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Crossbred, calf-fed steers (n = 480; initial body weight = 292 ± 19 kg) were used in a randomized block design finishing experiment with a 2 × 3 arrangement of treatments to evaluate the impact of constant inclusion or decreasing inclusion of modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) with high-quality or low-quality roughage on finishing cattle performance. Dietary treatments included two roughage sources to provide similar neutral detergent fiber (NDF) from forage (6% corn stalks versus 12% corn silage DM basis) in three diets containing 0, 15, or decreasing inclusion of distillers (30, 15, then 0% across the feeding period). A total of 48 (10 steers/pen) pens were used with 8 pens/treatment. There was an interaction (P = 0.04) between roughage source and MDGS inclusion for dry matter intake (DMI). Cattle fed stalks with decreasing inclusions of MDGS (30-0%) had greater DMI than those fed silage as roughage source, but at 0% inclusion of MDGS there was no difference between roughage sources. No other significant interactions were observed, so main effects will be presented. Cattle fed the diet with 0% MDGS inclusion had reduced (P < 0.05) hot carcass weight (HCW), DMI, average daily gain (ADG), and 12th rib fat, and poorer G:F compared with cattle fed diets where MDGS was at 15% inclusion continuously or when MDGS decreased from 30% to 0%. For the treatment where MDGS was decreased from 30% to 0%, performance differed from that of cattle fed 15% distillers continuously. Cattle fed decreasing inclusions of MDGS (30-0%) had less (P < 0.01) DMI, ADG and tended (P = 0.07) to have lighter HCW. But G:F was not (P = 0.25) affected compared with when distillers was fed at 15% continuously. Marbling score was impacted by distillers inclusion (P = 0.03), where cattle fed 15% MDGS had greater (P = 0.01) marbling score than 0% inclusion and tended (P = 0.06) to be greater than cattle fed 30-0% MDGS. Even though there are differences in marbling score across treatments, all three treatments were within the choice grade and reflect ADG differences across treatments. Cattle fed silage consumed less, gained the same, and had greater G:F (P < 0.01). Based on numerically less HCW, ADG, and poorer G:F, these data suggest that feeding 6% corn stalks did not produce similar performance as feeding 12% corn silage. These data suggest that feeding 15% distillers was not enough to offset decreased quality roughage (stalks) compared with silage as roughage which contradicts previous studies when 30% distillers were fed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to evaluate impacts of RAMP (Cargill Corn Milling, Blair, NE) on methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, performance, and carcass characteristics of beef cattle during the grain adaptation phase and finishing phase. Crossbred steers [n = 64; initial body weight (BW) = 347 ±7 kg] were utilized in two treatments; RAMP, fed 100% RAMP during step one and then stepped up to a common finisher diet consisting of 65.5% steam-flaked corn (SFC), 22.5% Sweet Bran (SB), 8% wheat straw, and 4% supplement. The second treatment was control (CON) fed 30.5% SFC, 22.5% SB, 8% wheat straw 35% alfalfa hay, and 4% supplement during step one and then stepped up to the common finisher diet. There were 8 steers per pen and 4 paired replications. Replications were stepped up together and rotated through a twochamber emissions barn in 5-day cycles to measure CH4 and CO2 emissions at three time points: step one of step-up phase, early feeding phase (one week after starting the finishing diet), and later finishing phase (13 weeks after starting the finishing diet). Performance data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with treatment and BW block as fixed effects and emissions data analyzed with BW block and treatment as fixed effects and barn chamber as a covariate. Feeding RAMP during step one of the step-up phase led to a decrease in CH4, as g/d (P = 0.03) and a decrease in the CH4:CO2 ratio (P = 0.02). However, CH4 as g/kg of dry matter intake (DMI) was not affected by treatment (P = 0.25). Control steers had a decrease in CO2 as g/day (P = 0.03), but not as CO2 g/kg of DMI (P = 0.31). There were no differences in DMI (P = 1.00) during the step-up phase, averaging 10.3 kg/d for both treatments. For measures taken while all cattle were on the common finishing diet, RAMP did not reduce CH4, as g/d or g/kg DMI (P = 0.27), CO2 as g/d or g/kg DMI (P = 0.37), or CH4:CO2 (P = 0.12). There were no significant differences in DMI (P = 0.49) whole cattle were in the emissions barn during the feeding phase. There were no significant differences for interim (d 66) cattle performance including BW (mean 504 kg; P = 0.84), DMI (mean 9.7 kg; P = 0.27), ADG (mean 2.33 kg/d; P = 0.88), or G: F (mean 0.246; P = 0.30). Feeding RAMP to cattle during the grain adaptation phase resulted in a 12% decrease in methane emissions on a g per day basis without affecting cattle performance. This reduction in emissions didn't carry over into the finishing phase when a common diet was fed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive grazing systems often vary in pasture size and terrain, making it challenging for ranchers to accurately locate livestock through visual appraisal. Using satellite-based global positioning systems (GPS), accurate position data can be provided to track animal movements that could inform grazing management decisions. This study aimed to: 1) assess two modern GPS devices for functionality by calculating fix success rate, and 2) evaluate the relationship between average daily distance traveled and average daily weight gain (ADG) performance on yearling steers grazing smooth bromegrass pasture using the GPS devices. Yearling steers (n = 25) grazed a 10.8-ha smooth bromegrass pasture for 156 days from May to September 2021. The temperature ranged from 4.1 to 38.8℃ with an average 22.7℃ and received 490 mm of rainfall. Cattle ADG was 0.65 ± 0.13 kg/d. Each steer was assigned two GPS collars for 28 days to compare two types of sensors. The sensors evaluated were i-gotU GT-600 travel loggers (GU) and Yabby LoRaWAN GPS sensors (YB) utilizing the IoT (Internet of Things) technology. The YB sensor possessed real-time monitoring and remote data access, while data from the GU sensor needed to be removed from the animals and manually downloaded. The YB sensors had a manufacturer declared finest positioning accuracy of 4.6 m, while that of the GU sensor being 9.1 m. With a 10-min sampling rate, battery life of the YB sensors lasted 4 weeks, while the GU sensors demonstrated unreliable battery performance that ranged between 1 to 4 weeks. Fixed success rate (FSR) was calculated for each sensor. Using PROC MIXED of SAS (v 9.4), on average the GU sensors had a 67.1% FSR and the YB sensors observed an 89.9% FSR (P < 0.0001). The YB sensor outweighed the GU sensor on battery life and FSR, thus was utilized throughout the duration of the grazing season. Individual animal traveled distance was calculated after converting the GPS coordinates in decimal degrees to Universal Transverse Mercator coordinates (WGS 1984 UTM zone 14N) in meters. The Euclidean distance between consecutive coordinates was calculated and summed daily to represent the daily traveled distance of an animal. Using all coordinates recorded from YB, steers traveled 2,718 ± 809 m/d. Statistical analysis was conducted using PROC CORR of SAS to determine the correlation between the daily averages of distance traveled and ADG. All values were considered significant a = 0.05. There was no correlation observed between distance traveled and ADG (P = 0.76). Results demonstrate that modern GPS sensors utilizing IoT technology have benefits over traditional GPS sensors and can be used as a tool for extensive grazing livestock tracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advancements in both vaccine technology and antibiotic therapy, bovine respiratory disease complex (BRD) remains the primary health challenge for cattle feeding operations in the United States. The strategy of limit-feeding calves during the early receiving period (first 28 days) has been proposed as a method to mitigate BRD risk, but limited data are available despite this strategy becoming more common. The objective of this study was to evaluate limit-feeding as a receiving protocol to determine impact on pull rates, receiving performance, and subsequent (Postreceiving) finishing performance. Steers (initial BW = 262 kg; n = 704) were blocked by arrival day (7 blocks) and housed in 44 open-lot pens. Pens were assigned to either limit-fed at approximately 75% of ad libitum or fed ad libitum for the 28-day receiving period. A subset of 216 steers in 14 pens was followed through finishing to evaluate carry-over effects in the finish period (192 days). Dry matter intake (DMI; P < 0.01), average daily gain (ADG; P < 0.01) and ending body weight (P < 0.01) were less for the limit-fed treatment compared with ad libitum due to the limitation of intakes as designed. Intake averaged 70.1% for limit-fed versus ad libitum whereas ADG was 72.6% for limit-fed compared with ad libitum. Because both DMI and ADG were decreased by similar amounts, G:F was not affected (P = 0.28). Numerically better G:F was observed for limit-fed cattle versus ad libitum but this 3.4% difference was not significant (P = 0.28). Morbidity rates for BRD were not statistically different, with ad libitum morbidity of 16.3% compared with 14.3% for limit-fed steers (P = 0.58) Low mortality for the receiving period was observed with 0.84% (3 steers) on limit-fed treatment, and 0% for the ad libitum treatment. For the subset of pens that were followed through finishing, there were no differences (P > 0.18) in ADG or DMI. While not statistically different, there was a 2.2% increase in ADG for steers that were limit-fed during the receiving period, which allowed for similar HCW and final BW (P = 0.39) at slaughter. Other carcass characteristics were also similar (P > 0.74) between steers received with an ad libitum or limit-fed program. No statistical difference (P = 0.29) in the rate of liver abscess occurrence was noted. In conclusion, there was no statistical difference between treatments in early-period morbidity or finishing performance between ad libitum and limit-fed receiving management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metabolism experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of daily feeding of encapsulated Megasphaera elsdenii (M. elsdenii) NCIMB 41125 along with a one-time dose of Lactipro NXT (MS Biotec) on dry matter intake (DMI), rumen pH, in vitro lactate disappearance, volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, and lactate concentration. Ruminally cannulated crossbred steers (n = 40, initial BW 437 ± 98 kg) were individually fed a finisher diet consisting of 70% steam-flaked corn, 18% modified distillers grain plus soluble, and 7% alfalfa hay. Treatments were control (Con) steers which were given no M. elsdenii and four treatments that received LactiproNXT on day 1 and were given 0 (Drench), 1×106 (Low), 1×107 (Medium), or 1×108 (High) CFU of encapsulated M. elsdenii daily throughout the experiment fed as a top-dress. Adaptation to the finishing diet was accomplished in 19 days for Con steers and 9 days for steers in the Drench, Low, Medium, and High treatments. The experiment included five continuous periods: step-up (d 1-19); finishing (d 20-88); feed restriction (d 89, 24-h full feed restriction); challenge (d 90, cattle were fed at 150% of max DMI from finishing period); and recovery (d 91-94). Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with linear and quadratic effects of dose with drench as the intercept. There were no significant differences for DMI in the step-up, finishing, or challenge period. In the recovery period, DMI was greater for Low, Med, and High compared with Drench (P = 0.07) and there was a tendency for a linear increase in DMI with increasing the dose of M. elsdenii (P = 0.11). Recovery period DMI, expressed as a percentage of pre-challenge intake, was greater (P = 0.05) in steers fed M. elsdenii daily compared with Drench steers, and increased linearly (P = 0.06) as dose of M. elsdenii increased. Rumen pH in steers fed M. elsdenii daily was greater (P < 0.01) during the feeding period and tended to be greater during the challenge (P = 0.14) and recovery (P = 0.11) periods when compared with the Drench treatment. In vitro lactate disappearance tended to be greater (P = 0.13) in steers given M. elsdenii daily when compared with Con and Drench on d 88. For days 90, 91, and 92 combined, a treatment effect was observed for in vitro lactate disappearance with steers in the Low, Med, and High treatments having greater (P < 0.05) disappearance than Con steers, and Med steers having greater (P < 0.05) disappearance than all other treatments. An accelerated step up is possible with the drench and daily feeding of M. elsdenii. Daily feeding of M. elsdenii has a positive effect on cattle during and after an acidosis challenge event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crossbred, yearling beef steers (n = 210: initial BW = 430 ± 22 kg) were used in a randomized blocked design finishing experiment to evaluate the impact of removing modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) on finishing performance and carcass characteristics. Treatments included feeding 20% MDGS (DM basis) during the entire feeding period (124 d); 20% MDGS until day 79 and then 0% MDGS until the end of the feeding period; or 20% MDGS until day 43 and then 0% MDGS until the end of the feeding period. A total of 21 pens (10 steers/pen) were used with 7 pens/treatment. Cattle were fed a 60:40 blend of high-moisture and dry-rolled corn, with 15% corn silage, 20% MDGS and 5% supplement. Distillers were replaced with the corn blend and urea when removed. Cattle were stepped down to 10% MDGS for 4 days before the complete removal of MDGS. Cattle with MDGS removed on either d 79 or d 43 had reduced (P < 0.05) final BW, DMI, and ADG. Cattle with MDGS removed on d 43 were 5% less efficient (P < 0.05) than cattle fed 20% MDGS throughout the entire feeding period. Cattle fed 20% MDGS throughout the whole feeding had the greatest (P < 0.05) HCW and LM area. There were no differences (P = 0.35) in backfat and marbling scores among treatments, and no differences (P = 0.59) in percent of abscessed livers, although 38% of steers fed 20% MDGS continuously had liver abscesses compared with 46% for steers with MDGS removed on d 43. Based on the results of this study, removing MDGS from finishing diets on either day 43 or day 79 of the feeding period had a negative impact on cattle performance compared with feeding 20% MDGS continuously throughout the entire finishing period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]