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Item Influence of Plasma Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Profile, Urea-Nitrogen, Glucose and Non-Esterified Fatty Acids on Dry Matter Intake in Developing Heifers and Mature Cows(North Dakota State University, 2022) Olorunkoya, SamuelThe objective of this experiment was to determine if nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) profiles or blood metabolites could explain dry matter intake (DMI) in developing heifers and/or mature cows in the weeks leading to breeding. A total of 335 heifers and 60 cows were fed a forage-based diet. A general linear model (GLM) was fit for DMI using fixed effects; breed, frame size, birth year. Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) had the greatest association with DMI (R2 ranged from 54.4% to 58.1% and 64.4% to 70.6%) in heifers and cows, respectively. The NMR profiles accounted for the smallest amount of variation (51.9% and 55.6%) for rumen metabolism and (52.0% and 55.8%) for cellular metabolism in heifers and cows, respectively. Additional exploration of how to profile NMR data is needed. The models containing NEFA accounted for high levels of variation, where fit plots indicated these predictions could be used to manage animals in distinct groups for DMI.Item Energy and Mineral Supplementation Strategies for Beef Cattle Grazing the Northern Great Plains(North Dakota State University, 2019) McCarthy, Kacie LynnFour experiments were conducted to evaluate different technologies and supplementation strategies that may impact beef cattle production in the Northern Great Plains. Our overarching hypothesis was that we can enhance beef cattle performance and production through strategic supplementation of energy and minerals. In experiment 1, steers were fitted with transmission beacons on collars to determine effects of preweaning creep feeder attendance influences on post-weaning performance, feeding behavior, and carcass characteristics. Calves that visited creep feeders more frequently spent more time eating and ate more meals during the first 28 d of the finishing period. In experiment 2, we utilized electronic feeders to monitor mineral intake of cow-calf pairs and found that HIGH (>90 g/d; average 125.4 g/d) intake cows and calves spent more time at the mineral feeder than their LOW (<90 g/d; average 33.5 g/d) intake counterparts. Furthermore, we noted greater concentrations of Se, Cu, and Co in livers of HIGH intake cows compared to LOW intake cows. In experiment 3, we evaluated a slow-release vitamin and mineral bolus in feedlot heifers which failed to influence heifer performance, liver mineral concentrations or carcass characteristics. Overall, heifers performed as expected while on a finishing diet from feeds sourced in the Northern Great Plains. In experiment 4, we further utilized the SmartFeed system to control intake of individual heifers assigned to different treatments in a group pasture scenario. Our results clearly show that the feed controlling portion can be used for precision feeding of individuals in extensive group managed scenarios. Though heifers had similar BW and ADG among treatment groups, treatments that provided supplemental mineral enhanced liver concentrations of Se, Fe, Cu, and Co. Furthermore, the CowManager system was able to detect divergence in highly active behavior among treatment groups, but also reported many false health and estrus-related alerts. Overall, we were able to successfully monitor individual mineral intakes in cow-calf pairs and report differences in energy and mineral supplement intakes in heifers grazing native range. We were also able to corroborate differences in supplement intakes with changes in concentrations of mineral in the liver of animals.Item Impacts of Added Roughage on Feedlot Performance, Digestibility, Ruminal Fermentation, and Ruminal pH of Steers Fed Wheat-Based Feedlot Diets(North Dakota State University, 2021) Pickinpaugh, Wayde JanelleTwo studies were conducted to evaluate the inclusion of additional roughage in wheat-based diets containing modified distillers’ grains with solubles on feedlot performance (Study 1) and digestibility, ruminal pH, and ruminal fermentation characteristics (Study 2). Study 1 used 72 steers (391.6 ± 46.3 kg) and study 2 used 4 ruminally and duodenally cannulated steers (393.4 ± 33.0 kg). Feedlot performance and carcass characteristics, excluding marbling, were not affected by increasing roughage (P ≥ 0.20). Ruminal pH increased linearly (P < 0.01) as rate of roughage inclusion increased. Concentrations of acetate and butyrate increased, and propionate decreased in a linear fashion (P < 0.01), increasing acetate and butyrate to propionate ratio (P < 0.01) with increasing dietary roughage. Our data indicate that increasing roughage inclusion in wheat-based diets including modified distillers’ grains with solubles increased ruminal pH and shifted ruminal fermentation patterns without affecting feedlot performance.Item Dietary Impacts on Mitochondrial Respiration of Gestating Heifers and Fetal Offspring(North Dakota State University, 2024) Slavick, KathrynTwo projects were conducted to evaluate dietary impacts on mitochondrial respiration of gestating heifers and fetal offspring. Our first hypothesis was that maternal vitamin and mineral supplementation during gestation improves the liver, muscle, and jejunum mitochondrial function of F1 and F2 offspring. In project 1, vitamin and mineral supplementation was provided to the F0 generation of dams from breeding to calving to isolate the effects of nutrition during pregnancy on future generations. Our second hypothesis was that altering limit-fed diets' forage: concentrate ratio would influence mitochondrial respiration in maternal and fetal jejunum and liver. In project 2, replacement heifers were fed high-concentrate and high-forage diets to evaluate the dietary impacts on fetal cellular metabolism of key metabolic organs. In both project 1 and 2, modulations of metabolism occurred in key metabolic organs of gestating heifers.