Source: UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING submitted to NRP
PURCHASE OF GROWSAFE FEED INTAKE AND BEHAVIOR MONITORING SYSTEM FOR AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
NRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0212844
Grant No.
2008-35206-18777
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
2007-04205
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jan 1, 2008
Project End Date
Dec 31, 2008
Grant Year
2008
Program Code
[42.0]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
1000 E UNIVERSITY AVE DEPARTMENT 3434
LARAMIE,WY 82071-2000
Performing Department
ANIMAL SCIENCE
Non Technical Summary
Researchers often require data collection on an individual animal basis. Until recently, however, collection of individual performance and behavior data required animals to be individually penned or fed, which may alter performance and behavior. A GrowSafe system will facilitate research projects that require individual animal data collection but will still allow those animals to be in a typical commercial production environment, thus allowing investigators to better conduct nutrition research. Performance and behavior can be monitored via individual feed intake and feeding events. The equipment will also provide area producers with a commercial bull test. Ongoing studies that will utilize GrowSafe technology are aimed at determining the effects of calving systems, grazing management, and maternal nutrition on calf growth and performance. Future studies will examine the effects of different toxicities on nutrient utilization. The GrowSafe system will facilitate easier and more accurate data collection, allowing researchers to obtain the necessary preliminary data for extramural funding. Area producers will be provided a measure of net feed efficiency for performance-tested bulls. This system will also be used in graduate and undergraduate student training. The use of GrowSafe technology is expected to enhance current and future studies aimed at improving various aspects of animal agriculture. These research efforts, combined with the implementation of an area bull test, will enhance the future economic viability of Western beef producers.
Animal Health Component
80%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
80%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
3023310101050%
3033310108030%
3073310101020%
Knowledge Area
303 - Genetic Improvement of Animals; 302 - Nutrient Utilization in Animals; 307 - Animal Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
3310 - Beef cattle, live animal;

Field Of Science
1010 - Nutrition and metabolism; 1080 - Genetics;
Goals / Objectives
The GrowSafe system will be used to enhance ongoing and future studies aimed at improving beef cattle nutrition and nutrient utilization. Ongoing studies that will use GrowSafe technology are aimed at determining the effects of calving systems, grazing management, and maternal nutrition on calf growth and performance. Future studies examining the effects of different toxicities on nutrient utilization will also use the GrowSafe system. Additionally, the GrowSafe system will be used in residual feed intake research, including the impact of selection for residual feed intake on performance, behavior, reproduction, and gene expression.
Project Methods
The GrowSafe system will be used in studies aimed at improving nutrition and nutrient utilization of beef cattle. Such research often requires the collection of feed intake data on an individual animal basis, requiring individual feeding and/or penning. The GrowSafe system allows for feed intake to be recorded on individuals in a typical commercial production setting. Feed intake and behavior traits can be calculated directly using data obtained from GrowSafe technology.

Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: ACTIVITIES: The GrowSafe Model 4000 Feed Intake and Behavior Monitoring System (Airdrie, Alberta, Canada) was purchased and successfully installed at the University of Wyoming's (UW) James C. Hageman Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center (SAREC) located in Lingle, Wyoming. This system, designed for cattle, monitors individual consumption and behavior by equipping each animal with a transponder (affixed to the ear) that is activated when in close proximity to an electromagnetic field provided by a GrowSafe Mat attached to the feeder. Data collected for each feed intake event include: Feed intake, feeding duration, feed disappearance, feeding rate, number of animals feeding simultaneously, interval between feeding events, feeding frequency over a specified time interval, and feeding patterns for each individual. The data can be accessed from remote locations, including at the UW campus in Laramie. To date, the system has been tested and data has been collected on 95 commercial bulls maintained in the system for a 90 day testing period. Data has been analyzed, including average daily gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency, for each individual bull. Reports have been sent to owners, including performance data and ranking in comparison to the contemporary group. One M.S. thesis project is currently underway, in which feed intake of steers fed linseed meal is being studied. A steering committee (K. Cammack - PI; B. Hess - Co-PI and UW Assistant Agriculture Experiment Station Director; D. Hixon - UW Department of Animal Science Head; J. Freeburn - SAREC; S. Paisley - SAREC) has been formed to oversee management and scheduling of the GrowSafe system. EVENTS: The GrowSafe system has been the focus of numerous field days and tours at SAREC. Faculty, staff, and graduate students in the UW Department of Animal Science, along with staff at SAREC, are being trained on use of the GrowSafe system and appropriate statistical analysis techniques for GrowSafe data. DISSEMINATION: Currently, an article is being submitted to the Wyoming Livestock Roundup featuring the GrowSafe system. Several producers provided bulls for the first bull test, and data summarizing performance were distributed to those producers. It is anticipated that numerous upcoming studies will be using the GrowSafe system, and results from these studies will be published in peer-reviewed journals. PARTICIPANTS: INDIVIDUALS: K. Cammack (PI), B. Hess (Co-PI), S. Paisley, J. Freeburn TARGET AUDIENCES: TARGET AUDIENCES: Area beef producers, including Wyoming, South Dakota, Colorado, and Nebraska producers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
IMPACTS: One purpose of the GrowSafe system is to provide a commercial bull test to area producers. One bull test has been conducted to date, which included 95 bulls. Data were analyzed, summarized, and provided to each producer, along with a ranking of all bulls that were on test. Producers have indicated that this data will be used to assist with in-herd breeding decisions. Improved data collection on bulls can lead to more accurate selection decisions and expected progeny difference (EPD) calculations. In addition, close monitoring of individual feeding patterns and behaviors can lead to a faster recognition of inadequate health and(or) performance, and ultimately improved animal care. Another purpose of the GrowSafe system is to improve quality and quantity of data collected during an experiment. Numerous research activities are planned for the GrowSafe system. The amount of data collected using the GrowSafe system far exceeds what has been achieved in the past. The GrowSafe system is therefore allowing UW researchers to design more powerful experiments.

Publications

  • POPULAR PRESS: Paisley, S., J. Freeburn, B. Hess, and K. Cammack. 2009. GrowSafe System at SAREC. Wyoming Livestock Roundup. In progress.