Vision and Objectives

The purpose of Industry Day is to exchange information with industry to increase understanding of the Government's current vision and objectives for the xEVA Production and Services Contract. The presentation provides industry with the opportunity to provide input into the xEVAPS procurement strategy and encourage offerors to submit questions and comments. A technical overview of the xEVA System serves as the foundation for the content related to draft requirements in the SOW

Disease-Management Programs Can Improve Quality of Care for the Chronically Ill, Even in a Weak Primary Care System: A Case Study From Germany

Examines how Germany's disease management programs featuring information technology support, designated ambulatory care doctors, focus on self-management, quality assurance, and financial incentives raised quality and satisfaction. Outlines implications

Evaluating the Effects of Diet Energy Density on Hereford Steer Performance with Differing Genetic Potential for Dry Matter Intake

Advancements in beef cattle genetics have allowed for development of dry matter intake (DMI) expected progeny differences (EPD). This study was designed to evalute the effects of altered dietary energy density on feedlot performance of steers sired by Hereford bulls in the top and bottom 40% for their breed in DMI EPDs at the time of EPD introduction to the industry in the Spring of 2016. Sire dry matter intake EPD yielded no differences in live animal performance. While steers fed a lower energy diet (0.63 Mcal/lb NEg) had increased DMI and improved average daily gains, steers fed a higher energy diet (0.68 Mcal/lb NEg) had a 6% advantage in feed conversion. As breed associations and producers start to adopt this novel EPD and accurately use the data generated to improve the EPD accuracy, additional research is needed to more fully evaluate the interaction of diet and genetic potential for DMI

Trace Mineral Clearance from Plasma and Liver Following Injection is Affected by Cattle Breed

Trace mineral supplementation during times of stress and critical production periods may prove beneficial to overall animal health and performance. A decrease in trace mineral status may negatively impact reproduction, immunity, and general performance of the animal. Little research is available inquiring into breed differences on trace mineral status and clearance. This study concluded that Multimin®90 appeared to be an effective way to improve the trace mineral status, specifically of liver copper (Cu) and selenium (Se), of Angus and Simmental calves when compared to controls receiving sterilized saline

Effects of Increased Inclusion of Algae Meal on Lamb Total Tract Digestibility

Algae meal is a novel coproduct created by the unique combination of soybean hulls and oil-extracted heterotrophic micro algae. Algae meal is highly digestible by ruminants and was readily consumed by lambs when included at up to 60% of the diet dry matter. This suggests that algae meal could potentially replace corn or soybean hulls and serve as a valuable component of feedlot diets

Effects of Injectable Trace Mineral Supplementation on Embryo Development and Quality in Superovulated Dairy Heifers—First Year Progress Report

Injectable supplementation of trace minerals is often used to combat the malabsorption of microminerals due to antagonists in feed and water. Previous research has shown that Multimin90, a commercial supplement containing copper, zinc, manganese, and selenium, has been shown to have a positive impact on reproductive efficiency and pregnancy rates in beef cattle. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of supplementation of MultiMin90 on embryo quality in superovulated heifers. This report includes the preliminary results of the first year of an ongoing study. Though there was no difference in overall embryo quality, supplementation of MultiMin90 tended to reduce the proportion of nonfertilized embryos per flush and resulted in one more embryo per flush when compared to a saline-treated control

Factors Affecting Ruminal Hydrogen Sulfide Concentration of Cattle

Ruminal hydrogen sulfide concentrations may be a useful tool to determine risk of cattle developing sulfurinduced polioencephalomalacia. In this study, steers were fed a low sulfur (0.2% S) or a high sulfur diet (0.7% S) and ruminal hydrogen sulfide concentrations were measured. Although differences in ruminal hydrogen sulfide due to sulfur intake were maintained throughout the day, concentrations within treatment varied greatly throughout the day. Ruminal hydrogen sulfide concentrations peaked during the period from 6 to 10 hours after feeding. More research is needed to develop a threshold of ruminal hydrogen sulfide that may cause polioencephalomalacia. Additionally, time of sampling after feeding will need to be standardized for this risk assessment method to be successful

Influence of Corn Particle Size on Steer Performance and Carcass Characteristics When Fed Diets with Moderate Inclusions of Wet Distillers Grains plus Solubles

A large pen study was conducted with a commercial feedlot to investigate the influence of corn particle size on performance of steers fed diets containing 35% (DM basis) wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS). Feedlot cattle in the Midwest are often fed distillers grains from ethanol production that are low in starch. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate a practical question asked by producers if feeding moderate levels of WDGS would reduce the acidosis risk and allow fine grinding of corn to improve cattle performance. While fine grinding of corn did not improve performance compared to cattle fed a more traditional particle size of corn, starch digestibility of cattle fed finely ground corn was more favorable

Comparison of Untreated Mature Switchgrass and Cornstalks as Roughage in Beef Cattle Feedlot Diets

A feeding trial using 121 crossbred steers was conducted to evaluate the utilization of untreated mature switchgrass as a roughage source in feedlot diets. Steers were fed either cornstalks (STALK) or switchgrass (SWITCH) as roughage at 14.2% of diet DM. Performance and carcass characteristics were evaluated relative to roughage source. Cattle fed SWITCH had lesser marbling scores but backfat, HCW, KPH, ribeye area, and yield grade did not differ between treatments. Cattle fed SWITCH had lesser DMI than did STALK cattle but carcass-adjusted ADG and G:F did not differ between treatments. Untreated switchgrass may replace cornstalks at low inclusions in finishing diets, and digestibility of this low quality roughage may be improved through alkaline treatment

Investigation of the Impact of Mineral Status and Use of an Injectable Mineral on Beef Cattle Performance

Adequate trace mineral status of feedlot cattle decreases losses during shipping and improves marbling score (MS). Utilizing an injectable trace mineral, at the start of the finishing period, improved average daily gain (ADG), body weight (BW) and hot carcass weight (HCW). Trace mineral supplementation is important to beef cattle performance, and improves response to stress. Injectable minerals improve recovery after a stressful event, and enhance performance