Calves weaned on cow­calf operations throughout Arkansas even­ tually move on to stocker, feedlot and packer operations. Wide variations in carcass uniformity and consistency exist among these calves. Potential carcass problems can include inappro­ priate carcass size and weight, i nadequate tenderness, insufficient intramuscular fat (marbling) and excess external fat cover. Many of these quali...

Dietary P supplied to feedlot cattle is important because an inadequate supply will compromise performance, whereas excess P may harm the environment. However, P requirements of feedlot cattle are not well documented. Therefore, 45 steer calves (265.2+/-16.6 kg) were individually fed to determine the P required for gain and bone integrity over a 204-d finishing period. The basal diet consisted ...

13.5 Ib indicated a very desirable level of tenderness. A high level of consumer acceptability would be anticipated for meat from these carcasses. An economic evaluation of feedlot performance ofCharolais and Limousin sired steers and heifers is presented in Table 4. Feed costs, overhead costs and carcass sale value were based on prevailing prices for January 7, 1980. Limousin sired steers retu...

(300 words or less): Bovine respiratory disease continues to be the major cause of morbidity and mortality in feedlot operations despite the advancement in vaccines and antibiotics. Feedlot calves undergo tremendous stress prior to arrival at the feedlot (weaning, comingling, auction market and transportation) and after arrival (comingling, handling and processing, and diet change). The combina...

A study was conducted to compare Brangus, Beefmaster, Gelbray, and Simbrah breed influences for economically important traits. Brangus (9), Beefmaster (12), Gelbray (10), and Simbrah (7) sires were used in purebred and crossbred (Brahman x Hereford F1 cows) matings to generate calves (326) in eight breed groups. Beefmaster cows were of similar size (448 kg), Brangus and Gelbray cows were 11% he...

Evidence based medicine is a balancing act between data and experience (Apley and Thomson, 2003). Decision making with just experience and no data has been termed “wizardry.” This would be similar as to saying we used drug A last year and they all died. This year we used drug B and they all lived. Great! Scientists and statisticians need not apply to work in this environment. The friendly drug ...

Forty crossbred steers (Brahman x English) were categorized into two groups: 1) early weaned (EW; n = 20); and 2) normal weaned (NW; n = 20). Calves were 89 and 300 d of age at the time of EW and NW, respectively; SEM = 4.4. Early-weaned calves were kept on-site (University of Florida, Ona), provided supplement (1% of BW), and grazed on annual and perennial pastures until NW. At the time of nor...

Previous research indicates that early weaning before shipment can reduce transportation-induced increases in acute-phase proteins (APP) and can increase feedlot performance in beef calves. These data suggest that the combination of weaning and transport stress may compromise the immune system of calves, thus hindering subsequent performance and health. Therefore, our objective was to determine...

Five-hundred and fourteen calves subjected to the stresses of marketing and shipping from Florida to New Mexico were used to study performance after arrival at the feedlot. Flaked milo diets containing 50 and 75% concentrates promoted more rapid recovery of purchase weight and more efficient gains than a diet containing 25% concentrates. Free-choice alfalfa hay with the flaked milo diets reduce...