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Two similarly managed trials were conducted to investigate serial ultrasound measures of body composition (longissimus muscle area (ULMA), 12th - rib fat thickness (UFAT), and percentage of intramuscular fat (UIMF)) early in the lives of feeder calves as they compared to carcass traits. Group 1 cattle were Charolais-sired by Brahman-British crossbred dams whereas Group 2 cattle were purebred Beefmaster. Both groups were fed at the same commercial feedlot (Graham Land and Cattle Co.) in Gonzales, Texas. In both data sets classifications were developed for ribeye area of Lower (less than 70.95 cm2, Middle (between 70.95 cm2 and 90.3 cm2) and Upper (over 90.3 cm2) based on a range that fit within the ribeye specifications of such branded beef programs as Certified Angus Beef and Nolan Ryan?s Tender Aged Beef. Differences among ribeye area and quality grade (Choice vs. Select) categories were evaluated for ultrasound and carcass traits. As reported previously, correlations between ultrasound measures and carcass traits became larger at times closer to harvest. In both sets of cattle, there were no differences in fat thickness or intramuscular fat at the ultrasound scan sessions or in these carcass traits due to ribeye area category. The same trend for quality grade classification was not seen across both groups of cattle however. In Group 1, there were no differences in early measures of body composition between carcass quality grade classes except for ultrasound fat thickness at weaning. However, in Group 2 cattle there were differences in ultrasound fat at times 1 and 2, IMF at time 1, and ribeye area at time 2 between cattle that graded choice verses those that graded select. Correlations between ultrasound measures of REA (r of .26 to .50) and ultrasound REA and carcass REA (r of .16 to .81) appeared to be lower in Group 1 vs. Group 2 (r of .55, and .64 to 81 respectively). Results from this project imply that changes in ribeye area will not automatically result in changes of marbling and vice versa. Furthermore, these results also show that ultrasound is useful to help predict beef carcass traits, but that early measures of body composition used alone do not explain a large portion of the variation in the carcass measures and specific methods should be developed by different biological cattle types.

Master of Science / Department of Agricultural Economics / Ted C. Schroeder / Value-added management at the cow-calf level is integrated across breeding, health and nutrition programs. Hedonic pricing models are necessary to navigate through the layered management standards imposed by certified health and marketing programs on the cow-calf sector. Previous research in feeder calf pricing models provides insight on the use and development of ordinary least squares in estimating price effects. Breed, vaccination program, age-and-source verification and natural-beef production have become more relevant as vertical coordination has influenced commercial cow-calf producers. This study provides the industry with new information pertaining to the revenue opportunities that exist for cow-calf producers through increased coordination in the beef industry. Video and satellite auction markets are recognized as a national pricing mechanism for feeder cattle in the United States. These markets represent the management and marketing practices of national cow-calf producers and the tastes and preferences of a national stocker and feedlot industry. Previous research in feeder cattle pricing models is applied to the current genetic, management, marketing and market structure information from video auction markets to discover relevant price effects pertaining to value-added calf production. More intensive value-added management practices were expected to enhance the revenue of cow-calf producers selling their calves through video auction markets. This research confirms that verified health and genetic claims produce higher calf prices compared to commodity calves. Weaned calves with at least two rounds of respiratory vaccinations generated an additional $5.50 to $7.50 per cwt., and weaning created $2.75 to $4.50 per cwt. in premiums over non-certified health programs. There were statistical differences among the premiums for each aggregated breed influence, and Angus and black and black-white faced cattle offered the highest breed premiums at $5.25 to $7.50 per cwt. compared to Brahman-influenced calves. Age-and-source verification presents the best opportunity for video auction market premiums among recently developed marketing programs. Statistically significant premiums ranged from $1.25 to $2.00 per cwt. for both steers and heifers over the last five years.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the value of systematic thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) for detecting bovine respiratory disease (BRD) related lung damage in Holstein x Angus crossbred calves. Because the dairy industry is known to operate on small profit margins, it is important to assess the potential of this technology to help prevent the main source of financial loss related to calf production that dairy producers face. Studies have shown that BRD may impact nearly a fourth of all dairy calves before weaning. In an industry that is currently growing and evolving, it is important that producers have all the necessary resources to operate efficiently. TUS is known to be a quick and accurate predictor of BRD related lung damage, but this study focuses on the financial implications of BRD related lung damage on calf growth and efficiency—average daily gain (ADG) and milk-to-gain (M:G)—and the value of implementing TUS information to make sound management decisions. TUS along with BRD diagnosis information give producers a unique perspective on future growth and development of calves and could be part of the solution to promote larger profit margins for dairy producers. We find that the value associated with TUS and BRD diagnosis information is between $0.88/head and $13.44/head and depends on BRD incidence rate, feed price, and feeder price. Depending on the cost to the farm, it may be beneficial to implement this as a way to manage BRD damage, which we know to influence calf growth and efficiency.