Mineral Nutrition for Beef Cattle – Extension Program

Objective: Provide educational resources and support to producers to assist them in improving their cattle mineral program and subsequent cattle health and nutrition

Reducing Costs of Delivering Feed to Cattle - Supplementation Frequency

Winter supplementation of beef cattle is an important economic and production decision that producers make each year. Supplementation is often necessary to overcome nutrient deficiencies to allow adequate cattle performance. However, supplementation is an expensive input cost, par-ticularly with current high feed prices and deliv¬ery costs. The initial decision is about the correct type and amount of feed to use as the supplement, with the goal to provide the needed nutrients at the least feed cost. After this decision, opportuni¬ties for reducing other costs of supplementation should be considered. One option that can have a major impact on input costs is how often supple-ment is delivered. Reducing the frequency that supplement is delivered can reduce fuel, labor, and machinery costs. The important concern is creating the right balance between frequency of delivery and cattle performance

Factors Influencing Price of South Dakota Feeder Calves Fall 2021 and Winter 2022

Study Description: Data was collected at Faith, Philip, Hub City (Aberdeen), Mitchell, and Ft. Pierre Livestock Auctions during the weeks of October 4, 11, 18, and November 1, 2021. Data was collected and analyzed on the approximately 116,000 head of calves that were marketed during that time frame. Data collected included: auction barn, date, seller id, sex, number of head per lot, average weight, hide color, uniformity information, vaccination data, creep feed, implants, branded programs, weaned, horns, mud score, price per hundredweight, price per head, and additional comments. Uniformity score and weighted average price per hundredweight was calculated for each seller. Sellers were grouped into “herd sizes” to compare uniformity and determine value. Additional data will be collected in February and March 2022 to assess the value of backgrounded calves. Data from the fall calf run are currently being analyzed. Preliminary analysis indicates no differences in price per hundredweight for black versus black-white face calves (P \u3e 0.05), so data was combined and classified as black. The same was true for red versus red-white face (P \u3e 0.05), so were classified as red. Significant differences (P \u3c 0.05) were identified for auction barn, hide color, vaccination program, lot size, drug free and horns. There were no differences for implanted cattle versus non-implanted cattle (P = 0.99) or creep fed calves versus non-creep fed calves (P = 0.97)

Comparison of Winter Cow Feeding Strategies on Offspring Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality

Objective The objective of this research was to investigate effects of maternal prepartum dietary energy source (forage vs. concentrate) during mid and late gestation on carcass composition, and meat quality of offspring.Study Description Angus-based cows from 2 sources [n = 129 from SDSU (Experiment 1) and n = 70 from North Dakota State University (Experiment 2)] were stratified by body weight and age and placed into two treatment groups at a drylot facility during mid- and late-gestation: Concentrate (dams fed a concentrate-based diet) or Forage (dams fed a forage-based diet). Calves were finished and carcass data was collected. Striploins were collected for meat quality evaluation

Delivery of Supplements of Rangelands

Supplementation of cows grazing rangelands is often beneficial to overcome nutrient deficiencies or imbalances. However, supplemental feeds and their delivery to the cow herd are expenses and thus supplementation decisions should be carefully made to ensure that costs are minimized and benefits in terms of cow performance exceed supplementation costs. When supplementing cows, there are questions that producers should ask themselves to determine the best management practices to provide the most cost effective supplement program for their operation. The first among these is the type of supplement to be provided in terms of whether it will provide the correct nutrient to overcome a deficiency or imbalance. Selection of the correct supplemental feedstuff based on its nutritional composition can improve the cows’ ability to utilize range forage, whereas the wrong feedstuff can reduce utilization of range forage and possibly simply become a substitute for grazed forage. Once the correct supplemental feedstuff is chosen based on its nutrient composition, opportunities to deliver that feedstuff need to be considered to meet two goals: (1) reduce the cost of supplement delivery and (2) ensure that the feedstuff is consumed as uniformly as possible by all cows in the herd. Other goals for cow herd and grazing management may also need to be considered. This paper will address some options for supplement delivery and the economics of those options

Mineral Concentrations of Forages for Livestock in Nebraska and South Dakota

Forage samples from Nebraska and South Dakota submitted to Ward Laboratories, Inc. from 2012– 2019 were analyzed for mineral concentrations. Samples were categorized by forage species, quality based on protein content, and mineral concentration based on requirements for lactating beef cows. ! e data indicate that copper and zinc are frequently deficient across all species and levels of forage quality, emphasizing the need for supplementation. Except for magnesium, macro- mineral deficiencies are less likely to occur when feeding high quality forages in Nebraska and South Dakota. Corn feedstuffs are particularly likely to result in mineral deficiencies if fed without mineral supplementation. High protein annual small grain forages are more likely to have high tetany ratios than other forages. Forage mineral analysis can assist in determining whether or not supplementation is required and at what level. Forage mineral analyses is one component of developing a livestock mineral management strategy, in conjunction with livestock health and performance records, and overall ranch goals

Influence of Maternal Protein Restriction in Primiparous Beef Heifers during Mid- and/or Late-Gestation on Progeny Feedlot Performance and Carcass Characteristics

This study investigated the impacts of metabolizable protein (MP) restriction in primiparous heifers during mid- and/or late-gestation on progeny performance and carcass characteristics. Heifers were allocated to 12 pens in a randomized complete block design. The factorial treatment structure included two stages of gestation (mid- and late-) and two levels of dietary protein (control (CON); ~101% of MP requirements and restricted (RES); ~80% of MP requirements). Half of the pens on each treatment were randomly reassigned to the other treatment at the end of mid-gestation. Progeny were finished in a GrowSafe feeding system and carcass measurements were collected. Gestation treatment x time interactions indicated that MP restriction negatively influenced heifer body weight (BW), body condition score, and longissimus muscle (LM) area (p p > 0.05). Treatment did not affect the feeding period, initial or final BW, dry matter intake, or average daily gain of progeny (p > 0.05). The progeny of dams on the RES treatment in late gestation had a greater LM area (p = 0.04), but not when adjusted on a hot carcass weight basis (p > 0.10). Minimal differences in the animal performance and carcass characteristics suggest that the level of MP restriction imposed during mid- and late-gestation in this study did not have a significant developmental programming effect

Influence of Maternal Carbohydrate Source (Concentrate-Based vs. Forage-Based) on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Meat Quality of Progeny

The objective of this research was to investigate the influence of maternal prepartum dietary carbohydrate source on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of offspring. Angus-based cows were assigned to either a concentrate-based diet or forage-based diet during mid- and late-gestation. A subset of calves was selected for evaluation of progeny performance. Dry matter intake (DMI), body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), gain to feed (G:F), and ultrasound measurements (muscle depth, back fat thickness, and intramuscular fat) were assessed during the feeding period. Carcass measurements were recorded, and striploins were collected for Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), trained sensory panel, crude fat determination and fatty acid profile. Maternal dietary treatment did not influence (p > 0.05) offspring BW, DMI, ultrasound measurements, percent moisture, crude fat, WBSF, or consumer sensory responses. The forage treatment tended to have decreased (p = 0.06) 12th rib backfat compared to the concentrate treatment and tended to have lower (p = 0.08) yield grades. The concentrate treatment had increased (p < 0.05) a* and b* values compared to the forage treatment. These data suggest variation in maternal diets applied in this study during mid- and late-gestation has limited influence on progeny performance

Recovery of dialysis patients with COVID-19: health outcomes 3 months after diagnosis in ERACODA

© The Author(s) 2022.Background. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related short-term mortality is high in dialysis patients, but longer-term outcomes are largely unknown. We therefore assessed patient recovery in a large cohort of dialysis patients 3 months after their COVID-19 diagnosis. Methods. We analyzed data on dialysis patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from 1 February 2020 to 31 March 2021 from the European Renal Association COVID-19 Database (ERACODA). The outcomes studied were patient survival, residence and functional and mental health status (estimated by their treating physician) 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis. Complete follow-up data were available for 854 surviving patients. Patient characteristics associated with recovery were analyzed using logistic regression. Results. In 2449 hemodialysis patients (mean ± SD age 67.5 ± 14.4 years, 62% male), survival probabilities at 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis were 90% for nonhospitalized patients (n = 1087), 73% for patients admitted to the hospital but not to an intensive care unit (ICU) (n = 1165) and 40% for those admitted to an ICU (n = 197). Patient survival hardly decreased between 28 days and 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis. At 3 months, 87% functioned at their pre-existent functional and 94% at their pre-existent mental level. Only few of the surviving patients were still admitted to the hospital (0.8–6.3%) or a nursing home (∼5%). A higher age and frailty score at presentation and ICU admission were associated with worse functional outcome. Conclusions. Mortality between 28 days and 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis was low and the majority of patients who survived COVID-19 recovered to their pre-existent functional and mental health level at 3 months after diagnosis