Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Short-term Outcomes: Use of the growing supply of biofuel co-products in cattle diets increases the economic sustainability of beef cattle production without impacting beef quality or safety. The research projects identified the impact of inclusion rates of corn co-products on average daily gain, feed to gain and carcass characteristics. The impact of co-products appears to be greater in dry rolled or high moisture than steam-flaked corn diets.. Adoption of co-product feeding in the feedlots has been significant. Survey results indicate that nearly 91% of cattle on feed in Nebraska in 2007 were fed corn-co-products. This high adoption rate demonstrates the producers confidence in the use of corn co-products in feedlot diets to maintain performance, food safety and profitability.. In addition, valuing manure at 2008 fertilizer nutrient prices and feeding 20% or 40% WDGS instead of feeding corn-based diets improved the profitability by $7 to $17 per steer finished ($4 to $11 per ton of manure) due to the higher nitrogen and phosphorous levels in the manure. Furthermore, limit feeding corn co-product was shown to extend forage supplies in beef cow calf operations. Glycerol, a co-product of soy biodiesel, can replace up to 15% of corn in feedlot rations as well. This research on feeding biofuel co-products contributes to the confidence and high adoption rates that have saved beef producers millions of dollars annually and significantly increase the value of co-products to biofuel producers. Research on production systems identified production, quality, profit and risk management opportunities for beef producers. Multiple year comparisons of calf-fed and yearling programs found similar profits between the two programs but less market risk with calf-feds. Factors affecting profitability among steers sired by Simmental or Angus bulls were largely due to yield grade, marbling score, and feed conversion while sire and carcass weight were minor factors. Adoption of these findings will initially improve farm profitability and ultimately reduce beef cost to consumers. Outputs: In the last year members of the project produced: " 48 Peer reviewed journal articles or book chapters " 108 Technical articles and extension publications " 89 Abstracts " 82 Presentations " 12 Courses or curriculums. Activities: A total of 80 research trials covering 4 objectives were conducted and reported upon by members of the project. Objective 1. To enhance the utilization of alternative feedstuffs including those which are available as a result of increased biofuel production while reducing reliance on cereal grains. " The effect of ensilage storage duration and proportion of wet distillers grains and straw on in situ dry matter disappearance. " Influence of starch intake at a young age on gene expression in early-weaned steers. " Effects of feeding wet distillers grain plus solubles on feedlot manure value. " Effect of dietary cation-anion difference on feedlot performance, nitrogen mass balance and manure pH in open feedlot pens. " Effect of dietary cation-anion difference on intake and urinary pH in high concentrate diets. " Composting or stockpiling feedlot manure: Nutrient concentration and recovery. " Effects of environmental factors on body temperature of feedlot cattle. " Effects of surface soil temperature on daily water intake in feedlot cattle. " Profit variability for calf-fed and yearling production systems. " Effects of sorting cattle by weight and time of year on finishing performance, carcass characteristics and economics. " An economic overview of ethanol co-product utilization in Nebraska. " Effect of low phytate corn and phytase on nutrient excretion and performance of feedlot cattle " Effects of wet corn distillers grain with solubles and non-protein nitrogen on growth performance and carcass characteristics of yearling steers. " Reducing phosphorus inputs for grazing Holstein steers. " Beef cattle feeding in a bedded hoop barn:Three year summary. Objective 2. To enhance quality and safety of beef through emerging pre-harvest technologies and management strategies. " The impact of trace mineral source, water quality, and short term chlorine supplementation on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing steers. " Effect of feeding ethanol by-products on performance and marbling deposition in steers fed high-concentrate or high-forage diets. " Isolation, identification, and effects of the co-culture of M. Elsdenii, strain RK02 and E. Faecium, strain RK03 on ruminal fermentation in vitro. " Effects of Megasphaera elsdenii (RK02) with Enterococcus faecium (RK03) on fermentation characteristics in the rumen of steers fed a concentrate diet and of steers induced into acute acidosis. " Impact of distillers grain and glycerin on cattle fecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 " Feeding distillers grains and E. coli O157:H7. " Effect of dietary vitamin A and D on finishing beef cattle. " The influence of feeding various levels of wet and dry corn distillers grain to yearling steers on carcass characteristics, meat quality and retail case life of longissimus muscle. " Genotype by diet effect on fatty acid profile of intramuscular fat in beef steers. " Extended withdrawal of zilpaterol hydrochloride: Effects on performance, carcass traits, meat tenderness and retail cutout of finishing beef steers. " Effects of dietary fat and crude protein on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, circulating plasma metabolites, and meat quality in steers fed differing levels of distillers dried grains with solubles. " Effects of added protein and dietary fat on lamb performance and carcass characteristics when fed differing levels of dried distillers grain with solubles. " Effects of distillers dried grain with solubles and crude glycerin on performance, carcass characteristics, and metabolite concentrations in early weaned beef calves. " Effects of differing levels of glycerol supplementation on performance and carcass characteristics in feedlot steers. " Effects of crude glycerin on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of market lambs. " Effects of crude glycerin on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing wether lambs. Objective 3. To enhance the environmental sustainability of the feedlot industry through N, P, K, and S management by improving nutrient utilization and excreted nutrient conservation. " The effect of beta-agonists and crude protein withdrawal on growth performance, nitrogen retention, nitrogen excretion and ammonia emissions from the surface of feedlot pens. " Oscillating dietary protein in finishing cattle rations to reduce nitrogen inputs, with or without subcutaneous implants does not affect performance or final carcass composition. " Influence of feed efficiency on profitability of individually fed feedlot cattle. " Feedlot performance of Holstein steers fed treated-wheat straw-distillers grain diets as a corn replacement pellet. " Understanding biological sources of variation in residual feed intake. " Factors affecting profitability of steers sired by Simmental and Angus bulls. " Animal performance, storage losses and feasibility of ensiling a mixture of Tub ground low quality hay and wet distillers grain for growing cattle. " Evaluation of beef growing and finishing systems to reduce corn use. " Effects of feeding distillers grain on fat deposition in feedlot cattle. " Timing of Optaflexx inclusion in feedlot diets on performance and carcass characteristics of beef steers. " Value of spayed heifers during backgrounding, and evaluation of implant strategies for spayed and intact heifers during the finishing phase " Evaluation of interventions to reduce negative effects of S in distillers grain-based diets " The assessment of complex I concentration in muscle mitochondria of crossbred steers with high and low residual feed intake (RFI). " Relationship between residual feed intake, diet, production traits and serum concentrations of glucose, insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in beef steers. " Limiting time of access to round bales of hay with additional co-product supplementation for wintering fall-calving beef cows. " Using wet corn gluten feed to adapt cattle to finishing diets. " The effects on ruminal pH, feed intake and digestibility when using wet corn gluten feed to adapt cattle to finishing diets. " Effect of the grains-to-solubles ratio in diet containing wet distillers grain ± solubles fed to finishing steers. " Effects of substituting wet distillers grain with solubles in a wet corn gluten feed-based diet on finishing performance. " Wet gistillers grain plus solubles or solubles in feedlot diets containing wet corn gluten feed. " Cattle performance and economic analysis of diets containing wet distillers grain and dry-rolled or steam-flaked corn. " Effects of wet corn gluten feed and roughage inclusion levels in finishing diets containing modified distillers grain plus solubles. " Effects of roughage source and level with the inclusion of wet distillers grain on ruminal metabolism and nutrient digestibility. " Effects of feeding high levels of byproducts in different combinations to finishing steers. " Sulfur in distillers grain. " Ruminal sulfide levels in corn byproduct diets with varying roughage levels. " Hydrogen sulfide gas levels post feeding. " Effects of Rumensin® and Tylan® in finishing diets with wet distillers grain plus solubles. " Impact of a new direct-fed microbial on intake and ruminal pH. " Effect of weaning and production management strategies on calf growth and carcass traits " Effects of distillers dried grain with solubles on growing and finishing steer intake, performance, carcass characteristics, color and sensory attributes " Effects of dietary prepartum energy source on post-natal skeletal muscle development and growth in offspring of beef cattle. " Effects of limit feeding dried distillers grain on feed efficiency, growth, diet digestibility, and carcass characteristics. " Effects of copper supplementation on cattle limit fed 60% DDGS diets. " Effects of nutrient restriction during early gestation on carcass and organ weights of beef steers. " Effects of dried distillers grain during preconditioning on subsequent wheat pasture and finishing performance of fall-weaned beef steers. " Distillers grain in flaked corn diets. " Performance and economic assessment of two management systems for spring-born calves. " Effects of Mannheimia haemolytica challenge on blood gas, oxygen consumption and net splanchnic flux of volatile fatty acids in fed or fasted steers. " Effect of water consumption on rumen temperature. " Rumen temperature monitoring for determination of health. " Sorting heifers with high risk of bovine respiratory disease based on arrival serum haptoglobin concentration. " Animal performance and blood gas variables of steers pulled and/or treated for Bovine Respiratory Disease. " A comparison of a single vaccination to vaccination and revaccination with a modified live IBRV-BVDV (type 1 and 2)-PI3V-BRSV vaccine in the prevention of bovine respiratory disease. " The effects of co-ensiling wet distillers grain plus solubles with haylage on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of finishing steers. " Effects of an insect growth regulator on growth performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot heifers. " Effects of a direct-fed microbial containing Bacillus subtilis strains on health and performance of high-risk calves. " A pilot study assessing the efficacy of Morinda Citrifolia extract of health and growth performance of high-risk calves. " Finishing steers with diets based on corn, high-tannin sorghum, or a mix of both: feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and beef sensory attributes. Objective 4. To enhance the health and production efficiency of feedlot cattle through management strategies and technologies which enhance cattle comfort and well-being. " The effect of steam-flaked corn storage method on enzymatic starch availability and in situ dry matter disappearance. Milestones: " Add additional members interested in the project objectives during 2009-10.