Effect of Increasing Supplemental Rumen Undegradable Protein (RUP) on Performance of Calves Fed a Silage Growing Diet

A growing study evaluated the effects of increasing supplemental rumen undegradable protein (RUP) on performance of calves fed an 85% corn silage diet. Five levels of supplementation were evaluated with 12 individually fed steers per level of supplement. Supplement levels consisted of 0, 3.25, 6.5, 9.75 and 13% supplemental RUP (% of diet DM) fed as a blend of 60% Soypass and 40% Empyreal. Increasing supplemental RUP in the diet increased ending body weight and average daily gain linearly, and decreased F:G linearly while DMI remained constant among treatments. As cattle grew from 600 to 730 lb, F:G was improved 30% by supplying RUP. Th e same amount of RUP improved F:G by 11% as cattle grew beyond 730 lb. By meeting MP requirements, supplementing RUP linearly improved both ADG and F:G of growing calves, especially early in the growing period

Corn Residue Quality throughout the Grazing Season

Changes in in vitro organic matter digestibility and digestible organic matter of corn residue were evaluated throughout the fall grazing and spring grazing seasons. In vitro organic matter digestibility and digestible organic matter were greatest at the beginning of fall grazing and declined over time. Slight weathering resulted in lower quality corn residue available at the beginning of spring grazing compared to the beginning of fall grazing. The in vitro organic matter digestibility of available residue declined 21% over the fall grazing season and 51% throughout the spring grazing season. As the availability of nutrients declines over time, adjustments in feeding management or rotational grazing may be necessary to meet energy requirements of grazing cattle

Effect of Increasing Supplemental Rumen Undegradable Protein (RUP) on Performance of Calves Fed a Silage Growing Diet

A growing study evaluated the effects of increasing supplemental rumen undegradable protein (RUP) on performance of calves fed an 85% corn silage diet. Five levels of supplementation were evaluated with 12 individually fed steers per level of supplement. Supplement levels consisted of 0, 3.25, 6.5, 9.75 and 13% supplemental RUP (% of diet DM) fed as a blend of 60% Soypass and 40% Empyreal. Increasing supplemental RUP in the diet increased ending body weight and average daily gain linearly, and decreased F:G linearly while DMI remained constant among treatments. As cattle grew from 600 to 730 lb, F:G was improved 30% by supplying RUP. Th e same amount of RUP improved F:G by 11% as cattle grew beyond 730 lb. By meeting MP requirements, supplementing RUP linearly improved both ADG and F:G of growing calves, especially early in the growing period

Effects of Production System on Cow and Calf Performance

Limited traditional forage resources have prompted interest for alternative cow-calf production systems. This study evaluated the effects of two winter cow-calf production systems (cornstalk grazing and dry-lot feeding) on cow-calf performance in a summer-calving, intensively managed cowherd at two locations. Grazing cow-calf pairs on cornstalks resulted in similar or lower ending BW of cows and lower ADG of calves when compared to cow-calf pairs wintered in the dry-lot. A partial budget of incorporating winter cornstalk grazing into an intensive production system suggests that cows wintered on cornstalks may be $137 more profitable compared to cows wintered in the dry-lot

Effects of Production System on Cow and Calf Performance

Limited traditional forage resources have prompted interest for alternative cow-calf production systems. This study evaluated the effects of two winter cow-calf production systems (cornstalk grazing and dry-lot feeding) on cow-calf performance in a summer-calving, intensively managed cowherd at two locations. Grazing cow-calf pairs on cornstalks resulted in similar or lower ending BW of cows and lower ADG of calves when compared to cow-calf pairs wintered in the dry-lot. A partial budget of incorporating winter cornstalk grazing into an intensive production system suggests that cows wintered on cornstalks may be $137 more profitable compared to cows wintered in the dry-lot

Effects of Production System on Cow and Calf Performance

Limited traditional forage resources have prompted interest for alternative cow-calf production systems. This study evaluated the effects of two winter cow-calf production systems (cornstalk grazing and dry-lot feeding) on cow-calf performance in a summer-calving, intensively managed cowherd at two locations. Grazing cow-calf pairs on cornstalks resulted in similar or lower ending BW of cows and lower ADG of calves when compared to cow-calf pairs wintered in the dry-lot. A partial budget of incorporating winter cornstalk grazing into an intensive production system suggests that cows wintered on cornstalks may be $137 more profitable compared to cows wintered in the dry-lot

Effects of Production System on Cow and Calf Performance

Limited traditional forage resources have prompted interest for alternative cow-calf production systems. This study evaluated the effects of two winter cow-calf production systems (cornstalk grazing and dry-lot feeding) on cow-calf performance in a summer-calving, intensively managed cowherd at two locations. Grazing cow-calf pairs on cornstalks resulted in similar or lower ending BW of cows and lower ADG of calves when compared to cow-calf pairs wintered in the dry-lot. A partial budget of incorporating winter cornstalk grazing into an intensive production system suggests that cows wintered on cornstalks may be $137 more profitable compared to cows wintered in the dry-lot

Effects of Production System on Cow and Calf Performance

Limited traditional forage resources have prompted interest for alternative cow-calf production systems. This study evaluated the effects of two winter cow-calf production systems (cornstalk grazing and dry-lot feeding) on cow-calf performance in a summer-calving, intensively managed cowherd at two locations. Grazing cow-calf pairs on cornstalks resulted in similar or lower ending BW of cows and lower ADG of calves when compared to cow-calf pairs wintered in the dry-lot. A partial budget of incorporating winter cornstalk grazing into an intensive production system suggests that cows wintered on cornstalks may be $137 more profitable compared to cows wintered in the dry-lot

Vaccines against sexually transmitted diseases

Human sexually transmitted infections are prevalent throughout the world. Several have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcome and increased susceptibility to HIV infection, in addition to the discomfort of inflammation of the genital tract. Yet vaccines to protect against the infection at the genital mucosa are not available. Hepatitis B is an exception, but this virus becomes systemic and protection may be at the systemic level. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have long been associated with reproductive failure in cattle. These infections cause considerable economic loss, which has been a stimulus to investigation. Consequently, vaccines and mechanisms of immune protection have been studied quite thoroughly. The results obtained with two commercially available vaccines will be used to illustrate principles of protective immunity against STDs. Both Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis and Tritrichomonas foetus are only transmitted sexually and both cause reproductive failure in cattle