Veterinary Medicine Commons^™

Calf Branding/Processing Time And Beef Quality Assurance, Rob Eirich

Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Program

It is spring and that means branding time across cattle country. As producers are finishing calving season and preparing for branding/processing, it is important to review Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) guidelines. Let's take a minute to look at the key BQA principles:

Audits And Assessments In Beef Cattle Production, Rob Eirich

Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Program

Assessments and audits are becoming a part of doing business in beef cattle production, as we are seeing beef processors implementing third-party audits. Since beginning as the Nebraska Director of Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) in July, I have been studying and gathering information on the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) Assessment Guides and third-party audits in the beef industry.

Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance: Focused On The Safety, Wholesomeness And Quality Of Beef

Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Program

Across the nation, beef producers face the challenge of making a living from the land, while producing safe, wholesome beef. Beef that will provide a great eating experience each and every time for American and International consumers.

South Dakota Animal Disease Research & Diagnostic Laboratory: Annual Report 2014, Animal Disease Research And Diagnostic Laboratory, South Dakota State University

South Dakota Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (ADRDL)

This document is the 2014 annual report of the South Dakota Veterinary and Biomedical Science Department Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory.

Growing South Dakota (Winter 2014), College Of Agriculture &. Biological Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

This issue contains the 2013 SDSU Agricultural Experiment Station Annual Report

[Page] 2 The World’s First: Collaborative Effort Produces Multi-Hybrid Planter To Advance Precision Ag
[Page] 4 70 Years Of Data: Ranchers Benefit From Long-Term Grazing Studies
[Page] 6 Better Beef: Fetal Programming Study Analyzes Effects Of Cow Nutrition On Meat Quality
[Page] 7 Winter College News
[Page] 8 Consumer Sciences, Animal Health, Livestock Marketing: Important Research Continues In These Areas
[Page] 10 Improving Human Health: Role Of Nondigestible Fiber, Antioxidants Studied To Prevent Disease
[Page] 11 Food Safety Focus: Targeting Heat-Resistant Microbes To Improve Dairy Products
[Page] 12 Engineering …

Effect Of Confinement On Water-Borne And Whole Body Cortisol In Wild And Captive-Eared Rainbowfish (Melanoteania Duboulayi), Amina Zuberi, Culum Brown, Sinan Ali

Physiology Collection

Whole body and water-borne cortisol levels were measured in captive reared and wild Rainbowfish (Melanoteania duboulayi Castelnau 1878) subjected to social isolation by confining them in a beaker for 30 min to induce an acute stress response. Wild fish had higher levels of cortisol before and after exposure to a mild stressor and also showed the greatest stress response. The differences in stress responses are likely the result of artificial selection in the captive environment. Importantly, there was a strong linear relationship between whole body and water-borne cortisol in wild and captive reared populations (r² =0. 95 and 0.84, …

Stress And Reproductive Hormones Reflect Inter-Specific Social And Nutritional Conditions Mediated By Resource Availability In A Bear–Salmon System, Heather M. Bryan, Chris T. Darimont, Paul C. Paquet, Katherine E. Wynne-Edwards, Judit E. G. Smits

Physiology Collection

Food availability can influence the nutritional and social dynamics within and among species. Our investigation focused on grizzly and black bears in coastal British Columbia, Canada, where recent and dramatic declines in their primary prey (salmon) raise concerns about potentially negative effects on bear physiology. We examined how salmon availability relates to stress and reproductive hormones in coastal grizzly (n = 69) and black bears (n = 68) using cortisol and testosterone. In hair samples from genotyped individuals, we quantified salmon consumption using stable isotope analysis and hormone levels by enzyme immunoassay. To estimate the salmon biomass available to each …

The Effects Of Vincristine Sulfate On Expression Of Galectin-3, Bcl-2, And Carbohydrate Structures Specific For Eel, Gsl-1, And Rca-1 Lectins In Bitches With Naturally Occurring Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumor, Musa Özgür Özyi̇ği̇t, Deni̇z Nak, Hasan Akşi̇t, Sevda İnan Öztürkoğlu, Gözde Şi̇mşek, Ender Uzabaci, Yavuz Nak, Kami̇l Seyrek

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Vincristine sulfate is one of the most effective chemical agents used in canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) chemotherapy. Its therapeutic effectiveness is pronounced and significant at the beginning of treatment. The present study was designed to investigate vincristine sulfate treatment and the relationship between CTVT tumor regression and apoptosis [estimated by TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL)], galectin-3 (H-160), Bcl-2 (N-9), and lectin [EEL (B-135), GSL I (L-1100), and RCA I (BA-0084)] expression using immunohistochemical staining in 20 bitches with naturally occurring CTVTs. Evaluation was semiquantitatively performed by HSCORE values using light microscopy. All observed staining was intracytoplasmic and increased …

Transitioning Cattle From Ramp® To A Finishing Diet On Feed Intake And Ruminal Ph, Cody J. Schneider, Adam L. Shreck, Terry J. Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A metabolism trial was conducted where steers were adapted to high grain diets using a traditional approach or one of two RAMP^® adaptation programs. RAMP programs adapted cattle to a finishing diet either gradually over 28 days in four steps or switched to a finishing ration without steps. Feed intake and ruminal pH were monitored continuously throughout the trial. Cattle on the 4-STEP treatment spent more time eating compared to other treatments but total feed consumption was similar among treatments. Ruminal pH was greater for cattle on RAMP adaptation programs when compared to traditional grain adaptation. Cattle fed RAMP …

Evaluation Of Genomic Predictors For Red Angus Cattle, Stephen D. Kachman, Matthew L. Spangler

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Purebred Red Angus genotypes, via the Ilumina BovineSNP50 assay, and expected progeny differences (EPD) were used to evaluate the accuracy of genomic predictors for traits that are currently reportedthrough the American Red AngusAssociations’ National Cattle Evaluation. Two genomic predictors were evaluated, one derived using prediction equations from the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium and the other from Zoetis.

Follicular Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A Expression Before And After The Lh Surge, Renee M. Mcfee, Robin A. Artac, Adam F. Summers, William E. Pohlmeier, Vanessa M. Brauer, Scott G. Kurz, Robert A. Cushman, Jennifer R. Wood, Andrea S. Cupp

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Granulosa cell expression of VEGFAisoforms in dominant bovine follicles was evaluated. Collection of granulosa cells via follicle aspiration revealed altered expression of the proangiogenic VEGFA_164 isoform but not the antiangiogenic VEGFA_164B isoform prior to and after the LH surge. Expression of VEGFA_164 declines as both the LH surge and ovulation approaches. In addition, VEGFA_164 and VEGFA_164B expression prior to the LH surge was positively correlated with FSHR and CYP19A1 expression, suggesting that VEGFA expression may be regulated by FSH. These data indicate differential expression of VEGFA isoforms may be an important feature of bovine dominant follicle development.

Androgen Excess In Beef Cows Results In Altered Theca Cell Gene Expression And Fertilityand, Adam F. Summers, William E. Pohlmeier, Vanessa M. Brauer Brauer, Kevin M. Sargent, Renee M. Mcfee, Scott G. Kurz, Robert A. Cushman, Jennifer R. Wood, Andrea S. Cupp

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Within the University of Nebraska–Lincoln physiology herd, two sub-populations of cows with different concentrations of androstenedione have been identified. Androstenedione is a precursor for estradiol production, and androstenedione concentration is increased 24.5-fold in the high androstenedione cows. Our objective was to determine the cause of increased androstenedione production in high androstenedione cows and the effects on theca cell and oocyte gene expression. High androstenedione cows had increased steroidogenic enzyme abundance in theca cells and altered oocyte mRNA abundance. Increased androgen production in high androstenedione cows is associated with altered gene expression and/or mRNA stability during oocyte growth and maturation, which …

Effect Of Pubertal Status And Number Of Estrous Cycles Prior To The Breeding Season On Pregnancy Rate In Beef Heifers, Rebecca A. Vraspir, Adam F. Summers, Andrew J. Roberts Roberts, Rick N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate whether pubertal status and number of estrous cycles prior to breeding influences pregnancy rate in beef heifers. Pubertal heifers were heavier and older at the start of breeding and had greater AI and overall pregnancy rate than non-pubertal heifers. Second season pregnancy rate was greater for heifers reaching puberty prior to first breeding and for heifers having ≥ 2 estrouscycles prior to breeding compared with non-pubertal heifers. Pregnancy rate was greater for heifers achieving puberty prior to breeding; however, earlier onset of puberty did not significantly improve first pregnancy rates.

Economics Of 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, Galen Erickson, J. D. Volesky

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

In a two-year study, spayed heifer calves were backgrounded on cornstalks with 2 lb or 5 lb wet distillers grains with solubles supplemented daily. During the summer, heifers grazed native range and received no summer supplementation or were supplemented with modified distillers grains with solubles at 0.6% BW daily. Heifers were finished on a common regimen, and an economic scenario was applied to each phase of production and overall. Supplementing more in winter increased profit, but summer supplementation did not impact overall profitability. Numerically, heifers not supplemented during the summer were more profitable than supplemented heifers.

Effect Of Winter Supplementation Level On Yearling System Profit Across Economic Scenarios, Kari L. Gillespie, Terry J. Klopfenstein, James C. Macdonald Donald, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Cody J. Schneider

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Calves backgrounded in a forage–based, yearling system at a greater ADG maintained a performance advantage through finishing. High-level supplemented cattle gained an additional 0.18 lb daily during finishing and produced an additional 81 lb of saleable live weight compared to cattle backgrounded at a low-supplementation level. Across four economic scenarios with varying corn and distillers prices, high-level supplemented cattle returned $55.54 more than cattle fed a low level of supplementation during the winter backgrounding phase. Corn price would have to exceed $11.70/bu for high supplementation level to no longer be profitable.

Energy Value Of De-Oiled Modified Distillers Grains Plus Solubles In A Forage-Based Diet, Meredith L. Bremer, Andrea K. Watson, Dirk B. Burken Burken, James C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Sixty individually fed steers were used to determine the effects of feeding de-oiled modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) on steer performance in an 84-day forage-based growing study. De-oiled MDGS did not significantly alter performance when compared to normal MDGS if fed at the same concentration in growing diets. Inclusion of either de-oiled or normal MDGS at 40% of the diet resulted in improved ending BW, DMI, ADG, and F:G as compared to inclusion of 20% MDGS in the diet.

Effects Of Forage Quality, Mdgs, And Monensin On Performance, Methane Concentration, And Ruminal Fermentation Of Growing Cattle, Anna C. Pesta, Andrea K. Watson, Samodha Fernando Fernando, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A growing study was conducted to evaluate a novel method for measuring methane concentration by feedlot cattle, and to determine the effects of forage quality, inclusion of modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS), and presence or absence of monensin on performance, methane concentration, and rumen fermentation characteristics. Performance was improved by use of high-quality forage and MDGS, while response to monensin was variable across basal diet type. Response of methane concentration and volatile fatty acid (VFA) profile due to diet was variable and subject to multiple interactions, reflecting the complexity of the microbial processes involved within the rumen.

Effects Of Calf Age At Weaning On Cow And Calf Performance And Efficiency In A Drylot/Confinement Production System, Jason M. Warner, Karla H. Jenkins, Rick J. Rasby, Matt K. Luebbe, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

An ongoing study evaluated the effectsof calf age at weaning on cow and calf performance and reproduction in a confinement production system. Early-weaning improved cow BW at normal weaning. Pregnancy rates were not impacted by calf age at weaning. Dry matter intake was not different between early-weaned cows and calves compared with normal-weaned pairs. Feed requirements and energy utilization were equal between early- and normal-weaned pairs when fed a distillers grains and crop residue based diet.

Effects Of Winter Supplementation On Cow Performance And Post-Weaning Management On Steer And Heifer Progeny In A Late Spring Calving System, John D. Harms, Rick N. Funston, L. Aaron Stalker Stalker, Jacqueline A. Musgrave, Andrew F. Applegarth, Adam F. Summers

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of winter supplementation while grazing dormant Sandhills winter range or meadow on cow performance and the effects of post-weaning management on steer and heifer progeny. Winter treatment had no effect on cow BCS or BW at precalving, prebreeding, and weaning. Steers and heifers fed hay gained more BW during winter treatment compared to those grazing meadow, but post-weaning management had no subsequent effects on steer or heifer progeny.

Impact Of Supplemental Protein Source On Pregnant Beef Heifers, Adam F. Summers, T. L. Meyer, Michael F. Kirby Kirby, Jim R. Teichert, Rick N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Crossbred, AI-pregnant heifers were fed in a Calan Broadbent individual feeding system for 110 days beginning at approximately day 142 of gestation. Heifers were offered ad libitum grass hay and no supplement, hay plus distillers based supplement, or hay plus dried corn gluten based supplement. Supplements were isocaloric, isonitrogenous, and equal in lipid content but differed in rumen undegradable protein. Protein supplementation increased DMI and ADG in pregnant heifers; however, calf birth BW and subsequent pregnancy rates were similar.