Published in Journal of Animal Science
Introduction The animal agriculture industry is an excellent example of an area that relies on data to drive decision making. It is imperative that as technology continues to evolve, it is vetted and proven that it can be impactful to production. However, it must also be proven that there is a need for the new technology, as there are instances whe...
Published in Journal of Animal Science
Sense of belonging is a student’s sense of feeling accepted, valued, encouraged, and included by others in their discipline. Sense of belonging fundamentally influences behavior and is linked to academic and career outcomes. Recent projections indicate there will not be enough qualified college graduates for requisite STEM agriculture careers. Furt...
Published in Journal of Animal Science
The cattle industry and its associated markets are inherently volatile, leading producers to search for more economically sustainable production practices. Supplementation with high protein feed increases yearling gain. However, strategically supplementing in the latter half of the grazing season, as forage quality declines, could provide a more ec...
Published in Journal of Animal Science
Supplementation with a β- adrenergic agonist (β-AA) for 21 days in Brahman steers under heat stress conditions (HS) was evaluated with respect to feedlot performance and carcass merit. Twenty-four Brahman steers (kg = 338 ± 39) were housed in two controlled environment chambers with one of two environmental (ENV) conditions 1) heat stress (HS; THI ...
Published in Journal of Animal Science
Increasing reproductive efficiency in the breeding herd is a fundamental goal of modern swine production systems that depends on a multitude of factors, some of which begin at or before birth. Of particular interest, previous research has identified a link between colostrum consumption in the first 24h of the piglet’s life with survival, growth, an...
Published in Journal of Animal Science
In the young calf, vitamin A is particularly important for immune system maturation, and calves rely on colostrum at birth to supply vitamin A. Cow vitamin A status may influence colostral vitamin A concentrations, which can impact vitamin A status of their calves. Very little is understood about this relationship between beef cow and calf vitamin ...
Published in Journal of Animal Science
The objective of this study was to determine genetic parameter estimates for age at first calving (AFC) in Red Angus and Simmental heifers. The ability for a heifer to calve earlier has implications on calf performance and the heifer's successive re-breeding. Heifer pregnancy data were obtained from International Genetic Solutions, where females wi...
Published in Journal of Animal Science
A deficiency of ruminally available N (RAN) caused by a basal diet of low-quality forage may depress forage utilization. Supplemental protein improves utilization by addressing the RAN therefore increasing intake and potentially improving digestibility. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of ruminal degradability and level of pr...
Published in Journal of Animal Science
Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental contaminants and impact reproduction and epigenetic mechanisms. The use of diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) has increased in the last decade. However, studies about DIBP's effects on female reproductive physiology are limited. Methylation of DNA and RNA are epigenetic processes that regulate gene expression, cell ...
Published in Journal of Animal Science
Reproductive performance is central to profitability in beef cattle operations. Pathogenic stress can result from gram-negative bacteria release of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin which has the potential to accumulate in follicular fluid and impair folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis, leading to reduced fertility. Elevated LPS concentration...
