Effect of Injectable Trace Mineral on Reproductive Performance in Beef Heifers

Trace minerals serve an essential role in regulating reproduction. Free-choice trace mineral supplementation is often provided to grazing beef cattle. An injectable trace-mineral solution used with free-choice trace minerals may be beneficial before breeding to improve mineral status. Therefore, Red Angus-based, May-born heifers were utilized to determine the effects of an injectable trace mineral on reproductive performance. Pregnancy rates did not differ between heifers injected with a trace mineral and heifers that received no injection. Injectable trace mineral at CIDR insertion 33 d before artificial insemination did not influence reproductive performance in heifers with adequate trace mineral status

Effect of Injectable Trace Mineral on Reproductive Performance in Beef Heifers

Trace minerals serve an essential role in regulating reproduction. Free-choice trace mineral supplementation is often provided to grazing beef cattle. An injectable trace-mineral solution used with free-choice trace minerals may be beneficial before breeding to improve mineral status. Therefore, Red Angus-based, May-born heifers were utilized to determine the effects of an injectable trace mineral on reproductive performance. Pregnancy rates did not differ between heifers injected with a trace mineral and heifers that received no injection. Injectable trace mineral at CIDR insertion 33 d before artificial insemination did not influence reproductive performance in heifers with adequate trace mineral status

The Feeding Value of Heat Damaged Soybeans in Cattle Diets

Heat damaged grain, if not completely destroyed by fire, takes on a roasted appearance ranging from a slight brownish tint to black. This grain can be salvaged and used in cattle rations. The color can be used to determine relative digestibility and subsequent available energy in the diets of cattle

Effect of Long- Term Corn Residue Grazing on Soil Properties

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of long- term (16 years) corn residue grazing with cattle on soil compaction, soil structure, soil organic matter, and nutrients. Three treatments: 1) fall grazing (November through January; 1.8 to 2.5 AUM/ac), 2) spring grazing (February to middle April; 2.3 to 3.1 AUM/ac), and 3) control (no grazing) under a no- till irrigated corn- soybean system in eastern Nebraska were studied. Crop yields were increased and soil bulk density and cone index (parameters of soil compaction), wet soil aggregate stability (parameter of soil structural quality), and organic matter content were not affected by grazing during the fall. Spring grazing slightly increased crop yields while wet soil aggregate stability, bulk density, and organic matter content were unaffected. During spring grazing, only cone index was increased, but not above threshold levels. Crop residue grazing in the fall has no effect on soil and any effect from spring grazing is biologically unimportant

Multidisciplinary Research and Extension Team Evolution: Processes, Outcomes, and Strategies

Team-based research is not an innovative concept; however, the current models of team research are based principally on self-formed teams with a defined duration. Current trends seem to point toward the development of administratively designed multidisciplinary teams. Although this seems logical, minimal guidelines exist to aid in team development or evaluate team outcomes. Critical processes in a team-based research atmosphere have not been identified, much less described, and strategies for successful implementation have not been proposed. The strength of this approach can be summarized as a unified focus during the course of problem definition and solution. Many trade-offs and obstacles are apparent with a broadbased focus. Chief obstacles and barriers include sustaining the balance between remaining small in size and focused on a problem while fitting into the departmental culture. Internal administrative support is mandatory for building a successful multidisciplinary research team. The required interdependence of multidisciplinary team research requires administrators, as well as peers, to recognize the positive value of each contribution

Winter Growth Rate and Timing of Marketing on Economics of Yearling Systems

Economic analyses were conducted examining 18 years of Nebraska monthly- average auction data to ! nd the e ects of certain management decisions on the pro! tability of yearling production systems. A 2×2 experimental design was used to examine four possible scenarios. $e variables were either fast winter growth (daily gain, 2.0 lb/ day) or slow winter growth (daily gain, 0.8 lb/day), and either a September or a July marketing date. In addition to pro! tability, risk management was also examined in this study. Average pro! tability of all scenarios was good, ranging from$112 to $143 per calf. Utilizing fast winter growth combined with marketing steers in September was the most pro! table scenario

Estimating a Fair Value for Standing Forage

Several things need to be considered when deciding what value to place on standing forage. Forage prices reflect current inventories, demand, expected current season production and associated yield risk, and quality characteristics. Standing forage can be harvested in a number of different ways which need to be considered when pricing it. Below, we provide a few general thoughts and questions concerning harvesting method and comparable feed value to consider when pricing standing forage. We follow with a few examples illustrating pricing calculations for forage mechanically harvested as hay, haylage, and silage. We close with pricing considerations for forage harvested by grazing