Effects of Molybdenum Supplementation on Performance of Forage‐fed SteersReceiving High‐sulfur Water

There has been on‐going research in the area of the consumption of high‐sulfur (S) water by steers grazing rangeland as well as forage‐fed steers in a feedlot setting. During the summer of 2009, a trial was conducted on the effects of high‐S water in finishing steers supplemented with molybdenum (Mo). The main purpose of the research was to gather data that may aid in the formulation of a supplement to counteract the negative effects of high‐S water consumed by ruminant livestock species in areas where sulfur concentration in water sources is a risk to animal health and performance. The specific focus of this trial was to determine whether the feeding of supplemental Mo would improve animal health and performance by decreasing the formation of hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) in the rumen. Yearling steers (n=96) were used for a 56‐d trial. The trial consisted of 3 treatment groups; a low‐S water group and two high‐S water groups. One high‐S water treatment group received the same pellet that the low‐S group was given and the other high‐S water treatment group received a pellet with supplemental Mo included. Rumen gas cap H2S was collected on d ‐1, 29 and 57. Weights were recorded on d ‐2, ‐1, 29, 56 and 57. There were no differences between treatments in water intake (P= 0.719), but feed intake was reduced in the steers receiving the supplemental Mo (P \u3c 0.001). There was a significant difference in ruminal H2S due to treatment (P= 0.014), with higher ruminal H2S in the steers receiving the supplemental Mo. Steers receiving the Mo supplement had lower ADG than steers in the other treatments (P= 0.009). Throughout the duration of the trial, two steers were removed from the trial due to advanced symptoms of sulfur‐induced PEM (sPEM) from the high‐S treatment with no supplemental M

Copper Supplementation of Grazing Yearling Steers Supplemented withMolybdenum While Consuming High‐sulfur Water

There has been on‐going research conducted by South Dakota State University in the area of the consumption of high‐sulfur (S) water by steers grazing rangeland. During the summer of 2009 a trial was conducted in cooperation with the University of Wyoming on the effects of copper supplementation of grazing pasture steers supplemented with molybdenum (Mo), while drinking high‐sulfur water. The main purpose of this experiment was to gather data that may aide in the formulation of a method to counteract the negative effects of high‐S water consumed by ruminant livestock species in areas where sulfur concentrations in water sources causes risk to animal health and performance. Yearling steers (n=120) were assigned randomly to 9 replicate groups, 3 replicates of 3 treatments for a 52 d experiment. All groups were provided with high‐S water containing on average 2,201 mg•kg‐1 of sulfate. Additionally, all treatment groups received 100 mg•kg‐1 of supplemental Mo as an antagonist that would bind excess S. Unfortunately, Mo also binds copper (Cu), indicating that supplemental Cu may be necessary. Therefore treatments differed in level of supplemental copper: treatments 1 through 3 received 0, 75, or 150 mg•kg‐1 of supplemental Cu, respectively. Prior to the trial, mid‐trial and at the conclusion of the trial, ruminal H2S gas cap levels were collected. Animal weights were recorded d ‐2, ‐1, 28, 52 and 53. Over the entire course of the experiment there was a significant difference in ADG due to treatment (P\u3c 0.001). There were no differences in water consumption as a result of treatment (P= 0.618). No differences were observed in ruminal H2S due to treatment. No animal losses occurred due to the consumption of high‐S water in this trial

Microarray analysis of subcutaneous adipose tissue from mature cows with divergent body weight gain after feed restriction and realimentation

Body weight response to periods of feed restriction and realimentation is critical and relevant to the agricultural industry. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differentially expressed genes identified in subcutaneous adipose tissue collected from cows divergent in body weight (BW) gain after feed restriction and realimentation. We compared adipose samples from cows with greater gain based on average daily gain (ADG) during realimentation with samples from cows with lesser gain. Specifically, there were four comparisons including two comparing the high and low gain animals across each feeding period (feed restriction and realimentation) and two that compared differences in feed restriction and realimentation across high or low gain classifications. Using microarray analysis, we provide a set of differentially expressed genes identified between the high and low gain at both periods of nutrient restriction and realimentation. These data identify multiple differentially expressed genes between these two phenotypes across both nutritional environments. Keywords: Beef cows, Subcutaneous fat, Transcriptom