To investigate the effects of inorganic or amino acid-complexed sources of trace minerals (zinc, copper, manganese, and cobalt) on performance and morbidity of beef heifers during the receiving period, crossbred beef heifer calves (n = 287, initial body weight = 231 kg) arriving on 3 delivery dates were used in a 42-day receiving trial. Heifers were processed after arrival and stratified by day -1 body weights and allocated randomly to 8 pens (11 to 13 heifers/pen; total of 24 pens). Within truckload, pens were assigned randomly to dietary treatment (12 pens/treatment). Calves were housed on 0.42-ha grass paddocks, provided ad libitum access to bermudagrass hay and water, and fed grain supplements that served as the carriers of the dietary treatments. Treatments consisted of supplemental zinc (360 mg/d), copper (125 mg/d), manganese (200 mg/d), and cobalt (12 mg/d) from complexed (Availa 4, Zinpro Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN) or inorganic sources (sulfates). Cattle were observed daily for clinical bovine respiratory disease (BRD). If presenting symptoms of BRD and if rectal temperature was ≥ 40°C, cattle were deemed morbid and treated with an antibiotic according to a standard preplanned protocol. Six heifers/pen were bled to determine serum haptoglobin concentrations on days 0, 14, and 28. Statistical analyses were performed using the MIXED and GLIMMIX procedures of SAS 9.4 with truckload as a random effect and pen within truckload specified as subject. There tended to be a treatment by day interaction for body weights (P = 0.07). Body weights did not differ on day 0 (P = 0.82) and day 14 (P = 0.36), but heifers supplemented with complexed trace mineral sources had greater body weights on day 28 (P = 0.04) and day 42 (P = 0.05; 264 vs. 260 kg, SE = 1.8). Overall average daily gains were greater for heifers supplemented with the complexed trace mineral sources (P = 0.05; 0.78 vs. 0.70 kg, SE = 0.03). Cattle supplemented with inorganic trace mineral sources had greater BRD morbidity incidence than cattle supplemented with complexed trace mineral sources (P = 0.03; 58 vs. 46%, SE = 3.6). Medication costs were lower for heifers supplemented with complexed trace mineral sources (P = 0.05; $11.01 vs. $14.90, SE = 1.33). Haptoglobin concentrations decreased throughout the trial (day, P < 0.001), and cattle supplemented with complexed trace mineral sources tended to have lower haptoglobin concentrations (P = 0.07). In conclusion, supplementing cattle for the first 42 days after arrival with amino acid complexed trace mineral sources improved heifer performance as compared to heifers supplemented with inorganic trace minerals.

To evaluate meloxicam plasma concentrations using a microneedle patch, 12 pigs (initial BW = 2.5 ± 0.53 kg) were stratified into of 4 treatment groups. Treatment groups were: 1) pigs (n = 2) received 0.5 mg/kg meloxicam via oral drench (oral); 2) pigs (n = 2) received a patch with no meloxicam (placebo); 3) pigs (n = 4) received microneedle patch dosed at 2.5 mg/kg (low dose); and 4) pigs (n = 4) received 2 microneedle patches dosed at 5 mg/kg (high dose). Blood was collected for plasma analysis at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 168 hours. Microneedle patches were adhered on the pinna of the ear after blood collection at 0 hour. Statistical analyses were performed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4, assessing effects of treatment, time, and treatment × time interaction. Statistical significance was determined at P ≤ 0.05, with tendencies at 0.05 < P ≥ 0.1. There was a treatment × time interaction (P < 0.0001), with the oral treatment group having greater meloxicam plasma concentrations at 2, 4, and 8 hours than placebo, low dose, and high dose treatment groups (P < 0.0001), but there were no differences for 24, 48, 72, 96, and 168 hours (P > 0.1). The oral treatment group tended to have greater meloxicam plasma concentrations at 12 hours compared with placebo (P = 0.09), low dose (P = 0.054), and high dose (P = 0.054) treatment groups. There were no differences between placebo, low dose, and high dose treatment groups for any blood collection timepoint (P > 0.1). Meloxicam concentrations in plasma were detectable but low for both the low dose treatment group (0.21 ng/mL) and high dose treatment group (1.14 ng/mL). Research is continuing to determine the ideal meloxicam dosage needed on the patch to deliver desired plasma concentrations.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of increased finishing weights on trained panel analysis and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) values of locally grown beef. Angus crossbred steers (n = 48) at an average weight of 340.9 kg were divided among two treatments: short-fed (SF) = 522.7 kg average final weight and long-fed (LF) = 613.6 kg average final weight to simulate a beef direct marketing operation. Cattle were split into two pens (n = 12 calves/treatment in each pen) and each pen had access to four automated feeders, which were filled as needed for ad libitum intake. Body weights were recorded at 28 d intervals throughout the finishing process to determine harvest dates and measure cattle performance. Finished steers were transported to a commercial processing facility. A strip loin was collected from the right side of each carcass approximately 48 hours following harvest. Strip loins were wet aged in the absence of light for 21 d, then cut into 2.54 cm steaks and frozen at -20° C until analysis. Sensory evaluations and WBSF were conducted as outlined by the AMSA Sensory Guidelines to evaluate the traits of juiciness, beef flavor intensity, off-flavor intensity, connective tissue amount, myofibrillar tenderness and overall tenderness. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design with the fixed effect of final cattle weight and the random effect of panel session. Peak internal temperature was included in the model as a covariate. Statistical differences were determined with α ≤ 0.05 and tendencies were observed between 0.06 to 0.09. No differences were observed between treatment groups for initial or sustained juiciness, myofibrillar tenderness, connective tissue amount or overall tenderness (P ≥ 0.140). Steaks from LF cattle produced lower WBSF scores (P < 0.05) compared with SF cattle. Additionally, steaks from LF cattle produced less off flavors (P = 0.05) than SF cattle. Long fed cattle steaks tended to have a greater beef intensity score (P = 0.08). These results indicate that while LF cattle produce more tender beef with more intense beef flavor and less off-flavors, SF cattle still provide a quality eating experience, with less feed input costs. However, if there are potential processing bottlenecks from reduced processing capacity, long fed cattle will also provide a high-quality eating experience as well.

The objective of this experiment was to further investigate the effects of phosphorus intake on beef heifer growth performance and conception rates. An increase in phosphorus soil concentrations from use of livestock manure as fertilizer in Northwest Arkansas has led to greater phosphorus concentrations available in forages. This study was designed to determine if phosphorus supplementation is warranted when adequate phosphorus soil concentrations exist. This experiment was conducted over 2 years using two separate groups of weaned crossbred Angus heifers (n=72/year). Approximately 30 d after weaning, heifers were stratified by body weight (average initial weight 262kg) and allocated randomly to 14 groups (8 in Year 1, 6 in Year 2). Groups were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatments: 1) a free-choice-mineral mix that contained no supplemental phosphorus (CON), or 2) a free-choice-mineral mix with 4% supplemental phosphorus and identical concentrations of other supplemental minerals (4PMIN). Heifers grazed 2.24 ha mixed grass pastures with a history of livestock manure application and were supplemented with soy hulls (0.5% of body weight) daily. On d 112, heifers > 273 kg body weight had an ultrasound evaluation of reproductive tracts (1= infantile, 5= cyclic). Heifers were determined pregnant or open via rectal ultrasonography. Data were analyzed using the MIXED or GLIMMIX procedures of SAS 9.4 with group within year as the experimental unit. There were no differences in gain for either treatments for the 224-day period (P ≥ 0.14). Reproductive tract scores did not differ (P = 0.95). There were no differences for conception rates (AI or natural bred) (P ≥ 0.55). Overall pregnancy was 79% for CON and 83% for 4PMIN. Heifers grazing pastures with a history of livestock manure application did not benefit from adding supplemental phosphorus in the free choice mineral offered.

The objective of this experiment was to further investigate effects of feeding dried citrus pulp (DCP) to cattle. Crossbred beef heifers (n = 167, initial body weight = 266 ± 1.8 kg) arriving on 2 delivery dates were used in a 42-day receiving trial. Heifers were processed after arrival and placed randomly into 8 pens on each delivery date (10 or 11 heifers/pen; total of 16 pens). Each pen was assigned randomly to 1 of the 2 supplements. Dietary treatments were: 1) a corn and distillers’ grains based receiving supplement (control), or 2) an identical receiving supplement except it contained 20% dried citrus pulp (replacing a portion of the corn). Heifers had access to bermudagrass hay and water for ad libitum intake, but were only offered up to 1.8 kg/day of their appropriate receiving supplement. Cattle were observed daily for clinical bovine respiratory disease (BRD), if presenting symptoms of BRD and if rectal temperature was ≥ 40° C; cattle were treated according to a standard preplanned protocol with antibiotic and deemed morbid. Weights were recorded on day 0, 14, 28, 41, and 42. Statistical analyses were performed by using the Mixed and GenMod procedures of SAS 9.4 with treatment as the fixed effect and delivery date as a random effect. Dietary treatment had no effect on body weight on any day, or on the overall average daily gain (ADG; P > 0.54). Heifers fed the control supplement had a greater ADG from day 28 to 42 (P = 0.07) compared to those fed DCP. Incidence of morbidity was not affected by DCP supplementation (P = 0.53). In conclusion, feeding dried citrus pulp in receiving supplements resulted in similar overall average daily gain and did not affect the incidence of bovine respiratory disease within the 42-day receiving period.