Impact of Shade in Beef Feedyards on Performance, Body Temperature, and Heat Stress Measures

A study using crossbred steers was conducted at a commercial feedyard to determine the effects of pen shades on cattle performance, body temperature, and cattle activity. Two heat events (Event 1 and Event 2) and one cool event were defined for the feeding period. No significant differences were observed for average daily gain, dry matter intake, feed to gain, or carcass characteristics at the end of the trial. During Event 1, cattle in pens with shade had lower panting scores than cattle in open pens. During Event 2, cattle in shade pens had greater dry matter intake, lower panting scores, and lower ear temperature. Throughout the entire feeding period, cattle in open pens had greater ear temperature and panting scores than cattle in shaded pens while movement was not different between treatments. Using shades for feedyard cattle did not impact performance, but did improve some measures of heat stress

Phosphorus Requirement for Finishing Heifers

Sixty head of crossbred heifers (614 lb initial BW) were individually fed one of five levels of phosphorus of 0.10, 0.17, 0.24, 0.31, 0.38 % of diet DM with supplemental P from monosodium phosphate. Heifers were fed an energy-dense diet composed primarily of corn starch and corn fiber to minimize P from corn. When compared to the other four levels, heifers fed at the 0.10 % P level had lower DMI, ADG and final BW. Heifers fed 0.10%P had lower plasma P concentration. Breakpoint analysis of ADG suggests that the P requirement for finishing heifers is 0.115% P of diet DM within the range of 8.2 to 10.3g P/day (0.104 and 0.127% P on a DM basis)

Mitochondrial Strokes: Diagnostic Challenges and Chameleons

Mitochondrial stroke-like episodes (SLEs) are a hallmark of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). They should be suspected in anyone with an acute/subacute onset of focal neurological symptoms at any age and are usually driven by seizures. Suggestive features of an underlying mitochondrial pathology include evolving MRI lesions, often originating within the posterior brain regions, the presence of multisystemic involvement, including diabetes, deafness, or cardiomyopathy, and a positive family history. The diagnosis of MELAS has important implications for those affected and their relatives, given it enables early initiation of appropriate treatment and genetic counselling. However, the diagnosis is frequently challenging, particularly during the acute phase of an event. We describe four cases of mitochondrial strokes to highlight the considerable overlap that exists with other neurological disorders, including viral and autoimmune encephalitis, ischemic stroke, and central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis, and discuss the clinical, laboratory, and imaging features that can help distinguish MELAS from these differential diagnoses

Impact of Cleaning Frequency on Nitrogen Balance in Open Feedlot Pens

Pen cleaning frequency of feedlot pens was evaluated during the summer of 2001 and 2002. Dry matter, organic matter and nitrogen recoveries were evaluated on a per head basis. Cleaning pens monthly compared to cleaning at the end of the feeding period resulted in significantly more DM, OM and N recovered. Cleaning pens every month increased N removal by 7.0 lb per steer (49.9% increase) above manure N removed at the end of the feeding period

Effects of Corn Processing Method and Crude Protein Level with the Inclusion of Wet Corn Gluten Feed on Finishing Steer Performance

Three hundred twenty crossbred steer calves were used to evaluate corn processing method and crude protein level in finishing diets that included wet corn gluten feed. There was no response due to crude protein level (14 vs 15%) observed in this trial. As corn processing method became more intensive (fine-grinding, high-moisture ensiling, and steam-flaking corn) compared to dry-rolling, daily intake was reduced. Daily gain was similar across corn processing methods. Feed efficiency and cost of gain improved as corn processing method intensity increased

Wet Corn Gluten Feed Levels for Steam-flaked Corn Based Finishing Diets

A finishing trial was conducted to evaluate level of wet corn gluten feed in steam-flaked corn based finishing diets. Feed efficiency and daily gain were similar among all levels (10, 20, 25, 30, and 35%, DM basis) of inclusion of Sweet Bran® wet corn gluten feed evaluated in this trial. These data indicate wet corn gluten feed is similar in energy content to steam-flaked corn based on animal performance

Relationships of Chute-Side Measurements to Carcass Measurements

Three data sets were compiled to determine the relationship of weight, performance, hip height and ultrasound-measured fat thickness to hot carcass weight and fat thickness. Weight is generally the best predictor of relative differences in carcass weight at any time in the production system. Hip heights do not predict relative differences in carcass weight. Although the combination of hip height and weight is a more precise indicator of carcass weight than is hip height alone, generally this combination is inferior to weight alone. Only ultrasound-measured fat thickness predicted relative differences in fat thickness. Prediction of relative differences in carcass weight from body weight and fat thickness from ultrasound scans improved as marketing date approached

Effect of Wet and Dry Distillers Grains Plus Solubles and Supplemental Fat Level on Performance of Yearling Finishing Cattle

Two finishing trials were conducted to compare the addition of fat from either wet or dry distillers byproducts (WDGS; DDGS) to that provided from one of two commercially available fat sources (corn oil, Trial 1; tallow, Trial 2). In Trial 1, feed conversion and ADG decreased linearly as level of corn oil increased, while feed conversion and ADG were improved numerically as the level of WDGS increased in the diet. In Trial 2, no differences in performance were observed comparing cattle fed dry distillers grains plus solubles to cattle fed diets containing tallow. WDGS provided 12 and 17% more net energy for gain when fed at 20 and 40% of the diet compared to a dry rolled/high moisture corn mix

Sorting Strategies for Yearlings

One hundred sixty medium-framed English-cross steers were used in each year of a two-year study to determine effects of three sorting strategies on performance, carcass characteristics and profitability in an extensive beef production system. Sorting by weight before the grazing period or entering the feedlot decreased variation in carcass weight. Sorting by weight before the grazing period increased marbling scores and resulted in significantly higher premiums. However, no sorting strategy significantly increased carcass weight or improved profitability

Sorting Strategies for Yearlings

One hundred sixty medium-framed English-cross steers were used in each year of a two-year study to determine effects of three sorting strategies on performance, carcass characteristics and profitability in an extensive beef production system. Sorting by weight before the grazing period or entering the feedlot decreased variation in carcass weight. Sorting by weight before the grazing period increased marbling scores and resulted in significantly higher premiums. However, no sorting strategy significantly increased carcass weight or improved profitability