The effects of receiving diet roughage inclusion on performance, health, and serum metabolite characteristics of newly received beef calves.

Current dogma suggests increased dietary roughage may improve calf health at the expense of performance during receiving. In experiment 1, the effects of increasing dietary roughage on performance and clinical health of high-risk heifers was evaluated over a 56-d receiving period. Heifers (n = 589; initial body weight; BW = 230 ±â€…33 kg) were sourced from Oklahoma livestock auctions from April through October of 2019. Heifers were randomly assigned to pens, which were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 experimental dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. Diets contained either: 1) 15% roughage (R15), 2) 30% roughage (R30), or 3) 45% roughage (R45) in the form of prairie hay. Orthogonal contrasts were used to test for linear and quadratic responses among experimental treatments. There was a linear decrease in overall average daily gain (ADG; P ≤ 0.0001) with increasing roughage inclusion which resulted in a linear decrease (P ≤ 0.0001) in heifer final BW. A linear increase (P ≤ 0.01) was observed for overall dry matter intake (DMI), and overall gain:feed (G:F) decreased linearly (P ≤ 0.0001) as dietary roughage concentration increased. A quadratic response to decreasing roughage was observed (P = 0.02) for the percent of calves treated three times for bovine respiratory disease (BRD). No other responses (P ≥ 0.11) were detected in animal health variables. In experiment 2, Angus steers (n = 12) and heifers (n = 6; BW = 272 ±â€…28 kg) were acquired from a single ranch in Oklahoma to evaluate the same experimental dietary treatments on serum metabolite concentrations. Animals were randomly assigned to experimental treatments, with animal serving as the experimental unit in experiment 2. Statistical models for serum metabolites in experiment 2 were analyzed using repeated measures with the effects of treatment, time, and treatment × time. In experiment 2, there were tendencies for treatment × time interactions for blood urea nitrogen (BUN; P = 0.07) and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA; P = 0.06) concentrations. No metabolites were affected by treatment (P ≥ 0.11), while all metabolites were impacted by time (P ≤ 0.02). In summary, growth performance was improved in calves as dietary roughage concentration decreased with minimal impacts on health and serum metabolites. These results suggest that diets containing as little as 15% roughage can be used during receiving to improve calf performance without compromising calf health when fibrous byproducts are included in the diet.

Calves severely affected by bovine respiratory disease have reduced protection against histone toxicity and exhibit lower complement activity.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) remains the greatest challenge facing the beef industry. Calves affected by BRD can manifest illness ranging from subclinical infection to acute death. In pathologies similar to BRD, extracellular histones have been implicated as major contributors to lung tissue damage. Histones are basic proteins responsible for DNA organization in cell nuclei, however when released extracellularly during cell injury or via neutrophil activation they become cytotoxic. Cattle suffering severe cases of BRD demonstrate reduced capacity to protect against the cytotoxic effects of histones, however, the protective mechanism(s) of serum remain(s) unknown. Therefore, the objective was to identify components within serum that contribute to protection against histone toxicity. Serum proteins from animals considered protective (P; N = 4) and nonprotective (NP; N = 4) against the toxic effects of histones were precipitated by the addition and incubation of exogenous histones. Proteins that interact with histones from both groups were isolated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and identified via label free "shotgun" proteomics. Sixteen candidate proteins increased by ≥2-fold change in P vs. NP animals were identified, with several associated with the complement system. A subsequent study was conducted to evaluate complement system activity and serum protective capacity against exogenous histones in feedlot heifers. Serum samples were collected from 118 heifer calves (BW at arrival = 229 ±â€…2.4 kg) at feedlot arrival. Animals were retrospectively assigned to groups consisting of: calves not requiring treatment with antibiotics for BRD (CONT; N = 80), calves treated once (1TRT; N = 21), calves treated twice (2TRT; N = 5), calves treated thrice (3TRT; N = 3), or calves that died from BRD within 1 wk of entering the feedlot (DA; N = 9). Serum from DA animals was less protective than CONT (P = 0.0005) animals against histone toxicity. Complement activity of DA animals was reduced compared to CONT (P = 0.0044) animals. Additionally, the use of both assays as a ratio resulted in increased ability to detect DA animals. Results suggest that cattle predisposed to severe cases of respiratory disease may have impaired complement activity presumably contributing to reduced protective capacity against histone toxicity.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) remains the leading cause of feedlot calf sickness and death. In respiratory disease affecting humans and mice, major tissue damage is caused by release of histones. Histones are proteins found in the nucleus of cells that condense DNA, however, cells that become damaged release histones extracellularly. Research has shown that calves with severe cases of BRD are less able to protect against the toxic effects of histones residing outside of the cell. It is speculated that components within the blood may interact with histones and confer protection from histone toxicity. This study evaluated serum from protective and nonprotective cattle against histone toxicity and identified 16 proteins that were elevated in protective animals. Several proteins were associated with the complement system of the innate immune system. To evaluate immune complement activity and protective capacity against histone toxicity, serum was collected from heifers at feedlot arrival. Calves suffering from a severe case of BRD demonstrated reduced capacity to protect against histone toxicity. Complement activity of calves severely affected with BRD was reduced as well. Results suggest that cattle susceptible to severe cases of BRD may have impaired complement activity likely contributing to reduced protective capacity against histone toxicity.

Effects of feeding CLOSTAT (Bacillus subtilis PB6) on the clinical health, performance, and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers1.

The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the effects of feeding Bacillus subtilis PB6 on clinical health, performance, and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers. Bos indicus crossbred steer calves (n = 397; 342 kg initial body weight [BW]) were randomly assigned to pens by initial BW; pens (n = 24) were randomly assigned to one of two of the following experimental treatments: 1) no supplemental dietary direct-fed microbial, control (CON; n = 12 pens) or 2) 13 g/steer daily B. subtilis PB6 (CLO; CLOSTAT, Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA; n = 12 pens). Steers were housed in 12.2 × 30.5 m soil-surfaced pens; pen served as the experimental unit. The percentage of cattle treated once or twice for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) did not differ among treatments (P ≥ 0.27); BRD mortality also did not differ between CON and CLO (P = 0.34). During the receiving period, final BW (P = 0.97), average daily gain (ADG; P = 0.91), dry matter intake (DMI; P = 0.77), and gain:feed (P = 0.79) were not different among treatments. There was a tendency (P = 0.09) for CLO-supplemented steers to be 14% more efficient from days 0 to 14 of the receiving period. Final BW, overall finishing phase ADG, and DMI did not differ by treatment (P ≥ 0.14); ADG was 0.14 kg greater for CLO than CON (P = 0.03) from days 29 to 56 of the finishing period. Gain: feed tended (P = 0.07) to be 7% greater (0.144 vs. 0.141) for CLO than CON throughout the duration of the finishing period, and 6.7% greater (P = 0.08; 0.152 for CLO vs. 0.150 for CON) for the entirety of the experiment. Carcass traits did not differ among treatments (P ≥ 0.31). The results of this experiment suggest that supplementing 13 g/steer daily B. subtilis PB6 may improve feed efficiency in feedlot cattle.

The effects of varying levels of trace mineral supplementation on performance, carcass characteristics, mineral balance, and antibody concentrations in feedlot cattle.

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of increasing trace mineral (TM) supplementation on finishing cattle performance, carcass characteristics, TM balance, and antibody concentrations. Commercial Angus steers (n = 240; body weight, BW = 291 kg ± 27.4) were stratified by arrival BW and source and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 experimental treatments in a randomized complete block design (12 pens/treatment; 5 steers/pen). All steers underwent a TM depletion period for a minimum of 42-d prior to the administration experimental treatments. Treatments included a negative control (CON) in which cattle received no additional TM supplementation or TM supplementation treatments in which cattle received added Co, Cu, I, Mn, Se, or Zn from inorganic TM sources at 2016 Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle (NASEM) requirement levels (1X), at 2 times NASEM requirements (2X), or at 4 times NASEM requirements (4X). Selenium was included at 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg/kg for 1X, 2X, and 4X respectively, based on federal law. There was no difference in overall BW, average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), or gain to feed (G:F) due to TM supplementation (CON vs. SUPP P ≥ 0.47). There was no difference in hot carcass weight, rib eye area, fat thickness, dressing percentage, marbling score, or USDA Yield Grade due to TM supplementation (CON vs. SUPP P ≥ 0.30). One steer was chosen at random from each pen to be evaluated for serum and liver TM status and antibody concentrations to common respiratory viruses. There was a treatment × day interaction for serum Co and liver Cu and Se (P < 0.0001). Serum Co was greatest for the 4X treatment from d 28 through harvest. Liver Cu was greatest for the 2X and 4X treatments from d 56 through harvest. Liver Se was greatest for 2X and 4X from d 28 through harvest. Serum Zn was greatest for the 4X treatment (P = 0.02). There was an effect of day on liver Co, Fe, Mn, Mo, and Zn (P ≤ 0.0001) and serum Cu, Mn, Mo, Se, and Zn (P ≤ 0.002). Concentrations for individual TM had different trends over time, however, all reported values were within normal ranges. There was an effect of time on bovine viral diarrhea virus Type 1A, bovine herpesvirus type 1, and bovine parainfluenza 3 virus antibody concentrations (P ≤ 0.0001). Supplementation of TM above NASEM requirements did not affect overall cattle performance, carcass characteristics, or antibody concentrations, but did affect the storage and circulation of certain TM.

Evaluation of ruminal degradability and metabolism of feedlot finishing diets with or without cotton byproducts.

Cotton byproducts can be an economical source of protein, fat, and fiber in cattle finishing diets. The objectives of this study were 1) to assess the effects of including whole cottonseed (WCS) and cotton gin trash (CGT) in finishing diets on in situ ruminal degradability and 2) to determine the effects of including cotton byproducts in a finishing diet on rumen fluid pH, lactate, and volatile fatty acid concentrations. Six ruminally cannulated steers were used in a crossover design. Treatments included a control diet (CON; 7% prairie hay [PH], 15% Sweet Bran, 67.25% rolled corn, and 5% liquid supplement) and a cotton byproduct diet (CTN; 7% CGT, 15% WCS, 72.25% rolled corn, and 5% water). Both diets included 0.75% urea and 5% dry supplement. In situ bags containing individual diet ingredients and whole diet samples were incubated in the rumen for up to 96 h. Rumen fluid samples were collected over a 24-h period. No treatment × substrate interactions were detected for any fraction of dry matter (DM) or organic matter (OM) degradability for individual ingredients or whole diets (P ≥ 0.14). The A, B, and C fractions, disappearance rate (Kd), and effective degradability of DM and OM differed between diet ingredients (P ≤ 0.04) but were not different between CON and CTN substrates (P ≥ 0.25). A treatment × substrate interaction (P = 0.04) was detected for the effective degradability of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of CGT and PH but there was no interaction for other fractions (P ≥ 0.27). The A fraction of NDF was greater (P < 0.001) for CGT than PH; however, the B fraction of NDF tended to be greater (P = 0.08) for PH than CGT. No differences (P ≥ 0.37) were detected for the % NDF disappearance at 48 h between CON and CTN substrates. A tendency for a treatment × substrate interaction (P = 0.10) was observed for the effective degradability of starch among diets; however, when the CON substrate was incubated in steers consuming the CON diet, effective degradability of starch was not different (P = 0.84) from when the CTN diet was incubated in steers consuming the CTN diet. There was no treatment × time interaction or treatment effect for rumen pH; however, there was a time effect (P = 0.03). Steers consuming the CTN diet had greater molar proportions of acetate and decreased molar proportions of propionate compared with CON steers (P < 0.01). This experiment suggests that there are minimal differences between the digestibility of finishing diets containing cotton byproducts and those comprised of traditional finishing diet ingredients.

Growth, performance, and carcass characteristics of feedlot Holstein steers fed ractopamine hydrochloride.

Growth-promoting technologies such as implants, ionophores, and ß-agonists improve feedlot performance, efficiency, and carcass characteristics of cattle. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of dose and duration of ractopamine hydrochloride (RH) on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics when fed to Holstein steers. A randomized complete block design was used with a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments with 3 RH doses (0, 300, or 400 mg∙steer-1∙d-1) fed for 3 durations (28, 35, or 42 d). Holstein steers (n = 855; initial body weight [BW] = 448 ± 37 kg) were blocked by BW and randomly allocated to 1 of 9 pens (15 blocks; 9 dose × duration treatment combinations) approximately 72 d before harvest. Weekly pen weights, chute temperament scores, and animal mobility were determined during the RH feeding period. At harvest, carcass data were collected on all steers, and tenderness was measured on steaks from 3 or 4 randomly selected steers from each pen and slice shear force (SSF) was determined on one steak selected from each side of the carcass after aging for 14 or 21 d. For feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and SSF, no dose × duration interactions were observed (P ≥ 0.11). With increasing RH dose, average daily gain (ADG) and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) increased linearly (P ≤ 0.01), whereas BW gain increased linearly with RH dose and duration (P ≤ 0.01). Hot carcass weight (P = 0.02) and longissimus muscle (LM) area (P ≤ 0.01) increased linearly with increasing RH dose. The percentage of carcasses in the USDA Yield Grade 2 category increased linearly (P ≤ 0.01) and percentage of carcasses in the USDA Yield Grade 4 category tended (P = 0.08) to decrease linearly as RH dose increased. In the 14-d aged steaks, the percentage of steaks with SSF ≤ 15.3 kg decreased linearly (P ≤ 0.01), whereas the percentage of steaks with ≥20.0 kg SSF increased linearly (P ≤ 0.01) with increasing RH dose. After 21-d aging, there was a tendency (P = 0.06) for a greater percentage of steaks from steers fed RH to have SSF ≥ 20.0 kg (2% of total steaks), but no difference (P ≥ 0.12) in the percentage of steaks with SSF ≤ 19.9 kg. Final chute temperament (P ≥ 0.45) and animal mobility (P ≥ 0.67) scores were not affected by feeding RH. Increasing the dose of RH (300 or 400 mg∙steer-1∙d-1) fed for 28 to 42 d before harvest increased ADG, G:F, hot carcass weight, and LM area when fed to Holstein steers with no negative effects on behavior or mobility. The percentage of steaks classified as not tender improved when steaks were aged for 21 d from steers treated with RH.

Effects of utilizing cotton byproducts in a finishing diet on beef cattle performance, carcass traits, fecal characteristics, and plasma metabolites.

Increased cotton production in the Southwestern United States has increased the availability of cotton byproducts for use in cattle diets. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the inclusion of cotton byproducts in feedlot finishing diets on the performance, carcass traits, fecal characteristics, and plasma metabolites of steers. Crossbred beef steers (n = 64; BW = 318 ± 12.3 kg) were assigned to 1 of 2 experimental treatments in a randomized complete block design (8 pens per treatment; 4 steers per pen). Treatments included a control (CON) diet, which included prairie hay, Sweet Bran, rolled corn, and a corn steep and molasses-based liquid fat supplement, and a cotton byproduct (CTN) diet, which included cotton gin trash, whole cottonseed, rolled corn, and water. Both diets contained urea and dry supplement. Over the entire feeding period, DMI (P = 0.04) was greater for CTN steers than CON steers with no difference in the gain to feed ratio (P = 0.86) between treatments. The CTN steers tended to have heavier final BW (P = 0.09) and greater overall average daily gain (P = 0.08). The CTN steers had heavier hot carcass weight (P = 0.02) and greater fat thickness (P = 0.03) than CON steers, but marbling score and rib eye area were not different between treatments (P ≥ 0.64). Steers fed the CON diet tended to have a lower yield grade (P = 0.07), less kidney, pelvic and heart fat (P = 0.09), and decreased dressing percentage (P = 0.10) than CTN steers. Liver scores did not differ (P ≥ 0.17) between treatments. Fecal consistency scores were decreased for CTN steers on day 56 (P = 0.03) and fecal pH tended to be greater for the CTN steers on day 28 (P = 0.09) compared with CON steers, but neither differed during other periods (P ≥ 0.18). A treatment × day interaction (P = 0.04) was detected for plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) concentrations, where PUN concentrations differed between treatments only on days 28 and 56. On both days 28 and 56, CTN steers had lower PUN concentrations (P = 0.03, P = 0.002, respectively). No treatment × day interaction was detected for plasma glucose or lactate concentrations. A day effect was observed for both metabolites (P < 0.01). Results from this experiment suggest that cotton byproducts can be effectively used as a source of fiber, fat, and protein in feedlot rations without adverse effects on performance or carcass characteristics.

Effect of environmental enrichment devices on behavior of individually housed beef heifers.

In research settings, certain experimental designs may require cattle to be housed individually. Individual housing of cattle may make the animals more susceptible to boredom and result the development of undesirable behaviors. The objective of this trial was to investigate the effects of different environmental enrichment devices (EED) on the behavior and feed intake of heifers. Twenty mixed-breed single-sourced heifers were used in a completely random design. Heifers were housed individually (3.05 m × 3.66 m) with the ability to have physical contact with adjacent heifers. Heifers were randomly assigned to one of the four EED treatments, including a jolly ball (JLY), a broom head (SRCH), a 182 cm 5-knot rope (RP), or a Pas-a-Fier roller (RLR). Behavior was recorded using 8 h long daily instantaneous scan sampling in 30 min intervals over three periods: 7 d prior to EED addition (PR), 7 d with EED (EDP), and 7 d after removing EED (PST). Standing, laying, eating, drinking, and exploratory behaviors were evaluated. Exploratory behaviors included: interaction with water trough, feed bunk, water pipe, pen gate, pen wall, EED, grooming, or allogrooming. Rumination behavior was also recorded during each observation time. Time standing and standing bouts were greatest for RP (P < 0.05), while JLY and RLR spent the most time lying down (P < 0.05). All heifers spent the majority of observation times lying down, followed by solely standing (P < 0.05). Heifers on the RP treatment interacted the most with their EED, followed by SRCH (P < 0.001). Rumination increased during EDP compared to PR (P < 0.001). These results suggest that a RP suspended from the ceiling in the pen may be used most frequently by individually housed beef heifers.

Effects of restricted availability of drinking water on body weight and feed intake by Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix sheep from different regions of the USA.

Resilience to restricted availability of drinking water was evaluated with 44 Dorper (DOR; initial age = 3.7 ± 0.34 yr), 42 Katahdin (KAT; 3.9 ± 0.36 yr), and 42 St. Croix (STC; 2.7 ± 0.29 yr) sheep from 46 farms in 4 regions of the USA (Midwest, MW; Northwest, NW; Southeast, SE; central Texas, TX). Ad libitum water intake was determined during 2 wk of period 1, with 75% of this amount offered in 2 wk of period 2 and 50% in 5 wk (i.e., 5 to 9) of period 3. Body weight and DMI in week 2 of period 1 and week 9 of period 3 were analyzed with a mixed effects model. There was a breed × period interaction (P = 0.023) in water intake relative to BW (6.17, 6.69, and 7.19 in period 1 and 3.04%, 3.26%, and 3.36% BW in period 3 for DOR, KAT, and STC, respectively; SEM = 0.219). There were 3-way interactions of breed, region, and period in BW and DMI in g/d (P < 0.010). For STC, BW was greater (P < 0.05) in period 3 vs. 1 for all regions (50.1, 47.6, 42.4, and 45.8 kg in period 1 and 51.9, 49.3, 44.5, and 47.7 kg in period 3), whereas there was only a period difference for DOR from the MW and SE (61.4, 66.0, 64.6, and 59.6 kg in period 1 and 60.6, 66.5, 65.7, and 62.4 kg) and for KAT from TX (50.1, 47.6, 42.4, and 45.8 kg in period 1 and 51.9, 49.3, 44.5, and 47.7 kg in period 3 for MW, NW, SE, and TX, respectively; SEM = 2.57). In accordance, DMI by STC was similar (P > 0.05) between periods for all regions (1.25, 1.17, 1.06, and 1.16 kg/d in period 1 and 1.12, 1.08, 1.02, and 1.02 kg/d in period 3), as was also the case for DOR from MW and SE but not from NW or TX (1.54, 1.50, 1.30, and 1.41 kg/d in period 1 and 1.41, 1.13, 1.25, and 1.18 kg/d in period 3) and KAT from TX though not from the other 3 regions (1.47, 1.52, 1.48, and 1.40 kg/d in period 1 and 1.06, 1.15, 1.30, and 1.33 kg/d in period 3 for MW, NW, SE, and TX, respectively; SEM = 0.061). In conclusion, based on BW and DMI with water intake restricted at 50% of ad libitum consumption by individual animals, STC appeared more consistent in display of high resilience to restricted water availability, although DOR from 2 regions and KAT from 1 also were relatively resilient. The results suggest benefit to breed comparisons of inclusion of animals from multiple areas and that environmental conditions of regions may have disparate effects with different breeds of hair sheep.

The effects of pretransportation or arrival meloxicam administration to calves entering the feedlot on morbidity, biomarkers, performance, and carcass characteristics.

The objective of this trial was to investigate the effects of using meloxicam as a pretransport or on arrival therapeutic on disease outcomes of bovine respiratory disease (BRD), biomarker outcomes associated with BRD, performance characteristics over the first 42 d on feed, and carcass traits at harvest in cross bred beef cattle. Multisourced, crossbred steer calves (n = 168) consisting of mainly British and British-Continental breeds were purchased from an auction market in central Missouri. Calves were processed prior to transportation and again upon feedlot arrival. Animals were randomized to 3 separate treatments: pretransport meloxicam (PMEL), arrival meloxicam (AMEL), and a control group receiving inactive excipient (CONT). Dosing at 1 mg/kg on weighted averaged administered per os. Animals were weighed and blood was collected pre- and post-transport. Haptoglobin (Hp)-matrix metaloproteinase (MMP)-9 complex, cortisol, and substance P were quantified. Weights were taken again at 42 d and at harvest. Clinical signs of BRD were monitored using indicators of depression, appetite, respiration, and temperature that qualified the animals for treatment. Harvest parameters were collected using a standardized United States Department of Agriculture grading system for quality grade and yield grade. Meloxicam did not have a significant effect on BRD morbidity over the course of the study and there was no significant effect on performance characteristics at 42 d (P > 0.10). Of the calves that did succumb to BRD, no significant differences were found in severity of disease (P > 0.10). Concentrations of substance P and Hp- MMP-9, were increased on arrival (P ≤ 0.05) however no significant treatment effect or interaction were found between AMEL, PMEL, CONT, or across different levels of biomarkers (P > 0.10). Meloxicam use prior to or on arrival does not mitigate disease or improve performance during the feeding period.