Effects of corn steep liquor supplementation on intake and digestion of tallgrass prairie hay contaminated with sericea lespedeza

Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) is a noxious weed that infests approximately 600,000 acres of native range in Kansas. Intake of sericea lespedeza by grazing beef cattle is poor due to the presence of condensed tannins in the plant. Condensed tannins reduce protein digestion by beef cattle and may also decrease plant palatability because of their astringent nature. Prolific seed production, in combination with little or no grazing pressure, has contributed to the rapid spread of sericea lespedeza in the Flint Hills. Increasing grazing pressure on sericea lespedeza may reduce seed production and slow its advance; however, the presence of condensed tannins inhibit consumption by grazing animals. Reports have indicated that feed-grade polyethylene glycol may inhibit formation of tannin-protein complexes in the rumen, but beef producers have not widely adopted polyethylene glycol because, at the rates necessary to increase intake of sericea lespedeza, it is cost-prohibitive and disallowed by regulations. Therefore, identifying substances that are generally regarded as safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, cost-effective, and that mitigate the consequences of consuming a diet high in tannins is advantageous. Such information could lead to a degree of biological control of this noxious weed using the most economically important grazer (i.e., beef cattle) in the Flint Hills. Preliminary research in our laboratory indicated that corn steep liquor has binding affinity for condensed tannins that is similar to polyethylene glycol. Therefore, the objective of our study was to determine the effects of corn steep liquor supplementation on intake and digestion of tallgrass prairie hay contaminated by sericea lespedeza

Forage selection preferences of experienced cows and naïve heifers grazing native tallgrass range during winter

Beef Cattle Research, 2011 is known as Cattlemen’s Day, 2011Estimating the nutritive value of a grazing animal’s diet is a significant challenge. Description of the botanical composition of a grazed diet is vital in that regard. Microhistological analysis of fecal material has been used for estimating the botanical composition of wild and domestic ungulate diets since first described by Baumgartner and Martin in 1939. Little research has been conducted on the diet selection preferences of multiparous beef cows compared to primiparous beef cows. We hypothesized that foraging strategies change as cows age. To that end, our objective was to characterize differences in diet selection between experienced multiparous and naïve primiparous beef cows grazing dormant, native tallgrass pastures during winter

Voluntary intake of prairie hay contaminated with sericea lespedeza (lespedeza cuneata) by beef cows

Beef Cattle Research, 2011 is known as Cattlemen’s Day, 2011Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) is a noxious weed that infests approximately 600,000 acres of native tallgrass range in the Kansas Flint Hills. Intake of sericea lespedeza by grazing beef cattle is poor due to the presence of condensed tannins in the plant. Condensed tannins reduce protein digestion by beef cattle and may decrease plant palatability because of their astringence. Prolific seed production, in combination with little or no grazing pressure, has contributed to the rapid spread of sericea lespedeza in the Flint Hills. Increasing grazing pressure on sericea lespedeza may reduce seed production and slow its invasion; however, the difficulties associated with measurement of intake by grazing beef cattle have hampered development of workable research models. Detailed study of the appetite- suppressing effects of sericea lespedeza under controlled conditions is essential to develop appropriate strategies to increase grazing pressure on this plant. Such information could lead to a degree of biological control of this noxious weed using the most economically important grazer (i.e., beef cattle) in the Flint Hills

Sun-curing and harvest maturity impacts concentration and protein-binding capacity of condensed tannins in sericea lespedeza (lespedeza cuneata)

Beef Cattle Research, 2011 is known as Cattlemen’s Day, 2011Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) is a noxious weed that infests approximately 600,000 acres of native tallgrass range in Kansas. Intake of sericea lespedeza by grazing livestock is poor, presumably as a result of the plant’s tannins. Condensed tannins reduce protein digestion by ruminants and may also decrease plant palatability

Botanical composition of diets grazed by beef cows in the Kansas Flint Hills during winter

Analysis of microscopic plant fragments recovered from the gut of wild herbivores (i.e., microhistological analysis) has been used to estimate diet composition, but there is debate as to whether microhistological analysis of fecal samples is an appropriate method for characterizing diets of grazing beef cattle. Therefore, our goal was to determine whether this approach could effectively quantify the botanical composition of diets grazed by mature beef cows in the Kansas Flint Hills during winter

Effects of corn steep liquor supplementation on intake and digestion of tallgrass prairie hay contaminated with sericea lespedeza

Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) is a noxious weed that infests approximately 600,000 acres of native range in Kansas. Intake of sericea lespedeza by grazing beef cattle is poor due to the presence of condensed tannins in the plant. Condensed tannins reduce protein digestion by beef cattle and may also decrease plant palatability because of their astringent nature. Prolific seed production, in combination with little or no grazing pressure, has contributed to the rapid spread of sericea lespedeza in the Flint Hills. Increasing grazing pressure on sericea lespedeza may reduce seed production and slow its advance; however, the presence of condensed tannins inhibit consumption by grazing animals. Reports have indicated that feed-grade polyethylene glycol may inhibit formation of tannin-protein complexes in the rumen, but beef producers have not widely adopted polyethylene glycol because, at the rates necessary to increase intake of sericea lespedeza, it is cost-prohibitive and disallowed by regulations. Therefore, identifying substances that are generally regarded as safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, cost-effective, and that mitigate the consequences of consuming a diet high in tannins is advantageous. Such information could lead to a degree of biological control of this noxious weed using the most economically important grazer (i.e., beef cattle) in the Flint Hills. Preliminary research in our laboratory indicated that corn steep liquor has binding affinity for condensed tannins that is similar to polyethylene glycol. Therefore, the objective of our study was to determine the effects of corn steep liquor supplementation on intake and digestion of tallgrass prairie hay contaminated by sericea lespedeza

Effects of corn steep liquor supplementation on voluntary selection of tallgrass prairie hay contaminated with sericea lespedeza and uncontaminated tallgrass prairie hay

Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) is classified as a noxious weed throughout the Great Plains. It produces copious amounts of seed annually and contains high levels of condensed tannins during much of the growing season, which deters grazing by large domestic herbivores. In Kansas alone, this plant infests approximately 600,000 acres of native range, reducing native grass production by up to 92%. Increased grazing pressure on sericea lespedeza by beef cattle may slow its spread and facilitate some measure of biological control. Feedstuffs or feed additives with tannin-binding properties may promote voluntary consumption of this plant by grazing beef cattle. In previous studies, confined beef cattle fed polyethylene glycol daily ate more sericea lespedeza than cattle that were not fed polyethylene glycol; however, use of polyethylene glycol by commercial beef producers is problematic because feeding it at the rates necessary to increase intake of sericea lespedeza is cost-prohibitive and disallowed from a regulatory standpoint. We reported previously that low to moderate amounts of supplemental corn steep liquor (i.e., 0.6 to 1.8 kg/day) increased intake of tallgrass prairie hay contaminated with sericea lespedeza by beef cows fed in confinement. Corn steep liquor is an inexpensive, palatable, and abundant by-product of wet-corn milling and is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Whether beef cattle supplemented with corn steep liquor will readily consume forage contaminated by sericea lespedeza when uncontaminated forage is available simultaneously is unknown. Therefore, the objective of our study was to determine the effects of low-level corn steep liquor supplementation on voluntary selection of tallgrass prairie hay contaminated by sericea lespedeza when uncontaminated tallgrass prairie hay was also available

Effects of prepartum ruminally protected choline supplementation on performance of beef cows and calves

Beef Cattle Research, 2011 is known as Cattlemen’s Day, 2011Prepartum supplementation of spring-calving beef cows is a vital part of cow-calf enterprises, often affecting subsequent reproductive success. Most research in the area of prepartum supplementation has focused on provision of either energy or protein; only modest attention has been given to the use of supplemental micronutrients. One such micronutrient is choline. Choline is classified generally as a B vitamin and is an essential nutrient. Phosphatidylcholine and other choline-containing lipids maintain the structural integrity of cellular membranes and play a vital role in metabolism of dietary fat. Choline-containing phospholipids are also important precursors for intracellular-messenger molecules and cell-signaling molecules critical to the reproductive process. Choline is commonly found in feedstuffs and forages but is highly degradable in the rumen. For choline supply to be increased effectively, it must be offered in a form that is resistant to ruminal digestion. This can be achieved by encapsulating choline in lipid. Therefore, the objective of our study was to evaluate the effect of prepartum ruminally protected choline supplementation on cow and calf performance

Spring burning of native tallgrass pastures influences diet composition of lactating and non-lactating beef cows

Diet selection is a dynamic process because of seasonal changes in animal and plant characteristics. Nutrient requirements of grazing animals are a function of physiological state; moreover, plant characteristics may be altered with prescribed spring burning of native rangelands. Prescribed spring burning is used to improve the average quality of pasture forage by removing old growth and making new plant growth more accessible to grazing cattle. Microhistological analysis of fecal material has been a widely used method for quantifying the botanical composition of a grazing animal’s diet since it was first described by Baumgartner and Martin in 1939. Little research has been conducted on how diet selection preferences of lactating beef cows with suckling calves and non-lactating beef cows are influenced by prescribed burning. We hypothesized that during the summer grazing season, lactating cows with calves and non-lactating cows would display distinctive preferences for certain species. Furthermore, we anticipated that these diet selection preferences might be influenced by prescribed burning. To that end, our objective was to characterize differences in diet selection between lactating beef cows suckling calves and non-pregnant, non-lactating beef cows grazing either burned or unburned native tallgrass prairie during summer

Effects of prepartum and postpartum bolus injections of trace minerals on performance of beef cows and calves grazing native range

Adequate dietary intakes of trace minerals are thought necessary to maximize cow reproduction, calf health, and calf performance. Diets grazed by beef cattle are generally deficient to marginal in copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) concentrations; therefore, these trace minerals are usually added to the diet in supplement form. The most widely used means of trace-mineral supplementation for grazing cattle is selffed, salt-based, loose mineral supplements. Although cattle do not balance their mineral needs when consuming a self-fed mineral supplement, usually no other practical way of supplying mineral needs exists under grazing conditions. The greatest limitation to using self-fed mineral supplements is variation in animal intake. More direct methods of mineral supplementation include adding minerals to drinking water or feed, oral drenching, ruminal boluses, and injection. Variation in mineral intake is reduced relative to self-fed supplementation, and the additional labor requirement and expense are relatively small. Delivery of supplemental trace minerals using an injectable solution may be a more reliable means of achieving adequate trace-mineral status than using self-fed, salt-based, loose mineral supplements. Bolus injections of trace minerals have been associated with improved average daily gain, feed efficiency, feed intake, or health status of beef calves fed in confinement; however, trace mineral delivery methods of this type have not been fully evaluated with respect to performance of beef cows and suckling calves. The objective of our study was to evaluate the effects of pre- and postpartum bolus injections of a trace mineral solution on beef cow reproductive performance, body weight change, and body condition score change, as well as performance of suckling calves