA yield grade (USDA YG), percentage closely trimmed retail cuts (RC), and calculated yield grade (Calc YG) of lamb carcasses in the Intermountain West to determine the effects of season of slaughter and interrelationships among carcass characteristics.

Materials and Methods: Lamb carcass characteristics were evaluated in 2 commercial Intermountain West processing plants over one year (n = 10,027). Carcasses were evaluated by season: spring (December–April, n = 2,322) and summer (May–August, n …

Beef Quality Following Prolonged Aging After Supplementing High Levels Of Vitamin E, Nicolas J. Herrera, Joseph A. Sonderman, David M. Velazco, Chris Calkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Increased postmortem aging of beef can accelerate discoloration, shortening retail display time, inducing oxidation of lipids and proteins, and generating negative flavor attributes. This study was conducted to evaluate supplementation of high levels (2,200 International Units/head/day for 100 d) of Vitamin E (α-tocopherol) when feeding cattle as a strategy to sustain meat color quality in beef strip loins after prolonged aging. Results showed significantly less discoloration in loins from animals fed high levels of Vitamin E across 3, 6, and 9 weeks of aging. In addition, loins from cattle fed high levels of Vitamin E exhibited significantly greater redness (a*) …

Comparison Of Partially Confined And Traditional Cow-Calf Systems, Zac E. Carlson, Levi J. Mcphillips, Galen E. Erickson, M. E. Drewnoski, J. C. Macdonald

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Production of cow-calf pairs and grow/finish performance of calves from a partially-confined, fall-calving, intensive cow-calf system were compared to a traditional, spring-calving, extensive cow-calf system. Body condition was lower at breeding and weaning for the fall-calving alternative system compared to the traditional, spring-calving system. Conception, calving, and weaning rates were not different among treatments. Weaning weights were lower for the fall-calving alternative system than traditional, spring-calving system. Following weaning, calves were grown for 117 d and then subsequently finished to the same target fatness for both systems. In the grower phase, gain was greater and feed conversion improved for the …

2022 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The purpose of beef cattle and beef product research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is to provide reference information that represents the various populations (cows, calves, heifers, feeders, carcasses, retail products, etc.) of beef production.

Dedicated in memory of Dr. Terry Klopfenstein (March 10, 1939-April 30, 2021), Professor Emeritus, Animal Science Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Cow-Calf Nutrition and Management

Impact of Cow Size on Economic Profitability in the Cow-Calf and Feedlot Production Systems

Comparison of Partially Confined and Traditional Cow-Calf Systems

Concepts in Stress Physiology

Inflammatory Modulators Improve Daily Gain of Heat-Stressed Wethers

Zilpaterol Supplementation Improved Indicators of Well-Being, but …

Fate Of Salmonella In Beef Steaks During Sous Vide Cooking, Heather B. Hunt, Samuel C. Watson, Byron D. Chaves, Gary Sullivan

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Sous vide cooking meat products has become a popular in-home method of food preparation. Previous research from UNL Meat Science using generic E. coli demonstrated the potential risk of sous vide cooking at temperatures recommended by some popular press items. To increase the understanding of the safety concerns of cooking beef products to temperatures below USDA-Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) guidance temperatures, the experiment was conducted with Salmonella. Steaks were internally inoculated with three serovars of Salmonella, and sous vide cooked to internal temperatures of 115, 125, and 130° F. At least a 5 log₁₀ reduction was achieved …

Beef Quality And Oxidative Stability From Cattle Fed High Levels Of Vitamin E, Nicolas J. Herrera, Joe A. Sonderman, David M. Velazco, Chris Calkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Meat color is a major factor for consumer meat purchasing decisions. Aging beef, which can improve tenderness, has been shown to accelerate discoloration in fresh beef, shortening retail display time, and generating negative flavor attributes. The objective of this study was to evaluate supplementing cattle high levels (2,200 International Units/ day) of Vitamin E to sustain meat quality during prolonged retail display in beef strip loins after 2 or 14 days aging compared to commercially-produced loins selected as controls. Results showed a treatment x age effect for Warner-Bratzler shear force and free calcium content, primarily due to aging. A dietary …

Quality Parameters Of Wet And Dry Aged Beef Loins From Cattle Fed High Doses Of Vitamin E, David M. Velazco, Joe A. Sonderman, Nicolas J. Herrera, Chris Calkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The objective of this experiment was to determine if dietary supplementation of high doses of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol; 2,200 IU per day for 100 days) can impact quality attributes of wet and dry-aged beef strip loins. Steaks from beef cattle supplemented with high doses of vitamin E exhibited less lipid oxidation after wet or dry aging, took longer time to discolor during retail display, and sustained redder color for a longer period under retail display conditions compared to controls. Free amino acids related to positive beef flavor attributes were higher for dry-aged loins compared to traditional wet aged samples loins. …

Effects Of Lime Amendment On Antibiotic Resistance In Beef Cattle Manure Of Open Feedlots, Noelle A. Mware, Galen E. Erickson, Amy Schmidt, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt, Xu Li

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of lime amendment on the reduction of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes in beef cattle manure in open feedlots. Hydrated lime was uniformly applied to the surface of feedlot pen floor 1 day prior to cattle harvest at a rate of 0.36 lb/ft² and samples were collected over time. Collected samples were analyzed for change in pH and levels of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes. Lime amendment elevated the pH of pen floor surface materials to pH > 12 for 4 hours and then pH > 11 …

Effect Of Biochar As A Feedlot Pen Surface Amendment On Manure Nutrient Capture, J. L. Sperber, Braden C. Troyer, Mitchell M. Norman, Levi J. Mcphillips, Heather Nobert, Andrea K. Watson, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Two mass balance experiments were conducted during winter and summer seasons to evaluate the effect of spreading biochar on the feedlot pen surface on manure nutrient retention. The winter experiment (Dec to June) evaluated three treatments including biochar spread to pen surface (approximately 54 lb of biochar per steer), hydrated lime spread to pen surface (cooperation with UNL Environmental Engineering; approximately 68 lb per steer) and negative control (no treatment applied). The summer experiment (June to Nov) evaluated biochar treatment (approximately 68 lb of biochar per steer) against negative control. Biochar utilized in winter and summer was unprocessed and sourced …

Impact Of Spring Corn Residue Grazing On Soil Physical Properties And Crop Yield, Morgan T. Grabau, J. C. Macdonald, Zachary E. Carlson, M. E. Drewnoski

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The effects of stocking density for spring corn residue grazing on soil physical properties and soybean yield were evaluated in an experiment with three treatments: no grazing, normal density, and high density. Normal density was stocked at 3 calves/acre and grazed 45 days starting in mid-February. High-density was stocked at 9 calves/acre and grazed 15 days starting in mid-March. Increased stocking density decreased residue cover and increased surface roughness. Bulk density and penetration resistance were increased for normal density compared to no graze, with no difference between grazed treatments, illustrating that grazing may cause minor compaction, regardless of stocking density. …

Evaluation Of Methane And Co2 Production In Growing And Finishing Cattle Raised In Conventional Or Partial Confinement-Based Herds, L. J. Mcphillips, Z. E. Carlson, Rick R. Stowell, J. C. Macdonald, Andrew E. Suyker, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Methane emissions from growing and finishing calves compared either a spring calving, conventional cow system or a summer calving, partially-confined cow system. Calves weaned from the confinement-based production system were smaller at weaning and compensated with greater gain during the growing phase. More days on feed in the finishing phase were needed for the calves from the confinement system to reach same backfat thickness. Over the entire growing and finishing phases, calves from the confinement-based system produced more total CH₄ and CH₄ per lb. HCW. Production of methane and CO₂ per lb. of gain was lower in …

Impact Of Biochar Supplementation In Finishing Diets On Greenhouse Gas Emissions, J. L. Sperber, Braden C. Troyer, Mitchell M. Norman, Levi J. Mcphillips, Heather Nobert, Andrea K. Watson, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A study was conducted to evaluate the impact of feeding biochar in a finishing diet on cattle performance, methane and carbon dioxide emissions, and carcass characteristics. Two treatments were evaluated, a high-concentrate control diet without biochar and a diet with biochar included at 1.0% of the diet dry matter, replacing high moisture corn in the diet. Pens of cattle were rotated through a two-sided emissions barn (2 pens evaluated simultaneously) to capture CH4 and CO2 production. There were no statistical differences in gas emissions for biochar supplemented steers compared to control. There was a 2.4% decrease in dry matter intake …

Impact Of A Natural Feed Additive Using Direct Fed Microbes On Finishing Beef Cattle Performance And Liver Abscess Rate, Kelton C. Adair, Alison C. Bartenslager, Zachary E. Carlson, Galen E. Erickson, Samodha C. Fernando, J. C. Macdonald

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A feedlot study with individually fed steers (n=60) was conducted comparing a natural feed additive (Direct Fed Microbial) to no feed additive (control) on performance and liver abscess rate of finishing beef cattle. There were no significant differences between treatments on intake, gain, feed conversion, or hot carcass weight and carcass traits. Liver abscess occurrence and severity were similar for both treatments with 4/29 steers having abscessed livers in the control group and 3/29 steers in the group that received direct fed microbials. The direct fed microbial feed additive fed in this exploratory study did not significantly affect performance, liver …