The effects of implant strategy on finished body weight of beef cattle

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (7) ◽  
pp. 1791-1800 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Guiroy ◽  
L. O. Tedeschi ◽  
D. G. Fox ◽  
J. P. Hutcheson
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Beef Cattle

Corn or soybean hull incorporation into haylage-based backgrounding beef cattle diets: Effect on growth and efficiency during the backgrounding and finishing periods

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 615-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. C. Swanson ◽  
M. Ko ◽  
C. J. Mader
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Soybean Hulls ◽  
Feedlot Performance ◽  
Final Body Weight ◽  
Plasma Urea ◽  
Soybean Hull ◽  
Daily Gain

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of corn or soybean hull incorporation into haylage-based diets on backgrounding calf performance and subsequent feedlot performance. Crossbred steers [n = 48, initial body weight (BW) = 303 ± 3.4 kg] were individually fed dietary treatments consisting of: (1) haylage [17.5% crude protein, dry matter (DM) basis; control], (2) haylage + 20% (DM basis) cracked corn, and (3) haylage + 20% (DM basis) soybean hulls during a 112-d backgrounding period. After the backgrounding period, all steers were adapted to a common high moisture corn-based finishing diet and fed until an ultrasound estimated backfat thickness of 7 mm was obtained. During the backgrounding period, steers fed cracked corn or soybean hulls had greater (P < 0.01) average daily gain, dry matter intake and gain:feed and lower (P = 0.05) plasma urea N as compared with controls. However, when finished on a common high-concentrate diet, steers previously fed cracked corn had greater (P < 0.08) average daily gain, final body weight, and longissimus muscle area than those fed soybean hulls, suggesting that source of supplemental energy during the backgrounding period may influence subsequent feedlot performance. Key words: Beef cattle, backgrounding, energy supplementation

Development of the laser remote caliper as a method to estimate surface area and body weight in beef cattle

SURG Journal ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-72
Author(s):  
Sarah Core ◽  
Stephen Miller ◽  
Matthew Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Digital Imaging ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
P Value ◽  
Side View ◽  
Linear Measurements ◽  
Indirect Measures ◽  
Area And Volume

Linear measurements combined with surface area and volume calculations were used to develop formulas to estimate body weight (BW) in beef cattle. These measurements were evaluated directly or estimated using a laser remote caliper (LRC) and digital imaging software. Seventy-two dry, late gestation beef cows aged 3-13 years were measured and weighed Six measurements for each cow were taken; the cattle were weighed, a body condition score (BCS) was assigned, heart girth (HG), hip width (HW), and hip height (HH) were measured directly and 3 digital pictures were taken. The digital pictures portrayed three different views; side view (restrained), rear view (restrained), and side view (free-stall). Body length, HW, HH, surface area and volume were indirectly calculated from the digital images. For each view a complete (C-) formula (direct and indirect measures) and remote (R-) formula (only indirect measures) to estimate BW was developed. The R-squared values 0.7459, 0.7937, 0.8078, 0.5016, 0.611, 0.5553 were attained for C-side view free-stall, C-side view (restrained), C-rear view (restrained), R-side view free-stall, R-side view (restrained), and R-rear view (restrained). The accuracy of these formulas was 81% on average. BCS, HG and HW were the most significant factors when developing a formula for BW (p-value < 0.001). Side view (restrained) image measurements were most accurate in estimating BW. These measurements were highly correlated with the direct measurements and digital linear body measurements were not distorted (due to poor posture/positioning) as seen with the other views. The results or this study show that linear measurements collected by digital imaging methods can be a useful tool for estimating BW.

Corrigendum - Comparative breed studies of beef cattle. II. Changes in size and shape

1964 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 316
Author(s):  
NM Tulloh ◽  
JS Maritz
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Body Measurements ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Growth Study ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Regular Time ◽  
Functional Forms ◽  
Experimental Group

A comparative growth study of changes in shape was made of Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, and beef Shorthorn cattle. In addition to recording body weight, 10 surface body measurements were made, at regular time intervals, on every animal in the experimental group. Changes and differences in shape were studied by examining the functional forms of the relationships between surface body measurements and body weight for every animal. The breed and sex differences presented in this paper have also been composed with a re-analysis of the limited data available from the literature, and in general the results are similar.

scholarly journals Use of barley or corn silage when fed with barley, corn, or a blend of barley and corn on growth performance, nutrient utilization, and carcass characteristics of finishing beef cattle

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan A Johnson ◽  
Brittney D Sutherland ◽  
John J McKinnon ◽  
Tim A McAllister ◽  
Gregory B Penner
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Feed Ratio ◽  
Final Body Weight ◽  
Liver Abscesses ◽  
Finishing Beef Cattle

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the source of silage, cereal grain, and their interaction on growth performance, digestibility, and carcass characteristics of finishing beef cattle. Using a completely randomized design within an 89-d finishing study, 288 steers were randomly assigned to 1 of 24 pens (12 steers/pen) with average steer body weight (BW) within a pen of 464 kg ± 1.7 kg (mean ± SD). Diets were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial with corn silage (CS) or barley silage (BS) included at 8% (dry matter [DM] basis). Within each silage source, diets contained dry-rolled barley grain (BG; 86% of DM), dry-rolled corn grain (CG; 85% of DM), or an equal blend of BG and CG (BCG; 85% of DM). Total tract digestibility of nutrients was estimated from fecal samples using near-infrared spectroscopy. Data were analyzed with pen as the experimental unit using the Mixed Model of SAS with the fixed effects of silage, grain, and the two-way interaction. Carcass and fecal kernel data were analyzed using GLIMMIX utilizing the same model. There were no interactions detected between silage and grain source. Feeding CG increased (P &lt; 0.01) DM intake by 0.8 and 0.6 kg/d relative to BG and BCG, respectively. Gain-to-feed ratio was greater (P = 0.04) for BG (0.172 kg/kg) than CG (0.162 kg/kg) but did not differ from BCG (0.165 kg/kg). Furthermore, average daily gain (2.07 kg/d) and final body weight did not differ among treatments (P ≥ 0.25). Hot carcass weight (HCW) was 6.2 kg greater (372.2 vs. 366.0 kg; P &lt; 0.01) and dressing percentage was 0.57 percentage units greater (59.53 vs. 58.96 %; P = 0.04) for steers fed CS than BS, respectively. There was no effect of dietary treatment on the severity of liver abscesses (P ≥ 0.20) with 72.0% of carcasses having clear livers, 24.4% with minor liver abscesses, and 3.6% with severe liver abscesses. Digestibility of DM, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and starch were greater for BG (P &lt; 0.01) than CG or BCG. As expected, grain source affected the appearance of grain kernels in the feces (P ≤ 0.04). Feeding CS silage increased the appearance of fractured corn kernels (P = 0.04), while feeding BS increased fiber appearance in the feces (P = 0.02). Current results indicate that when dry rolled, feeding BG resulted in improved performance and digestibility compared with CG and BCG. Even at low inclusion levels (8% of DM), CS resulted in improved carcass characteristics relative to BS.

scholarly journals 119 Foot scoring effects on cow and calf performance at breeding and weaning

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 50-50
Author(s):  
Clayton L McGuire ◽  
Jeremy G Powell ◽  
Reagan Cauble ◽  
Bryan Kutz ◽  
Karen Anschutz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Pregnancy Rate ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Performance Data ◽  
Point Scale ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Calf Performance ◽  
Cow Performance

Abstract Foot soundness is essential for optimum performance in beef cattle. When evaluating foot soundness, emphasis is placed on foot angle (FA) and claw set (CS). The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of foot angle and claw set scores on cowherd performance. Data were collected on 491 crossbred Angus-based cows over a three-year period. At weaning, FA and CS were evaluated according to American Angus Association guidelines. Scores are based on a nine-point scale, where a score of one indicates straight pasterns and short, divergent toes, and nine indicates weak, sunken pasterns and long, curled toes. Cows that exhibited scores ranging from four to six were considered acceptable. If either score fell outside this range, the cow was considered undesirable. Acceptable and undesirable cows were evaluated for performance traits including pre-breeding body weight (PBW), pre-breeding body condition score (PBCS), cow body weight at weaning (CWW), cow body condition score at weaning (WBCS), pregnancy rate, 205 d adjusted weaning weight (AWW), and weaning performance (WP). Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Significance was declared at P ≤ 0.05. There were no differences (P ≥ 0.19) for WP, PBW, PBCS, CWW, or pregnancy rate. Cows with acceptable foot scores had a WBCS 5.49% greater (P < 0.001) than undesirable cows. Acceptable cows possessed an average WBCS of 4.9 compared to 4.6 in undesirable cows. Acceptable cows weaned calves 3.39% heavier (P = 0.024) compared to undesirable cows. Acceptable cows weaned calves with a mean AWW of 216.67 kg compared to undesirable cows with a mean of 209.56 kg. The results from this study suggest that cows with acceptable foot scores may maintain more desirable BCS and wean heavier calves. These results could be used to help predict cow performance based on FA and CS.

The significance of coat type in cattle

1960 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 645 ◽  
Author(s):  
HG Turner ◽  
AV Schleger
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Heat Dissipation ◽  
Metabolic Efficiency ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Potential Value ◽  
Respiration Rates ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
Age And Sex

A system of subjective scoring of cattle coats, ranging from very sleek to very woolly, is described. It has been applied to about 1600 animals, of which 500 were Hereford and Shorthorn cows and the rest their progeny from matings in four years to British breed and Zebu bulls. Consistency of scoring within and between observers is satisfactory. Highly significant differences between animals of the same breed persist through different seasons. The repeatability of coat score is 0.6 or more over intervals of up to 17 months. Effects of season, age, and sex are described. Heritability of coat score is estimated at 0.63. Coat scores are well correlated with body temperatures and respiration rates. Coat score and post-weaning growth rate of British breed calves are correlated to such a degree that coat score can be superior to a record of body weight as an estimate of growth capacity. The genetic correlation between coat score and growth rate is high in the British breeds. Evidence of the relation between coat score and growth rate in Zebu cross calves is inconclusive. The observed relationships are discussed with particular reference to their physiological causes. The results indicate the potential value of coat characters in selecting tropical beef cattle. The degree to which these results may be applicable to other populations in other environments is discussed. It is concluded that a sleek coat is important in favouring heat dissipation, but it may have even greater significance as an indicator of metabolic efficiency or of capacity to react favourably to stress.

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF COLD ENVIRONMENTS ON THE ENERGY EXCHANGES OF YOUNG BEEF CATTLE

1970 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. F. WEBSTER ◽  
J. CHLUMECKY ◽  
B. A. YOUNG
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Critical Temperature ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Environmental Control ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Cold Climates ◽  
Cold Environments ◽  
External Insulation ◽  
Energy Exchanges ◽  
Tissue Insulation

Groups of four heifers were kept over winter at 20 C (controls) or outdoors with (sheltered) or without (exposed) shelter. Weather conditions were severe. Mean January temperature was −28 C. All animals received the same amount of grain. Calves in the control, sheltered and exposed groups ate on average 9.0, 11.3 and 10.9 g hay/kg body weight per day and gained, over winter, 156, 158 and 140 kg, respectively. Growth of new hair was similar in all groups. However, total hair cover in the cattle kept outside was, in February, twice that of the controls. This increase was attributed to reduced hair shedding. Tissue insulation increased throughout in all groups. External insulation was markedly reduced by exposure of the animals to wind. The influence of coat depth on external insulation was small. Still air critical temperature for the controls fell from 7 to −2 C during the experiment. The effect of acclimatization was to reduce critical temperature to −18 C in the sheltered group during February.The results are discussed with respect to the nature and extent of environmental control required for beef production in cold climates.

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