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Title: Association between breed composition, phenotypic residual feed intake, temperament, ELISA scores for paratuberculosis, and ultrasound carcass traits in an Angus-Brahman multibreed herd.

Author
item ELZO, M - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item Riley, David
item HANSEN, G - N. CAROLINA ST. UNIV.
item JOHNSON, D - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item MYER, R - N. FL. RES.& EDU. CTR.
item RAE, D - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item WASDIN, J - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item DRIVER, J - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/7/2008
Publication Date: 7/11/2008
Citation: Elzo, M.A., Riley, D.G., Hansen, G.R., Johnson, D.D., Myer, R.O., Rae, D.O., Wasdin, J.G., Driver, J.D. 2008. Association between breed composition, phenotypic residual feed intake, temperament, ELISA scores for paratuberculosis, and ultrasound carcass traits in an Angus-Brahman multibreed herd [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science Supplement. 86(1):204.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Ultrasound carcass measurements are an important tool for preliminary assessment of carcass worth in beef cattle. Breed composition, phenotypic residual feed intake (RFI), temperament, and subclinical paratuberculosis in dams may affect calf ultrasound traits. The objective was to evaluate the association between breed group (Angus (A), Brahman (B), Brangus, 3/4 A 1/4 B, 1/2 A 1/2 B, and 1/4 A 3/4 B), RFI, chute score (CS), exit velocity (EV), ELISA score for paratuberculosis (ES), and ultrasound longissimus muscle area (ULMA), subcutaneous fat thickness (UFT), percent intramuscular fat (UPIF), and tenderness score (UTS) in calves (n = 461) ranging from 100% Angus (A) to 100% Brahman (B). Calves were allotted to pens (by sire group and sex) in a GrowSafe automated feeding facility (adjustment period = 21 d; feeding trial = 70 d), and fed a ration of corn, cottonseed hulls, molasses, and a protein, vitamin, and mineral supplement. Individual feed intake was recorded daily, CS and EV biweekly, and ultrasound measurements at the end of the feeding trial. Phenotypic RFI was estimated as actual minus expected feed intake. Statistical analyses used homoscedastic mixed models. Fixed effects were contemporary group (year-pen), age of dam, RFI group (high: RFI > mean + 0.5 SD; medium: RFI between mean ± 0.5 SD; low: RFI < mean - 0.5 SD; SD = 5.4 kg), sex of calf, age of calf, B fraction of calf, calf heterozygosity, mean CS, mean EV, and ES. Sire and residual were random effects. Brahman had lower (P < 0.001) ULMA, UFT, UPIF, and higher (P < 0.001) UTS values than Angus. Low RFI calves had lower UPIF (P < 0.001) than high and medium RFI calves. High ULMA was associated with low mean EV (P < 0.015). Mean CS and ES were non-significant for all ultrasound traits.