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Jaborek JR, Carvalho PHV, Felix TL. Post-weaning management of modern dairy cattle genetics for beef production: a review. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skac345. [PMID: 36592743 PMCID: PMC9831105 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The contribution of dairy steers to the U.S. fed beef supply has increased from 6.9% to 16.3% over the last two decades; in part, due to declining beef cow numbers and the increased use of sexed dairy semen to produce genetically superior replacement heifers from the best dairy cows. Raising dairy cattle for beef production offers unique opportunities and challenges when compared with feeding cattle from beef breeds. Dairy steers offer predictable and uniform finishing cattle performance (ADG, DMI, G:F) as a group and more desirable quality grades on average compared with their beef steer counterparts. However, dairy steers have lesser dressing percentages and yield 2%-12% less red meat compared with beef steers due to a greater ratio of bone to muscle, internal fat, organ size, and gastrointestinal tract weight. In addition, carcasses from dairy steers can present problems in the beef packing industry, with Holstein carcasses being longer and Jersey carcasses being lighter weight than carcasses from beef breeds. Beef × dairy crossbreeding strategies are being implemented on some dairy farms to increase the income generated from dairy bull calves, while beef × dairy crossbreeding strategies can also improve the G:F and red meat yield of beef produced from the U.S. dairy herd. This alternative model of beef production from the dairy herd is not without its challenges and has resulted in variable results thus far. Successful adoption of beef × dairy crossbreeding in the cattle industry will depend on the proper selection of beef sires that excel in calving ease, growth, muscling, and marbling traits to complement the dairy genetics involved in beef production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerad R Jaborek
- Michigan State University Extension, Michigan State University, Sandusky, MI 48471, USA
| | - Pedro H V Carvalho
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Holtville, CA 92250, USA
| | - Tara L Felix
- Department of Animal Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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Basiel BL, Felix TL. Board Invited Review: Crossbreeding beef × dairy cattle for the modern beef production system. Transl Anim Sci 2022; 6:txac025. [PMID: 35399737 PMCID: PMC8989152 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txac025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Current trends in the United States dairy industry suggest that crossbred beef × dairy calves are replacing a proportion of the calf-fed Holstein steers slaughtered for beef each year. Economic pressures value preweaned beef × dairy calves at a premium over preweaned dairy bull calves; however, there is little modern data to support that intensively fed crossbred calves maintain their premium value over dairy steers across the supply chain. Data from international production systems and from historic research suggests that beef × dairy cattle had greater average daily gains and converted feed to gain more efficiently than dairy steers. Regarding carcass characteristics, across the literature crossbreds consistently yielded heavier carcasses that had lower proportions of trim than dairy steers. Fewer comparisons of beef × dairy and dairy steers exist in the literature for other economically relevant carcass characteristics such as ribeye area, backfat, marbling, tenderness, and eating quality. Existing published data are inconsistent among studies, highlighting the necessity for more research tailored to the United States beef production system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey L Basiel
- Department of Animal Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Tara L Felix
- Department of Animal Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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DeClerck JC, Lucherk LW, Reeves NR, Miller MF, Bernhard BC, Rathmann RJ. Influence of ractopamine hydrochloride and days on feed on feedlot performance and red meat yield in thin cull beef cows targeted for a lean market. Transl Anim Sci 2020; 4:170-181. [PMID: 32704977 PMCID: PMC6994039 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txz184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Thin, beef, cull cows [n = 144; initial body weight (BW) = 465.8 ± 56.9 kg, initial body condition score (BCS) = 2.13 ± 0.68] were serially slaughtered to evaluate the relationship between ractopamine hydrochloride (RH) administration and days on feed (DOF) on feedlot performance and carcass cutout value in a lean cow market. Cows were organized into a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (48 pens, 8 pens per treatment, 3 cows per pen) and blocked by BW nested within pregnancy status. Treatment pens were top-dressed 400 mg per cow per day of RH (Actogain 45; Zoetis, Parsippany, NJ) for the final 28 d prior to slaughter to cows spending 28, 42, or 56 DOF. Pen served as the experimental unit, for all calculations. No RH × DOF interactions were detected (P ≥ 0.11), indicating that despite a majority of compensatory gain occurring during the first 28 d of the trial, the magnitude of the RH response was not affected by DOF. Compared to controls, RH incited improvements in feedlot performance, but had a greater extent on carcass weight gain and efficiency. Specifically, RH improved average daily gain (ADG) by 13.7% (P = 0.04) and carcass ADG by 16.9% (P = 0.02) Cattle fed RH displayed a 15.5% improved gain to feed ratio (P = 0.02) and a 20% improved carcass gain to feed ratio (P = 0.05). Inclusion of RH in the finishing diet increased hot carcass weight by 4.5% (P = 0.05; 12.9 kg). However, supplementation of RH did not alter red meat yield (P ≥ 0.16), but provoked a 11.1% improvement in lean maturity (P < 0.01). Evaluation of the main effect of DOF provided insight into the compensatory state of beef cull cows on a high-concentrate diet. Serial slaughter offal weights presented confounding results. With additional DOF, a numerical increase in liver weights (P = 0.20) suggested that organ tissue replenishment occurred throughout the trial, and cattle experienced compensatory gain during the entire feeding phase. In contrast, lung and heart weights were not altered, while kidney tended to decrease linearly (P = 0.08) despite additional DOF. Furthermore, extending DOF generated a linear increase in dry matter intake (P < 0.01) yet a tendency for a decline in ADG (P = 0.10), reinforcing the premise that most of compensatory gain occurred during the first 28 d of the trial. If thin (BCS ≤ 4), healthy candidates can be finished, feeders can reap the benefits of an additive relationship between compensatory gain and RH.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Loni W Lucherk
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
| | - Nathan R Reeves
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
| | - Mark F Miller
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
| | - Bryan C Bernhard
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
| | - Ryan J Rathmann
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
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Lockard CL, Richards CJ, Lockard CG, Youngers M, Woolsoncroft MA, Husz TC, Wilson BK, Goad CL, Jackson TA, Step DL, Bernhard BC, Corbin MJ, Krehbiel CR. Growth, performance, and carcass characteristics of feedlot Holstein steers fed ractopamine hydrochloride. Transl Anim Sci 2019; 4:102-117. [PMID: 32704971 PMCID: PMC6994051 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txz157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Growth-promoting technologies such as implants, ionophores, and β-agonists improve feedlot performance, efficiency, and carcass characteristics of cattle. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of dose and duration of ractopamine hydrochloride (RH) on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics when fed to Holstein steers. A randomized complete block design was used with a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments with 3 RH doses (0, 300, or 400 mg∙steer−1∙d−1) fed for 3 durations (28, 35, or 42 d). Holstein steers (n = 855; initial body weight [BW] = 448 ± 37 kg) were blocked by BW and randomly allocated to 1 of 9 pens (15 blocks; 9 dose × duration treatment combinations) approximately 72 d before harvest. Weekly pen weights, chute temperament scores, and animal mobility were determined during the RH feeding period. At harvest, carcass data were collected on all steers, and tenderness was measured on steaks from 3 or 4 randomly selected steers from each pen and slice shear force (SSF) was determined on one steak selected from each side of the carcass after aging for 14 or 21 d. For feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and SSF, no dose × duration interactions were observed (P ≥ 0.11). With increasing RH dose, average daily gain (ADG) and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) increased linearly (P ≤ 0.01), whereas BW gain increased linearly with RH dose and duration (P ≤ 0.01). Hot carcass weight (P = 0.02) and longissimus muscle (LM) area (P ≤ 0.01) increased linearly with increasing RH dose. The percentage of carcasses in the USDA Yield Grade 2 category increased linearly (P ≤ 0.01) and percentage of carcasses in the USDA Yield Grade 4 category tended (P = 0.08) to decrease linearly as RH dose increased. In the 14-d aged steaks, the percentage of steaks with SSF ≤ 15.3 kg decreased linearly (P ≤ 0.01), whereas the percentage of steaks with ≥20.0 kg SSF increased linearly (P ≤ 0.01) with increasing RH dose. After 21-d aging, there was a tendency (P = 0.06) for a greater percentage of steaks from steers fed RH to have SSF ≥ 20.0 kg (2% of total steaks), but no difference (P ≥ 0.12) in the percentage of steaks with SSF ≤ 19.9 kg. Final chute temperament (P ≥ 0.45) and animal mobility (P ≥ 0.67) scores were not affected by feeding RH. Increasing the dose of RH (300 or 400 mg∙steer−1∙d−1) fed for 28 to 42 d before harvest increased ADG, G:F, hot carcass weight, and LM area when fed to Holstein steers with no negative effects on behavior or mobility. The percentage of steaks classified as not tender improved when steaks were aged for 21 d from steers treated with RH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathy L Lockard
- Department of Animal and Food Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
| | - Chris J Richards
- Department of Animal and Food Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
| | - Caleb G Lockard
- Department of Animal and Food Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
| | - Maggie Youngers
- Department of Animal and Food Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
| | | | - Taylor C Husz
- Department of Animal and Food Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
| | - Blake K Wilson
- Department of Animal and Food Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
| | - Carla L Goad
- Department of Statistics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
| | - Todd A Jackson
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
| | - Douglas L Step
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
| | | | | | - Clint R Krehbiel
- Department of Animal and Food Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
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Mazon MR, Antonelo DS, Gómez JF, Nubiato KE, Balage JM, Silva HB, Tapp WN, Leme PR, Goulart RS, Fukumasu H, Johnson BJ, Pesce DM, Silva SL. Effects of combining immunocastration and β-adrenergic agonists on the meat quality of Nellore cattle. Livest Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2019.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Lynch GS, Koopman R. Overcoming nature’s paradox in skeletal muscle to optimise animal production. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.1071/an19361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Nature’s paradox in skeletal muscle describes the seemingly mutually exclusive relationship between muscle fibre size and oxidative capacity. In mammals, there is a constraint on the size at which mitochondria-rich, high O2-dependent oxidative fibres can attain before they become anoxic or adapt to a glycolytic phenotype, being less reliant on O2. This implies that a muscle fibre can hypertrophy at the expense of its endurance capacity. Adaptations to activity (exercise) generally obey this relationship, with optimal muscle endurance generally being linked to an enhanced proportion of small, slow oxidative fibres and muscle strength (force and/or power) being linked to an enhanced proportion of large, fast glycolytic fibres. This relationship generally constrains not only the physiological limits of performance (e.g. speed and endurance), but also the capacity to manipulate muscle attributes such as fibre size and composition, with important relevance to the livestock and aquaculture industries for producing specific muscle traits such as (flesh) quality, texture and taste. Highly glycolytic (white) muscles have different traits than do highly oxidative (red) muscles and so the ability to manipulate muscle attributes to produce flesh with specific traits has important implications for optimising meat production and quality. Understanding the biological regulation of muscle size, and phenotype and the capacity to manipulate signalling pathways to produce specific attributes, has important implications for promoting ethically sustainable and profitable commercial livestock and aquaculture practices and for developing alternative food sources, including ‘laboratory meat’ or ‘clean meat’. This review describes the exciting potential of manipulating muscle attributes relevant to animal production, through traditional nutritional and pharmacological approaches and through viral-mediated strategies that could theoretically push the limits of muscle fibre growth, adaptation and plasticity.
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Effects of immunocastration and a β-adrenergic agonist on retail cuts of feedlot finished Nellore cattle. Animal 2018; 12:1690-1695. [DOI: 10.1017/s1751731117003317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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Ebarb SM, Phelps KJ, Drouillard JS, Maddock-Carlin KR, Vaughn MA, Burnett DD, Noel JA, Van Bibber- Krueger CL, Paulk CB, Grieger DM, Gonzalez JM. Effects of anabolic implants and ractopamine-HCl on muscle fiber morphometrics, collagen solubility, and tenderness of beef longissimus lumborum steaks1,2. J Anim Sci 2017; 95:1219-1231. [DOI: 10.2527/jas.2016.1263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Cônsolo NRB, Ferrari VB, Mesquita LG, Goulart RS, Silva LFPE. Zilpaterol hydrochloride improves beef yield, changes palatability traits, and increases calpain-calpastatin gene expression in Nellore heifers. Meat Sci 2016; 121:375-381. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Revised: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Knobel-Graves SM, Brooks JC, Johnson BJ, Starkey JD, Beckett JL, Hodgen JM, Hutcheson JP, Streeter MN, Thomas CL, Rathmann RJ, Garmyn AJ, Miller MF. Effect of vitamin D3, zilpaterol hydrochloride supplementation, and postmortem aging on shear force measurements of three muscles in finishing beef steers1,2. J Anim Sci 2016; 94:2637-47. [DOI: 10.2527/jas.2015-0121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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