A life-cycle assessment (LCA) model was developed to estimate the environmental impacts associated with four different U.S. Northern Great Plains (NPG) beef production systems. The LCA model followed a "cradle-to-gate" approach and incorporated all major unit processes, including mineral supplement production. Four distinct operation scenarios were modeled based on production strategies common ...

To establish the basis for implementation of a producer education program, a social assessment of the willingness and barriers to adoption of a measure of feed efficiency in beef cattle [residual feed intake (RFI)] was conducted. A 35-question mailed survey was sent to 1,888 producers acquired from the stratified random sample of the Idaho Cattle Association member list (n = 488), Red Angus Ass...

The maintenance energy required to sustain the cow herd is a major cost of beef production. This work proposes modifying parameter estimates for a population-specific lactation curve with genetic evaluations for the maternal genetic effect on calf gain from birth to weaning to provide inputs for a commonly used prediction of energy requirement. Daily milk production (y) was modeled as a functio...

Retrospective data from Sebele Dairy Farm were analysed for reproductive performance of Friesian/Holstein cows. Three hundred records from 1989 to 1995 were used. The herd was zero grazed and the data was analysed for age at first calving (AFC), calf birth weights (BW), calving interval (CI), days open (DO), calving rate (CR), reproductive wastage (RW) and calving difficulty (CD); dystocia, aft...

The relationship between encounter frequency (average number of provider-patient encounters over a period of time) and blood pressure for hypertensive patients is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that shorter encounter intervals are associated with faster blood pressure normalization. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 5042 hypertensive patients with diabetes mellitus treated at prim...

Section annual meeting has been a well-attended addition to the program at the Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS) annual conference. This venue allows broad participation by all attendees from the Southern Section of American Society of Animal Science (ASAS), and the symposium is also well attended by members of other societies associated with SAAS. The symposium in 2012, wh...

Evaluation of dairy replacement calf health is generally divided into the pre-weaning and post-weaning periods; with an average weaning age of 8.6 weeks [1]. In 2007, the NAHMS Dairy study found that the pre-weaning period accounts for about 81% of total dairy replacement calf mortality [1]. Accordingly, management strategies to optimize health during this period will have the greatest impact o...

A study was conducted to determine differences in performance, carcass characteristics , and profitability of a calf-feeding and a yearling production system. Year-lings had higher daily gains compared to calf-feds; however, calf-feds were more efficient than yearlings. Yearlings produced more weight than calf-feds leading to an improvement in profitability for yearlings compared to calf-feds. ...

A spring calving herd consisting of about 350 beef cows, 14-16 breeding bulls, 60 replacement heifers and 112 steers were used to compare the whole-farm GHG emissions among calf-fed vs. yearling-fed production systems with and without growth implants. Carbon footprint ranged from 11.63 to 13.22 kg CO₂e per kg live weight (19.87-22.52 kg CO₂e per kg carcass weight). Enteric CH₄ was the largest s...

Persistent patent urachus with other accompanying anomalies like urethral obstruction and uroperitoniumquickly deteriorates animal conditions which necessitate prompt surgical intervention and animal salvage. A10-day-old calf was referred to clinic with mildly distended abdomen, history of umbilical dribbling and nosigns of normal urination since birth. On clinical laboratory results and ancill...