Metabolic redox status may have important implications to cattle health and production. Antioxidants and biomarkers of oxidative stress were evaluated in cattle under three phases of management. Each phase stood alone as a treatment model, and managerial aspects during the phase were evaluated as potential moderators of redox balance. Yearling heifers were used to assess the impact of fescue toxicosis and heat stress on selected markers in study 1. Intravaginal temperatures, ADG, serum prolactin, plasma malondialdehyde, and whole blood Se, along with peripheral blood mononuclear cell glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and reduced:oxidized glutathione were determined during summer grazing. Results suggested that endophyte consumption does not promote oxidative stress in cattle. Heat stress may alter glutathione redox of white blood cells. In study 2, effects of gradual weaning strategies (anti-suckle nose clip and fenceline wean) and transport were evaluated in calves. Calf weights, Se and malondialdehyde in plasma, along with glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in leukocytes were measured at -7, 0, 1, and 7 days surrounding weaning and transport. Little benefit of gradual weaning was detected, and oxidative stress may have been negligible. In study 3, the influences of grain- and forage-based diets were compared in finishing steers pre- and post-harvest. Total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde concentration of plasma, along with serum alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, and gamma-tocopherol were measured. Antioxidants and lipid oxidation were assessed in beef. Forages promoting plasma antioxidant capacity may protect cattle against oxidative stress. Antioxidants derived from forages inhibit lipid oxidation in pasture-finished beef. / Master of Science

Consumer evaluation, proximate data, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), fatty acid (FA) composition and volatile compounds were analyzed from the Longissimus thoracis (LT), Tricep brachii (TB) and Gluteus medius (GM) muscles finished on conventional feedlot (FL) and forages, including a perennial legume, birdsfoot trefoil (BFT; Lotus corniculatus), and a grass, meadow brome (Bromus riparius Rehmann, Grass). Representative retail forage (USDA Certified Organic Grass-fed, COGF) and conventional beef (USDA Top Choice, TC) were investigated (n = 6) for LT. Additionally, the effects of diet on Gluteus medius (GM) and Tricep brachii (TB) muscles were explored. Forage-finished beef scored lower (P < 0.05) in most of the affected sensory attributes except BFT which was similar to grain-finished beef. In forage-finished beef GM was more liked and in FL, TB was similar to GM except juiciness where it scored greater. The fat percent was found to be greatest (P < 0.05) in TC followed by BFT and FL. Nutritionally beneficial ratios of FAs were observed in forage-finished diet. Fatty acid concentrations were majorly affected (P ≤ 0.046) by diet. Few long-chain PUFAs were affected (P ≤ 0.015) by muscle type. No FA was a effected (P > 0.05) by the interaction of muscle and diet. 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, known to evoke a buttery sensation was affected (P = 0.011) by diet with greater (P < 0.05) concentration in GM across all diets. Strecker degradation products were affected (P ≤ 0.014) by muscle type being prominent in GM. Meanwhile, 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethyl-pyrazine was greatest (P < 0.05) in BFT. All pyrazine compounds were (P < 0.05) greater in GM. These results indicate that when consumer evaluated beef of finishing diets, FL beef was rated highly. Additionally, not all forages produce similar beef. There were similar ratings for BFT for all attributes except flavor having lower values compared with FL. The chemical composition of BFT beef was found to be intermediary and similar to both FL and Grass beef in many cases. Diet was found to interact with muscle for sensory and chemical measures. The GM and TB of FL did not differ (P < 0.05), while within forage treatments sensory response and chemical composition varied. These results indicate the meat quality of secondary beef muscles is more greatly impacted by forage diets.

Conventional techniques within the beef cattle industry involve weaning the calf from the dam when the calf is about 205 days of age. Weaning induces a stress-response that is implicated in reducing the health and productivity of newly weaned calves. Our goal was to evaluate the impact of weaning on the stress immune responses of beef calves. To that end, we 1) evaluated novel methods to quantify physiological markers of stress, 2) compared immune function and growth of calves grazing legume versus grass forages, and 3) compared the effects of abrupt versus two-stage weaning on calves. In study 1, calf, yearling, and adult beef cattle were used to assess the accuracy and precision of handheld glucometers in quantifying bovine blood glucose concentration. Precision Xtra® and ReliOn® glucometers were used chute side to quantify blood glucose concentrations in cattle and were compared to an accepted plasma glucose analysis on the same samples for validation. The Precision Xtra® glucometer was more accurate and precise than the ReliOn® glucometer. In study 2, weaned heifers were used to compare the immunomodulatory effects of grazing alfalfa versus fescue over a 30 day grazing period. No differences were detected in the interferon gamma (IFNγ) production and weight gain between the heifers on alfalfa and fescue. In study 3, effects of two-stage (fenceline) and abrupt weaning were compared. Calf weights, immune cell function, antibody production, blood glucose concentrations, fecal cortisol concentrations, and gene expression (FAS, IL-4,IL-10, and IFNγ) were measured pre- and post-weaning. On the day after weaning, the abruptly weaned calves had higher blood glucose concentrations than fenceline weaned calves. Fecal cortisol concentration and gene expression of FAS and IL-4 increased in both groups after weaning, but no differences were detected between the weaning treatments. Gene expression of IL-10 and IFNγ did not change over time. No date, treatment or treatment*date effect was detected for total weight gain or IFNγ production within the non-stimulated and the mitogen-stimulated whole blood samples. / Master of Science