Early detection of problem implants using infrared thermography

Thermal imaging of feedlot cattle ears is a noninvasive diagnostic tool that aids in identifying properly placed or abscessed growth-promoting implants. Thirty-two calves were used to determine if abscessed and normal, functional implants could be identified and differentiated using infrared thermography. Infrared images were taken at implantation on days 2, 4, 7, 14, and 21 after implantation. Abscessed implants were easily identified. Use of thermal imaging can verify implant administration and, thus, has the potential to immediately impact feedlot quality assurance programs

Dietary sulfur concentration has no effect on In Vitro fermentative activity of ruminal mixed microorganisms

Beef Cattle Research, 2011 is known as Cattlemen’s Day, 2011We previously reported that elevated concentrations of dietary sulfur (0.65% sulfur, dry basis) in finishing diets containing dried distillers grains with solubles decreased dry matter intake and average daily gains of feedlot cattle. Furthermore, high dietary sulfur concentrations yielded lower ruminal concentrations of volatile fatty acids, but were associated with increased ruminal ammonia concentrations and improved total tract digestibility of the diet. The objective of this study was to investigate, in culture tubes, effects of added sulfur on in vitro dry matter disappearance, volatile fatty acid profiles, and ammonia concentrations from substrates containing different sulfur concentrations when fermented by mixed ruminal microorganisms from a steer fed a diet based on corn and alfalfa

Supplementing fructose-based block supplements to forage-fed cattle increases capacity for lactic acid metabolism

Acidosis is one of the more important maladies afflicting cattle fed significant amounts of grain and has enormous economic impact for feedlots, dairies, and producers of seed stock. The highest incidence of acidosis occurs when animals are being transitioned from high-roughage diets to diets containing high levels of concentrates. When grain-based diets are consumed in excess, consumed too quickly, or fed without proper adaptation, digestive end products (organic acids) can accumulate within the rumen, resulting in acidosis. Lactic acid is one of the key organic compounds that accumulates under these conditions. Coupled with the animal’s limited ability to metabolize lactate, accumulation of lactic acid in the rumen lowers ruminal pH and subsequently depresses feed intake. One means of preventing acidosis is to directly populate the rumen with lactate-utilizing bacteria. Alternatively, exposure to low levels of lactate (i.e., levels insufficient to harm the animal) may stimulate development of a population of lactate-utilizing bacteria. The objective of our study was to determine if supplementing low-moisture blocks made of high fructose corn syrup could increase ruminal lactate concentrations and subsequently stimulate growth of lactate-metabolizing bacteria. If successful, this could prove useful for adapting forage-fed cattle to grain-based diets

Supplemental Zinc Sulfate Affects Growth Performance of Finishing Heifers

Zinc is an essential mineral required for normal function of more than 300 enzymes in microorganisms, plants, and animals. Zinc-requiring enzymes participate in metabolism of nucleic acids, proteins, and carbohydrates, all of which are essential for growth of cattle. In addition, zinc is necessary for normal development and function of the immune system. The requirement for zinc in finishing cattle diets has been established at 30 ppm (NRC, Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle, 2000), though concentrations recommended by consulting nutritionists and feed manufacturers span a far broader range. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding different levels of zinc on feedlot performance and carcass traits of finishing heifers

Short-term fasts increase levels of halogenated flame retardants in tissues of a wild incubating bird

Many species are adapted for fasting during parts of their life cycle. For species undergoing extreme fasts, lipid stores are mobilized and accumulated contaminants can be released to exert toxicological effects. However, it is unknown if short-term fasting events may have a similar effect. The objective of this study was to determine if short successive fasts are related to contaminant levels in liver and plasma of birds. In ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis), both members of the pair alternate between incubating the nest for several hours (during which they fast) and foraging, making them a useful model for examining this question. Birds were equipped with miniature data loggers recording time and GPS position for two days to determine the proportion and duration of time birds spent in these two activities. Liver and plasma samples were collected, and halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) (PBDEs and dechlorane plus) and organochlorines (OCs) (PCBs, DDTs, and chlordane-related compounds) were determined. Most birds (79%) exhibited plasma lipid content below 1%, indicating a likely fasted state, and plasma lipid percent declined with the number of hours spent at the nest site. The more time birds spent at their nest site, the higher were their plasma and liver concentrations of HFRs. However, body condition indices were unrelated to either the amount of time birds fasted at the nest site or contaminant levels, suggesting that lipid mobilization might not have been severe enough to affect overall body condition of birds and to explain the relationship between fasting and HFR concentrations. A similar relationship between fasting and OC levels was not observed, suggesting that different factors are affecting short-term temporal variations in concentrations of these two classes of contaminants. This study demonstrates that short fasts can be related to increased internal contaminant exposure in birds and that this may be a confounding factor in research and monitoring involving tissue concentrations of HFRs in wild birds. © 2015 Elsevier Inc

Comparative value of dry-rolled corn, distiller’s dried grains, and wheat middlings for receiving diets

Two 28-day receiving experiments were conducted using 620 exotic × British cross steers to evaluate differences in growth performance, morbidity, and mortality when fed diets containing dry-rolled corn, distiller’s dried grains with solubles, or wheat middlings. All diets contained approximately 60% concentrate and 40% roughage (alfalfa hay). Gain and efficiency tended to be poorer for cattle fed the wheat middling-based diet than for those fed corn. No notable differences were evident in terms of the percentage of cattle treated for respiratory disease. Feed intake and daily gain were improved slightly when corn was replaced by distiller’s dried grains, but efficiency was not changed. However, the incidence of respiratory disease also was higher for cattle fed the distiller’s grains diet in comparison to corn

Hydrated lime matrix decreases ruminal biohydrogenation of flaxseed fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients for humans, but dietary intake of these nutrients by many Americans is inadequate due to low consumption of omega-3-rich foods such as fish, walnuts, and flaxseed. In contrast, per capita consumption of red meat is relatively high, but these products normally contain only small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Feeding cattle diets that contain omega-3 fatty acids has consistently increased the proportion of the desirable fats that accumulate in beef. Unfortunately, the proportion of dietary omega-3 fats that are deposited into beef tissues is relatively low, because microorganisms within the rumen biohydrogenate the unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids extensively to produce the saturated fats that are characteristic of beef fat. Encapsulation of fats has been proposed as a method for improving efficiency of transfer of omega-3 fats into beef. Encapsulation processes apply a protective barrier on the surface of fats or fat-containing feeds, which theoretically decreases fats’ susceptibility to microbial biohydrogenation. Protective coatings must remain intact to retain their functionality, and physical damage to the coatings that occurs with normal handling can result in poor efficacy because the core material is exposed to microorganisms in the rumen. Embedding feed particles within a homogeneous protective matrix constitutes a potentially useful alternative to protective surface barriers. The matrix is created by mixing feed particles that are to be protected with a suitable matrix material that is resistant to microbial digestion and subsequently forming the mixture into pills. In cases where physical damage occurs, exposure of the core material is confined to the broken surface, and the remainder of the matrix retains its ruminal stability. The objective of this study was to determine if embedding flaxseed within a matrix of hydrated dolomitic lime could be used as a method to decrease biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, thus improving efficiency of omega-3 fatty acids absorption into the bloodstream

Orally dosing steers with Lactipro (Megasphaera elsdenii) decreases the quantity of roughages fed during finishing

The cost of roughages is relatively high in comparison to their contribution of nutrients to feedlot diets. Widespread drought has affected roughage supplies in the cattle-feeding regions of the United States, further increasing the cost of roughages for feedlots. Despite their relatively high cost, roughages are incorporated into finishing diets to maintain rumen function and to manage ruminal acidosis. The greatest proportion of roughage is utilized early in the feeding period when cattle are being transitioned from forage-based diets to concentrate-based diets, allowing ruminal microbes to adapt gradually to higher levels of starch and sugars. If cattle are not properly adapted to concentrate-based diets, undesirable lactic acid-producing microorganisms, such as Streptococcus bovis, can rapidly proliferate and produce large excesses of lactic acid in the rumen. This condition can precipitate feedlot acidosis, which can have serious consequences for health and performance of cattle. Lactipro (MS Biotec, Wamego, KS) is a probiotic drench containing Megasphaera elsdenii, which is a lactate-utilizing bacterium that prevents lactic acid accumulations in the rumen of grain-fed cattle. Lactipro has been used successfully to accelerate the adaptation of cattle from roughage-based diets to concentrate-based diets. The objective of this study was to determine if Lactipro could be utilized to eliminate the step-up period for feedlot cattle, and in so doing decrease the amount of roughage required during the finishing period

Effects of feeding low levels of crude glycerin with or without other by-products on performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot heifers

Expansion of the renewable fuels industries has increased availability of by-products that are well suited for use as cattle feed. Glycerin is among the principal by-products of biodiesel production, comprising approximately 10% (by weight) of the soybean oil that is used to manufacture soy-based diesel fuel. Our previous research evaluated effects of including between 0% and 16% glycerin in flaked-corn finishing diets and revealed that optimal growth performance was achieved with 2% glycerin addition. Our laboratory experiments have suggested that even lower levels of glycerin may be effective at stimulating digestion. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate effects of low levels of glycerin in the diet on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing cattle. Furthermore, because distillers grains and other by-products are increasingly common in feedlot rations, we opted to evaluate glycerin in corn-based finishing diets as well as in diets that consisted of a combination of corn grain, distillers grains, and soybean hulls

Ruminally-Protected Lysine (SafeGain) Improves Performance of Growing Beef Cattle

Lysine frequently is cited as the first-limiting amino acid for cattle diets. Synthetic lysine, while routinely added to pig diets, is ineffective in fulfilling lysine requirements of cattle due to extensive degradation by microbes within the rumen. Lysine can be encapsulated with compounds, such as saturated fats, that minimize degradation by ruminal microbes, thereby assuring that a greater proportion of the amino acid is available for absorption post-ruminally. The purpose of this experiment was to measure the impact of SafeGain (H.J. Baker & Bro. Inc., Little Rock, AR), an encapsulated form of lysine sulfate, on rate of gain and feed efficiency in backgrounding cattle