This study evaluated the effects of offering growing bulls a diet with 40% modified wet distillers grains plus solubles (MWDGS; dry matter [DM] basis) on growth, composition, hoof scores, and reproductive performance. Simmental × Angus bulls (n = 28) were stratified by body weight (BW; 316 ± 29 kg), sire, and day 0 semen production (Y/N) and assigned into one of six pens. Pens were randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments (n = 3 pens/treatment): 1) offered free-choice access to a corn-based diet with no MWDGS (CON) or 2) offered free-choice access to a diet with 40% MWDGS (DST; DM basis). Bulls were offered treatments for 140 d and, then, switched to a free-choice, common, low-energy diet for an additional 70 d. Bull BW, body condition score (BCS), hip height (HH), ultrasound (rump fat depth [RF], 12th rib fat thickness [BF], marbling score [MS], and longissimus muscle depth [MD]), hoof evaluations, breeding soundness examination (BSE), and semen evaluations were performed on days 0, 28, 56, 84, 112, 140, 175, and 210. There was a tendency (P < 0.09) for a treatment × time effect for BW. Bulls fed DST tended (P ≤ 0.10) to be heavier on days 28 and 56 than CON bulls. A treatment × time effect was detected (P < 0.01) for RF. Bulls fed DST had greater (P = 0.02) RF on day 84 than CON bulls. Treatment × time and treatment effects were detected (P ≤ 0.05) for BF, in which DST bulls had greater (P ≤ 0.05) BF on days 84, 112, and 175 and tended (P ≤ 0.10) to be greater on days 56 and 210 than CON bulls. A treatment × time effect was detected (P < 0.02) for percentage of major sperm defects. Bulls fed DST had a greater (P < 0.01) percentage of major sperm defects on day 140 than control bulls. There was a tendency (P = 0.09) for a treatment × time effect for percentage of sperm with proximal droplets. Bulls fed DST had a greater (P = 0.01) percentage of sperm with proximal droplets on day 140 than CON bulls. In conclusion, offering growing bulls a diet with 40% MWDGS (DM basis) resulted in heavier BW at days 28 and 56, increased RF at day 84, and increased BF and increases in both major sperm defects and sperm with proximal droplets at day 140. However, after 70 d on the common low-energy diet, there were no carryover effects for any growth, composition, hoof, or reproductive measures except for a tendency for BF.
Mature Simmental × Angus cows [n = 147; body weight (BW) = 590 ± 72 kg] were used to evaluate the effects of early weaning on subsequent parity calf growth performance and carcass characteristics. Cows were assigned to one of two treatments based on their previous calf’s weaning age: early wean (EW) or conventional wean (CW). Dams assigned to the EW treatment had calves previously weaned at 88 ± 6 d of age, whereas dams assigned to the CW treatment had calves previously weaned at 185 ± 6 d of age. Cow BW and body condition scores (BCS) were monitored during the experiment. All cows were managed as a common group from the onset of the experiment at breeding until final pregnancy check of their next production cycle 462 d later. All calves in the experiment were managed as one group and weaned at a single time point, then feedlot performance and carcass characteristics were evaluated. Initial cow BW was different (P < 0.05), so it was included as a covariate for cow BW analysis. There was a treatment × date interaction (P < 0.01) for cow BW and cow BCS. Cow BW was consistently greater for the EW treatment from day 39 to the end of the experiment (P < 0.01). Cow BCS were not different at the onset of the experiment (P = 0.20), although after breeding and throughout lactation, BCS diverged between treatments and the EW treatment consistently had greater (P < 0.01) BCS than the CW treatment throughout the entire subsequent lactation. Gestation length was not different (P = 0.21) between treatments, yet calf birth BW was greater (P = 0.05) for the EW treatment. Neither artificially inseminated pregnancy percentage nor overall pregnancy percentage was different between treatments (P ≥ 0.61). Despite the greater birth BW for the EW treatment and no difference (P = 0.25) in milk production, weaning BW was not different (P = 0.50) between treatments. Feedlot performance measures were not different (P ≥ 0.13) between treatments, including feedlot arrival weight, final BW, average daily gain, dry matter intake, and gain to feed. Final carcass characteristics were not different (P ≥ 0.33) between treatments, including dressing percentage, hot carcass weight, LM area, 12th rib fat thickness, kidney, pelvic, heart fat percentage, USDA yield grade, and marbling score. Thus, early weaning resulted in improved BW and BCS of cows as well as increased birth BW of subsequent calf, although that did not transpire into differences in postnatal growth performance or carcass traits.
This study evaluated the effect of heifer development system on body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), fescue toxicosis symptoms, reproductive performance, and subsequent calf growth of fall-calving beef heifers. Angus × Simmental heifers [n = 399; 240 ± 20.0 kg initial BW; age = 252 ± 20 d] were stratified by BW and BCS and assigned to 1 of 12 groups in each of the 2 production years. The study utilized a stratified randomized design. Pens were randomly assigned to 4 treatments: drylot (DL) development (fed ad-libitum diet consisting of 90% hay and 10% DDGS on a dry matter basis), grazing endophyte-infected fescue supplemented daily (2.3 kg as-fed/heifer/d; 50:50 mix of soybean hulls and DDGS; E+/S), grazing endophyte-infected fescue and supplemented from the midpoint of treatment period until breeding (4.5 kg as-fed/heifer/d; 50:50 mix of soybean hulls and DDGS; E+/LS), and grazing novel endophyte-infected fescue with no supplement (NE+/NS). Treatments ceased on d 168 [time of artificial insemination (AI)] and heifers were commingled and managed as a group through second breeding season. Heifers in DL had greatest (P ≤ 0.05) BW and BCS from d 28 until d 254. Furthermore, E+/S heifers had greater (P ≤ 0.05) BW and BCS than both E+/LS and NE+/NS from d 28 until d 168. On d 56 and 84, E+/LS heifers had lower (P ≤ 0.05) BW and BCS compared to NE+/NS, but on d 148 treatments reranked and E+/LS remained at a greater (P ≤ 0.05) BW and BCS compared to NE+/NS through the first breeding season. Drylot heifers had greatest (P ≤ 0.05) percentage cycling and percentage of mature BW at AI (66.6%) and had greater (P ≤ 0.05) AI and overall pregnancy rates compared to E+/LS and NE+/NS. The E+/S (55%) and E+/LS (53.7%) heifers were developed to a greater (P < 0.01) percentage of mature BW than NE+/NS (49.3%). A greater (P ≤ 0.02) percentage of DL and E+/S heifers were pregnant at the end of the first breeding season (89.3 and 85.1%; respectively) compared to NE+/NS (61.5%). In summary, DL heifers had the greatest BW and BCS at AI, percentage cycling, and AI pregnancy rate. However, this strategy did not result in differing overall pregnancy rates between DL, E+/S, and E+/LS and there were no differences in milk production, rebreeding reproductive performance, and calf performance between all treatments. Finally, the poorest AI and overall pregnancy rates of the NE+/NS heifers suggests this is not a viable development strategy for fall-born heifers.
The objective was to determine effects of interlocking rubber floor matting in slatted indoor cattle feeding facilities on cattle performance and carcass characteristics. In experiment 1, Fall-born Angus x 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. Final BW was affected (P = 0.02) by treatment with PEB steers being the heaviest, MG and CONC were intermediate, and OLD was the lightest. Treatment affected (P < 0.01) ADG with PEB steers being greatest, MG and CONC were intermediate, and OLD was the least. Flooring treatment did not affect overall dry matter intake (P = 0.16) or G:F (P = 0.94). Flooring treatment did not affect (P ≥ 0.19) any carcass traits. In experiment 2, Fall-born Angus x 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 (CON2). Steers were fed a common diet for 112 d with an average stocking density of 2.64 m2 per steer. After 112 days on feed, flooring treatment did not affect (P ≥ 0.30) BW or ADG. There were no treatment differences (P = 0.13) observed for overall DMI at d 112. Overall, results suggest new rubber matting in slatted indoor cattle feeding facilities improved ADG during a 209 d trial.
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