Perceptions of Crop Consultants and Crop Producers on Grazing Corn Residue in Nebraska

We conducted a survey to evaluate factors influencing consultant recommendations on grazing and producer grazing practices in Nebraska. Producers who did not graze cited soil compaction, inconvenience (lack of watering and fencing), and lack of access to livestock as major reasons for not grazing. Producers who allowed grazing and consultants who recommended grazing were more likely than those who did not favor grazing to perceive that grazing increased subsequent grain yields. Most consultants and producers reported making decisions on the basis of their personal observations. Findings from the survey can be used for enhanced Extension dissemination and research activities regarding grazing of residues

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Backgrounding Calf Management Strategies Using Corn Residue and Double Cropped Forages

Approximately 70% of calves in the U.S. are born in the spring and weaned in the fall, this results in a large supply of calves potentially available for backgrounding over the winter. Backgrounding systems positively impact the beef industry by efficiently using forage resources available. These systems also provide production value by enhancing the calf’s frame size, mature BW (increase HCW), and health prior to entering the feedlot. In Nebraska opportunities to integrate both crop and livestock production, by backgrounding calves abound. Approximately 13,100 metric tons of corn residue or 34,000 Animal Unit Months are available for grazing in Nebraska. However, 37% of crop producers surveyed in Nebraska, indicated that they do not allow grazing of their corn residue. Producers that did not graze cited concerns of soil compaction, inconveniency (watering and fencing), and lack of access to livestock as major deterrents. Planting cool-season grasses (oats) and brassicas (turnip and radish) immediately after corn silage harvest in mid-late August, can also be a potential winter forage source for grazing. The oat-brassica forage had DM yields ranging from 3,756 to 5,144 kg/ha and relatively high nutritive values, with IVDMD ranging from 83 to 89% and CP ranging from 16 to 25%. Gains of steers grazing corn residue and supplemented with distillers at 0.86% of their BW ranged from 0.24 to 0.79 kg/d and 0.47 to 0.94 kg/d for steers grazing an oat-brassica forage during the winter. All 3 treatments finished with a similar 12th rib fat and calculated YG. However, steers that previously grazed did have increased finishing DMI and decreased G:F when compared to steers solely fed a corn silage-based diet during the backgrounding phase. The grazing treatments had a greater HCW and LM area than steers fed a corn silage-based diet. However, steers grazing corn residue did have a slight reduction in marbling. Yet, the difference observed for marbling was minor and would not be great enough to merit discounts or premiums for carcasses. These backgrounding systems are a practical way to integrate crop and livestock production systems, in order to best utilize the abundant resources available in Nebraska. Advisors: Richard J. Rasby and Mary E. Drewnosk