Life Sciences Commons^™

Vocal Response Of Piglets To Weaning: Effect Of Piglet Age, Daniel M. Weary, David Fraser

Ontogeny Collection

Piglets vocalize a great deal during the first few days after weaning. The aim of this experiment was to determine if the calls given by piglets vary in response to one factor thought to influence post-weaning adaptation: weaning age. In 22 litters, each containing a minimum of 9 piglets, 3 piglets were weaned under identical conditions at 3, 4 and 5 weeks of age. Vocalizations and weight gain were monitored for the week after weaning. The number of calls produced by piglets of all three ages declined from an average of 8.2 calls/min per piglet on the day of weaning …

Ua66/5 Newsletter, Wku Agriculture

WKU Archives Records

Newsletter created by WKU Agriculture Department re: faculty/staff, students/alumni, student organizations and clubs and donors.

Dna Fingerprinting Reveals Low Genetic Diversity In Gunnison's Prairie Dog (Cynomys Gunnisoni), Steven E. Travis, C. N. Slobodchikoff, Paul Keim

Genetics Collection

The use of molecular techniques for the assessment of familial relationships among social species of mammals has become relatively commonplace. However, some species represent poor candidates for such studies due to naturally low levels of genetic diversity, leading to unacceptably large standard errors associated with estimates of relatedness. Here, we report on a preliminary study of genetic diversity within two populations of a social species of ground squirrel, Gunnison's prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni) using DNA fingerprinting. We observed low levels of diversity in the form of large mean coefficients of genetic similarity among individuals occupying the same population. …

Vocalizations By Isolated Piglets: A Reliable Indicator Of Piglet Need Directed Towards The Sow, Daniel M. Weary, Stephen Ross, David Fraser

Communication Skills Collection

When suckling piglets are isolated from the sow and litter-mates they vocalize a great deal. Sows also call when isolated from their piglets. In one experiment, we found that isolated piglets doubled their call rate in response to playback of sow calls, indicating that piglets are directing calls towards the sow. In a second experiment, we found that variation in the piglet isolation calls related to aspects of the piglet's condition: piglets isolated for 13 min in an enclosure kept at approximately 14°C called more, used higher frequency calls and longer calls, than litter-mates isolated in an enclosure kept at …

Ua66/5 Newsletter, Wku Agriculture

WKU Archives Records

Newsletter created by WKU Agriculture Department re: faculty/staff, students/alumni, student organizations and clubs and donors.

Development Of Piagetian Object Permanence In A Grey Parrot (Psittacus Erithacus), Irene M. Pepperberg, Mark R. Willner, Lauren B. Gravitz

Sentience Collection

The authors evaluated the ontogenetic performance of a grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) on object permanence tasks designed for human infants. Testing began when the bird was 8 weeks old, prior to fledging and weaning. Because adult grey parrots understand complex invisible displacements (I. M. Pepperberg & F. A. Kozak, 1986), the authors continued weekly testing until the current subject completed all of I. C. Uzgiris and J. Hunt's (1975) Scale 1 tasks. Stage 6 object permanence with respect to these tasks emerged at 22 weeks, after the bird had fledged but before it was completely weaned. Although the parrot progressed …

Language-Naive Chimpanzees (Pan Troglodytes) Judge Relations Between Relations In A Conceptual Matching-To-Sample Task, Roger K.R. Thompson, David L. Oden, Sarah T. Boysen

Sentience Collection

Three chimpanzees with a history of conditional and numeric token training spontaneously matched relations between relations under conditions of nondifferential reinforcement. Heretofore, this conceptual ability was demonstrated only in language-trained chimpanzees. The performance levels of the language-naive animals in this study, however, were equivalent to those of a 4th animal—Sarah—whose history included language training and analogical problem solving. There was no evidence that associative factors mediated successful performance in any of the animals. Prior claims of a profound disparity between language-trained and language-naive chimpanzees apparently can be attributed to prior experience with arbitrary tokens consistently associated with abstract relations and …

Natural History Of The Four-Toed Salamander, Hemidactylium Scutatum, In West Virginia, Sandra L. Kilpatrick

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

A 2-year study was conducted to determine the reproductive and nesting habits, embryonic and larval development, and tolerance to acid conditions of Hemidactylium scutatum in West Virginia. Five study sites located in or adjacent to the Otter Creek National Wilderness Area, Monongahela National Forest, Randolph County, West Virginia, were monitored to determine nesting habits and length of incubation and larval periods in Hemidactylium Time of breeding was determined by spermatogenic wave analysis and time of egg deposition was determined by examination of ovarian follicles and field observations of gravid females migrating to nest sites. Breeding occurred in autumn and again …

Natural History Of The Red-Spotted Newt, Notophthalmus Viridescens Viridescens (Rafinesque), In West Virginia, Jennifer M. Piascik

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Many studies have been conducted on Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens but none have occurred in West Virginia. There are variations in the life history of newts depending on location. In this study, I studied a population of newts in Wayne County, West Virginia from February 1996 to June 1997. I examined population structure, seasonal activity, and reproductive biology.

The population structure can be divided into four classes: egg, larvae, eft, and adult. Eggs at Shoals were deposited in mid-May and larvae were present from mid-June to early September. Larvae began to transform at an approximate total length of 32.8 mm. Red …

In Vivo Incorporation Of Tritium To Measure Lipogenesis In Red Skeletal Muscle: Significance Of A Nonlipogenic Diet In La/N-Fa(K)("Corpulent") And Zucker Fa Rat Strains, Karin Traci Mann

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Skeletal muscle lipogenesis in rodents may equal that of liver but its importance in the obese animals is not known. We evaluated the rate of fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis and storage content in red skeletal muscles, liver, inguinal fat, and retroperitoneal fat of the LA/N-fa^k (“corpulent”) and Zucker fa obese rat strains. Obese-lean pairs of both rat strains, weaned at 32 days, fed a nonlipogenic diet (54% starch for 21 days) were either dosed with 2 µCi 3H-H² O per gram of body weight and tested after 60 minutes for whole body 3H-incorporation into fatty acids and …

"Vertebrate Pests Of Agriculture, Forestry And Public Lands" 1997 Annual Meeting

Western Region Coordinating Committee for Vertebrate Pests of Agriculture, Forestry, and Public Lands (WCC-95)

Table of Contents . I

1997 Officers . . 1

Proposed Agenda . 2

Minutes . 4

Number and title of the regional project . 4

Location and dates of the meeting . 4

Participants/attendees • 4

Adopted agenda . 5

Action items/assigned responsibilities/deadlines/target dates . 8

Summary of the discussions . . 8

Convening of sessions . 8

Business meeting . 9

Final activities. . 13

General discussions . . 13

Participants/Attendees. . 15

Abstracts . 19

Sterner, Ray et al . 19

New approaches to reducing gnawing and digging behaviors in the northern pocket gopher

Sullins, Monty . …

Effects Of A High Protein, Whey Protein Concentrate And Spray-Dried Animal Plasma On Growth Performance Of Weanling Pigs (1997), G S. Grinstead, J C. Woodworth, Robert D. Goodband, Jim L. Nelssen, Michael D. Tokach

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A 35-d experiment was conducted to compare the effects of increasing spray-dried animal plasma and a high protein whey concentrate (73% CP) on starter pig performance. Spray-dried animal plasma and whey protein concentrate replaced dried skin1 milk on an equal lysine basis. Pigs fed increasing spray-dried animal plasma protein had increased ADG and ADFI from d 0 to 7 after weaning, but not for any other period in the study. Increasing whey protein concentrate had no effect on growth perforn1ance in relation to the pigs fed dried skim milk.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 20, 1997

Effects Of Tetracycline On Shedding Of Susceptible And Resistant Salmonella Spp. Experimentally Inoculated Into Pigs (1997), K M. Claussen, D R. Hyatt, J C. Galland, Jerome C. Nietfeld, J M. Sargeant, Steven S. Dritz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this experiment was to study the influence of tetracycline on the transfer of antibiotic resistance in an in vivo swine model experimentally infected with antibiotic-resistant and antibiotic susceptible Salmonella spp. Tetracycline reduced the amount and duration of shedding of tetracycline- susceptible Salmonella. However, tetracycline had no effect on shedding of resistant Salmonella. We also have evidence that resistance was transferred from the resistant to the susceptible strain of Salmonella.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 20, 1997

Effects Of Source And Level Of Added Chromium On Growth Performance Of Starter Pigs (1997), P R. O'Quinn, R E. Musser, K Q. Owen, S A. Blum, Jim L. Nelssen, Michael D. Tokach, Robert D. Goodband

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A 35-d growth trial was conducted with conventionally weaned nursery pigs to evaluate the efficacy of supplemental chromium (Cr) as either chromium nieotinate (CrNic) or chromium picolinate (CrPic). Neither source nor level of supplemental Cr had any effect on weanling pig growth performance or immune status. Equal levels of CrNic and CrPic produced similar results, except that pigs fed CrPic had higher serum Cr concentrations than pigs fed CrNic. These data suggest no beneficial responses to supplemental CrNic or CrPic in nursery pig diets.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 20, 1997

Determining The Optimal Tryptophan:Lysine Ratio For The Segregated Early-Weaned Pigs (25 To 50 Lb) (1997), J A. Loughmiller, D A. Knabe, K Hongtrakul, S Moser, C Civis, P R. O'Quinn, J W. Smith Ii, Jim L. Nelssen, Michael D. Tokach, Robert D. Goodband

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A 21 d growth trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of increasing the apparent digestible tryptophan:lysine ratio on growth performance of the 25 to 50 lb pig raised in a high-health, segregated early-weaning (SEW) system. Ten diets were fed with two levels of lysine (.75% and 1.10% apparent digestible lysine) and five apparent digestible tryptophan levels (13, 16, 19, 22, or 25% of lysine). Feeding the high dietary lysine consistently improved ADG and FIG and reduced ADFI. Increasing the tryptophan: lysine ratio did not improve overall performance. Based upon our results, the dietary tryptophan level to maximize growth performance …

Puberty Induction In Young Gilts: Ovarian, Uterine, And Pregnancy Responses (1997), J Guo, David M. Grieger, Duane L. Davis

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The age of gilts when their first litter is produced affects reproductive efficiency and the applications of biotechnologies such as in vitro fertilization and genetic engineering. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of age on response to puberty induction in gilts. Gilts were injected with PG600® followed 96 h later with human chorionic gonadotropin to induce follicular growth and ovulation, respectively. In the first experiment, 84-, 104-,124-, 144-, and 164-d-old gilts were used. For treated gilts, uterine weight, uterine length, number of corpora lutea (CL), peripheral progesterone (P4), and estradiol (~) increased (P<.05) linearly with age. Uterine luminal prostaglandins (PGs) PGE and PGF decreased for gilts treated at 124 d of age or older. The second experiment evaluated pregnancy success for gilts induced to ovulate at 116 vs 151 d of age. The effects of induction of two consecutive estrous cycles also were evaluated. Two of seven (28.6%) and four of nine (44.4%) gilts first treated when 116 and 151 d old but none of seven gilts treated at both 96 and 116 d of age were pregnant 60 d postinseillination. Results indicated that induction of a prior cycle did not inlprove pregnancy rates. However, some gilts in this population maintained pregnancies to 60 d when induced to ovulate and inseminated at 120 d of age.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 20, 1997

Effects Of L-Carnitine On Performance Of Gestating And Lactating Sows (1997), R E. Musser, K Q. Owen, S A. Blum, C A. Civis, Robert D. Goodband, Michael D. Tokach, Jim L. Nelssen, Steven S. Dritz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 307 sows was used to determine the effects of adding 50 ppm of L-carnitine in gestation and lactation diets on sow and litter performance. Addition of 50 ppm L-carnitine in gestation increased both total litter (34.1 vs 32.1 lb) and pig (3.48 vs 3.27 lb) birth weight. Litter weaning weights increased (99.03 vs 90.71 lb) when sows were fed added L-carnitine during gestation. Sows fed added L-carnitine in gestation had increased IGF-I concentrations on d 60 and 90 (71.3 vs 38.0, and 33.0 vs 25.0 ng/ml, respectively). These results suggest that feeding 50 ppm of added L-carnitine …

Fetal And Maternal Responses To High Feed Intake From Day 29 To 45 Of Gestation (1997), R E. Musser, J W. Smith Ii, L L. Burum, C J. Samland, Duane L. Davis, Robert D. Goodband, Michael D. Tokach, Jim L. Nelssen, Theresa J. Rathbun, Steven S. Dritz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Parity-four sows were fed either 4.0 Ib/d (control, n = 6) or 14.0 Ib/d (high, n = 9) of feed from d 29 to 45 of gestation. On d 45 of ges~tion, sows were slaughtered and uteri collected for fetal and placental measurements. High-feed-intake sows gained more weight from. d 29 to 45 compared to control sows. Providing feed in excess of established requirements to gestating sows from d 29 to 45 of gestation increased IGF-I concentrations in maternal plasma and decreased crown-rump length variation of the fetus. Increased feed intake resulted in a removal of the correlation between average …

Historical Economic Returns To Alternative Swine Enterprises In Kansas (1997), R Jones, Michael R. Langemeier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This study examines historical net returns to average Kansas swine producers over the past 16 years. Swine production has been a profitable enterprise. As expected, average returns per head have been higher for farrow-to-finish producers than for feeder pig finishers, and farrow-to-finish producers have nearly always been able to at least cover variable costs of production.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 20, 1997

Summary Of Kansas State University Swine Enterprise Record 1997, Michael R. Langemeier, Robert D. Goodband, Michael D. Tokach, Jim L. Nelssen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The Kansas Swine Enterprise Record Program evaluates biological and economic performance and is part of a cooperative record- keeping project with Extension personnel and swine producers in Kansas. Nebraska, and South Dakota. From January 1 to December 31, 1996, profit per cwt of pork produced by these producers (13 semiannual and 18 annual data) averaged $10.62 for the last 6 months of 1996 and $8.08 for the entire year. Producers in the top one-third in terms of profitability had average profits of $15.11 per cwt, whereas producers in the bottom one-third had average profits of $.73 per cwt for the …

Summary Of Grazing Research On Kansas Crp Land (1997), Michael R. Langemeier, P.D. Ohlenbusch, R.D. Jones

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Animal performance and n et return per acre were examined for four CRP research sites in Kansas in 1 994, 1995, and 1996. Both mowing and prescribed burning increased animal performance in 1994. Mowing was economically feasible on one of the four sites. Prescribed burning was economically feasible on three of four sites. Mowing and burning treatments were not repeated i n 1995 or 1996. Net returns per acre for the site that was grazed with cowcalf pairs ranged from -$8.55 to -$25.54. For the sites grazed with stockers, net returns per acre varied from -$18.67 to $31 .39. Net …

Economic Impact Of Preweaning Vaccinations On Health And Performance Of Weaned Feeder Cattle (1997), J.M. Lynch, P.L. Houghton, L.R. Corah, Gerald L. Stokka

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In October, 1995, 3,565 head of freshly weaned, British-breed calves were received into a weaning facility in southwest Nebraska. Calves were determined to be preconditioned if they had received both viral an d Pasteurella vaccines prior to weaning (PREWEAN; n = 2,315), and all other calves were considered to have no preconditioning (CRTL; n = 1,250). Cattle were processed within 24 hours of arrival, and booster vaccinations were given when appropriate. Average days on feed at the weaning facility were similar between PREWEAN and CTRL calves (52.4 and 50.3 days, respectively), but average daily gain (2.24 vs 1.87 kb) and …

A Survey Of Purchasers Of Wheat Middlings: Storage, Feeding Practices, And Problems (1997), G.W. Warmann, Keith C. Behnke, Dale A. Blasi

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

We surveyed 290 purchasers of wheat middlings (WM) from a single flour mill located in central Kansas to characterize the incidence of transport and storage problems and to determine intended animal us e and method of feeding. Over 30% of the 106 respondents had encountered storage problems with WM; mold, spoilage, and bridging in the storage structure were the most common. Over 75% of the respondents who reported no storage problems purchased WM during the winter months and avoided WM purchases at other times, especially during the summer.

Feathermeal/Bloodmeal Liquid Suspensions For Calves Grazing Winter Wheat Pasture (1997), Gerry L. Kuhl, G.E. Jr. Levalley, G.D. Mccormack, Dale A. Blasi, James S. Drouillard, Glenn E. Newdigger

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A field study was conducted over 2 years at four different locations in south central Kansas to compare a feathermeal/bloodmeal (ESCAPE) liquid suspension to a molasses-based liquid supplement (ENERGY) and a dry mineral supplement (CONTROL) on the liveweight gain of 768 calves grazing wheat pasture. No significant differences occurred in supplement intake between ESCAPE and ENERGY across years (P=.88). Offering a liquid supplement containing either ES CAPE or ENERGY did not improve (P=.91) growth performance relative to CONTROL calves.

The Effects Of Supplementation Frequency And Amount Of Urea In Dry Supplements On Intake And Digestibility Of Low-Quality Tallgrass-Prairie Forage By Beef Steers (1997), B.C. Woods, R.C. Cochran, C.P. Mathis, J.S. Heldt, Gerald L. Stokka, K. C. Olson, Evan C. Titgemeyer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Sixteen ruminally fistulated steers were used to evaluate the effects of altering supplementation frequency and including urea in dry supplements on forage intake and digestion. Intake of low-quality tallgrass-prairie hay was not affected by supplementation frequency or by the inclusion of urea. Supplementing cattle less frequently resulted in a decrease in diet digestion. However, we observed a slight trend for reduced supplementation frequency to exert a greater impact when cattle were fed supplements that contained urea.

Estimating The Undegradable Intake Protein Content Of Two Forages By Different Commercial Proteases (1997), I.E.O. Abdelgadir, R.C. Cochran, E.S. Vanzant, Evan C. Titgemeyer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

We evaluated the potential of several commercially available proteases for use in predicting the undegradable intake protein (UIP) concentrations o f alfalfa and prairie hay. Protease s differed in their estimates o f the rate of forage protein breakdown an d the amounts of different forage protein fractions . At least one protease appeared to yield acceptable predictions of UIP via a short-term, single time-point assay. Assays of this type deserve further consideration for commercial application.

Agronomic And Silage Quality Traits Of Forage Sorghum Cultivars In 1995 (1997), M.K. Siefers, J.E. Turner, G.L. Huck, S.A. Anderson, K.K. Bolsen, Matthew A. Young, Ronald V. Pope

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Agronomic and silage quality traits were measure d for 37 forage sorghum cultivars and three grain sorghum hybrids. The 1995 growing season was characterized by above average rainfall in the spring and early summer, and a hard freeze on September 22. At the time of the freeze, 20 cultivars had reached the early-milk to early-dough stage, 12 were in the bloom stage, and the remaining eight were still in the early- to late-boot stage . The late planting date and low plant populations resulted in below-normal whole-plant D M and grain yields. Plant height s for the grain sorghums were …

Evaluation Of The Protein Characteristics Of Four Diverse Grasses (1997), C.P. Mathis, I.E.O. Abdelgadir, R.C. Cochran, J.S. Heldt, B.C. Woods, E.S. Vanzant, K. C. Olson, Evan C. Titgemeyer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Forage protein characteristics in four grasses were evaluated by the nylon bag method. All of the forages used (Bermudagrass hay, brome hay, forage sorghum hay, and prairie hay) were of relatively low quality, except the Bermudagrass, which was of average quality. The forages differed in the size of different protein fractions and in the rate and extent of protein degradation. Predicted extent of ruminal protein degradation (i.e., ruminal protein availability) was lowest for prairie hay, intermediate for Bermudagrass and forage sorghum hay, and highest for the brome hay.

The Effect On Feeding And Wheel Running Behaviours Of Housing Rats In Pairs, Roison M. O'Connor

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The effects on feeding of moving animals from individual- to pair-housing were explored in the present three experiments. Wheel access is known to result in a temporary suppression of feeding. The move to pair-housing was compared with the effect of wheel access. In Experiment l, a group of rats was moved from individual to pair-housing (IP group) and compared to a group of individually-housed rats (IND group) and a group of chronically pair-housed rats (PAIR group). The animals in the IP group showed a temporary (three days) suppression in feeding (initially 23%). When half of the IND and PAIR group …

Milking Twice Daily In The Presence Of A Cow’S Own Calf Fails To Prolong Postpartum Anestrus (1997), G.C. Lamb, J.M. Lynch, B.L. Miller, David M. Grieger, Jeffrey S. Stevenson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Six treatment s were initiated approximately 15 days after calving: 1) calf was weaned permanently from its dam (calf weaned; CW); 2) calf was present continuously with its dam but contact with the udder was prohibited (calf restricted; CR); 3) calf was present continuously with its dam (calf present; CP); 4) CR dam was suckled twice daily by her own calf (CR+S2x); 5) CW dam was milked twice daily (CW+M2x); 6) CR dam was milked twice daily (CR+ M2x). During the 4-week treatment period , cows in the CR+M2x treatment had twofold greater yield milk and milk components than CW+M2x …