An evaluation of weaning strategies for Great Plains cow-calf producers
dc.contributor.author | Bailey, Eric Arthur | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-04-29T16:15:45Z | |
dc.date.available | 2013-04-29T16:15:45Z | |
dc.date.graduationmonth | May | en_US |
dc.date.issued | 2013-04-29 | |
dc.date.published | 2013 | en_US |
dc.description.abstract | We evaluated effects of preconditioning on performance and health of beef calves raised and finished in the Great Plains. In experiment 1, calves were preconditioned for 0, 15, or 45 d and vaccinated against BRD-causing pathogens 14 d before maternal separation or after feedlot arrival. During receiving and finishing, preconditioned calves had greater DMI and ADG than non-preconditioned calves; however, timing of BRD vaccination did not affect animal health. In experiment 2, calves were vaccinated against BRD pathogens 0, 1, 2, or 3 times during a 30-d preconditioning program. Vaccination for BRD, regardless of degree, improved health during preconditioning; however, DMI, ADG, and G:F during preconditioning, receiving, and finishing were unaffected by degree of vaccination. In experiment 3, calves were preconditioned for 30 d, shipped 4 h to an auction facility, commingled for 12 h, and transported 4, 8, or 12 h to a feedlot. Feedlot performance and health of beef calves were not affected by transport of up to 12 h following auction-market commingling. In experiment 4, beef calves were subjected to 1 of 3 ranch-of-origin preconditioning programs: drylot weaning + abrupt dam separation, pasture weaning + fence-line contact with dams, and pasture weaning + fence-line contact with dams + supplemental feed delivered in a bunk. Drylot-weaned calves gained more weight during preconditioning. Unsupplemented, pasture-weaned calves had the least ADG during receiving but had greater ADG during finishing and had carcass characteristics similar to other treatments. In experiment 5, we evaluated performance of early-weaned beef calves fed grain-based diets with DMI adjusted to achieve ADG of 0.45, 0.91, or 1.36 kg/d during an 84-d growing period. Calves fed at restricted rates did not exhibit improved G:F relative to full-fed counterparts. In addition, there appeared to be limitations associated with predicting DMI and ADG of light-weight, early-weaned calves fed a grain-based diet. | en_US |
dc.description.advisor | K. C. Olson | en_US |
dc.description.degree | Doctor of Philosophy | en_US |
dc.description.department | Department of Animal Sciences and Industry | en_US |
dc.description.level | Doctoral | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/2097/15681 | |
dc.language.iso | en_US | en_US |
dc.publisher | Kansas State University | en |
dc.subject | Beef Cattle | en_US |
dc.subject | Weaning | en_US |
dc.subject | Preconditioning | en_US |
dc.subject | Health | en_US |
dc.subject.umi | Animal Sciences (0475) | en_US |
dc.title | An evaluation of weaning strategies for Great Plains cow-calf producers | en_US |
dc.type | Dissertation | en_US |
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