Progress 09/01/13 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Theproject was designed to reach undergraduate students in classroom, producers throughout the midwest,and peer animal scientists at national and regional scientificmeetings. All of these audiences were targeted and reached during the past reporting period. Students were provided with hands-on cattle reproductive management experience through the Bovine Reproductive Management Course (ANSC 456) which was designed with the assistance of this grant. Fifteeen students were enrolled in this course during the past reporting period, and all of them gained bovine-specificknowledge in reproductive anatomy, estrous synchronization, estrous detection, artificial insemination, pregnancy detection, fetal aging and sexing, semen collection and evaluation, and calving management. Student participants ranked their overallexperience in the course very high (5.5/6.0, 1.0=poor and 6.0=excellent). Producers were given knowledgefor improving reproductive performance of their beef herds through 3 reproductive management workshops offered throughout WI during the past reporting period. Topics included; 1) Managing Heat Stress, 2) Nutritional Management for Long-Term Improvements in Herd Reproductive Performance, 3) Body Condition Scoring, and 4) Proper Handling for ReducingCattle Stress.A total of 150 producer participants were reached during these programs. Peer scientists received results from the research component of this grant at the National ASAS meetings during the past reporting period. Three abstracts were submitted and presented at these meetings. Changes/Problems:The single shortcourse that was originally to bedesigned for improving reproductive management bybeef cattle producers was redesigned to include three seperate short course offerings. This was done in efforts to maximize impact as measured, in part, by attendance. Approximately 150 producers attended the three programs, which is more than we anticipated for offering a single course at a single location. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The curriculum materials designed for the Bovine Reproductive Management Techniques Course (ANSC 456) and the Reproductive Managment Short Course for Beef Producers will be utilized in future years. Both of these offerings were rated highly by attendees and the material will be used to continue the education of similar audiences. Sixof the eight student interns mentioned the previous section (JoseyPukrop, JessicaStuttgen, MorganRandall, Emma Stephenson, Eric Zweiflhoffer, and Caitlyn Rawson) are applying for a graduate program, or theyare currently enrolledgraduate or veterinary school. The student research experience they received through this grantduring their undergraduate degrees served as an impetus for continuing their education, as well as thesuccess of theircontributions to the animal science industries. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results from years 1, 2, and 3 of the project have been disseminated through 1) published abstracts presented atnational scientific meetings, 2) inclusion with the curriculum of the ANSC 456 course, and 3)presentation at the beef producer short courses. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: Research to evaluate protein supplementation strategies in early pregnancy to improve reproductive performance In the summer of 2014 we evaluated protein supplements in low to medium quality forage diets on intake and ruminal fermentation in steers. Supplementation of HDG, LDG and CSM decreased ruminal pH, and increased propionate while decreasing acetate proportions as compared to no protein supplementation. Protein supplementation decreased hay consumption and the greatest decrease was observed with HDG supplementation. In the summers of 2015 and 2016, a two-year study was performed to evaluate protein supplementation strategies on circulating amino acids, blood urea nitrogen, progesterone and estrogen, and on reproductive measures. The data from these two projects was used to determine the appropriate protein supplementation strategy for a larger-scale project that was completed in the summer of 2017. Cows greater than 35 days postpartum (n=300) and yearling heifers (n=85)were randomly assigned to receive a 1) dried distillers grain supplement or 2) no supplement from day -60 to 30, with day 0 representing TAI. Pregnancy status was determined on day 30 at the end of the supplementation period. Objective 2: Development of undergraduate educational opportunities to improve understanding of reproductive management in beef cattle. In the fall semester of 2015, a comprehensive bovine reproductive management techniques course for undergraduate students was developed and offered. This course has been enhanced during the fall semesters of 2016 and 2017. The course was designed to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities, which enhanced their applied knowledge of reproductive management practices. Students were also responsible for the development and delivery of reproductive management videos, which focused on the topic of their choice. Enrollment for the course has been limited to 12 to 15 students per semester due to the hands-on and lab-based deliveryof the content. Overall student evaluations of the course offering were well above the departmental average, and they have rangedfrom 5.0 to 6.0 on a 6.0 point scale. Eight students (J. Pukrop, J. Stuttgen, M. Randall, K. Martin, K. Kruckenberg, Emma Stephenson, Eric Zweiflhoffer, and Caitlyn Rawson) have successfully completed summer internships while assisting with the two-year heifer protein supplementation study, thesteer protein supplementation study, and the field study described above. Three students at UWRF also completed independent research projects as internships (J. Pukrop, E. Stephenson and E. Zweifelhoffer). These have resulted in an abstract submission to National American Society of Animal Science Meetings. This project evaluated low-medium quality forage intake and total tract digestibility of high verses low-fat Dried Distiller's Grain with Solubles (DG) supplementation fed to yearling beef heifers. Supplementation of DG regardless of fat content improved DM and OM digestibility, reduced hay intake, and improved average daily gain for yearling beef heifers. The internship project completed by E. Zweifelhoffer evaluated predictors of the superovulatory response and embryo production in cattle. The super ovulatory response and number of embryos collected was not associated with AMH concentrations, antral follicle number, or ovarian vascular resistance on d 4 of the study (P > 0.05), however both cows and heifers with larger ovaries at this did produce more embryos (P < 0.01). Ovarian size appears to be a reliable and easily determined predictor of the super ovulatory response and embryo production in Holstein heifers and cows. The internship project completed by E. Stephenson utilizedAngus, Hereford, and Angus-cross yearling beef heifers (409 ± 35 kg; n= 39) were used to evaluate protein supplementation strategies in low to medium quality forage diet on circulating AA concentrations. Overall protein supplementation increased circulating AA concentrations compared to no supplementation and the lowest AA concentrations were observed at 8 h post-feeding. Objective 3: Development of an outreach shortcourse for beef cow/calf farmers to improve reproductive management. Three, one-day workshops were hosted at beef cattle operations in Wisconsin. These workshops highlighted management methods for improving thereproductive performance of cow-calf operations, as well as thepotentialeconomic value of doing so. Topics included 1) nutritional management for short- and long-term improvements in reproductive performance, 2) methods for reducing heat stress, 3) body condition scoring, and 4) low-stress handling. Angus, Hereford, and Angus-cross yearling beef heifers (409 ± 35 kg; n= 39) were used to evaluate protein supplementation strategies in low to medium quality forage diet on circulating AA con centrations. Heifers were stratified by BW and BCS and then randomly assigned to 1 of 4 protein supplements; 1) no supplementation (C ON); 2) low-fat dried distillers grains (LDG, 7.4% fat; 0.8% BW); 3) high-fat dried distillers grains (HDG, 9.5% fat; 0.8% BW); and 4) cottonseed meal (CSM, 2.2% fat; 0.4% BW) to provide similar CP intake. Heifers were individually fed by means of a Calan ga te system (American Calan Inc, Northwood, NH). Hay was fed twice daily 7 h apart to provide low to medium-quality chopped grass hay (8.6% CP, 70% NDF; 1.13 Mcal NE m /kg) ad libitum and 1 h prior to hay feeding supplements were provided. Supplementation began 7 d prior to timed artificial insemination (TAI; d0) an d ended 30 d later. A sub-set of heifers (3 per treatment) were randoml y selected to evaluate circulating AA concentrations post- feeding on d 26, were fed protein supplements prior to AM hay feeding , and then coccygeal blood samples were collected at -2, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 h post-supplementation. Overall plas ma total AA (TAA), branch-chain AA (BCAA) and essential AA (EAA) concentrations were lower ( P ? 0003) for CON than CSM, HDG and LDG whereas overall plasma non-essen tial AA (NEAA) concentrations were not different ( P = 0.22) among treatments. At 8 h post-feeding plasma TAA, BCAA, and EAA concentrations were lowest ( P ? 0.03) compared to all other hours. Within h 8, HDG had greater ( P ? 0.04) plasma TAA, BCAA, NEAA and EAA concentrations compared to CON, CSM, and LDG. Plasma EAA con centrations were lower ( P ? 0.03) for h 6, 12 and 14 and BCAA h 2, 4 10, 12, 14 in CON heifers compared to LDG and HDG supplemented he ifers, however plasma NEAA concentrations were not different ( P ? 0.05) among treatments 4 and 14 h post-feeding. Plasma ASP and TRP were not different ( P ? 0.33) among supplementation strategies for treatment or treatment x h. Greater plas ma ARG concentrations were observed ( P ? 0.03) in CSM vs. HDG, LDG, and CON at h 6, 10, 12, 14 h post-feeding. Overall prot ein supplementation increased circulating AA concentrations compared to no supplementation and the lowest AA concentrations were observed at 8 h post-feeding Objective 3: Develop anoutreachshortcourse for beef cow/calf farmers to improve reproductive management.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Jones, A. E., E. L. Stephenson, K. Kruckenberg, M. Randall, E. Zwiefelhofer, J. Stuttgen, K. Martin, A. E. Radunz, P. M. Fricke, and J. S. Luther. 2017. The effects of protein supplementation with low to medium quality forage on reproductive parameters in beef heifers in early pregnancy. American Journal of Animal Science, National Animal Science Meeting, Baltimore, MD. Abstract #21693.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Jones, A. Effects of Protein Supplementation on Circulating Amino Acids and Reproductive Parameters in Beef Heifers. 2017. Masters Thesis. Submitted to the Graduate School of University of Wisconsin-Madison.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
E. L. Stephenson, A. E. Jones, J. S. Luther and A. E. Radunz. Evaluation of circulating plasma amino acid concentrations in beef heifers supplemented protein in a low-medium quality forage diet. 2017. American Journal of Animal Science, National Animal Science Meeting, Baltimore, MD. Abstract #21326.
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