Assisted Reproductive Technologies as Veritable Tools for Improving Production Efficiencies of N’dama and Muturu Cattle Breeds in Nigeria-A Review

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) that have come to stay and are still being improved upon in developed countries are still in their infancy stage in developing countries like Nigeria. Nigeria’s cattle population is estimated to be around 18.4 million. The number is far insufficient to meet the country’s demand for meat, milk, and other cow products, let alone contribute to GDP. N’dama and Muturu are both Nigerian breeds that are resistant to trypanosomosis. They are humpless longhorn and humpless shorthorn types of beef cattle. The dairy and beef cow industries’ inadequate adoption of ART is partly to blame for Nigeria’s low cattle output. Sex determination, multiple-ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET), oestrus synchronization, artificial insemination (AI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), cloning, and genetic engineering are all examples of assisted reproductive technologies. It has been reported in humans, rodents and domestic animals, abnormal fetuses, newborns and adult offspring arise from ART. Improper matching of breeding animals mostly leads to overfat calves. This review centers on the applications and potentials of ART in the production of trypanotolerant N’dama and Muturu cattle breeds. Some unorthodox medicines which have proven effective in human reproduction can circumvent the shortfalls in the adoption of ART.

Performance of lactating suckler cows of diverse genetic merit and genotype under a seasonal pasture-based system

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of genetic merit of the national Irish maternal index and genotype (i.e. beef vs. beef × dairy [BDX]) of beef cows and subsequent performance of their progeny. With the exception that high genetic merit cows produced 0.57 kg more milk and tended to have 0.04 of a lower body condition score (BCS), no significant differences were observed between cows of diverse genetic merit. Differences between contrasting cow genotype were apparent. Beef cows were 50 kg heavier and had a BCS 0.27 greater than BDX cows. The BDX cows produced 1.67 kg more milk and had a greater 24-d submission rate than beef cows. Calves generated from BDX cows were 19 kg heavier at weaning and were worth €51 more than progeny generated from beef cows. Beef cow progeny, however, had 0.77 of a greater conformation score at slaughter than BDX. While differences were observed across cows of different replacement strategies, results from the current study showed that genetic selection for national maternal index had no effect on the overall performance of suckler cows in a pasture-based spring-calving system.

A mathematical nutrition model adequately predicts beef and dairy cow intake and biological efficiency

The beef cow-calf sector accounts for 70% of feed consumed and greenhouse gases emitted for the beef industry, but there is no straightforward method to measure biological efficiency in grazing conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate a mathematical nutrition model to estimate the feed intake and biological efficiency of mature beef cows. Data from dams (N = 160) and their 2 nd and 3 rd progeny (312 pairs) were collected from 1953 through 1980. Individual feed intake was measured at 28-d intervals year-round for dams and during 240-d lactation for progeny. Body weights of progeny were measured at 28-d intervals from birth to weaning, and of dams at parturition and weaning each production cycle. Milk yield of dams was measured at 14-d intervals. Dam ME intake (DMEI) and milk energy yield (MEL) of each cow was predicted using the Cattle Value Discovery System beef cow (CVDSbc) model for each parity. Biological efficiency (Mcal/kg) was computed as the ratio of observed or predicted DMEI to observed calf weaning weight (PWW). Pearson correlation coefficients were computed using corr.test function and model evaluation was performed using the epiR function in R software. Average (SD) dam weight, PWW, DMEI, and observed MEL were 527 (86) kg, 291 (47) kg, 9584 (2701) Mcal/production cycle, and 1029 (529) Mcal, respectively. Observed and predicted DMEI (r = 0.93 and 0.91), and observed and predicted MEL (r = 0.58 and 0.59) were positively correlated for progeny 2 and 3, respectively. The CVDS beef cow model under-predicted DMEI (mean bias = 1120 ± 76 Mcal, 11.7% of observed value) and MEL (mean bias = 30 ± 25 Mcal, 2.9% of observed value). Observed and predicted progeny feed intake were not correlated (r = 0.01, P-value = 0.79). Observed and predicted biological efficiency were positively correlated (r = 0.80 and 0.80, P-value ≤ 0.05) for parity 2 and 3, respectively, and the CVDSbc model under-predicted biological efficiency by 11% (mean bias = 3.59 ± 0.25 Mcal/kg). The CVDSbc provides reasonable predictions of feed intake and biological efficiency of mature beef cows, but further refinement of the relationship between calf feed intake and milk yield is recommended to improve predictions. Mathematical nutrition models can assist in the discovery of the biological efficiency of mature beef cows.

Estimation of Energy Expenditure in Breeding Cows Grazing Rangelands with Different Herbage Allowance

The energy partitioning between total heat production (HP) and retained energy (RE) on the efficiency of energy use was evaluated throughout the annual production cycle (gestation-lactation) of 46 multiparous beef cows grazing on two herbage allowances (HA) of Campos grassland (4 vs. 7 kg dry matter/kg body weight; BW; LO vs. HI). Total RE was greater (P < 0.01) for HI than LO cows and presented minimum values during early gestation and maximum values during early lactation associated to the greater (P = 0.02) RE-milk in the former ones. Whole-animal HP, estimated by the heart rate-O2 pulse technique, and cow metabolized energy (ME) intake did not differ between HA treatments, but relative to BW0.75, HP was greater (P = 0.04) for LO than HI cows. Total HP and ME intake were minimum in gestation and maximum in early lactation and ME intake was greater during early lactation for HI than LO cows, and per unit of BW0.75, tended (P < 0.10) to be less for HI than LO cows in winter. The energy efficiency of the annual cycle was not affected by treatments (0.19 vs. 0.12 ± 0.02 for HI and LO respectively; P > 0.10) and there were no differences between treatments in terms of grams of calf per MJ of ME intake (P > 0.10). Management of grazing intensity of Campos grasslands with high herbage allowance improved energy balance of the beef cow-calf system through partitioning of cow ME intake towards RE instead of maintenance.

Effects of housing beef cow-calf pairs on drylot or pasture in the Midwest on production parameters and calf behavior through feedlot receiving

The objectives were to analyze the effects of housing cow-calf pairs in drylots (DL) or pasture (PAST) on cow performance and reproduction as well as calf performance and behavior through feedlot receiving. Simmental × Angus (2 yr; 108/yr; 81 ± 15.3 d postpartum) spring-calving cows were stratified by age, body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), and calf sex and allotted to 6 groups/yr. Groups were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: DL or PAST. Cows in DL were limit-fed at maintenance and calves had ad libitum access to the cow diet in an adjacent pen. Pairs on PAST were rotationally grazed and calves received creep ad libitum three weeks prior to weaning. On d 110 calves were fence-line weaned and behavior was observed on d 111 and 112. On d 116 calves were transported 272 kilometers to a feedlot for a 42-d receiving period. Behavior was evaluated again on d 117 and 118. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS except reproductive data which was analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure. Cows on DL had greater (P ≤ 0.01) BW and BCS at weaning. There were no differences (P ≥ 0.42) detected in reproductive data. Cows on DL had greater (P = 0.02) milk production. Calves on DL had greater BW (P ≤ 0.01) on d 55 and at weaning and greater preweaning average daily gain (ADG). There were treatment × time effects (P = 0.01) for lying and eating on d 111 and 112. More DL calves were eating in the morning and lying in the evening. More (P &lt; 0.01) PAST calves were walking on d 111. Pasture calves vocalized more (P ≤ 0.01) on d 112. On d 117, more (P ≤ 0.05) pasture calves were lying and eating, and DL vocalized more. On d 118, treatment × time and treatment effects were detected (P ≤ 0.02) for lying and walking. More PAST calves were lying and more DL calves were walking. Drylot calves had greater (P ≤ 0.02) BW at the beginning and end of the receiving phase. Pasture calves had greater (P &lt; 0.01) ADG and tended (P = 0.10) to have greater gain efficiency during feedlot receiving phase. In conclusion, housing cow-calf pairs in drylots improved BW, BCS, and milk production of cows but did not affect reproductive performance. Drylot calves had increased BW and ADG during the preweaning phase. Calf behavior at weaning and receiving was influenced by preweaning housing. Pasture calves had improved receiving phase ADG and feed efficiency but were still lighter than drylot calves after 42 d receiving phase.

Impacts of Climate Change on Livestock Location in the US: A Statistical Analysis

Livestock production is a valuable part of US agriculture as it contributes 50% of total agricultural value. Climate change is likely a threat to livestock production, but research regarding the impact of climate change on livestock sectors is limited. This paper examines how climate change affects livestock mix and location. Specifically, we examine climate effects on grazing animals and, in particular, on beef cattle, dairy cattle, goats, and sheep. We examine this in the US based on county-level data by using fractional multinomial logit econometrics. Our results show that climate is an influential determinant of where livestock herds are located and species mix. The impacts of climate vary by species and region. We also find significant influences from geographic characteristics and animal product prices. Subsequently, we project how climate change would influence future livestock mix and location. It reveals a likely growth in beef cow land shares across most of the US with the largest gains in the northwest. We also find substitutions between species as climate change progresses with dairy cows exhibiting the largest reduction.

Evaluation of Beef Cow Colostrum with a Refractometer

The use of a handheld refractometer measuringpercent Brix can be used to provide an estimate of colostrum quality in beefcows as it does in dairy cows.

Optimizing Beef Cow-Calf Grazing across Missouri with an Emphasis on Protecting Ecosystem Services

Soil health is an emerging paradigm for which much research in row crop agriculture has been undertaken. Research involving grazing lands and soil health has not been as active, a feature partially attributed to (i) greater erosional rates in cropland, (ii) loss of soil organic matter and reduced soil structure attributed to annual tillage practices, (iii) cash flow from cropland is easier to visualize than the value-added nature of grazing lands, and (iv) there exists more competitive grant funding sources for croplands. Grazing lands do require soil quality augmentation and investment in soil health to optimize their ecosystem services potential. This manuscript, with an emphasis on beef cattle grazing in the central USA, attempts to survey the literature to (i) identify the influence of grazing on important ecosystem services provided by Mollisols and Alfisols, (ii) develop a listing of soil indicators that may be selected to quantify and credential soil quality, and (iii) develop guidelines that align soil indicators and changes in grazing management to support the restoration of ecosystem services.