Plasma metabolites of receiving heifers and the relationship between bovine respiratory disease, weight gain, and carcass characteristics (2004)

Abstract

Plasma metabolites of receiving heifers and the relationship between bovine respiratory disease, weight gain, and carcass characteristics AbstractSix hundred sixty-five crossbred beef heifers initially weighing 495 lb were used to evaluate rectal temperature and plasma glucose, lactate, and urea nitrogen at initial processing as indicators of health status of newly arrived receiving cattle. We also evaluated the relationship between bovine respiratory disease (BRD), weight gain, and carcass characteristics. An increased number of treatments for BRD was associated with lower (linear, P<0.01) plasma glucose and lactate concentrations at initial processing. Elevated rectal temperatures at initial processing were associated with a greater number of treatments for BRD (linear, P<0.03). Initial body weight, final body weight, and average daily gain during the receiving period were progressively less (linear, P<0.01) as the number of treatments for BRD increased, whereas grazing-period gain was progressively greater with more frequent treatment for BRD during the receiving period (linear, P<0.01). Finishing-period gain, final body weight, hot carcass weight, fat thickness, and marbling score were linearly decreased (P<0.05) with increased treatmentfor BRD during the receiving period. These data suggest that initial plasma glucose and lactate concentrations might be associated with the health of newly arrived receiving cattle and that increased incidence of BRD in cattle is associated with lower weight gain and carcass quality. SummarySix hundred sixty-five crossbred beef heifers initially weighing 495 lb were used to evaluate rectal temperature and plasma glucose, lactate, and urea nitrogen at initial processing as indicators of health status of newly arrived receiving cattle. We also evaluated the relationship between bovine respiratory disease (BRD), weight gain, and carcass characteristics. An increased number of treatments for BRD was associated with lower (linear, P<0.01) plasma glucose and lactate concentrations at initial processing. Elevated rectal temperatures at initial processing were associated with a greater number of treatments for BRD (linear, P<0.03). Initial body weight, final body weight, and average daily gain during the receiving period were progressively less (linear, P<0.01) as the number of treatments for BRD increased, whereas grazing-period gain was progressively greater with more frequent treatment for BRD during the receiving period (linear, P<0.01). Finishing-period gain, final body weight, hot carcass weight, fat thickness, and marbling score were linearly decreased (P<0.05) with increased treatment for BRD during the receiving period. These data suggest that initial plasma glucose and lactate concentrations might be associated with the health of newly arrived receiving cattle and that increased incidence of BRD in cattle is associated with lower weight gain and carcass quality.

Effect of bovine respiratory disease and overall pathogenic disease incidence on carcass traits1,2

“…The observation of decreased yield grade and adjusted fat thickness measurements in the current study confirms previous studies reporting similar results as a result of BRD incidence (Gardner et al, 1999;Montgomery et al, 2008). Gardner et al (1999) found that Charolais steers affected with BRD at least once during the growing and finishing period were leaner than unaffected steers.…”

“…Gardner et al (1999) found that Charolais steers affected with BRD at least once during the growing and finishing period were leaner than unaffected steers. Montgomery et al (2008), using commercial heifers obtained from commercial sale barns, found that animals requiring at least 1 treatment for BRD were leaner than unaffected heifers. Furthermore, fat thickness measurements declined with each subsequent treatment (Montgomery et al, 2008).…”

“…Montgomery et al (2008), using commercial heifers obtained from commercial sale barns, found that animals requiring at least 1 treatment for BRD were leaner than unaffected heifers. Furthermore, fat thickness measurements declined with each subsequent treatment (Montgomery et al, 2008). Although the number of treatments was not recorded in the present study, a decrease in fat thickness as a result of BRD incidence was similar in both independent populations Marbling: 400 = slight 00 , 500 = small 00 .…”

Effect of health status on fattening performance in young crossbred polish Holstein‐Friesian × Limousin Bulls and steers

“…In the present study, the carcasses of treated steers had lower fat content than the carcasses of healthy steers, which corroborates the findings of Garcia et al (), Gardner et al (), Montgomery et al () and Snowder et al (). Gardner et al (), who analyzed Charolais steers, and Montgomery et al (), who investigated heifers, found that animals treated for pneumonia at least once during rearing and fattening were characterized by lower fat deposition than healthy animals. Montgomery et al () also demonstrated that fat thickness decreased with an increasing number of treatments.…”

“…Gardner et al (1999), who analyzed Charolais steers, and Montgomery et al (2008), who investigated heifers, found that animals treated for pneumonia at least once during rearing and fattening were characterized by lower fat deposition than healthy animals. Montgomery et al (2008) also demonstrated that fat thickness decreased with an increasing number of treatments. In our experiment the lowest fatness occurred in carcasses of animals with lung diseases.…”