In the first experiment, forage samples (n = 39) were collected during 4 years (2006 ? 2009) from pastures grazed by Santa Gertrudis cattle at the King Ranch, TX. The in vitro gas production technique (IVGP) was performed to understand the pattern of fermentation parameters of the forage and obtain fractional digestion rate (kd) values to predict total digestible nutrients (TDN). The best nonlinear model to describe the IVGP values of the forages was the two-pool logistic equation. The passage rate (kp) of 4%/h was used.. The kp predicted by the Large Nutrient Ruminant System (LNRS) model was 3.66%/h. The average TDN was 55.9% compared to 53.8% using a theoretical equation. In the second experiment, Brahman bulls (n = 16) grazed Coastal bermudagrass pastures [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] and stocked at a moderate to low grazing pressure. Three periods of fecal collections were made within each period. Bulls were individually fed at 0700 and 1900 h of 400 g of corn gluten pellets containing C32 n-alkanes. Each period was divided in 2 sub periods in which fecal samples were collected 4 times a day (0700, 1100, 1500 and 1900 h). N-alkanes in the forage and feces were determined using gas chromatography. In the third experiment, four methods were used to estimate dry matter intake (DMI): C31 or C33 with or without adjustment for forage C32 (C31_0 and C33_0, respectively). There was a difference between morning (0700 and 1100 h) and afternoon fecal collections (1500 and 1900 h) on the predicted DMI using C31 (P = 0.0010), C33 (P = 0.0001), C31_0 (P = 0.0010), or C33_0 (P < 0.0001). There was no difference in average daily gain (ADG) between low and high residual feed intake (RFI) (P = 0.5709). The nonparametric analysis indicated that preranking animals for efficiency under confinement conditions does not guarantee (P < 0.0001) similar ranking under grazing conditions when using the alkane technique to determine forage DMI. In order to estimate DMI at least 5 d of fecal collection and 2 times a day of collection (0700 and 1500h) are needed to decrease the variability.

The first objective of this study was to validate the feeding behavior measurements from a radio frequency electronic system (GrowSafe (TM) System Ltd., Airdrie, AB, Canada) and examine the software sensitivity to different parameter settings (MPS) to quantify feeding behavior traits. Data was continuously recorded 24 h per day using the GrowSafe™ system for 32 heifers over 81-d. Ten animals were randomly selected and evaluated over 6-d using time-lapse video recordings. Different parameter settings (MPS) from the electronic system (GrowSafe (TM)) used to record feeding behavior data, bunk visits (BV) frequency and BV duration, were compared with the observed (video) values. The second objective of this study was to quantify meal criterion; examine the associations between feeding behavior traits, performance, and feed efficiency; and the effects of breed type on feed efficiency (residual feed intake - RFI) and feeding behavior traits in heifers fed high-grain diets. Results from study one demonstrated that the GrowSafe (TM) system 4000E could accurately predict BV and meal data compared to observed data. The 100 s, used for the maximum duration between consecutive EID recordings to end an uninterrupted BV, was the appropriate MPS to predict BV frequency and duration, and meal frequency and duration compared to observed data using the GrowSafe (TM) 4000E system. The system’s ability to detect the animal’s presence or absence at the feed bunk was 86.4 and 99.6 percent, respectively. Results from the second study demonstrated that the meal criterion for heifers fed high-grain diets was 13.8 min. The 4 methods to calculate meal criterion demonstrated no differences in results of frequencies and durations of meal and the number of bunk visits per meal. Similar phenotypic correlations were found between the feeding behavior traits with RFI derived from the base model or with adjustments for final back fat. The adjustment of RFI to final back fat changed the RFI rank between breeds. The addition of feeding behavior traits to the RFI base model could accounted up to 40.4 percent of the variation in DMI not explained by ADG or MBW.

Objectives were to 1) evaluate the use of the CO-Synch + CIDR (COS-C) protocol for synchronization of ovulation and timed AI (TAI) in Bos indicus-influenced cattle, 2) compare cumulative pregnancy rates after COS-C synchronization and TAI to those in a traditional management (TM) scheme, and 3) evaluate specific ovarian, hormonal, and estrual events associated with COS-C. The COS-C regimen included insertion of a controlled internal drug release device (CIDR) containing progesterone and injection of GnRH (GnRH-1) on day 0, removal of the CIDR and injection of prostaglandin F2a (PGF on d 7, and injection of GnRH (GnRH-2) and TAI 48 h later. In experiment 1 (Exp. 1), 335 females were stratified by BCS, parity and d postpartum before random assignment to COS-C or TM. An additional 96 females in which TM controls were not available for comparison also received COS-C. Conception rates to TAI averaged 39% (n = 266). Cumulative pregnancy rates were greater (P < 0.05) after 30 and 60 d of the breeding season in COS-C than in TM (n = 170 and 165 females respectively). In experiment 2 (Exp. 2), 100 postpartum (F1) females were stratified as in Exp. 1 within four replicates (25 each) and assigned randomly to receive either COSC or COS (no CIDR) treatment. No differences were observed between treatments and all data were pooled. Percentages of cows ovulating after GnRH-1, developing a synchronized follicular wave, exhibiting luteal regression to PGF, and ovulating to GnRH-2 were 40, 60, 93, and 72%, respectively. In experiment 3 (Exp. 3), primiparous (F1) heifers (n = 32) and pluriparous cows (n = 18) received the Select Synch + CIDR synchronization regimen (no GnRH-2 or TAI). Mean intervals from CIDR removal to estrus and ovulation, and from estrus to ovulation were 70 ± 2.9, 99 ± 2.8, and 29 ± 2.2 h, respectively. Relatively low TAI conception rates (< 50%) were attributed to failure of 40% of cattle to develop a synchronized follicular wave after GnRH-1 and to inappropriate timing of TAI/GnRH-2. It may be possible to improve TAI conception rates by delaying TAI/GnRH-2 to between 66 and 72 h, and by developing methods to increase the number of ovulations after GnRH-1.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Alberta, 2009. / Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on Dec. 29, 2009). "A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Animal Science, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta." Includes bibliographical references.

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on March 8, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Dissertation advisor: Dr. Gang Yao. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

This item was digitized as part of the Million Books Project led by Carnegie Mellon University and supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Cornell University coordinated the participation of land-grant and agricultural libraries in providing historical agricultural information for the digitization project; the University of Arizona Libraries, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Office of Arid Lands Studies collaborated in the selection and provision of material for the digitization project.

No description available.

Abstract Lactate utilising bacteria (LUB) assist in reducing the risk of ruminal lactate acidosis when high concentrate diets are fed to feedlot cattle. Ruminal lactate acidosis can lead to lower animal performance and morbidity. Preliminary studies suggested that the strain, Megasphaera elsdenii (M.e.) NCIMB 41125, is a particularly potent LUB. The potential of M.e.NCIMB 41125 to improve the health and performance of feedlot cattle was investigated. Four hundred and forty eight Bonsmara steers (ca. 240 kg) were used in a 100-day feeding trial. Half the steers received at processing 200 mL M.e.NCIMB 41125 per os (LY) and the other half no LUB (LN). The diets in each of these treatments were divided into a low roughage (2%) (RL) and high roughage (8%) (RH) diet. The effects of LY vs. LN, RL vs. RH as main effects and their respective interactions (LYRL, LYRH, LNRL & LNRH) were compared in terms of morbidity, feedlot performance and carcass characteristics. The steers were weighed at two week intervals, feed was offered daily and the orts were removed weekly from each pen. The faecal consistency score and incidence of morbidity were recorded. At slaughter, carcass data were collected and the health status of the liver and rumen epithelium was assessed. Steers dosed with M.e.NCIMB 41125 had a 5.6% better average daily gain (ADG) during weeks 3 - 5 (2.09 kg/day vs. 1.98 kg/day for LY and LN, respectively). Feed conversion ratio (FCR, Weeks 1 - 13) was better for the steers fed the RL than the RH treatment (4.72 kg/kg vs. 4.99 kg/kg for RL and RH, respectively). Steers on the LNRH treatment during weeks 3 - 5 used more feed per kg gain than steers on the other treatments (5.39 kg/kg for LNRH vs. 4.74 kg/kg and 4.72 kg/kg for LYRL and LNRL, respectively). More steers (21) on the LNRL treatment were treated for morbidity than on the other treatments (8, 7 and 5 for LYRL, LYRH and LNRH, respectively). In general, animal performance was not improved by dosing with M.e.NCIMB 41125, but since ADG was improved in the immediate postadaptation phase (weeks 3 - 5) and morbidity levels were lower on the low roughage diet, dosing of steers on low roughage, lactate acidosis-prone, diets with M.e.NCIMB 41125 should prove useful.

No description available.

No description available.