scholarly journals 13 Effect of housing cow-calf pairs on dry lots vs pasture on calf performance and behavior

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 7-8
Author(s):  
Lucas T Neira ◽  
Ashley E Cooney ◽  
Wesley P Chapple ◽  
William T Meteer ◽  
Daniel W Shike

Abstract The objectives were to analyze the effects of housing cow-calf pairs in dry lots (DL) or pasture (PAST) on calf performance and behavior through the receiving phase. Simmental × Angus (n = 108; 87 ± 11.5 d postpartum) spring-calving cows were stratified by age, BW, BCS, and calf sex and allotted to six groups. Cows were limit-fed a ration consisting of corn silage, dried distillers grain, corn stalks, dry rolled corn (DRC), and soybean hulls to meet protein and energy requirements. Calves had ad libitum access to same diet in an adjacent pen. Calves on PAST were rotationally grazed with free-choice mineral. After weaning (177 ± 11.5 d of age) all calves were fed a diet consisting of corn silage, wet distiller grains, DRC, and grass hay during the receiving phase (42 d). At the age 87, 142, 177, 198, and 219 ± 11.5 d, BW was measured. Hair coat score (HCS) and dirt score (DS) were measured on d 0 and d 90. Calf behavior was observed after feedlot arrival. Average daily gain, DMI and feed efficiency were also analyzed. The data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Dry-lot calves had greater (P < 0.01) BW and ADG prior to weaning. Calves from PAST had lower (P < 0.01) DS and greater (P < 0.01) HCS at weaning. Upon feedlot arrival, more (P < 0.01) DL calves were walking and had increased (P < 0.01) vocalizations. Calves from PAST had greater (P < 0.01) ADG, DMI as a percent of BW, and gain:feed than DL calves during the receiving phase. Calves raised in a dry lot had greater BW and ADG prior to weaning, but PAST calves had fewer behavioral signs of stress and greater growth performance in feedlot.

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 11-11
Author(s):  
Megan Myerscough ◽  
Wes Chapple ◽  
William T Meteer ◽  
Daniel W Shike

Abstract The objectives were to analyze the effects of housing cow-calf pairs in drylots or pasture on calf performance and behavior through the receiving phase. Simmental × Angus (2 yr; 108/yr; 81 ± 15.3 d postpartum) spring-calving cows were stratified by age, BW, BCS, and calf sex and allotted to six groups/yr. Groups were randomly allotted to 1 of 2 treatments: drylot (DL) or pasture (PAST). After weaning, calves were shipped 262 km to a feedlot for a 42 d receiving period. All calves were fed a diet consisting of corn silage, wet distillers grains, corn, and grass hay during the receiving phase. Behavior was evaluated on d 1 and d 2 after arrival. Calf BW was measured on d 0, 21, and 42. Average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), and feed efficiency were also determined. The data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. On day 1, there was a treatment by time interaction for lying (P = 0.04). At h 2, 4, and 11 more PAST calves were lying. There was a tendency (P = 0.08) for PAST calves to spend more time eating. More DL calves vocalized (P = 0.03). On day 2, there were treatment by time interactions (P ≤ 0.02) for lying and walking. More PAST calves were lying at h 1, 2, 8, 9, and 12. More DL calves were walking at h 2, 11, and 12. Pasture calves had greater (P &lt; 0.01) ADG and G:F than DL calves. However, the DL calves had greater (P ≤ 0.02) BW at d 0, 21, and 42. In conclusion, calf behavior at receiving was influenced by preweaning housing. Additionally, pasture calves had improved receiving phase ADG and feed efficiency but were still lighter than drylot calves after 42 d receiving phase.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 24-24
Author(s):  
Megan Myerscough ◽  
Wes Chapple ◽  
William T Meteer ◽  
Daniel W Shike

Abstract The objectives were to analyze the effects of housing cow-calf pairs in drylots or pasture on calf performance and behavior through weaning. Simmental × Angus (2 yr; 108/yr; 81 ± 15.3 d postpartum) spring-calving cows were stratified by age, BW, BCS, and calf sex and allotted to six groups/yr. Groups were randomly allotted to 1 of 2 treatments: drylot (DL) or pasture (PAST). Calves in the drylot had ad libitum access to a diet consisting of corn silage, dried distillers grain, corn stalks, dry rolled corn, and soybean hulls. Calves on PAST received creep feed three weeks prior to weaning. Calf BW was measured on d 0, 55, and 110. Calves were fence-line weaned on d 110. Behavior was observed for two days after weaning. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Drylot calves had greater (P &lt; 0.01) BW at d 55 and 110. There was treatment by time interactions (P &lt; 0.01) for lying and eating on d 111. More PAST calves were lying at h 2 and 3 and eating at h 11 and 12. More DL calves were lying at h 9, 10, 11, and 12. More DL calves were eating at h 2 and tended to at h 3. There was also a treatment by time interaction (P &lt; 0.01) for vocalizations on d 111. More PAST calves vocalized at h 1, however, DL calves vocalized more at h 4 and tended to at h 5. There was treatment by time interactions (P &lt; 0.01) for eating and walking on d 112. More DL calves were eating at h 2, 3, 4, 7, and 9. More PAST calves were walking at h 1 and 2. There was also a treatment by time interaction (P &lt; 0.01) for vocalizations on d 112. More PAST calves vocalized at h 1 and 10. In conclusion, housing cow-calf pairs in drylots improved preweaning performance and altered postweaning behavior.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 298-299
Author(s):  
Bailey L Basiel ◽  
Chad D Dechow ◽  
Tara L Felix

Abstract Objectives were to compare feedlot performance and carcass traits of F1 beef × Holstein steers and Holstein steers. Angus or Limousin × Holstein crossbred [n = 27; age = 12 ± 3 months; body weight (BW) = 435 ± 8 kg] and Holstein (n = 20; age = 11 ± 2 months; BW = 400 ± 9 kg) steers were fed at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Livestock Evaluation Center for 111 days. Feed intake was recorded using the GrowSafe Feed Intake Monitoring System (Model 4000E, GrowSafe Systems Ltd., Calgary AB, Canada). The diet contained corn silage, dried distillers grains, soybean meal, and cracked corn and was formulated to meet or exceed the requirements of beef cattle (NASEM, 2016). Growth performance variables of interest and carcass measurements were analyzed with the Mixed procedure of SAS (SAS 9.4; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). USDA assigned quality grades (QG) and yield grades (YG) were analyzed the with GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Breed was a fixed effect in all models. There were no differences (P &gt; 0.05) between breeds in average daily gain or feed efficiency. Crossbreds exceeded Holsteins in initial (P &lt; 0.01) and final BW (P = 0.01), dry matter intake (P = 0.03), hot carcass weight (P &lt; 0.01), backfat (P = 0.03), and ribeye area (REA; P &lt; 0.01). Thirty-five percent (35%) of the Holsteins received a QG of Choice or above while 74% of crossbreds graded USDA Choice or above (P = 0.01). However, 75% of Holsteins were YG 2 or lower while only 45% of crossbreds achieved YG 2 or less (P = 0.05). There was no improvement in efficiency when crossbreds were compared to Holsteins; however, carcasses from crossbreds were more likely to grade USDA Choice or above while yielding greater REA and backfat than Holsteins.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 127-127
Author(s):  
jiehua Xiong ◽  
Bradley M Boyd ◽  
Levi J McPhillips ◽  
Kyle Vosburgh ◽  
Galen E Erickson

Abstract Corn hybrids can be selected for improved digestion rates using lab techniques, which should impact animal performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate two Masters Choice corn silage hybrids on growing steer performance. In an 84-day growing study, 288 crossbred steers (initial BW = 303 ± 12 kg) were utilized in a generalized randomized block design with three diet treatments, 12 steers per pen and 8 pen replicates per treatment. Diets consisted of 80% corn silage (DM basis) of Masters Choice hybrid MCT6365 RIB (MC1, that has been selected to improve fiber and starch digestion) and MCT6733 GT3000 (MC2, that has been selected to improve fiber digestion) were compared to a conventional corn hybrid Farm Choice (CON, that is commonly grown in Eastern Nebraska). All corn was grown in one field under identity preserved method and harvested at 37-38% DM in three consecutive days. Relative to CON, feeding MC1 resulted in similar dry matter intake (DMI, P = 0.28), but numerically increased average daily gain (ADG, P = 0.14) which significantly improved feed efficiency (G:F, P = 0.02). Feeding MC2 led to greater DMI (P &lt; 0.01), similar ADG (P = 0.45), and lower G:F (P &lt; 0.01) compared to CON. The results suggest that feeding Masters Choice hybrid MCT6365 RIB (MC1) corn silage at 80% of the diet DM improved ADG and G:F by 4.2%, while feeding MC2 decreased G:F by increasing DMI compared to CON. Differences in corn hybrids exist when feeding growing cattle 80% silage.


Author(s):  
Gabriel Miranda MOREIRA ◽  
Javier Andrés Moreno MENESES ◽  
Cintia Vanin RIBEIRO ◽  
Alyce de Melo FARIA ◽  
Helena Graciani ARANTES ◽  
...  

SUMMARY The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotic consortium on feed intake, feeding behavior, feed efficiency, fecal score, weight gain and carcass traits in finishing Nellore heifers fed high energy diets in feedlot. Twenty-four Nellore heifers were distributed in 12 pens with two animals each, being six pens per treatment. In the control treatment (CON) the animals were fed exclusively with the base diet, which contained 35% corn silage and 65% concentrate. In the treatment with probiotic consortium technology (TCP), the animals received the base diet and a single dose of 75 mL/animal/day of Bio Ciclo Completo (Global Saúde Brasil) top-dressed in the morning feeding. There was no period of adaptation to the diet. The experiment lasted 93 days. The use of TCP did not affect (P = 0.980) the dry matter intake. The average daily gain was 12.5% greater (P = 0.025) in the animals treated with TCP (0.941 kg/day for TCP versus 0.834 kg/day for CON). The animals that received TCP improved (P = 0.021) the feed efficiency by 12.6%. The animals that received TCP tended to have a better (P = 0.094) fecal score within the first 27 days of feedlot. There were no significant effects of TCP on the feeding behavior and carcass traits. Based on the results, there is a great potential of using TCP to improve productivity in beef cattle.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-101
Author(s):  
Zachary K Smith ◽  
Grant I Crawford ◽  
Erik R Loe

Abstract An experiment was conducted comparing medicated feed additives (MFA) bambermycin or monensin sodium and tylosin phosphate in feedlot diets containing modified distillers grains (mDGS). Crossbred steers (n = 256; initial full BW 418 ± 28.5 kg) were allocated into three weight blocks in a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The factors were: MFA (bambermycin at 20 mg/steer daily or monensin + tylosin at 380 and 90 mg/steer daily, respectively) and mDGS inclusion (15% and 30% of diet DM). Twenty-four pens were utilized, resulting in six replications per treatment. Steers were fed a diet consisting of a 1:1 combination of dry-rolled and high-moisture corn with the roughage portion of the diet consisting of corn silage and corn stover. Steers in the heaviest two blocks were marketed after 104 d and steers in the lightest block were marketed after 126 d. Overall average daily gain (ADG) tended (P = 0.08) to be greater for bambermycin vs. monensin and tylosin, and was not affected (P = 0.17) by mDGS level. Dry matter intake was lower (P ≤ 0.05) with 30% mDGS with monensin and tylosin than with any other treatment. Feed efficiency was not affected by mDGS, MFA, or their interaction (P ≥ 0.30). Marbling scores were greater (P = 0.01) greater for bambermycin vs. monensin and tylosin, and tended (P = 0.08) to be greater with 15% mDGS than with 30% mDGS. Carcasses from steers fed bambermycin had a greater percentage of USDA choice than those fed with monensin and tylosin (P = 0.01). Liver abscess occurrence was not affected (P ≥ 0.17) by MFA, mDGS, or their interaction. Results from this experiment indicate that including bambermycin in feedlot diets containing 30% mDGS results in increased DMI when compared with including monensin and tylosin in 30% mDGS diet without the risk for increases in liver abscess occurrence.


2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 721-724 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. McKinnon ◽  
A. M. Walker

Replacement of barley grain with wheat-based dried distillers’ (DDGS) grain with solubles at 25 and 50% of the total ration dry matter increased average daily gain and gain efficiency of backgrounding steers. No differences in dry matter intake or composition of gain were observed. The results of this trial indicate that barley grain can be replaced by wheat-based DDGS at up to 50% of the diet dry matter in backgrounding rations without any adverse effects on cattle performance. The economics of feeding DDGS at these levels would depend on availability and price relative to barley and other cereal grains. Key words: Dried distillers' grain, beef cattle, feedlot, ethanol, by-products


2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. M. Gómez ◽  
A. Saran Netto ◽  
D. S. Antonelo ◽  
J. Silva ◽  
G. A. Sene ◽  
...  

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of immunocastration on the performance, testosterone concentration, carcass traits and meat quality of feedlot-finished Nellore cattle. Fifty-eight males (430 ± 36 kg bodyweight; 24 months old) were separated into three groups in a randomised complete design: surgically castration (n = 15), immunocastrated (anti-gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Bopriva®) vaccine, n = 21) and non-castrated (n = 22). The animals were housed in individual pens and fed ad libitum for 90 days with a common diet comprising 70% concentrate and 30% roughage (corn silage). The non-castrated animals had a greater average daily gain, feed efficiency, hot carcass weight and carcass yield than the surgically castrated and immunocastrated animals (P &lt; 0.05). Surgically castrated cattle grew faster and more efficiently than those castrated immunologically (P &lt; 0.05). The surgically castrated and immunocastrated animals had higher colour values L*, a* and b* and cooking loss than non-castrated animals (P &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, immunocastration decreased cattle performance compared with surgically castrated or non-castrated animals. However, immunocastration resulted in better meat quality compared with non-castrated, making it an alternative to surgical castration with no negative effects on animal welfare.


1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 1143-1154 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. WITTENBERG ◽  
R. J. BOILA

Forty-eight Cu-depleted beef steers were used in a 105-d growing trial to compare four methods of Cu supplementation. Corn silage-barley concentrate diets were supplemented to contain 10 mg kg−1 dry matter (DM) Mo, and 1.3 (low S) or 3.7 (high S) g kg−1 total S. Copper treatments within low and high S diets were: (1) no supplemental Cu (0Cu); (2) a dietary supplement of 10 mg kg−1 DM Cu in the complete feed, added as CuSO4∙5H2O to the concentrate (CuSO4); (3) 20 g copper oxide needles (CuON) orally dosed on day 0; and (4) injectable Cu (ICu) on day 0. Although average daily gain was not different (P > 0.05) among Cu treatments, DM intake was lower (P < 0.05) with CuSO4 and CuON than with 0Cu or ICu. Feed efficiency (FE; feed:gain ratio) was better (P < 0.05) with CuSO4 (FE = 5.60) than 0Cu (FE = 6.88), while CuON (FE = 6.04) and ICu (FE = 6.16) FE were intermediate to 0Cu and CuSO4. Increasing dietary S from 1.3 to 3.7 mg kg−1 DM resulted in lower (P < 0.01) concentrations of Cu and Mo in liver and plasma, and plasma ceruloplasmin activity. An improvement of FE with CuSO4 was related to increased Cu and lower Mo concentrations in the plasma and liver of steers. With ICu there was some indication of an improvement of Cu status. With CuON, measured parameters were indicative of a metabolic Cu insufficiency, but with a lower concentration of Mo in plasma. At the levels of supplementation used in this trial, CuSO4 was a better Cu supplement than CuON or ICu for cattle consuming diets containing excess Mo or Mo plus S. Key words: Cattle, molybdenum, sulfur, copper sulfate, copper oxide needles, injectable copper


2011 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Addah ◽  
J. Baah ◽  
P. Groenewegen ◽  
E. K. Okine ◽  
T. A. McAllister

Addah, W., Baah, J., Groenewegen, P., Okine, E. K. and McAllister, T. A. 2011. Comparison of the fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability and nutritive value of barley and corn silages ensiled with or without a mixed bacterial inoculant. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 91: 133–146. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and corn (Zea mays) silage are the most commonly used forages in feedlot diets in western Canada, and are often inoculated in an effort to improve their preservation and quality. However, the relative value of these two forages in feedlot diets or their responses to inoculation have not previously been compared. Whole-crop barley (B) and corn (C) forage were ensiled for 63 and 77 d, respectively, in both mini silos and Ag Bags® without and with inoculation [Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus acidilactici at 1.0×105 CFU g-1 forage; inoculated barley (IB), inoculated corn (IC)]. At the end of the ensiling period in mini silos, the pH of C and IC was lower (P<0.001) than B and IB silage, but lactate:acetate was higher (P<0.001) in IB than other silages (8:1 vs. ∼4:1). Inoculation did not affect dry matter (DM) loss during ensiling, but losses in barley were higher (P<0.001) than in corn silage. Barley silage appeared to be more stable than corn after 2 d of aerobic exposure. Inoculation of barley or corn did not affect in situ organic matter disappearance (OMD) or DM intake, average daily gain (ADG) or feed efficiency of steers. However, steers fed barley silage had a higher (P=0.037) DM intake, ADG (P=0.002) and improved (P=0.002) feed efficiency compared with those fed corn silage. The inoculant was more effective at improving the fermentation and aerobic stability of barley as compared with corn, and growth and feed efficiency of cattle fed barley silage was superior to those fed corn silage.


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