A study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) in feedlot calves with clinical signs attributable to bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Twenty-nine BRD cases and 15 asymptomatic controls were evaluated using systematic TUS on the day of initial pull (day 0), and days 3, 6, 9, and 15. Four-second ultrasound loops were saved at 46 locations ...

We used ISO-compliant life cycle assessment (LCA) to compare the cumulative energy use, ecological footprint, greenhouse gas emissions and eutrophying emissions associated with models of three beef production strategies as currently practiced in the Upper Midwestern United States. Specifically we examined systems where calves were either: weaned directly to feedlots; weaned to out-of-state whea...

Choices made by nutritionists and milk replacer manufacturers of nutrient levels and milk replacer ingredients, coupled with choices by calf feeders about feeding rate and calf body weight, largely determine calf growth rate, efficiency of feed conversion, and cost of gain. These choices also largely determine later feedlot performance and carcass composition. For example, early calf nutrition ...

Two groups of Brangus steers produced by nuclear transplantation cloning were used in parallel studies investigating the impact of calf- and yearling-feeding. The first group (n = 8) were fed as calves (CF; n = 4) or yearlings (YF; n = 4) to a constant age end point of 16 mo. The second group (n = 10) were fed as calves (CF; n = 5) or yearlings (YF; n = 5) to a constant live weight end point (5...

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is a pneumovirus in the family paramyxoviridae, is an important cause of acute respiratory disease in postweaning calves and feedlot cattle. The real-time reverse transcriptase PCR protocols were developed to detect BRSV infection in infected animals. The sensitivity of RT-PCR protocols based on fusion gene were evaluated using different Mastermixes suc...

Historically we have used a value of gain of about $0.50 per lb on growing cattle, but with recent changes in calf pricing, gain is worth much more than that. For example, cattle at Lynchburg, VA on July 27, 2008 showed no price slide between 4 cwt and 6 cwt cattle, and when you compare those prices with the VA board sales those light cattle prices are similar to the heavier cattle, which would...

Three feedlot studies were conducted with growing-finishing beef cattle to compare the nutritional value of soybean meal (SBM), hydrolyzed feather meal (FM) and hydrolyzed hog hair meal (HM) as sources of supplemental protein. Eight different pelleted protein supplements were formulated by replacing 25 to 100% of the SBM protein in a control supplement (Supplement A) with FM and/or HM protein. ...