Applied Animal Science最新文献

{"title":"Effects of stocking rate on perinatal cows and subsequent growth and performance of calves from birth to carcass: A long-term epigenetic analysis","authors":"Douglas R. Tolleson ,&nbsp;Dan Quadros ,&nbsp;Charles R. Long ,&nbsp;Kelli D. Norman ,&nbsp;Monte Rouquette Jr.","doi":"10.15232/aas.2024-02605","DOIUrl":"10.15232/aas.2024-02605","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Our objective was to analyze long-term cow-calf records to document effects of perinatal stocking rates on subsequent cow and calf performance from birth to slaughter.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><div>Over 1,900 cattle records from F-1 (Hereford or Angus × Brahman) cows calving in the fall or winter and stocked on bermudagrass at 3 distinct stocking rates (i.e., low [LO; 2.4 cow-calf pairs {CC} per hectare], moderate [MOD; 3.8 CC per hectare], or high [HI; 5.8 CC per hectare]) were analyzed. At termination of the stocker period, calves were shipped to a commercial feedlot. When most of the cattle in a pen reached a visual backfat of 1.25 cm, they were weighed and shipped 50 km to an abattoir for slaughtering and carcass grading. Carcass traits included hot carcass weight, DP, backfat, marbling score, predicted YG, longissimus muscle area, and KPH percentage.</div></div><div><h3>Results and Discussion</h3><div>Calving season, cow age, calf sex, gestation stocking rate (for a given CC and for the cow’s previous calf), and lactation stocking rate had various effects on cow, suckling calf, feedlot yearling, and carcass measures. High stocking rate generally decreased calf performance, yearling feedlot performance, and carcass parameters.</div></div><div><h3>Implications and Applications</h3><div>Stocking rate during gestation had substantial implications for cow, fetus, and calf nutrition and, thus, subsequent offspring performance from birth to slaughter. Stocking rate, particularly during the calf rearing period, was a critical component of grazing management within the context of weather, site production potential, and operational strategy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8519,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Science","volume":"41 4","pages":"Pages 377-398"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In vitro and in situ estimation of ruminal and intestinal digestion of lobster and crab shell meal","authors":"T.C. Stahl ,&nbsp;L.J. Valentine ,&nbsp;A. Abend ,&nbsp;T. Islam ,&nbsp;P.S. Erickson","doi":"10.15232/aas.2024-02632","DOIUrl":"10.15232/aas.2024-02632","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This experiment compared in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), in vitro intestinal protein degradability, and in situ degradability of lobster shell meal (LM), crab shell meal (CM), soybean meal (SBM), and blood meal (BM), and chitin degradability of LM and CM.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>The 48-h IVDMD was determined in rumen fluid. For in situ DM and CP degradability, 4 Holstein cows were used to test the degradation rates of SBM, BM, LM, and CM. Samples were removed after 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h. Protein fractions and degradation rates were determined. Fraction A was the washout before rumen suspension. Fraction C was the material remaining after 48 h. Fraction B was the initial sample − (A + C). The CP degradation rate was calculated by converting fraction B to the natural log and calculating the slope. The effective CP degradability was calculated by multiplying the sum of fractions A and B by the CP degradation rate and dividing that by the sum of the CP degradation rate and the outflow rate (2%, 5%, or 8%). For intestinal digestibility, Dacron bags (Ankom R510, pore size 50 μm, Ankom Technology) were removed from the rumen at 12 h, incubated with HCl and pepsin for 1 h, and then incubated for 12 h with protease and buffer to mimic intestinal digestion. After removal, sample bags were dried for 48 h at 55°C.</div></div><div><h3>Results and Discussion</h3><div>Soybean meal was more soluble than other feeds, and BM tended to be less soluble than LM or CM. Similarly, 12-h DM degradability was greater for SBM than for BM, LM, and CM; and BM was less than LM and CM. Intestinal DM digestibility was similar among feeds. Blood meal intestinal digestibility was estimated to be more than that of LM or CM. Rumendegradable protein was greater for SBM than for the other feeds. Blood meal was more degradable than LM and CM. Protein fraction A was similar for LM and CM, whereas fraction B and fractions A + B tended to be greater for CM than LM and fraction C tended to be greater for LM than CM. Soybean meal had greater fraction B and the sum of fractions A and B than the other feeds, and lesser fraction C. Degradation rates were greater for SBM than they were for the other feeds. Soluble chitin was greater for CM than LM, but degradability rates at 12 h and 48 h were similar.</div></div><div><h3>Implications and applications</h3><div>Results indicate that crustacean shell wastes may be used in cattle diets. More research should be conducted on feeding them to cattle.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8519,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Science","volume":"41 3","pages":"Pages 148-155"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144263197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of low temperature and ensiling time on fermentation and nutritive value of sorghum- sudangrass silage","authors":"Elizabeth Coons ,&nbsp;Matthew S. Akins","doi":"10.15232/aas.2024-02636","DOIUrl":"10.15232/aas.2024-02636","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The study evaluated the fermentation and nutritive value of freeze-affected sorghum-sudangrass si- lage stored at 2 temperatures.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><div>Sorghum-sudangrass for- age affected by several frost/freeze events and lodging was harvested and chopped, then ensiled in vacuum-sealed plastic mini-silos. Silos were stored at either 4°C or 20°C for 5, 10, 15, 30, or 60 d with triplicate silos at each time. Resulting silage was evaluated for pH, silage acids and al- cohols, nitrates, and nutritive value. Aerobic stability was also measured on silages stored for 60 d.</div></div><div><h3>Results and Discussion</h3><div>Silage pH decreased more quickly at 20°C, with silage at 4°C having a 10-d lag be- fore pH decreased. Lactic, acetic, and propionic acid con- centrations were greater at all times for silage stored at 20°C. Ethanol and methanol were greater in silage stored at 20°C, which is speculated to be from increased yeast activity. The decreased fermentation for silage stored at 4°C resulted in 1% greater DM recovery; however, aerobic stability was better for silage stored at 20°C (149 h) than 4°C (47 h) likely due to greater acetic acid concentration. Silage storage at 4°C resulted in lower NDF concentration due to less silage acid production, with no other changes in nutritive value observed due to storage temperature. Nitrate concentrations were low in the initial forage (76 mg/kg DM) with concentrations lower after storage (43– 50 mg/kg DM), as expected.</div></div><div><h3>Implications and Applications</h3><div>Storage temperature of sorghum-sudangrass silage had a significant impact on silage acid production and aerobic stability with limited fermentation the first 10 to 15 d of storage. This research is applicable when harvesting forage during cold or freez- ing temperatures, which limits early fermentation. Allow- ing standing forage to thaw/warm before harvest may improve fermentation and aerobic stability. Additional research on changes in nitrates of frosted sorghum forage is needed to confirm results in forage with high initial nitrate levels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8519,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Science","volume":"41 3","pages":"Pages 156-161"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144263198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of supplementing Bacillus subtilis PB6 on health outcomes, Salmonella spp. prevalence, growth performance, and carcass characteristics in finishing beef cattle","authors":"A.N. Hanratty ,&nbsp;K.E. Hales ,&nbsp;C.W. Dornbach ,&nbsp;N.C. Burdick-Sanchez ,&nbsp;A.B. Word ,&nbsp;B.P. Holland ,&nbsp;C.L. Maxwell ,&nbsp;J.E. Hergenreder ,&nbsp;L.G. Canterbury ,&nbsp;J.T. Leonhard ,&nbsp;J. Vasconcelos ,&nbsp;D. LaFleur ,&nbsp;S. Trojan ,&nbsp;M.L. Galyean ,&nbsp;P.R. Broadway","doi":"10.15232/aas.2024-02671","DOIUrl":"10.15232/aas.2024-02671","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>We evaluated the effects of supplementation with <em>Bacillus subtilis</em> PB6 on health outcomes, growth performance, fecal <em>Salmonella</em> prevalence, and carcass characteristics in finishing beef steers supplemented the first 60 d or the entire 224 d of the feeding period with <em>B. subtilis</em> PB6.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><div>Crossbred beef steers (n = 3,150; arrival BW 274 ± 30.6 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design consisting of 3 dietary treatments (n = 15 blocks per treatment). Treatments included the following: (1) a control diet contained no <em>B. subtilis</em> PB6 (CON); (2) a diet that included CLOSTAT supplemented with 0.5 g/steer daily of <em>B. subtilis</em> PB6 (CLOSTAT 500, Kemin Industries Inc.) to provide 6.6 × 10⁹ cfu/g active ingredient for the entire duration of the feeding period (CLO); or (3) a diet that included <em>B. subtilis</em> PB6 at a dose of 0.5 g/steer daily the initial 60 d of the feeding period (CLO60). Based on established criteria, metaphylaxis was administered after arrival to 7 blocks (21 pens) to prevent bovine respiratory disease. Fresh fecal matter was collected aseptically from multiple locations (n = 10 locations within each pen), and lymph nodes were obtained at slaughter from a subset of carcasses within each lot (n = 12) to determine <em>Salmonella</em> prevalence.</div></div><div><h3>Results and Discussion</h3><div>No interactions were observed between treatment and metaphylaxis throughout the study. The percentage of respiratory deaths was greater for steers in CLO60 than CLO and CON from d 0 to 60, but there were no growth performance differences noted among treatments. Likewise, there were no differences in lymph node prevalence of <em>Salmonella</em> among treatments; however, there was a decrease in fecal <em>Salmonella</em> prevalence for CON versus CLO and CLO60 steers from d 45 to 90.</div></div><div><h3>Implications and Applications</h3><div>Supplementation of <em>B. subtilis</em> PB6 for the first 60 d or the entire feeding period had no effect on health outcomes, growth performance, and carcass characteristics. Moreover, feeding <em>B. subtilis</em> PB6 for the first 60 d or entire feeding period did not affect <em>Salmonella</em> prevalence in the subiliac lymph nodes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8519,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Science","volume":"41 3","pages":"Pages 205-214"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144263767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Notice of RETRACTION: “Perspectives and Commentary: Fat nutrition and metabolism of early- lactation dairy cows” (Appl. Anim. Sci. 40:729–737)","authors":"A.F. Kertz","doi":"10.15232/aas.2025-41-3-0147","DOIUrl":"10.15232/aas.2025-41-3-0147","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8519,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Science","volume":"41 3","pages":"Page 147"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144263270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Invited Review: The weaning transition in dairy calves—Why so traumatic?*","authors":"J.K. Drackley","doi":"10.15232/aas.2024-02657","DOIUrl":"10.15232/aas.2024-02657","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>The purpose of this review article was to identify physiological and management factors that affect the weaning transition in dairy calves, which can be a dif- ficult time for calves.</div></div><div><h3>Sources</h3><div>Peer-reviewed journal articles were used to compile the review.</div></div><div><h3>Synthesis</h3><div>Weaning is often a period of stress and lost performance for calves, in many cases resulting in respira- tory disease or diarrhea caused by coccidiosis or acidosis. Physiological factors contribute to the difficulty, including the expanding gut fill, allometric growth of the reticuloru- men and gastrointestinal tract, and development of the ruminal epithelium. Stabilizing ruminal pH above 6.0 so that fiber fermentation can proceed is a major challenge for calves. Management practices should aim to maximize starter intake while avoiding ruminal acidosis. Providing a high-quality calf starter is extremely important, including appropriate ingredient and chemical composition as well as physical form. Calves should not be weaned until they are consuming an adequate amount of starter to allow the discontinuation of milk intake and should be weaned gradually rather than abruptly. Although small amounts of forage before and after weaning may be useful in calves fed pelleted or ground starters and not bedded on straw, calves should not have free access to alfalfa hay. Water ac- cess is critical because the rumen needs water to support the developing microbial ecosystem. Stressful management tasks such as dehorning or vaccination should not be per- formed at the same time as weaning. Ruminal acidosis is likely more common than has been recognized and causes decreased intake, decreased growth, and diarrhea, espe- cially in calves soon after weaning.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions and Applications</h3><div>The weaning tran- sition is a period of stress for calves. Managing starter quality, time and rate of weaning, forage and water avail- ability, concurrent stressors, and acidosis can help avoid difficult weaning and improve the welfare of young calves without losing performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8519,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Science","volume":"41 3","pages":"Pages 190-204"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144263766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Culture- and polymerase chain reaction–based prevalence of bacterial pathogens in liver abscesses and ruminal wall tissues of beef-on-dairy feedlot cattle fed finishing diets with no additives, tylosin, or antibiotic alternatives to control liver abscesses*","authors":"Mina Abbasi ,&nbsp;Reese Wilson ,&nbsp;Alyssa Deters ,&nbsp;Xiaorong Shi ,&nbsp;Leigh Ann George ,&nbsp;Dale R. Woerner ,&nbsp;Miles Theurer ,&nbsp;Raghavendra G. Amachawadi ,&nbsp;T.G. Nagaraja","doi":"10.15232/aas.2025-02678","DOIUrl":"10.15232/aas.2025-02678","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Our objectives were to investigate the prevalence and concentrations of major bacterial pathogens associated with liver abscesses and ruminal epithelial tissues of beef-on-dairy heifers fed finishing diets containing no additives (negative control), tylosin, or a probiotic (yeast) and zeolite combination to control liver abscesses.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><div>A total of 74 liver abscesses and 69 ruminal epithelial tissues, collected at slaughter, were subjected to culture-based methods to isolate 5 bacterial species, <em>Fusobacterium necrophorum</em> ssp. <em>necrophorum</em>, <em>F. necrophorum</em> ssp. <em>funduliforme</em>, <em>Trueperella pyogenes</em>, <em>Salmonella enterica</em>, and <em>Escherichia coli</em>, and to a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay to determine prevalence and concentrations of the 2 <em>F. necrophorum</em> subspecies. Statistical analyses included Fisher’s exact test for prevalence and ANOVA for bacterial concentrations to compare the treatment groups.</div></div><div><h3>Results and Discussion</h3><div>Both culture method and qPCR assay indicated that the ssp. <em>necrophorum</em> was the dominant pathogen, and the prevalence tended to be greater in the negative control group than in the tylosin or yeast-plus-zeolite groups. The prevalence of ssp. <em>funduliforme</em> was not different between the treatment groups. Concentrations of both subspecies were in log 6 to 7 cfu/g and were not affected by treatment. The prevalence of <em>T. pyogenes</em> and <em>S. enterica</em> were low, but the prevalence of <em>E. coli</em> was high. A total of 5 liver abscesses were negative for both subspecies, suggesting that 6% of abscesses were caused by pathogens other than <em>F. necrophorum</em>. In ruminal tissues, the prevalence of ssp. <em>funduliforme</em> was greater than the ssp. <em>necrophorum</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Implications and Applications</h3><div>The combination of culture method and qPCR assay provided complementary assessment of the prevalence of the major pathogens in liver abscesses of beef-on-dairy cattle, which was similar to that of liver abscesses in cattle of beef breeds. This is the first study that used a qPCR assay to detect and quantify the 2 subspecies of <em>F. necrophorum</em> in liver abscesses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8519,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Science","volume":"41 3","pages":"Pages 162-175"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144263199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Call for Submissions","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S2590-2865(25)00049-7","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S2590-2865(25)00049-7","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8519,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Science","volume":"41 3","pages":"Pages iv-vi"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144263269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bacillus spp. supplementation stimulates the growth of preweaning bull calves offered milk replacer and pelleted starter supplement","authors":"Giuseppe Copani ,&nbsp;Kimberley Morrill ,&nbsp;Oscar C.M. Queiroz ,&nbsp;Bruno I. Cappellozza","doi":"10.15232/aas.2024-02626","DOIUrl":"10.15232/aas.2024-02626","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>In 2 experiments, the objective was to evaluate the effects of supplementing a <em>Bacillus</em>-based direct-fed microbial (<strong>DFM</strong>) on growth rates of preweaning dairy bull calves.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><div>In experiment (Exp.) 1, 62 Holstein-Friesian bull calves were ranked by initial BW and assigned to (1) no DFM supplementation (n = 31; CON) or (2) supplementation of a <em>Bacillus</em>-based DFM in the milk replacer and pelleted feed (n = 31; DFM). Throughout the study, calves were housed individually, milk replacer was offered twice daily with equal amounts being offered twice daily following a programmed feeding. Starting on wk 3 of the study, pelleted feed was offered in controlled amounts to all calves, whereas corn silage and lucerne hay were offered <em>ad libitum</em>. In Exp. 2, 52 Holstein-Friesian bull calves were assigned to the same treatments as reported in Exp. 1 and maintained in group pens, with individual milk and solid feed intake recordings. All data were analyzed with the MIXED procedure of SAS (version 9.4), using calf as the experimental unit.</div></div><div><h3>Results and Discussion</h3><div>In Exp. 1, DFM-fed bull calves were heavier versus CON on d 42 and 63 of the study. A similar treatment × day interaction tended to be observed for ADG, so that ADG was greater in DFM from d 21 to 42 and tended to be greater from d 0 to 63. Similarly, in Exp. 2, calves fed DFM were heavier on d 56 (treatment × day interaction). For ADG, DFM-fed bull calves had a greater ADG from d 28 to 56 and 0 to 56. Daily pellet intake and G:F for calves fed milk replacer were greater for DFM-fed calves.</div></div><div><h3>Implications and Applications</h3><div>In summary, feeding a <em>Bacillus</em>-based DFM improved growth rates of low-risk, preweaning Holstein-Friesian bull calves, while also positively affecting milk and solid feed intake. These results indicate that bacterial-based DFM are a feasible strategy to promote the growth rate of calves offered milk replacer preparations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8519,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Science","volume":"41 2","pages":"Pages 76-84"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143683795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of inclusion of urea and wet distillers grains with solubles in diets based on dry-rolled corn on heifer performance and carcass characteristics","authors":"Brad M. Boyd ,&nbsp;Bryan W. Neville ,&nbsp;Kristin E. Hales ,&nbsp;Andrew P. Foote ,&nbsp;Steven D. Shackelford ,&nbsp;Galen E. Erickson","doi":"10.15232/aas.2024-02612","DOIUrl":"10.15232/aas.2024-02612","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of urea and wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) inclusion on heifer growth performance and carcass characteristics.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><div>Crossbred heifers (n = 96) were used to study the effects of 2 inclusion levels of both WDGS and urea in a finishing diet based on dry-rolled corn on performance and carcass characteristics. Heifers were individually fed using a Calan gate system with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Factors were inclusion of WDGS at either 10% or 20% of diet DM and dietary urea at a concentration of either 0.2% or 1.2% DM basis. Cattle were stratified by BW and assigned randomly to treatment. Blood samples were collected at 3 time points during the feeding period and analyzed for plasma urea nitrogen content. The statistical model included urea and WDGS inclusions and their interactions as fixed effects.</div></div><div><h3>Results and Discussion</h3><div>There were no interactions between WDGS and urea inclusion for any performance or carcass characteristics, so only main effects are discussed. There were no differences for final BW, ADG, and G:F on a live or carcass-adjusted basis for either urea or WDGS inclusion in the diet. Dry matter intake was less with increased urea inclusion; however, WDGS inclusion did not influence DMI. No differences were observed for any carcass characteristics because of urea or WDGS inclusion. Plasma urea nitrogen was greater for cattle as either urea or WDGS inclusion increased.</div></div><div><h3>Implications and Applications</h3><div>These data would suggest that when feeding diets based on dry-rolled corn, adding urea beyond that of the 0.2% treatment is not necessary when at least 10% WDGS is included in the diet</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8519,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Science","volume":"41 2","pages":"Pages 85-92"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143683796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}