Beef on dairy webinar set for Aug. 26
The I-29 Moo University Beef on Dairy Dialogue webinar series continues at noon Aug. 26, featuring Dathan Smerchek discussing the effect of growth-enhancing technology on mineral requirements in beef cattle.
Trace minerals are an essential component of the ruminant diet. Although required in small amounts, this component of the diet is vital in supporting and enhancing cattle growth and ensuring the profitability of beef production. Historically, trace mineral requirements were set to prevent deficiencies.
These requirements significantly improved growth and reproductive performance. In the United States, the beef cattle industry continues to increase total beef production with a shrinking mature cow herd. From 1977 to 2007, beef cattle growth rates increased 44%, and this trend has continued, as evidenced by the consistent year-on-year increase in hot carcass weight.
These improvements in growth and production are achieved through improved cattle genetics, precision nutritional strategies, increased days on feed and improved use of growth-enhancing technologies. Technologies such as steroidal implants and beta-adrenergic agonists are valuable tools that significantly improve growth performance, feed efficiency and lean tissue accretion.
Thus, cattle grow faster and more efficiently than ever, reaching heavier finished weights. Given that many trace mineral requirements were established more than 40 years ago, it is important to re-evaluate whether these standards still meet the needs of the modern beef animal.
Smerchek is an assistant professor in animal science at Iowa State University.
There is no fee to participate in the webinar, but registration is required at least one hour before it begins. Register online at https://go.iastate.edu/P4ZUFZ.
For more information, in Iowa contact Fred M. Hall, 712-737-4230; in Minnesota contact Jim Salfer, 320-203-6093; in Nebraska contact Kortney Harpestad, 402-472-3571; or in South Dakota contact Warren Rusche, 605-688-5452.
To contact us: hpj.com/contact/
