Two experiments were conducted to investigate using alfalfa leaf meal (ALM; 22% CP, DM basis) in beef cattle diets. In Exp. 1, a total of 24 late-gestation Angus heifers (initial BW 470 +/- 9 kg) were blocked by BW, calving date, and BCS to 1 of 4 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. All heifers were offered a basal hay diet (7.4% CP and 67.6% NDF, DM basis). Treatments wer...

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common viral cause of childhood acute lower respiratory tract infections. It is estimated that RSV infections result in more than 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. Bovine RSV is a cause of enzootic pneumonia in young dairy calves and summer pneumonia in nursing beef calves. Furthermore, bovine RSV plays a significant role in bovine respiratory dise...

A similar proportion of beef cows and heifers exposed to estrous synchronization (ES) and artificial insemination (AI) became pregnant during the breeding season, compared with females bred via natural service breeding. Females in a breeding system that included ES and AI calved earlier in the calving season, compared with females bred with natural service, but no advantage was present for weig...

Abstract Improved reproductive management allowed dairy cow pregnancies to be optimized for beef production. The objective of this sire-controlled study was characterize effects maternal genetics and the system on calf growth. Pregnancies were created with a 2 × factorial arrangement dam breed (Holstein or Jersey) mating type (artificial insemination implantation an in vitro produced embryo fro...

It is well known that milk is a poor source of dietary iron for almost all species. Experiments with calves restricted to a ration of whole milk have shown that anaemia develops after a time and can be prevented by the addition of Fe to the ration (Cannon, 1931 ; Knoop, Krauss & Washburn, 1935 ; Herman, 1936). Haematological studies of calves in two herds at Beltsville, Maryland, showed that lo...

Four trials were conducted to explore possible advantages of weaning beef calves in two stages compared with the traditional method of weaning by abrupt separation. In the two-stage treatment, calves were prevented from nursing their dam for a period (Stage 1) before their separation (Stage 2). Control calves nursed from their dams until they were separated. Calf weights and behavior were recor...

Three experiments were conducted to examine the effects of injectable trace minerals (ITM) on measures of trace mineral status and performance in pre- and postweaned Brangus-crossbred beef calves. In Exp. 1, calves were assigned to treatments in alternating birth order (n = 150; 75/treatment), consisting of a 1-mL subcutaneous injection of ITM (MultiMin 90; MultiMin USA, Inc., Fort Collins, CO)...

Three 2.4-ha wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) fields were used to test the effects of maturity at harvest (boot vs. dough) and preservation method (hay vs. silage) on forage yield, chemical composition, and animal performance when fed in mixed diets. Forages were incorporated into 4 diets in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with hominy feed, soybean hulls, and cottonseed meal as the prim...

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect genetic merit national Irish maternal index and genotype (i.e. beef vs. × dairy [BDX]) cows subsequent performance their progeny. With exception that high produced 0.57 kg more milk tended have 0.04 a lower body condition score (BCS), no significant differences were observed between diverse merit. Differences contrasting cow apparent. Be...