Pooled analysis on the effects of inclusion, moisture, and oil removal from distillers grains on cattle performance and economic returns in diets with different corn processing.

A synthesis of data including over 9,300 head of cattle and over 980 pen means was conducted to evaluate the effect of corn processing method, distillers grains type, oil removal from distillers, and dietary distillers concentration on cattle performance and total feeding costs under different historical price scenarios. The corn processing method was either steam-flaked corn, high-moisture or dry-rolled corn or a blend of the latter two and their effects on performance with and without distillers grains. Wet, modified, and dry distillers were analyzed as either full fat or de-oiled products in diets at various dietary concentrations with either corn type to determine cattle performance. Performance estimates were used to determine the inclusion level that minimized total finishing costs ($/head) for each diet given various assumptions on corn price, corn-to-distillers price ratio, supplemental protein cost, and steam flake processing cost. Feeding distillers grains in steam-flaked or high-moisture and dry-rolled corn diets resulted in improved feed conversion and reduced cattle feeding costs, including lower supplemental protein costs and lower total feeding costs compared with a diet without distillers. However, feeding diets with steam-flaked corn improved feed conversion regardless of distillers type or level of inclusion. Feeding full fat distillers improved feed conversion relative to de-oiled distillers. Cattle fed de-oiled distillers were more efficient than those fed diets containing no distillers grains. At all corn price and corn-to-distillers price ratios examined, feeding some level of distillers of any type produced a lower total feeding costs relative to a diet without distillers. Different robustness tests were conducted to determine the impact of varying steam flake corn processing costs and the cost of supplemental protein on the optimal level of distillers inclusion level. The break-even cost a producer could pay for steam-flaking corn varied but was significantly higher when corn price was high. Feeding distillers grains in steam-flaked or high-moisture and dry-rolled corn diets resulted in improved feed efficiency, reduced cattle feeding costs, including replacement of other supplemental protein and associated costs compared to a diet without distillers grains.

A pooled analysis of research was conducted to evaluate the effect of corn processing method, distillers grains type, oil removal from distillers, and distillers inclusion on cattle performance within studies conducted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln between 1992-2020. Two corn processing methods were included in the dataset, steam-flaked corn (SFC) or any combination of high-moisture (HMC) and dry-rolled corn (DRC), fed with and without distillers gains, a by-product of the dry milling ethanol industry. Distillers products were either wet, modified, or dry distillers grains plus solubles and were analyzed as both full fat and de-oiled products. Cattle performance resulting from feeding the six by-product combinations with both corn types was analyzed and then used to find the inclusion level that minimized the total feeding cost ($/head) given different corn prices and corn-to-distillers price ratios. Cattle had improved feed conversion when fed SFC compared with HMC:DRC in all diets. Cattle fed full-fat distillers grains had slightly improved feed conversions compared with de-oiled distillers grains. Cattle fed distillers grains diets had improved feed conversion compared with cattle fed control diets without distillers. Overall, feeding distillers grains in combination with either corn type offers benefits including improved feed conversions, lower finishing costs, and reduced reliance on supplemental protein sources compared to a diet without distillers.

A Review of Global Prevalence and Economic Impacts of Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis.

A summary of available literature on the prevalence and estimated economic impacts of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) from around the world is made. Country-level prevalence of IBK has been reported only for the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. We provide an estimate of IBK prevalence rate by geographic climate and region accounting for cattle sub-species and age. Estimated prevalence worldwide is 2.78%. Historical economic impact assessments are available only for the United States, Australia, and United Kingdom. Rarely do assessments capture the full economic cost of the disease. Better data on prevalence and how treatment and prevention decisions modify disease impacts is required to estimate the global economic impact.

Future Directions for Research in Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis.

In this article, the authors summarize the future needs from a research perspective to make the greatest gains. They discuss the areas of research: diagnosis, epidemiology, economic impact, prevention, and treatment. In some areas, simple studies with little cost could be conducted that would quickly add to the evidence base. In other areas, substantial investment is needed if new study approaches, which do not repeat past studies' failures, are to be conducted. To maximize the value of research funding, it is essential to critically evaluate the information gains from prior studies and ensure that studies increase knowledge incrementally.

The impact of cow size on cow-calf and postweaning progeny performance in the Nebraska Sandhills.

Optimizing beef production system efficiency requires an understanding of genetic potential suitable for a given production environment. Therefore, the objective of this retrospective analysis was to determine the influence of cow body weight (BW) adjusted to a common body condition score (BCS) of 5 at weaning-influenced cow-calf performance and postweaning steer and heifer progeny performance. Data were collected at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, Whitman, NE, on crossbred, mature cows (n = 1,607) from 2005 to 2017. Cow BCS at calving, prebreeding, and weaning were positively associated (P < 0.01) with greater cow BW. Increasing cow BW was positively associated (P < 0.01) with the percentage of cows that conceived during a 45-d breeding season. For every additional 100-kg increase in cow BW, calf BW increased (P < 0.01) at birth by 2.70 kg and adjusted 205-d weaning BW by 14.76 kg. Calf preweaning average daily gain (ADG) increased (P < 0.01) 0.06 kg/d for every additional 100-kg increase in cow BW. Heifer progeny BW increased (P < 0.01) postweaning with every additional 100-kg increase in dam BW. Dam BW did not influence (P ≥ 0.11) heifer puberty status prior to breeding, overall pregnancy rates, or the percentage of heifers calving in the first 21 d of the calving season. Steer initial feedlot BW increased by 7.20 kg, reimplant BW increased by 10.47 kg, and final BW increased by 10.29 kg (P ≤ 0.01) for every additional 100-kg increase in dam BW. However, steer feedlot ADG was not influenced (P > 0.67) by dam BW. Hot carcass weights of steers were increased (P = 0.01) by 6.48 kg with every additional 100-kg increase in cow BW. In a hypothetical model using the regression coefficients from this study, regardless of pricing method, cow-calf producers maximize the highest amount of profit by selecting smaller cows. Overall, larger-sized cows within this herd and production system of the current study had increased reproductive performance and offspring BW; however, total production output and economic returns would be potentially greater when utilizing smaller-sized cows.

Consumer Reactions to E. Coli and Antibiotic Residue Recalls: Utility Maximization vs. Regret Minimization.

Food safety remains a major issue to many consumers. Previous studies examining the economic impact of food safety recalls have focused on Class I recalls. Antibiotic residue in meat products, a Class II recall, has increased in consumer importance yet little is known about how much research and development expenditure should be allocated to reduce antibiotic residue pre- and post-harvest. This study compares demand elasticities and the decrease in willingness to pay in response to either an E. coli (Class I) or antibiotic residue (Class II) recall. We compare and contrast two competing behavioral frameworks, Random Utility and Regret Minimizing. Modeling behavior using the random regret framework is found to be more powerful for assessing consumer responses. In addition, we explore if different groups of consumers exist that either maximize utility or minimize regret. Consumer devaluations of E. coli (Class I) are 40-65% larger than antibiotic residue (Class II). Approximately 60% of consumers are identified as regret minimizers and 40% were identified as utility maximizers. While industry response and government policy recommendations differed conditional on modeling framework, the regret minimizing framework required smaller price discounts than regret minimizing to maintain the same level of market share.

Net return distributions when metaphylaxis is used to control bovine respiratory disease in high health-risk cattle.

This study's objective was to estimate net returns and return risk for antimicrobial metaphylaxis options to manage bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in high health-risk feedlot cattle. The effectiveness of antimicrobials for metaphylaxis varies by cattle population. How differing antimicrobial effectiveness translates to net return profitability for heterogeneous cattle populations is less understood. Net returns and return risk were assessed using a net return simulation model adapted to allow for heterogeneity in high health-risk cattle placement characteristics and antimicrobial choice to control BRD. The net return model incorporated how antimicrobials modify BRD health and performance outcomes. Health and performance outcomes were calibrated from published literature and proprietary feedlot data. Proprietary data came from 10 Midwestern feedlots representing nearly 6 million animals and 50,000 cohorts. Twelve placement-by-metaphylaxis decision combinations were assessed: high health-risk steer placement demographics were 600 or 800 lb steers placed in Winter (Oct-Mar) or Summer (Apr-Sept) managed with one of three different health programs: "no metaphylaxis," "Upper Tier" antimicrobial, or "Lower Tier" antimicrobial. Net return distributions were compared between "no metaphylaxis" and a specific antimicrobial tier within specific cattle populations. We found the expected incremental net return of administering an "Upper Tier" ("Lower Tier") antimicrobial for metaphylaxis compared to "no metaphylaxis" for high health-risk steers was $122.55 per head ($65.72) for 600 lb and $148.65 per head ($79.65) for 800 lb winter placements. The incremental expected net return and risk mitigated by metaphylaxis varied by placement weight, season, and antimicrobial choice. The probability net returns would decline by at least $50 per head was significantly reduced (from approximately 4% to 40%) when any antimicrobial was used on high health-risk steers. Both tiers of antimicrobials used for metaphylaxis increased expected net returns and decreased net return variability relative to no metaphylaxis. Thus, feedlots were more certain and realize a greater profit on high health-risk pens of steers when metaphylaxis was used. This occurred because the reduction in cattle health and performance outcomes using any antimicrobial was sufficiently large to cover added initial and subsequent antimicrobial costs. Results aid in assessing metaphylaxis strategies in high health-risk cattle.