Evaluation of Two Levels of Trace Mineral Supplementation to Beef Calves Prior to Weaning.

In this 2-year study, approximately 84 days prior to weaning, 24 calves/year (Angus × Hereford) were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: trace mineral (Cu, Se, and Zn) supplementation following NASEM (2016) recommendations (Control) or trace mineral supplementation above NASEM (2016) recommendations (Super). Calves were individually fed, and trace minerals were provided in 0.5 kg of dry distiller's grains three times weekly.

Effects of Trace Mineral Injections on Measures of Growth and Trace Mineral Status of Primiparous Cows and their Calves.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of injectable trace minerals (ITM) administrations at strategic moments in the beef cattle production cycle. At calving, 50 primiparous cows (Angus × Hereford) and their calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: 1) ITM: cattle assigned to the ITM treatment received an ITM injection at calving and a subsequent administration at breeding (cattle over 2 yr: 1.0 mL/90 kg body weight [BW]; calves: 1.

Effects of electrolyte supplementation on performance and physiological responses of preconditioning beef calves.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of electrolyte solution supplementation on the performance and physiological responses of beef calves during a 45-d preconditioning phase. Forty Angus × Hereford steers (230.4 ± 4.

Influence of amount and frequency of protein supplementation to ruminants consuming low-quality cool-season forages: efficiency of nitrogen utilization in lambs and performance of gestating beef cows.

We evaluated the influence of amount and crude protein (CP) supplementation frequency (SF) on nitrogen (N) use by wethers and the performance of late-gestation beef cows. In exp. 1, seven Western whiteface wethers (31.

Influence of amount and frequency of protein supplementation to steers consuming low-quality, cool-season forage: intake, nutrient digestibility, and ruminal fermentation.

This experiment evaluated the influence of protein supplementation frequency (SF) and amount offered on intake, nutrient digestibility, and ruminal fermentation by rumen-fistulated beef steers consuming low-quality [2.9% crude protein (CP); dry matter (DM) basis], cool-season forage. Seven Angus × Hereford steers (300 ± 27 kg) fitted with ruminal cannulas were randomly assigned to 1 of 7 treatments in an incomplete 7 × 4 Latin square.

Supplementing Ca salts of soybean oil to late-gestating beef cows: impacts on performance and physiological responses of the offspring.

This experiment compared the performance and physiological responses of the offspring from cows supplemented with Ca salts of soybean oil (CSSO) or prilled saturated fat (CON) during late gestation. Nonlactating, pregnant, multiparous Angus × Hereford cows (n = 104) that conceived during the same fixed-time artificial insemination protocol were assigned to this experiment. Cows were ranked by pregnancy sire (one of two sires), body weight (BW), and body condition score (BCS) on day -15 of the experiment (day 180 of gestation).

Supplementing calcium salts of soybean oil to beef steers early in life to enhance carcass development and quality1.

This study evaluated the effects of supplementing Ca salts of soybean oil (CSSO) to beef steers at 2 mo of age via creep-feeding, and/or during a 40-d preconditioning period on performance and carcass development responses. A total of 64 steers were enrolled in this study over 2 yr (32 steers per year), with 4 periods each year: creep-feeding (CF; day 0 to 60), preweaning (day 61 to weaning on day 124 and 127 of year 1 and 2, respectively), preconditioning (PC; day 132 to 172 in year 1 and day 135 to 175 of year 2), and feedlot (feedlot arrival to slaughter, day 173 to 378 in year 1 and day 176 to 385 in year 2). On day 0 steers were ranked by body weight (BW) and age (114 ± 4 kg of BW; 66.

Impacts of postweaning growth rate of replacement beef heifers on their reproductive development and productivity as primiparous cows1.

This experiment evaluated the effects of postweaning body weight (BW) gain of replacement beef heifers on their reproductive development and productivity as primiparous cows. Seventy-two Angus × Hereford heifers were ranked on day -6 of experiment (17 d after weaning) by age and BW (218 ± 1.6 d of age and 234 ± 3 kg of BW), and assigned to receive 1 of 3 supplementation programs from days 0 to 182: 1) no supplementation to maintain limited BW gain (LGAIN), 2) supplementation to promote moderate BW gain (MGAIN), or 3) supplementation to promote elevated BW gain (HGAIN).

Effects of vaccination timing against respiratory pathogens on performance, antibody response, and health in feedlot cattle.

Angus × Hereford calves (n = 159; 87 heifers and 72 steers) were ranked by sex, BW, and age, and assigned to one of three vaccination schemes against bovine respiratory disease (BRD): (i) vaccination at weaning (day 0) and revaccination at feedyard arrival (day 30; CON, n = 53), (ii) vaccination 15 d before weaning (day -15) and revaccination 15 d before feedyard arrival (day 15; EARLY, n = 53), and (iii) vaccination 15 d after weaning (day 15) and revaccination 15 d after feedyard arrival (day 45; DELAYED, n = 53). Calves were maintained on pasture from days -15 to 29, transported (day 30) for 480 km to a commercial growing feedyard, and moved (day 180) to an adjacent finishing yard where they remained until slaughter (day 306). Calf BW was recorded on two consecutive days (days -15, -14, 0, 1, 29, 30, 75, 76, 179, and 180), which were averaged for BW gain calculation.

Productive and physiological responses of feeder cattle supplemented with Yucca schidigera extract during feedlot receiving.

This experiment evaluated the effects of supplementing a saponin-containing feed ingredient, manufactured from purified extract of Yucca schidigera [Micro-Aid (MA); DPI Global; Porterville, CA], on performance, health, and physiological responses of receiving cattle. A total of 105 recently weaned Angus x Hereford calves (75 steers and 30 heifers), originating from eight cow-calf operations, were obtained from an auction facility on day -2 and road transported (800 km; 12 h) to the experimental facility. Immediately after arrival on day -1, shrunk BW was recorded and calves were grouped with free-choice access to grass hay, mineral supplement, and water.

Impact of 24-h feed, water, or feed and water deprivation on feed intake, metabolic, and inflammatory responses in beef heifers.

This experiment investigated the effects of 24-h feed or water deprivation on hay intake, metabolic, and inflammatory responses in growing beef heifers. Forty Angus × Hereford heifers were ranked by initial BW (275 ± 6 kg) and age (278 ± 6 d) and randomly allocated to 20 drylot pens (2 heifers/pen). Pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 squares (4 × 4; 4 pens/square; a total of 8 animals per square), that were run simultaneously with each containing 4 experimental periods of 17 d each (day -6 to 10).

Supplementing Ca salts of soybean oil after artificial insemination increases pregnancy success in Bos taurus beef cows.

Two experiments investigated the effects of supplementing Ca salts of soybean oil (CSSO) during early gestation on reproductive function and pregnancy rates to AI in Bos taurus beef cows. In Exp. 1, 771 suckled, lactating, multiparous Angus cows were divided into 22 groups of approximately 35 cows per group and timed inseminated on day 0.

Western land managers will need all available tools for adapting to climate change, including grazing: a critique of Beschta et al.

In a previous article, Beschta et al. (Environ Manag 51(2):474-491, 2013) argue that grazing by large ungulates (both native and domestic) should be eliminated or greatly reduced on western public lands to reduce potential climate change impacts. The authors did not present a balanced synthesis of the scientific literature, and their publication is more of an opinion article.