As zinc supplementation significantly reduces apparent copper status, copper supplementation is often used to counteract this. Previous excess copper intake may reduce the efficacy of zinc in preventing FE, thus copper intake should be assessed prior to the start of zinc supplementation.
The objective was to determine effects of old and new rubber matting in a slatted, indoor cattle feeding facility on cattle growth performance, locomotion, and carcass characteristics. In experiment 1, fall-born Angus × Simmental steers (N = 207; body weight = 222 ± 38 kg) were blocked by weight and assigned to 32 pens. Pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: no matting/concrete (CONC1), 12-year-old Animat Pebble matting (OLD1), new Animat Maxgrip matting (MG), and new Animat Pebble matting (PEB1). Steers were fed a common diet for 209 d with a minimum stocking density of 3.40 m 2 per animal. Final body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) were affected (P = 0.02 and P < 0.01, respectively) by treatment with steers on PEB1 finishing heaviest with the greatest growth, MG and CONC1 intermediate, and OLD1 finishing at the lightest final BW with the least growth. Flooring treatment did not affect overall dry matter intake (DMI; P = 0.16) or gain to feed ratio (G:F; P = 0.94). Flooring treatment did not affect (P ≥ 0.19) any carcass traits. Locomotion scores (LS) were affected (P < 0.01) by flooring treatment with CONC1 having the worst mobility while OLD1, MG, and PEB1 were similar (P ≥ 0.24). Locomotion score had a day effect (P < 0.01) where cattle gait and mobility worsened as days on feed increased. In experiment 2, fall-born Angus × Simmental steers (N = 189; BW = 352 ± 43 kg) were blocked by weight and assigned to 21 pens. Pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: no matting/concrete (CONC2), 15-year-old Animat Pebble matting (OLD2), and new Animat Pebble matting (PEB2). Steers were fed a common diet for 152 d with a stocking density of 2.65 m 2 per steer. After 152 days on feed, flooring treatment did not affect (P ≥ 0.30) BW, ADG, or DMI nor did treatment affect (P ≥ 0.17) carcass traits. However, steers housed on OLD2 or PEB2 had improved locomotion scores (P = 0.02) compared with steers housed on CONC2. Locomotion score had a day effect (P < 0.01) as cattle gait and mobility worsened with greater number of days on feed, regardless of treatment. Overall, results suggest new rubber matting increased ADG and HCW during a 209 d trial when cattle were stocked at 3.4 m 2 in small pens and that rubber matting regardless of age improved cattle locomotion scores in slatted indoor feeding facilities.
The objective was to determine parasite resistance in cattle treated with extended-release eprinomectin (LongRange) from a herd with 3 years of prior eprinomectin use. Fall-born Angus x Simmental heifers (224 ± 22 d of age) were randomly assigned 1 of 3 treatments: LongRange (LR; n = 21), LongRange and Synanthic (COMBO; n = 21), or saline-treated control (CON; n = 21). At trial initiation, all heifers were administered treatments according to label instructions. All heifers grazed endophyte-infected tall fescue in groups (n = 3 per treatment) and supplemented daily modified wet distillers grain (0.91 kg as fed per heifer) and soybean hulls (0.91 kg as fed per heifer). Prior to trial initiation and monthly thereafter, BW, packed cell volume (PCV), and fecal egg counts (FEC) were determined. There was a treatment × date interaction (P = 0.001) for fecal eggs counts. There were no differences (P ≥ 0.53) in the FEC in May or June. In July and August, the LR and COMBO heifers had decreased (P < 0.01) FEC compared with CON. By September there were no differences (P = 0.84) in FEC. At d 28, there was no difference (P ≥ 0.44) in FEC reduction between LR (91% FEC reduction) and COMBO (98% FEC reduction). There was no treatment or treatment × date interaction (P ≥ 0.34) for PCV. There was a treatment × date interaction (P = 0.01) for BW. There were no differences (P ≥ 0.16) in BW during May, June, and July. In August the LR and COMBO heifers tended (P = 0.09) to have greater BW than CON. In September and October, the LR and COMBO heifers had a greater (P ≤ 0.01) BW than CON heifers. Parasite resistance to extended-release eprinomectin was not observed based on FEC reduction tests and similar BW of LR and COMBO heifers.
The objective was to determine effects of interlocking rubber floor matting in slatted indoor cattle feeding facilities on cattle locomotion. In experiment 1, Fall-born Angus × Simmental steers (N = 206; BW = 228 ± 34 kg) were blocked by weight and assigned to 32 pens. Pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: new Max Grip Animat matting (MG), new Animat Pebble matting (PEB), old Animat Pebble matting (OLD), and no matting/concrete slating (CONC). Steers were fed a common diet for 209 d with an average stocking density of 3.70 m2 per steer. Locomotion scores were assigned by two trained staff using a 0–3 scale of the Step-Up® Locomotion Scoring System (Zinpro, Eden Prairie, MN) throughout both experiments. There was no treatment by day interaction (P = 0.88) observed. Treatment affected (P < 0.01) locomotion scores with CONC being the greatest and MG, PEB, and OLD being lesser and not different from each other. Locomotion scores also increased (P < 0.01) over time. In experiment 2, Fall-born Angus × Simmental steers (n = 189; BW = 352 ± 43 kg) were blocked by weight and assigned to 21 pens. Pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: new Animat Pebble matting (PEB2), old Animat Pebble matting (OLD2), or no matting/concrete slating (CONC2). Steers were fed a common diet for 152 d with an average stocking density of 2.64 m2 per steer. There was no treatment by day interaction (P = 0.42) observed. However, both treatment and day affected (P ≤ 0.02) locomotion scores. Steers on CONC2 had the greatest locomotion score, while PEB2 and OLD2 were not different from each other. Locomotion scores were the greatest on d 152. Overall, results suggest new and old rubber floor matting improved locomotion scores of feedlot steers in slatted indoor cattle feeding facilities.
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