Source: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIV submitted to NRP
THE PROJECT INTENDS TO INSTALL AN AUTOMATED FEED DELIVERY AND MONITORING SYSTEM WITH SOLAR UNITS AT SIU, TO MODERNIZE AND UTILIZE THE BULL TEST STATION AS A HYBRID RESEARCH AND SERVICE CENTER
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1031040
Grant No.
2023-70001-41005
Cumulative Award Amt.
$149,993.00
Proposal No.
2023-01553
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2023
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2025
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[NLGCA]- Capacity Building Grants for Non Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture
Recipient Organization
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIV
(N/A)
CARBONDALE,IL 62901
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Residual feed intake (RFI) describes animal's feed efficiency independent of growth performance parameters such as body weight or average daily gain. Bullsselected for improved (low or negative) RFI will have the optimum feed efficiency than bulls having a higher RFI. However, there is concern among beef breeders that selection based on RFI could have a negative impact on the reproductive performance and fertility of bulls. Reports of the correlation of RFI with the reproductive performance of bulls have been inconsistent, with no or negative impact on the sperm quality of bulls or breeding soundness evaluation (BSE), along with decreased sperm motility but a more significant number of progenies per sire than high RFI bulls on pasture, warranting further investigation.The project intends to install an automated feed delivery and monitoring system (SmartFeed system) at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, tofacilitate the evaluation of RFIalong with other production parameters of growing bulls.The SmartFeed system will be utilized to evaluate the RFI of bulls and to correlate the RFI of bulls with sperm quality, BSE, breeding performance, post-breeding recovery, and the potential interaction of RFI and the age of bulls. Favorable results will allow the inclusion of RFI in the calculation of the sale index of bulls along with other production parameters. Further, the results of the study would provide valuable information for the development of likely recommendations for seedstock and commercial producers for making the bull selection and purchase decisions for herd improvement.Bulltests allow recruiting undergraduate and graduate students forhands-on experience inall aspects of breeding bull management.An increase in the number of students enrolled in animal science will be a good indicator of thesuccess of activities such as the annual bull test and enhanced research activities at the School of Agricultural Sciences of SIU.The consigners and buyers will be surveyed to evaluate the level of satisfaction with the previous bull tests and segments of the bull test that require improvement. Increasing participation of consigners and buyers and the performance of bulls meeting or exceeding the expected performance based on bull tests would be the best indicators of the success of the study. Moreover, the expertise of Co-PIs in reproduction and biomedical research will be utilized for research, with an expected increase in research grants and publications utilizing the facilities.
Animal Health Component
80%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
80%
Developmental
10%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
30133991081100%
Knowledge Area
301 - Reproductive Performance of Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
3399 - Beef cattle, general/other;

Field Of Science
1081 - Breeding;
Goals / Objectives
The project intends to install an automated feed delivery and monitoring system (SmartFeed system; C-Lock Inc., RapidCity, SD) at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, to modernize and utilize the Beef Evaluation Center (Bull Test Station) as a hybrid research and service center. The SmartFeed system will facilitate the evaluation of the residual feed intake (RFI) along with other production parameters of growing bulls. The RFI is independent of performance measures such as body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG), thus representing inherent differences in genetic merits for metabolic processes related to energetic efficiency. There is concern among beef breeders that selection based on RFI could have a negative impact on the reproductive performance and fertility of bulls. Reduced reproductive performance has been reported among swine and poultry when selected for feed efficiency. Beef breeders suspect that the more efficient bulls might be less active in the multi-sire mating group, resulting in reduced reproductive performance and fertility on pasture during the breeding season. On the other hand, there are reports that thefeeding event behaviors, including feeding duration, head down time, and feeding frequency of efficient bulls, were decreased, suggesting reduced maintenance energy requirements for feeding activity, conversely, having greater energy reserves for breeding activity. Reports of the correlation of RFI with the reproductive performance of bulls have been inconsistent, with no or negative impact on the sperm quality of bulls or breeding soundness evaluation (BSE), along with decreased sperm motility but a more significant number of progenies per sire than high RFI bulls on pasture, warranting further investigation. The SmartFeed system will be utilized to evaluate the RFI of bulls and to correlate the RFI of bulls with sperm quality and BSE. Further, theperformance of bulls during the breeding season, including the pregnancy rate,calving rate, BW,and body condition scores of bulls at the beginning and end of the breeding season, will also be recorded. Young bulls, after the first breeding season, may lose 100-300 lb. of BW. The bulls are required to regain the lost weight in the most efficientway to have optimum farm economics. The study intends to evaluate the impact of RFI onpost-breeding recovery and the potential interaction of RFI and the age of bulls. Favorable results would provide valuable information and likely recommendations for seedstock and commercial producers for making the selection and purchase decisions. Each year, undergraduate and graduate studentswill be trained during the bull test on all aspects of feeding and management of bulls, data collection, and evaluation, equipping them to develop skills to be successful in all aspects of animal agriculture. Moreover, the facility will be utilized for advancing research in beef cattle nutrition and reproduction and biomedical research through collaborative efforts of interested researchers and industry partners.The objectives of the study include:1. Installation of 10 units of SmartFeed with solar units at the Bull Test Station of SIUC2. Determiningthe RFI of bulls participating in the annual bull test and sale based on the class of bulls (senior vs. junior)3. Evaluatingthe breeding soundness and semen characteristics of bulls as impacted by the RFI4. Evaluatingthe breeding performance of bulls based on RFI during the breeding season5. Evaluatingthe post-breeding recovery as affected by the RFI
Project Methods
The SmartFeed system with solar units will be purchased from C-Lock Inc. (Rapid City, SD). The automated feed delivery and monitoring system is equipped with solar units for remote power, a cellular modem for data transmission and configuration, and a data line subscription for data transfer to the C-Lock secure website. The company provides a one-year hardware warranty and a three-months software warranty. The purchase includes a service contract for data access, hardware and software support, and maintenance for the length of term required. Once installed, the SmartFeed system will be used for performance testing bulls during bull tests and for evaluating the growth performance of growing and finishing beef cattle (steers and heifers) when the facility is not being used for bull tests. The bull test starts with receiving the bulls for the test from the consigners. The bulls will be provided with a receiving diet for the first 2-3 weeks after reaching the Bull Test Station. The body conformation and foot scoring will be done initially. The receiving period is followed by 84 days of test diet, during which the growth performance parameters will be evaluated. The growth performance data, including the body weight, ADG, G:F, RFI, and carcass characteristics such as intramuscular fat, REA, frame size, subcutaneous fat thickness, etc., will be measured and reported after 28, 56, and 84 days of the test. After the end of the test period, the bulls will bemaintained on a post-test diet for approximately 36 days or until auctioned. The test period will also facilitate the carrying out of biomedical research, including the impact of nutrition on the reproductive performance of bulls and other reproductive issues faced by the beef industry.The BSE will be evaluated by a qualified veterinarian at the end of the test period. All bulls will be evaluated for front and hind feet scores, temperament scores, scrotal circumference, and semen quality (motility, concentration, and morphology). The front and hind feet scores will be on a scale of 1-5, where 1 = excellent and 5 = poor. The temperament score will also be on a scale of 1-5, with 1 =calm and 5 = very aggressive. The scrotal circumference will be measured using a scrotal tape at the point of the greatest circumference, with a minimum of 30 cm scrotal circumference for bulls less than 15 months to pass the BSE. Semen will be collected by electroejaculation following standard procedures and examined for mass motility, progressive motility morphology, and concentration using a light microscope at 400 × magnification. A minimum of ≥30% mass motility and 70% normal individual spermatozoa are required to pass the BSE. All bulls passing the BSE will be evaluated for correlation between RFI and sperm quality, BSE, breeding performance, and post-breeding recovery.Bulls passing the BSE will be evaluated for breeding performance during the following breeding season. Bulls at multiple locations will be evaluated. The cow-to-bull ratio will be maintained between 20:1 and 30:1. Details such as pregnancy rate and calving rate will be collected andrecorded. The weight and body condition scores of bulls at the beginning and end of the breeding season will also be recorded.Young bulls, after the first breeding season, may lose 100-300 lb. of BW. The bulls are required to regain the lost weight along with gaining additional weights to reach ~75% of the mature weight by the time they are 2 years old. An ADG of 2 lb./day for the remaining months until the next breeding season would be adequate for the bulls to reach the desired BW. The dietary composition, gain, and body condition scores of bulls will be collected to evaluate the post-test recovery of bulls.When not used for the bull test, the facility will be utilized for various nutrition and reproduction research projects to improve the growth performance of beef cattle and to optimize productivity and overall farm economics.Efforts:The RFIand BSE of bulls will be evaluated as described above. The correlation between RFI and BSE parameters will be evaluated. In addition, the performance of bulls during the breeding season, including the number of progenies sired, and the post-breeding recovery, including the gain and body condition scores, will be collected for correlation analysis. Favorable resultswill be disseminated, and recommendations will be made to the beef producers for the selection of bullsto improve the production and profitability of beef cattle operations.Evaluation:There is increasinginterest among the student population for hands-on training for bull tests and to lead / volunteer for growth performance studies. Bulltests allow recruiting undergraduate and graduate students forhands-on experience inall aspects of breeding bull management.An increase in the number of students enrolled in animal science will be a good indicator of thesuccess of activities such as the annual bull test and enhanced research activities at the School of Agricultural Sciences of SIU.The consigners and buyers will be surveyed to evaluate the level of satisfaction with the previous bull tests and segments of the bull test that require improvement. Increasing participation of consigners and buyers and the performance of bulls meeting or exceeding the expected performance based on bull tests would be the best indicators of the success of the study. Moreover, the expertise of Co-PIs in reproduction and biomedical research will be utilized for research, with an expected increase in research grants and publications utilizing the facilities.

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The research aimsto install an automated feed delivery and monitoring system (SmartFeed) at SIU to modernize and utilize the Beef Evaluation Center (Bull Test Station) as a hybrid research and service center. Target Audience reached during the reporting period: Purchase of SmartFeed System SmartFeed System was manufactured by C-Lock Inc.(Rapid City, SD). As per the project, the purchase of 12 SmartFeed systems ($71,683.32), two cellular modems for data transmission and configuration ($1,380), two AT&T data line subscriptions for data transfer ($1,656), 12 AC-DC power converters ($3,456), three years of service contract including data access, hardware and software support and maintenance ($20,660.20) were completed by March-April 2024 for a total of $103,305.54 which also included $4,770 shipping and handling. Installation of SmartFeed System The existing non-functional and outdated feeding system, including Calan gates and supporting structures at SIU's Beef Evaluation Center, must be removed before installing the SmartFeed system. In June 2024, The SIU Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences, and School of Agricultural Sciences funded $49,000 to remove the existing structures and install the SmartFeed System. The Physical Plant (Facilities and Energy Management (FEM) of SIU was contacted, and they have undertaken the required work to be completed by September 2024 before the commencement of the bull test. Commencement of Bull Test The SIUC annual bull test and sales have served the seedstock and commercial beef producers in south-central Illinois for over four decades by providing a venue for beef producers to evaluate and showcase genetics, educate producers and students, and purchase performance-tested bulls for herd improvement. The last bull test was convened during 2018-2019; thus, restarting the bull test after a gap of 5 years is challenging. However, with the support of the present USDA funding, the facility will be modernized, significantly supporting the efforts of attracting more bull consigners for the bull test. During May-July 2024, more than 30 previous bull consigners were contacted and informed of the modernization process and the plans to restart the bull test. All the consigners welcomed the plan to restart the bull test as more venues for the sale of bulls were welcomed. During August, the consigners will be updated on the progress in installation of the SmartFeed Systems, and the number of bulls expected to participate in the bull test will be evaluated. A save-the-date notification regarding the test and sales was sent in July 2024 to all the previous consigners. A six-member bull test advisory committee, which includes four consigners and buyers, was constituted and convened in June 2024 to discuss and plan the bull test. The committee decided on the bull test and sales dates and discussed ways to improve the conduct, including diets, management, and sales. The bulls will be received by 25 October 2024, the test will begin on 08 November 2024, the test will end on 31 January 2025, and the final auction will be on 07 March 2025. An auctioneer has been entrusted with the final sale event. Hiring of a Graduate Student The research involves a graduate student evaluating bulls' residual feed intake (RFI) and correlating it with sperm quality, breeding soundness evaluation (BSE), breeding performance, post-breeding recovery, and the potential interaction of RFI and bulls' age. The student joined SIU this fall (Fall 2024) and will carry out and oversee the bull test and collect data durinng and after the bull test to complete the requirements of the MS program during 2024-2026 period. Hiring of Undergraduate Students About four undergraduate students will be given an internship during the bull test, a partially paid (paid hourly) position, and they will work with the farm manager. The students will be involved in feeding the bulls, recording their intakes, monitoring their health status, cleaning the barns, checking bulls on their delivery dates, and assisting in weighing them. A short list of interested students was made and will be interviewed in September 2024 for recruitment. Overall conduct of the bull test The bull test will require extensive involvement of SIU farm employees and staff members. Bull test and research plans were extensively discussed with the SIU farms director, beef center manager, and other employees of SIU farms. The farms will mix a total mixed ration (TMR) for the bulls during the entire bull test period, and the beef center manager will oversee and coordinate the various activities of the bull test with the help of the undergraduate and graduate students involved in the bull test. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The graduate student who joined SIU this fall (Fall 2024) was given the details and description to conduct the bull test competently. The student will work closely with the SIU beef center for feeding and husbandry. They must regularly communicate with the consigners to ensure their requirements are met and questions and concerns are addressed. The student will build communication and collaboration throughout the bull test period and beyond for data collection on bulls during and after the test to meet the degree requirements. Four undergraduate students will be interviewed and selected in August 2024 to support the bull test. The students will be involved in feeding the bulls, recording their intakes, monitoring their health status, cleaning the barns, checking bulls on their delivery dates, and assisting in weighing them. The students will work closely with the beef center manager and the graduate student to coordinate the activities. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?An article about the restart of the bull test was published in the Southern Illinoisian in September 2023 (https://thesouthern.com/news/local/siu/siu-carbondale-bull-test-station/article_8c370e50-5f02-11ee-877c-f36f215be4b5.html). Further updates will be periodically published so that the information regarding the bull test will be disseminated to the larger public. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?By the next reporting period (August 2025), the 43rd bull test will be completed, with the student completing data collection during the test and post-test period from collaborating farms to evaluate the performance of bulls during the breeding season and post-test recovery. By the third reporting period (August 2026), all the data collection will be over, with the student completing the degree requirements, presenting the findings in scientific conferences, and publishing the research findings in producer magazines and peer-reviewed journals.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Installation of 10 units of SmartFeed with solar units at the bull test station of SIUC Accomplishments: Purchase and installation of 12 units of SmartFeed units Upon consultation with the physical plant (Facilities and energy management, FEM) of SIU, and farm authorities, it was concluded that powering the SmartFeed from solar units will be challenging due to: The Beef Evaluation Center building may not be suitable for installing solar panels on the roof. The Beef Evaluation Center's location and structure make it challenging to store the batteries and other costly parts of solar energy harvesting securely year-round. Climatic events such as hailstorms that frequent the location may damage the solar panels, resulting in a lack of power supply and preventing the gates from functioning. This might seriously impact the feeding of bulls and compromise the rules and regulations for the bull test approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The company manufacturing the SmartFeed units also indicated that a regular 120V power supply is more reliable than a solar power supply. As a result, the Grant's Management Specialist, USDA-NIFA, was consulted, and the request to purchase 12 units of SmartFeed with a three-year service contract was approved. The correspondence was added to the award file for future reference. Installing these 12 SmartFeed units requires removing the existing non-functional and outdated feeding system and supporting structures at SIU's Beef Evaluation Center. Funds for the installation were beyond the allowable budget for this project, as the proposalwas for a regular grant. In June 2024, The SIU Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences, and School of Agricultural Sciences funded $49,000 to remove the existing structures and install the SmartFeed System. The Physical Plant (Facilities and Energy Management (FEM) of SIU was contacted, and they have undertaken the required work to be completed by September 2024 before the commencement of the bull test.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: https://thesouthern.com/news/local/siu/siu-carbondale-bull-test-station/article_8c370e50-5f02-11ee-877c-f36f215be4b5.html