Greater Hot Carcass Weight Research Articles

The effect of cow udder score on cow/calf performance in the Nebraska Sandhills.

Poor udder and teat confirmation decreases profitability due to decreased calf weaning weight, increased incidence of mastitis and labor, and decreased cow lifetime productivity. Therefore, the objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effect of beef cow udder score on cow performance and pre- and postweaning progeny performance. In a 5-yr study, crossbred cows at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, Whitman, NE, were assigned an udder score each year at calving, from 1 to 5, using an udder and teat combination score. Cows were grouped by udder scores and classified as either low udder score (LUS, udder score 1 or 2; n = 223) or high udder score (HUS, udder score 3 or 4; n = 1,742). The udder score combines udder conformation and a teat scoring system. Low udder scores consisted of pendulous udders and large teats, whereas HUS consisted of tight udders and small, symmetrical teats. Mixed models were used to evaluate udder score on cow performance and calf pre- and postweaning performance. Cow body weight (BW) at prebreeding and weaning was greater (P < 0.01) in LUS cows compared with HUS counterparts. Pregnancy rate was not different (P = 0.35) between udder classification groups. Calf BW at birth (P = 0.95), weaning (P = 0.40), and adjusted 205-d BW (P = 0.28) were not different between udder groups. Cow udder score did not influence feedlot entry (P = 0.41) and final BW (P = 0.30), dry matter intake (P = 0.53), average daily gain (P = 0.60), and gain:feed ratio (P = 0.85) of steer progeny. However, steers from HUS dams had greater hot carcass weight (HCW; P = 0.04) and backfat thickness (P = 0.02) compared with LUS counterparts. Results from this study suggest cows with less desirable udder structure may not have a negative impact on calf preweaning growth and performance; however, backfat thickness and HCW in the finishing phase were lower in steers from cows with a lower udder score.

Prophylactic use of Antibiotics is Essential for Fattening Pig Production?

The demand for animal protein is a fact of relevance for the production systems, especially pork, the most consumed animal protein source in the world. In this sense to ensure the efficient production during the pigs raising the use of Prophylactic Antibiotics (PA) is a common practice, but there is a great potential for the occurrence of resistance to antibiotics. However, the use of PA may not be necessary for certain groups of pigs for example with high sanitary status within the production system. The study lasted for 76 days. Seventy-two barrows at 63 days of age with initial weight of 26.11±3.55 kg were used. Two treatments were performed, without the use of prophylactic antibiotics or with the use for five days, being given at 63 days of age with Doxycycline and at 105 days of age with Tiamulin. PA use worsened ADG (p = 0.035) by 5.0% and body weight by 3.0% (p = 0.039) of pigs at 105 days of age when compared to pigs that did not receive Doxycycline. After the second use of PA the pigs at 117 days of age which received Tiamulin presented better ADG of 7.0% (p = 0.035) and a greater body weight of 1.2% (p = 0.038) compared to control group. The animals of the control group presented 6.0% greater loin depth (p = 0.023) than the animals that received the PA, however pigs of the PA group presented greater hot carcass weight of 0.6% (p = 0.005) and greater carcass compactness of 2.4% (p = 0.004) compared to the control group. The use of PA should be studied with caution and in a holistic way, considering the sanitary characteristics of management to verify if its use is really justified, as observed in the present study if used in inopportune moments its use can impair the performance of the pigs.

Effects of Total Mixed Ration pH on Carcass Characteristics, Subprimal Yields and Fatty Acid Composition when Fed to Brahman or Holstein Cross Steers

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to determine the effects of total mixed ration (TMR) pH on carcass characteristics and fatty acid profiles when fed to Brahman cross (BC) or Holstein cross (HC) steers.Materials and MethodsEighteen steers (6 Brahman × Thai native and 12 Holstein × Zebu) were blocked by breed and stratified by weight before being randomly assigned 1 of 3 treatment diets, fed individually ad libitum including: fresh grass mixed-TMR (GTMR; pH 4.70 to 4.99), grass silage mixed-TMR (STMR; pH 4.00 to 4.40), and fermented-TMR (FTMR; pH 3.5 to 3.87). After 460 d all steers were slaughtered after a 24 h fast. During slaughter offal items were weighed to determine if breed or diet impacted visceral weight. After 7-d postmortem (1 ± 1°C) carcasses were separated at the 12th to 13th rib for collection of ribeye area (REA), fat thickness, marbling score, and objective color. After carcass data collection, carcasses were fabricated according to French standards and subprimal yields were calculated as a percentage of chilled carcass weight. The longissimus thoracis (LT) was removed and steaks (2.54-cm) were cut for Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), proximate analysis, and fatty acid analysis. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS (V9.4; SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). Steer was considered the experimental unit and steer within block by treatment was considered the random term. Mean differences were considered significant at ɑ ≤ 0.05.ResultsThere was not a breed by diet interaction (P > 0.09) for hot carcass weight (HCW), dressing percent (DP), REA, fat thickness, chill loss, marbling score, objective color, or cook loss and WBSF. However, BC had greater HCW, DP, REA, and WBSF than HC (P < 0.05). Marbling scores were greater (P < 0.05) for steers fed STMR and FTMR than GTMR, otherwise diet did not impact carcass traits (P > 0.05). Non-carcass components were a greater percentage of live weight for HC than BC. There was a breed by diet interaction (P < 0.05) for subprimal cuts of the macreuse (clod), knuckle, and bottom round (P < 0.05). Brahman cross steers had a greater percentage of weight in the chuck, sirloin, strip loin, and bottom round (P < 0.05); however, HC had a greater percentage of weight in the macreuse, knuckle, nerveux (heel), and bone (P < 0.05). There was no breed by diet interaction or main effects for chemical composition except percent fat where FTMR > STMR > GTMR (P < 0.01). For fatty acids there was no difference in total SFA or n6:n3 (P > 0.10), however, there were breed by diet interactions (P < 0.01) for total PUFA, n-6, n-3 and PUFA:SFA where LT from BC fed GTMR had greater percentages than all other treatment combinations.ConclusionRations consisting of STMR and FTMR may be utilized to increase marbling and maximize tenderness for finishing Holstein cross steers, while feeding GTMR to Brahman cross steers could be an appropriate method for producing lean beef with a greater percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Effects of Graded Levels of Sorghum Wet Distiller’s Grains and Degraded Intake Protein Supply on Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Feedlot Cattle Fed Steam-Flaked Corn-Based Diets

AbstractTwo experiments evaluated different levels of sorghum wet distiller’s grains plus solubles (SWDG) and effects of increasing the degraded intake protein (DIP) concentration in diets containing SWDG on performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot cattle. In Exp. 1, 200 beef steers (average BW = 404 kg) were fed increasing levels of SWDG (0, 5, 10, and 15% of DM) and one level of corn wet distiller’s grains plus solubles (10% of DM), which replaced steam-flaked corn in a high-concentrate diet. Final BW (P = 0.04) and overall ADG (P = 0.01) decreased linearly with increasing levels of SWDG. Increasing SWDG decreased overall G:F (P = 0.01), hot carcass weight (P < 0.01), and LM area (P < 0.01). No differences were observed in overall DMI (P = 0.15) or other carcass characteristics (P . 0.09). Neither DMI nor G:F differed between corn wet distiller’s grains plus solubles and SWDG when fed as 10% of the dietary DM. In Exp. 2, 200 steers (average BW = 369 kg) were either fed a control diet without SWDG (8.4% DIP) or three 10% SWDG diets with no urea added or urea added at either 50% or 100% of the difference in the DIP concentration between the diet with no urea added and control diets. Final BW (P = 0.03), overall ADG (P = 0.04), and overall G:F (P = 0.05) were greater for cattle fed the control diet. A linear decrease was observed in overall DMI with increasing DIP (P = 0.02). Likewise, overall ADG decreased with increasing DIP (P = 0.08). Cattle fed the control diet had greater hot carcass weight (P = 0.03), fat thickness (P = 0.02), and yield grade (P = 0.01) than the average of those fed the 3 SWDG diets. Results from both experiments suggest decreased performance and carcass value with increasing levels of SWDG alone or combined with additional DIP. At 10% of the dietary DM, corn and sorghum wet distiller’s grains resulted in similar ADG and G:F.

Effects of Weaning Age, Creep Feeding, and Type of Creep on Steer Performance, Carcass Traits, and Economics

<h3>ABSTRACT</h3> Spring-born, Angus × Simmental steers (n = 168) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: early wean with program-fed high concentrate (EWP), normal wean with creep (NWC), normal wean with fiber creep (NWF), and normal wean with no creep (CON). Steers were weaned at 63 ± 1.3 d or 189 ± 1.3 d of age. The EWP steers were program-fed a high-concentrate diet to gain the same as steers on the 2 creep-fed treatments from the time of early weaning un-til normal weaning. The NWC had greater (P < 0.05) ADG during creep period and greater (P < 0.05) supplemental G:F than NWF steers. During the combined finishing period there were no differences in ADG, DMI, or G:F between the EWP and the NWC and NWF. For the overall duration of the trial, CON steers had lesser (P < 0.05) ADG and required more (P < 0.05) days to harvest than other treatments. The EWP steers had a greater (P < 0.05) marbling score, percentage of steers grading Average Choice or greater, and percentage of steers grading Low Prime or greater than NWC and NWF steers. The CON steers had lesser (P < 0.05) carcass values than the other treatments. Program-feeding early-weaned steers high-concentrate diets improved carcass quality compared with creep feeding, but it also resulted in greater costs per steer. Type of creep did not influence overall performance, carcass quality, or carcass value. Early weaning and creep feeding resulted in greater overall ADG, greater hot carcass weight, greater costs, and improved value of carcasses than normal weaning with no creep feed.

Genetic relationships between sex-specific traits in beef cattle: Mature weight, weight adjusted for body condition score, height and body condition score of cows, and carcass traits of their steer relatives1

Data from the first four cycles of the Germplasm Evaluation Program at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) were used to investigate genetic relationships between mature weight (MW, n = 37,710), mature weight adjusted for body condition score (AMW, n = 37,676), mature height (HT, n = 37,123), and BCS (n = 37,676) from 4- to 8-yr old cows (n = 1,800) and carcass traits (n = 4,027) measured on their crossbred paternal half-sib steers. Covariance components among traits were estimated using REML. Carcass traits were adjusted for age at slaughter. Estimates of heritability for hot carcass weight (HCWT); percentage of retail product; percentage of fat; percentage of bone; longissimus muscle area; fat thickness adjusted visually; estimated kidney, pelvic, and heart fat percentage; marbling score; Warner-Bratzler shear force; and taste panel tenderness measured on steers were moderate to high (0.26 to 0.65), suggesting that selection for carcass and meat traits could be effective. Estimates of heritability for taste panel flavor and taste panel juiciness were low and negligible (0.05 and 0.01, respectively). Estimates of heritability from cow data over all ages and seasons were high for MW, AMW, and HT (0.52, 0.57, 0.71; respectively) and relatively low for BCS (0.16). Pairwise analyses for each female mature trait with each carcass trait were done with bivariate animal models. Estimates of genetic correlations between cow mature size and carcass composition or meat quality traits, with the exception of HCWT, were relatively low. Selection for cow mature size (weight and/or height) could be effective and would not be expected to result in much, if any, correlated changes in carcass and meat composition traits. However, genetic correlations of cow traits, with the possible exception of BCS, with HCWT may be too large to ignore. Selection for steers with greater HCWT would lead to larger cows.

Genetic relationships between sex-specific traits in beef cattle: Mature weight, weight adjusted for body condition score, height and body condition score of cows, and carcass traits of their steer relatives1

Data from the first four cycles of the Germplasm Evaluation Program at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) were used to investigate genetic relationships between mature weight (MW, n = 37,710), mature weight adjusted for body condition score (AMW, n = 37,676), mature height (HT, n = 37,123), and BCS (n = 37,676) from 4- to 8-yr old cows (n = 1,800) and carcass traits (n = 4,027) measured on their crossbred paternal half-sib steers. Covariance components among traits were estimated using REML. Carcass traits were adjusted for age at slaughter. Estimates of heritability for hot carcass weight (HCWT); percentage of retail product; percentage of fat; percentage of bone; longissimus muscle area; fat thickness adjusted visually; estimated kidney, pelvic, and heart fat percentage; marbling score; Warner-Bratzler shear force; and taste panel tenderness measured on steers were moderate to high (0.26 to 0.65), suggesting that selection for carcass and meat traits could be effective. Estimates of heritability for taste panel flavor and taste panel juiciness were low and negligible (0.05 and 0.01, respectively). Estimates of heritability from cow data over all ages and seasons were high for MW, AMW, and HT (0.52, 0.57, 0.71; respectively) and relatively low for BCS (0.16). Pairwise analyses for each female mature trait with each carcass trait were done with bivariate animal models. Estimates of genetic correlations between cow mature size and carcass composition or meat quality traits, with the exception of HCWT, were relatively low. Selection for cow mature size (weight and/or height) could be effective and would not be expected to result in much, if any, correlated changes in carcass and meat composition traits. However, genetic correlations of cow traits, with the possible exception of BCS, with HCWT may be too large to ignore. Selection for steers with greater HCWT would lead to larger cows.