Brandi Welch
Brandi’s project was titled ‘Investigation of injectable Vitamin C before and after transit on feedlot performance and blood metabolites in beef steers’. Brandi worked under Dr. Hansen and graduate student Erin Deters in the Ruminant Nutrition Laboratory. This project was partially funded by Iowa Beef Checkoff program. Vitamin C, an important antioxidant, is known to decrease during periods of stress. Antioxidants help defend cells from damage by free radicals and preventing oxidative stress. After weaning the calf from its mother, cattle in our area are commonly transported to a feedlot facility to be finished out for market.
This study was to examine if a supplemental Vitamin C injection before or after transit may be beneficial to the feedlot beef steers. Brandi was able to analyze blood metabolite data and feedlot performance including dry matter intake, average daily gain, and gain to feed ratio. This study resulted in concluding that cattle injected with 20 mL of Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate) PRE-transit benefited most in terms of feedlot performance. This research is beneficial to producers as those cattle are more efficient and profitable for beef production. Brandi was able to gain laboratory and cattle handling experience throughout the semester. She is interested in continuing work experience in the laboratory and the nutrition farm working with numerous projects in ruminant nutrition.
Duration: 04/30/2019
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Stephanie Hansen