The effects of pre- and post-transit potassium levels, feedlot receiving diets, and levamisole injection on stressed bull and steer calves

In a March 1983 trial, 125 bulls and 139 steer calves were used to compare bulls castrated at feedlot (FL) arrival (BULLS) with steers, to evaluate feeding supplemental potassium (K) at the order-buyer barn (OBB) for three days before shipment or at FL, to compare a 40% concentrate (CONG) receiving diet with a hay (HAY) diet, and to evaluate the effect of injection with levamisole (LEV) at OBB and FL arrival. Mortality was higher (P\u3c.05) in BULLS (13.2%) than in steers (7.7%) and higher in CONG bulls than in HAY bulls. Steers gained more (P\u3c.10) (12.1 kg) from purchase to FL-28, had higher (P\u3c.10) antibody titers for Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) at OBB, and greater (P\u3c.10) change in serum lymphocyte blastogenesis from OBB to FL-28 than BULLS. Calves fed a 1.5% K diet at OBB had less shrink during the 24-hour transit than those fed a 1.1% K diet. FL gains of calves fed a 1.1% K and a 1.7% K receiving diet were similar (P\u3e.10). Calf breed type affected mortality. Mortality of white-faced, feather-necked, red, medium-frame calves (WF) (18.3%) was higher (P\u3c.10) than that of black, medium-frame calves (BL) (2.8%). WF calves required 30% more clinical treatments and had higher temperatures than did BL and large-frame calves. Injection of LEV at OBB or FL reduced mortality 6.6% and increased BVD and IBR antibody titers. Gains during the 28-day receiving period were similar for the GONG and HAY calves but the GONG calves gained more (P\u3c.05) during the subsequent silage period. Mortality tended to be higher in CONC calves (12.3%) than in HAY calves (8.5%)

FACTORS AFFECTING FEEDER CATTLE PRICE DIFFERENTIALS

Feeder cattle prices are determined by the interaction of many factors. This study uses 1986 and 1987 Kansas feeder cattle auction data to investigate the impact of a wide variety of physical characteristics, many of which have not been used in previous studies on feeder cattle prices. Unlike previous studies, this analysis explicitly incorporates changes in feeder cattle market fundamentals during the data collection period and also allows price differentials to vary by sex and weight. Weight, weight-squared, lot size, lot size-squared, health, muscling, frame size, condition, fill, breed, presence of horns, and time of sale are significant factors affecting feeder cattle prices on any given day. Several physical traits also exhibit different seasonal price impacts.Demand and Price Analysis, Livestock Production/Industries,

Rumen degradation of some forages observed by scanning electron microscopy

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industrie

The effects of levamisole, receiving diets, and pre and post transit potassium on fain and health of stressed calves

We purchased 264 calves (125 bulls and 139 steers) in Tennessee and transported them to Kansas to evaluate the effects of levamisole injections and potassium supplementation, before and after transit, and feedlot receiving rations on performance and health of stressed calves. The calves were held for 48 to 96 hours in the order-buyer barn, fed either a 1.1% or 1.5% potassium (K) ration, transported for 24 hours, and fed either a 40% concentrate or hay-plus protein-supplement receiving diet fortified with either 1.1 or 1.7% K for 28 days. They were met in Kansas with 16 hr of cold driving rain, followed by severe cold temperatures, so stress was extreme. Subsequently, the calves grazed native pasture for 60 days. Levamisole reduced (P<.10) feedlot mortality. Bulls were castrated upon arrival and levamisole reduced mortality in castrated bull calves more than in steer calves (P<.05). Levamisole tended to increase IBR antibody titers and enhance change in BVD titers. Mortality was 12.3% in calves fed the 40% concentrate diet and 8.5% in those fed hay and protein supplement. More (P<.10) medical treatments per calf were required in the concentrate-fed calves than in the hay-fed calves. Due to the extreme-stress conditions during the first week in the feedlot, the calves required most of the 28-day receiving period to recover purchase weight and gains were similar (P>.05) in all groups. Fewer of the calves fed the 1.5% K pretransit diet died during the first 3 days in the feedlot than of those fed the control diet, but the posttransit K (1.7% K) diet resulted in a trend toward higher mortality during the receiving period

THE IMPACTS OF QUALITY ON CASH FED CATTLE PRICES

Quality factors affecting fed cattle prices were examined during a six-month period in southwestern Kansas. Transaction prices were significantly affected by the percentage of cattle expected to grade choice times the choice-to-select carcass price spread, finish uniformity, average weight, dressing percentage, breed, number of cattle purchased by a single packer on a given day, the packer, the feedyard, the day-of-the-week the cattle were sold, and the number of bids received. Asking prices were significantly affected by many of the same factors. Asking and transaction prices reflected approximately 25 percent of the packer value differentials for expected carcass quality grades

Effect of sex status and breed-type on performance of highly stressed calves

Bull and steer calves of mixed breed type were shipped from Newport, Tennessee to Manhattan, Kansas. Bull calves were castrated on arrival at Manhattan. Calves were classified into four breed-types as follows: (1) black, polled, medium-frame, number one muscling; (2) white-faced, feather-necked, medium-frame, number one muscling; (3) black or red with white face, medium frame, number one muscling; and (4) large-frame, mixed-color calves. The calves were in transit for 24 hours. Calves purchased and transported as steers outgained those purchased as bulls and castrated upon feedlot arrival by 26 lbs during the receiving phase and by 13 lbs on pasture. Fewer steer calves died than castrated bulls (7.7% vs. 13.2%). Steer calves had higher BVD antibody titers than bulls. Medium-frame, number one muscled, white-faced calves had a higher mortality rate (18.4%) than the average of other breed types (7.4%). The large-frame, number one muscled, mixed-color calves had the highest total gain

FACTORS AFFECTING FEEDER CATTLE PRICE DIFFERENTIALS

Feeder cattle prices are determined by the interaction of many factors. This study uses 1986 and 1987 Kansas feeder cattle auction data to investigate the impact of a wide variety of physical characteristics, many of which have not been used in previous studies on feeder cattle prices. Unlike previous studies, this analysis explicitly incorporates changes in feeder cattle market fundamentals during the data collection period and also allows price differentials to vary by sex and weight. Weight, weight-squared, lot size, lot size-squared, health, muscling, frame size, condition, fill, breed, presence of horns, and time of sale are significant factors affecting feeder cattle prices on any given day. Several physical traits also exhibit different seasonal price impacts

ANALYSIS OF FACTORS AFFECTING COW AUCTION PRICE DIFFERENTIALS

Data from Kansas cattle auctions were analyzed to estimate the impact a wide variety of physical characteristics had upon cow prices. Weight, lot size, health, pregnancy, grade, dressing percent, breed, time of sale, and market location were important factors affecting the differences in cow prices across lots on a given day. Results suggest that producers interested in maximizing the price they receive for their cows should market healthy cows in desirable lot sizes at higher dressing percentages

THE IMPACTS OF QUALITY ON CASH FED CATTLE PRICES

Quality factors affecting fed cattle prices were examined during a six-month period in southwestern Kansas. Transaction prices were significantly affected by the percentage of cattle expected to grade choice times the choice-to-select carcass price spread, finish uniformity, average weight, dressing percentage, breed, number of cattle purchased by a single packer on a given day, the packer, the feedyard, the day-of-the-week the cattle were sold, and the number of bids received. Asking prices were significantly affected by many of the same factors. Asking and transaction prices reflected approximately 25 percent of the packer value differentials for expected carcass quality grades.Demand and Price Analysis,

ANALYSIS OF FACTORS AFFECTING COW AUCTION PRICE DIFFERENTIALS

Data from Kansas cattle auctions were analyzed to estimate the impact a wide variety of physical characteristics had upon cow prices. Weight, lot size, health, pregnancy, grade, dressing percent, breed, time of sale, and market location were important factors affecting the differences in cow prices across lots on a given day. Results suggest that producers interested in maximizing the price they receive for their cows should market healthy cows in desirable lot sizes at higher dressing percentages.Demand and Price Analysis,