Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:Research presented to scientists, graduate students, and industry professionals. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One student finished her Ph.D. degree. One student is pursuing a M.S. degree. One undergraduate honors student finished a thesis and her degree. One undergraduate honors student continues working on research. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Research presented through conference presentations and scientific publications to scientists, graduate students, and industry professionals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?A project will investigate if phosphorus supplementation is beneficial to developing females grazed on pastures with a long history of livestock manure applications. Phosphorus is a vital nutrient for cattle but in excess it can have detrimental impacts on the environment, passing into the environment through manure and then into water sources. To accomplish this goal beef heifers were offered free choice mineral mixes with and without phosphorus from the time they were weaned until they wean their first calve. This year data from calving and biological samples (colostrum and blood) will be analyzed. Colostrum contains vital nutrients for newborn calves, as well as immunoglobulins. Greater immunoglobulin concentrations led to increased weight gain in calves. For this experiment, heifers (n = 64) weaned in May 2019 for the University of Arkansas Cow Calf Unit were used. Approximately 30 days after weaning, heifers were weighed, stratified by body weight, and divided randomly into 8 groups (8 heifers/group). Each group was then assigned randomly to one of two dietary treatments: 1) supplemented with phosphorus (4% in a free-choice-mineral mix), or 2) given no supplemental phosphorus in an otherwise identical free-choice-mineral mix formulated to meet all other mineral and vitamin requirements. Heifers were allowed to graze 8 mixed grass pastures (2.4 ha) and received supplemental soybean hulls (0.5% of body weight each day). The forage, soybean hulls, and mineral supplements were sampled every 28 days throughout the course of the study. Heifers continued on these dietary treatments for the remainder of the trial In November of 2019, heifers were synchronized and bred by artificial insemination (AI) followed by natural service. In February 2020, 36 heifers (18/dietary treatment) with a confirmed pregnancy continued on the trial. As needed, bred heifers were stratified by BW and re-assigned randomly within treatment to 1 of 2 groups (9 heifers/group). Pregnant heifers continued receiving the same dietary treatment to which they were originally assigned. The heifers began calving in September of 2020. Two weeks prior to the anticipated calving date, a subset of heifers (12 heifers/treatment) were moved nearer the working facility. A series of data were collected from each heifer in the subset. At the time of birth, a pooled colostrum sample from all four quarters was collected from each heifer. The colostrum samples will be evaluated for the following: 1) colostral phosphorus concentrations and other minerals, 2) colostral immunoglobulin concentrations, and 3) colostral fat and protein concentrations. At 48 hours after birth, a serum sample was collected from the calves of the heifers in the subset. The serum samples will be used to evaluate calf immunoglobulin concentrations. After the serum sample was collected, the cow/calf pairs in the subset were returned to the larger pastures with their associated group. All heifers were evaluated during the calving process. Calf birth weights and gender were recorded as well as calving ease scores, calf vigor scores, and calf agility scores for each heifer. Following ashing, phosphorus and other minerals will be determined in colostrum by inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectroscopy at the Alteimer Laboratory on the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture North Farm. Colostral and serum immunoglobulin concentrations were determined by commercial anti-bovine IgG radial immunodiffusion kits. Colostral samples for fat and protein concentrations were submitted by overnight mail to the Mid-South Dairy Records Laboratory (Springfield, MO). Calving ease scores were as described by the Beef Improvement Federation (2018). Calf vigor scores were from 1, alert and active, to 5, listless and unresponsive; and calf agility scores will be from 1, moves well and correct posture, to 5, significant stiffness in gait and arch in topline. Over the upcoming year the laboratory and statistical analyses will be completed.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Two hundred and fifty four crossbred beef heifers (body weight = 248 ± 5.9 kg) were obtained on 3 dates (block, 8 pens/block) and were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatments: 1) a corn and distillers' grains based receiving supplement or 2) a receiving supplement that contained 20% dried citrus pulp (replacing a portion of the corn). Upon arrival, cattle had access to hay and water and rested overnight then were processed the next day in which they received an identification tag, were vaccinated with a clostridial and a 5-way modified live bovine respiratory viral, dewormed, weighed, branded, ear notched for detection of persistent infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus, and each truckload was assigned randomly to pens resulting in 8 pens with 9 to 11 head per pen. Pens were then assigned randomly to 1 of the 2 treatments: Cattle were offered bermudagrass hay and water for ad libitum intake and were offered up to 1.8 kg/day of their appropriate receiving supplement. Calves were revaccinated on day 14 with the 5-way modified live bovine respiratory viral. Animals were weighed on days 1, 14, 28, 41, and 42 days (days 41 and 42 averaged for final weight). Blood was collected by jugular venipuncture on the final weigh date from all calves. Serum antioxidant status will be determined. The study objective was to investigate the effects of supplementing stocker calves with citrus pulp as a natural antioxidant source on performance and morbidity of newly received calves. Overall average daily gain for the entire 42-day receiving period was increased for calves fed the supplement that included dried citrus pulp (1.01 kg/day) vs. the calves fed the control supplement (0.90 kg/day). However, the percentage of calves treated for clinical bovine respiratory disease was increased for calves fed the citrus pulp containing supplement (14% morbidity) compared to control calves (7% morbidity). The supplementation of dried citrus pulp to high-risk calves improved growth performance, but did not reduce the incidence of clinical bovine respiratory disease during the receiving period.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Ball, J. J., Kegley, E. B., Richeson, J. T., Rowe, M. P., Powell, J. G. (2020). Comparison of long-acting or conventional growth implants on growth performance in steers grazed for 180 days. Livestock Science, 238. doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2020.104039
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Martin, B., Cauble, R., Kegley, E. B., Powell, J. G. (2020). Effect of Zelnate administered at initial processing in high-risk, newly received beef calves on performance and morbidity (Supplement 2 ed., vol. 98). doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz397.108
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Hilfiker, H., Kegley, E. B., Rorie, R. W., Hornsby, P. A., Reynolds, J. L. (2020). Impacts of Phosphorus Intake on Beef Heifer Growth Performance and Reproductive Tract Scores (Supplement 2 ed., vol. 98, pp. 57-58). doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz397.131
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Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:Research presented to scientists, graduate students, and industry professionals.Wrote an article published in Arkansas Cattle Business, a publication of the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association that's read by cattle producers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One student is working on a Ph.D. degree. One student is pursuing a M.S. degree. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Abstracts were presented at a national conference attended by scientists, graduate students, and industry professionals. Articles published in the scientific literature. An article on the importance of trace mineral nutrition for cattle that was published in Arkansas Cattle Business, a publication of the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association that's read by cattle producers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Citrus by-products are important components of ruminant feeding systems. The main citrus by-product is citrus pulp which can be fed wet, dried, or as silage. Dried citrus pulp has been reported to contain 12 to 40% sugar, and 22 to 44% dry matter of neutral detergent-soluble fiber carbohydrates and might therefore be a candidate for supplementation in receiving diets with highly fermentable grains in order to reduce morbidity. Furthermore, citrus pulp is a source of flavonoids such as hesperidin and naringin which have been found to have antioxidant properties. Therefore, feeding receiving calves at high risk for bovine respiratory disease a diet containing citrus pulp rather than corn might improve health and reduce instances of bovine respiratory disease. Thus, our study aims to investigate the effects of supplementing stocker calves with citrus pulp as a natural antioxidant source on performance and morbidity of newly received calves. The University of Arkansas' stocker research facility in Savoy will receive high risk cattle weighing approximately 275 kg. Upon arrival, cattle with have access to hay and water and will rest overnight. Calves will be processed the next day in which they will receive an identification tag, be vaccinated with a clostridial and a 5-way modified live bovine respiratory viral, dewormed, weighed, branded, castrated (if necessary), ear notched for detection of persistent infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus, and each truckload will be assigned randomly to pens based on castration status resulting in 8 pens with 9 to 11 head per pen. Pens will then be assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatments: 1) a corn and distillers' grains based receiving supplement or 2) a receiving supplement which contains 20% dried citrus pulp (replacing a portion of the corn). Cattle will be offered bermudagrass hay and water for ad libitum intake and will be offered up to 1.8 kg/day of their appropriate receiving supplement. Calves will be revaccinated on day 14 with the 5-way modified live bovine respiratory viral. Animals will be weighed on days 1, 14, and consecutive days at the end of the trial (between 42 and 56 days after arrival). Blood will be collected by jugular venipuncture on the final weigh date from all calves. Serum antioxidant status will be determined. Diet samples (hay and each supplement for each truckload of calves) will be collected and analyzed for standard nutrients and for flavonoid concentrations. Every morning cattle will be monitored for signs of morbidity by the pen checker and calves will be given a clinical attitude score (CAS) of 0 to 4 (0 = normal, 1 = mild bovine respiratory disease (BRD), 2 = moderately BRD, 3 = severe BRD, 4 = moribund). Cattle with a CAS of 1 or 2 and a rectal temperature of ≥ 40? C, or any cattle with a CAS of 3 or 4 regardless of rectal temperature will receive the next appropriate antibiotic from a preplanned regimen. Records for any antibiotics given, and body weights and rectal temperatures checked will be kept. After calves have been treated with an antibiotic they will be returned to their home pens and rectal temperatures will not be routinely re-checked. Necropsies will be done on any mortalities. Percentages of cattle treated with one, two, or three antibiotics, percentage that relapses, and percentage mortalities; as well as treatment antibiotic costs will be analyzed statistically.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Two hundred and forty crossbred beef calves (body weight = 257 ± 3.5 kg) were obtained on 3 dates (block, 8 pens/block) and were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatments: 1) a control diet, top-dress supplement (0.11 kg/d) with no direct-fed microbial, or 2) a diet containing a direct-fed microbial, top dress supplement (0.11 kg/d) that provided 113.5 mg/d of BOVAMINE DEFEND® (2 g/d, Lactobacillus animalis, Propionibacterium freudenreichii, 1 × 109 CFU2/g). The study objective was to determine the effect of the direct-fed microbial on growth performance and health when included in the diet of calves new to the feedyard environment. From day 0 to 14 after arrival, average daily gain was improved for calves fed the direct-fed microbial compared to the control supplement. Overall average daily gain for the entire 43-day receiving period was not different; although numerically there was a 0.03 kg improvement in calves fed the direct-fed microbial (0.90 kg) compared to calves fed the control (0.87 kg). The percentage of calves treated for clinical bovine respiratory disease was not affected; however, was numerically reduced by 6.8% for calves fed the direct-fed microbial (61.2% morbidity) compared to control calves (68.0% morbidity). There was a trend for the percentage of calves treated with a second antibiotic to be reduced for calves supplemented with the direct-fed microbial (9.1%) compared to control calves (15.2%). There was also a trend for the mean total number of antibiotics used to be reduced in calves fed the direct-fed microbial. Overall antibiotic cost, was not affected; however, numerically there was a $3.27 reduction in antibiotic cost for calves fed the direct-fed microbial. The supplementation of a direct-fed microbial in high-risk calves may improve growth performance and health, reduce clinical bovine respiratory disease in calves after first treatment and could potentially reduce the use of antibiotics in calves at a high risk for bovine respiratory disease during the receiving period.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Ball, J. J., E. B. Kegley, J. Sarchet, and J. G. Powell. 2019. Comparison of treatment protocols for bovine respiratory disease in high-risk, newly received beef calves. Applied Animal Science. 35: 278-283. doi:10.15232/aas.2018-01836.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Palmer, E. A., E. B. Kegley, J. J. Ball, P. A. Beck, J. A. Hornsby, J. L. Reynolds, B. P. Shoulders, A. R. Boyer, and J. G. Powell. 2019. Influence of commercial yeast products in diets for beef cattle new to the feedlot environment. Applied Anim. Sci. 35:491-497. Doi:10.15232/aas.2019-01847.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Ball, J. J., E. M. Herring, E. B. Kegley, J. T. Richeson, J. K. Apple, D. J. Tomczak, E. A. Palmer, and J. G. Powell. 2019. Comparison of growth-promoting implant regimens from calfhood to finishing in beef steers: finishing phase. ASAS Southern Section. OKC, OK. J. Anim. Sci. 97 (Suppl. 1):66.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Pickett, A. T., J. J. Ball, E. B. Kegley, K. Blue, J. A. Hornsby, J. L. Reynolds, B. P. Shoulders, and J. G. Powell. 2019. The effect of a recombinant Mannheimia haemolytica leukotoxoid on the health and growth performance of high-risk, newly received stocker cattle metaphylactically treated with tilmicosin. ASAS, Austin, TX. J. Anim. Sci. 97 (Suppl. 3):196197.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Herring, E. M., J. J. Ball, E. B. Kegley, J. E. Turner, E. A. Palmer, J. A. Hornsby, J. L. Reynolds, B. P. Shoulders, and J. G. Powell. 2019. Evaluation of direct fed microbial in newly received, high-risk beef calves and the subsequent impact on performance and health. ASAS, Austin, TX. J. Anim. Sci. 97 (Suppl. 3):432433.
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