The objective was to determine the effect of soy co-products (soybean meal and soy oil) in the diet on the growth and hemocytology of cattle during a 56-day growing phase and the physiological/behavioral response to an endotoxin challenge. Angus crossbred steers (n = 36; 289 ± 31 kg, initial body weight ± SD) were stratified by body weight and sire; and assigned randomly to pastures (n = 9; 0.45 ha/mixed-grass pasture). Pastures were assigned randomly to of 3 dietary treatments: 1) a control supplement containing no soy co-products, 2) a supplement containing soybean meal, or 3) a supplement containing soy oil. All supplements were isonitrogenous and isoenergetic. Cattle were fed supplements (2.45 kg DM/day) for a period of 56 days during which weight and blood samples for complete blood count (CBC) were taken every 14 days. At the conclusion of the growing phase, cattle were assigned randomly to of 2 challenge groups (conducted 6 days apart) for a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge (i.v. infusion of 0.5 µg LPS/kg of body weight). A minimum of 18 hours before sampling, cattle were fitted with jugular vein catheters and placed into stanchions. Sickness behavior scores and rectal temperatures were collected every 30 minutes for a duration of 8 hours following LPS infusion. Body weights were analyzed using pen means and the MIXED procedure of SAS specific for repeated measures with treatment, day, and the treatment × day interaction as fixed effects and replicate as a random effect. CBC were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS specific for repeated measures with treatment, day, and the treatment × day interaction as fixed effects, replicate as a random effect, and pen specified as the subject. Rectal temperatures and behavior scores were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS specific for repeated measures with treatment, time, and the treatment × time interaction as fixed effects and challenge group as a random effect with calf as the subject. Dietary inclusion of soy co-products did not affect the body weights of steers for the 56-day growing phase (treatment and treatment × day, P ≥ 0.20), nor were any hemocytology measurements affected (treatment and treatment × day, P ≥ 0.12) during the growing phase. Following the endotoxin challenge there was no effect of treatment or treatment × time (P ≥ 0.57) for rectal temperatures or sickness behavior scores. Therefore, preliminary results indicate that inclusion of soy co-products in cattle diets did not affect growth or complete blood counts during a 56-day growing phase, neither did diet affect body temperature or sickness behavior in response to an endotoxin challenge.
To investigate the effects of inorganic or amino acid-complexed sources of trace minerals (zinc, copper, manganese, and cobalt) on performance and morbidity of beef heifers during the receiving period, crossbred beef heifer calves (n = 287, initial body weight = 231 kg) arriving on 3 delivery dates were used in a 42-day receiving trial. Heifers were processed after arrival and stratified by day -1 body weights and allocated randomly to 8 pens (11 to 13 heifers/pen; total of 24 pens). Within truckload, pens were assigned randomly to dietary treatment (12 pens/treatment). Calves were housed on 0.42-ha grass paddocks, provided ad libitum access to bermudagrass hay and water, and fed grain supplements that served as the carriers of the dietary treatments. Treatments consisted of supplemental zinc (360 mg/d), copper (125 mg/d), manganese (200 mg/d), and cobalt (12 mg/d) from complexed (Availa 4, Zinpro Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN) or inorganic sources (sulfates). Cattle were observed daily for clinical bovine respiratory disease (BRD). If presenting symptoms of BRD and if rectal temperature was ≥ 40°C, cattle were deemed morbid and treated with an antibiotic according to a standard preplanned protocol. Six heifers/pen were bled to determine serum haptoglobin concentrations on days 0, 14, and 28. Statistical analyses were performed using the MIXED and GLIMMIX procedures of SAS 9.4 with truckload as a random effect and pen within truckload specified as subject. There tended to be a treatment by day interaction for body weights (P = 0.07). Body weights did not differ on day 0 (P = 0.82) and day 14 (P = 0.36), but heifers supplemented with complexed trace mineral sources had greater body weights on day 28 (P = 0.04) and day 42 (P = 0.05; 264 vs. 260 kg, SE = 1.8). Overall average daily gains were greater for heifers supplemented with the complexed trace mineral sources (P = 0.05; 0.78 vs. 0.70 kg, SE = 0.03). Cattle supplemented with inorganic trace mineral sources had greater BRD morbidity incidence than cattle supplemented with complexed trace mineral sources (P = 0.03; 58 vs. 46%, SE = 3.6). Medication costs were lower for heifers supplemented with complexed trace mineral sources (P = 0.05; $11.01 vs. $14.90, SE = 1.33). Haptoglobin concentrations decreased throughout the trial (day, P < 0.001), and cattle supplemented with complexed trace mineral sources tended to have lower haptoglobin concentrations (P = 0.07). In conclusion, supplementing cattle for the first 42 days after arrival with amino acid complexed trace mineral sources improved heifer performance as compared to heifers supplemented with inorganic trace minerals.
To evaluate meloxicam plasma concentrations using a microneedle patch, 12 pigs (initial BW = 2.5 ± 0.53 kg) were stratified into of 4 treatment groups. Treatment groups were: 1) pigs (n = 2) received 0.5 mg/kg meloxicam via oral drench (oral); 2) pigs (n = 2) received a patch with no meloxicam (placebo); 3) pigs (n = 4) received microneedle patch dosed at 2.5 mg/kg (low dose); and 4) pigs (n = 4) received 2 microneedle patches dosed at 5 mg/kg (high dose). Blood was collected for plasma analysis at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 168 hours. Microneedle patches were adhered on the pinna of the ear after blood collection at 0 hour. Statistical analyses were performed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4, assessing effects of treatment, time, and treatment × time interaction. Statistical significance was determined at P ≤ 0.05, with tendencies at 0.05 < P ≥ 0.1. There was a treatment × time interaction (P < 0.0001), with the oral treatment group having greater meloxicam plasma concentrations at 2, 4, and 8 hours than placebo, low dose, and high dose treatment groups (P < 0.0001), but there were no differences for 24, 48, 72, 96, and 168 hours (P > 0.1). The oral treatment group tended to have greater meloxicam plasma concentrations at 12 hours compared with placebo (P = 0.09), low dose (P = 0.054), and high dose (P = 0.054) treatment groups. There were no differences between placebo, low dose, and high dose treatment groups for any blood collection timepoint (P > 0.1). Meloxicam concentrations in plasma were detectable but low for both the low dose treatment group (0.21 ng/mL) and high dose treatment group (1.14 ng/mL). Research is continuing to determine the ideal meloxicam dosage needed on the patch to deliver desired plasma concentrations.
The objectives of this study were to: 1) to examine the effect of number of stocker cattle in a receiving pen on BRD morbidity and mortality; and 2) to examine the effect of number of stocker cattle in a receiving pen on cattle performance. Crossbred steers of unknown origin and history (n = 200) were purchased from auction barns in the southern portion of the United States. Cattle were stratified by weight and assigned to either a small (10 head/pen) or large (50 head/pen) treatment on arrival. Calves were assigned to 1 of 3 large pens or 1 of 5 small pens. Cattle were observed daily for clinical signs of BRD and treated if rectal temperature ≥40°C. Body weight was collected on d 0, 14, 28, 42, and 56. Rectal temperature was collected at arrival. Days-at-risk for BRD was the number of days from arrival until a calf: (1) was first diagnosed with BRD; (2) died; or (3) finished the trial. Treatment effects on BRD incidence and performance were tested using Poisson distribution and logistic regression using GLIMMIX or linear regression using MIXED procedure of SAS, respectively, accounting for clustering by pen. Mortality was analyzed using the LOGISTIC function with Firth’s penalized likelihood. There were 8,698 total days at risk and overall incidence density was 7.82 BRD cases per 1,000 calf days. Overall morbidity totaled 32.5% with 5.5% mortality. No difference among treatment was observed for morbidity, mortality, or performance. Cattle with fever on arrival were 1.125 times more likely to contract BRD (P ˂ .0001). The number of BRD treatments received had an effect on ADG at d 0–14 (P ˂ .0001), 0–28 (P ˂ .0001), and 0–60 (P ˂ .0001), with ADG decreasing as number of treatments increased. In summary, fever on arrival affected BRD incidence, and number of treatments cattle received affected growth throughout the trial.
The objectives of this study were to: 1) to examine the effect of number of stocker cattle in a receiving pen on BRD morbidity and mortality; and 2) to examine the effect of number of stocker cattle in a receiving pen on cattle performance. Crossbred steers of unknown origin and history (n = 200) were purchased from auction barns in the southern portion of the United States. Cattle were stratified by weight and assigned to either a small (10 head/pen) or large (50 head/pen) treatment on arrival. Calves were assigned to 1 of 3 large pens or 1 of 5 small pens. Cattle were observed daily for clinical signs of BRD and treated if rectal temperature ≥40°C. Body weight was collected on d 0, 14, 28, 42, and 56. Rectal temperature was collected at arrival. Days-at-risk for BRD was the number of days from arrival until a calf: (1) was first diagnosed with BRD; (2) died; or (3) finished the trial. Treatment effects on BRD incidence and performance were tested using Poisson distribution and logistic regression using GLIMMIX or linear regression using MIXED procedure of SAS, respectively, accounting for clustering by pen. Mortality was analyzed using the LOGISTIC function with Firth’s penalized likelihood. There were 8,698 total days at risk and overall incidence density was 7.82 BRD cases per 1,000 calf days. Overall morbidity totaled 32.5% with 5.5% mortality. No difference among treatment was observed for morbidity, mortality, or performance. Cattle with fever on arrival were 1.125 times more likely to contract BRD (P ˂ .0001). The number of BRD treatments received had an effect on ADG at d 0–14 (P ˂ .0001), 0–28 (P ˂ .0001), and 0–60 (P ˂ .0001), with ADG decreasing as number of treatments increased. In summary, fever on arrival affected BRD incidence, and number of treatments cattle received affected growth throughout the trial.
The objective of this study was to assess the effect of winter hair coat shedding for crossbred Angus dams (n = 544) on calf birth weights, calf weaning weights (WW), calf adjusted 205-day weaning weights (d205wt), artificial insemination (AI) pregnancy rates, overall pregnancy rates, cow pre-breeding body weights (PBW), cow pre-breeding body condition scores (PBCS) over a two-year collection period. Hair shedding data were collected on fall-calving crossbred cows from March to July using a visual hair shedding score of 1 to 5 was assigned to each cow, with 1 exhibiting 100% shedding of winter coat to 5 exhibiting 0% shedding of winter coat. Month of first shedding (MFS) was determined once a female reached a hair shedding score of ≤ 3 for any given month. Artificial insemination pregnancy and overall pregnancy was determined by rectal ultrasound. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS for calf performance, cow BW, and cow BCS, and the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS for AI pregnancy and overall pregnancy analyses. Statistical significance was declared at P ≤ 0.05 and tendencies declared at 0.05 < P ≤ 0.1. There was no effect of MFS on calf birth weights (P = 0.79), WW (P = 0.12), d205wt (P = 0.28), AI pregnancy (P = 0.76), overall pregnancy (P = 0.80), PBW (P = 0.11), and BCS (P = 0.69). The findings reported in this study indicate that MFS had no effect on cowherd performance during this two-year study in Arkansas; however, there is a need for continuing research to be performed to evaluate the effects of winter hair coat shedding in other environments.
The objective of this experiment was to further investigate the effects of phosphorus intake on beef heifer growth performance and conception rates. An increase in phosphorus soil concentrations from use of livestock manure as fertilizer in Northwest Arkansas has led to greater phosphorus concentrations available in forages. This study was designed to determine if phosphorus supplementation is warranted when adequate phosphorus soil concentrations exist. This experiment was conducted over 2 years using two separate groups of weaned crossbred Angus heifers (n=72/year). Approximately 30 d after weaning, heifers were stratified by body weight (average initial weight 262kg) and allocated randomly to 14 groups (8 in Year 1, 6 in Year 2). Groups were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatments: 1) a free-choice-mineral mix that contained no supplemental phosphorus (CON), or 2) a free-choice-mineral mix with 4% supplemental phosphorus and identical concentrations of other supplemental minerals (4PMIN). Heifers grazed 2.24 ha mixed grass pastures with a history of livestock manure application and were supplemented with soy hulls (0.5% of body weight) daily. On d 112, heifers > 273 kg body weight had an ultrasound evaluation of reproductive tracts (1= infantile, 5= cyclic). Heifers were determined pregnant or open via rectal ultrasonography. Data were analyzed using the MIXED or GLIMMIX procedures of SAS 9.4 with group within year as the experimental unit. There were no differences in gain for either treatments for the 224-day period (P ≥ 0.14). Reproductive tract scores did not differ (P = 0.95). There were no differences for conception rates (AI or natural bred) (P ≥ 0.55). Overall pregnancy was 79% for CON and 83% for 4PMIN. Heifers grazing pastures with a history of livestock manure application did not benefit from adding supplemental phosphorus in the free choice mineral offered.
Metaphylactic treatments are used in cattle enterprises to mitigate bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Crossbred beef calves (n = 78; BW = 272 ± 25.8 kg) were randomly assigned 1 of 2 metaphylactic treatments. Upon arrival, calves were processed (ear tagged, vaccinated, dewormed, ear notched) and administered either 1.2 mL/50 kg BW of tulathromycin with a 7-d post-metaphylactic interval (PMI) or 2 mL/50 kg BW of gamithromycin with a 5-d PMI. Cattle were observed daily for signs of morbidity and a Clinical Attitude Score (0 [normal] to 5 [morbid]) was recorded. Calves that scored a 1 or greater and PMI eligible were pulled and rectal temperatures were recorded; if temperature exceeded 40°C, calves were given enrofloxacin. If calves were pulled a second time and criteria met, ceftiofur was the final antibiotic administered. Performance data and cost analysis were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4, with repeated measure of day used for performance data. Morbidity and treatment with second antibiotic data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS 9.4. There were no differences in morbidity (P = 0.17) or treatment with second antibiotic (P = 0.32). There was no treatment × day interaction or main effect for treatment for BW or ADG, but there was a main effect of day as BW increased (P < 0.001) through the sampling period and gain from days 0 to14 was greater than gain from days 14 to 28 (P = 0.001) and 28 to 42 (P < 0.001). Initial antibiotic costs ($32.73 vs. $21.74) and overall costs ($32.74 vs. $24.16) were greater (P < 0.001) in cattle administered tulathromycin compared to gamithromycin treated calves. While there were no differences between antibiotic treatments for health or performance, these data indicate that gamithromycin was a more cost-effective metaphylactic treatment for newly received, high-risk calves.
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