Impact of calving seasons and feeding systems in western Canada. I. Postweaning growth performance and carcass characteristics of crossbred steers

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 571-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Obioha N. Durunna ◽  
Hushton C. Block ◽  
Alan D. Iwaasa ◽  
Leanne C. Thompson ◽  
Shannon L. Scott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Beef Producers ◽  
Meat Colour ◽  
Meadow Bromegrass ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Feeding Systems

Durunna, O. N., Block, H. C., Iwaasa, A. D., Thompson, L. C., Scott, S. L., Robins, C., Khakbazan, M. and Lardner, H. A. 2014. Impact of calving seasons and feeding systems in western Canada. I. Postweaning growth performance and carcass characteristics of crossbred steers. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 571–582. Crossbred steers (n=272) weaned from early (EC) and late (LC) calving systems (CS) were used to evaluate the impact of two feeding systems (FS) on postweaning performance and carcass characteristics. The steers were randomly assigned to either a rapid-gain feeding (RF) or a slow-gain feeding (SF) system. The RF steers were managed to have body weight (BW) gain of 1 kg d−1 on a silage-hay diet during the backgrounding period prior to finishing, while the SF steers were first backgrounded on a hay diet (gain of 0.7 kg d−1), then grazed alfalfa–meadow bromegrass pasture and annual cereal swaths prior to finishing. All treatment groups received a conventional diet during finishing until the steers attained a target backfat thickness or BW or both. There was no difference (P=0.48) between the two FS for the average age of the steers at the beginning of the experiment. There was a CS×FS effect (P<0.01) on the age at slaughter, where the steers in the EC-RF, EC-SF, LC-RF and LC-SF were 426, 659, 504 and 606 d, respectively. The longer time on feed for LC-RF steers compared with EC-RF suggests the potential effect of summer ambient temperatures at finishing. The EC-RF group had the least carcass fat thickness (P<0.01), but there was no main or interaction effect (P>0.08) on dressing percentage or lean meat yield. There was a FS effect (P<0.05) on meat colour and marbling texture where SF steers had more desirable meat colour and marbling texture. Beef producers adopting EC-RF would finish their calves earlier but at a lighter weight.

The effects of spring versus summer calving on beef cattle reproductive and growth performance in western Canada

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Obioha N. Durunna ◽  
Lynne C. Girardin ◽  
Shannon L. Scott ◽  
Clayton Robins ◽  
Hushton C. Block ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Beef Producers ◽  
Cow Calf ◽  
Calving Season ◽  
The Impact

Durunna, O. N., Girardin, L. C., Scott, S. L., Robins, C., Block, H. C., Iwaasa, A. D., Khakbazan, M. and Lardner, H. A. 2014. The effects of spring versus summer calving on beef cattle reproductive and growth performance in western Canada. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 259–271. The majority of beef producers in western Canada have adopted a spring calving system. Evaluating alternative calving systems such as summer calving may lead to better use of forage resources to optimize cow-calf productivity. In order to evaluate the impact of calving system on cow-calf productivity, 346 Hereford or Angus crossbred cows were used in a 3-yr research study (2007 to 2009) at Brandon, Manitoba; Swift Current, Saskatchewan and Lanigan, Saskatchewan. Cows were bred to calve from February to May (early-calving system, EC) or from May to August (late-calving system, LC). Each system was evaluated for effect on performance and reproductive efficiency. Forage yield, utilization and nutritive value were assessed. Cow body weights (BW), ultrasound measures of backfat and calf BW were evaluated at precalving, breeding and weaning. There was no difference between calving systems for pregnancy rate (P=0.13) EC (93.0%) vs. LC (95.8%); calving rate (P=0.89) EC (92.0%) vs. LC (91.7%) or proportion of calves born alive (P=0.85) EC (99.5%) vs. LC (99.6%). The average length of calving season was not different (P=0.26) between the two systems. The EC cows had greater (P=0.002) BW losses from calving to breeding but greater (P=0.001) BW gain from breeding to weaning than LC cows. Although calves born in LC had greater birth BW (P=0.003) than EC calves, calf weaning rate (P=0.01) and calf weaning BW (P<0.0001) were greater in EC. The higher weaning rate and higher weaning BW with EC has the potential to increase cow-calf productivity and may be more attractive to beef producers in western Canada.

scholarly journals The impact of lamb diets containing either barley or corn on growth performance and carcass quality

2021 ◽  
pp. 1487-1491
Author(s):  
M. Ata ◽  
Belal S. Obeidat
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Meat Quality ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
The Impact

Background and Aim: Grains, such as barley (BAR) and corn (CORN), are major energy sources for small ruminants. This study aimed to assess the impact of feeding either BAR or CORN-based diets on growth performance and carcass characteristics. Materials and Methods: Awassi male lambs, average body weight of 20.4±0.49 kg, were chosen randomly. Lambs were acclimated for 10 days and assigned to one of two diets (1) BAR and (2) CORN. Feeding continued for 70 days with 60 days of data collection. Daily intake was recorded. Measurements of body weight were taken starting from day 1 then once per week throughout the study period. On day 40, six lambs were randomly chosen from each group and placed in metabolism cages to assess digestibility and N balance. Lambs were slaughtered on the last day of the study to evaluate carcass characteristics and meat quality. Results: Neutral and acid detergent fiber and ether extract intake were greater (p≤0.05) for lambs fed the BAR diets. Nitrogen loss in feces tended to be greater (p=0.09) for the CORN diet. Eye muscle depth (mm) tended to be greater (p=0.07) for the BAR diet. Nutrient digestibility, daily weight gain, carcass characteristics, and meat quality were not different (p≥0.1) between diets. Conclusion: The results herein demonstrate that feeding BAR grain improved nutrient intake efficiency and consistency and did not affect weight gain and carcass traits. BAR-based diets might be a useful alternative to CORN for feeding growing lambs.

scholarly journals Dietary Cinnamon Bark Affects Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Breast Meat Quality in Broiler Infected with Eimeria tenella Oocysts

Animals ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 166
Author(s):  
Mohammed M. Qaid ◽  
Saud I. Al-Mufarrej ◽  
Mahmoud M. Azzam ◽  
Maged A. Al-Garadi ◽  
Abdulmohsen H. Alqhtani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Meat Quality ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Eimeria Tenella ◽  
Breast Meat ◽  
Cinnamon Bark ◽  
The Impact

A total of 150 broiler chicks were used to determine the impact of dietary cinnamon bark powder (CBP; Cinnamomum verum) on breast meat quality, growth performance, and carcass characteristics of birds under coccidiosis, as one of the protozoan parasitic diseases. A total of 5 replicates of birds received 1 of the following 6 groups for 34 days: control groups (1 and 2) received a basal diet without the addition of CBP or salinomycin; group 3 received a basal diet with 0.066 g salinomycin; groups 4–6 were given a basal diet supplemented with 2, 4, and 6 g CBP/kg feed, respectively. On day 21, 4 × 104/100 µL of Eimeria tenella oocysts/bird were challenged, except for the negative control (NC). At the end of the experimental trial, five birds/group were sampled for carcass characteristics and breast attributes. Overall, emeriosis negatively affects slaughter body mass, carcass yield, and the majority of carcass characteristics in birds, and cinnamon can mitigate these effects. Cinnamon groups, particularly at the 2 g level, alleviated the negative effect on performance caused by coccidia infestation to the same or greater extent as the negative control and salinomycin treatment groups. Furthermore, when compared with the other experimental groups, the addition of cinnamon improved some physicochemical properties with some affecting meat quality, such as decreasing MFI and increasing toughness in cinnamon-treated groups. In summary, it can be concluded that CBP can enhance the shelf life, carcass, and quality of birds’ meat by maximizing the productive performance efficiency and breast meat productivity of birds under coccidiosis infestation. Further research is required to investigate the use of cinnamon to optimize the quality of meat and the productivity of both healthy and diseased broilers.

The effect of strain, initial liveweight and feed type on the growth, performance and carcass characteristics of Scottish Blackface lambs

1987 ◽  
Vol 1987 ◽  
pp. 83-83
Author(s):  
M. Lloyd ◽  
I.A. Clark ◽  
T.H. McClelland ◽  
P. Phillips ◽  
I.A. Dickson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Single Strain ◽  
Feeding Method ◽  
Lamb Meat ◽  
Sources Of Variation ◽  
Feeding Systems

Store lambs produced from hill ewes make a significant contribution to lamb meat production, particularly during the winter months. Studies of store stock marketing in Scotland reveal that hill store lambs are criticised frequently for unpredictable growth, poor conformation and low carcass and saleable meat yields (1,2). Trials using Scottish Blackface lambs of a single strain and source suggest that poor performance is a function of inappropriate feeding method and premature slaughter (3). This trial looks at strain ,feeding systems and strain:feed interaction as sources of variation in the growth performance and carcass characteristics of Scottish Blackface lambs.

PSIV-4 The Impacts of Feeding Corn Co-products and Ionophores to Growing Boer Goats

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 215-216
Author(s):  
Payton L Dahmer ◽  
Tamra Kott ◽  
Alison Crane ◽  
James Lattimer ◽  
Cassandra K Jones
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Soybean Meal ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Dietary Treatment ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Protein Source ◽  
Boer Goat ◽  
Dietary Treatments ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to evaluate corn dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS) and corn gluten feed (CGF) as replacements for soybean meal (SBM) and determine the impact of an ionophore on Boer goat growth performance and carcass characteristics. In Exp. 1, 75 Boer-goat kids (initial BW 26.9 ± kg) were allotted to one of 5 dietary treatments: 1) Negative control (100% SBM, 0% DDGS and 0% CGF; 100SBM); 2) Positive control (100% DDGS, 0% CGF and 0% SBM; 100DDGS); 3) 66% DDGS, 33% CGF and 0% SBM (66DDGS/33CGF); 4) 66% CGF, 33% DDGS and 0% SBM (33DDGS/66 CGF); and 5) 100% CGF, 0% DDGS and 0% SBM (0DDGS/100CGF). Dietary treatment did not impact (P ≤ 0.21) growth. In Exp. 2, 72 Boer-goat kids (initial BW 21.7 ± kg) were allotted to one of 4 dietary treatments in a 2 X 2 factorial with 2 protein sources and 2 ionophore inclusions: 1) SBM/no ionophore (SBM-NI); Diet 2) SBM with ionophore (SBM-I); Diet 3) DDGS/no ionophore (DDGS-NI); and Diet 4) DDGS with ionophore (DDGS-I). On d 21, goats were split into 2 groups according to their protein source and fed an additional d 10 (Group 1: DDGS-I; Group 2: SBM-I). The 15 heaviest goats from each group were harvested and carcass data collected. The protein source X ionophore interaction was not significant (P ≥ 0.15) for any measured response criteria. Goats fed a diet with SBM had significantly increased (P = 0.04) ADG compared to goats fed DDGS. No evidence of difference was observed (P ³ 0.10) for ADFI or G:F. Dietary treatment did not impact (P &gt; 0.05) carcass characteristics. In summary, these data suggest that corn co-products can be economically included in Boer-goat diets, however their impact on growth performance is variable compared to that of soybean meal.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Immunoglobulin-Y in Place of Tylosin Phosphate in the Diets Fed to Holstein Steers and Preliminary Analysis of Liver Abscess Duration on Animal Growth Performance

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miranda K Stotz ◽  
Darren D Henry ◽  
Whitney L Crossland
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Liver Abscess ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Immunoglobulin Y ◽  
Liver Abscesses ◽  
Performance Reduction ◽  
Animal Growth ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Despite the regular use of feed-grade macrolide-antibiotics, bovine liver abscesses persist, representing a financial burden to pre- and post-mortem sectors of the beef industry. An immunoglobulin-Y (IGY) additive developed to target Fusobacterium necrophorum and Trueperella pyogenes, was evaluated for the control of liver abscesses. Research is needed for the impact of liver abscess severity as well as abscess duration on steer performance and carcass characteristics. Holstein steers (n=64; initial body weight (BW)=372.5±2.41 kg) consuming a finishing diet for 188 d were used in a completely randomized design where treatments included: TYL (tylosin phosphate 90 mg/day; n=32) or IGY (2.5 g/day; n=32) and steer was the experimental unit. Feed intake was recorded daily while BW and liver ultrasound outcome (normal or abnormal) was recorded every 28 d until slaughter to estimate duration of abscess presence (DUR). Continuous variables of animal growth performance and carcass characteristics were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Categorical quality grade and liver data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Treatment did not affect live or carcass-adjusted growth performance (P≥0.131). However, steers fed TYL had greater (P=0.042) empty body fat (EBF) % and a greater proportion of carcasses grading premium choice than steers fed IGY (P=0.030). Treatment did not affect prevalence of abscessed livers, abscess severity or estimated abscess duration (P≥0.213) but datasets with greater experimental units are needed to substantiate this outcome. Increasing abscess severity tended (P≤0.10) to linearly reduce carcass-adjusted gain to feed (G:F), fat thickness, and EBF. Carcass dressing % was only affected by severe (A+ and A+AD) abscess scores (P=0.010). Carcass-adjusted final BW, average daily gain, G:F, and hot carcass weight was decreased only when the estimated DUR was ≥140 d (P≤0.05). Carcass dressing %, however, was linearly affected by estimated liver abscess DUR (P≤ 0.005), regardless of abscess severity. Preliminary evidence suggests that measuring the duration of liver abscess affliction during the feeding period may also give insight to the degree of performance reduction.

scholarly journals Effects of space allocation on finishing pig growth performance and carcass characteristics1

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. L. Thomas ◽  
R. D. Goodband ◽  
J. C. Woodworth ◽  
M. D. Tokach ◽  
J. M. DeRouchey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
K Value ◽  
Space Allocation ◽  
Finishing Pig ◽  
Length Width ◽  
Feeder Spaces ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Space Restriction

Abstract A total of 405 pigs (PIC 327 × 1,050) were used in 2 experiments (Exp. 1, initially 66.1 ± 1.8 kg BW, Exp. 2 initially 60.8 ± 2.5 kg BW) to examine the effects of space allocation on finishing pig growth performance and carcass characteristics. Pigs were randomly allotted to pens on entry into the finishing facility. Pens of pigs were balanced by initial BW and randomly allotted to 1 of 3 treatments with either 7 or 8 replications per treatment (Exp.1 and 2, respectively). There were 9 pigs per pen and gates were adjusted to provide 0.84, 0.74, or 0.65 m2 per pig. Each pen was equipped with a dry single-sided feeder with two 35.6 cm × 11.4 cm (length × width) feeder spaces and a cup waterer. In both experiments, as space allocation decreased, overall ADG and ADFI decreased (linear, P &lt; 0.019) with no evidence for differences in G:F. In Exp. 2, there was marginal evidence for a linear improvement (P = 0.061) in G:F as space allocation decreased from d 42 to 56. Final BW was 3.8 and 5.3 kg greater (linear, P ≤ 0.005) in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively, when comparing the 0.65 to the 0.84 m2 per pig space allocation treatments. Using a predicted k-value of 0.0336, ADFI and, subsequently, ADG should have begun to decrease when pigs reached 121.2, 101.7, and 83.3 kg at 0.84, 0.74, or 0.65 m2 per pig, respectively. In Exp. 1, we found marginal evidence for a reduction in ADFI as space allocation decreased starting at a mean BW of 80.3 kg (d 14; linear, P = 0.072). In Exp. 2, ADFI and consequently ADG decreased linearly (P &lt; 0.029) starting at a mean BW of 74 kg, as space allocation decreased, before pigs reached the k-value that should have influenced performance. It is unknown if growth performance was impacted for the 0.84 m2 treatment group as this was the greatest space allocation treatment. Overall, these studies indicate that decreasing space allocation resulted in poorer ADG driven by a reduction in ADFI. The data suggests that the accepted k-value of 0.0336 might underestimate the impact of space restriction on finishing pig ADG and ADFI.

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