Meat Science Commons^™

Effect Of Distillers Grains Plus Solubles Supplementation On Grazing Cattle Performance, Tyler L. Hasenauer, Terry J. Klopfenstein, James C. Macdonald Donald, Cody J. Schneider, Dirk B. Burken

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Yearlings rotationally grazing smooth bromegrass were individually supplemented modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) at .05, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8% BW. Gain increased quadratically as MDGS level increased. Maximal ADG (2.95 lb/d) was predicted when supplementing level of 0.48% of BW. Economic analysis compared 0, 2, and 5 lb (DM) MDGS supplementation. When cattle ownership was retained through the feeding period, MDGS supplementation was profitable. Supplementation at 2 lb (DM) was more profitable than 5 lb (DM) when MDGS is above $265.63/ton (DM) or 85% the price of $7.50 /bu corn.

High-Sulfur In Beef Cattle Diets: A Review, M. E. Drewnoski, D. J. Pogge, S. L. Hansen

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

While many cattle feeding areas in the United States have long dealt with high sulfate water, increased feeding of ethanol co-products such as distillers grains with solubles to beef cattle has led to a corresponding increase in dietary sulfur. As a result, sulfur metabolism in the ruminant has been the focus of many research studies over the past ten years, and advances in our knowledge have been made. Excessive sulfur in cattle diets may have implications on trace mineral absorption, dry matter intake, and overall cattle growth. This review will focus on what we have learned about the metabolism of …

Qtls Associated With Dry Matter Intake, Metabolic Mid-Test Weight, Growth And Feed Efficiency Have Little Overlap Across 4 Beef Cattle Studies, Mahdi Saatchi, Jonathan E. Beever, Jared E. Decker, Dan B. Faulkner, Harvey C. Freetly, Stephanie L. Hansen, Helen Yampara-Iquise, Kristen A. Johnson, Stephen D. Kachman, Monty S. Kerley, Jaewoo Kim, Daniel D. Loy, Elisa Marques, Holly L. Neibergs, E. John Pollak, Robert D. Schnabel, Christopher M. Seabury, Daniel W. Shike, W. M. Snelling, Matthew L. Spangler, Robert L. Weaber, D. J. Garrick, Jeremy F. Taylor

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Background: The identification of genetic markers associated with complex traits that are expensive to record such as feed intake or feed efficiency would allow these traits to be included in selection programs. To identify large-effect QTL, we performed a series of genome-wide association studies and functional analyses using 50 K and 770 K SNP genotypes scored in 5,133 animals from 4 independent beef cattle populations (Cycle VII, Angus, Hereford and Simmental × Angus) with phenotypes for average daily gain, dry matter intake, metabolic mid-test body weight and residual feed intake.

Results: A total of 5, 6, 11 and 10 significant …

Variation In Time And Magnitude Of Immune Response And Viremia In Experimental Challenges With Porcine Circovirus 2b, Taylor B. Engle, Erin E. Jobman, Timonthy W. Moural, Autumn M. Mcknite, Justin W. Bundy, Sarah Y. Barnes, Emily H. Davis, Judith A. Galeota, Thomas E. Burkey, Graham S. Plastow, Stephen D. Kachman, Daniel C. Ciobanu

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Background: Porcine circovirus 2 is the primary agent responsible for inducing a group of associated diseases known as Porcine Circovirus Associated Diseases (PCVAD), which can have detrimental effects on production efficiency as well as causing significant mortality. The objective of this study was to evaluate variation in viral replication, immune response and growth across pigs (n = 974) from different crossbred lines. The approach used in this study was experimental infection with a PCV2b strain of pigs at an average of 43 days of age.

Results: The sequence of the PCV2b isolate used in the challenge was similar with a …

Quantitative Trait Loci For Energy Balance Traits In An Advanced Intercross Line Derived From Mice Divergently Selected For Heat Loss, Larry J. Leamy, Kari Elo, Merlyn K. Nielsen, Stephanie R. Thorn, William Valdar, Daniel Pomp

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Obesity in human populations, currently a serious health concern, is considered to be the consequence of an energy imbalance in which more energy in calories is consumed than is expended. We used interval mapping techniques to investigate the genetic basis of a number of energy balance traits in an F₁₁ advanced intercross population of mice created from an original intercross of lines selected for increased and decreased heat loss. We uncovered a total of 137 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for these traits at 41 unique sites on 18 of the 20 chromosomes in the mouse genome, with X-linked QTLs …

Effects Of Grazing On Nebraska Sandhills Meadow Forage Nutrient Content, Jared V. Judy, Jacki A. Musgrave, L. Aaron Stalker Stalker, Karla H. Jenkins, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Nebraska Sandhills subirrigated meadow pastures were utilized to measure the effects of grazing on forage nutrient content in summer pastures. Pre-grazed pastures had greater protein and in vitro dry matter digestibility levelsand lower neutral detergent fiber levels compared with post-grazed pastures early in the grazing season. By late July, post-grazed vs. pre-grazed pastures did not differ in in vitro dry matter digestibility and neutral detergent fiber levels. Observed results indicate the greatest differences in nutrient content between post-grazed and pre-grazed pastures occur early in the grazing season.

Litter Deposition And Nitrogen Return In Rotationally Stocked Smooth Bromegrass Pastures, John A. Guretzky, Walter H. Schacht, Ana B. Wingeyer, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Andrea K. Watson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Understanding how management systems impact nutrient cycling is important to pasture sustainability. From 2010 to 2011, we investigated how supplementation of beef cattle (Bos taurus) with corn (Zea mays L.) dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) on unfertilized, rotationally stocked smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) pasture (SUPP) affected the litter pool, residual herbage mass, litter deposition, and litter quality relative to unsupplemented beef cattle rotationally stocked on unfertilized control (CONT) and N-fertilized (FERT) smooth bromegrass pastures. As hypothesized based on management for greater herbage mass and animal demand during the grazing season, litter deposition was 48% …

Soil Organic Matter And Root And Rhizome Responses To Management Strategies In Smooth Bromegrass Pastures, John A. Guretzky, Ana B. Nuttelman, Walter H. Schacht, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Andrea K. Watson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a key component of pasture production. This is study investigated how management strategies that varied amount and form of N input in a long-term experiment affected concentrations and stocks of total-soil organic C and N, particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic nitrogen (PON), root and rhizome mass, C and N contents in topsoil of smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) pastures with silty clay loam soils in a wet (2010) and dry (2012) year. Management strategies included: (i) unfertilized pasture grazed with unsupplemented beef cattle (CONT); (ii) unfertilized pasture grazed with dried distillers grains plus …

Analysis Of 28 Generations Of Selection For Reproduction, Growth, And Carcass Traits In Swine, W. L. Hsu, Rodger K. Robinson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Selection (28 generations, G) in a Large White–Landrace composite population for traits aimed at increasing live pigs born per litter (BA), with additional selection for increased 180-d weight (WT180) and longissimus muscle area (LMA) and decreased back fat (BF10) in the last 8 generations, was practiced. Objectives herein were to estimate genetic and phenotypic responses and genetic parameters (n = 1,883 to 54,174) and to investigate whether a plateau in response for BA occurred. Line 2 (L2) was selected for an index of ovulation rate and embryo survival (G0 to G11), fully formed pigs (FF) per litter (G12 to 14), …

Comparative Digestibility By Cattle Versus Sheep: Effect Of Forage Quality, S. A. Soto-Navarro, R. Lancaster, C. Sankey, B. M. Capitan, B. P. Holland, L. A. Balstad, C. R. Krehbiel

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The objective was to determine the effect of forage quality on apparent total tract digestibility and ruminal fermentation in cattle versus sheep. Five yearling English crossbred (Hereford × Angus) steers (440.4 ± 35.6 kg of initial BW) and 5 yearling whiteface (Rambouillet × Columbia × Debouillet) wethers (44.4 ± 4.6 kg of initial BW), each fitted with a ruminal cannula, were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 forage sources within ruminant specie, and the study was conducted over 3 periods. For forage source, both animal and period served as the blocking factor with all forage sources represented once within each …

Effects Of Beef Production System On Animal Performance And Carcass Characteristics, C. L. Maxwell, C. R. Lopez, B. K. Wilson, B. T. Johnson, B. C. Bernhard, C. F. O'Neill, D. L. Vanoverbeke, G. G. Mafi, D. L. Step, C. J. Richards

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to evaluate conventional (CONV) and natural (NAT) beef production systems from annual pasture through finishing through grazing. Beef steers (n = 180, initial BW = 250 ± 19 kg) were assigned randomly to 2 treatments in the pasture phase. Steers were implanted with 40 mg of trenbolone acetate (TBA), 8 mg estradiol, and 29 mg tylosin tartrate (CONV), or received no implant (NAT). Steers on the 2 treatments grazed wheat or cereal rye for 109 d. Conventional steers had an 18.5% improvement in ADG (1.22 vs. 1.03 kg/d, P < 0.01) and a heavier final BW (385 vs. 366 kg, P < 0.01) compared with NAT steers. Following the pasture phase, steers (n = 160 steers, 5 steers/pen, 8 pens/treatment) were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial in the feedlot phase. Production system (NAT vs. CONV) was maintained from the pasture phase, and the second factor was 7 vs. 12% low-quality roughage (DM basis, LOW vs. HIGH). During finishing, CONV steers were given 120 mg of TBA and 24 mg estradiol at processing, fed monensin and tylosin, and fed zilpaterol hydrochloride for the last 20 d of the experiment. There were no program × roughage level interactions (P > 0.07). The CONV steers ate …

System And Method For Analyzing Properties Of Meat Using Multispectral Imaging, Jeyamkondan Subbiah, Chris Richard Calkins, Ashok Kumor Samal, Govindarajan Konda Naganathan

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

A system and method for obtaining multispectral images of fresh meat at predetermined wavelength bands at a first time, subjecting the images to analysis in an image analysis system comprising a computer programmed to perform such analysis, and outputting a forecast of meat tenderness at a later point in time. Predetermined key wavelength bands are precorrelated with a high degree of prediction of meat tenderness and/or other properties of meat and are used in the multispectral system and method. A system and method for determining the key wavelengths is also disclosed. The multispectral imaging system and method is suitable for …

Western Immunoblotting In Avian Shell Gland Sample Immunoblotting Methods1, K.K. Hansen, R.J. Kittok, Gautam Sarath, Mary M. Beck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Avian shell gland tissue was subjected to Western blot analysis using anti-human estrogen receptor- α antibody H222. Initial attempts to obtain consistent, high-quality blots were unsuccessful because, as it turned out, excessive lipid in tissue preparations interfered with protein separation. Incremental additions of acetone eventually proved to be the critical step in solubilizing lipids and allowing consistent separation of bands on gels. A detailed description of the methodology is presented.

Short-Term Effects Of Lower Oil Dried Distillers Grains With Solubles In Laying Hen Rations, Sheila E. Scheideler, Kathy Hanford, Brett Kreifels

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Extraction of oil from dried distillers grains has become a common practice among US ethanol producers. The valuable oil has been diverted to markets other than poultry feed, leaving new dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) products higher in fiber and purportedly lower in ME. This study compared 3 DDGS products with 10.3, 7.3, or 5.2% ether extract, respectively, with a corn-soy control ration in young Bovan laying hens for a feeding period from 20 to 33 wk of age. The DDGS was fed at the rate of 20% of the ration. Lower oil content of DDGS had no effect …

Handling Cattle Through High Heat Humidity Indexes, Rob Eirich

Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Program

As cattlemen enter the summer months, they need to understand and deal with heat and humidity. Consider incorporating the following practices into management plans to help reduce additional stress.

Distillers Grains Supplementation In A Forage System With Spayed Heifers, Kari L. Gillespie, Terry J. Klopfenstein, James C. Macdonald Donald, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Cody J. Schneider, Jerry D. Volesky, Galen Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Spayed heifers were developed into yearlings by grazing corn residue and bromegrass, followed by native range, and were finished on a common diet. Treatments were 2 lb or 5 lb of wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS; DM basis) supplement on corn residue daily, and modified distillers grains with solubles (MDGS) fed at 0.6% BW daily or no MDGS during summer grazing. Feeding 5 lb increased winter ADG by 0.68 lb (year 1) or 0.40 lb (year 2) compared to 2 lb, and increased HCW after finishing. Summer supplementation increased summer ADG by 0.50 lb (year 1) or 0. 44 …

Feeding Elevated Levels Of Corn Silage And Mdgs In Finishing Diets, Dirk B. Burken, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Terry J. Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A finishing experiment evaluatedsubstitution of corn silage and modified distillers grains with solubles (MDGS) in place of corn. The treatment arrangementwas a 2 X 2 + 1 factorial with 15 or 45% corn silage and 20 or 40% MDGS plus a control containing 5% cornstalks and 40% MDGS. There were interactions between corn silage and MDGS for carcass adjusted performance. As corn silage inclusion was increased in the diet, F:G increased when fed with 20% MDGS, however there was no difference when fed with 40% MDGS.

Transitioning Cattle From Ramp® To A Finishing Diet On Feedlot Performance And Feed Intake Variance, Cody J. Schneider, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Dirk B. Burken Burken, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Individually fed cattle were adapted to high grain diets with a traditional grain adaptation program or one of two RAMP^® adaptation programs. RAMP programs adapted cattle to a finishing diet gradually over 28 days in four steps or directly without an adaptation. Feed intake variance among d was greater for traditionally adapted cattle compared to either RAMP program, but DMI was not different during the adaptation period. Over the 138-day period, feedlot performance and carcass traits were not affected by adaptation treatment. Cattle fed RAMP for 10 days can be transitioned to a finishing ration containing 47.5% Sweet Bran …

Use Of A Pelleted Corn Residue Complete Feed In Receiving Diets, Sarah J. Peterson, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Dirk B. Burken Burken, James C. Macdonald, Matt K. Luebbe, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The effects of feeding a complete pelleted feed to newly received steer calves (585 ± 4 lb; n = 1318 ) was compared to a control ration consisting of 32% (DM basis) wet or modified distillers grains, 32% alfalfa hay, 32% dry-rolled corn, and 4% supplement. The pelleted complete feed consisted of 35% corn residue and a blend of grain byproducts and minerals. Feeding the complete pelleted feed increased DMI but decreased ADG, thereby reducing feed efficiency. The pelleted feed numerically reduced morbidity. Feeding a complete pellet consisting of corn residue appears to be a viable option for receiving calves …

Comparison Of Long-Term Progestin-Based Synchronization Protocols On Fixed-Time Ai Pregnancy Rate In Beef Heifers, Rebecca A. Vraspir, Adam F. Summers, Doug O'Hare Hare, Larry D. Rowden, Rick N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Yearling Angus heifers at a commercial ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills were randomly assigned to one of two progestin-based fixed-time AI protocols (MGA or 14-day CIDR) to compare pregnancy rates. Heifers had similar fixed-time AI pregnancy rates between MGA and 14-day CIDR. A similar proportion of MGA and 14-day CIDR heifers displayed a second estrus; however, heifers previously synchronized with MGA tended to have a greater second AI pregnancy rate. Overall pregnancy rate was similar between MGA and 14-day CIDR treatments. The MGA system was the more cost effective synchronization protocol in this study.