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Project goals are to study factors that influence prevalence and shedding of food-borne pathogens in feedlot cattle, develop feed manufacturing processes aimed at improving process efficiency & nutritive value of feeds, evaluate Megasphaera elsdenii as a preventative for ruminal acidosis, determine optimal use for alternative feed ingredients, assess management factors that influence health, growth efficiency, and quality and composition of beef products, evaluate and optimize use of exogenous growth promotants, and investigate behavioral and management factors that influence production efficiency, health, and well-being of feedlot cattle. <P>
Approximately 8 to 12 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 10 to 15 scientific abstracts/presentations, 8 to 12 experiment station reports, and one or more intellectual property disclosures are anticipated for each year of the project. <P>
It is expected that the project will yield nutrition/management strategies that can be applied to mitigate shedding of food-borne pathogens in feedlot cattle prior to harvest, and improved feed manufacturing processes and or production methods to result in a 20% reduction of energy expenditure per unit of digestible energy used by cattle. <P>
Acidosis research will determine the degree to which acidosis can be prevented with administration of Megaspharea elsdenii, and studies with byproduct feeds will provide valuable information for consulting nutritionists and feedlot operators relative to optimal use in feedlot production systems based on steam-flaked cereal grains. <P>
Investigations will support development of a beef product with lipid profiles that are markedly improved, in terms of proportions of omega-3 fatty acids, in comparison to commodity beef. Investigations with novel growth promotants will result in improved efficiency of cattle growth, and improved health management practices will reduce incidence of disease, improve efficiency, and reduce environmental footprint of cattle production. <P>
Animal behavior investigations will contribute valuable data to improve our understanding of the relationships between management, animal behavior, animal well-being/health, and animal performance.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Approximately 10 to 15 feedlot experiments will completed each year, along with supporting in vitro laboratory experiments, supporting 8 key research thrusts: 1) Understanding factors that influence prevalence and shedding of food-borne pathogens in feedlot cattle, 2) development and(or) refinement of feed manufacturing processes aimed at improving process efficiency & nutritive value of feeds, 3) exploitation of a novel, anaerobic bacterium to control feedlot acidosis, and using the product to effect improvements in production efficiency and waste excretion from feedlots; 4) identifying optimal use of alternative feeds in beef cattle production systems; 5) assessing nutritional and management factors that influence quality and composition of beef products; 6) evaluating use of exogenous growth promotants in feedlot cattle; and 7) understanding the interface between animal management practices, cattle behavior, cattle health, well-being, and productivity, and product quality and composition, and 8) assessing the impact of preconditioning calves on feedlot performance and profitability.<P>
Our expectation is that the successful completion of this research will lead to: 1) an improved understanding of factors affecting proliferation and shedding of food-borne pathogens, which will facilitate our ability to develop effective mitigation strategies, 2) identification of processing strategies that will decrease energy expenditure (by 20%) associated with processing of grains for cattle feeding, 3) identification of methods for use of Megasphaera elsdenii that will reduce roughages fed to cattle by more than 25 lbs/finished animal while imposing no greater risk of acidosis, 4) improvements in digestibility of distiller's grains when added to flaked grain diets, 5) development of a production strategy that will consistently increase the proportion of omega-3 fatty acids in beef by 10-15-fold compared to beef from conventionally fed animals, 6) improved understanding of the optimal use and application of various growth promoting products, 7) an understanding of the impact of physical activity on animal well being and productivity, and 8) enhanced ability of the feedlot industry to prevent, monitor, and treat disease.
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APPROACH: Eight key project thrusts are identified in the paragraphs that follow. Food-borne pathogen control in feedlot cattle. Population studies will involve large groups of animals, for which prevalence of pathogens (qualitative measure) in feces will be determined using fecal grab samples. Additionally, a pre-screening method will be employed to identify sub-populations of cattle that are confirmed as being colonized by pathogens of interest. Treatments are imposed on this smaller sub-population, thus making quantitative measures logistically feasible. <P>
Feed processing technologies: Models will consist of manufacturing experiments in which we determine the effects of various processing strategies and additives on electrical energy and steam use. Nutritional value of processed grains will be determined in digestion/metabolism studiesn addition to flaking, we will assess opportunities for implementation of alternative grain processing technologies that can be applied to smaller feeding operations for which major capital investments in grain processing infrastructure are impractical. <P>
Acidosis in Cattle Fed High-Concentrate Diets: We will evaluate use of Megasphaera elsdenii in a range of feedlot diets that contain both processed grains and grain byproducts; conduct studies to improve shelf-life of live Megasphaera cultures; and evaluate alternative means for administration of probiotics. <P>
Utilization of Alternative Feeds: We will conduct a series of in vitro experiments to further establish the types and(or) combinations of fungal enzymes that improve digestion when added to a mixed culture of rumen microorganisms. Furthermore, we will conduct in vivo studies to measure site and extent of digestion, as well as changes in animal performance when these additives (or sources thereof) are incorporated into feedlot diets. <P>
Nutritional Factors Influencing Quality and Composition of Beef: Our experiments typically will consist of oral administration of plant or animal sources of omega-3 fatty acids to relatively small groups of cattle, and subsequent harvest to determine the impact on tissue fatty acid composition. Harvested tissues may be further evaluated to determine changes in susceptibility to. <P>
Evaluation of Exogenous Growth Promotants: Studies may include measures of growth performance, diet digestion/metabolism, blood metabolite concentrations, carcass quality attributes, tissue composition, and sensory properties of meat. <P>
Behavioral Research: Treatments will consist of exercise regimes, as follows: 1) a control group that includes no provisions for routine exercise; 2) a group that is subjected to 20 minutes of forced moderate exercise 3 times per week; 3) a group that is subjected to 20 minutes of forced moderate exercise once each week; and 4) a group that is allowed 60 minutes of voluntary activity outside of their pen once per week. Observational measurements will be obtained to determine if exercise protocols impact cattle behavior. <P>
Preconditioning calves: Investigations will entail an evaluation of strategies aimed at managing acidosis as a means of decreasing use of antibiotics for respiratory disease treatment.