WERA110: Improving ruminant use of forages in sustainable production systems for the western U.S.

(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)

Status: Inactive/Terminating

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SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[08/08/2005] [07/31/2006] [06/14/2007] [07/14/2008] [08/10/2009]

Date of Annual Report: 08/08/2005

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 06/20/2005 - 06/21/2005
Period the Report Covers: 06/01/2004 - 06/01/2005

Participants

Mark Peterson (New Mexico State University), Gary Cromwell (University of Kentucky, CREES Repesentative), Jim Sprinkle (University of Arizona), Elaine Grings, (USDA-ARS, Miles City), Lisa Ivey, (New Mexico St University), David Bohnert, Tim Del Curto (Oregon St University), Ken Olson, (Utah St University), Brett Hess (University of Wyoming), Bill Pinchak (Texas Agricultural Experiment Station), Jack C. Whittier (Colorado State University) and many graduate students from various universities.

Brief Summary of Minutes

Meeting started at 6:30 pm by Dr. Mark Petersen (New Mexico St University)
Attendees included: Gary Cromwell (University of Kentucky, CREES Repesentative), Jim Sprinkle (University of Arizona), Elaine Grings, (USDA-ARS, Miles City), Lisa Ivey, (New Mexico St University), David Bohnert, Tim Del Curto (Oregon St University), Ken Olson, (Utah St University), Brett Hess (University of Wyoming), Bill Pinchak (Texas Agricultural Experiment Station), Jack C. Whittier (Colorado State University) and many graduate students from various universities.

Dr. Cromwell provided a detailed update on the USDA-CREES Program and Budgets. He updated the group on the Secretary Johanns appointment, U. S> Supreme Court ruling on the Beef Checkoff Program, Farm animal genome sequencing, NRC Nutrient Requirement Series updates, CREES Staffing, Portfolio reviews of CREES Programs, Web site and e-mail developments and NIMSS.

Elaine Grings asked Bill Pinchak to provide an update on the WERC-110 web page. The structure of the page is completed and up on Pinchaks web site. There is a lack of information on individual states activities that will require input from each state coordinator to complete. All members will be contacted by e-mail requesting the information to complete the page by November.

Pinchak discussed the formation of a Nutritional Ecology Technical Work Group within the Society for Range Management. He discussed the role of the group as a focal point for livestock and wildlife nutritionists to present contemporary research findings in a multi-disciplinary forum to foster collaboration and enhance information exchange. Members of WERC-110 will be extended an invitation to become members of this Technical Work Group.

Elaine Grings requested input from the group as to the value and need for a national database for forages and range vegetation. The concept was discussed but there was no consensus for it to be a WERC activity at this time.

Discussion was held on the need for developing a contemporary hand book of grazing animal nutrition techniques. The decision was made to revisit this idea over the next year and decide on a course of action in 2006.

Bill Pinchak was elected chair for the upcoming year. The 2006 meeting will be held in Vernon, Texas May 22-24 at the Texas Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM

Accomplishments

Oregon State University Report Objective 1 Identify Issues and Develop Research on Livestock Responses and Efficiencies in Sustainable Production Systems EASTERN OREGON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER, OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY, BURNS, OR THE ABILITY OF A MODIFIED GLUCOMANNAN, FEB-200", TO MINIMIZE TOXIC EFFECTS OF HIGH-ALKALOID TALL FESCUE GRASS SEED STRAW M. L. Merrill and D. W. Bohnert OBJECTIVES We have designed two experiments that will evaluate the ability of FEB-200" to alleviate, or minimize, the potential negative effects of fescue toxicosis. The first experiment will be a steer digestion/physiology study that will attempt to determine the most effective level of FEB-200" to minimize the negative effects of fescue toxicosis in steers consuming tall fescue straw containing approximately 550 ppb ergovaline. The second experiment will be a cow performance study to evaluate the effect of FEB-200" on cows consuming a similar high-alkaloid tall fescue straw. Specific objectives include: A. Determine the optimum FEB-200" supplementation level that decreases the clinical symptoms of fescue toxicosis in beef steers consuming high-alkaloid tall fescue straw B. Determine the affect of FEB-200" supplementation level on forage intake and digestibility of high-alkaloid tall fescue straw by beef steers C. Determine the affect of FEB-200" supplementation level on ruminal fermentation characteristics of beef steers consuming high-alkaloid tall fescue straw D. Determine the affect of FEB-200" supplementation level on serum prolactin and prolactin stores in beef steers consuming high-alkaloid tall fescue straw E. Determine the affect of FEB-200" supplementation level on weight and body condition score change in beef cows consuming high-alkaloid tall fescue straw during the last third of gestation If effective, FEB-200" will provide grass seed straw producers and consumers with needed information that will allow for the safe and effective use of high-alkaloid tall fescue straw. In addition, this research will be directly applicable to ruminant livestock producers in the eastern United States that rely on endophyte-infected tall fescue as a forage base. CURRENT STATUS Research will be initiated in the fall of 2005 and conclude in the spring of 2006. Objective 1 Identify Issues and Develop Research on Livestock Responses and Efficiencies in Sustainable Production Systems EASTERN OREGON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER, OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY, USDA-ARS, BURNS, OR THE USE OF A RUSSIAN KNAPWEED AS A PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT FOR BEEF COWS CONDUMING LOW-QUALITY FORAGE D. W. Bohnert and R. L. Sheley OBJECTIVES Russian knapweed has protein values similar to alfalfa and may have potential as a protein supplement for beef cattle consuming low-quality forages. Therefore, we will compare Russian knapweed and alfalfa as protein supplements to beef cows consuming low-quality forage. If cattle supplemented with Russian knapweed perform similar to cattle supplemented with alfalfa, use of Russian knapweed as a protein supplement may provide natural resource managers with another tool to assist in the control of Russian knapweed. CURRENT STATUS This research will be initiated in the fall of 2005. Objective 2 Innovative Extension Programs UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, TUCSON1 NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY, LAS CRUCES2 RANGE LIVESTOCK NUTRITION FOR THE SOUTHWEST: WHAT WEVE LEARNED AND HOW TO APPLY IT J. E. Sprinkle1, M. K. Petersen2, L. D. Howery1, D. W. Schafer1, S. P. Cuneo1, K. H. McReynolds1, R. D. Fish1, M. W. Hauser1, G. C. Duff1, E. A. Didier1, R. J. Collier1, R. L. Gumbles1, and J. W. Schalau1 EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE Range livestock nutrition education was the highest ranked need identified within all the animal system programs in the University of Arizona Animal Science Strategy Survey conducted in February 2002. In April 2004, we met with faculty and extension personnel from New Mexico and shared information and research in the area of range livestock nutrition. We obtained a commitment from Dr. Mark Petersen to travel to Arizona and present some recent NM research on supplementation http://spectre.nmsu.edu/media/news2.lasso?i=452 to Arizona. Our goal was to present to the Arizona ranching community recent range livestock nutrition research conducted in both AZ and NM. In addition to the NM research referred to earlier, in 2004 we summarized research on trace mineral supplementation for a three year project on the University of Arizona V-V Ranch. Our goal was to meet as a group to develop an agenda and present a program on Range Livestock Nutrition Research for the Southwest: What Weve Learned and How to Apply It at two to four locations in Arizona in November or December 2004. POTENTIAL APPLICATION A total of 72 people attended the three workshops. Handouts summarizing recent research in range livestock nutrition were provided to all attendees. Extensive questions were asked in the panel sessions and of the featured speaker. The knowledge level of ranchers who participated in the workshops has increased for economic, physiological, and biological efficiency of range livestock supplementation. Another important product of these Extension programs is the cross-state programming which occurred. Objective 3a Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies in Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, TUCSON1 COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, FORT COLLINS2 TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE STATION3 EFFECTS OF A LONG ACTING TRACE MINERAL RETICULO-RUMEN BOLUS UPON RANGE COW PRODUCTIVITY AND TRACE MINERAL PROFILES J. E. Sprinkle1, S. P. Cuneo1, H. M. Frederick1, R. M. Enns2, D. W. Schafer1, G. E. Carstens3, S. R. Daugherty3, T. H. Noon1, B. M. Rickert1, and C. Reggiardo1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The objectives were to determine if strategic supplementation of range cows in Arizona during the last trimester of gestation with a long acting (six mo) reticulo-rumen bolus containing Cu, Se, and Co would (1) increase cow body condition and body weights, and calf birth weights, weaning weights, post weaning weights, or weight per day of age (WDA); (2) increase liver Cu or Zn in cows, or blood Se, Cu, or Zn in cows and calves; and (3) vary by cow breeds for any of these traits. APPLICATION Strategic supplementation of copper and selenium via a long acting trace mineral bolus in late gestation was successful in increasing liver copper in cows and blood selenium in cows and calves, but varied by year for Cu and Se, and for cow Se, by breed. When favorable growing season moisture occurs, it is critical to evaluate Cu status in forage and supplement accordingly. Breeds of cattle and different age classes of cattle differ in their ability to metabolize supplemental Se. Suggested dietary requirements for Zn for range cows or the method of assessing adequacy may need to be reevaluated. Cow and calf responses to added Cu and Se varied by year, necessitating careful monitoring of levels of these trace minerals in the forage during different growing conditions and altering trace mineral supplementation programs accordingly. Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies in Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems USDA-ARS Fort Keogh LARRL, Miles City, MT 59301 Use of gas production techniques to evaluate microbial efficiency in silage-based diets E. E. Grings, M. Blümmel and K.-H. Südekum RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Development of in vitro techniques to estimate the efficiency of microbial biomass production in the rumen would aid in developing comprehensive feeding strategies for ruminant livestock. Gas production techniques have been combined with substrate degradability measures to estimate microbial efficiency. A study was conducted to 1) evaluate the relationship between in vivo and in vitro estimates of microbial efficiency (EMP) when the in vitro estimate was made at substrate specific times, to compare in vivo estimates of EMP with in vitro determinations of microbial nitrogen production, and 3) to determine if N level in the incubation medium altered these relationships. POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS Efficiency of microbial biomass production estimated from gas production and true substrate degradability at substrate specific times was well related to in vivo measures of microbial efficiency. N-supplementation of incubation medium can influence substrate use for microbial growth, and attempts should be made to simulate in vivo N availability. It was possible to rank silage-based diets for microbial efficiency using combined gas volume and true substrate degradability measures conducted at substrate-specific times (t½) and this technique may also be beneficial for ranking other ruminant diets. Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies in Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems USDA-ARS Fort Keogh LARRL, Miles City, MT 59301 Milk Yield of Beef Heifers from Three Calving Systems E. E. Grings. A. J. Roberts and T. W Geary RESEARCH OBJECTIVES This study evaluated the milk yield of first-calf heifers born and raised within three calving systems and the impact on growth of their calves. POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS Season of calving and its associated management affects time and amount of milk yield in heifers, corresponding to varied weight gains in their calves. Understanding the impacts of calving date on amounts and patterns of milk production can aid in developing management systems to best match nutrient needs of cow-calf pairs in different calving systems. Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies in Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems USDA-ARS Fort Keogh LARRL, Miles City, MT 59301 Inoculum source effects on in vitro gas production of forages E. E. Grings and R. C. Waterman RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Buffer N concentration and forage protein fermentability can both influence in vitro gas production profiles. Therefore, we tested the impact of using inoculum from cattle fed grass or grass and alfalfa on in vitro gas production profiles of forages and ruminal extrusa. POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS Feeding a single feed source, ie grass hay, may improve precision of gas production techniques when testing quality of forages. Increasing the volume of ruminal fluid per unit of substrate tested did not consistently alter precision of the technique, therefore this change is not recommended. Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies in Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems USDA-ARS Fort Keogh LARRL, Miles City, MT 59301 Predicting Forage Quality in the Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie M. R. Haferkamp, M. D. MacNeil, and E. E. Grings RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The objective of this research was to assess the potential for estimating nitrogen (N) content of rangeland forage using dead-to-green ratio and accumulated growing-degree days (DD). POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS Rangeland forage resources used in this research were heterogeneous with respect to species composition. Variation among individual species in morphological development and senescence with respect to accumulated DD was anticipated. Additionally, the relationship between forage quality and time has been shown to be non-linear across a growing season. These factors likely contribute to the significance of quadratic and interaction terms in the prediction of %N. This procedure could easily be conducted by a single individual. Temperature information needed to calculate DD can be obtained by the use of a maximum-minimum thermometer or access to on-line weather information. Other supplies needed would include scissors or gardening shears for clipping and a small scale, such as a kitchen scale, for weighing live and dead components. Samples could be air-dried or dried in ovens. Percent N can be calculated from the regression equation using a programmable hand calculator or computer spread sheet. Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies in Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems USDA-ARS Fort Keogh LARRL, Miles City, MT 59301 Heifer Production on Rangeland and Seeded Forages in the Northern Great Plains M. R. Haferkamp, M. D. MacNeil, E. E. Grings, and K. D. Klement RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Pastures seeded to perennial cool-season grasses may be used to reduce grazing pressure on native rangelands and provide quality forage for livestock during selected seasons. Seasonally, weight gains per head and per acre are often, but not always, greater on seeded pastures compared to native rangeland. To better understand responses in a Northern Great Plains environment we compared performance of yearling heifers grazing seeded forages in spring and autumn to those grazing native rangelands. POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS Findings of this study and others clearly show that seasonal livestock gains may be better on seeded pastures than on native rangeland even with increased stocking pressure. Results of this study suggest Hycrest crested wheatgrass would be the best among the cultivars evaluated for grazing in spring and Prairieland Altai wildrye would be the most productive pasture for autumn. Luna, Alkar, and Bozoisky were probably not the best adapted cultivars for the proposed use on the soils at this location. Livestock performance results validate recommendations regarding use of complimentary forages based on their agronomic characteristics. However, early spring gains may not be maintained when cattle are moved from seeded pastures to native rangeland for the summer grazing season, and the increased gains may not occur every year. Livestock managers may need to modify their tactics to take full advantage of increased gains on seeded pastures. Objective 3a Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies in Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems USDA-ARS, Miles City, MT R. C. Waterman, E.E. Grings, T.W. Geary, and A.J. Roberts RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The objective of the present study was to evaluate differences in energy utilization and subsequent nutrient uptake by tissues via a glucose tolerance test on heifers developed at two levels of intake from weaning to breeding. APPLICATION Continued research is warranted in the area of identifying differences in energy utilization after the heifer development period and following lifetime productivity of heifers developed on both programs. Furthermore, determining if efficiencies in nutrient utilization that occurred during heifer development are manifested throughout the lifespan of the cow. Current plans include evaluations via glucose tolerance tests of heifers used in this study during subsequent parturitions. Objective 3a Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies in Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY SUPPLEMENT INTAKE VARIATION IN GRAZING BEEF COWS J. J. Kincheloe, J.G.P. Bowman, B. F. Sowell, R. P. Ansotegui, and L.M.M. Surber RESEARCH OBJECTIVE The objectives were to determine the effects of herd size and cow age on individual supplement intake, variation in supplement intake, individual forage intake, and performance. A further objective was to investigate the effectiveness of titanium dioxide as a supplement intake marker. APPLICATION Results suggest it may be beneficial to manage 3-year-old cows separately from older cows in order to obtain maximum benefit from supplementation. The CV for hand-fed supplement (avg. 21%) was lower than reports found in the literature for self-fed supplements, indicating that hand-feeding may reduce variation in supplement intake. Titanium dioxide is an economical alternative to intake markers such as Yb, and could be used for large-scale supplementation studies in commercial production situations. Further research is needed to assess diurnal variation and marker recovery of Ti. Objective 3a Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies in Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems EASTERN OREGON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER, OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY, USDA-ARS, BURNS, OR THE EFFECTS OF EARLY WEANING ON COW PERFORMANCE AND GRAZING BEHAVIOR IN THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST D. W. Bohnert, D. C. Ganskopp, D. D. Johnson, and S. J. Falck OBJECTIVES Our objective was to determine the influence of early weaning (130 ± 2 d; EW) and traditional weaning (209 ± 2 d; TW) on cow performance and grazing behavior within three 810-ha pastures. In addition, cow winter feed costs were compared. APPLICATION Early weaning calves of spring calving cows at approximately 130 days of age will improve cow body condition score entering the winter feeding period and decrease winter feed costs compared with cows traditionally weaned at approximately 205 days of age in the Intermountain West. However, the overall economic effect of early weaning is dependent on a number of factors including timing and amount of precipitation, calf performance during the late summer and early fall, calf prices, and costs associated with winter feeding (feedstuffs, labor, and fuel). Objective 3A & B Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies in Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems Enhance or Maintain Ecological Sustainability of Forage-based Livestock Production Systems EASTERN OREGON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER, OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY, UNION, OR THE EFFECTS OF HERBIVORY AND TIMBER HARVEST ON UNDERSTORY PRODUCTION IN NORTHEASTERN OREGON Kenric Walburger, Timothy DelCurto, Martin Vavra and Abe A. Clark Much is known about how quantity of vegetation responds to canopy cover and how herbivory can affect plant community structure. However, little is known about how plant communities are influenced by both timber harvest, herbivory and fuels reduction. Therefore, the objectives of these studies were to document the effects of timber harvest, herbivory and fuels reduction on individual species, plant community structure, understory production and botanical composition of cattle diets. Study 3. Fuels Reduction at Starkey Experimental Forest and Range The objectives of this study are first to determine the initial effects of fuels reduction on the botanical composition of cattle diets at different levels of forage utilization. Secondly, determine the initial effects of fuels reduction on the diet quality of cattle at different levels of forage utilization. Applications Low impact logging, as represented with the Hall Ranch study, may not have a profound effect on changing plant communities. The results from this study indicate that following timber harvest, forage production increased. This increase on production was mainly due to the increase in perennial grass and perennial forbs species. Timber harvest had a greater effect on understory production than did herbivory. Even though cattle grazing would be considered heavy on these sites, elk and deer also influenced shrub production within Ponderosa pine sites. Our combined data sets will quantify species responses to habitat, successional stage, and tree density. We believe, that these data sets will provide the most thorough characterizing of Blue Mountain eco-region forest and how overstory manipulation changes the understory vegetation, biological diversity of vegetation, and nutritional opportunities for grazing herbivores. In fact, these data will provide a solid basis to demonstrate that overstory manipulation and, in turn, the creation of early and mid-seral vegetation is critical in developing ideal habitat for grazing herbivores. Objective 3a Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies in Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY OPTIMIZATION OF REPRODUCTION IN 2 AND 3 YEAR OLD RANGE COWS FED SUPPLEMENTS WITH INCREASING GLUCOGENIC POTENTIAL M. K. Petersen, R. L. Endecott, S. H. Cox, C. A. Löest, and D. E. Hawkins RESEARCH OBJECTIVE The objectives were to investigate if benefits would occur if the amount of glucogenic precursors in the supplements was increased. We wished to evaluate return to estrus, milk production, weight change responses, and insulin sensitivity of postpartum 2- and 3-year-old range beef cows to supplements with increasing glucogenic potential (GP) provided as 0, 80, or 160 g/d propionate salt. APPLICATION Cows fed the moderate level of glucogenic potential partitioned nutrients away from milk production and towards reproduction. A combination of supplemental glucogenic precursors may be best suited to shift nutrient partitioning in young postpartum range cows grazing dormant forage. Objective 3a Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies in Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY EFFICACY OF A SELF-FED SMALL SUPPLEMENT FOR PREPARTUM COWS GRAZING DORMANT PINON-JUNIPER RANGELAND J.E. Sawyer1, S.H. Cox2, R.L. Endecott2, M.R. Rubio2, S.L. Ivey2 and M.K. Petersen2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to field validate these previous findings by evaluating the efficacy of a small package size, self-fed protein supplement for maintaining body weight and body condition score (BCS) of gestating cows grazing dormant rangeland forage. APPLICATION A self-fed, small package supplement was equally effective for maintaining BW and BCS in prepartum gestating cows as a traditional hand-fed, oilseed-based supplement. This supplement was used with higher efficiency and was more cost effective. Objective 3a Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies in Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Plan of Work: Studies on Interactions among Livestock, Wildlife, and Aspen K.C. Olson, and C. Stonecipher RESEARCH OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to evaluate livestock grazing management practices, particularly strategic supplement placement, to redistribute grazing away from aspen. APPLICATION Livestock prefer aspen communities, particularly early in the growing season (Taylor, 2004, USU MS thesis). Livestock management strategies that reduce livestock impact to levels that allow aspen regeneration are needed, such as redistributing grazing away from aspen. Objective 3a Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies in Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Plan of Work: Perennial Forage Kochia for Improved Sustainability of Grass-Dominated Ecosystems K.C. Olson, D.R. Zobell, B.L. Waldron, and M. Palmer. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE The greatest limitation for acceptance of forage kochia by livestock producers is our limited knowledge of its value as a forage resource. Thus, our research objective is to evaluate livestock nutrient intake and performance responses to rangeland with or without forage kochia. This will include an economic evaluation. APPLICATION Forage kochia has potential for rehabilitating degraded rangelands in the Intermountain West. Evaluation of its impact on livestock performance and livestock enterprise economics will be valuable to promote its adoption. Objective 3a Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies In Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, LARAMIE PERFORMANCE AND SERUM GLUCOSE, INSULIN, IGF-1, AND NEFA CONCENTRATIONS OF CALVES NURSING BEEF COWS CONSUMING HIGH-LINOLEATE OR HIGH-OLEATE SAFFLOWER SEED SUPPLEMENTS S. L. Lake1, E. J. Scholljegerdes1, V. Nayigihugu1, R. L. Atkinson1, G. E. Moss1, E. A. Van Kirk1, D. M. Hallford2, D. C. Rule1, and B. W. Hess1 1Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming 2Department of Animal and Range Sciences, New Mexico State University RESEARCH OBJECTIVE Determine the effects of maternal dietary lipid supplementation on suckling calf ADG and calf serum concentrations of glucose, insulin, IGF-1, and NEFA. POTENTIAL APPLICATION Although calves nursing cows supplemented with lipid appeared to be less sensitive to insulin, calf ADG was not affected by altering cow diet. Objective 3a Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies In Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, LARAMIE BODY CONDITION SCORE AT PARTURITION AND POSTPARTUM SUPPLEMENTAL FAT EFFECTS ON METABOLITE AND HORMONE CONCENTRATIONS OF BEEF COWS S. L. Lake*, E. J. Scholljegerdes*, V. Nayigihugu*, R. L. Atkinson*, E. A. Van Kirk*, D. C. Rule*, D. M. Hallford , G. E. Moss, and B. W. Hess* *Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY Department of Animal and Range Science, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM RESEARCH OBJECTIVE Determine the effects of body condition score at parturition and postpartum lipid supplementation on blood metabolite and hormone concentrations. POTENTIAL APPLICATION Postpartum dietary lipid supplementation did not appear to impact metabolic signals associated with nutrient partitioning in beef cows during early lactation. Cows in BCS of 4 at parturition had lower circulating NEFA and greater serum GH; however, an uncoupling of the IGF/GH axis in cows managed to achieve a BCS of 4 at parturition may have detrimental impacts on postpartum cow performance. Objective 3a Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies In Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, LARAMIE EVALUATION OF MILK SOMATIC CELLS AS A SOURCE OF mRNA FOR STUDY OF MAMMARY GLAND LIPOGENESIS IN LACTATING BEEF COWS C. M. Murrieta1, E.J. Scholljegerdes1, B. W. Hess1, D. C. Rule1, T.E. Engle2, and K.L. Hossner2 1Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, 82071 2Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, 80523 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE To compare mRNA levels for acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) extracted from mammary gland and from somatic cell pellets of the milk from each mammary gland of cows fed a low-fat control or high-linoleate diet. POTENTIAL APPLICATION The use of milk somatic cells as a reliable source of mRNA will provide many advantages over mammary biopsy or dissection. This source of mRNA will allow repetitive sampling and larger studies of feeding influences on mammary gland metabolism. Using milk somatic cells as a source for mRNA will be a valuable tool in evaluating the regulation of lipogenic enzymes in the mammary gland of lactating beef cows using lipid supplementation and likely other dietary treatments. Objective 3a Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies In Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, LARAMIE FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF PLASMA, MEDIAL BASAL HYPOTHALAMUS, AND UTERINE TISSUE IN PRIMIPAROUS BEEF COWS FED HIGH-LINOLEATE SAFFLOWER SEEDS E. J. Scholljegerdes*, S. L. Lake*, T. R. Weston*, D. C. Rule*, G. E. Moss*, T. M. Nett , and B. W. Hess* *Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie 82071 and Department of Physiology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE To evaluate the influence of supplemental high-linoleate safflower seeds on fatty acid concentrations in plasma, brain, and reproductive tissues and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGF2a metabolite (PGFM) in serum of primiparous beef cows during early lactation. POTENTIAL APPLICATION The provision of supplemental high-linoleate safflower seeds increased circulating levels of fatty acids; however, plasma fatty acid concentrations were not always indicative of reproductive tract tissue fatty acid composition. The subtle differences in tissue fatty acid concentrations may evoke physiological responses that could improve or hinder reproductive success, but more research is needed to evaluate changes in reproductive tract tissue fatty acid composition as beef cows come into estrus. Objective 3a Optimize Livestock Responses and Efficiencies In Sustainable Forage-Based Production Systems UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, LARAMIE MAMMARY LIPID METABOLISM IN PRIMIPAROUS BEEF COWS FED HIGH-LINOLEATE SAFFLOWER SEEDS C. M. Murrieta1, E.J. Scholljegerdes1, B. W. Hess1, D. C. Rule1, T.E. Engle2, and K.L. Hossner2 1Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming 2Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University RESEARCH OBJECTIVE To evaluate mammary gland fatty acid metabolism in lactating beef cows fed a high-linoleate supplement. POTENTIAL APPLICATION Supplementing diets of lactating beef cows with high-linoleate safflower seeds altered fatty acid composition of milk fat and may affect lipid metabolism at the genetic level of the mammary gland. Objective 3b Enhance or Maintain Ecological Sustainability of Forage-Based Livestock Production Systems MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE DOG EFFECTS ON MONTANAS MIXED-GRASS PRAIRIE C. M. Johnson-Nistler, B. F. Sowell, H. W. Sherwood, and C. L. Wambolt RESEARCH OBJECTIVE The objective of this study were to compare total plant biomass, plant species richness, cover, nutritional differences, and shrub dynamics between prairie dog colonies and adjacent uncolonized sites in Montana. APPLICATION Activities associated with prairie dog colonies reduced plant productivity and plant species richness of the mixed-grass prairie by reducing cool-season perennial grasses and titter, increasing bare ground, and eliminating big sagebrush. Objective 3b Enhance or Maintain Ecological Sustainability of Forage-Based Livestock Production Systems UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, LARAMIE CHARACTERISTICS AND POTENTIAL NUTRITIVE VALUE OF SAGEBRUSH-GRASSLAND VEGETATION COLLECTED FROM SITES CONTINUOUSLY GRAZED, RESTED FOR ONE YEAR AND ONE YEAR AFTER INTERSEEDING WITH YELLOW-FLOWERING ALFALFA (MEDICAGO SATIVA SSP. FALCATA) T. R. Weston1, R. A. Olson2, V. Nayigihugu1, S. L. Lake1, J. D. Derner3, G. E. Schuman3, and B. W. Hess1 1Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, 82072 2Department of Renewable Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, 82072 3High Plains Grasslands Research Station, USDA-ARS, Cheyenne, WY, 82009 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE Objectives were to assess initial impacts of rangeland management practices on characteristics and nutritive value of native sagebrush-grassland vegetation. POTENTIAL APPLICATION Disturbing sagebrush-grassland rangelands by interseeding with yellow-flowering alfalfa altered the physical structure of sagebrush-grasslands, but forage production was largely unaffected because of compensatory responses by some perennial grasses. Livestock managers should be aware of differences in potential digestibility of crude protein among the various prominent grasses when designing feed supplements.

Publications

University of Arizona Jim Sprinkle Manuscripts in Peer Review Sprinkle, J. E., S. P. Cuneo, H. M. Frederick, R. M. Enns, D. W. Schafer, G. E. Carstens, S. R. Daugherty, T. H. Noon, B. M. Rickert, and C. Reggiardo. 2005. Effects of a long-acting trace mineral reticulo-rumen bolus upon range cow productivity and trace mineral profiles. J. Anim. Sci. (In review). Proceedings Sprinkle, J. E., S. P. Cuneo, H. M. Frederick, R. M. Enns, D. W. Schafer, G. E. Carstens, L. J. Slay, S. R. Daugherty, T. H. Noon, B. M. Rickert, and C. Reggiardo. 2004a. Effects of a long acting trace mineral bolus upon range cow and calf trace mineral profiles. Proceedings Western Section American Society of Animal Science. 54:357-361. Sprinkle, J. E., S. P. Cuneo, H. M. Frederick, R. M. Enns, D. W. Schafer, G. E. Carstens, L. J. Slay, S. R. Daugherty, T. H. Noon, B. M. Rickert, and C. Reggiardo. 2004b. Effects of a long acting trace mineral bolus upon range cow productivity. Proceedings Western Section American Society of Animal Science. 54:362-366. Other Published Papers and Reports Sprinkle, J. E., K. J. Eldredge, and K. A. Cline. 2003 Report - Range Monitoring on the Cross F Ranch. 301 pp. Sprinkle, J. E., K. J. Eldredge, and P. M. Browning. 2003 Report - Range Monitoring on the OX Ranch. 286 pp. Sprinkle, J. E., and K. J. Eldredge 2003 Report - Range Monitoring on the Buzzard Roost Ranch. 242 pp. Sprinkle, J. E., and K. J. Eldredge. 2003 Report - Range Monitoring on the Dutchwoman Allotment. 173 pp. Sprinkle, J. E., and K. J. Eldredge. 2003 Report - Range Monitoring on the Greenback Allotment. 140 pp. Sprinkle, J. E. and K. J. Eldredge. 2003 Report - Range Monitoring on the Layton Ranch. 125 pp. Sprinkle, J. E. and K. J. Eldredge. 2003 Report - Range Monitoring on the OW Ranch. 121 pp. Sprinkle, J. E. and K. J. Eldredge. 2003 Report - Range Monitoring on the Bohme Allotment. 38 pp. Sprinkle, J. E. 2003 Report - Range Monitoring on the Flying H Ranch. 19 pp. Sprinkle, J. E. 2003 Report - Range Monitoring on the Lyons Fork Allotment. 15 pp. Invited Papers or Presentations Supplementation of Cattle; Breeding Seasons of Cattle. Stockperson of the Year (Makase Nandán) Workshop # 1: Cow Nutrition and Management. Dripping Springs, San Carlos Reservation. March 6, 2004. Crossbreeding for Arizona. Arizona Rez to Rail. V-V Ranch, Camp Verde. March 14, 2004. Statistical Considerations for Rangeland. A Workshop and Update on Rangeland Monitoring in Arizona. St Johns. April 1, 2004. Sampling Considerations: Techniques and Sample Size; Using the Utilization Wheel; What to Do If a Species Is Not on the Wheel. Forage Utilization Workshop. Globe. April 3, 2004. Utilization and Utilization Studies; Sampling Techniques for Forage Utilization (Theory); Using the USFS Utilization Gauge; Constructing Your Own Forage Curve. Rangeland Monitoring Workshop. Peaks Ranch, Flagstaff. August 3, 2004. Reading the Range. Range Management and Monitoring Workshop-Educational Campaign Workshop # 5. Point of Pines, San Carlos Reservation. August 7, 2004. Understanding Statistics. Rangeland Monitoring Workshop. Prescott. August 26, 2004. Understanding Statistics. Rangeland Monitoring Workshop. Globe. August 27, 2004. Utilization and Utilization Studies; Forage Production and Stocking Capacity; Using the USFS Utilization Wheel. Range Monitoring Workshop-New Lands. Navajo. October 19, 2004. Strategies for Cow and Heifer Replacement. Intertribal Council of Arizona, Inc Environmental Quality Workshop. Moenkopi. October 20, 2004. Reading the Range: Using Rangeland Monitoring to Help Establish Partnerships for Range Livestock Operations in Arizona. Seminar. University of Arizona Department of Animal Science. October 26, 2004. Trace Mineral Research on the V-V Ranch: Effects of a Long Acting Trace Mineral Bolus Upon Range Cow Productivity and Trace Mineral Profiles. Range Livestock Nutrition for the Southwest: What We've Learned and How to Apply It. Tucson; Camp Verde; St Johns. Dec 1, 2, and 3, 2004. PUBLICATIONS USDA-ARS, Fort Keogh LARRL, Miles City MT Peer-reviewed Haferkamp, M.R., M.D. MacNeil, E.E. Grings. 2005. Predicting nitrogen content in the northern mixed-grass prairie. Rangeland Ecol. and Manage. 58:155-160. Phillips, W. A., E. E. Grings, J. W. Holloway. 2005. Effects of a single dose of direct-fed microbials on performance of stocker calves grazing annual cool season grasses. Prof. Anim. Sci. 21:88-92. Grings, E. E., M. Blümmel, and K.-H. Südekum. 2005. Methodological considerations in using gas production techniques for estimating ruminal microbial efficiencies for silage-based diets. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 19 pp (available on-line May 31, 2005). Technical proceedings Grings, E. E., A. J. Roberts, and T. W. Geary. 2005. Milk yield of beef heifers from three calving systems. Proc. West. Sec. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. 56 (in press). Abstracts Grings, E. E. and R. C. Waterman. 2005. Inoculum source effects on in vitro gas production of forages. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. Ann. Mtg Abstracts Blümmel, M., and E. E. Grings. 2005. Application of rates of fermentation to prediction of forage intake. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. Ann. Mtg Abstracts Publications from Montana State University Manuscripts In Peer Review Bhatti, S. A., J.G.P. Bowman, J. L. Firkins, A. V. Grove, and C. W. Hunt. 2005. Effect of feed intake level and forage source on kinetics of fiber digestion in situ and nutrient digestibility in beef cattle. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. Swan, C. G., J. G. P. Bowman, J. M. Martin, and M. J. Giroux. 2005. Increased puroindoline levels slow ruminal digestion of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) starch in cattle. J. Anim. Sci. Peer Reviewed Journal Publications Bowman, J.G.P., B. F. Sowell, L.M.M. Surber, and T. K. Daniels. 2004. Nonstructural carbohydrate supplementation of yearling heifers and range beef cows. J. Anim. Sci. 82:2724-2733. Boles, J. A., J. G. Bowman, L. M. M. Surber, and D. L. Boss. 2004. Effects of barley variety fed to steers on carcass characteristics and color of meat. J. Anim Sci. 82: 2087-2091. Gibbs, M. C., J. A. Jenks, C. S. Deperno, B. F. Sowell, and K. J. Jenkins. 2004. Cervid forage utilization in noncommercially thinned ponderosa pine forests. J. Range Manage. 57:435-441. Johnson-Nistler, C. M., B. F. Sowell, H. W. Sherwood, and C. L. Wambolt. 2004. Black-tailed prairie dog effects on Montanas mixed-grass prairie. J. Range Manage. 57:641-648. Kaiser, C. R., J.G.P. Bowman, L.M.M. Surber, T. K. Blake, and J. J. Borkowski. 2004. Variation in apparent component digestibility of barley in the rat from the core collection of the USDA National Small Grains Collection. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 113: 97-112. Vermeire, L. T., R. K. Heitschmidt, P. S. Johnson, and B. F. Sowell. 2004. The prairie dog story: do we have it right? BioScience 54:689-695. Proceedings Kincheloe, J. J., J.G.P. Bowman, B. F. Sowell, R. P. Ansotegui, L.M.M. Surber, and B. L. Robinson. 2004. Supplement intake variation in grazing beef cows. Proc. West. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 55:331-334. McDonnell, M. F., J.G.P. Bowman, and C. W. Labbe. 2004. Effects of barley cultivar and growing environment on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of finishing beef cattle. Proc. West. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 55:53-56. Abstracts Abdel-Haleem, H., M. Giroux, H. Talbert, J. Bowman, V. Kanazin, and T. Blake. 2004. Identification of QTLs controlling the feed quality of barley. Plant & Animal Genome XII Conf., Jan. 10-14, 2004, San Diego, CA. p. 468. (Abstract) Fox, G., J. Bowman, A. Inkerman, D. Poulsen, and R. Henry. 2004. Enzymes: the difference between malt and feed barley. World Brewing Congress, July 24-28, 2004, San Diego, CA. p. 62. (Abstract) Swan, C. G., J.G.P. Bowman, J. M. Martin, and M. J. Giroux. 2004. Increased expression of puroindolines slows wheat digestion in the rumen. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings, Seattle, WA. (Abstract) Popular Press Invited papers or presentations Theses and dissertations Kincheloe, J. J. 2004. Variation in Supplement Intake by Grazing Beef Cows. MS. Thesis. Montana State University. McDonnell, M. F. 2004. Effects of Barley Cultivar and Growing Environment on Feedlot Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Finishing Beef Cattle. MS. Thesis. Montana State University. NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY Manuscripts In Peer Review J.E. Sawyer, R.C. Waterman, G.D. Pulsipher, G.B. Donart, D.E. Hawkins, and M.K. Petersen. 2005 . Altering the ration or amount of undegradable intake protein in range supplements influences nutrient partitioning in young postpartum cows. J. Anim. Sci. : J.E. Sawyer, R.C. Waterman, and M.K. Petersen. 2005. Small quantities of supplemental undegradable intake protein are efficiently used with low quality forage diets. Submitted August 2004. Feed Sci. Tech. Peer Reviewed Journal Publications K. K. Kane, D. E. Hawkins, G. D. Pulsipher, D. J. Denniston, C. R. Krehbiel, M. G. Thomas, M. K. Petersen, D. M. Hallford, M. D. Remmenga, A. J. Roberts, and D. H. Keisler Effect of increasing levels of undegradable intake protein on metabolic and endocrine factors in estrous cycling beef heifers. J. Anim Sci. 2004 82: 283-291. Shanna L. Lodge-Ivey, Tammy May, Mark K. Petersen and James R. Strickland.2004. Determination of Methylglyoxlal in Ruminal Fluid by HPLC Using Flurometric Detection. J. Agric. Food Chem. 52:6875-6878 R. C. Waterman, J. E. Sawyer, C. P. Mathis, D. E. Hawkins, G. B. Donart, and M. K. Petersen. 2005. Range supplements that contain increasing amounts of glucose precursors shorten postpartum interval and improve nutrient utilization in young beef cows. Accepted for publication 2005. J.Anim. Sci. Rachel L. Endecott, Jason E. Sawyer, Clint A. Löest, and Mark K. Petersen. 2005 Feeding Value of Singed Cholla Cactus. J. Range.Ecology. (in press) Proceedings M.K. Petersen, E. Guiterrez, . Y E. M. ROMERO, R.L. Endecott, C.A. Löest and D.E. Hawkins. 2004. Alimentación de Bovines Productores de Carne en el Norte de Mexico. In Proc: IX Reunion del Grupo Norte Mexicano GNMNA, XXXIIReunion Anual Asociacion Mexicana de Produccion Animal 2004. Conferencias MagistralesAMP.PDF Conferencias Magistrales AMPA. PDF Conferencias Magistrales AMPA. PDF R. L. Endecott, C. M. Black, K. A. Notah, J. L. Duffey, K. L. Shirley, S. H. Cox, J. A. Hartung, C. A. Löest, and M. K. Petersen. 2004. Glucose half-life of young postpartum lactating cows was half that of non-lactating herdmates. Proc. Western Section, American Society of Animal Science Vol. 55;15-17 J. van E. Nolte, C.A. Löest, N.K. Nolte, M.K. Petersen and D.M. Hallford. 2004. Methionine, and at least one branched-chain amino acid are limiting in lambs. Proc. Western Section, American Society of Animal Science Vol. 55;412-425 M.K. Petersen. 2004. ANIMAL RESEARCH IN ANIMAL AND RANGE SCIENCES. Cattle Growers' Short Course Sally Port Inn Roswell, NM March 25, 2004 M.K. Petersen, R.L. Endecott, C. Löest and C. Mathis. 2004. ASPECTS OF WATER NUTRITION FOR BEEF CATTLE. Cattle Growers' Short Course Sally Port Inn Roswell, NM March 25, 2004 Abstracts R. L. Endecott, C. M. Black, K. A. Notah, and M. K. Petersen. 2004. Blood Ketone Levels of Young Postpartum Range Cows Increased After Supplementation Ceased. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 82, Suppl. 1;114 R. L. Endecott, C. M. Black, K. A. Notah, S. H. Cox, and M. K. Petersen. 2004. Moving Cows to Fresh Pasture and Feeding Range Supplements Containing Propionate Salt Improved Diet Digestibility. Proc. Society of Range Management R. L. Endecott, C. M. Black, K. A. Notah, J. L. Duffey, K. L. Shirley, S. H. Cox, J. A. Hartung, C. A. Löest, and M. K. Petersen. 2004. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 82, Supp 2:117 Publication from Utah State University Manuscripts In Peer Review Prall, N.T., K.C. Olson, T. DelCurto, R.C. Cook, J.G. Cook, B.K. Johnson, and R.J. Stussy. Predicting daily intake of elk and mule deer using blood and fecal samples. Wildl. Soc. Bull. (in review). Peer Reviewed Journal Publications Olson, K.C. 2005. Range management for efficient reproduction. J. Anim. Sci. (in press). Ure, A.L., T.R. Dhiman, M.D. Stern, and K.C. Olson. Treated extruded soybean meal as a source of fat and protein for dairy cows. Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. (accepted). Dhiman, T.R., M.S. Zaman, K.C. Olson, H.R. Bingham, A.L. Ure, and M.W. Pariza. 2005. Influence of feeding soybean oil on conjugated linoleic acid content in beef. J. Agric. Food Chem. 53:684-689. ZoBell, D.R., E.K. Okine, K.C. Olson, R.D. Wiedmeier, L.A. Goonewardene and C. Stonecipher. 2005. Effects of feeding wheat straw and middlings ensiled with whey on digestibility and growth of cattle. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 85:69-74. Poulson, C.S., T.R. Dhiman, A.L. Ure, D. Cornforth, and K.C. Olson. 2004. Conjugated linoleic acid content of beef from cattle fed diets containing high grain, CLA, or raised on forages. Livestock Prod. Sci. 91:117-128. ZoBell, D.R., E.K. Okine, K.C. Olson, R.D. Wiedmeier, L.A. Goonewardene, and C. Stonecipher. 2004. The feasibility of feeding high levels of whey silage and effects on production in growing cattle. J. Anim. and Vet. Advances 3:804-809. Proceedings Olson, K.C. 2004. Grazing management during and after extended drought. pp. 31-38. In: Proc., Intermountain Nutr. Conf. Utah Agr. Exp. Sta. Pub. 188. Stonecipher, C. A., K. C. Olson, J. C. Malechek, and D. D. Carter. 2004. Intake and digestibility response to forage kochia (Kochia prostrata) in a low quality forage diet. Proc. West. Sec. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. 55: 273-275. Wiedmeier, R.D., P.R. Schmidt, D.M. Meek, A.J. Young, K.C. Olson, D.R. ZoBell, and K.R. Wiedmeier. 2004. Comparative productivity of five cool-season pasture grasses under intermittent flood irrigation and grazed by beef cow-calf pairs using management intensive grazing practices. Proc. West. Sec. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. 55:279-281. ZoBell, D.R., B.L. Waldron, K.C. Olson, R.D. Harrison, and H. Jensen. 2004. Utilization of forage kochia for fall/winter grazing. Proc. West. Sec. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. 55:282-284. Abstracts Waldron, B.L., D.R. ZoBell, K.C. Olson, K.B. Jensen, and D.L. Snyder. 2005. Using stockpiled forage kochia and crested wheatgrass to maintain beef cows during winter. ASA-CSSA Ann. Meeting Abstr. (Submitted) Atwood, S.B., F.D. Provenza, and K.C. Olson. 2004. Intake and performance of lambs offered one of three iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous foods or all three foods simultaneously. Soc. Range Manage. Ann. Meeting Abstr. p. 8. Olson, K.C. 2004. Range management to mitigate livestock response to drought. Soc. Range Manage. Ann. Meeting Abstr. p. 156. Ure, A.L. T.R. Dhiman, M.D. Stern, and, K.C. Olson. 2004. Treated extruded soybean meal as a source of fat and protein for dairy cows. J. Anim. Sci. 82(suppl. 1):51. Waldron, B.L., T.A. Monaco, K.C. Olson, and D.R. Zobell. 2004. Forage kochia: A plant for wildfire control and winter grazing. Soc. Range Manage. Ann. Meeting Abstr. p. 212. Popular Press Olson, K.C. 2004. Proper management during, after drought important. Feedstuffs 76(29):11-13. Olson, K.C., C.A. Stonecipher, J.C. Malechek, and D.D. Carter. 2004. Intake and digestibility response to forage kochia (Kochia prostrata) in a low quality forage diet. In: Proc., Forage Kochia Workshop and Tour, November 9-10, 2004. Logan, UT. Wiedmeier, R.D., D. Meek, D.L. Snyder, D. ZoBell, K. Jensen, A.J. Young, T.C. Griggs, and K.C. Olson. 2004. Cow-calf production and profitability on irrigation pastures composed of forage mixtures or monocultures during the first year after establishment. Utah State University Extension Publication AG-2004-05. Wiedmeier, R.D., D.R. ZoBell, and K.C. Olson. 2004. Comparative productivity of five cool-season pasture grasses under intermittent flood irrigation grazed by beef cow-calf pairs using management intensive grazing practices. Utah State University Extension Publication AG-2004-01. ZoBell, D.R., K.C. Olson, R.D. Wiedmeier, and C.A. Stonecipher. 2004. The effect on digestibility and production of protein and energy supplementation of stocker cattle on intensively-managed grass flood-meadow pastures. Utah State University Extension Publication AG-2004-02. ZoBell, D.R., K.C. Olson, and R.D. Wiedmeier. 2004. Processed corn silage effects on digestibility and production of growing beef replacement heifers. Utah State University Extension Publication AG-2004-03. Invited papers or presentations University of Wyoming Peer Reviewed Journal Publications B. W. Hess, S. L. Lake, E. J. Scholljegerdes, T. R. Weston, V. Nayigihugu, J. D. C. Molle, and G. E. Moss. 2005. Nutritional controls of beef cow reproduction. J. Anim. Sci. 83 (E-Suppl.):E90-E106. Du, M., M.J. Zhu, W.J. Means, B. W. Hess, and S.P. Ford. 2005. Regulation of calpains and calpastatin in the skeletal muscle of nutrient restricted cows and their fetuses. J. Anim. Sci. 83:117-123. Nayigihugu, V., F. S. DAngieri, C. M. Murrieta, D. C. Rule, and B. W. Hess. 2005. Fatty acid composition of flame-broiled beef Longissimus muscle. J. Food Agric. Environ. 3:39-42. Du, M., M. J. Zhu, W. J. Means, B. W. Hess, and S. P. Ford. 2004. Effect of nutrient restriction on calpain and calpastatin content of skeletal muscle from cows and fetuses. J. Anim Sci. 82: 2541-2547. Kucuk, O., B.W. Hess, and D.C. Rule. 2004. Supplemental soybean oil does not affect site and extent of OM, starch, NDF, or N digestion, but influences both ruminal metabolism and small intestinal digestion of fatty acids in lambs limit-fed a high-concentrate diet. J. Anim. Sci. 82:2985-2994. Kwon, H., S.P. Ford, F.W. Bazer, T.E. Spencer, P.W. Nathanielsz, M.J. Nijland, B.W. Hess, and G. Wu. 2004. Maternal undernutrition reduces concentrations of amino acids and polyamines in ovine fetal plasma and fluids. Biol. Repro. 71:901-908. Scholljegerdes, E.J., B.W. Hess, G. E. Moss, D. L. Hixon, and D. C. Rule. 2004. Influence of supplemental cracked high-linoleate or high-oleate safflower seeds on site and extent of digestion in beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 82:3577-3588. Proceedings Ford, S.P., and B.W. Hess. 2005. Fetal programming: Effects of dam malnourishment on fetal development. Chapter B. CO Nutr. Roundtable, March 24. Lake, S. L., B. W. Hess, D. C. Rule, E. J. Scholljegerdes, V. Nayigihugu, R. L. Atkinson, and C. M. Murrieta. 2004. Effects of supplemental high-linoleate or high-oleate safflower seeds on adipose tissue fatty acids, apparent mobilization, and potential uptake and storage in postpartum cows. Proc. West. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 55:29. Miller, L.R., S.I. Paisley, J.D.C. Molle, E.J. Scholljegerdes, S.L. Lake, R.L. Atkinson, V. Nayigihugu, W.T. Small, S.P. Ford, W.J. Means, K.R. Underwood, S.A. Thompson, and B.W. Hess. 2004. Use of ultrasound to determine body composition of beef cows nutrient restricted during early to mid-gestation. Proc. West. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 55:163. Molle, J.D.C., E.J. Scholljegerdes, S.L. Lake, V. Nayigihugu, R.L. Atkinson, L.R. Miller, S.P. Ford, W.J. Means, J.S. Caton, and B.W. Hess. 2004. Effects of maternal nutrient restriction during early to mid-gestation on cow and fetal visceral organ measurements. Proc. West. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 55:405. Nayigihugu, V., F. S. DAngieri, C. M. Murrieta, D. C. Rule, and B. W. Hess. 2004. Cooking does not affect fatty acid composition of beef Longissimus muscle. Proc. West. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 55:223. Scholljegerdes, E.J., K.A. Vonnahme, J.D.C. Molle, V. Nayigihugu, S.L. Lake, R.L. Atkinson, P. A. Ludden, L.R. Miller, S.P. Ford, and B. W. Hess. 2004. Effects of maternal undernutrition from early to mid-gestation on visceral organs of the ewe and fetus. Proc. West. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 55:344. Small, W.T., S.I. Paisley, B.W. Hess, S.L. Lake, E.J. Scholljegerdes, T.A. Reed, E.L. Belden, and S. Bartle. 2004. Supplemental fat in limit-fed, high grain prepartum diets of beef cows: Effects on cow weight gain, reproduction, and calf health, immunity, and performance. Proc. West. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 55:45. Abstracts Han, H.C., K.J. Austin, B.W. Hess, S.P. Ford, and T.R. Hansen. 2004. Prepro-ghrelin mRNA in the digestive tract of undernourished pregnant ewes. J. Anim. Sci. 82(Suppl. 1):221(Abstr.). Hess, B.W., K. A. Vonnahme, E. J. Scholljegerdes, S. L. Lake, J. D. C. Molle, V. Nayigihugu, R. L. Atkinson, P. A. Ludden, L. R. Miller, and S. P. Ford. 2004. Maternal undernutrition from early- to mid-gestation versus throughout gestation: Effects on visceral organs of ewes and their fetuses. J. Anim. Sci. 82(Suppl. 1):271(Abstr.). Lake, S.L., E.J. Scholljegerdes, E.L. Belden, R.L. Atkinson, D.C. Rule, and B.W. Hess. 2004. Calf adipose tissue fatty acid profile, immune function and performance while nursing beef cows consuming high-linoleate or high oleate safflower seed supplements. J. Anim. Sci. 82(Suppl. 1):400(Abstr.). Scholljegerdes, E. J., B. W. Hess, T. R. Weston, F. S. DAngieri, and P. A. Ludden. 2004. Site and extent of digestion in beef cattle consuming restricted amounts of forage and supplemental ruminally undegradable protein. J. Anim. Sci. 82(Suppl. 1):437(Abstr.). Invited Presentations Fetal programming: Effects of dam malnourishment on fetal development. CO Nutr. Roundtable, March 24, 2004. Nutritional controls on reproduction. Western Section Beef Symposium. Corvallis, OR, June 16, 2004.

Impact Statements

Develped a WERA 110 Web page to facilitate communication with stakeholders.
Focused resarch and education activities to meet the needs of region wide clientele

Date of Annual Report: 07/31/2006

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 05/22/2006 - 05/24/2006
Period the Report Covers: 06/01/2005 - 06/01/2006

Participants

Pinchak, Bill w-pinchak@tamu.edu Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Chairman;
Waterman, Richard richard@larrl.ars.usda.gov USDA-ARS Miles City, LARRL, Secretary;
Carpenter, Jim cjim@hawaii.edu University of Hawaii;
DelCurto, Tim tim.delcurto@oregonstate.edu Oregon State University;
Olson, Ken, ken.olson@usu.edu Utah State University;
Sprinkle, Jim sprinkle@ag.arizona.edu University of Arizona;

Hu, Ching Yuan chinghu@hawaii.edu University of Hawaii, Administrative Advisor;
Cromwell, Gary gcromwel@uky.edu University of Kentucky, CSREES-Representative;

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes
2006 Annual Meeting
Western Education/Extension and Research Activity (WERA) 110
Improving Ruminant Use of Forages in Sustainable Production Systems for the Western US.

Date: May 22, 2006
Time: 7:00 PM
City: Vernon
State: Texas
Location: Doans Crossing Restaurant (private meeting room)

Chairman Bill Pinchak called the business meeting of the WERA - 110 to order at 7:30 pm on May 22, 2006.

Members Present:
CSREES-REP: Gary Cromwell University of Kentucky
Administrative Advisor: Ching Yuan Hu University of Hawaii

Chairman: Bill Pinchak Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
Secretary: Richard Waterman USDA-ARS Miles City, LARRL
Jim Carpenter University of Hawaii
Tim DelCurto Oregon State University
Ken Olson Utah State University
Jim Sprinkle University of Arizona

No old business was discussed

Members of the WERA -110 remember Dr. Jerry Stuth who lost his battle to lymphoma in April 2006. He will be missed!

Minutes from 2005 meeting in Las Cruces were approved

New business

Election:
The nominating committee consisting of Ken Olson and Jim Sprinkle nominated Richard Waterman for secretary (2006)/chairman elect (2007)

The nomination was accepted unanimously

Richard accepted the nomination

C.Y. informed members that mid-term review for WERA 110 petition was in 2007

Ken Olson reiterated that the incoming chairmen sets the venue for upcoming meetings

Report Format:
Bill Pinchak brought up the topic of station reports being archaic and in desire need for restructuring
- Summary of research (less material and methods)
- Eliminate experimental design
- Provide Outcome, Product, or Impact

Ken Olson agreed with Bill Pinchak and suggested that members set new format modernize the report

C. Y. Encourages members to show multi-state collaboration
- A good report shows synergy of members (collaboration)
- Must show Impact/ Relevant Outcome

Bill Pinchak suggests format should be in the form of an interpretive summary of research, which shows state, regional, and national impact.

Ken Olson suggests new format
- In addition to interpretive summary
o What is learned (Impact of current and previous research) which encompasses local to regional impact

§ 1 yr
§ 5 yr
§ 10 yr

§ Chairperson and/or secretary put together a commonalty report from submitted reports for the afternoon session

Report would show collaborative efforts, products, or impact that the WERA 110 is providing

C. Y. Commends Ken Olson idea for the report and that members should think about impact independently and the chairman and or secretary can evaluate station reports prior to meeting and document the top 3 areas where collaborative efforts are taking place

Ken Olson suggest that we put the theme of forage based nutrition into context
- relationship across time and space
o Keep historical perspective ? Keep running total of advancements

Bill Pinchak suggests writing a synthesis report every X years on the WERA -110 accomplishments (showing collaborative efforts)

Tim DelCurto indicated that the framework for the station reports should identify communication between collaborators

Tim DelCurto and Ken Olson were appointed by the chairman Bill Pinchak to develop a new prototype for station reports

Bill Pinchak asked the members if there was desire for some type of informal mid-year review to keep WERA-110 members up to date with each other progress

Richard Waterman suggested that the chairman send out a request for a one paragraph progress report from all members with a deadline of two weeks and would simply correlate all entries and resubmit to all members

Tim DelCurto addressed the issue that there may not be adequate participation by members to timely return the requested info (someone will always sit on it and not get it done)

Bill Pinchak indicates that we can all justify what we do by ourselves and asks the question how do we invest in a group such as WERA-110
- Deliverables

Symposia and Outreach:

Jim Sprinkle introduced the idea for the WERA 110 to develop a management access model that would help ranchers make informed management decisions: (Deliverable collaboration)
- Decision trees
- Take home messages
- Tool Box

Identify region wide problems we can all participate in
- Drought
- Etc

Bill Pinchak brought to the attention of the WERA- 110 members the idea of conducting 3-5 symposia in the western region on a specific topic in relation to western livestock production.
- Group taught (same curriculum)
- NCBA (Potential sponsor)

Ken Olson acknowledged Bill Pinchak and indicated it would be important to conduct, or construct something that would provide exposure to the WERA-110

Bill Pinchak introduced the idea of a virtual institute
- Specific to a degree program
- This would demonstrate the WERA-110 has a higher degree of organization
- Serve teaching/ research equally
o Provide service
§ Web based
§ Extension program
§ Distance learning

Add value and bring exposure to the WERA-110

Ken Olson suggested the WERA 110 began to develop a symposia to preceed or follow the ASAS joint meeting in Denver in 2010
Similar to the Grazing Livestock and Nutrition Conference (Same concept new name)

All members present agreed that this was important and scheduled the next meeting as a brain storming and launching point for the symposia

Jim Carpenter suggested to members that we evaluate techniques used in range nutrition

Tim DelCurto was also in favor of the symposia and told members to look at the big picture when brainstorming for symposia topics and should provide speakers at the symposia the opportunity to publish

Ken Olson agreed and indicated that their should be a stand alone publication that comes out of the symposia

Ken Olson suggested that if there is a techniques section two topics may be:
- Nutritional responses to supplements
- Secondary plant compounds

Membership:
Bill Pinchak brought up for discussion the declining number of members attending meetings

Ken Olson also recognized the decline of member participation
Who needs to be on the membership list

C. Y. Informed members that to many people on list and poor attendance during annual meetings does not reflect well during petition reviews and is a criteria for dismissal (official members are only those that have turned in Appendix E)

Non-official members are welcome

Tim DelCurto indicated that Dave Bohnert had not received notice of the WERA 110 annual meeting (Wrong email)

All contact information needs to be checked and updated

CSREES Report:
Gary Cromwell handed out a report on the 2006-2007 Budgets and reported on changes in personnel within the USDA

2007 Meeting:
Richard Waterman indicated that the 2007 Annual Meeting will be held in Miles City, MT on May 21st through 23rd. Planning for the 2010 symposia will be a large part of the Annual meeting. Other topics will be potential workshops throughout the western region of the US and new prototype of station reports.

Election:
The nominating committee consisting of Jim Sprinkle and Tim DelCurto nominated Jim Carpenter for secretary (2007)/chairman elect (2008) WERA - 110 meeting to be held in Hawaii 2008.

The nomination was accepted unanimously

Jim accepted the nomination

Bill Pinchak summarized the meeting and thanked members present.

Meeting was adjourned at 10:00 pm

Station Reports:
May 23, 2006
8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Tour:
Waggoner Ranch (largest continuous fenced ranch in Texas) The ranch is 520,000 contiguous acres, with 22,500 acres of cropland. Approximately 14,000 cows of hereford x genetics graze the ranch. About 12,000 calves are weaned to graze on wheat pasture. The Waggoner Ranch has a 50 year history of being a research collaborator.

Accomplishments

Summary Accomplishments Revised WERA-110 Website and moving to a new server. Developed joint venture with the Society for Range Management Nutritional Ecology Work Group to sponsor a series of 4 technical sessions and 1 symposium at the Annual Meeting of Society for Range Management from 2007-2011. Decided to develop a Grazing Animal Nutrition Symposium to precede or follow the American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting held in Denver Colorado in 2010. Technology transfer was accomplished through 30 journal articles, 11 proceedings, 9 abstracts and over 50 technology transfer forums from mid 2005 to mid 2006. There are over 25 ongoing research projects associated with WERA-110 scientists.

Publications

Technology transfer was accomplished through 30 journal articles, 11 proceedings, 9 abstracts and over 50 stakeholder forums from mid 2005 to mid 2006. Publications/Proceedings/Abstracts Journal Articles Malinowski, D. P., H. Zuo, B. A. Kramp, J. P. Muir and W. E. Pinchak. 2005. Obligatory summer-dormant cool-season perennial grasses for semiarid environments of the Southern Great Plains. Agron. J. 97:147-154. Min, B. R.*, W. E. Pinchak, J. D. Fulford and R. Puchalla. 2005. Effect of feed additives on rumen characteristics and frothy bloat dynamics in steers grazing wheat pasture. Anim. Feed Sci. Tech. 123-124:614-629. Ansley, R.J., M.J. Castellano and W.E. Pinchak. 2006. Sideoats grama growth responses to seasonal fires and clipping. Rangeland Ecology and Management 59:. Min, B. R.*, W. E. Pinchak, D. M. Matthews and J. D. Fulford. 2006. In vitro fermentation and in vivo bloat dynamics of steers grazing winter wheat and supplemented with corn oil. Anim. Feed Sci. Tech. (In Press). Min, B. R*., W. E. Pinchak, R. C. Anderson, J. D. Fulford and R. Puchala. 2006. The effect of condensed tannins supplementation on in vitro ruminal bacteria growth, frothy bloat dynamics and average daily gain by steers grazing wheat forage. J. Anim. Sci 84:(In Press ). Min, B. R.*, W. E. Pinchak, R.C. Anderson and M. E. Hume. 2006. In vitro bacterial growth and in vivo rumen microbiota populations associated with potential bloat dynamics in steers grazing winter wheat forage. J. Anim. Sci 84: (In Press). Amador, B. A., J. E. Slosser, G. B. Idol, M. N. Parajulee, W. E. Pinchak, R. J. Ansley and M. K. Owens. 2006. Population dynamics and response to mesquite pod supplementation of Algarobius bottimeri and Mimosetes amicus. Southwest. Entomol. (In Press). Ganskopp, D., and D. Bohnert. 2006. Do pasture scale nutritional patterns affect cattle Distribution on Rangelands? Rangeland Ecol. & Manage. 59:189-196. Carpinelli, M. F., C. S. Schauer, D. W. Bohnert, S. P. Hardegree, S. J. Falck, and T. J. Svejcar. 2005. Effect of ruminal incubation on perennial pepperweed germination. Rangeland Ecol. & Manage. 58:632-636. DelCurto, T., M. Porath, C. T. Parsons, and J. A. Morrison. 2005. Management strategies for sustainable beef cattle grazing on forested rangelands in the Pacific Northwest. Invited synthesis paper. J. Range Manage. 58:119-127. Findholt, S. L., B. K. Johnson, D. Damiran, T. DelCurto, and J. G. Kie. 2005. In M. J. Wisdom (Ed); The Starkey Project: a synthesis of long-term studies of elk and mule deer. Alliance Comm. Group. Lawrence, KS, USA. Pp 159-170. Vavra, M., K. Walburger, and T. DelCurto. 2005. Ungulate ecology of Ponderosa Pine ecosystems. USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-in press. DelCurto, T. and P. R. Cheeke. 2005. Feeding and nutrition of beef cattle. In: P.R. Cheeke (Ed.) Applied Animal Nutrition; Feed and Feeding (3rd edition). Prentice-Hall, Inc. pp 373-397. Putman, D. H., and T. DelCurto. 2006. Forage systems for Arid Zones. In: R. F. Barnes, C. J. Nelson, K. J. Moore, and M. Collins (Eds) Forages, Volume II. The Science of Grassland Agriculture (6th edition). Iowa State Press, Chapt. 22 (in press). Schauer, C. S., D. W. Bohnert, D. C. Ganskopp, C. J. Richards, and S. J. Falck. 2005. Influence of protein supplementation frequency on cows consuming low-quality forage: Performance, grazing behavior, and variation in supplement intake. J. Anim. Sci. 83:1715-1725. Grings, E. E., R. E. Short, K. D. Klement., T. W. Geary, M. D. MacNeil, M. R. Haferkamp, and R. K. Heitschmidt. 2005. Calving system and weaning age effects on cow and preweaning calf performance in the Northern Great Plains. J. Anim. Sci. 83:2671-2683. Haferkamp, M.R., M.D. MacNeil, E.E. Grings and K.D. Klement. 2005. Heifer production on rangeland and seeded forages in the Northern Great Plains. Rangeland Ecol. Manage. 58:495-504. Waterman, R.C., J.E. Sawyer, C.P. Mathis, D.E. Hawkins, G.B. Donart, and M.K. Peterson. 2006. Effects of supplements that contain increasing amounts of metabolizable protein with or without Ca-propionate salt on postpartum interval and nutrient partitioning in young beef cows. J. Anim. Sci. 84:433-436. Robinson, D. L., W. E. Pinchak, J. W. Sij. S. J. Bevers, R. J. Gill, D. P. Malinowski and T. A. Baughman. 2005. Phosphorus fertilizer impacts forage, beef and grain production from wheat. Better Crops from Plant Food 88(3). Sij, J., W. Pinchak, J Ott, B Min, D. Malinowski and D. Robinson. 2006. Returns mixed on wheat pasture to N and maintenance P in wheat/stocker systems. Fluid Journal 53 14(3):8-10. Robinson, D., J. Sij, W. Pinchak, R. Gill, D. Malinowski, T. Baughman and S. Bevers. 2005. Phosphorus fertilizer bumps forage and beef production. Fluid Journal 45 12(2):8-10. Sprinkle, J. E., S. P. Cuneo, H. M. Frederick, R. M. Enns, D. W. Schafer, G. E. Carstens, S. R. Daugherty, T. H. Noon, B. M. Rickert, and C. Reggiardo. 2006. Effects of a long acting trace mineral reticulo-rumen bolus upon range cow productivity and trace mineral profiles. Journal of Animal Science. In Press. Symposia, Proceedings, Extension Publications Pinchak, W. E. and B. R. Min. 2005. The effect of bloat on ingestive behavior patterns of steers grazing wheat forage. Proc. West. Sec. Amer. Soc Anim.Sci. 56:61-64. Min, B. R. and W. E. Pinchak. 2005. In vitro and in vivo fermentation and gas production: Influence of corn and mineral oils and their bloat mitigation potential. Proc. West. Sec. Amer. Soc Anim.Sci. 56:369-372. Sij, J., W. Pinchak, D. Malinowski, R. Gill, D. Robinson, S. Bevers, B. Min and T. Baughman. 2006. Benefits of Fertilization to Beef Production from Forage Wheat. Pages 83-88. Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference Proceedings, Denver, CO, March 7-8, 2006. Sprinkle, J. and D. Bailey. 2005. How many animals can I graze on my pasture?: Determining carrying capacity on small land tracts. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Publication # AZ1352. Sprinkle, J., M. Holder, C. Erickson, A. Medina, D. Robinett, G. Ruyle, J. Maynard, S. Tuttle, J. Hays, Jr., W. Meyer, S. Stratton, A. Rogstad, K. Eldredge, J. Harris, L. Howery, and W. Sprinkle. 2006. Dutchwoman Butte revisited: Examining paradigms for livestock grazing exclusion. Proc. West. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57: Accepted. Bohnert, D. W., D. C. Ganskopp, D. D. Johnson, S. J. Falck, M. L. Merrill, and A. A. Clark. 2006. Effects of early weaning on cow performance, grazing behavior, and winter feed costs in the Intermountain West. Proc. West. Sect. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57:(In Press). Bohnert, D. W., R. L. Sheley, S. J. Falck, and A. A. Nyman. 2006. Use of Russian knapweed as a protein supplement for beef cows consuming low-quality forage. Proc. West. Sect. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57:(In Press). Schauer, C. S., M. M. Stamm, D. W. Bohnert, and J. S. Caton. 2006. Protein supplementation of low-quality forage: Influence of frequency of supplementation on ruminant performance and nutrient utilization. Proc. West. Sect. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57:(In Press). Bohnert, D. W., R. F. Angell, R. C. Torell. 2005. A survey of cow-calf producers in Oregon and Nevada production practices. Proc. West. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 56:183-185. Bohnert, D. W., D. C. Ganskopp, D. D. Johnson, S. J. Falck. 2005. The effects of early weaning on cow performance and grazing behavior in the Intermountain West. Proc. West. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 56:267-270. Walburger, K. J., T. DelCurto, and M. Vavra. 2006. The effects of timber harvest, herbivory, and season of use on diet selection of steers grazing forested rangelands. Proc. West. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57:(in press). DelCurto, T., and K. J. Walburger. 2005. Grazing distribution and how beef cattle nutritional requirements influence grazing distribution. Pac. NW Nutr. Conf. 40: 189-198. Sprinkle, J. E., G. High, and S. Bolt. 2004 Report - Range Monitoring on the Cross F Ranch. 378 pp. Sprinkle, J. E., W. Sprinkle, and P. Leonard. 2004 Report - Range Monitoring on the Buzzard Roost Ranch. 340 pp. Sprinkle, J. E. and P. Leonard. 2004 Report - Range Monitoring on the Dutchwoman Allotment. 245 pp. Sprinkle, J. E., W. Sprinkle, and P. Leonard. 2004 Report - Range Monitoring on the OW Ranch. 193 pp. Sprinkle, J. E., P. M. Browning, and P. Leonard. 2004 Report - Range Monitoring on the OX Ranch. 190 pp. Sprinkle, J. E. and P. Leonard. 2004 Report - Range Monitoring on the Greenback Allotment. 185 pp. Sprinkle, J. E. and P. Leonard. 2004 Report - Range Monitoring on the Flying H Ranch. 158 pp. Sprinkle, J. E. and P. Leonard. 2004 Report - Range Monitoring on the Y Ranch. 136 pp. Abstracts Pinchak, W. E., B. R. Min, D. P. Malinowski, J. D. Fulford, J. W, Sij, R. J. Gill, R. Puchala and R. C. Anderson. 2005. Re-evaluation of the frothy bloat complex in cattle grazing winter wheat in the Southern Plains: Evolution of a new integrated research paradigm. Gastrointestinal Function Conference. p 36. Chicago IL, April 2005. Min, B. R.*, W. E. Pinchak, R. C. Anderson. 2005. In vitro growth and gas production of rumen bacteria and potential bloat mitigation with condensed tannins. Gastrointestinal Function Conference. p 30. Chicago IL, April 2005. Min, B. R.*, W. E. Pinchak, J. D. Fulford and R. Puchala. 2005. Effect of feed additives on in vitro and in vivo rumen protein characteristics and frothy bloat dynamics in steers grazing winter wheat. Gastrointestinal Function Conference. p 33. Chicago IL, April 2005. Pinchak, W., R. Gill, C. Scott, S. Showers and D. Fulford. 2006. Nutritional monitoring of cattle diets in the Southern Plains. Abstract 285. 59th Ann. Meet. Soc Range Manage, Vancouver, B. C. Canada. February 12-17, 2006. Geary, T. W., R. C. Waterman, J. A. Paterson, R. P. Ansotegui, and R. J. Lipsey. 2006. Performance of early weaned (H80 day) vs normal weaned (H215 day) cows in the Northern Great Plains. J. Anim. Sci. 57(Suppl. 2). Grings, E. E. 2006. Use of in vitro gas production techniques to evaluate associative effects of forages. Soc. Range Manage. Ann. Mtg. Waterman, R. C., T. W. Geary, J. A. Paterson, R. P. Ansotegui, and R. J. Lipsey. 2006. Performance of early weaned (H80 day) vs normal weaned (H215 day) calves in

Impact Statements

Through collaboration across the region, we developed technologies to enhance the spatial utilization by livestock of rangelands in the Western United States that decrease livestock impacts on sensitive ecosystem components, while maintaining or improving livestock production efficiency and overall ecosystem health at the local, state and regional scale.
Established an integrated research, teaching and technology network to identify regional challenges to livestock production and provide science-based solutions to the changing land use demographics and societal expectations from Western rangeland users.

Date of Annual Report: 06/14/2007

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 05/21/2007 - 05/23/2007
Period the Report Covers: 06/01/2006 - 06/01/2007

Participants

Waterman, Richard, USDA-ARS Fort Keogh, LARRL, (Richard.waterman@ars.usda.gov), Chairman;
Carpenter, James R., University of Hawaii (cjim@hawaii.edu), Secretary;
Cromwell, Gary, University of Kentucky, CSREES-Representative (gcromwel@uky.edu);
Grings, Elaine, USDA-ARS Miles City, LARRL, (Elaine.@ars.usda.gov);
Hess, Bret, University of Wyoming (brethess@uwyo.edu);
Hu, Ching Yuan, University of Hawaii, Administrative Advisor (chinghu@hawaii.edu);
Olson, Ken, South Dakota State University (Kenneth.Olson@sdstate.edu);
Scholljegerdes, Eric, USDA-ARS Northern Great Plains Res. Lab. (Eric.Scholljegerdes@ars.usda.gov);
Petersen, Mark, New Mexico State University (marpeter@nmsu.edu);
Pinchak, Bill, Texas A&M Agriculture Experiment Station, Vernon, TX (w-pinchak@tamu.edu);
Sprinkle, Jim, University of Arizona (sprinkle@ag.arizona.edu);

Other Scientists (not formal members of WERA 110);
Endecott, Rachel, Ext. Beef Cattle Specialist, Montana State University, at USDA-ARS Fort Keogh, (Rachel.endecott@montana.edu);
Ivey, Shanna, Asst. Professor Rumen Microbiology, New Mexico State University (sivey@nmsu.edu);
Patterson, John, Ext. Beef Specialist, Montana State University (johnp@montanna.edu);

Graduate Students;
Horvath, Mike, New Mexico State University (Dr. Shanna Ivey advisor);
Mulliniks, Travis, New Mexico State University (Dr. Mark Petersen advisor);
Price, Platt, University of Wyoming (Dr. Brett Hess advisor);

Brief Summary of Minutes

Date: May 21, 2007

Time: 9:00 a.m.

City: Miles City, Montana

Location: USDA-ARS Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, Conference Room

Richard Waterman, 2007 Chairman, opened the meeting and welcomed us to Fort Keogh and Miles City, MT. We took time to go around the room and let each of the participants introduce themselves and tell us briefly about their degree emphases and institutions, their current job responsibilities, and their present research and/or extension focus areas.

The Chairman introduced Dr. Elaine Grings who gave us a 15-20 minute power-point presentation that provided the group with an overview and brief history of the Fort Keogh LARRL, and identified some of the past and current researchers and the projects that were historically done or are currently ongoing there at Fort Keogh LARRL.

Old Business:
1. Annual Report and Approval of Minutes - The Chairman provided us each with a hard copy of the WERA-110 2007 Annual Report. He referred the group to pages 5 through 9 in the 2007 Annual Report that contained the minutes of last years meeting and asked us to take a few minutes and read through the minutes in the report. C.Y. Hu pointed out that the word petition should be removed from his statement on the bottom of page 5. Bill Pinchak made a motion, seconded by Elaine Grings, that the minutes for the 2006 meeting in Vernon, TX be accepted and approved as amended. Motion passed unanimously.

2. New Look for Station Reports Ken Olson presented an oral report from a subcommittee made up of he and Tim DelCurto. Items identified for discussion included:
a. Focus of efforts should be on activities and provide visibility.
b. Written reports should focus on accomplishments/impacts and should not duplicate the Western Section papers that are normally published near the same time of year.
c. Reports should be more futuristic and focus on proposed cooperative efforts of participants, and results of discussions/brainstorming amongst the group.
d. We need to be asking ourselves what is the value and use of our reports, who reads or needs them and how they are accessed.
e. Maybe there should be greater emphasis at meetings on symposia/workshop planning.
f. Definitely a bulleted list of accomplishments, and a show of common interests and integrated focus areas needs to be included.
g. There is apparent need for how we structure the report, and organize the coordination and collaboration that goes on amongst participants.
h. Ken agreed to prepare a written draft guidelines for the Structure and format of WERA-110 Annual Reports to be discussed and voted on prior to the end of the meeting.
i. On Wednesday morning Ken Olson the draft guidelines were presented, discussed, revised and approved (see Attachment #1).

3. Richard Waterman reminded us of the key things that need to be included in our annual reports:
a. A list of the participants
b. Summary of the meeting to included a copy of the minutes.
c. Accomplishments and impacts section to included plans of cooperative efforts for the coming year.
d. List of publications submitted by the participants from the various institutions.
e. That the minutes and annual report need to be submitted electronically to the NIMMS web site.

4. C.Y. Hu echoed Richards comments and reiterated the fact that there needs to be integration of focus, a reports which is based on the approved objectives, and a list of accomplishments (to include outcomes and impacts) that needs to be presented in a way that shows coordination, collaboration and overlap of efforts and a need for demonstrated rationality for regional emphasis/focus.

5. The question came up as to how our annual reports can be accessed and or linked to other sites so they are more readily available.
a. Bill Pinchak reported that because of lack of resources ($ and personnel) our web site was currently on hold.
b. Mark Petersen indicated that it was important for us to consider the key words and annual report format so that they are easily accessible by a Google or other search engine search.
c. John Patterson indicated that it would probably take $2,000 to $5,000 /year to accomplish this task.
d. Ken Olson indicated that we may want to consider writing a small grant to get funding to get the web site up and running.
e. Bill Pinchak reiterated the need for changing the format of our annual reports, focusing on results related to our objectives with clear statement of outcomes and impacts to include interstate cooperative efforts, and including a list of our publications. He also indicated that the web site should facilitate living documents to include symposia activities, multiple state synergy and maybe even quarterly milestones.
f. Rachel Endecott indicated she has had experience set up web sites and may be willing to assist the group.
g. Bill Pinchak raised the question about who our audience is and how we anticipate the stakeholder/client to access the report and other information from the WERA-110 project.
h. Jim Carpenter indicated that it would also be helpful if our list of publications included links to web sites when possible. We realize that in the case of some articles there are copyright concerns we should consider.

6. After a break Brett Hess was asked to make a presentation on the current financial situation for the group. He gave a historical overview of the initiation of need for funding (previous grazing conferences) and outlined some of the sources of income and expenses through the years. The bank account is currently at Wyoming and currently has a balance of $2,566.99.
a. Brett was pointed out that this could be used as seed money to cover anticipated expensed for the upcoming grazing conference.
b. C.Y. Hu reminded the group of the value of the registration fees for our meetings.
c. Brett indicated that for those who desire copies he would provide a copy of the spreadsheet showing the various income and expenses through the years.

7. Jim Carpenter indicated that with the new scientists attending this year (Rachel and Shanna), that we should consider other new hires at institutions and expand the representation.
a. Richard Waterman indicated that he had invited other people to the meeting this year via e-mail. His list of contacts (which was circulated to the group to review) was obtained from names provided by word of mouth or state web sites. A copy of the current list of project participants was also circulated so that any changes in contact information could be made.
b. Both Richard and CY. Hu indicated that the key is the % attendance at our annual meetings so we need to ensure that if we are going to ask people to participate that they will attend our annual meetings on a regular basis.
c. Brett Hess also reminded us that personal encouragement and invitation to join the group might be the most effective means.
d. It was also pointed out that some states have multiple participants so those attending the annual meetings should be representing the various states and not just individual projects.

8. CSREES Report: Gary Cromwell handed out a report he had prepared for the WERA-110 meeting. The report included sections on CSREES Background, Farm Bill CSREES Reorganization, FY 2007 and FY 2008 Budgets, CSREES Staffing, NRC Nutrient Requirements Series, Web Site and E-mail Addresses for CSREES, and National Information Management and Support system (NIMSS). He also provided us a U.S. Department of Agriculture organization flow chart and a list of the various administrators, deputy administrators and section leaders. In addition to covering the highlights of his written report Gary also talked about the reorganization in more detail and pointed out that budgets are being frozen so new hires are on hold and travel budgets are being reduced substantially.

9. Administrative Advisors Report: C.Y. Hu shared with the groupwhat has been on the minds of the Directors. Topics that he discussed included:
a. Create 21 A big issue where there is attempt being made to raise the base funding for States (70% competitive, 30% capacity building). C.Y. will forward Richard a copy of the CREATE 21 assessment.
b. On the research side Bioenergy is the top effort. This is a hugh effort with many new positions and many states receiving $150-200M.
c. Sun Grant one of the major leaders is South Dakota. Focus is on Bioenergy efforts to stimulate the economy in rural areas. There are currently 5 centers across the country: Cornell, Tennessee, Oregon State, Oklahoma state, and South Dakota.
d. Every center receives $4M for four years (25% administrative and 75% proposals).
e. Major issues in the West include land/water, human health and obesity.
f. C.Y. highly supports the continuing of the WERA-110 project. Outputs and impacts are important to the administrators. Something else to consider seriously is because of our research what has been the impact on the beef industry (various ways to measure).
g. C.Y. also provided us each with a copy of Appendix K, Midterm Review of Coordinating Committees and Education/Extension and Research Activities. He reminded us that the administrators would be meeting in June so try to get our minutes and annual reports on the NIMSS system quickly. Our next renewal is coming up soon so at next years meeting we need to focus our work around our next resubmission. He gave Richard a copy of the manual to use as a guide.
h. C.Y. also questioned why we were a WERE and not a W project. He believes we should seriously reconsider and determine if it is better to remain a coordinating committee which does not carry a hatch # and have allocation of funds, or in the rewrite request we be W-110.

10. Our station reports were done differently this year. Richard had asked each participant prior to the meeting to submit two bullets that captured the essence of our research this past year (see Attachment #2). Using these bullets Richard put together a list of topics that was used to facilitate the groups discussion of what we have and need at our respective stations for techniques and resources to address the various topics (see Attachment #3). During our discussions the items were captured on the board and through assistance of Elaine and Rachel a summary was typed into the computer (see Attachment #4). Some of these discussions occurred on day 2 of the meeting.

11. After the afternoon break on the 1st day, we stopped our discussions on station reports and switched to developing an outline and planning for the 4th Grazing Livestock Nutrition Conference to be allied with the 2010 ASAS National meeting in Denver, CO (prior to national meetings). Richard again put together an excellent outline to be used for facilitation of our discussions and over the balance of our meeting we had brainstorming and discussion sessions and on Wednesday morning we finalized a summary of our accomplishments that reflects the current state of our planning, and assignment of responsibilities (see Attachment #5). Participants were encouraged to continue to coordinate and dialogue about the conference via e-mail. Things that we discussed included when and where it should be held, how we can promote the meeting (journals and popular press sources, develop a flyer to distribute at various national meetings, our WERA-110 Project web site), how we plan to get peer reviews (editorial board and standards) and publish the proceedings, who potential sponsors might be and ideas for grants to support our efforts, who our target audience will be and what we might establish as a registration fee (importance of a pre-registration date with cost advantage to get funding to cover some of the up-front costs that will be required), who we might approach to get continuing education credits for those who might desire/require them, and focus of conference (the major topics to be covered, names of potential speakers, and opportunity for abstracts and posters to be presented by participants. Need to coordinate with the national program committees to see if they would be willing to share in the cost of supporting invited speakers. Also identified potential dates and discussed possible timing for sequence of events at the meeting.

2008 Meeting: Jim Carpenter indicated that the 2008 Annual Meeting will be held on the Big Island in Hawaii, tentatively May 19-21. Jim will try to confirm dates and specific location soon so that people can be looking for cheap airline rates and plan family vacations in Hawaii if appropriate. Jim anticipates that we will either be meeting at the Kilauea Military Camp (KMC) near the volcano or at a hotel in the Kona or Waikaloa area. He also indicated that he would work on planning a couple of ranch tours and visits to other agriculture industries that people might not be familiar with. In addition to the finalizing our planning and coordination for the 4th Grazing Livestock Nutrition Conference prior to the 2010 ASAS-ADSA meeting in Denver, CO., we will need to spend a significant amount of our meeting next year on the rewrite of our project for continuation after September, 2009. We will also be implementing our new annual report format next year as well.

Election: The Nominating Committee consisting of Bill Pinchak and Richard Waterman nominated Bret Hess for secretary (2008)/chairman elect (2009) for the WERA-110 meeting to be held in Wyoming. Richard indicated that they had talked with Bret and he had agreed to accept the nomination. After the nomination was presented to the group Bret was elected unanimously.

Richard thanked the three graduate students who had made the effort to attend our meeting and each was asked to make a brief presentation on their Thesis/Dissertation projects. Mike Horvath is working with Shanna Ivey at New Mexico State University on impact of Methylglyoxal production in high carbohydrate/low protein diets or conditions with imbalance of protein in the diet. Travis Mulliniks is working with Mark Petersen at New Mexico State University assessing the value of corn gluten meal as a component of the supplement, and various levels of Ca propionate fed along with cottonseed meal. Platt Price is working with Bret Hess at the University of Wyoming assessing processed flaxseed with varying fatty acid proportions on lipid metabolism in cannulated sheep.

Guest Speakers and Field Tours: On Monday evening Ridley Block sponsored a reception and dinner and Mr. Bob Welling, Research Support Manager both gave a presentation and provided materials on Ridley Block Products and Operations. In addition, Dr. Eric Scholljegerdes gave an overview presentation on the research at the USDA-ARS Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory in Mandan, ND. On Tuesday morning we had a tour of the range research at Fort Keogh, LARRL and had field presentations by Dr. Matt Rinella at his weed research plots, Dr. Lance Vermeire at the grass plots where they are studying season productivity of various range grasses under various controlled moisture regimens, and Drs. Elaine Grings and Richard Waterman gave us an overview of their research programs and showed us the portable temporary holding facilities they have constructed there at Fort Keogh to allow individual animal supplement consumption and data/sample collection. That afternoon we visited the reproductive herd research facilities and Dr. Tom Geary gave us a tour and explained the various projects he currently has in progress and is planning. We then went to the heifer rearing facility where Dr. Andy Roberts both explained and gave us a demonstration of the computerized animal identification system being used and the types of data and records that can be generated. He also gave us a tour of the barn where they use Calan gates to get individual intake and performance data for growing replacement animals with restricted intake.

Attachment #1 to WERA-110 Annual Meeting Minutes
Structure and Format of WERA-110 Annual Reports

Our intent is to develop a report that is more streamlined, is adaptable to publication on a web page as opposed to print, and provides a contextual sense of the collaboration and integration among stations as opposed to reporting the activities of each station separately. Thus, the major change will be that we will no longer publish a compilation of individual station reports. Instead, we will organize the report by each objective, with a compilation within objective of the contribution to that objective by each station. This should serve two purposes. First, it will make it more readily obvious to the reader that there is a high level of interaction and collaboration among our committee members. Second, it will help us to more directly assess our progress toward fulfilling our objectives and allow us to make annual adjustments as needed.

Prior to each annual meeting, the secretary will solicit one to three bullets from each participant indicating major accomplishments over the past year in relation to WERA-110 objectives. Each bullet should be a one or two sentence statement describing the accomplishment. If a bullet is the result of a collaborative effort among stations, that should be indicated in the bullet. Each participant should indicate which objective each bullet is a contribution to. The secretary will then organize the bullets by objective so the list of bullets can be distributed at the beginning of the annual meeting. This stratification of annual reporting by subject matter rather than by station will simplify identification of shared and common efforts and stimulate discussion of opportunities for collaboration. One of the greatest values of this committee has been the communication and collegiality among the participants. This format should further promote that value.

This compiled report will provide the basis for annual reporting of accomplishments and impacts. To complete the annual report to NIMMS, the secretary will add accomplishments of the entire group, such as planning and sponsoring symposia. The secretary should also include outcomes and impacts from the effort of the group for the past year. We need to be sure that we are showing outcomes and impacts commensurate with the expectations of RCIC.

At the time that the secretary requests the bullets, he/she will also request a list of publications from each participating station that will be incorporated into the annual report to NIMMS.

Attachment #2 to WERA-110 Annual Meeting Minutes
Research Emphasis

Jim Sprinkle

" Using an orally administered trace mineral reticulo-rumen bolus (Se, Cu, and Co) which has a six month life, reproduction, milk production, cow weight and body condition score, and calf weaning weight are being evaluated for Hereford cows and CGC composites bolused either zero, once, or twice a year at the V-V Ranch in central Arizona. Data collection commenced in 2006 and will conclude in 2008 or 2009.

Erik Scholljegerdes

" Evaluation of flaxseed as an energy supplement for cattle consuming forage-based diets

" Evaluate the effect of an annual cropping system used for fall forage production on livestock performance, soil quality indicators and economic returns.

Elaine Grings

" Development and use of techniques for evaluating diet composition and ruminal fermentation of grazing beef cattle: in vitro gas production and plant alkane composition

" Evaluation of factors influencing intake in grazing beef cattle: impacts of sward structure on foraging efficiency and the interactions of physiological state and forage quality on intake

Brett Hess

" Nutritional management strategies to improve production efficiency of forage-fed ruminant animals, with primary emphasis on strategic supplementation regimes and secondary interest in alternative forages and forage cropping systems.

Rachel Endecott

" Strategic supplementation strategies to decrease harvested/purchased feed costs while maintaining or improving cow reproductive performance.

" Diet quality impacts on nutrient partitioning.

Shanna Ivey

" Evaluation of the changes in ruminal microbial populations in response to consumption of plants with secondary metabolites by ruminants.

" Determination of the usefulness methylglyoxal as a tool to assess ruminal and whole animal nutrient status.

Mark Petersen

" Produce new technologies that will provide discrete, concise, nutrient packages compatible with extensive management practiced in western rangelands.

" Reduce the cost of supplemental feeding while maintaining or improving productivity and increasing profitability and sustaining the range resource

James Carpenter

" Study of rate of dry matter and insoluble macro-mineral release from alfalfa and tropical pasture grasses during in situ digestion trials of cattle and assessment of NRC/CNPC computer models for predicting cow/calf productivity on tropical Kikuyu grass (Penesitum clandestinum) pastures. The primary objective of this research was to determine the proportion or levels of minerals actually released in the rumen, and are therefore available to the animal for productive purposes, and to compare the release of minerals with the digestion of dry matter in the rumen and to test the effectiveness of the models for tropical conditions.

" Assessment of Effects of aeration and sewage biosolids on improved kikuyugrass pasture productivity and nutrient composition. Specific objective of this 2-yr study were to determine if well-fertilized (N-P-K) pastures would respond to aeration or Milorganite® (biosolid/ sewage sludge) application (at equal N levels) with improved yield and/or changes in nutrient and macro-/micro-mineral composition. We have also been evaluating the effects of aeration, fertilization, season (temperature, rainfall, and month of harvest), age of regrowth, and/or pasture management on grass productivity and changes in nutrient and mineral composition.

Ken Olson

" Evaluation of nutritional value of novel distiller's co-products as supplements for grazing beef cattle. New co-products, such as de-oiled distiller's grains, are emerging from innovative ethanol fermentation processes in newly constructed ethanol plants.

" Long-term beef cattle production system responses to alternative management practices including early weaning and winter feeding systems. Research will focus on interactions among these two alternatives that influence nutrient requirements and supply. Responses focus on performance of cows throughout the annual production cycle and calves from birth to slaughter.

" Feed additives to prevent or reduce sulfur-toxicity-induced polioencephalomalacia caused by high-sulfate water consumption.

Richard Waterman

" Identify nutrient deficiencies that manifest into metabolic imbalances as they occur in western range beef livestock production systems and produce supplement strategies that minimize body weight loss and improve animal productivity.

" Development and use of molecular biology techniques to describe rumen microbial population changes in response to native and invasive rangeland plants, as well as other feedstuffs.

Attachment #4 to WERA-110 Annual Meeting Minutes
Summary of WERA-110 Discussions on Selected Topics

INTAKE

Need techniques for forage intake:
Alkane boluses
To evaluate Feed Efficiency in grazing cattle using daily dosed gelatin capsules
GrowSafe for high forage diets residual feed intake in heifers and cows
- moving feedlot data to grazing conditions
Microbial population low and high RFI
Manipulate populations relative to toxic plant intake
Relative to tropical forages
Foraging efficiency
Noxious weed impacts on intake

ANIMAL METABOLISM

Lipid digestion with fat supplementation of forage diets
Whole animal methane production
Site and extent of digestion: fatty acids, amino acids
Adipose/mammary tissue metabolism/regulation (dam and calf effects of supplementation)
Diet quality impacts on nutrient partitioning: physiological state interacts; mechanism?
Methylglyoxal production during nutrient stress (sensitive measure vs ammonia)
Secondary plant metabolites as ionophores
High sulfate water à toxicity; feed additives to prevent toxicosis
Metabolic imbalances due to forage quality and physiological state and cow age: strategic supplementation to overcome imbalances

SUPPLEMENTATION

Trace mineral slow-release boluses; TM variability over time in forages; physiological signals of TMs
Fat supplementation + timed AI; through maternal recognition of pregnancy prebreed flush
Pulse crop product utilization
Population estimates relative to supplementation; variability in individual supplement intake
Supplementation relative to distribution, range restoration, watershed restoration
Bioactive forages
Protein supplement to balance for essential amino acids; feed to nutrient-restricted cows (fetal programming)
Lipid supplementation to beef cows to improve reproductive performance
Biodiesel co-products to developing heifers meal + glycerol
50,000 cows in NM on Corona Ranch mineral
Small-package, self-fed supplement animal protein sources not well accepted; corn gluten meal not good substitute
Glucogenic precursor postpartum supplementation no open 2-yr-olds on calcium propionate in 5 yrs

Overall supplementation scheme, ranch-wide nutritional management; economic profitability of system
Copper, zinc, cobalt supplementation MSU Weaning Pellet, decrease mortality 50%, improved immune system
Interaction of vaccines and nutrition; BVD-PI screening
Methylglyoxal in relation to supplementation schemes
Ethanol co-products, esp. de-oiled distillers grains
Fall supplementation/grazing impacts on fetal nutrition
Nitrogen banking with legumes
Targeted supplementation for correction of metabolic imbalances (late summer/early fall)
Feeding frequency of traditional distillers grains

NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY

Residual forage to leave extension efforts
Year-to-year variability in forage production through drought
Quorum sensing/microbial attachment to plants with toxic compounds
Gas production methodology to investigate associative effects among forages
Mineral, fiber, and protein profiles of forages harvested at different stages of maturity retrospectively looking at weather patterns at time of harvest; anti-nutritional compounds; evaluation of NRC predictions vs actual cow performance with these forages

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Collaborative workshops about decision support tool for supplementation (AZ/NM)
Adaptive management schemes showing up in NEPA permit documents
Crop-livestock management integration
Forage finishing beef cattle annuals alone; high quality perennial native range/harvested feeds
Weaning date (mid-August vs mid-November) impacts plus winter feeding impacts (grazing + supplement vs hay feeding) on cow and calf performance
Forage-based growing phase for steer and heifer calves from weaning date study
Low-input systems approach: Low-input heifer development as part of cow longevity study, low-input winter feeding, strategic young cow postpartum supplement, weaning calves in drylot vs on pasture with supplement (Ranch-to-Rail follow-up); retrospective analysis of prepartum cow management effects on post weaning calf performance
Juniper management alter goat/sheep intake of juniper with supplementation (campus); similar design on ranch; juniper digestibility better than anticipated
Changes in microbial population with juniper adaptation
Season-of-calving, continued.
Young cow management
Cannulated ewes grazing burned (3 burn times) areas subsequent year
Grazing patch-burned plots with yearlings (GPS collars)
Early vs normal weaning, Feb. calvers and April calvers, two locations

Attachment #5 to WERA-110 Annual Meeting Minutes

Symposium Titles:

1. 4th Grazing Livestock Nutrition Conference

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General Topics:

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Potential Sponsors:

1. Denver, CO_________
2. Colorado Springs, CO_
3. Steamboat Springs, CO
4. Estes Park, CO_______
5. Laramie, WY________
6. Breckenridge, CO____
7. Vail, CO____________
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July 2010

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
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Participant Commitments:

Organizing Committee:

1. Richard Waterman, chair
2. Mark Petersen
3. Ken Olson
4. Jack Whittier
5. Jim Carpenter

Sponsors/ Budget:

1. Bret Hess
2. Jim Sprinkle
3. _____________
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Editorial Committee:

1. Elaine Grings, Chair
2. ______________
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Speaker list and Recruitment:

" Shanna Ivey
" ____________________
" ____________________

Accomplishments

Technology transfer was accomplished through 18 peer-reviewed publications, 23 proceedings, 25 abstracts, and over 40 technology transfer forums from June 2006 through May 2007. 1. Mark Petersen, New Mexico State University, and Jim Sprinkle, Arizona State Univeristy, have been working together to develop a Decision Making Tree for range supplementation. 2. Had good discussions on current project accomplishments by various participants, and had a great brainstorming session on our present state and needs for techniques and resources for various topics of common research and extension interests. 3. Conducted very successful initial planning sessions for the 4th Grazing Livestock Nutrition Conference to be held in prior to the 2010 national ASAS-ADSA meetings in Denver, CO. 4. During (scheduled networking breaks) and evenings/after the meetings time was available for extension coordination efforts among personnel from Montana, Arizona and South Dakota; manuscript preparation between Shanna Ivey, New Mexico State University, and Richard Waterman, Fort Keogh LARRL; and coordination for WERA-110 Project personnel to meet with both university research and extension staff and ranchers in Hawaii prior to or after the 2010 meetings about strategic supplementation decision matrices. 5. Professional development was a key part of our annual meeting. We had speakers from both industry and research areas outside our areas of expertise, we took field tours to broaden our perspectives, and we had healthy discussions and were exposed to areas of research that were different from many of our individual focus/expertise. 6. Current and future cooperative research efforts were discussed amongst various researchers and Bret Hess hauled cattle from Fort Keogh LARRL to Wyoming to use for research. 7. Had good graduate student participation at the meeting and want to encourage that this effort, which addressed our project objective 3, continue in the future. 8. Spent a considerable amount of time talking about the format of project annual reports and how we can make our efforts more user friendly and accessible to our very diverse clientele.

Publications

University of Arizona Jim Sprinkle Peer Reviewed Journal Publications Sprinkle, J. E., S. P. Cuneo, H. M. Frederick, R. M. Enns, D. W. Schafer, G. E. Carstens, S. R. Daugherty, T. H. Noon, B. M. Rickert, and C. Reggiardo. 2006. Effects of a long acting trace mineral reticulo-rumen bolus upon range cow productivity and trace mineral profiles. Journal of Animal Science 84:1439-1453. Peer Reviewed Extension Pamphlets Sprinkle, J. and D. Bailey. 2006. How many animals can I graze on my pasture?: Determining carrying capacity on small land tracts. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Publication #AZ1352. Technical Proceedings Sprinkle, J., Editor. University of Arizona Range Livestock Nutrition School. Nov. 28, 29 and Dec. 11, 2006. Snowflake, Camp Verde, and Benson, Arizona. 488 pp. Medina, A. L., J. Sprinkle, D. G. Neary, G. Zaimes, G. Ruyle, L. Smith, J. Maynard, J. Dyess, D. M. Green, and J. G. Hiller. Technical Review: Tonto National Forest Riparian Area Management Utilization Guidelines (RAMUG). 2006. A Report to Mr. David Cook, Gila County Cattlegrowers. January 27, 2006. 132 pp. Sprinkle, J., M. Holder, C. Erickson, A. Medina, D. Robinett, G. Ruyle, J. Maynard, S. Tuttle, J. Hays, Jr., W. Meyer, S. Stratton, A. Rogstad, K. Eldredge, J. Harris, L. Howery, and W. Sprinkle. 2006. Dutchwoman Butte revisited: Examining paradigms for livestock grazing exclusion. Proc. West. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57:169-172. Abstracts Cook, D., J. Sprinkle, and P. Jacquez. 2006. Environmental assessment of grazing land through modeling. Soil and Water Conservation Society 2006 International Conference. Keystone, CO. July 25, 2006. Extension Reports Sprinkle, J. E., M. Leonard, and J. Wedell. 2005 Report - Range Monitoring on the Cross F Ranch. 376 pp. Sprinkle, J. E., M. Leonard, and J. Wedell. 2005 Report - Range Monitoring on the Buzzard Roost Ranch. 273 pp. Sprinkle, J. E., M. Leonard, and J. Wedell. 2005 Report - Range Monitoring on the Dutchwoman Allotment. 750 pp. Sprinkle, J. E., M. Leonard, and J. Wedell. 2005 Report - Range Monitoring on the OW Ranch. 141 pp. Sprinkle, J. E., M. Leonard, and J. Wedell. 2005 Report - Range Monitoring on the OX Ranch. 302 pp. Sprinkle, J. E., M. Leonard, and J. Wedell. 2005 Report - Range Monitoring on the Greenback Allotment. 294 pp. Sprinkle, J. E., M. Leonard, and J. Wedell. 2005 Report - Range Monitoring on the Flying H Ranch. 119 pp. Sprinkle, J. E., M. Leonard, and J. Wedell. 2005 Report - Range Monitoring on the DC Cattle Co., LLC Ranch. 191 pp. Sprinkle, J. E., M. Leonard, and J. Wedell. 2005 Report - Range Monitoring on the Layton Ranch. 150 pp. Popular Press Sprinkle, J. 2006. Reading the range. Arizona Cattlegrowers Association Newsletter. Nov. 24, 2006. Invited Papers or Presentations Range management: Managing through drought. Rez to Rail. Camp Verde, AZ. March 13, 2006. Reading the Range: Using rangeland monitoring to help establish partnerships for range livestock operations in Arizona. Department of Biology Seminar, Brigham Young University Idaho. Rexburg, ID. March 23 2006. Managing through drought. Ranchers Drought Workshop. Kykotsmovi, AZ. May 18, 2006 Reading the range. Cooperative Rangeland Monitoring in Arizona. Payson, AZ. August 24, 2006. Holder, M. and J. Sprinkle. Dutchwoman Butte monitoring data set. Cooperative Rangeland Monitoring in Arizona. Payson, AZ. August 24, 2006. Balancing forage supply with animal demand. Shiprock, NM. October 20, 2006. USDA-ARS, Fort Keogh LARRL, Miles City MT Peer-Reviewed Grings, E. E., W. A. Phillips, R. E. Short, H. Mayeux, and R. K. Heitschmidt. 2006. Postweaning performance of steers from varying calving and weaning strategies in Montana. Prof. Anim. Scientist 22:386-391. Phillips, W.A., E. E., Grings, R. E. Short, R. K. Heitschmidt, S. W. Coleman, and H. S. Mayeux. 2006. Effects of calving season on stocker and feedlot performance. Prof. Anim. Scientist 22:392-400. Grings, E. E., T. W. Geary, R. E. Short, and M. D. MacNeil. 2007. Beef heifer development within three calving systems J. Anim Sci. first published on April 27, 2007 as doi:10.2527/jas.2006-758. Waterman, R. C., C. A. Löest, W. D. Bryant, and M. K. Petersen. Supplemental methionine and urea for gestating beef cows consuming low quality forage diets. J. Anim Sci. 85: 731-736. 2007. Manuscripts in Peer-Review Waterman, R. C., E .E. Grings, T. W. Geary, A.J. Roberts, L.J. Alexander, and M.D. MacNeil. Influence of seasonal forage quality on glucose kinetics for young beef cows. J. Anim. Sci. (Submitted January 11, 2007). Sawyer, J. E., R. C. Waterman, R. L. Endecott, S. H. Cox, and M. K. Petersen. 2008. Development of a high efficiency, small package size protein supplement for beef cattle consuming low-quality forages. Feed Sci. Tech. (Submitted April 12, 2007). Roberts, A. J., S. I. Paisley, T. W. Geary, E. E. Grings, R. C. Waterman, and M. D. MacNeil. Effects of restricted feeding of beef heifers during the postweaning period on growth, efficiency and ultrasound carcass characteristics. J. Anim. Sci. (Submitted March 6, 2007). Technical Proceedings Grings, E. E. 2006. The Language of Rangeland Science. Rangelands 28:36-37. Grings, E. E. and W. A. Phillips. 2007. Calving system, weaning age, and post-weaning management impacts on cow and steer calf performance. Proc. 3rd National Grazing Land Conference (Published on CD, May 2007). Richardson, K. D., W. L. Kelly, M. S. Reil, R. C. Waterman, and S. L. Lodge-Ivey. Effects of leafy spurge (Euphorbia Esula) on ruminant gas production and in vitro digestion. Proc. West. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57:36-39. 2006. Geary, T. W., R. C. Waterman, J. A. Paterson, R. P. Ansotegui, and R. J. Lipsey. Performance of early weaned (~80 d) vs normal weaned (~215 d) cows in the Northern Great Plains. Proc. West. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57:99-102. 2006. Page 70 Waterman, R. C., T. W. Geary, J. A. Paterson, R. P. Ansotegui, and R. J. Lipsey. Performance of early weaned (Ü80 d) vs. normal weaned (Ü215 d) calves in the Northern Great Plains. Proc. West. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57:103-107. 2006. Roberts, A. J., E. E. Grings, M. D. MacNeil, R. C. Waterman, L. Alexander and T. W. Geary. Reproductive performance of heifers offered ad libitum or restricted access to feed for a 140-d period after weaning. Proc. West. Sec. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 58. 2007. (in press) Waterman, R. C., R. L. Endecott, J. A. Paterson, and T. W. Geary. Improving cow herd production through early weaning. Proc. MT Livestock Forum and Nutr. Conf., Bozeman, MT. April 2007. (Proceedings published on CD) Abstracts Grings, E. E. and L. T. Vermeire. 2007. Summer fire effects on plant tissue class in the Northern Great Plains. Soc. Range Manage. Ann. Mtg. Popular Press Waterman, R. Early Weaning: An alternative management strategy. Beef Questions and Answers 11(5):9-11. 2006. (Invited Popular Report) Invited Presentations Waterman, R. C., R. L. Endecott, J. A. Paterson, and T. W. Geary. Show me how to improve my cow herd production: Early Weaning Calf Production. Proc. MT Livestock Forum and Nutr. Conf., Bozeman, MT. April 2007. (Proceedings published on CD) Animal and Ranges Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM Peer-Reviewed Bailey, D. W. and G. R. Welling. 2007. Evaluation of low-moisture blocks and conventional dry mixes for supplementing minerals to beef cows. Rangeland Ecology and Management 60:54-64. Bailey, D. W. and F. D. Provenza. 2007. Mechanisms determining herbivore distribution. In: H. T. Prins and F. Van Langevelde (eds.), Large Herbivore Dynamics in Fragmented Landscapes. Frontis, Wageningen, Netherlands (in press). Bailey, D. W., H. C. VanWagoner, and R. Weinmeister. 2006. Individual animal selection has the potential to improve uniformity of grazing on foothill rangeland. Rangeland Ecology and Management 59:351-358. Black-Rubio, C. M., A. F. Cibils, W. R. Gould. 2007. Maternal influence on feeding site avoidance behavior of lambs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 105:122-139. Utsumi, S. A., A. F. Cibils, R. E. Estell, and Y. F. Wang. 2006. Influence of plant material handling protocols on terpenoid profiles of one-seed juniper saplings. Rangeland Ecology and Management 59:668-673. VanWagoner, H. C., D. W. Bailey, D. D. Kress, D. C. Anderson, and K. C. Davis. 2006. Differences among beef sire breeds and relationships between terrain use and performance when daughters graze foothill rangelands as cows. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 97:105-121. Waterman, R. C. , C. A. Löest, W. D. Bryant and M. K. Petersen. 2007. Supplemental methionine and urea for gestating beef cows consuming low quality forage diets. J. Anim Sci. 85:731-736. Waterman, R. C. , J. E. Sawyer, C. P. Mathis, D. E. Hawkins, G. B. Donart, and M. K. Petersen. 2006. Effects of supplements that contain increasing amounts of metabolizable protein with or without Ca-propionate salt on postpartum interval and nutrient partitioning in young beef cows. J. Anim. Sci. 84(2):433. Manuscripts in Peer-Review Jackson, K. T., A. F. Cibils, J. D. Graham, W. R. Gould, and C. D. Allison. Factors influencing social facilitation of locoweed ingestion by cattle (submitted). Sawyer, J. E. , R. C. Waterman, R. L. Endecott, S. H. Cox, and M. K. Petersen. 2008. Development of a high efficiency, small package size protein supplement for beef cattle consuming low-quality forages. Feed Sci. Tech. 135: (submitted and in review). Technical proceedings Black, C., R. Endecott, M. Rubio, S. Cox, A. Cibils, M. Petersen, and K. Boykin. 2005. Factors affecting spring use of piñon juniper woodlands by young cows at Corona Ranch. Proceedings, Corona Range and Livestock Research Center Field Day, July 22, 2005. Jackson, K. T., A. F. Cibils, J. D. Graham, W. R. Gould, C. D. Allison. 2006. White locoweed (Oxytropis sericea Nutt.) ingestion by naïve stockers: diet preference patterns of natural eaters and avoiders In: Proceedings 7th International Symposium on Poisonous Plants. Logan, UT, June 6-10, 2005. (In press). Abstracts Black, C. , A. Cibils, R. Endecott, M. Rubio, S. Cox, M. Petersen, and K. Boykin. 2006. Habitat use by cattle grazing pinyon juniper rangelands during calving in early spring. Proceedings 59th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management. Vancouver, B.C., February 12-17, 2006. p. 21. Black, C. and A. Cibils. 2005. Effects of maternal influence on habitat avoidance behavior of lambs. Proceedings 58th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management. Fort Worth, TX, February 5-11, 2005. p. 14. Endecott, R. L., C. M. Rubio, S. H. Cox, M. R. Rubio, R. B. Lueras, I. Cowboy, R. D. Speckmann, C. A. Löest, D. E. Hawkins, and M. K. Petersen. 2006. Nutrient status of young postpartum range cows fed range supplements containing increased glucogenic precursors. J. Anim. Sci. 84(Supp. 1):569. Ivey, S.L., J. Browne-Silva, M. Giacomini and M. K. Petersen. 2006. Changes in bacterial diversity in the rumen of sheep consuming Juniperus monosperma. Amer. Soc. Micro. Abst.: 4156-ASM. Jackson, K., A. Cibils, J. Graham, W. Gould, and C. Allison. 2006. Influence of spatial arrangement of forages on social facilitation of locoweed ingestion by cattle. Proceedings 59th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management. Vancouver, B.C., February 12-17, 2006. p. 124. Jackson, K., A. Cibils and J. Graham. 2005. Influence of alternative forages on social induction of white locoweed consumption by cattle. Proceedings 58th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management. Fort Worth, TX, February 5-11, 2005. p. 85. Utsumi, S., A. Cibils, R. Estell, and S. Soto Navarro. 2006. Uso del pastoreo de ovejas y cabras como herramienta para manejar la invasión de tascate. Resúmenes del III Simposium Internacional de Pastizales. Chihuahua, México, 9-11 Agosto, 2006. p.13. Utsumi, S., A. Cibils, R. Estell, and S. Soto Navarro. 2007. One seed juniper intake by sheep and goats supplemented with degradable or by-pass protein. 60th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, Reno, NV, February 12-16, 2007. p.306. Popular Press April 16, 2007. Research cited in Ranches in Western U.S. Shifting From Grazers to Greens. National Geographic News online magazine. By Kate Wagner. March 2007. Real World Research. ANGUS Journal magazine. Authored by Troy Smith. March 7, 2007. Reprint of March 2006 Popular Mechanics feature: This is my job: High Tech Rancher. MSN.com online magazine. Lifestyle:Men section. Interview by Christian DeBennedetti and photographed by Gregg Segal. February 9, 2007. Corona-NMSU Research Ranch offers Half-Day of College event this July. Ruidoso News, Lincoln County Section. Authored by Julie Carter. Ruidoso, NM. February 2007. Strategic Supplementation. BEEF magazine. Authored by Clint Peck. March 2006. Corona research ranch plans workshop. Ruidoso News, Lincoln County Section. Authored by Julie Carter. Ruidoso, NM. March 2006. This Is My Job: Shad Cox, High-Tech Rancher. Popular Mechanics magazine. Interview by Christian DeBennedetti and photographed by Gregg Segal. Scientists work toward a locoweed field test. Las Cruces Sun News, p. 2A, April 11, 2005. Cibils, A. 2006. Young cows seek shelter in piñon juniper woodlands during spring. CRLRC Newsletter 1 (2):1. December 15 , 2006. Invited Papers or Presentations Jackson, K. , A. Cibils, J. Graham, W. Gould, and C. Allison. 2006. Social facilitation of locoweed ingestion by cattle. Society for Range Management, NM Section winter meeting. Las Cruces, January 11-12, 2006. Petersen. M.K. 2006. Strategic low-cost supplementation.: West. Sect. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. Ann. Meeting., Logan, Utah June 2006. Utsumi, S.A., A. F. Cibils, R. E. Estell, and Y. F. Wang. 2006. One seed juniper monoand sesqui- terpenoids: analytical and ecological aspects. Symposium on the Ecology and Management of Piñon Juniper Ecosystems, New Mexico Chapter of the Southwestern Section of the Society of American Foresters, Albuquerque, September 13- 15, 2006. Utsumi, S., A. Cibils, R. Estell, S. Soto Navarro, T. Ross, S. Ivey, M. Giacomini, S. Cox, and M. Rubio. 2006. One seed juniper intake by sheep and goats supplemented with degradable or by-pass protein. Fourteenth Wildland Shrub Symposium. Cedar City, UT. June 6-8, 2006. Utsumi, S., A. Cibils, R. Estell, Y F Wang, S. Soto Navarro. 2006. Influence of protein supplements on juniper intake by goats and sheep. Society for Range Management, NM Section winter meeting. Las Cruces, January 11-12, 2006. Theses or Dissertations Black, Christina M. 2005. Influence of non-forage factors on the grazing behavior of cattle and sheep. MS Thesis. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, 76 p. Endecott, R. L. 2006. Nutrient partitioning in ruminants: mechanisms and manipulation of acetate and glucose metabolism. PhD dissertation. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 82 p. Giacomini, M.E. 2006. Nutritional practices to enhance range animal efficiency. MS Thesis. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 89 p. Jackson, K.T. 2006. Social facilitation of white locoweed ingestion by cattle: influence of alternative food choices and feeding site related factors. MS Thesis. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 82 p. Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory USDA-ARS, Mandan, ND Peer-Reviewed Scholljegerdes, E. J., S. L. Lake, T. R. Weston, D. C. Rule, G. E. Moss, T. M. Nett, and B. W. Hess. 2007. Fatty acid composition of plasma, medial basal hypothalamus, and uterine tissue in primiparous beef cows fed high-linoleate safflower seeds. J. Anim. Sci. 85:(In Press). Lake, S. L., T. R. Weston, E. J. Scholljegerdes, C. M. Murrieta, B. M. Alexander, D. C. Rule, G. E. Moss, and B. W. Hess. 2007. Effects of postpartum dietary fat and body condition score at parturition on plasma, adipose tissue, and milk fatty acid composition of lactating beef cows. J. Anim. Sci. 85:717-730. Atkinson, R. L., E. J. Scholljegerdes, S. L. Lake, V. Nayigihugu, B. W. Hess, and D. C. Rule. 2006 Site and extent of digestion and duodenal and ileal flow of total and esterified fatty acids in sheep fed a high-concentrate diet supplemented with highlinoleate safflower oil. J. Anim. Sci. 84:387-396. Lake, S. L., E. J. Scholljegerdes, T. R. Weston, D. C. Rule, and B. W. Hess. 2006. Postpartum supplemental fat, but not maternal body condition score at parturition, affects plasma and adipose tissue fatty acid profiles of suckling beef calves. J. Anim. Sci. 84:1811-1819. Lake, S. L., E. J. Scholljegerdes, W. T. Small, E. L. Belden, S. I. Paisley, D. C. Rule, and B. W. Hess. 2006. Immune response and serum immunoglobulin G concentrations in beef calves suckling cows of differing body condition score at parturition and supplemented with high-linoleate or high-oleate safflower seeds. J. Anim. Sci 84:997-1003. Lake, S. L., E. J. Scholljegerdes, D. M. Hallford, G. E. Moss, D. C. Rule, and B. W. Hess. 2006. Effects of body condition score at parturition and postpartum supplemental fat on metabolite and hormone concentrations of beef cows and their suckling calves. J. Anim. Sci. 84:1038-1047. Lake, S. L., E. J. Scholljegerdes, V. Nayigihugu, C. M. Murrieta, R. L. Atkinson, D. C. Rule, T. J. Robinson, and B. W. Hess. 2006 Effects of body condition score at parturition and postpartum supplemental fat on adipose tissue lipogenic activity of lactating beef cows. J. Anim. Sci. 84:397-404. Murrieta, C. M., B. W. Hess, E. J. Scholljegerdes, T. E. Engle, K. L. Hossner, G. E. Moss, and D. C. Rule. 2006. Evaluation of milk somatic cells as a source of mRNA for study of lipogenesis in the mammary gland of lactating beef cows supplemented with dietary high-linoleate safflower seeds. J. Anim. Sci. 84:2399-2405 Manuscripts in Peer Review Tanaka, D. L., J. F. Karn, and E. J. Scholljegerdes. 2007. Integrated crop/livestock systems research: Practical research considerations. Renew. Agric. Res. Fd. Syst. (In Review). Technical Proceedings Hess, B. W., E. J. Scholljegerdes, C. M. Murrieta, and D. C. Rule. 2007. Long-chain fatty acid flow to the duodenum of cattle fed limited amounts of forage plus supplementary ruminally undegradable protein containing fishmeal. Proc. West. Sect. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. 58: (In Press). Kronberg, S. L., E. J. Scholljegerdes, G. Barcelo-Coblijn, and E. J. Murphy. 2007. Flaxseed treatment to reduce hydrogenation of alpha-linolenic acid by rumen microbes in cattle. Proc. West. Sect. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. 58: (In Press). Scholljegerdes, E. and S. Kronberg. 2007. Effects of supplemental ground flaxseed on the growth performance of steers grazing summer native pasture in the Northern Great Plains. Proc. West. Sect. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. 58: (In Press). Scholljegerdes, E., and S. Kronberg. 2007. Influence of supplemental whole flaxseed on forage intake and site and extent of digestion in beef heifers consuming native grass hay. Proc. West. Sect. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. 58: (In Press). Murrieta C. M., S. L. Lake, E. J. Scholljegerdes, B. W. Hess, and D. C. Rule. 2006. Body condition score at parturition and day of lactation affect lipogenic enzyme messenger RNA abundance in milk somatic cells in lactating beef cows fed supplemental fat. Proc. West. Sect. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57:36-39. Abstracts Murrieta, C. M, S. L. Lake, E. J. Scholljegerdes, B. W. Hess, and D. C. Rule. 2007. Body condition score and day of lactation affect lipogenic messenger RNA abundance and transcription factors in adipose tissue of beef cows fed supplemental fat. J. Anim. Sci. 85(Suppl. 1): (In Press). Murrieta, C. M., S. L. Lake, E. J. Scholljegerdes, B. W. Hess, and D. C. Rule. 2006. Maternal nutrition effects on lipogenic enzyme messenger RNA in adipose tissue of suckling calves. J. Anim. Sci. 84 (Suppl. 1):70 (Abstr.). Popular Press Roesler, S., Research focuses on lowering input costs by grazing through winter. Farm and Ranch Guide. Pg. 30A. March 30, 2007. Kronberg, S. L. and E. J. Scholljegerdes. Fall and Winter Grazing to Reduce Cow Costs. Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory: Integrator. February 2007. Invited Presentations Oral presentation, Effects of supplemental flaxseed on growth performance and site and extent of digestion in beef cattle consuming forage-based diets. North Dakota State University, Department of Animal and Range Sciences, March 2007. University of Wyoming Peer Reviewed Vonnahme, K. A., B. W. Hess, M. J. Nijland, P. W. Nathanielsz, and S. P. Ford. 2006. Placentomal differentiation may compensate for maternal nutrient restriction in ewes adapted to harsh range conditions. J. Anim. Sci. 84:3451-3459. Atkinson, R. L., E. J. Scholljegerdes, S. L. Lake, V. Nayigihugu, B. W. Hess, and D. C. Rule. 2006. Site and extent of digestion, duodenal flow, and intestinal disappearance of total and esterified fatty acids in sheep fed a high-concentrate diet supplemented with high-linoleate safflower oil. J. Anim. Sci. 84:387-396. Lake, S. L., E. J. Scholljegerdes, R. L. Atkinson, V. Nayigihugu, S. I. Paisley, D. C. Rule, G. E. Moss, T. J. Robinson, and B. W. Hess. 2006. Postpartum supplemental fat, but not maternal body condition score at parturition, affects plasma and adipose tissue fatty acid profiles of suckling beef calves. J. Anim. Sci. 84:1811-1819. Lake, S. L., E. J. Scholljegerdes, D. M. Hallford, G. E. Moss, D. C. Rule, and B. W. Hess. 2006. Body condition score at parturition and postpartum supplemental fat effects on metabolite and hormone concentrations of beef cows and their suckling calves. J. Anim. Sci. 84:1038-1047. Lake, S. L., E. J. Scholljegerdes, V. Nayigihugu, C. M. Murrieta, R. L. Atkinson, D. C. Rule, T. J. Robinson, and B. W. Hess. 2006. Effects of body condition score at parturition and postpartum supplemental fat on adipose tissue lipogenic activity of lactating beef cows. J. Anim. Sci. 84:397-404. Lake, S. L., E. J. Scholljegerdes, W. T. Small, E. L. Belden, S. I. Paisley, D. C. Rule, and B. W. Hess. 2006. Immune response and serum IgG concentrations in beef calves suckling cows of differing body condition score at parturition supplemented with high-linoleate or high-oleate safflower seeds. J. Anim. Sci. 84:997-1003. Murrieta, C. M., B. W. Hess, E. J. Scholljegerdes, G. E. Moss, T. E. Engle, K. Hossner, and D. C. Rule. 2006. Evaluation of milk somatic cells as a source of mRNA for study of lipid metabolism in the mammary gland of lactating beef cows. J. Anim. Sci. 84:2399-2405. Myers, W. D., P. A. Ludden, V. Nayigihugu, and B. W. Hess. 2006. Excretion patterns of titanium dioxide versus chromium oxide in duodenal digesta and feces of ewes. Small Rum. Res. 63:135-141. Nayigihugu, V., A. D. Schleicher, B. W. Hess, D. W. Koch, J. W. Flake, and L. J. Held. 2006. Production and quality of forage and economics of grazing a hay meadow in the spring. Prof. Anim. Sci. 22:318-324. Zhu, M. J., S. P. Ford, W. J. Means, B. W. Hess, P. W. Nathanielsz, and M. Du. 2006. Maternal nutrient restriction affects properties of skeletal muscle in offspring. J. Physiol. 575:241-250. Proceedings Hess, B. W., J. M. Krall, B. K. Stevens, S. L. Lake, T. R. Weston, and V. Nayigihugu. 2006. Growth and reproductive performance of beef heifers fed Carnival or Forager field peas. Proc. West. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57:113-116. Lake, S. L., V. Nayigihugu, and B. W. Hess. 2006. Effects of preservation and time of processing on blood glucose concentrations in beef heifers. Proc. West. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57:285-287. Murrieta, C. M., S. L. Lake, E. J. Scholljegerdes, B. W. Hess, and D. C. Rule. 2006. Body condition score at parturition and day of lactation affect lipogenic enzyme messenger RNA abundance in milk somatic cells from lactating beef cows fed supplemental fat. Proc. West. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57:13-16. Price, P. L., J. M. Krall, S. L. Lake, T. R. Weston, V. Nayigihugu, and B. W. Hess. 2006 Growth performance and carcass characteristics of lambs fed Carnival or Forager field peas. Proc. West. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57:108-112. Weston, T. R., J. D. Derner, C. M. Murrieta, D. C. Rule, and B. W. Hess. 2006. Comparison of catalysts for direct transesterification of fatty acids in freeze-dried forage samples. Proc. West. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57:245-248. Weston, T. R., V. Nayigihugu, and B. W. Hess. 2006. Comparison of techniques for quantitative analysis of acid detergent lignin in roughages. Proc. West. Sect. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. 57:242-244. Abstracts Ford, S. P., M. M. Miller, B. W. Hess, G. E. Moss, and P. W. Nathanielsz. 2006. Fetal steroid changes associated with maternal obesity in the sheep. Proceedings, Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Reno, Nevada. Ford, S. P., M. M. Miller, B. W. Hess, G. E. Moss, and P. W. Nathanielsz. 2006. Impact of maternal obesity on growth and pancreatic function in the fetal sheep. Proceedings, Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Reno, Nevada. Unterberger, A., B. W. Hess, L. A. Cox, M. Szyf, P. W. Nathanielsz, and S. P. Ford. 2006. Global methylation (ME) in the fetal (F) sheep liver increases in the second half of gestation. Proceedings, Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Reno, Nevada. Bagley, J., J. M. Krall, and B. Hess. 2006. Forage Production, and Quality of Potential Ley Species for the Central High Plains. Abstracts Western Society of Crop Science. American Society of Agronomy. Zhu, M. J., M. Du, P. W. Nathanielsz, B. W. Hess, and S. P. Ford 2006. Gestational age and nutrient restriction induced changes in angiotensin II receptor expression in the cotyledonary (cot) and caruncular (car) arteries of the bovine placentome. Proceedings, Society for Gynecologic Investigation, toronto, Ontario, Canada (abstract #450). Zhu, M. J., M. Du, P. W. Nathanielsz, B. W. Hess, and S. P. Ford 2006. Maternal nutrient restriction upregulates growth signaling in the cotyledonary artery of the cow placentome. Proceedings, Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Abstract #42). Ford, S. P., N. Edwards, M. J. Zhu, B. W. Hess, and P. W. Nathanielsz 2006. Maternal nutrient restriction from early to mid-gestation in the ewe alters ocular vascularity in twin fetuses Society for Gynecologic Investigation (abstract #94). Ford, S. P., M. J. Nijland, M. Miller, B. W. Hess, P. W. Nathanielsz. 2006. Maternal undernutrition advanced placentomal type, in association with increased placentomal size, and cotyledonary (COT) blood flow Society for Gynecologic Investigation (Abstr. #451). Berg, B., B. Hess, S. P. Ford, K. McInnerney, W. Means, T. Hansen, and H. Han. 2006. Increased pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and maternal undernutrition induces differential gene expression in right ventricle of steers. J. Anim. Sci. 84(Suppl. 1):309-310 (Abstr.). Hess, B. W., P. W. Nathanielsz, and S. P. Ford. 2006. Metabolizable essential amino acids in mature ewes fed limited amounts of beet pulp. J. Anim. Sci. 84(Suppl. 1):78 (Abstr.). Hess, B. W., P. W. Nathanielsz, and S. P. Ford. 2006. Metabolizable essential amino acids in mature ewes fed limited amounts of beet pulp and supplementary ruminally undegradable protein. J. Anim. Sci. 84(Suppl. 1):78-79 (Abstr.). Ford, S. P., M. J. Zhu, M. C. Drumhiller, M. Du, B. W. Hess, and P. W. Nathanielsz. 2006. Periconceptional undernutrition upregulates growth signaling pathways and vascularity in the ovine placentome. Soc. Study Reprod. Bio. Murrieta, C. M., S. L. Lake, E. J. Scholljegerdes, B. W. Hess, and D. C. Rule. 2006. Maternal nutrition effects on lipogenic enzyme messenger RNA in adipose tissue of suckling calves. J. Anim. Sci. 84(Suppl. 1):70 (Abstr.). East, E. L., J. D. Derner, B. W. Hess, R. A. Olson, and G. E. Schuman. 2006. Effects of spring precipitation on total and functional group forage production in three semiarid rangeland ecosystems. Proc. 59th Ann. Meeting Soc. Range Manag. February 11-16, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Invited Presentations Burt, B. E., B. W. Hess, P. W. Nathanielsz, and S. P. Ford. 2006. Flock difference in the impact of maternal dietary restriction on offspring growth and glucose tolerance in female offspring. Programme Handbook, Proc. 7th International Conference on Ruminant Reproduction, August 13-17. Wellington, New Zealand.

Impact Statements

Evaluated present research techniques and available resources in broad areas of grazing livestock production topics in an effort to identify opportunities for scientific collaboration or a need for development of new approaches and techniques to elucidate a better understanding of the lingering questions encompassing range livestock production.
Initiated an organizing committee and sub-committees to began preparation for the 4th Grazing Livestock Nutrition Conference to be held prior to the 2010 National ASAS-ADSA meeting in Denver, CO. This conference in the past has generated National and International recognition and it is the objective of the members of the WERA 110 to insure the integrity and quality of past conferences our upheld in the proposed conference.

Date of Annual Report: 07/14/2008

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 05/19/2008 - 05/21/2008
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2007 - 09/01/2008

Participants

Carpenter, Jim (cjim@hawaii.edu) - University of Hawaii at Manoa;
Hess, Bret (brethess@uwyo.edu) - University of Wyoming;
Ivey, Shanna (sivey@nmsu.edu) - New Mexico State University;
Mueller, Chad (chad.mueller@oregonstate.edu) - Oregon State University;
Mulliniks, Travis (jtmulli@nmsu.edu) - New Mexico State University;
Petersen, Mark (marpeter@nmsu.edu) - New Mexico State University;
Soto-Navarro (ssoto@nmsu.edu) - New Mexico State University;
Sprinkle, Jim (sprinkle@ag.arizona.edu) - University of Arizona;
Waterman, Richard (richard.waterman@ars.usda.gov) - USDA ARS, Fort Keogh LARRL;
Whittier, Jack (jack.whittier@colostate.edu) - Colorado State University;
ZoBell, Dale (dale.zobell@usu.edu) - Utah State University;

Brief Summary of Minutes

Agenda Item 1. After welcoming the group, Jim reviewed the hardcopy of the annual report draft (compilation of station reports) and agenda. An overview of activities and stakeholders who will be joining us was also provided. Jim announced that neither our AA nor our CSREES representative will be able to attend.

Mark suggested that we follow Jack's report as an example. He also suggested that we distribute the example for others to learn how to compile their reports.
The budget report was given. There is a balance of $2,776.99 following a $220 deposit from last year's surplus registration fees. The deposit was made on June 4, 2007.

Jim recommended that we need to consider election of a new secretary for next year. Jim nominated Jack since the Grazing Livestock Nutrition Conference will be held in Colorado, thought it was a good idea to piggy-back with the meeting. Jack agreed.

Project Renewal:

Discussion of Synergistic Activities
Trace Mineral: HI, AZ, NM, UT, CO, WY, ND
Juniper: NM and TX
Cow Nutrition During Pregnancy Effects on Offspring Growth: WY, MT, NM, OR
Grass-fed Beef: UT. WY, OR, HI?, ND
Rumen Ecology: MT, NM
Low Cost Supplementation (nutrient triggers): AZ, NM, MT
Burning, grazing communities, grazing distribution- MT, AZ, OR, UT
Dried Distillers- WY, NM, CO, UT, OR
Nutrition x Reproduction- HI, NM, AZ, MT, CO, UT, WY

Timeframe: Is this manageable to complete by the Jan. 15 deadline?

Discussion of Title: Improving Ruminant Use of Forages in Sustainable Production Systems for the Western U.S.

Renewal Objective 1 will be "Validate the utility and repeatability of the alkane assay for measuring fecal output by grazing ruminant animal."
Renewal Objective 2: "Identify the shortcoming of the 1996/2000 Beef NRC for cows grazing in Western rangeland environments."
Renewal Objective 3: "Determine the effects of various input management manipulations on the biological sustainability of grazing ruminant livestock production systems in the Western US."
Renewal Objective 4 will be "Disseminate and translate research-based management strategies to stakeholders for improving ruminant use in sustainable forage production systems."
Renewal Objective 5 will be "Provide professional development opportunities through networking and mentoring for committee participants, young scientists, stakeholders, and graduate students."

Writing Team Assignments
Objective 1: Mark Petersen & Sergio Soto-Navarro; ask Ken Olson and Eric Scholljegerdes if they are willing to assist.
Objective 2: Jim Sprinkle, Mark Petersen, Richard Waterman; ask Jan Bowman if she is willing to assist.
Objective 3: Tim DelCurto, Shanna Ivey, Chad Mueller; ask Rachel Endecott, Bill Pinchak and Travis Whitney to assist.
Objective 4: Jack Whittier, Dale ZoBell, Jim Sprinkle.
Objective 5: Richard Waterman, Jim Carpenter.

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

Outcomes: Range Nutrition Outreach Programs (all states): stakeholders have gained knowledge and have begun implementation of strategies (based on consistent attendance and clientele survey feedback). For example, government agencies are changing policy on leases based on information provided by members of this committee. Data are influencing management decision at both the State and Federal level. Three feed companies are marketing the mineral packaged developed by NMSU. Outputs: Results of research present at this and other professional meetings, publications in a variety of scientific and lay formats, workshops have been held utilizing research information reported by members of this committee, planning for 4th Grazing Livestock Nutrition Conference Milestones: Meeting in Hawaii then again at the Western Section meetings in Laramie; Planning Grazing Conference continued; Initial program planning, proceedings manuscripts, abstract submissions, potential sites, conference services for registration are have been worked out. Near Future, 2008-2009: Indentify and contact speakers, adjust the program after input from the speakers, begin marketing campaign to ensure excellent attendance, procure sponsorship to help keep registration fees as a low as possible.

Publications

DeLorme, M.J.M., S.L. Lodge-Ivey, and A. M. Craig, 2007. Physiological and digestive effects of Neotyphodium coenophialum-infected tall fescue fed to lambs. J. Anim. Sci. 85:1199-1206. Ford, S.P., B.W. Hess, J.S. Gilbert, M.J. Nijland, K.A.Vonnahme, and P.W. Nathanielsz. 2007. Maternal undernutrition from early to mid-gestation in the ewe results in glucose intolerance in male offspring. J. Anim. Sci. 85:1285-1294. Hatfield, P.G., S.L. Blodgett, T.M. Spezzano, H.B. Goosey, A.W. Lenssen, R.W. Kott, and C.B. Marlow. 2007. Incorporating sheep into dryland grain production systems: I Impact on over-wintering larva populations of Wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cintus Norton, (Hymenoptera: Cephidae). Small Rum. Res. 67:209-215. Hatfield, P.G., A.W. Lenssen, T.M. Spezzano, S.L. Blodgett, H.B. Goosey, R.W. Kott, and C. B. Marlow. 2007. Incorporating sheep into dryland grain production systems: II Impact on changes in biomass and weed frequency. Small Rum. Res. 67:216-221. Hatfield, P.G., H.B. Goosey, T.M. Spezzano, S.L. Blodgett, A.W. Lenssen, R.W. Kott, and C.B. Marlow. 2007. Incorporating sheep into dryland grain production systems: III Impact on changes in soil bulk density and soil nutrient profiles. Small Rum. Res. 67:222-231. Krall, J.M., R.W. Groose, M.J. Walsh, V. Nayighugu, J. Cecil, and B. Hess. 2007. Registration of Laramie Annual Medic. J. Plant Registr. 1:32-33. Kronberg, S.L., E.J. Scholljegerdes, G. Barceló-Coblijn, and E.J. Murphy. 2007. Flaxseed treatments to reduce biohydrogenation of ±-linolenic acid by rumen microbes in cattle. Lipids 42:1105-1111. Lake, S.L., T.R. Weston, E.J. Scholljegerdes, C.M. Murrieta, B.M. Alexander, D.C. Rule, G.E. Moss, and B.W. Hess. 2007. Effects of postpartum dietary fat and body condition score at parturition on plasma, adipose tissue, and milk fatty acid composition of lactating beef cows. J. Anim. Sci. 85:717-730. Nayigihugu, V., A.D. Schleicher, D.W. Koch, J.W. Flake, L.J. Held, and B.W. Hess. 2007. Beef cattle production, nutritional quality and economics of windrowed forage vs. baled hay during winter. Agron. J. 99:944-951. Scholljegerdes, E.J., S.L. Lake, T.R. Weston, D.C. Rule, G.E. Moss, T.M. Nett, and B.W. Hess. 2007. Fatty acid composition of plasma, medial basal hypothalamus, and uterine tissue in primiparous beef cows fed high-linoleate safflower seeds. J. Anim. Sci. 85:1555-1564. Suber, L., Roeder, B., P.G. Hatfield, and R.W. Kott. 2006. Feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of spring-born wethers finished on an 80% barley diet either in the fall or spring and slaughtered at seven to eight, or fourteen to fifteen months of age, respectively. Small Rum. Res. 66:102-107. Tanaka, D.L., J.F. Karn, and E. J. Scholljegerdes. 2008. Integrated crop/livestock systems research: Practical research considerations. Renew. Agric. Food Syst. 23:80-86. Tsopito, C.M., B.W. Hess, and A.M. Gray. 2007. Effects of separating leaves and stems from alfalfa hay and extruding on chemical composition and ruminal protein and fiber degradation. Bots. J. Agric. Appl. Sci. 3:45-54. Underwood, K.K., J. Tong, M.J. Zhu, Q.W. Shen, W.J. Means, S.P. Ford, S.I. Paisley, B.W. Hess, and M. Du. 2007. Relationship between kinase phosphorylation, muscle fiber typing, and glycogen accumulation in longissimus muscle of beef cattle with high and low intramuscular fat. J. Agric. Food Chem. 55:9698-96703. Vonnahme, K.A., M.J. Zhu, P.P. Borowicz, T.W. Geary, B.W. Hess, L.P. Reynolds, J.S. Caton, W.J. Means, and S.P. Ford. 2007. Effect of early gestational undernutrition on angiogenic factor expression and vascularity in the bovine placentome. J. Anim. Sci. 85:2464-2472. Waterman, R.C., C.A. Löest, W.D. Bryant, and M.K. Petersen. 2007. Supplemental methionine and urea for gestating beef cows consuming low quality forage diets. J. Anim. Sci. 85:731-736. Zhu, M.J., M. Du, B.W. Hess, P.W. Natanielsz, and S.P. Ford. 2007. Periconceptional nutrient restriction in the ewe alters MAPK/ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt growth signaling pathways and vascularity in the placentome. Placenta 28:1192-1199. Zhu, M.J., M. Du, B.W. Hess, W.J. Means, P.W. Nathanielsz, and S.P. Ford. 2007. Maternal nutrient restriction upregulates signaling pathways in the cotyledonary artery of cow placentomes. Placenta 28:361-368.

Publications Attachment:

Attachment

Impact Statements

Infrastructure support for educational programming $1.5 million to build a center to support related activities at New Mexico State University.
As a result of implementing strategies disseminated by WERA-110, over one million acres were affected in AZ, OR, and UT.

Date of Annual Report: 08/10/2009

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 05/18/2009 - 05/20/2009
Period the Report Covers: 10/01/2008 - 09/01/2009

Participants

Hess, Bret (brethess@uwyo.edu) - University of Wyoming;
Ivey, Shanna (sivey@nmsu.edu) - New Mexico State University;
Soto-Navarro, Sergio (ssoto@nmsu.edu) - New Mexico State University;
Olson, Ken South (kenneth.olson@sdstate.edu) - Dakota State University;
Sprinkle, Jim (sprinkle@ag.arizona.edu) - University of Arizona;
Tolleson, Doug (dougt@cals.arizona.edu) - University of Arizona;
Endecott, Rachel (rachel.endecott@montana.edu) - Montana State University;
Waterman, Richard (richard.waterman@ars.usda.gov) - USDA-ARS, Fort Keogh;
Scholljegerdes, Eric (Schollje@mandan.ars.usda.gov) - USDA-ARS, Mandan;
Whittier, Jack (Jack.Whittier@Colostate.Edu) - Colorado State University;
Carpenter, James (cjim@hawaii.edu) - University of Hawaii;
Hu, Ching Yuan (HuCY@ctahr.hawaii.edu) - University of Hawaii;

Brief Summary of Minutes

8:30 am, May 18th High Plains Grassland Research Station, Cheyenne, WY
Bret Hess called the meeting to order and reviewed the agenda for the 2-day meetings.

CSREES representative (Adele Turzillo) was not able to attend. CY reported on CSREES items.

CY provided the AA report and encouraged this committee to place emphasis on impact statements, not just on outputs.

Toured High Plains Grassland Research Station hosted by Jack Morgan Research Leader and Justin Derner, Scientist.

Lunch and traveled to UW Animal Science in Laramie

Business Meeting at UW
1. Brief review of plans for 4th Grazing Livestock Nutrition Conference
2. Discussion of project proposal
Decision made to update project proposal. CY informed us that our project now has a temporary number which is: W_TEMP2781

Meeting adjourned about 7:30 pm.

8:00 a.m. May 19th Convened business meeting at Spur Outfitters Lodge, Encampment, WY

Discussion focused on Appendix E in NIMSS and Impact Statements

9:45 am Discussion shifted to 4th Grazing Livestock Conference

Meeting adjourned and tour of Silver Spur Ranches was conducted by Thad York, General Manager

Plan for 2010 WERA110 meeting to follow 4th Grazing Livestock Conference on Saturday afternoon, July 10, 2010 in Estes Park.

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

Project renewal has been submitted, changed from WERA to W project. Continued organizing the 4th Grazing Livestock Nutrition Conference. Issues: Who cares about WERA 110 outcomes? Range livestock users in Western US; Agency personnel Impacts of reducing costs from improved grazing management: Management of harvested feeds has been enhanced; Strategic supplementation has reduced input costs while maintaining or improving animal performance Application of principles taught by WERA 110: Saved ranch jobs; Keeps land in agriculture production; Contributed to keeping food costs low

Publications

Publications Attachment:

Attachment

Impact Statements

Adoption of nutritional practices developed and promoted by members of WERA 110 has improved economic efficiency of livestock operations in the West. Adoption of such practices has reduced feed costs, improved livestock performance, or improved livestock conversion of feed to desired products or outcomes, such as improved reproductive performance. With an adoption rate of 1.5 to 10% among beef producers in which WERA 110 serves, the savings to the western U.S. beef cattle industry is estimated to be between $206,130 to $1,374,200 annually.