Beef Research News
Brought to you by Kansas State University
College of Veterinary Medicine - Agricultural Practices Section
October 2006
Contents:
KSU at
American Association of Bovine Practitioners Convention
Kansas State University students from the College of Veterinary Medicine
presented papers and garnered awards at the 39th Annual Conference of
the American Association of Bovine Practitioners convention in
Minneapolis, Minn., Sept. 19 through Sept. 23.
Robert Rust, fourth year veterinary student, was awarded one of the top
three research presentations at the national convention. Rust's
presentation was part of the competition of case studies among
veterinary students nationwide. The paper was part of the graduate
thesis category of research studies. In order for the presentation to be
considered for the award, the abstract must first be accepted and then
the graduate students from across the country present their research.
The topic of Rust's paper was "Effects of Castration Method and
Lidocaine on Health and Performance of Feedlot Cattle."
Elliot Stevens, doctorate student in clinical science and third year
veterinary student, was selected as one of the top ten finalists in the
case study competition among veterinary students across the country for
his presentation "Short Term Effects of Exposure to BVD Virus on Health
and Performance of Feedlot Cattle." Stevens also presented his poster at
the convention.
Becky Funk, fourth year veterinary student from Wamego, was awarded one
of the three graduate assistance-ships given out by the American
Association of Bovine Practitioners. Only three applicants from
applications from twenty veterinary schools nationwide are selected.
Funk's research proposal was "Sensitivity of Pooled Antigen Capture
ELISA Testing for Bovine Viral Diarrhea and Economic Impact of Herd-wide
Testing."
Other K-State students also presented papers. Brian Lubbers, graduate
student in pathology, Anita, Iowa, presented his paper titled "Papillomatous
Digital Dermatitis in a Feedyard." Aric Brandt, graduate student in
clinical science, Plymouth, Neb., presented his paper "Feedyard Managers
and Veterinary Response Delphi Feedyard."
Keith Dedonder, third year veterinary student from Reading, and Matt
Bartlett, third year veterinary student from Salina, were named Amstutz
Scholars and received $2,500 scholarships. The scholarship competition
is open to all second year veterinary students in the nation. Applicants
are evaluated for involvement in bovine medicine and bovine related
extra-curricular activities. Dedonder and Bartlett were two of only 20
applicants selected from an average of 3,000 potential winners.
It was a big day for K-State. There was a lot of purple pride in
Minneapolis," said Dr. Dan Thomson "We are proud of the kids. They're
hard work is definitely paying off."
USDA
Releases 2005 U.S. Animal Health Report
FORT COLLINS, Colo, Oct. 10, 2006--The U.S. Department of Agriculture
today released the 2005 U.S. Animal Health Report, a national overview
of domestic animal health in the United States.
The report addresses the many components of the U.S. animal health infrastructure, animal population demographics, approaches to foreign animal disease surveillance, and new initiatives. As an annual publication, the U.S. Animal Health Report is updated and refined each year. It provides a valuable method to communicate with stakeholders and the public about the status of animal health in the United States.
Animal health initiatives highlighted in the 2005 U.S. Animal Health Report include:
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The national aquatic animal health plan (NAAHP), developed in cooperation with industry, state and local governments. NAAHP’s purpose is to foster and support effective and efficient aquaculture, protect the health of wild and cultured aquatic resources in the United States, and meet national and international trade obligations.
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The revisions to the national veterinary accreditation program. This program emphasizes the lifetime education of accredited veterinarians through training modules that provide the latest information on the transmission, recognition and reporting of exotic diseases and emerging diseases and updates on program policy and procedures.
The
2005 U.S. Animal Health Report
is available on the APHIS Web site at
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/content/printable_version/2005_us_animal_health_report.pdf
.
Is a
preconditioning program justifiable?
Research published in The Professional Animal Scientist analyzed the
associated premiums for producers and added value to feedlots of a 45
day post-weaning preconditioning program. The researchers found that
there is in fact a premium paid for preconditioned calves. Based on the
data used in the study preconditioned calves sold in the fall have
premiums of $0.099 to $0.110/kg than that of comparable
non-preconditioned calves. Not surprisingly calves sold in the fall had
higher premiums than those sold in the winter due to the fact that fall
calves are freshly weaned and those sold in the winter had likely been
backgrounded. With this, it was found that a preconditioning program
returns a cow-calf producer about $14 more per head compared with
selling there calves at weaning based on a premium of $0.099/kg and
taking into consideration seasonal and body weight price adjustments and
total costs of approximately $60/head. There is also value created for
the feedlot when purchasing preconditioned calves. Dhuyvetter et al.
estimate that the economic value of purchasing preconditioned calves
ranges from $40 to $60 per head. The researchers feel based on this
study and the evaluation of previous research that as the risk of
purchasing preconditioned calves continues to decrease, the premiums
paid by feeders will inch closer to their full economic value.
Dhuyvetter, K.C., A.M. Bryant, and D.A. Blasi.
Case Study: Preconditioning Beef Calves: Are
Expected Premiums Sufficient to Justify the Practice?
The Professional Animal Scientist 2005 21: 502-514
Factors
affecting carcass characteristics of feedlot steers
Researchers performed a meta-analysis on data from 43 publications from
1982 to 2004 to evaluate effects of biological type (early or late
maturity) and implant status on carcass characteristics. Harvest traits
examined were hot carcass weight (HCW), LM area, 12th rib fat thickness,
KPH, and intramuscular fat (%) at harvest. Two projects were described:
1) using fat thickness as a covariate and 2) using body weight as a
covariate. Differences in maturity (early-moderate and late maturity)
confirmed that frame size accounts for a substantial portion of carcass
composition. The research also confirms that implant status had
significant effects on carcass quality.
McPhee, M.J., J.W. Oltjen, T.R. Famula and R.D. Sainz
Meta-analysis of factors affecting carcass
characteristics of feedlot steers. J Anim Sci
2006 84: 3143-3154.
Beef Heifer
Estrus Synchronization and Artificial Insemination
Recent research compared pregnancy rates based from fixed-time AI (TAI),
heat detection, or estrus detection and clean up bulls. The work also
evaluated the addition of GnRH at controlled internal drug release (CIDR)
insertion in synchronization protocols. Estrus was synchronized in 2,075
replacement beef heifers in 12 locations using a base synchronization
protocol for all animals of a CIDR for 7 days plus prostaglandin F2α at
CIDR removal. Animals were allocated to four treatments: 1) ETAI: estrus
detection and timed AI, 2) G+ETAI: estrus detection + timed AI including
a GnRH at CIDR insertion, 3) FTAI: fixed time AI, and 4) G+FTAI: fixed
time AI including a GnRH at CIDR insertion. At the initiation of
treatment 89% of the heifers were cycling. Pregnancy rates were similar
among all treatment groups, yet tended (p=0.065) to be greater in the
G+ETAI (57.5%) than the FTAI (49.3%) group. The GnRH protocols yielded
similar pregnancy rates to treatments which included estrus detection.
Strategies employed offer the ability to optimize pregnancy rates in
relatively short duration (<10d) and limit the handling frequency when
combined with timed artificial insemination.
Lamb, G.C., J.E. Larson, et al. Synchronization of estrus and artificial insemination in replacement beef heifers using gonadotropin-releasing hormone, prostaglandin F2α, and progesterone. J Anim Sci 2006 84: 3000-3009.
KSU
Veterinary Career Opportunities Workshop in November
Looking for a new associate? Kansas State University is hosting a
Veterinary Career Opportunities Workshop in Manhattan, KS on November
3-4, 2006. The purpose of the event is to help practitioners who are
looking to find an associate identify the right person for their
practice. The meeting is much more than a job fair; structured events
will help practitioners make the most of their time. Friday will include
formal continuing education and work on creating a job description and
hiring plan. Friday evening and Saturday, practitioners will interact
with multiple students who are looking for jobs and externships. This is
a great chance to meet and interview a relatively large pool of
potential employees in an efficient manner.
Practitioners will leave the conference with:
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A professional job description created specifically for your practice with help from experts in the field.
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A hiring plan to find the person who will be most beneficial to the practice.
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A contact list of future associates and the opportunity to meet and interact with many of these students.
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10 hours of continuing education credit.
There are still slots available
and we are looking for practitioners seeking to add an associate in the
next few years. Even if you are not looking to hire next spring,
research suggests that starting early is one of the best ways to
ensuring finding the right person for the practice. The event is open to
all practitioners, but the focus will be on opportunities in mixed
animal practices. A complete schedule and list of events can be found on
the web at:
http://www.vet.k-state.edu/depts/itc/conted/workshop.htm
To register, please complete the online form and email or fax to
Division of Continuing Education by October 17, 2006. Please contact
Erin Thomas (785-532-4281,
ethomas@vet.k-state.edu ) with any questions.
___________________________________________________________________
Beef Research News is produced by the Agricultural Practices section at
Kansas State University. To modify your subscription to this service
please email Erin Thomas (ethomas@vet.k-state.edu)
For more information please contact:
Brad White
Beef Production Medicine
Q211 Mosier Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
bwhite@vet.ksu.edu