GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF ADAPTATION AND REPRODUCTION TO ENHANCE SUSTAINABILITY OF COW-CALF PRODUCTION IN THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1005306
• Multistate No.: S-1064
• Project Start Date: Dec 29, 2014
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2019
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
(N/A)
MISSISSIPPI STATE,MS 39762

Performing Department
Brown Loam Branch Experiment Station

Non Technical Summary
The Southern region (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, OK, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA) of the United States accounts has 11.8 million beef cows (40% of the nations beef cow inventory; USDA, 2014). This region has environmental constraints that require animal adaptation to hot, humid conditions, reduced forage quality, and parasitic loads. Producers have used American Brahman to provide adaptation, as highly productive cattle of European origin lack adaptation to these conditions. However, there are production challenges associated with the use of Brahman, including low production and fertility as purebreds, oscillating (year to year) reproduction rates as young cows, and substandard and variable beef quality. Improved beef cow fertility is desired throughout the Southern Region in most herds. These problems could easily expand to temperate (at the present time) areas contingent upon the extent and severity of changing climatic conditions (Field et al., 2014).Two broad areas of improvement that would greatly benefit cow-calf producers in this region include: 1) improvement of production and reproduction of Brahman, and 2) improvement of adaptation in cattle of European origin. On a much broader scale, these improvements can be applied to other U.S. and many global regions. These efforts would impact several SAAESD Priority Areas, including Goal 1 (an agricultural system that is highly competitive in the global economy) and several of its priorities including Integrated and sustainable agricultural production systems, Value-added plant and animal genes in conventional breeding and molecular biology, and Health and well-being of food animals, as well as Goal 4 (greater harmony between agriculture and the environment) and its priority of Integrated pest management systems, including biologically-based tactics. This proposed project fits into these priorities particularly well as increased productivity in tropical and subtropical regions of the world is critical to increased global food security. Most of the funded beef cattle work addresses production in temperate areas and is not concerned with adaptation. Most individual university-based research in the South has been curtailed due to the limiting budget environment, including reduction of beef cow research populations. Failure to address this results in inefficient use of a substantial amount of forage resources in the Southern Region that are not suitable for human food crop production, and a large group of producers with little research support for activities important to their productive and economic well-being.It is appropriate to approach such issues from a multi-state perspective primarily to fully exploit the increasingly limited resources available for research at individual locations; this is especially important from a genetic perspective, as combined sample size facilitates appropriate hypothesis testing. Key areas of beef cattle production system efficiency such as adaptability and reproduction, including their component traits, need to be assessed in the different sub-environments within the region. These traits are the least characterized in beef cattle research, especially among those types and breeds of cattle in the region; results will therefore have potential for impact in similar areas of the world extending into the tropics. This multi-state project will also facilitate the cellular and molecular scientific characterization of these traits, and provide for unique research resources that can be utilized to study numerous scenarios that impact sustainable beef production in the US. It is also likely that these resources will attract potential for additional research partnerships beyond the Southern Region, including international possibilities. Additionally, capitalizing on the multi-state groups extension resources will allow for wide dissemination of impactful research to a broad geographical area, which will increase the impact of this research on profitability and sustainability of beef cattle operations in the southern United States.The states comprising the Southern region produce approximately 40% of the cattle that enter the U.S. beef chain, with a large proportion possessing some Brahman inheritance. Breeds of cattle have in many cases changed dramatically, especially in relation to other breeds, since original characterization efforts (Cundiff et al., 2004). Therefore, the proposed Brahman objective serves also as an up-to-date evaluation of current bloodlines and type of Brahman cattle used in the United States today, and will be used then to compare to previous scientific characterization of the breed. Particularly, traits relative to Brahman reproduction have been characterized to a very limited extent, and joint work offers an excellent opportunity to assess reproduction on a whole animal basis and serve as a basis for investigation of component traits of reproduction within the breed.

Animal Health Component

40%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

40%

Applied

40%

Developmental

20%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
305	3310	1020	100%

Knowledge Area
305 - Animal Physiological Processes;

Subject Of Investigation
3310 - Beef cattle, live animal;

Field Of Science
1020 - Physiology;

Keywords

beef cattle

cow productivity and fertility

cattle adaptation

animal health and breeding

Goals / Objectives
Estimate genetic variation associated with animal health using classical animal breeding and genomic techniques to facilitate sustainable beef cattle production systems. Meta-analyses of economically important traits of cow productivity and fertility to assess breed and production system combinations. 3.Documentation of genetic components pertaining to heat tolerance adaptive traits in sustainable beef cattle production systems. Investigation of early cow-life performance (first four parities) affecting lifetime production in Brahman and Brahman ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ÿ¿ Angus cows.

Project Methods
Activity 1. All objectives--DNA CollectionDNA samples will be collected from pedigreed populations of cattle (purebred and crossbred) from various units throughout the Southeastern United States. Whole blood will be harvested in purple top tubes, and transferred to DNA cards for storage at room temperature or to cryotubes and stored in a 80pC freezer at each location until testing is determined. Data on each animal will include individual, sire, and dam identification, breed or breed type, and location. A catalogue of information including phenotypic data and DNA samples from the different locations will be assembled and updated annually.Activity 2. All Objectives--Economic analysesEconomic analyses will be conducted to evaluate the value of traits measured from the cows and resulting calves. The economic value of selected traits will be analyzed using net present value methods. Simulation methods will be used to incorporate risk and uncertainty into the analyses. These methods will allow quantification of economic impacts for numerous production considerations at the cow-calf level and assist in development of decision tools to aid in economic-based decision making; many breeding and genetic recommendations have not been formally evaluated economically.The basic cow-calf model will account for revenue and the cost associated with each cow in the herd. Revenue will be determined as products of the probability a cow would wean a steer with the stochastic weight of a steer and the stochastic price of a steer for that particular year. This value will then be added to the dollar amount generated by multiplying the probability of the cow having a heifer calf by the heifer price and stochastic heifer weight. A cost for maintenance (e.g., $600, but revised in accordance with current conditions) will be deducted every year that a cow is in the herd. The profit (loss) dollar amount will then be discounted to present value. This basic model will be altered relative to the different types of traits in the different objectives of the proposed project.Objective 1. Estimation of genetic variation associated with animal health using classical animal breeding and genomic techniques to facilitate sustainable beef cattle production systems.Objective 1.1 External ParasitesHair or blood samples will also be obtained for future genomic analyses of these traits.Objective 1.2 Eye and facial pigmentation associated with animal healthObjective 1.3 Udder conformationTeats and udder will be evaluated according to Beef Improvement Federation udder scoring guidelines (BIF, 2010). Teat length will be evaluated as the distance from the base of the udder to the distal end of the teat, and teat diameter will be measured at the midpoint of that distance. Teat shape will be scored on a 1 to 9 scale such that low scores from one to three will indicate a conical or funnel shape in that the diameter of the teat being greater near the base of the udder than at the distal end of the teat. High scores from 7 to 9 indicated the opposite: bulbous or balloon shaped teats in which the teat is narrower at the base of the udder that at the middle or distal end. Teat shape scores from 4 to 6 will indicate a teat that was cylindrical (diameter near the base of the udder was about the same as that at the distal end of the teat).Objective 2. Meta-analyses of economically important traits of cow productivity and fertility to assess breed and production system combinations.Activities:The following data will be collected for heifers and cows: (1) Breed of cow, (2) Sire ID/sire breed and dam ID/dam breed of cow, (3) cow birth date, (4) Mating information (natural or artificial insemination; single or multiple sires; number of cows per bull; season or insemination date(s), (5) Predominant forage in pastures (fescue 0 = no; 1 = yes), (6) Sire/sire breed of calf, (7) Cow:bull ratio, (8) Body condition score (date and stage of production), (9) Palpation status (0 = non-pregnant; 1= pregnant), (10) Calving status (0 = no; 1 = yes), (11) Weaning status ( 0= no; 1 = yes), (12) Calving date (calving season, spring or fall), (13) Calving difficulty (1 = normal; 2 = easy pull; 3 = hard pull; 4 = caesarian section; 5 = abnormal presentation, note the abnormal presentation of calf), (14) Calf vigor issues (1 = normal; 2 = weak but nursed without assistance; 3 = weak and assisted to nurse; add any notes), (15) Calf birth weight, (16) Calf weaning date, (17) Calf weaning weight, (18) Cow temperament at calving, (19) Date of death and reason/notes for cow or her calf, and (20) Date of culling and reason/notes for cow and/or her calf leaving herd.Objective 3. Documentation of genetic components pertaining to heat tolerance adaptive traits in sustainable beef cattle production systems.2. Hair shedding will be evaluated using a numerical scoring system. A score of 1 = completely shed or slick (100% shed); 2 = 75% shed; 3 = 50% shed; 4 = 25% shed; and 5 = 0% shed or full winter coat. For shedding pattern a score of 1 = slick, shedding complete; 2 = animal has shed off to below the middle of the rib cage; 3 = slick strip covers the full topline and the back of the hindquarters; 4 = a completely slick strip down the topline of the animal; and 5 = no evidence of shedding, even down the topline.3. A subset of animals showing the extreme phenotypes will be evaluated for differences in body temperatures through rectal and thermal images if possible. Respiration rates will also be recorded prior to animals entering the chute and in the shade.4. Cow data will be collected for assessment of the influence of shedding type on production characters. These will include breed, breed type, and pedigree information on each animal for genetic analysis. Cow performance data will include cow weights, body condition scores, reproductive records and performance of their calves from birth to weaning. In order to appropriately build models, other information will be collected including forage type, calving season, internal parasite control, and type of mineral supplement.Objective 4. Investigation of early cow-life performance (first four parities) affecting lifetime production in Brahman and Brahman × Angus cows.Objective 4.1. Comparison of cow reproductive ability as success/failure after the first insemination and at calving.Objective 4.2. Comparison of preweaning calf nursing ability and its effect on survival and weaning weights.Objective 4.3. Comparison of cow-calf productivity in terms of calf preweaning gains and calf postweaning ultrasound measurements.Objective 4.4. Comparison of carcass traits and meat quality.Across the 5-yr proposed project this will result in approximately 2,000 straightbred Brahman calves and 1,000 crossbred Brahman-Angus calves with records (650 calves weaned per year); sex-specific traits will be approximately half that number (Table 3). Repeated records will add support to analyses of cow traits.Classical polygenic or genomic-polygenic analyses will include both estimations of means per breed group and of variance-covariance components and genetic and genomic parameters. Tissue samples will be collected from all calves born at all locations that will serve as a source of DNA. Samples have been stored for all animals at all locations. Genomic analyses will be conducted subsequent to the completion of the above objectives and will be contingent upon successful funding.

Progress 12/29/14 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience are beef cattle producers in the Southern and the Southeastern regions of the U.S. and the State of Mississippi. However, findings of this research are not limited to just these regions and would be applicable to all regions of the U.S. and other temperate regions of the country (i.e. South America, Mexico and etc.). This research will benefit the agriculture industry which includes cattle breed associations, state and county cattleman's associations and university research and extension personnel, as well as graduate and undergraduate students. Changes/Problems:No major changes have been made or encountered in this research project. This research in on-going and the data is continued to be collected for all four objectives. The group has submitted a new proposed research project that will continue for the next 3 years. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?There were 3 graduate students from both Texas A&M University and Mississippi State University that used data from these research projects for their Master's degree and Ph.D. degree. Two of the graduate students gave presentations at both Southern Section and the National Animal Science Meetings in 2019. The principal investigator gave two presentations to two county cattleman association meetings and one field day this past year as well as gave a presentation to undergraduate students at the local community college on research opportunities. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated to communities through talks given at producer advisory council meetings, county cattleman meetings and field days. Also, this information was presented at graduate research symposiums and regional and national animal science meetings. Additionally, this information was provided to producers in print and through online avenues through departmental research reports and MAFES bulletins and websites. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Contine collecting and analyzing data that has beeen collected on cow productivity and fertility for the Fall and Spring calving seasons at the MAFES-Brown Loam Experiment Station. We are currently evaluating ultrasound data that has been collected on fall and spring born calves at weaning. We continue to evaluate genetic variation associated with animal health and well being and will be utilizing this to evaluate animal breeding and genetic techniques over the next five years with a new regional project. We are also analyzing new formulas for feedlot marketing on several groups of cattle that are coming out of the feedlot.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The genetics of longevity in beef cattle production is a critical aspect of efficiency, thus making it an economically relevant trait. Variation in longevity has been observed between different breeds, and is dependent on individual animal reproductive performance amongst other traits. The effects of temperament on cow longevity has not been assessed before. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of breed type and temperament on longevity and reproductive traits in a predominantly Bos indicus x Bos taurus beef cow herd at the E.G. Morrision Brown Loam Experiment Station in central Mississippi. Cows (n=1,285) involved in the study were categorized by breed type (i.e. greater than 0.25 and less than 0.25 proportion Bos indicus influence) and temperament. Temperament categories were constructed based on exit velocity records (n=747) and were distributed equally within 4 groups. The groups consisted of a categorization between 1 and 4, where most temperamental animals were placed in the 4th category and the most docile in the 1st temperamental category. Calving and weaning records (n=5.052) were utilized for evaluation of cow reproductive traits. Longevity data was analyzed using a threshold model with a probit function. Age category of the dam was a significant source of variation in calving rates (P < 0.001), weaning rates (P <0.001), and 205-day weight (P < 0.001). Cows that were greater than or equal to 0.25 Bos indicus influence had higher weaning rates than those that were below 0.25 Bos indicus influence. In addition, cows with greater than or equal to 0.25 Bos indicus influence produced calves with heavier 205-day weaning weights (238.6 kg) than those cows that were less than 0.25 Bos indicus influence (235.0 kg) Variation for breed effects within ages were significant (P < 0.005) in analysis of longevity. In conclusion, cows that were greater than or equal to a proportion of 0.25 Bos indicus background tended to remain productive at advanced ages, while cows of less than 0.25 Bos indicus influence were observed to leave the herd at a younger age. Temperament did not play a significant role in differences of longevity or reproductive traits within this study, but the inclusion of more temperament records could provide a more precise estimate. In summary, cows that are over 25% Bos indicus influence can be considered as a suitable and efficient choice for cow-calf producers in the southern United States because of their ability to remain productive at more advanced ages.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Rivera, J, J. Johnson, A. Lutz, R. Vann. 2018. Effects of yeast fermentation products on performance and serum metabolites of beef cattle grazing warm season pastures. J. Anim. Sci. 96(suppl. 3):99-100.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Littlejohn, B.P., D.M. Price, D.A. Neuendorff, J.A. Carroll, R.C. Vann, P.K. Riggs, D.G. Riley, C.R. Long, T.H. Welsh, Jr., R.D. Randel. 2018. Prenatal transportation stress alters genome-wide DNA methylation in suckling Brahman calves. J. Anim. Sci. 96(12):5075-5099. doi://10.1093.JAS/sky350
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Littlejohn, B.P., N.C. Burdick Sanchez, J.A. Carroll, D.M. Price, R.C. Vann, T.H. Welsh, Jr., R.D. Randel. 2019. Influence of prenatal transportation stress on innate immune response to an endotoxin challenge in weaned Brahman calves. Stress 22(2):236-247. doi://10.1080/10253890.2018.1523895

Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences are beef cattle producers in the Southern and the Southeastern regions of the U.S. and the State of Mississippi. However, findings of this research are not limited to just these areas and would be applicable to all regions of the U.S. and other temperate regions of the country (i.e. South America, Mexico and etc.). This research will benefit the agriculture industry which includes cattle breed associations, state and county cattleman's associations and university research and extension personnel, as well as graduate and undergraduate students. Changes/Problems:No major changes have been made or encountered in this research project. This research is on-going and data is continued to be collected for all four objectives. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?There were graduate students in conjunction with Texas A&M University that used data from these projects for their master's and Ph.D. research projects and one started a Master's degree with Mississippi State University working with maternal behavior. Both of these graduate students gave presentations at both Southern Section and the National Animal Science Meetings in 2018. The principal investigator gave two presentations to two county cattleman association meetings this past year. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated to communities through talks given at producer advisory council meetings, county cattleman meetings and field days. Also, this information was presented at graduate research symposiums and regional and national animal science meetings. Additionally, this information was provided to producers in print and online through departmental research reports and MAFES bulletins. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue collecting and analyzing data that has already been collected on cow productivity and fertility for the Fall and Spring calving seasons at MAFES-Brown Loam Experiment Station. We are currently evaluating ultrasound data that has been collected on fall and spring born calves at weaning. We continue to evaluate genetic variation associated with animal health and well being and will be utilizing this to evaluate animal breeding and genomic techniques over the next year.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The objective was to estimate genetic parameters of temperament in beef cattle across an age continuum. The population consisted predominantly of Brahman-British crossbred cattle (n = 4,891 in pedigree). Temperament was quantified by: 1) pen score (PS), the reaction of a calf to a single experienced evaluator on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = calm, 5 = excitable); 2) exit velocity (EV), the rate (m/sec) at which a calf traveled 1.83 m upon exiting a squeeze chute; and 3) temperament score (TS), the numerical average of PS and EV. An independent analysis assessed regression of calf temperament variables on dam temperament variables and calf weight. Covariates included days of age and proportion of Bos indicus in the calf and dam. Random regression modeling employed the fixed effects determined from the repeated measures models, except for calf age. Log-likelihood tests were used to determine the most appropriate random structure. Increased calf age was associated with calmer temperaments (regression coefficients, RC = -0.001 ± 0.0002, -0.002 ± 0.0001, and -0.002 ± 0.0001 for PS, EV, and TS, respectively; P < 0.01). Proportion of Bos indicus in the calf was positively related with each calf temperament trait (RC = 0.41 ± 0.20, 0.85 ± 0.21, and 0.57 ± 0.18 for PS, EV, and TS, respectively; P < 0.01). There was an effect of contemporary group (combinations of season and year of birth) and dam age (P < 0.001) in all models. There was a positive relationship (P = 0.08) of dam TS with calf TS (RC= 0.03). There was negative relationship (P < 0.01) of body weight with all temperament traits (RC = -0.001). From repeated records analyses, estimates of heritability were 0.34 ± 0.04, 0.31 ± 0.04, and 0.39 ± 0.04, while estimates of permanent environmental variance as a proportion of the phenotypic variance (c2) were 0.30 ± 0.04, 0.31 ± 0.03, and 0.34 ± 0.04 for PS, EV, and TS, respectively. Quadratic additive genetic random regressions on Legendre polynomials of age were significant for all traits; quadratic permanent environmental random regressions were significant for PS and TS, but linear permanent environmental random regressions were significant for EV. Random regression results suggested an increasing influence of permanent environmental and decreasing influence of additive genetic effects corresponding to increasing calf age. Inherited temperament may be superseded overcome by accumulating environmental stimuli with increases in age, especially after weaning.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Littlejohn, B.P., D.Price, D. Neuendorff, J. Carroll, R. Vann, P. Riggs, D. Riley, C. Long, T.H. Welsh, Jr., and R.D. Randel. 2018. Prenatal transportation stress alters genome-wide DNA methylation in suckling Brahman calves. J. Anim. Sci. 96(Suppl. 2):137 Abstr.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Littlejohn, B.P., D. Price, D. Neuendorff, J. Carroll, R. Vann, P. Riggs, D. Riley, C. Long, T.H. Welsh, Jr., and R.D. Randel. 2018. Prenatal stress alters genes in signaling pathways influencing behavior and stress response by differential methylation of DNA. J. Anim. Sci. 96(Suppl. 2):138 Abstr.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Rutherford Jr., W., J. Parish, T. Smith, R. Vann, and B. Strickland. 2018. Effects of maternal behavior of crossbred beef cows at calving on adjusted 205 d weaning weights. J. Anim. Sci. 96(Suppl. 2):Abstr.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Rutherford Jr., W., J. Parish, T. Smith, R. Vann, and B. Strickland. 2018. Geospatial analysis of cattle maternal behavior during fenceline weaning as influenced by dam age and maternal behavior at calving J. Anim. Sci. 96(Suppl. 2):Abstr.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Littlejohn, B.P., D.G. Riley, T.H. Welsh, Jr., R.D. Randel, S.T. Willard, and R.C. Vann. 2018. Use of random regression to estimate genetic parameters of temperament across an age continuum in a crossbred cattle population. J. Anim. Sci. 96(7):2607-2621.

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience are beef cattle producers in the Southern and the Southeastern regions of the U.S. and the State of Mississippi. However, findings of this research will not be limited to just these areas and would be applicable to all regions of the U.S. and other temperate regions of the country (i.e. South America, Mexico and etc). In addition, this research will benefit the agriculture industry which includes cattle breed associations, state and county cattleman's associations, and university research and extension leaders, as well as graduate and undergraduate students. Changes/Problems:No major changes have been encountered in this research project. This research is on-going and data is continued to be collected for all four objectives What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?There were three graduate students in conjunction with Texas A&M University that used data from these projects for their master's degree and Ph.D. research projects and one that will be starting in 2017-2018 with their Master's degree. The principal investigator also gave one presentation and one poster session at the National Animal Sciece meetings this year as well as gave presentations to two county cattleman association meetings this past year. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated to communities through talks given at field day held at the Brown Loam Experiment Station in July 2017 and county cattleman meetings and one producer advisory council meeting. Also, this information was presented at graduate research symposiums. Additionally, this information was provided to producers in print and online through departmental research reports and MAFES bulletins. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue collecting data on cow productivity and fertility for the fall and spring calving seasons at Brown Loam Experiment Station. We are analyzing data currently that is evaluating early cow-life performance which affects lifetime productivity in Brahman and Brahman-cross cows. We continue to evaluate genetic variation associated with animal health and well being and will be utilizing this to evaluate animal breeding and genomic technigues over the next couple of years. Plan to have a publiction out in early 2018 about cow and calf temperament interactions and effects on calf growth performance.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Mississippi State University (Brown Loam): The objective was to evaluate a potential transgenerational influence of paternal prenatal stress on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics in two groups of crossbred calves (fall and spring born) sired by Brahman bulls that did or did not experience prenatal stress (PNS). These sires were derived from a purebred Brahman population in which dams were assigned to receive 1 of 2 treatments: control (CTRL; n=42) or PNS (n=43). Cows in the PNS group were subjected to 2 h of transportation at 60, 80, 100, 120, and 140 d of gestation (Littlejohn et al., 2016). From this group, 3 sexually mature control and 3 PNS Brahman bulls were mated with mature cows (20 cows per bull) to produce a second generation of calves (spring n=120; fall n=80). These crossbred calves were evaluated for temperament utilizing pen score (PS; 1=calm and 5=excitable), exit velocity (EV; m/sec) and temperament score (TEMP; PS+EV/2) at weaning (d0; adjusted 205d), backgrounded, and shipped to feedlot (steers only) until harvest. Data were analyzed using Mixed Models Procedures of SAS. Treatment of sire and days of age were included as fixed effects. Sire treatment had a significant influence (P < 0.03) on weaning PS, TEMP, feed yard disposition score as well as body weight at arrival, re-implant, on-test, final weight, overall average daily gain and feed cost per hundred weight of gain in spring born calves. Days of age was a significant influence (P < 0.009) on feed yard disposition, body weight at arrival, re-implant, final weight, overall average daily gain, feed to gain ratio and feed cost per hundred weight of gain in calves born to spring calving cows. Days of age was a significant influence (P < 0.003) on body weight at arrival, on-test and re-implant for calves born to fall calving cows; however, sire treatment did not significantly influence temperament or body weight for calves born to fall calving cows. Sire treatment did not significantly influence feedlot carcass characteristics or incidence of sickness for either calves born to spring or fall-calving cows. Sire treatment and days of age influenced weaning temperament scores, body weights, overall average daily gain and feed to gain ratio in spring born calves; however, only days of age influenced body weight in fall born calves. Carcass traits or negative health incidences were not influenced by sire treatment in either spring or fall born crossbred calves. More research to elucidate the transgenerational paternal influence on growth performance traits warrants further investigation.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Vann, R.C., B.P. Littlejohn, D.G. Riley, T.H. Welsh, Jr., R.D. Randel, and S.T. Willard. 2017. The influence of cow temperament on temperament and performance of offspring. J. Anim. Sci. 95(Suppl. 4);242(Abstr. 496).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Littlejohn, B.P., N.C. Burdick Sanchez, P.R. Broadway, J.A. Carroll, T.H. Welsh, Jr., R.D. Randel, and R.C. Vann. 2017. Assessment of physiological parameters in response to an endotoxin challenge in crossbred steer progeny sired by Brahman bulls that experience prenatal transportation stress. J. Anim. Sci. 95(Suppl. 4):225(Abstr. 459).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: McClenton, B.J., A.T. Sukumaran, A.J. Holtcamp, R.L. Lemire, R.C. Thompson, O.L. White, R.C. Vann, J.R. Blanton, D.D. Burnett, T. Dinh. 2017. Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue Seed had no effect on carcass characteristics of beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 95(Suppl. 1):25(Abstr. 050).
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Littlejohn, B.P., M.C. Roberts, M.N. Bedenbaugh, A.W. Lewis, D.A. Neuendorff, D.G. Riley, J.A. Carroll, R.C. Vann, M. Amstalden, R.D. Randel, and T.H Welsh, Jr. 2017. Evaluation of the influence of prenatal transportation stress on GnRH-stimulated luteinizing hormone and testosterone secretion in sexually mature Brahman bulls. J. Anim. Sci. 95:129-138; doi:10.2527/jas2016.0445
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Littlejohn, B.P., N.C. Burdick Sanchez, P.R. Broadway, J.A. Carroll, R.D. Randel, T.H. Welsh, Jr., and R.C. Vann. 2017. Assessment of glucose homestatis in crossbred steer progeny sired by Brahman bulls that experienced prenatal transportation stress. J. Anim. Sci. 95(Suppl. 4):224(Absr. 458).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Littlejohn, B.P., D.A. Neuendorff, J.A. Carroll, R.C. Vann, T.H. Welsh, Jr., and R.D. Randel. 2017. Effects of prenatal transportation stress on days of age at first calving in Brahman heifers and their calves' growth and temperament at weaning. J. Anim. Sci. 95(Suppl.1):44(Abstr. 088).

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience are beef cattle producers in the Southern and the Southeastern regions of the U.S. and the State of Mississippi. However, findings of this research will not be limited to just these areas or region and should be applicable in many parts of the United States as well as other temperate areas of the country. In addition, this research will benefit the agriculture industry which includes cattle breed associations, state and county cattleman's associations and university research and extension professors, undergraduate and graduate students. Changes/Problems:No major changes have been encountered in this research project. The research is on-going and data is continued to be collected for all four objectives. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?There were three graduate students in conjunction with Texas A&M University that used data from these projects on the master's and Ph.D. research projects and one undergraduate student that presented data at regional Animal Science meetings. The principal investigator also gave two presentations at regional and National Animal Science meetings this year as well as gave a presentation at the national and international Beef Improvement Federation meeting. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results ahve been disseminated to communities through talks given at field days and county cattleman meetings. Also, this information was been presented at undergraduate research symposiums. In addition, this information was provided to producers in print and online through departmental research reports and mafes bulletins. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue collecting data on cow productivity and fertility for the fall and spring calving seasons at Brown Loam. We are analyzing data currently that is evaluating early cow-life performance which affects lifetime production in Brahman and Brahman-cross cows. We continue to evaluate genetic variation associated with animal health and well being and will be utilizing this to evaluate animal breeding and genomic techniques over the next couple of years.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Mississippi State University (Brown Loam): In one research project the estimate of heritability of temperament as well as the relationship of cow age, proportion of Bos indicus, and contemporary groups with calf temperament at weaning were evaluated. The study population consisted of predominantly of British-crossbred cattle. Temperament was quantified by 3 measures: 1) pen score was the reaction of each calf to a constant single experienced evaluator on a scale of 1-5 (1 = calm and 5 = excitable); 2) exit velocity was the rate in meters per second at which a calf traveled 1.83 meters upon exiting a cattle chute; and 3) temperament score which was the simple mean of pen score and exit velocity. Data were analyzed with mixed linear models. Additvie genetic variance was a random effect, and maternal additive genetic varance was 0 for all traits. Fixed effects included cow age (2, 3, 4, 5 to 10, and over 10 years of age). Covariates included the day of age at the time of record and the proportion of Bos indicus in each calf. Contemporary groups (n=69) clustered calves of the same sex classification (bull=543, hefier=1622, steer=1158) born in the same season (Fall=975, Spring=3248) of the same year (2002 to 2014). Estimates of heritability were obtained in univariate analyses, and correlation in 2-trait analyses. These traits had strong additive genetic correlation estimates with each other (r > 0.8). Cow age and contemporary group had an effect on calf temperament (P > 0.01). There was a positive relationship (P < 0.05) of proportion of Bos indicus with calf pen score, exit velocity, and temperament score. At weaning, estimates of heritability were moderate (0.32 for pen score; 0.28 for exit velocity; 0.35 for temperament score). In conclusion, calf temperament at weaning was associated with cow age, proportion of Bos indicus, and contemporary group. The degree of heritability reported for pen score, exit velocity, and temperament score was sufficient to substantiate utilization of either or all of these measures of temperament as selection tools.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Littlejohn, B.P., D.G. Riley, T.H. Welsh, Jr., R.D. Randel, S.T. Willard and R.C. Vann. 2016. Heritability of temperament at weaning in a crossbred cattle population. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 1):1(Abstr. 1).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Snell. A., J.P. Banta, T.H. Welsh, Jr., R.D. Randel, S.D. Lawhon, and R.C. Vann. 2016. Influence of sex and temperament on response of Brahman calves to Salmonella Newport Extract vaccine. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 1):30-31(Abstr. 62).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Snell, A., T.H. Welsh, Jr., R.D. Randel, R.C. Vann, G.D. Hufstedler, J.P. Banta, and D.A. Neuendorff. 2016. Effect of monensin supplementation on Brahman cow performance and postpartum follicular development. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 1):32(Abstr. 64).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Vann, R.C., J.P. Banta, B.P. Littlejohn, A. Snell, S.D. Lawhon, R.D. Randel, and T.H. Welsh, Jr. 2016. Feedlot performance of crossbred calves vaccinated with Salmonella Newport Extract vaccine. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 1):40-41(Abstr. 81).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gardner, T., J.F. Legako, N.C. Burdick Sanchez, P.R. Broadway, J.A. Carroll, R.C. Vann. 2016. Influence of cattle temperament on blood serum fatty acid content. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 5):494(Abstr. 1050).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: d'Orey Branco, R.A., D.A. Neuendorff, A.W. Lewis, R.C. Vann, T.H. Welsh, Jr., and R.D. Randel. 2016. Comparison of follicular dynamics and subsequent progesterone profiles in Brahman cows with either two or three ovarian follicular waves. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 5):525-526(Abstr. 1117).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Vann, R.C., B.P. Littlejohn, C.R. Long, T.H. Welsh, Jr., and R.D. Randel. 2016. Transgenerational paternal influence on temperament and growth performance of crossbred beef calves. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 5):529(Abstr. 1123).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Littlejohn, B.P., D.M. Price, D.A. Neuendorff, C.R. Long, J.A. Carroll, R.C. Vann, T.H. Welsh, Jr., and R.D. Randel. 2016. DNA methylation is a possible basis of phenotypic alterations observed in suckling Brahman calves. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 5):529-530(Abstr. 1124).
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Littlejohn, B.P., D.M. Price, J.P. Banta, A.W. Lewis, D.A. Neuendorff, J.A. Carroll, R.C. Vann, T.H. Welsh, Jr. and R.D. Randel. 2016. Prenatal transportation stress alters temperament and serum cortisol concentrations in suckling Brahman calves. J. Anim. Sci. 94:602-609. doi:10.2527/jas2015-9635
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Budick Sanchez, N.C., J.A. Carroll, P.R. Broadway, H.D. Hughes, S.L. Roberts, J.T. Richeson, T.B. Schmidt, and R.C. Vann. 2016. Cattle temperament influences metabolism: metabolic response to glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity tests in beef steers.

Progress 12/29/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience will be beef cattle producers in the Southern and Southeastern region of the United States, however, findings of this research project will not be limited to just this region and should be applicable in many parts of the United States. In addition, this research will benefit agriculture industry which includes cattle breed associations, state and county cattleman's associations and university research and professors as well as undergraduate and graduate students. Changes/Problems:No major changes have been encountered in this research project. The research is on-going and data is continued to be collected for all four objectives. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?There were two graduate students in conjunction with Texas A&M university that used data from these projects on their masters resarch projects and two undergraduate students that presented data at regional Animal science meetings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated to communities through talks given at field days and county cattleman meetings. Also, this information has been presented at undergraduate research symposiums. In addition, the information was provided to producers in print and online through the departmental research report. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue collecting data on cow productivity and fertility for the fall and spring calving seasons at Brown Loam. We are analyzing data currently that is evaluating early cow-life performance which affect lifetime production in Brahman and Brahman-cross cows. We are continueing to evaluate genetic variation associated with animal health and well being and will be utilizing this to evaluate animal breeding and genomic techniques over the next couple of years.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Mississippi State University: Photographs of each eye were taken on purebred Hereford and Hereford-cross calves to assess eye pigmentation. Pictures were sent for quantification and contribution to this objective. Objective 1.3: Data were collected on 100 Fall calving purebred Angus, Hereford cows and 54 spring calving commercial cows. Udder and teat scores were recorded within 24 hours after calving. Data will be combined with other stations at the end of the project for analysis. At the MAFES-Brown Loam Experiment Station we also collected udder scores on Hereford and Hereford-cross (n=62) calves as well as purebred Brahman cows (n=8). Mississippi State University and MAFES-Brown Loam Experiment Station: Cow performance and fertility data was collected from fall and spring calving herds and combined with other stations at the end of the project for analysis. Hair shedding scores and BCS were collected over a two year period on 5,294 cows across the Southeastern United States, Missouri, and Texas. Data were collected in May by two technicians for hair shedding and given a visual score (VS) of 1 to 5 with a score of 1 indicating completely shed, 2 = 25% shed, 3 = 50% shed, 4 = 75% shed and 5 = no shedding. Heritability estimates for hair coat shedding and BCS were 0.42 ± 0.03 and 0.12 ± 0.03, with a genetic correlation between the traits of -0.25 ± 0.10. Repeatability estimates for hair coat shedding and BCS were 0.46 and 0.35, respectively. The heritability estimates for direct and maternal effects on weaning weight were 0.28 ± 0.05 and 0.05 ± 0.04, respectively. The estimated genetic correlations of hair coat shedding and direct and maternal genetic effects on weaning weight were 0.17 ± 0.22 and -0.30 ± 0.25. In summary, hair shedding is highly heritable and genetically negatively correlated with the maternal effect on weaning weight.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2014 Citation: Littlejohn, B.P., D.M. Price, A.W. Lewis, D.A. Neundorff, J.P. Banta, D.G. Riley, J.A. Carroll, T.H. Welsh, Jr., R.D. Randel and R. C. Vann. 2014. Factors influencing preweaning ultrasound body composition of Brahman calves. J. Anim. Sci. 92(E-Suppl. 1):34(Abstr. 91).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2014 Citation: Roberts, M.C., R.C. Vann, D.A. Neuendorff, B.P. Littlejohn, D.G. Riley, J.A. Carroll, T.H. Welsh, Jr., and R.D. Randel. 2014. The effects of prenatal stress and postnatal temperament on age and body weight at first sperm, and sexual maturity in Brahman bulls. J. Anim. Sci. 92(E. Suppl. 2):262(Abstr. 525).
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2014 Citation: Schmidt., S., D.A. Neuendorff, D.G. Riley, R.C. Vann, S.T. Willard, T.H. Welsh, Jr., and R.D. Randel. 2014. Genetic parameters of three methods of temperament evaluation of Brahman calves. J. Anim. Sci. 92:3082-3087.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Vann, R.C., S.T. Willard, M. Robinson, A.W. Lewis, T.H. Welsh, JR., and R.D. Randel. 2015. Evaluation of hair cortisol in beef cattle of divergent temperaments. J. Anim. Sci. 93(Suppl. 2):30(Abstr. 74).