Purebred Angus (n = 96) and Polled Hereford (n = 96) bull calves sired by bulls of either low or high yearling weight performance lines were assigned to either creep-fed or non-creep-fed treatment before weaning for four calf crops. For each breed, after weaning in the fall, half of the calves within each of the four groups were fed a high concentrate diet for 189 d after weaning in a feedlot a...

PICO question
 In auction market calves at high risk of developing bovine respiratory disease (BRD), does delayed (14–30 days) vaccination with a modified live vaccine (MLV) for viral pathogens versus administration MLV on-arrival (within 24 hours arrival) to the feedlot, result in decreased percentage BRD morbidity diagnosed based on visual signs and rectal temperature >40 degrees Cels...

The efficacy of active immunization against GnRH as a non-invasive alternative to physical castration was assessed in Hereford × Angus bull calves. Calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups; unimmunized calves (n = 8), bull calves actively immunized against GnRH (n = 30), or calves castrated at 3 months of age and either non-implanted (n = 9) or implanted with Synovex (n = 9). Im...

Calving records collected between 2000 and 2008 at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, Whitman, NE, were used to determine the effect of estrous synchronization on calving distribution and the impact of time of calving on carcass characteristics. Calves born between 2000 and 2006 resulted from non-synchronized 60 d breeding seasons between 1999 and 2005 (n = 2075). Calves born in 2007 and 2008...

Over a 2-yr period, effects of genotype and forage on blood metabolites, enzymes, and minerals were determined in Angus, Brahman, Angus × Brahman (sire × dam), and Brahman × Angus cows, and 129 calves from these cows sired by Hereford bulls. Cows and calves continuously grazed either common bermudagrass or endophyte-infected ‘Kentucky-31’ tall fescue pastures throughout the year. Blood samples ...

Holstein steers have a greater maintenance energy requirement (Zinn and Borquez, 1993) and visceral organ mass (Istasse et al., 1990), and consume approximately 8% more feed than traditional beef steers (NRC, 1987; Fox et al., 1988). Because of their heavy mature weights, Holstein steers calves grow faster than beef steers at comparable weights (Thonney, 1987), capable to increasing their live ...

Bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in feedlot cattle. Significant inflammation and lesions are often observed in lungs of infected cattle. During acute inflammatory responses, histones contribute to mortality in rodents and humans and serum proteins can protect against histone-induced cytotoxicity. We hypothesized that cattle experiencing c...

A 3-yr experiment was conducted with cows and their calves to evaluate resource inputs, animal performance, and carcass characteristics of two production systems. In the control system, cows (CON; n = 99/yr) grazed pasture and were fed hay during the winter, and CON steer calves were finished in the feedlot for 211 d after weaning. In the treatment system (TRT; n = 100/yr), cows grazed pasture ...

Castration in weaned calves is stressful and affects profitability by reducing ADG and increasing susceptibility to disease. This study evaluated the effect of meloxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), on performance and health of calves received as steers compared with bull calves surgically castrated on arrival at the feedlot. British × Continental bulls (n = 145) and steers (...

ABSTRACT: The study compared the economic results between five groups of Holstein steers with different arrival body weights (ABW) but similar ages in feedlot. average ABW were 105, 112, 117, 123 and 129 kg (30, 90, 87, 60, 30 calves, respectively) an age 113 ± 1d. calves randomly distributed using unbalanced design. weighed upon at feedlot subsequently on days 224, 361 study. fed a steam- flak...