Impact of Shade in Beef Feed Yards on Performance, Body Temperature, and Heat Stress

A study using crossbred steers was conducted at a commercial feedyard in Eastern NE to determine the effects of shade on cattle performance, ear temperature, panting scores, and cattle activity. Cattle with shade had greater dry matter intake, average daily gain and lower panting scores while movement and ear temperature were not different between treatments. Over the course of the experiment three weather events were selected to be analyzed separately (two heat events and one cool event) based on wind adjusted temperature- humidity index. Providing shade during heat event 1 resulted in greater intakes and lower panting scores, while providing shade during heat event 2 resulted in lower panting scores compared to non- shaded cattle. During the cool event, greater intakes and lower panting scores were observed for shaded cattle, although panting scores were low for both treatments. Providing shade for cattle improved intakes and average daily gains while mitigating some effects of heat stress

Corn Oil Supplementation on Performance and Methane Production in Finishing Steers

A finishing trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of corn oil on animal performance, carcass characteristics, and methane production in finishing cattle. Corn oil was supplemented at 3% of the diet (dry matterbasis) and led to a decrease in intake, a numerical improvement in average daily gain, and improved feed efficiency compared to the control cattle. Dry matter intake while in the methane barn was not decreased between treatments, although it was numerically similar to what was observed outside of the methane barn. Corn oil did not affect any carcass parameters. Methane production (g/d) was reduced with the inclusion of corn oil compared to the control. Methane (g/lb of gain) was also reduced with the inclusion of corn oil compared to the control. A numerical reduction of methane (g/lb of intake) was observed when corn oil was included in the diet. Corn oil appears to be a viable option for both improving performance as well as decreasing methane production in beef cattle finishing diets

Biochar Supplementation in Growing and Finishing Diets

Two metabolism studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of biochar (0, 0.8, or 3% of diet dry matter) on digestibility and methane production in growing and finishing diets. Intake was not affected by biochar inclusion in the growing diet and increased with 0.8% biochar inclusion in the finishing study. Digestibility tended to increase quadratically with biochar inclusion in the growing study while digestibility tended to linearly decrease with biochar inclusion in the finishing study. Methane production (g/d) decreased 10.7% in the growing study and 9.9% in the finishing study with 0.8% biochar compared to no biochar. Methane production was reduced 10.6% and 18.4% in the growing and finishing studies, respectively, when measured as g/lb of intake. Although biochar is not FDA approved for animal feeding, the initial research shows potential as a methane mitigation strategy in both growing and finishing diets

Impact of Shade in Beef Feed Yards on Performance, Body Temperature, and Heat Stress

A study using crossbred steers was conducted at a commercial feedyard in Eastern NE to determine the effects of shade on cattle performance, ear temperature, panting scores, and cattle activity. Cattle with shade had greater dry matter intake, average daily gain and lower panting scores while movement and ear temperature were not different between treatments. Over the course of the experiment three weather events were selected to be analyzed separately (two heat events and one cool event) based on wind adjusted temperature- humidity index. Providing shade during heat event 1 resulted in greater intakes and lower panting scores, while providing shade during heat event 2 resulted in lower panting scores compared to non- shaded cattle. During the cool event, greater intakes and lower panting scores were observed for shaded cattle, although panting scores were low for both treatments. Providing shade for cattle improved intakes and average daily gains while mitigating some effects of heat stress

Corn Oil Supplementation on Performance and Methane Production in Finishing Steers

A finishing trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of corn oil on animal performance, carcass characteristics, and methane production in finishing cattle. Corn oil was supplemented at 3% of the diet (dry matterbasis) and led to a decrease in intake, a numerical improvement in average daily gain, and improved feed efficiency compared to the control cattle. Dry matter intake while in the methane barn was not decreased between treatments, although it was numerically similar to what was observed outside of the methane barn. Corn oil did not affect any carcass parameters. Methane production (g/d) was reduced with the inclusion of corn oil compared to the control. Methane (g/lb of gain) was also reduced with the inclusion of corn oil compared to the control. A numerical reduction of methane (g/lb of intake) was observed when corn oil was included in the diet. Corn oil appears to be a viable option for both improving performance as well as decreasing methane production in beef cattle finishing diets

Biochar Supplementation in Growing and Finishing Diets

Two metabolism studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of biochar (0, 0.8, or 3% of diet dry matter) on digestibility and methane production in growing and finishing diets. Intake was not affected by biochar inclusion in the growing diet and increased with 0.8% biochar inclusion in the finishing study. Digestibility tended to increase quadratically with biochar inclusion in the growing study while digestibility tended to linearly decrease with biochar inclusion in the finishing study. Methane production (g/d) decreased 10.7% in the growing study and 9.9% in the finishing study with 0.8% biochar compared to no biochar. Methane production was reduced 10.6% and 18.4% in the growing and finishing studies, respectively, when measured as g/lb of intake. Although biochar is not FDA approved for animal feeding, the initial research shows potential as a methane mitigation strategy in both growing and finishing diets