Let me set the scene. Your cows are pregnant, healthy, and out on pasture – there is just one problem: limited forage. Underfeeding pregnant cows becomes more common when there is limited plant growth, like during the “summer slump” or when cows graze winter range, in the case of SD spring-calvers.
We all know that better beef = more profit when cattle arrive at the packing plant. Beef is one of the most expensive meats that a consumer can purchase, and there’s an expectation for consistent quality. How can you raise quality beef that consumers desire? There are three factors that
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this week’s R2R Edition: 1. Making Marbling Moves 2. The Real Cost of Underfeeding Meat Quality Making Marbling Moves We all know that better beef = more profit when cattle arrive at the packing plant. Beef is one of the most expensive meats that a consumer can purchase,
The high-points: * Lactic acid bacteria improve both rumen fermentation and silage quality in the cattle industry. * Tested delivery of bacteria to the large intestine by using a technology called nanofiber microcapsules that surround the bacteria. * The nanofiber coating protected the product from being released into ruminal fluid but did not
The high-points: * Brazil houses roughly 23% of the cattle on earth but produces 17% of the beef, suggesting inefficiencies in the beef production systems. * Researchers in Brazil tested the impacts of genetic selection on the revenue for Brazilian cow-calf ranchers raising Nellore cattle. * Selecting for increased average daily gain, ribeye
The high-points: * High concentrations of sulfur can be toxic to cattle, decreasing performance as well as causing polioencephalomalacia. * Cattle receiving additional sulfur were producing significantly more hydrogen sulfide. * There was no correlation between sulfur treatment and hydrogen sulfide production. What you need to know: High concentrations of sulfur can occur
The high-points: * The flavor of grass-fed beef is a constraint of consumer preference due to the beef often having lower "beef flavor" and greater "off-flavor". * The average daily gain for each of the small-grain fed steers was greater than that of the alfalfa-fed steers. * Alfalfa had greater tenderness, juiciness, and
The high-points: * Common sustainability practices at use in feedlots, decrease greenhouse gas emissions. * Some of these practices use technology like hormonal feed additives, implants, and β-agonists. * Still today, growth-enhancing technologies have a vital role in the efficiency of beef production. What you need to know: As discussed in a previous
The high-points: * Many consumers, non-profits, and government organizations are keen to know the environmental impacts of what consumers are buying, including meat. * Paper provides producers with actionable indicators to report sustainability metrics, specifically those within the cow/calf system. * In the programs they reviewed, many sustainability goals shared common interests
The high-points: * The microbes in the rumen have a large impact on the health and productivity of the ruminant. * Increased levels of both lactic acid-producing and utilizing bacteria can decrease the risk of acidosis and improve the animal growth rate. * Other research has shown that supplemental microbes can decrease the
The high-points: * The effects of lameness on the wellbeing of the hurt animal and the bottom line of the feedlot are both concerns worth investigating. * Observed an increase in the proportion of animals with lameness between current and old studies. * Common risk factors were: increased body weight, older animals, increased
The high-points: * Grass-feeding cattle is a common management style in many parts of the US, including producers selling to specialty food markets. * The higher growth potential animals, entirely grass-fed, had larger ribeye areas but less marbling. * Corn-supplemented cattle had brighter and redder meat but, conversely, yellow fat, likely because they
What you need to know: You may have heard the term "smart" used to describe things like cars (i.e., smart cars like Tesla) or devices like Amazon Alexa, and Siri on the iPhone. Although not new in 2021, these smart products have already impacted industries like consumer goods, vehicle
What you need to know: A TMR, or total mixed ration [https://extension.umn.edu/dairy-milking-cows/feeding-total-mixed-rations#:~:text=Feeding%20a%20total%20mixed%20ration,health%2C%20milk%20production%20and%20reproduction.] , is a term used to describe various feed ingredients mixed into a singular and consistent product. Nearly all feedlots and dairies
TL;DR: * Nearly 20 years of commercial sexed-semen use. * The "beef-on-dairy" matings, dairy cows bred with beef semen, have increased in popularity. * The beef industry has an opportunity to simultaneously select for improvements in female fertility and male feedlot performance. What you need to know: We are nearing 20 years
TL;DR: * The goal to decrease inputs has driven the cow/calf industry towards selecting more moderate-framed females. * Selecting for lower body weight could result in selecting for thinner cows instead of smaller cows. * The combination of a thinner cow with a fast-growing calf could have detrimental effects on the
TL;DR: * Mycotoxins are byproducts of fungi, which can show up in feeds * Mycotoxins were fed to beef steers for 21 days at levels that were realistic for a feedlot ration * The treatment had upregulated pathways associated with oxidative stress and inflammation What you need to know: Mycotoxins are byproducts
TL;DR: * Ionophores are vital to the efficiency that we see in feedlots. * Using these direct-fed antimicrobials can decrease the quantity of methane produced. * Cattle producers outside the feedlot system may also derive value from ionophores. What you need to know: Rumensin has many other "siblings" that are all part
TL;DR: * A simple answer to increasing feed conversion rate may be using different corn varieties in cattle rations. * Animals consuming the Enogen corn had better feed efficiency, which improves the environmental impact measures significantly. * Both universities had decreased estimated land use from Enogen corn as a feedstuff. What you
TL;DR: * Fescue toxicity has symptoms of restricted blood flow and reduced performance, like feed intake. * Pregnant Charolais and Hereford grazed toxic fescue and had different levels of symptoms. * Charolais appear to be more resilient to the effects of toxic fescue. What you need to know: Fescue is a grass
TL;DR: * Digital dermatitis is the infection and inflammation of the hooves of cattle. * The timing of the infection was compared to the animal's rumination and activity levels at that time. * Heifers with digital dermatitis spent 3% less time per day ruminating and 3% more time inactive. What you need
TL;DR: * The addition of a live yeast supplement can improve the transition of a calf from ranch to a feedlot. * Steers fed live yeast supplement had improved rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility, and immune function. What you need to know: Yeast is a fungus commonly used in baking and brewing
TL;DR: * Early breeding of a dam can impact the performance of her offspring. * Heifers born to dams bred early in their development had lower growth rates, pregnancy rates, and pre-calving weight. What you need to know: Just like we leave an imprint of our boot in the snow, nutrition
TL;DR: * The effect of cross-breeding Angus with Hereford was 2% higher BW, 3% higher WW, 12.6 kg larger carcass, and 2.1 cm2 larger loin-eye area. * There was a significant effect of cross-breeding, even after years of genetic improvement in purebred cattle. What you need to know: When
TL;DR: * New Mexico cattle market shows a 6 yr price cycle between low and high prices. Prices increase in wet years and decrease during dry years. * More cattle were being fed & bred during the three wet years, and many more cattle were sold during the three dry years. What
Fetal programming [https://www.purinamills.com/cattle-feed/education/detail/cattle-fetal-programming-101] is a term used to describe the effect that the mother's environment can have on the fetus during pregnancy. When discussing this area of research, it is rarely concerning positive effects, as much of the concern is limiting the negative
Selecting for growth and reproductive traits can lead to significant increases in ranch profitability. And novel research into a method for supplement delivery was able to protect a microbial product from the rumen environment.
Fetal programming from undernutrition can affect calf performance, producing lighter animals than their counterparts and impacting their performance in a feedlot system. High concentrations of sulfur can be toxic to cattle – decreasing performance and causing polioencephalomalacia.
Years of genetic selection and improvements in feedlot management, growth-enhancing technologies - how much impact do they have on animal efficiency and performance in 2021? Going grass-fed? The grasses your cattle graze can impact their growth and meat quality.
In this week's R2R Edition: There seems to be no limit to the uses of direct-fed microbial supplements – from controlling E. coli to increasing microbial digestion. And sustainability from a cow/calf perspective, a report helps to find common ground for ranchers, packers, and consumers.
In this week's R2R Edition: A unique study follows cattle from pasture to plate to determine the differences in grass-fed vs. grass-fed, grain-finished beef! A 2-year study finds the prevalence of feedlot lameness may be increasing and offers solutions.
In this week's R2R Edition: Simple solutions are often the best solutions. Also, "smart" devices and related technology have started their move into animal agriculture.
In this week's R2R publication: We get a reminder of why mycotoxins are important to test for before putting feed into the bunk. Analysis helps us understand how to better breed/select for more efficient cows. (Hint: it's not only bodyweight).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Oof, my hoof." TL;DR: * Digital dermatitis is the infection and inflammation of the hooves of cattle. * The timing of the infection was compared to the animal's rumination and activity levels at that time. * Heifers with digital dermatitis spent 3% less time per day ruminating and 3% more time
As the first of many Research to Ranch newsletters is sent off, we break a metaphorical champagne bottle on its hull as we christen it for a safe and successful trip from us to you. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Giving you the down-low on cattle price lows TL;DR: * New Mexico cattle market
