Carcass Trait Trends for Steers and Heifers Finished Through the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity Cooperative from 2002 Through 2018

Objective: The objective was to evaluate trends in carcass characteristics for steers and heifers finished through the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity Cooperative. Study Description: Data analyzed included 74,207 steers and 33,529 heifers finished at the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity Cooperative (Lewis, IA) and harvested from 2002 through 2018. Steers and heifers were harvested at liveweights of 1,235.0 +/- 119.8 lb and 1,124.2 +/- 106.7 lb, respectively. Carcass trait trends evaluated for steers and heifers included calculated yield grade score, backfat thickness, hot carcass weight, kidney, pelvic, heart, fat percentage, marbling score, and ribeye area. Results: Calculated yield grade scores increased from 2002 through 2018 for steers and heifers. Fat thickness increased 0.08 in for steers and 0.07 in for heifers, both peaking in 2017 at 0.55 and 0.59 in, respectively. Hot carcass weights ranged from 727 to 780 lb for steers and increased over the 17-year period. Hot carcass weights for heifers ranged from 671 to 711 lb and increased slightly from 2002 through 2018. Kidney, pelvic, heart, fat percentage did not change for steers and heifers. Marbling score increased from 422 to 456 for steers and 449 to 493 for heifers. Ribeye area increased slightly for steers while decreasing slightly for heifers over the 17-year period. The Bottom Line: Corresponding with increases in fat thickness and minimal to no improvement in ribeye area, yield grade scores increased over the past 17 years. Genetic selection pressure on marbling within the beef industry is evident from these data

Breed and gender interact to affect the sale price of beef calves sold through video auctions from 2010 through 2014

Citation: McCabe, E. D., King, M. E., Fike, K. E., Hill, K. L., Rogers, G. M., & Odde, K. G. (2016). Breed and gender interact to affect the sale price of beef calves sold through video auctions from 2010 through 2014. Journal of Animal Science, 94, 29-29. doi:10.2527/msasas2016-063The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of the potential interaction of breed and gender on the sale price of beef calves marketed through video auctions while adjusting for all other factors that significantly influenced price. Information on descriptive characteristics of lots of beef calves were obtained from a livestock video auction service. Data were available on 20,007 lots of steer calves and 13,804 lots of heifer calves (2106,181 total steer calves and 1239,645 total heifer calves) that sold in 116 video auctions from 2010 through 2014. All lot characteristics that could be accurately quantified or categorized were used to develop a multiple regression model that evaluated the effects of independent factors on the sale price using a backward selection procedure. A value of P < 0.05 was used to maintain a factor in the final model. Breed description of the calves in the lots was 1 of 19 factors included in the original model and was characterized into 6 groups: English, English crosses (EX), English–Continental crosses (ECX), Black Angus sired out of dams with no Brahman influence (AN), Red Angus sired out of dams with no Brahman influence (AR), and Brahman influenced (BR). Breed and gender of the lot interacted (P < 0.0001) to affect the sale price of calves. Lots of AR and AN steer calves had similar sale prices (P = 0.9540; $379.08 and$378.14 per 100 kg BW, respectively) and sold for significantly higher prices than all other steer breed groups. English cross and ECX steer lots had similar sale prices (P = 0.2588; $376.24 and$374.92 per 100 kg BW, respectively) but were greater (P < 0.05) than BR steer calves ($365.61 per 100 kg BW). Among heifer calves, lots of AR heifers sold for the highest price (P < 0.05;$356.02 per 100 kg BW). The AN heifer calves sold for the second highest price at $345.95 per 100 kg BW, and this price was greater (P < 0.05) compared with ECX ($341.50 per 100 kg BW) and EX heifers ($341.14 per 100 kg BW). Brahman-influenced heifer calves sold for the lowest (P < 0.05) price at$334.64 per 100 kg BW compared with heifers of all other breed descriptions. Breed and gender composition of the lots of beef calves interacted to affect the sale price of calves selling through video auctions. The value of the specific breed composition of beef calves is influenced by gender and may be related to buyers purchasing certain breeds of heifer calves as replacements for the breeding herd

Decline in Brahman Breed Influence of Beef Calf Lots Marketed by Video Auction from 1995 to 2015

Brahman cattle are widely known for their ability to tolerate hot and humid climates as well as for their insect and parasite resistance. An estimated 40% of all beef cows in the United States are located in the southern region, which has a relatively hot climate. Historically, many of these beef cows have had at least some Brahman influence. The opportunity to evaluate potential changes in the influence of the Brahman breed on beef calves produced in the United States was available through lots of beef calves marketed through a video auction service. The objective was to characterize the potential change in the percentage of lots of beef calves with Brahman influence among calves originating from various regions of the United States marketed through summer video auctions from 1995 through 2015

Sale Price of Holstein Feeder Steer Lots Relative to Other Breed Descriptions Sold Through Superior Livestock Video Sales from 2010 Through 2018

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the relative value of Holstein feeder steer lots compared to steer lots of other breed descriptions sold through video auctions while adjusting for all other factors that significantly influenced sale price. Study Description: Data were analyzed from 14,075 lots of feeder steers sold via 211 livestock video auctions from 2010 through 2018. All lot characteristics that could be accurately quantified or categorized were used to develop a multiple regression model with backwards selection. A lot was categorized into one of four breed descriptions: 1) English, English crossed; 2) English-Continental crossed; 3) Brahman influenced; and 4) Holstein. The Bottom Line: The relative price discount for Holstein feeder steer lots compared with other breed descriptions appears to have increased from 2010–2018, and thus is likely indicating lessening interest in the feedlot sector to feed Holstein steers to harvest

Carbon Isotope and Lipid Biomarker Stratigraphy from Organic-Rich Strata Through the Neoproterozoic Shuram Excursion in South Oman

The regulation of oxygen levels in Earth’s atmosphere and oceans is inextricably linked to the carbon cycle. Carbon isotope ratios of carbonate and sedimentary organic matter provide first order insights into the operation of the carbon cycle in the geologic past. During the Ediacaran period, the ~580 Ma ‘Shuram Excursion’ (SE) records a dramatic, systematic shift in δ^(13)C_(carbonate) values to as low as cɑ. -12‰, lasting potentially millions to tens of millions of years in duration and constitutes the largest carbon isotope excursion known in the record [1]. The extremely negative carbon isotope values in carbonate challenges our understanding of the ancient carbon cycle and is difficult to rationalise via uniform carbon cycle principles. Several hypotheses have been developed to explain this behaviour, all of which make different predictions for the abundance, structure, and isotopic composition of organic carbon through the excursion. For a direct test of these ideas, we report paired organic and inorganic stable carbon isotope ratios in addition to detailed lipid biomarker stratigraphic records from a subsurface well drilled on the eastern flank of the South Oman Salt Basin, Sultanate of Oman. This well captures thermally immature and organic-rich Nafun Group strata traversing the SE, yielding variable but primary biomarker characteristics typical of Neoproterozoic rocks from this region. Despite the high organic matter contents, the carbon isotopic compositions of carbonates do not covary with those of organic phases. Furthermore, lipid biomarker data reveal that organic matter composition and source inputs varied stratigraphically, reflecting biological community shifts in non-migrated, syngenetic organic matter deposited during this interval. Together these observations imply that carbonateorganic isotopic decoupling during the SE is not a result of mixing of fossil or exogenous carbon sources (either DOC, detrital, or migrated) with syngenetic organic matter

Factors Affecting the Sale Price of Bred Heifers and Bred Cows Sold Through Superior Livestock Video Auctions

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate potential factors influencing the sale price of bred heifers and bred cows sold through video auctions while adjusting for all other factors that significantly influenced prices. Study Description: Descriptive characteristics of lots offered for sale were obtained through a livestock video auction service (Superior Livestock Auction, Fort Worth, TX). Data were available on 1,870 lots of bred heifers sold through video auctions from 2010 through 2018 and 1,237 lots of bred cows sold through video auctions from 2011 through 2018. Two separate multiple regression models were developed to determine the factors influencing the sale price for each. The Bottom Line: Understanding the various factors influencing the sale price of bred heifers and bred cows will allow producers to make more informed investment decisions

Region of Origin in the United States Affects Price Premiums Associated with Value-Added Health Protocols of Beef Calf Lots Sold Through Summer Video Auctions from 2010 Through 2018

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the effects of value-added calf health protocols within various regions of the United States on the sale price of beef calf lots sold via summer video auction. Study Description: Information describing lot factors was obtained through a livestock video auction service (Superior Livestock Auction, Fort Worth, TX). Descriptive characteristics were available over nine years (2010-2018) representing 43,242 lots of beef calves. Data were evaluated to investigate participation in various health programs across regions. A multiple regression model was developed for each region to determine the value associated with health protocols throughout regions of the United States. The Bottom Line: While variation in the sale price of beef calves across regions suggests evident differences in the recognized value by buyers, results indicate the value associated with the vaccination and management of calves with potentially larger transportation distances from origin to delivery

Results of a production analysis survey of cow herds in Kansas

A survey of production levels and management practices of 205 cow herds representing over 26,000 cows in Kansas was conducted in 1991. These operations were located throughout Kansas except for the Northwest corner. Emphasis was placed on determining levels of production and reproductive parameters. Breeders emphasized calf crop. For example, the average calf crop was 91.6%, with 4.3% open females and 4.4% calf death loss. Cumulative calving percentages by 21-day calving periods were 32, 55, and 68%. Average weaning weights were 550 lb. for steers and 515 lb for heifers. Additionally, information was collected on breeding, nutrition, health, and general management practices

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