Self-limiting supplements fed to cattle grazing native mixed-grass prairie in the northern Great Plains.

Objectives of this research were to compare animal performance with or without supplementation, compare effectiveness of three intake limiters, and to examine seasonal changes in nutritive value of native range in south-central North Dakota. Treatments included 1) control (CONT; no supplement); 2) hand-fed (HF) supplement, with no chemical limiter; 3) 16% salt (NACL); 4) 5.25% ammonium chloride and ammonium sulfate (AS); and 5) 7% calcium hydroxide (CAOH).

A comparison via simulation of least squares Lehmann-Scheffé estimators of two variances and heritability with those of restricted maximum likelihood.

The objective was to compare the performance of a recently derived, new method of estimating variances and covariances with any mixed linear model and any pattern of missing data with that of restricted maximum likelihood. For each of 96 combinations of six three-herd x four-sire unbalanced designs of 39 offspring each, four heritability values, two ratios of sire variance to interaction variance, and two distributions (multivariate normal and multivariate chi2, 3 df), 15,000 vectors (n = 39) were generated. Least squares Lehmann-Scheffé (LSLS) estimators of sire variance, interaction variance, and heritability were compared to those of REML with the performance measures of percentage of estimates (of the 15,000) that were positive, mean square error, variance, percentage of estimates within +/- 50% of the parameter, bias, maximum value, skewness, and kurtosis.

Effects of supplementation on intake and growth of nursing calves grazing native range in southeastern North Dakota.

A 2-yr study was conducted to determine the first limiting nutrient for gain in nursing calves grazing native range in southeastern North Dakota. Thirty-two calves (20 steers, 12 heifers) in Trial 1 (169 +/- 5 kg initial BW) and 31 (16 steers, 15 heifers) in Trial 2 (214 +/- 5 kg initial BW) grazed common pastures. Calves were blocked by sex and stratified by weight.

Determination of saleable product in finished cattle and beef carcasses utilizing bioelectrical impedance technology.

Two experiments were performed to develop prediction equations of saleable beef and to validate the prediction equations. In Exp. 1, 50 beef cattle were finished to typical slaughter weights, and multiple linear regression equations were developed to predict kilograms of trimmed boneless, retail product of live cattle, and hot and cold carcasses.

Bioelectrical impedance: fat content of beef and pork from different size grinds.

Multiple linear regression equations were developed for predicting the percentage of fat content of beef and pork. The predictor variables were bioelectrical resistance, temperature, and weight of product. Equations were developed for trim and product ground through a .