Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The second meeting of the new S-1045 regional project technical committee was held on June 1 - June 2, 2011 at the Tidewater Research Station in Plymouth, North Carolina. The meeting was officially called to order at 8:00 am by Dr. Bob Godfrey, S-1045 Project Chairman for 2011. Dr. Gary Hansen welcomed everyone to the Tidewater Research Station and gave a brief history and description of the station. He also described the stations diverse research projects and programs. He discussed the current cow herd and research projects along with past research that had been conducted at the station. After an introduction of the committee members attending the meeting, Dr. Bob Godfrey asked for volunteers to be members of the Resolutions Committee and the Nominating Committee. The following members volunteered to be on the various committees: Resolutions Committee: Drs. Andy Herring, Trent Smith and Jeremy Powell Nominating Committee: Drs. Jim Sanders, Gary Hansen and Hayden Brown Motion was made to accept the committees as presented and approved unanimously. Dr Godfrey asked that each objective be discussed in whole before moving into discussion on the next objective. Discussion was initiated on Objective 1. Objective 1 - Estimation of genetic variation associated with susceptibility/resistance to specific measures of disease stress in cattle managed on forage. Objective 1a. Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis: Fred Thrift has asked to be relieved of his role as coordinator of objective 1a. Hayden Brown has accepted the responsibility of coordination of this part of objective 1. Discussion was led by Dr. Hayden Brown. Dr. Brown informed the group that Dr. Fred Thrift (Kentucky) will no longer be participating in the group due to his retirement. Dr. Sanders indicated that the Uvalde station was being closed and that personnel from this research station would be moved to other stations within the State of Texas. This leaves the following 8 locations (Arkansas, Texas (McGregor), Louisiana (Baton Rouge, Homer, Iberia), Florida (USDA-ARS, STARS, Brooksville) and Mississippi (State College, Brown Loam Experiment Station) where calves will be evaluated for evidence of Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis during the pre-weaning period. Dr. Brown reminded stations participating in this objective to use the common Angus sire (Bon View New Design 878) to tie populations together for genetic analysis. He also reiterated that stations use the prepared number codes for each contributing station for this objective for ease in collation of data at the end of the project time period. He will e-mail the codes to each station. Data collected for the incidence of pinkeye should include a code of 0 through 2 with 0 = None, 1= Slight, and 2 = Severe for each eye. Station reports were presented for the Arkansas (Brown), Texas (Sanders), Louisiana (DeRouen) and Mississippi (Smith) stations. Reports were handed out to each participant and will be submitted with the final report. Objective 1b-Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex: Dr. Andy Herring led the discussion on objective 1b. Dr. Herring indicated that because of the nature of this objective that funding sources are needed and that there are pharmaceutical companies that have donated vaccine for this project. Questions were asked to why the values for reporting titers were based on log2. After some good discussion, it was determined that the log2 values would be used to report titer levels as this is what is used in the literature. Using standardized protocols across stations was discussed and will be addressed by the stations cooperating in this objective. Station reports for this objective were presented by Dr. Andy Herring (Texas A&M) Dr. Jeremy Powell (Arkansas), Dr Trent Smith (Mississippi) and Dr. Sid DeRouen representing the Hill Farm/Dean Lee and Iberia stations in Louisiana. Reports from each station were handed out, discussed and will be submitted in the final report. Objective 1c-Specific External Parasites: Dr. Bob Godfrey led the discussion on this objective. How, when and in what form the data would be collected for this objective was discussed. He stated that several methods were being looked at for the counting of ticks and flies on animals involved in the objective. Digital pictures could be an option and this collection would be more refined this summer. He indicated that each contributing station would be contacted with the protocol once it was decided. Station reports were presented by Dr Bob Godfrey (Virgin Island). Tick counts will be obtained from bull and heifer calves at weaning and at yearling age at participating locations (Virgin Islands, Mississippi-Brown Loam). After a lunch break the group toured the Tidewater Research Station. On Thursday June 2, 2011 the meeting was reconvened at 8:00 am by Dr. Bob Godfrey. Discussion continued with presentation of Objective 2, 3 and 4. Objective 2 - Characterize diverse, tropically adapted beef breeds in subtropical and temperate areas of the United States with emphasis on cow fertility and productivity in comparison to Bos indicus influenced breeds and types Dr. Gary Hansen facilitated discussion for objective 2. He reported that after last years meeting, he had followed up with Dr. Wayne Wyatt to develop the spreadsheet for this objective. He e-mailed a preliminary Excel spreadsheet to Dr. Wyatt, but did not get a response. Several in the room said that Dr. Wyatt was extremely busy with business at the Iberia Station and concluded this to be the reason that he had not responded. Discussion on this objective was tabled until the next day to give Dr. Hansen the opportunity to get the spreadsheet in the final format to present to the group. Discussion on this objective was continued first thing on Thursday June 2nd. Recommendations from the previous year meeting that pregnancy status, body condition scores, and cow weights were added to the objective for cow traits. When to measure cow weights and body condition scores was discussed and the group decided that both measurements would be taken when calves are weaned, at calving, and prior to breeding. Calf birth code was discussed and it was concluded that the scores of 1 through 3 with 1 = single birth, 2 = twins, and 3 = genetic abnormality was sufficient for this trait. However, it was determined that calf survival code of 1 through 6 where 1 = normal, 2 = stillborn, 3 = death during delivery, 4 = death before 3 days of age, 5 = death between 3 and 14 days, and 6 = death after 14 days, that codes 2 and 3 where redundant. Consensus was reached that the two codes would be combined with calf survival code 2 = stillborn or death during delivery representing both classifications. Dr. Jim Sanders commented that while pregnancy status informs us of how many cows are pregnant it doesnt represent how many cows actually give birth and wean a calf. Following discussion, two new traits where added to the spreadsheet, calving status and weaning status (0 = No, 1 = Yes). Previously, Dr. Mauricio Elzo was asked to do the statistical analysis for this objective. Dr. Jim Sanders brought up the fact that Dr. Elzo had not attended any of our meetings and asked the group if they thought that this should be changed. Dr. David Riley commented that if Dr. Elzo was still willing to do the analysis, that he was probably the best individual to do it. Dr. Gary Hansen agreed with Dr. Riley and would approach Dr. Elzo as to his intentions with the project. It was agreed that if Dr. Elzo was still in agreement with the groups goals, he would remain in this position. Calving assistance codes were defined as using the BIF Guidelines where 1 = No difficulty, no assistance, 2 = Minor difficulty, some assistance, 3 = Major difficulty, usually mechanical assistance, 4 = Caesarian section or other surgery, 5 = Abnormal presentation. Calf vigor codes were also defined where 1 = normal, vigorous calf; 2 = weak calf that nursed without assistance, 3 = weak calf that was assisted to nurse (Riley, et. al., 2004). Cow temperament at calving was also added as a trait, but codes were not assigned by the group but were later assigned by Dr. Hansen where 1 = Non-aggressive, 2 = Slightly aggressive, 3 = Aggressive, 4 = Moderately aggressive, 5 = Very aggressive. Dr. Gary Hansen was asked to develop and send contributing stations information on coat color codes to be used on the calves. He will also send the updated spreadsheet to each contributing station. Dr. David Riley recommended that a genetic tie should be considered for the stations that are milking cows for this objective. Dr. Jim Sanders added that maybe the group should consider molecular linkages through SNP data. Station reports were given by Dr. Sid DeRouen. Participating locations will include Arkansas (Fayetteville and Booneville), Florida (Brooksville and Gainesville), Louisiana (Hill Farm and Iberia), Mississippi (Brown Loam and Starkville), North Carolina (Tidewater, Reidsville, Goldsboro, and Butner), Oklahoma (El Reno), South Carolina, Texas (McGregor) and Virgin Islands. Objective 3 - Establish a DNA bank for characterization of molecular markers, genetic parameter estimation and future discovery of genes that influence economically important traits in pedigreed beef cattle populations. Objective Coordinators: Drs. Andy Herring, Gary Hansen and Trent Smith Collection procedures for objective 3 were discussed. It was decided that DNA samples will be collected and stored on site at each research station. Dr. Andy Herring asked that information on the animals collected and the type of samples used at each station be sent to him in order to compile a summary for each year. He presented a spreadsheet to accommodate the collection of the data. All stations will participate in this objective. Objective 4 - Evaluation of relationships between hair coat and production traits in beef cattle breed types. Dr. Trent Smith and Dr. Dr. Godfrey led the discussion for objective 4. Dr Smith showed the group a slide presentation on hair coat shedding score. Cattle are scored in May to early June depending on location. Scores range from 1-5 with a score of 1 being cows that have shed all of their winter coat and a score of 5 being cows that have not shed their winter coat. The was a lot of discussion on what effect forage (fescue), whether a cow calved in the spring or fall and nutrient status of cow would have on hair coat shedding score. Dr. Jim Sanders requested that Dr. Trent Smith agreed to send descriptions and pictures of the different shedding scores to all contributing stations. Drs. Smith, Godfrey and Sanders gave station reports. Dr Bob Godfrey requested that each station send a copy of their station report to him within the next 30 days so that a combined document can be prepared and sent to the administrative advisor, Dr. David Morrison. Dr. David Morrison represented USDA-NIFA as no representative was present from this organization. He presented the new goals and organization of NIFA and also what the funding levels were approximated to be for the coming year. Business meeting was called by Dr. Bob Godfrey at 11:30 AM. Dr. Godfrey requested reports from the nominating and resolution committees. The nominating committee (Drs. James Sanders, Gary Hansen and Hayden Brown) made the following nominations: Dr. Trent Smith (chair), Dr. Gary Hansen (chair elect) and Dr. David Riley (secretary). The nominated individuals were elected by unanimous vote. The resolution committee (Drs. Andy Herring, Trent Smith and Jeremy Powell) submitted their report as follows: Whereas the S-1045 Technical Committee is committed to improving beef cattle production systems in the southern region and other regions of the United States. And whereas the S-1045 Technical Committee is improved by exchange of research findings and approaches at different institutions and locations as well as observing different beef cattle production systems. Therefore, be it resolved that the S-1045 Technical Committee expresses its gratitude to Dr. Gary Hansen and the staff of the NC State Tidewater Research Station for hosting and Drs. Gary Hansen and Bob Godfrey for planning and coordinating its 2011 annual meeting in Plymouth, NC. We would also like to thank the Coastal Carolina Cattlemens Association (Perry Eure and LE Smith) and Stanley Oliver for preparing the noon meals. Be it also resolved that we would like to thank Mark Clough, Dr. Ron Heiniger, Kent Gray, Brian Shannon and Eugene Won for their educational presentations on research programs at the Tidewater Research Station. Be it also resolved that we would like to thank Dr Justin Holl of Smithfield Premium Genetics, Lane Angus Farm and Vandemark Angus for their hospitality and tours of their operations. Be it also resolved that the S-1045 Technical Committee extends its thanks to Dr. David Morrison for his continuing oversight, leadership, and friendship as administrative advisor of the project. The resolutions were approved by unanimous vote. Dr. Bob Godfrey initiated discussion for the date and location of next years meeting. Dr. Trent Smith invited the group to meet in Starkville, Mississippi in 2012 on May 29-31st with the 29th as a travel day. The group accepted the offer. The meeting was adjourned by Dr Bob Godfrey at 12:00 PM. and lunch was served by Stanley Oliver. Following lunch Dr. Justin Holl gave an informative presentation on Smithfield Premium Genetics.

This section of the report is presented by objective, and highlights new data that have been collected to date. Objective 1: Estimation of genetic variation associated with susceptibility/resistance to specific measures of disease stress in cattle managed on forage Objective 1a - Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis In Arkansas, Calves (n = 868) were evaluated in 2009, 2010, and 2011 for Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) scars. Calves were all Angus sired. There were 119 sires represented including New Design 878. The 878 sire was represented at location 1 by 3 calves, location 2 by 4 calves, and location 3 by 19 calves. Scaring from IBK infections was 5% for fall born calves weaned in the spring while 30% of the spring born calves weaned in the fall had IBK scars. Scaring from IBK differed (P < 0.001) among year, season of birth, and location. Non-scared calves had greater (P < 0.05) adjusted mean weaning weight than scared calves (268 ± 2.1 vs. 250 ± 3.9 kg). In Louisiana, a total of 809 calves (398 calves at Dean Lee Research Station and 411 calves at the Iberia Research Station) in 2009 and 2010 were evaluated for evidence of Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) during the preweaning period using a subjective scoring system where: 0 = no evidence of IBK in either eye; 1 = evidence of IBK in one eye; and 2 = evidence of IBK in both eyes. Little to no evidence of IBK was observed during the preweaning period of 809 calves observed at two locations over two years. In Mississippi, Fall and spring born Angus (86), Hereford (35), and Charolais (28) calves were evaluated for evidence of Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis at weaning in May and September 2010. A subjective scoring system was used where 0 = no evidence of IBK in either eye and 1 = evidence of IBK in one or both eyes. To date records have been collected on 149 head of Angus, Hereford, and Charolais calves at weaning. These records represent one calf crop (Spring and fall 2010). All calves were given a score of zero at weaning which indicates no incidence of Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis. Objective 1b: Bovine Respiratory Disease Vaccination Response In Arkansas, Calves (n = 64) were allotted to one of two treatments (TRT1, n = 32); TRT2, n = 32). At 60 d of age (d 0) and at weaning, calves in TRT1 were vaccinated against BVDB (Pyramid 5). Calves in TRT2 were vaccinated against BVDV at 21 d prior to and again at weaning. Serum from half of the calves in each group (TRT1, n = 16); TRT2, n = 16) was harvested for determination of lg response from jugular blood samples taken on d 0, d 21, d 126 (21 d prior to weaning), and d 147 (at weaning). Serum was sent to Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for determination of lg response using viral neutralization. Prior to analysis BVDV Type 1 titers were transformed to log base 2 (log2). Data were analyzed using mixed model procedures. Fixed effects were treatment, sex and date. Random effect was calf. Mean log2 of BVDV Type 1 titers were different (P < 0.0001) for TRT1 compared to TRT2 (7.5±0.36 and 5.1±0.36, respectively). Mean log2 of BVDV Type 1 titers were higher on day 147 (P < 0.0001) compared to d 126, d 21 and d 0 (8.3±0.39, 5.1±0.40, 5.9±0.39 and 5.7±0.39, respectively). A treatment x date interaction (P < 0.0001) was also identified for the mean log1 of BVDV Type 1 titers. This study indicated that vaccinating beef calves against BVDV was effective in triggering an lg response. In Texas, 78 yearling F2 and F3 steers from the Texas A&M University McGregor Genomics Project were stratified by sire and cow family across BRD vaccine treatments of (1) killed, (2) modified live (MLV), or (3) no vaccine (NON), and administered an intranasal challenge with BVD virus Type 1b strain CA0401186a. Cattle in the killed group received a primary and booster vaccination with a commercial BRD vaccine on days -56 and -35, respectively; cattle in the modified live group received a single vaccination on day -35. All cattle were challenged on day 0. Blood and serum were evaluated for serum neutralizing antibody titers (days -56, -35, 0, 14, 28 and 42) and hematology profile (days 0, 7, 14, 28 and 42), and animals were evaluated for rectal temperature (days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 28 and 42) and visual clinical signs (twice daily for 14 days following challenge). Individual feed intake and feeding behavior were recorded for 70 days (28 days prior to challenge and 42 days following challenge). Temperament based on subjective scoring after weaning and objective exit velocity coinciding with the challenge period was assessed. After the 42-day evaluation period, steers were fed at a commercial feedlot in South Texas, and harvested at a commercial beef plant; carcass data including liver abscess and lung color scores were collected. Objective 2: Characterize diverse, tropically adapted beef breeds in subtropical and temperate areas of the United States with emphasis on cow fertility and productivity in comparison to Bos indicus influenced breeds and types. In Louisiana, reproductive and maternal information were collected on a total of 1,757 replacement heifers and cows and 1,309 calves from 3 locations (Central, Dean Lee and Iberia Research Stations) in 2009 and 2010. Information obtained include breed of cow, sire/sire breed and dam/ dam breed of cow, cow birth year, mating information (natural or artificial insemination; single or multiple sires; season or insemination dates), predominant forage, sire/sire breed of calf, calving date, calf birth code (1 = single; 2 = twin; 3 = genetic abnormality), coat color, calving difficulty (1 = normal; 2 = easy pull; 3 = hard pull; 4 = caesarian section; note abnormal presentation, calf vigor (1 = normal; 2 = weak but nursed without assistance; 3 = weak and assisted to nurse; add any notes), calf survival (1 = normal; 2 = stillborn; 3 = died in delivery; 4 = died before 3 days; 5 = died before weaning), birth weight, weaning date, weaning weight, date of death and reason/notes, date of culling and reason/notes, and date of occurrence and notes related to any health issue. In Mississippi, data were collected on 203 spring and fall calving Angus, Hereford, and Charolais cows. Cows were managed for two A.I. breedings and placed with clean-up bulls for approximately 30 days. Cows calved from late August to mid-December (Fall 2010) and mid-January to mid-March (Spring 2011). The following data were collected on the cows: breed, sire/sire breed and dam/ dam breed of cow, birth date, mating information, predominant forage in pastures and if females were culled or died during production, reasons were documented. The following information was taken during calving season on all cows: calving date, calving difficulty (1 = normal; 2 = easy pull; 3 = hard pull; 4 = caesarian section; note the abnormal presentation of calf), and calf vigor issues (1 = normal; 2 = weak but nursed without assistance; 3 = weak and assisted to nurse; add any notes). Calf records included sire/sire breed of calf, birth weight within 24 hrs, weaning date, weaning weight, and documentation if calf died during the preweaning period or had health issues. In Texas, Two additional cycles of the genomics project have been started. Cycle 2 involves the production by natural service of all four types of Nellore - Angus reciprocal F2 crosses, to continue our evaluation of reciprocal differences in Bos indicus - Bos taurus crosses. Cycle 3 involves the production of F3 crossbreds from animals produced in Cycle 1. Objective 3: Establish a DNA bank for characterization of molecular markers, genetic parameter estimation and future discovery of genes that influence economically important traits in pedigreed beef cattle populations. In Louisiana, all participating locations have stored DNA, tissue, or white blood cells on calves at birth or shortly before weaning. All adult breeding animals have also had tissue and DNA banked for future studies as well. All DNA samples collected to date will be available for future analysis of molecular markers that may be associated with economically important traits. It is also important to note that all animals incorporated into the DNA repository have also had any performance data collected stored in a data base for the identification of outlier individuals that will be utilized for initial marker association studies. Approximately 2,000 animals of varying breed types and composition have been incorporated into the DNA repository. In conjunction with genomic material, all animals have had performance data recorded as well. In Mississippi, DNA samples were collected via whole blood and hair cards on spring and fall cow herds (n=209) and weaned calves from those herds in 2010 (n=149). Whole blood was collected and placed in 2ml cryotubes and stored in a -80°C freezer. Both blood samples and hair cards were stored for future reference. Information on each animal includes animal, sire and dam identification, breed, and location. DNA will be extracted in the future to find genetic markers associated with phenotypic data collected in objectives 1, 2, and 4. In Texas, for the cattle in Cycle 1 of the genomics project, DNA was extracted from either blood or semen for all of the grandparents and parents of the embryo transfer calves. For the embryo transfer calves, a small blood sample (about 5 cc) was collected shortly after birth; in addition, for male calves, the bottom of the scrotum and the testicles were saved for DNA extraction. Shortly before weaning, a larger (200 cc) blood sample was collected for each calf in the project. In the fall 2001, all cattle at the McGregor station, including the cattle in Objectives 1, 2, and 4 of this project, were bled for DNA extraction. In each successive year, calves are bled shortly before weaning. As discussed earlier, all cattle at the McGregor Station were bled for DNA extraction in the fall 2001; In 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010, all calves at the station were bled prior to weaning; this includes all the cattle used in Objective 1b, 2, and 4 of this regional project. The blood is stored as white blood cell pellets in College Station. For the cattle in Cycle 1 of the McGregor Genomics Project, calves for all nine calf crops (spring and fall of 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006, and spring of 2007) were bled both at birth and shortly before weaning (5 and 200 cc collections, respectively). Objective 4: Evaluation of relationships between hair coat and production traits in beef cattle breed types In Mississippi, females from 2 yrs of age and older were evaluated for hair shedding scores by two trained independent observers at 28-day intervals beginning in March through July. Numerical hair shedding scores were assigned to cattle using the following scale: 1 - slick, summer hair coat, shedding complete (100% shed), 2 - hair coat not completely slick but more than halfway shed from the initial winter coat (75% shed), 3 - hair coat halfway shed from the initial winter coat (50% shed), 4 - hair coat shedding initiated but not halfway complete to a final slick coat (25% shed), 5 - winter hair coat with no evidence of shedding (0% shed). Weaning weights (d205) of Angus calves were affected by earlier shedding of winter coats by their dam. Angus cows that reached a shedding score of less than 3.5 by the first of May weaned calves 31.39 kg heavier than cows that shed later in the spring (P<0.01). As average visual score increased, percentage medium and long hair increased. In Texas, Angus yearling heifers (28 head), two year old heifers (26 head), and older cows (58 head, including 13 three year olds, 30 from 4 to 9 years of age, and 15 that were 10 years or older) at the McGregor station were scored in March, April and May by two separate evaluators using a numerical hair shedding scores (1 = Slick, shedding complete through 5 = Winter coat, no shedding). The average coat score in all groups except the two-year-olds decreased significantly from March to April; the decrease was significant in all age groups from April to May. In the Virgin Islands, hair coat characteristics of tropically adapted Senepol (n = 18) and crossbred (n = 11; Charolais X Angus X Senepol) calves at 118 d of age were evalauted. All calves were genotyped for the presence of the Slick Hair gene and hair coats were classified as smooth, rough or hairy. Hair was shaved in a 40.6 cm2 area over the left flank on each calf using electric clippers and collected into a preweighed sample bag. Hair samples were weighed and individual hairs were counted to determine hair weight and density. Individual hair weight was estimated by dividing the sample weight by number of hairs. All of the crossbred calves (11/11) and 22% (4/18) of Senepol calves were classified as heterozygous for the Slick Hair gene, and 78% (14/18) of Senepol calves were classified as being homozygous for the Slick Hair gene. The proportion of crossbred calves classified as having the hairy, rough or smooth phenotype was 36.4, 36.4 or 27.3 % respectively. The proportion of Senepol calves classified as having the hairy, rough or smooth phenotype was 5.6, 27.8 or 66.7 % respectively. Senepol calves had higher hair density than the crossbred calves. Calves that were homozygous for the Slick Hair gene had a greater hair density than heterozygous calves. Coat type influenced ADG from weaning to yearling in crossbred calves but not in Senepol calves. Differences in ADG may be more impacted by breed than by hair coat because of the low numbers of calves within each breed-hair coat category. Plans for upcoming year There are no significant deviations to plans and methodology as laid out in the project proposal. Data collection will continue and analyses results will be presented next year. Some locations were not able to collect data in 2010-2011 to contribute to this years report but will contribute to the project beginning in 2011 - 2012. There was productive discussion at the 2011 meeting to standardize the hair shedding scoring system with photos circulated to the committee. There was also discussion about using the same vaccine across locations for studies in Objective 1b. That format of data to be collected for Objective 2 was also discussed and will be distributed to each participating station. Individual state budget concerns may dictate access to animals and animal numbers for participants, but are not foreseen as a major threat to the success of the project.

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