Influence of excessive dietary protein intake during late gestation on drylot beef cow performance and progeny growth, carcass characteristics, and plasma glucose and insulin concentrations.

Spring-calving cows ( = 49) were used to investigate the effects of excessive prepartum dietary protein intake on late gestation cow performance as well as subsequent progeny growth, carcass characteristics, and plasma glucose and insulin concentrations. Treatments were formulated to be isocaloric and provide 100% (REQ) or 129% (HP) of CP requirement. Treatments were limit-fed 78 ± 12 d prepartum to calving. All cows were fed a common diet postpartum. Cow BW and BCS were recorded at initiation of treatments and within 48 h post-calving. Milk production was estimated via the weigh-suckle-weigh technique 69 ± 11 d postpartum. Calf BW was measured at birth and at weaning (121 ± 11 d of age). Progeny ( = 42) were weaned as a group and placed into a feedlot and fed a common finishing diet. Glucose and insulin concentrations were analyzed on a subset of progeny (12 per treatment) 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, and 240 min post-feeding, 2 d before slaughter (342 ± 11 d of age). Treatment had no effect ( ≥ 0.22) on cow BW, BCS, milk production, and subsequent reproduction or progeny preweaning growth. Progeny finishing growth and marbling scores were not affected ( ≥ 0.24) by treatment, yet 12th rib fat thickness ( < 0.01), KPH ( = 0.04), and YG ( = 0.01) were greater for progeny born to HP dams. Progeny born to HP dams had decreased ( ≤ 0.01) glucose and insulin concentrations, and insulin to glucose ratios, indicating greater insulin sensitivity. Although feeding cows 129% of CP requirement during late gestation did not affect cow performance or progeny preweaning or finishing period growth; carcass adiposity was increased by maternal treatment.

Influence of late gestation drylot rations differing in protein degradability and fat content on beef cow and subsequent calf performance.

Spring-calving, mature cows ( = 191 total) and their progeny were used to evaluate the effects of late gestation drylot rations differing in RUP and fat content on cow performance as well as performance and carcass characteristics of subsequent progeny. Cows were blocked by BW and anticipated calving date and assigned to 16 pens. Pens were randomly allotted to 1 of 2 treatments: limit-fed corn coproducts and ground cornstalks (COP; TDN = 64.4%, CP = 11.1%, RDP = 60.2% of CP, and fat = 5.1%) or limit-fed ground mixed, cool-season grass hay (HY; TDN = 55.7%, CP = 9.5%, RDP = 86.0% of CP, and fat = 2.3%). Treatments were limit fed as isocaloric, isonitrogenous rations from 88 ± 11 d prepartum to calving. All cows were fed a common diet postpartum. Cow BW and BCS were collected at the beginning of the feeding period, within 48 h after calving, and at breeding. Calf BW was collected at birth and at 64 ± 11 and 124 ± 11 d of age. Milk production was determined using the weigh-suckle-weigh technique at 64 ± 11 and 124 ± 11 d postpartum. At 124 ± 11 d of age, steers ( = 68) and nonreplacement heifer calves ( = 25) were weaned and placed on a common feedlot diet with individual feed intake monitored using GrowSafe. Feedlot calves were slaughtered at a commercial facility 35 ± 10 d after a minimum ultrasound 12-rib fat thickness estimation of 0.9 cm. After calving, cow BW was greater ( < 0.01) and BCS was greater ( < 0.01) for cows fed COP than for cows fed HY. Calf birth BW was greater ( = 0.04) for those born to cows fed COP with no difference ( = 0.43) in percentage of unassisted births across treatment. Cows fed HY were lighter ( < 0.01) at breeding with lower BCS ( = 0.03); nevertheless, overall pregnancy rate was not different ( = 0.80). No differences ( ≥ 0.22) in milk production were detected. For feedlot progeny, initial feedlot BW, final BW, and days on feed were not different ( ≥ 0.23), and as a result, no difference ( = 0.21) in feedlot ADG was detected. Feedlot DMI and G:F were not different ( ≥ 0.19) across treatments. Feedlot calf health was monitored with no differences ( ≥ 0.68) in morbidity and mortality observed. No differences ( ≥ 0.27) were detected for HCW, LM area, backfat, marbling score, yield grade, or KPH. Increased dietary RUP and fat content during late gestation increased cow BW and BCS but did not alter milk production, subsequent reproduction, or subsequent calf performance or carcass characteristics.

Effects of late gestation distillers grains supplementation on fall-calving beef cow performance and steer calf growth and carcass characteristics.

Fall-calving, mature Angus and Simmental × Angus cows ( = 251 total) and their progeny were used to evaluate the effects of late gestation dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) supplementation on cow performance and progeny growth and carcass characteristics. Cows were blocked by breed and allotted to 12 tall fescue pastures (6.8 ha average). Pastures were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: cows were offered 2.1 kg DM DDGS·cow·d (SUP; CP = 23%, fat = 7%; = 6 pastures) or were not offered a supplement (CON; = 6 pastures) 69 ± 9 d before expected calving date. Cows remained on treatments until calving. Once weekly, cows that had calved were removed from treatment pastures and were moved to new tall fescue pastures (21.6 ha average) where cows from both treatments were comingled without further supplementation. Cows ( = 74) were removed from study for calving more than 30 d after expected calving date, calf loss and injury, or euthanasia. Cow BW and BCS were recorded at the beginning of the supplementation period, after calving, and at breeding. Calf BW was taken at birth and early weaning (82 ± 14 d of age). After weaning, 71 steer progeny (representative of dam breed and treatment pastures) were transitioned to a common feedlot diet with individual feed intake monitored using the GrowSafe feeding system. Steers were slaughtered at 47 ± 4 d after a minimum 12th rib fat thickness (back fat) estimation of 0.6 cm, with cattle being shipped in 3 groups. Forage availability was not different between treatments ( = 0.69). Cows offered SUP gained more BW and BCS ( ≤ 0.02) during the supplementation period. There were no differences ( ≥ 0.12) in calving date, calf birth or weaning BW, or preweaning ADG. Cow BW at breeding was not different ( = 0.19); however, BCS at breeding was greater ( < 0.01) for cows offered supplement. No differences ( ≥ 0.11) in milk production, AI conception, or overall pregnancy rate were detected. For steer progeny, initial feedlot BW, final BW, and days on feed were not different ( ≥ 0.35); no difference ( = 0.77) in feedlot ADG was detected. Feedlot DMI and G:F were not different ( ≥ 0.52) across treatments. No differences ( = 0.62) in morbidity were observed in the feedlot. No differences ( ≥ 0.19) were detected for HCW, LM area, marbling score, or yield grade. Prepartum DDGS supplementation improved cow BW and BCS but did not alter milk production, subsequent reproduction, or subsequent calf performance or carcass characteristics.

Prepartum supplement level and age at weaning: I. Effects on pre- and postpartum beef cow performance and calf performance through weaning.

Objectives were to determine the interaction of prepartum supplement level and age at weaning on cow BW, BCS, milk production, reproduction, and calf performance up to weaning in a fall-calving system over 2 yr. Mature, multiparous, Angus × Simmental cows (yr 1: 326 cows, 9 pastures, BW = 632 ± 67 kg, and BCS = 5.7 ± 0.58; yr 2: 383 cows, 9 pastures, BW = 606 ± 70 kg, and BCS = 5.8 ± 0.74) were used in a split-plot design that included 3 supplement levels-no supplement (NS), low supplement (LS; 2.16 kg∙cow∙d), or high supplement (HS; 8.61 kg∙cow∙d)-and 2 ages at weaning-78 ± 11 d of age (early weaned; EW) or 186 ± 11 d of age (normal weaned; NW). Cows grazed endophyte-infected tall fescue/red clover pastures and were bunk fed supplement (70% dried distillers' grains with solubles and 30% soybean hulls) 103 ± 11 d prepartum to 2 ± 11 d postpartum. Cow BW was greater ( < 0.01) for cows fed HS at precalving (49 ± 11 d prepartum), postcalving (26 ± 11 d postpartum), and postbreeding (81 d after AI) compared with cows fed NS and LS. Prepartum supplementation did not affect ( ≥ 0.62) calf birth BW, percent of calves dead at birth, or percent of cows calving unassisted. Prepartum supplementation tended ( = 0.10) to improve AI conception. Early weaning increased ( ≤ 0.05) AI conception and postbreeding cow BW and BCS compared with cows with NW calves. Neither prepartum supplementation nor age at weaning affected ( ≥ 0.28) overall pregnancy rate. At time of early weaning, BW was increased ( = 0.05) for steers from cows fed LS compared with steers from cows fed NS. Steer BW at time of normal weaning and ADG between early and normal weaning was greater ( < 0.01) for EW steers compared with NW steers. A year × age at weaning interaction occurred ( < 0.01) for ultrasound marbling score at time of normal weaning. In yr 1, marbling was decreased ( = 0.04) for EW steers compared with NW steers; however, in yr 2, marbling was increased ( < 0.01) for EW steers compared with NW steers. In conclusion, there was no interaction between level of supplement during late gestation and age at weaning on cow BW, BCS, milk production, AI conception, and overall pregnancy rate in mature beef cows nor in their steer progeny's BW or ultrasound marbling. Both prepartum supplementation and early weaning improved cow BW, BCS, and reproduction. Minimal effects of dam prepartum supplement level on calf performance up to weaning were observed. Early weaning improved calf growth but had inconsistent effects on ultrasound marbling across years.

Beef cow prepartum supplement level and age at weaning: II. Effects of developmental programming on performance and carcass composition of steer progeny.

Objectives were to determine the interaction of prepartum dam supplement level and age at weaning on growth performance, glucose and insulin concentrations, and carcass characteristics of steers (134 steers in yr 1; 147 steers in yr 2). Mature, multiparous Angus × Simmental cows were used in a split-plot design that included 3 supplement levels (no supplement [NS], 2.16 kg·cow·d [LS], and 8.61 kg·cow·d [HS]) and 2 ages at weaning (78 ± 11 d of age [early weaned; EW] or 186 ± 11 d of age [normal weaned; NW]). Cows grazed endophyte-infected tall fescue/red clover pastures and were bunk fed supplement (70% dried distiller's grains plus solubles and 30% soybean hulls) 103 ± 11 d prepartum to 2 ± 11 d postpartum. Dam prepartum supplement level did not affect ( ≥ 0.29) finishing phase growth performance or morbidity. The percentage of steers grading Average Choice or greater was increased ( = 0.04) for steers from cows fed HS compared to the percentage of steers from cows fed NS. Early weaning increased ( < 0.01) finishing phase initial BW and final BW and reduced ( < 0.01) G:F compared to normal weaning. A year × wean interaction ( = 0.04) occurred for ADG; EW resulted in reduced ( < 0.01) ADG compared to NW in yr 2. At slaughter, EW steers had greater ( < 0.01) HCW, yield grade, and back fat than NW steers. A year × wean interaction ( ≤ 0.05) occurred for quality grade distribution; in yr 2, EW steers had a greater ( < 0.01) proportion of carcasses that graded Low Choice or greater and Average Choice or greater than carcasses from NW steers. The EW steers had greater ( ≤ 0.05) occurrence of single antibiotic treatments in yr 2 and mortality due to respiratory disease than NW steers. A trend for a year × wean interaction ( ≤ 0.07) occurred for plasma insulin concentration and insulin:glucose; EW steers had numerically greater plasma insulin concentrations and insulin:glucose than NW steers in yr 1. In conclusion, these data suggest that there is no interaction between maternal level of supplement during late gestation and age at weaning on steer finishing phase performance, glucose and insulin concentrations, and carcass yield and quality characteristics. Overfeeding supplement to the dam did not affect finishing phase growth performance but did improve quality grades of steers. Early weaning increased HCW and improved carcass quality. Both dam supplement level and age at weaning are effective strategies in increasing beef quality and are independent of each other.

Serological and growth rate responses to the use of chicken Newcastle disease vaccines in pigeons.

OBJECTIVE: In the face of an outbreak of pigeon paramyxovirus (PPMV), a vaccination response study was undertaken to determine if pigeons in Australia would produce a serological response similar to that considered protective in chickens. DESIGN: A vaccination study evaluated serological response and safety criteria in groups of 20 pigeons. METHODS: One group served as unvaccinated controls; one group was vaccinated with a live V4 strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and subsequently revaccinated 28 days later with an inactivated La Sota strain vaccine; the third group was vaccinated twice with the inactivated La Sota strain vaccine 28 days apart. Serum was collected from the birds for serology 28, 56, 120 and 196 days after each treatment. Safety of the vaccines was determined using observation of the birds and body weight change. Serology was performed using three variations of the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test, including chicken red blood cells (RBC) with either V4 NDV or PPMV as the antigen and pigeon RBC with V4 NDV as the antigen. A commercial NDV ELISA test was also used. RESULTS: At 28 days after the second vaccination, the geometric mean titres were 6.8 and 7.3 for the live/inactivated vaccine regimen and the inactivated/inactivated regimen, respectively. The serological response of birds vaccinated with the inactivated/inactivated regimen was significantly greater than that of the controls for all of the serological tests used. CONCLUSION: Vaccination of pigeons with two doses of chicken NDV vaccine 28 days apart was safe and resulted in antibody levels considered protective for NDV in chickens.

Utilizing reward systems to mobilize change.

The pressures for change in health care organizations mean that people need to do things differently. Reward systems offer an opportunity to share in the success of the enterprise if they are designed and managed effectively. This article shows how and why they work. Case studies illustrate the key principles in action.