Year-Round Forage Systems for Beef Cows and Calves

Beef cow systems in the USA are based on forages with little or no concentrates fed. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. L.) is one of the important pasture forages in the lower Northeast and upper South (Allen et al., 2001). Limited research has been conducted on year-round all forage systems based on cool season forages. Stockpiling tall fescue in late summer-early fall provides good quality forage that is usually grazed rather than harvested. Forage systems including tall fescue and clover (Trifolium repens L.) produced excellent performance in beef cows and calves, with minimum inputs (Allen et al., 2001). The present experiment is a component of a larger initiative, Pasture-based Forage Systems for Appalachia. The specific objective of this experiment is to evaluate different forage systems for beef cows and calves

Experience Improves the Reliability of Subjective Measurements of Temperament in Beef Cattle

Reliability of experienced and inexperienced observers when assessing the behavior of cattle when restrained in a squeeze chute (chute score), and when exiting the chute (exit score), was compared. Overall, experienced observers had higher reliability than inexperienced observers. Increasing the number of individuals scoring an animal decreased the degree of agreement. However, within an acceptable tolerance for difference in scores, such disagreement may be beneficial; it allows for subtlety in interpretations of temperament, which when averaged, may better reflect docility. Reliabilities were higher for exit score than chute score. This may reflect the complexity of the trait being evaluated, with fewer behaviors observed when cattle exit as compared to when restrained in a chute. Producers may profitably use chute and exit score to quantify docility in cattle. However, it may be worthwhile to gain experience in using the scoring system before implementing it for selection decisions

Experience Improves the Reliability of Subjective Measurements of Temperament in Beef Cattle

Reliability of experienced and inexperienced observers when assessing the behavior of cattle when restrained in a squeeze chute (chute score), and when exiting the chute (exit score), was compared. Overall, experienced observers had higher reliability than inexperienced observers. Increasing the number of individuals scoring an animal decreased the degree of agreement. However, within an acceptable tolerance for difference in scores, such disagreement may be beneficial; it allows for subtlety in interpretations of temperament, which when averaged, may better reflect docility. Reliabilities were higher for exit score than chute score. This may reflect the complexity of the trait being evaluated, with fewer behaviors observed when cattle exit as compared to when restrained in a chute. Producers may profitably use chute and exit score to quantify docility in cattle. However, it may be worthwhile to gain experience in using the scoring system before implementing it for selection decisions

Repeated Calm Handling Can Lead to More Docile Cattle

Changes in temperament in heifers when handled either frequently or infrequently were evaluated subjectively based on their behavior when restrained in (chute score) and exiting from (exit score) a squeeze chute. Chute scores decreased over time–a favorable direction–with more dramatic declines in heifers handled more frequently. Heifers with higher chute scores on the first day of handling had the largest reduction in score. Exit scores changed less over time. Chute score therefore may be more indicative of acclimation to a novel environment than exit score. Both scores appear to offer a fast, easy and inexpensive way to quantify docility in cattle. Heifers became calmer with repeated gentle handling. Producers therefore may benefit from allowing cattle a few days to acclimate to new working facilities before assessing docility

Experience Improves the Reliability of Subjective Measurements of Temperament in Beef Cattle

Reliability of experienced and inexperienced observers when assessing the behavior of cattle when restrained in a squeeze chute (chute score), and when exiting the chute (exit score), was compared. Overall, experienced observers had higher reliability than inexperienced observers. Increasing the number of individuals scoring an animal decreased the degree of agreement. However, within an acceptable tolerance for difference in scores, such disagreement may be beneficial; it allows for subtlety in interpretations of temperament, which when averaged, may better reflect docility. Reliabilities were higher for exit score than chute score. This may reflect the complexity of the trait being evaluated, with fewer behaviors observed when cattle exit as compared to when restrained in a chute. Producers may profitably use chute and exit score to quantify docility in cattle. However, it may be worthwhile to gain experience in using the scoring system before implementing it for selection decisions

Repeated Calm Handling Can Lead to More Docile Cattle

Changes in temperament in heifers when handled either frequently or infrequently were evaluated subjectively based on their behavior when restrained in (chute score) and exiting from (exit score) a squeeze chute. Chute scores decreased over time–a favorable direction–with more dramatic declines in heifers handled more frequently. Heifers with higher chute scores on the first day of handling had the largest reduction in score. Exit scores changed less over time. Chute score therefore may be more indicative of acclimation to a novel environment than exit score. Both scores appear to offer a fast, easy and inexpensive way to quantify docility in cattle. Heifers became calmer with repeated gentle handling. Producers therefore may benefit from allowing cattle a few days to acclimate to new working facilities before assessing docility

Composition chimique et qualité de la viande des taurillons Belgian Blue ayant reçu une diète d’engraissement contenant des céréales enrichies en sélénium.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of selenium (Se) enrichment of cereals on Belgian Blue bulls performance, on meat quality and chemical composition. Twenty three bulls were used in the present study. Twelve bulls were offered a control diet containing Se at a basal concentration of 58 µg kg-1 of dry matter (DM) and the other 11 bulls given a diet containing 173 µg kg-1DM of Se by means of Se enriched spelt and barley. The Se enrichment of the diet did not affect either the growth performance, the slaughter data or meat quality (p>0.05). There were no effects of Se on tenderness, oxydative rancidity and water losses. However, there were some effects of Se enrichment on the meat chemical composition. The ether extract was decreased from 2.1 to 1.7% DM (p<0.05). There were also significant Se enrichment (p < 0.001) in Longissimus thoracis muscle (177 vs 477 ng g1-DM) and organs: liver (474 vs 1126 ng g1-DM) and kidney (4956 vs 5655 ng g1-DM), Under such condition, the human consumption of a piece of such meat or liver can cover a large part of the recommended daily Se intake estimated between 30 to 57%