Meat Science Commons^™

Determination Of Yolk Contamination In Liquid Egg White Using Raman Spectroscopy, K. Cluff, G. Konda Naganathan, D. Jonnalagada, I. Mortensen, R. Wehling, Jeyamkondan Subbiah

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Purified egg white is an important ingredient in a number of baked and confectionary foods because of its foaming properties. However, yolk contamination in amounts as low as 0.01% can impede the foaming ability of egg white. In this study, we used Raman spectroscopy to evaluate the hypothesis that yolk contamination in egg white could be detected based on its molecular optical properties. Yolk contaminated egg white samples (n = 115) with contamination levels ranging from 0% to 0.25% (on weight basis) were prepared. The samples were excited with a 785 nm laser and Raman spectra from 250 to 3,200 …

The Effect Of Copper And Zinc Source On Pre-Weaning Performance Of Cows, Health And Performance Of Suckling Calves, And Post-Weaning Feedlot Performance, Carcass Composition, And Meat Quality Of Calves, Jesse Fulton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During gestation an elevated level of nutrient intake is required by the cow in order to meet the requirements of the maturing fetus and if these requirements are not met, changes in fetal development can occur. However, little is understood about the effects of gestational manipulation of specific nutrients, such as minerals, on progeny growth, performance and carcass traits. Previous research supports the hypothesis that minerals provided in an organic form should be more soluble and readily available to the body for absorption. Therefore the objectives of this study were to determine if source of gestational and post-natal Cu and …

A Life Cycle Analysis Of Land Use In Us Pork Production, Greg Thoma, Marty Matlock, Ben Putman, Jasmina Burek

Food Systems

The goal of this study was to analyze land use in the production of US pork using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). LCA is a comprehensive methodology for quantitatively analyzing potential environmental impacts associated with complex systems. Identification of processes contributing to high environmental impacts often highlights opportunities for gains in efficiency, which can increase the profitability and sustainability of US pork. The environmental impact category analyzed in this assessment was land use. After reviewing existing information regarding land use in agriculture and livestock production, analysis for US pork production was performed at two scales: cradle-to-grave and cradle-to-farm gate. The cradle-to-grave …

Genetic Parameters For Docility, Weaning Weight, Yearling Weight, And Intramuscular Fat Percentage In Hereford Cattle, J. A. Torres-Vázquez, Matthew L. Spangler

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Cattle behavior, including measures of docility, is important to beef cattle producers not only from a human safety perspective but also due to potential correlations to economically relevant traits. Field data from the American Hereford Association was used to estimate genetic parameters for chute score (CS; n = 25,037), weaning weight (WW; n = 24,908), yearling weight (YW; n = 23,978), and intramuscular fat percentage (IMF; n = 12,566). Single-trait and bivariate animal models were used to estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations. All models included fixed effects of sex and contemporary group, defined as herd–year–season, and direct genetic and residual …

Production And Economic Efficiencies Of Intensified Cow–Calf Production Management Systems, Jason M. Warner

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

The objective of four experiments conducted was to evaluate production and economic efficiencies of intensified cow-calf production management systems. The first experiment tested the effect of calf age at weaning on cow and calf performance and feed utilization at 2 locations. Body weight change from early to conventional weaning time was greater for early-weaned cows. Cow BCS and conception rates were not impacted by weaning. Calf BW at conventional weaning time was greater for conventionally-weaned calves than early-weaned calves at ARDC, but greater for early-weaned than conventionally-weaned calves at PHREC. Calf ADG per unit of total feed energy intake was …

Failure Of A Heterologous Recombinant Sca5/Ompb Protein-Based Vaccine To Elicit Effective Protective Immunity Against Rickettsia Rickettsii Infections In C3h/Hen Mice, Sean P. Riley, Marissa M. Cardwell, Yvonne G. Chan, Ludovic Pruneau, Fabio Del Piero, Juan J. Martinez

Faculty Publications

Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsial species are obligate intracellular tick-borne pathogens that are responsible for important human diseases. Previous reports have demonstrated the feasibility of using recombinant surface cell antigen Sca5/OmpB to elicit protective immunity against homologous challenges using murine models of Mediterranean spotted fever and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. In addition, the feasibility of generating cross-protective immunity against related rickettsial species has also been established, but the molecular basis for these phenomena was not explored. Here, we demonstrate that vaccination of C3H/HeN mice with a recombinant OmpB domain derived from Rickettsia conorii induced high titer humoral immune responses that …

Performance, Body Temperature And Blood Metabolites Of Feedlot Steers As Influenced By Environmental Conditions And Supplementation Of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride, Bradley M. Boyd

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

Trial one was conducted at the United States Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) near clay center, NE during the summer of 2014. The objective of this trial was to measure the effects of supplementing zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) for the final 21 days of the finishing period, and shade, on performance, body temperature, respiration rate, and mobility of finishing beef steers. Feeding ZH increased hot carcass weight, dressing percent, longissimus muscle area, and reduce USDA yield grade. Shade did not affect steer performance and did not reduce body temperature. Zilpaterol hydrochloride increased respiration rate when compared to control cattle and had …

Genomic Analysis Of Sow Reproductive Traits: Identification Of Selective Sweeps, Major Genes, And Genotype By Diet Interactions, Melanie D. Trenhaile

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

Reproductive traits, such as litter size and reproductive longevity, are economically important. However, selection for these traits is difficult due to low heritability, polygenic nature, sex-limited expression, and expression late in life. Marker-assisted selection may provide an alternative to increase genetic progress.

Nebraska Index Line (NIL) has been selected for litter size related traits since 1981. It is one of the main contributing lines to the UNL reproductive longevity resource population (n > 1,500), which was genotyped for 60,000 SNPs, phenotyped for age at puberty (AP), lifetime number of parities (LTNP), litter size traits, and other reproductive traits, and fed …

Dietary Lecithin Supplementation Can Improve The Quality Of The M. Longissimus Thoracis, Darryl N. D'Souza, Bronwyn L. Blake, Ian H. Williams, Bruce P. Mullan, Dave Pethick, Frank R. Dunshea

Animal production and livestock research articles

Forty crossbred (Large White × Landrace × Duroc) female pigs (16.4 kg ± 0.94 kg) were used to investigate the effect of dietary lecithin supplementation on growth performance and pork quality. Pigs were randomly allocated to a commercial diet containing either 0, 3, 15 or 75 g lecithin/kg of feed during the grower and finisher growth phase. Pork from pigs consuming the diets containing 15 g and 75 g lecithin/kg had lower hardness (P < 0.001) and chewiness (P < 0.01) values compared to the controls. Dietary lecithin supplementation at 75 g/kg significantly increased (P < 0.05) the linoleic acid and reduced (P < 0.05) the myristic acid levels of pork compared to the control and the 3 g/kg and 15 g/kg lecithin supplemented treatments. Pigs fed the 75 g/kg lecithin supplemented diet had lower plasma cholesterol (P < 0.05) at slaughter compared to pigs fed the control diet and the 3 g/kg and 15 g/kg lecithin supplemented treatments. These data indicate that dietary lecithin supplementation has the potential to improve the quality attributes of pork from female pigs.

Effects Of Shade And Feeding Zilpaterol Hydrochloride To Finishing Steers On Performance, Carcass Quality, Heat Stress, Mobility, And Body Temperature, Bradley M. Boyd, Steven D. Shackelford, Kristin E. Hales, Tami M. Brown-Brandl, Meredith L. Bremer, Matthew L. Spangler, T. L. Wheeler, D. A. King, Galen Erickson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Steers (n = 480; 22% with black hides and 78% with red hides) were used to study the effects of shade and feeding zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) on performance, carcass quality, heat stress, mobility, and body temperature (BT). A randomized block design with a 2 × 2 factorial treatment arrangement was used with 4 replicates per treatment. Factors included housing type (open or shaded pens) and the feeding of ZH (0 or 8.33 mg/kg DM) the last 21 d on feed with a 3-d withdrawal. Cattle were blocked by BW into a heavy or light block and randomly assigned to pen …

Crossbreeding Strategies: Including Terminal Vs. Maternal Crosses, Robert L. Weaber

Range Beef Cow Symposium

The dramatic changes and volatility cow-calf production system input costs and calf values have many producers wondering about the value of heterosis in today’s beef industry pricing structure. Many producers are seeking ways to improve cow-calf production efficiency and profitability. Profitability may be enhanced by increasing the volume of production (i.e. the pounds of calves you market) and/or the value of products you sell (improving quality). The reduction of production costs, and thus breakeven prices, can also improve profitability. Better yet, improving the input:output ratio should enhance profit. For commercial beef producers, the implementation of technologies and breeding systems that …

Managing Risk On The Average Sized Cow–Calf Operation, Wayne Fahsholtz

Range Beef Cow Symposium

It has been said that life happens. Usually that refers to circumstances that happen in one’s life or in the life of a ranching business. These circumstances can include weather events like drought, severe snow, floods and fire. There are a number of tools that can be used to reduce the risk that ranches incur. The proactive ranch leader will take steps to manage risks. It is an ongoing process and must occur every year in order for risk to be minimized. Workforce risk and succession must also be taken into account. Ranches that don’t take risk management steps are …

Feedlot And Carcass Data: Making “Cents” And Making Decisions, Julie Walker

Range Beef Cow Symposium

Sixty-two percent of calves are sold within 30 days of weaning (47% at weaning; McBride and Mathews, 2011). In the last decade, marketing of finished animals has shifted to selling on value-based systems. In 2012, nearly three times more cattle were sold in a value-based system compared to a traditional cash method. However, those two marketing methods accounted for nearly equal percentages of cattle sold as recently as 2006 (Mike Kasten, RBCS 2013). Therefore, carcass merit is a larger driver of value today compared to when the majority of cattle were sold on a live weight basis. How are feeder …

Using Partial Confinement Systems For Beef Cattle Production, Karla Jenkins

Range Beef Cow Symposium

Summary

• Energy density is the key to limit feeding
• Lactation increases energy needs considerably
• Consider early weaning options
• Confined calves must be able to reach water and feed
• Limit fed cows need ample bunk space and a consistent feeding routine
• Each producer needs to evaluate their resources and system options to see what might work best
• As prices change systems should be reevaluated

Economically Relevant Traits And Selection Indices, Matt L. Spangler

Range Beef Cow Symposium

Sire selection should focus on that which is economical. This requires a true accounting of the traits that generate revenue or incur a cost within a specific beef cattle enterprise. Once the drivers of profit have been identified, sire selection should focus on the suite of traits that impact profitability. The use of bio-economic selection indices can dramatically reduce the complexity of multiple trait selection and aid in sire selection towards increased profitability. It is critical to use selection indices that match the intended production system. Using a terminal index in an enterprise that retains replacement heifers would not be …

Cow Feed Efficiency Unknowns Including Utilization Of Range Forages, Douglas L. Olsen

Range Beef Cow Symposium

Olsen Ranches is a family-owned diversified operation located in western Nebraska near Harrisburg. The Olsens have a commercial and registered cow herd that markets harvest ready animals as well as replacement females and bulls. Custom services include custom individual feed intake data collection with a GrowSafe system, custom feeding, and custom AI work. The farm enterprise crops include wheat, corn, barley, peas, annual forages, and alfalfa on both dry land and irrigated farm ground. In 2010, Olsens installed a GrowSafe system on the ranch to measure feed intake of steers that are part of the American Hereford Association’s National Reference …

Feed Efficiency In The Range Beef Cow: What Should We Be Looking Att?, H. H. "Trey" Patterson

Range Beef Cow Symposium

Beef cow efficiency is a critically important topic for range cow producers. Feed efficiency, or the ability to convert grazed forages into production, is obviously an important aspect of overall cow efficiency. The late Bob Taylor from CSU made the statement “profitable cattle are usually productive, but productive cattle are not always profitable” (Taylor, 1994). That is an inherently important concept in the efficiency discussion, as it leads us to question the important metrics in determining feed efficiency in the cow.

Impacts Of Estrous Synchronization On Cowherd Performance, G. Cliff Lamb

Range Beef Cow Symposium

Estrous synchronization and artificial insemination (AI) are reproductive management tools that have been available to beef producers for over 40 years. Synchronization of the estrous cycle has the potential to shorten the calving season, increase calf uniformity, and enhance the possibilities for utilizing AI. Artificial insemination allows producers the opportunity to infuse superior genetics into their operations at costs far below the cost of purchasing a herd sire of similar standards. These tools remain the most important and widely applicable reproductive biotechnologies available for beef cattle operations. However, beef producers have been slow to utilize or adopt these technologies into …

Animal Welfare Implications Of Beef Industry Practices Including Dehorning, Castration, And Branding, Jason K. Ahola

Range Beef Cow Symposium

An increasing number of consumers are making animal product purchasing decisions based on how animals were raised and cared for. This decision is, in most cases, based on labeling claims made on packaged products, point of purchase materials offered, and/or conversations with those selling the product. This issue is driven by consumers wanting to know more about how their food is raised and where it comes from. For the average consumer with no baseline knowledge, there appears to be a need for verification and validation that animals received appropriate care during their lifetimes and were treated as humanely as possible. …

Why Does Consumer Opinion Trump Science (Animal Welfare, Gmos, Food Animals Vs. Pets)?, Ronnie D. Green

Range Beef Cow Symposium

Slides of a presentation covering science denialism with respect to animal welfare, genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), food animals versus pets, etc.