Drought-stressed Corn

This NebFact details how to identify drought stress in corn, its effect on potential yield and how to maximize economic return from drought-damaged corn

Supplementing Beef Cows Grazing Cornstalk Residue with a Distillers Based Cube

A 4-year study is being conducted to determine the effect of excess undegrad¬able intake protein supplementation using a cube that is 2/3 dried distillers grains (DDG) to beef cows in late gesta¬tion on cow and calf performance and the performance of heifer calves whose dams were supplemented with protein. Feeding a supplement containing DDG did not influence calf birth and wean¬ing weights, cow body weight prior to calving, and calving interval. Cow body condition score and percentage of cows cyclic prior to breeding increased for supplemented cows

EC07-281 Body Condition Scoring Beef Cows: A Tool for Managing the Nutrition Program for Beef Herds

This 2007 Extension Circular describes the nine-point body condition scoring system, relationship between body condition and the productivity of the cow herd, and the use of body condition as a management tool to develop and monitor nutritional programs. Using body condition scoring as a management tool can increase the profit potential of the cow/calf enterprise

G74-149 Bloat Prevention and Treatment (Revised July 1996)

Bloat is a form of indigestion marked by an excessive accumulation of gas in the rumen. Immediately after cattle consume a meal, the digestive process creates gases in the rumen. Most of the gases are eliminated by eructation (belching). Any interruption of this normal gas elimination results in gas accumulation or bloat. This NebGuide discusses the types of bloat which may occur in cattle and methods to prevent and treat bloat

Utilization of Corn Co-Products in the Beef Industry

Corn milling co-products are expected to increase dramatically in supply. Two primary types of milling processes currently exist, resulting in quite different feed products. The dry milling process produces distillers grains plus solubles, and the wet milling process produces corn gluten feed. These feeds can be marketed as wet feed, or they can be dried and marketed as either dry corn gluten feed or dry distillers grains with or without solubles. For the purposes of this article, only wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) and wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) will be discussed. The majority of plant expansions are dry milling plants that produce WDGS; however, an increase in supply of WCGF is also expected. Therefore, these feeds may be very attractive for beef producers to use as an energy source. This article will focus on the production, composition of these feeds, energy values, and economics of using WDGS. Some other management issues will be discussed as well including grain processing when these co-products are used in feedlot diets, roughage level when these co-products are used, and feeding combinations of WDGS and WCGF. Forage fed situations will be covered with dried co-products as this will be the most common application for both energy and protein supplementation in many forage feeding situations

Utilization of Corn Co-Products in the Beef Industry

Corn milling co-products are expected to increase dramatically in supply. Two primary types of milling processes currently exist, resulting in quite different feed products. The dry milling process produces distillers grains plus solubles, and the wet milling process produces corn gluten feed. These feeds can be marketed as wet feed, or they can be dried and marketed as either dry corn gluten feed or dry distillers grains with or without solubles. For the purposes of this article, only wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) and wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) will be discussed. The majority of plant expansions are dry milling plants that produce WDGS; however, an increase in supply of WCGF is also expected. Therefore, these feeds may be very attractive for beef producers to use as an energy source. This article will focus on the production, composition of these feeds, energy values, and economics of using WDGS. Some other management issues will be discussed as well including grain processing when these co-products are used in feedlot diets, roughage level when these co-products are used, and feeding combinations of WDGS and WCGF. Forage fed situations will be covered with dried co-products as this will be the most common application for both energy and protein supplementation in many forage feeding situations

EC97-277 Minerals and Vitamins For Beef Cows

Introduction Mineral supplementation programs range from elaborate, cafeteria-style delivery systems to simple white salt blocks put out periodically by producers. The reason for this diversity: little applicable research available for producers to evaluate mineral supplement programs. There is a need of information regarding mineral composition and availability from various feedstuffs (i.e. pasture grasses, hays, by-products, etc.) and the possible interactions between minerals in the digestive system. Also lacking is a data base to establish accurate estimates of mineral requirements for beef cattle. Assessing the consequence of mineral deficiencies in the cow, calf or stocker animal is difficult because slightly lowered weight gains in calves, reduced milk production and/or decreased reproduction rates may occur without visible signs of deficiency. At the same time, excess mineral consumption may cause reduced cow and/or calf performance without obvious signs of toxicity. Potential problems can occur due to mineral undernutrition in the cow herd; however, producers need sufficient information to establish a least cost method of correcting mineral undernutrition

Environmental Effects on Pregnancy Rate in Beef Cattle

Ten years of calving records were examined from Bos taurus crossbred cows (mean of 182 cows/ yr) to quantify the effects of environmental conditions during the breeding season on pregnancy rate. Estimated breeding dates were determined by subtracting 283 d from the calving date. Relationships were determined between the proportion of cows bred during the periods from the beginning of the breeding season until d 21, 42, and 60 of the breeding season and the corresponding environmental variables. Weather data were compiled from a weather station located approximately 20 km from the research site. Average daily temperature and relative humidity were used to calculate daily temperature-humidity index (THI). Daily averages for each environmental variable were averaged for each period. Minimum temperature (MNTP) and THI for the first 21 and 42 d of the breeding season were negatively associated (P \u3c 0.001) with pregnancy rate. For the 0- to 21-d, 0- to 42-d, and 0- to 60-d breeding periods, respective r2 for average temperatures were 0.32, 0.37, and 0.11, whereas r2 for MNTP were 0.45, 0.40, and 0.10 and r2 for THI were 0.38, 0.41, and 0.11, respectively, for the same breeding periods. The negative associations of temperature and THI with pregnancy rate are most pronounced during the first 21 d of the breeding season, with a −3.79 and −2.06% change in pregnancy rate for each unit of change in MNTP and THI, respectively. A combination of environmental variables increased the R2 to 0.67. In this analysis, windspeed was found to be positively associated with pregnancy rate in all equations and increased the R2 in all breeding periods. Optimum MNTP for the 0- to 21-d, 0- to 42-d, and 0- to 60- d breeding periods was 12.6, 13.5, and 14.9°C, respectively. For the 0- to 60-d breeding period, optimum THI was 68.0, whereas the THI threshold, the calculated level at which cattle will adapt, was found to be 72.9. Reductions in pregnancy rate are likely when the average MNTP and THI equal or exceed 16.7°C and 72.9, respectively, and for Bos Taurus beef cows that are pasture bred during a 60-d spring-summer period

The Effects of Temperature and Temperature-Humidity Index on Pregnancy Rate in Beef Cows

Ten years of records from a 150- head beef cow herd were used to determine the relationship of temperature and temperature-humidity index (THI) on pregnancy rate in beef cows. Pregnancy rate of the herd for the duration of the experiment averaged 92%. There was a linear relationship between average 30-day temperature and pregnancy rate during the first 30 days of the breeding season. Average THI greater than 65 for the first 30 days of the breeding season tended to decrease pregnancy rate in the first 30 days, but there was no effect on herd pregnancy rate. If the 60-day average THI was greater than 70, pregnancy rate for 60 days tended to decrease. Breeding season THI had no effect on pregnancy rate. High temperatures and high temperature-humidity index decrease the pregnancy rate during the first 30 days of the breeding season. Cows acclimate to environmental conditions and if the length of the breeding season is 60 days or more, pregnancy rate is not compromised

Carcass Traits and Palatability Attributes of Herdmates Finished as Calves or Yearling Steers

A two-year study compared steers from the same herd finished as calves or yearlings at a fat thickness endpoint of 0.5 in. Yearlings yielded heavier carcasses with larger ribeye areas, lower marbling scores and lower quality grades. Calves produced more tender steaks measured by shear force and a consumer taste panel. The probability of a tough steak (based on shear force) from calf-fed steers was 1.9 and 0.02% for 7 and 21 days of aging, respectively, while the risk for yearlings was 29.2 and 4.0%, respectively. Calf-fed steers produced more tender steaks and, after 21 days of aging, steaks from yearlings were similar