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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Kentucky Forage Spokesperson Contest, Kentucky Forage And Grassland Council Oct 2014

Kentucky Forage Spokesperson Contest, Kentucky Forage And Grassland Council

Kentucky Grazing Conference

No abstract provided.


Can I Afford To Spray For Weeds?, Scott Flynn Oct 2014

Can I Afford To Spray For Weeds?, Scott Flynn

Kentucky Grazing Conference

A common question among managers of grazing operations is “At what level of weed pressure does it become economical to apply herbicides on pastures?” Unfortunately there isn’t just one answer to this question as production goals and practices differ between operations and even within an operation over time. Regardless, the real question being ask is if weed control will increase profit per acre.


Grazing Options For Fall And Winter, Edward N. Ballard Oct 2014

Grazing Options For Fall And Winter, Edward N. Ballard

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Feed costs represent the major cost in most livestock production systems. A recently completed analysis of 225 Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) Beef Cow Records on herds in Illinois and Iowa showed that feed cost was the overriding factor determining profitability, explaining over 57 percent of the herd-to-herd variation.


Summer Grazing Options, S. Ray Smith, Krista Lea Oct 2014

Summer Grazing Options, S. Ray Smith, Krista Lea

Kentucky Grazing Conference

During the last 15 years there have been several new forage species that have emerged as useful in grazing systems and many new varieties have been released of traditional species. There are many sources of information on summer grazing options. We especially encourage you to read the publication written by Dr. Garry Lacefield and colleagues, “Extending Grazing and Reducing Stored Feed Needs” (AGR-199, www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/agr199.pdf). I have used information from this publication and other publications from the University of Kentucky Forage Website (www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage) in writing this article.


Technical Service Provider: What Is It And Why Is It Important To You?, Bill Payne Oct 2014

Technical Service Provider: What Is It And Why Is It Important To You?, Bill Payne

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Progressive graziers and forage managers are continually looking to improve their operations’ productivity. The opportunity exists to have a Grazing Management Plan developed for your operation at little or no cost to you. By contacting your county NRCS office, you can apply to have this plan developed by a Technical Service Provider, an independent professional certified by NRCS.


Forage Legumes: Their Importance And Management In Profitable Livestock Systems, Ben M. Goff Oct 2014

Forage Legumes: Their Importance And Management In Profitable Livestock Systems, Ben M. Goff

Kentucky Grazing Conference

The landscape of most Kentucky operations is heavily dominated by the utilization of cool-season grasses as the primary source of forage for livestock. However, legumes species, such alfalfa and red or white clovers are an essential component to a complete forage-livestock system. Relative to grasses alone, incorporating legumes into a mixture has the benefits of improving the nutritive value of the available forage in the field, extending the grazing season by increasing the yield of forage during the early summer months, and providing a more economical source of N compared to commercial fertilizers. This paper will briefly describe each of …


Maximizing Stocker Gains On Pastures, Jeff Lehmkuhler Oct 2014

Maximizing Stocker Gains On Pastures, Jeff Lehmkuhler

Kentucky Grazing Conference

Stocker enterprises by definition utilize pasture forages to add weight to light weight feeder cattle. These operations add value to calves by assimilating small groups of calves and combining them into larger uniform packages. Stocker operators also enhance quality through livestock husbandry practices that “upgrade” feeders which could include castrating bulls, dehorning, improving immunity and other attributes. In an effort to optimize profit margins, stocker operators must manage feeders to ensure high rates of gain while finding a balance in stocking rates that provide adequate gains per acre.


Grazing Method: Tool Or Toolbox?, Garry D. Lacefield Oct 2014

Grazing Method: Tool Or Toolbox?, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Grazing Conference

This conference makes the 15th consecutive year we have devoted a full day to Grazing. Kentucky is a great state for grazing animals since we have a relatively long pasture season, can grow many forage grasses and legumes and a long tradition of producing quality animal products from quality pasture. We have tremendous potential to improve our overall grazing efficiency and the discussion throughout the day will address many of the practical strategies for improvements.


Foreword And Kfgc Award Winners [2014], Garry D. Lacefield, Christi L. Forsythe Oct 2014

Foreword And Kfgc Award Winners [2014], Garry D. Lacefield, Christi L. Forsythe

Kentucky Grazing Conference

No abstract provided.


Using Stable Isotopes To Quantify Nitrogen Fates In Container Plants, Sam Raimann, Greg Michalski, Michael V. Mickelbart Aug 2014

Using Stable Isotopes To Quantify Nitrogen Fates In Container Plants, Sam Raimann, Greg Michalski, Michael V. Mickelbart

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Currently, in the agriculture field, it is not yet known the accurate amount of Nitrogen in fertilizer that plants take up. This statistic, known as the Nitrogen Use Efficiency is currently known to be within the 30-50% range (Lea-Cox and Ross, 2001). This is very important figure to know and it is a figure that can be improved, and therefore much time, energy, and resources can be saved. This research project will use concepts involving stable isotopes to examine red maple plant material and the soilless media that the plants were grown in. Three different isotope-labelled fertilizer treatments will be …


Evaluating Contaminants Of Emerging Concern In Commercial Biosolid-Based Fertilizers, John Hemmerling, Michael L. Mashtare, Linda S. Lee Aug 2014

Evaluating Contaminants Of Emerging Concern In Commercial Biosolid-Based Fertilizers, John Hemmerling, Michael L. Mashtare, Linda S. Lee

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

The production and popularity of commercially available biosolid-based fertilizers are increasing because of their economic, environmental, and plant nutrition benefits, particularly in urban and suburban areas. Because biosolid-based fertilizers are derived from waste water treatment plant residuals, we hypothesized that there is the potential for micropollutants to persist in these products. Their presence would be of particular concern due to their potential impact on human and ecological health and risk of bioaccumulation. This study involves quantifying contaminants of emerging concern in three biosolid-based fertilizers, and 2 non-biosolid-based fertilizers, a composted animal manure and an organic compost. Our extraction method employed …


Regulation Of Mor By Different Abiotic Stresses In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Luke Stepan, Rucha Karve, Anjali Iyer-Pascuzzi Aug 2014

Regulation Of Mor By Different Abiotic Stresses In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Luke Stepan, Rucha Karve, Anjali Iyer-Pascuzzi

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

The climate is changing and as a consequence the environment is becoming hotter and drier. How different plants will react to these changes is unknown. Identification of genes involved in stress tolerance can help predict plant-environment interactions and lead to stress tolerant plants. The MOR gene (Modulator Of Root ROS, ROS = Reactive Oxygen Species) in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana encodes a transcription factor that may regulate stress responses, as mor mutants are drought tolerant. We hypothesized that MOR expression changes in response to different abiotic stress stimuli. We tested MOR expression in response to salt (NaCl), abscisic acid …


Influence Of Ultraviolet Radiation On Cell Wall Constituents In Reduced-Lignin Mutants Of Corn And Sorghum, Brock Bermel Apr 2014

Influence Of Ultraviolet Radiation On Cell Wall Constituents In Reduced-Lignin Mutants Of Corn And Sorghum, Brock Bermel

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Brown midrib mutants (BMR) of corn (Zea mays) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) have reduced lignin content and have recently gained popularity in Southern Minnesota as forage material for grazing animals. These mutants have lowered expression of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase and caffeic O-methyltransferase enzymes in the phenylpropanoid pathway responsible for the construction of the cinnamyl alcohol subunits of lignin. Lignin is found in the secondary cell wall of higher plants, along with substantial amounts of cellulose and hemicellulose polysaccharides. Reduced lignin increases livestock digestibility of these plants, but may also increase susceptibility to environmental stress and lodging. …


Mechanical Removal Of Juniper And Its Effects On Plant Diversity, Kyle Van Vleet Apr 2014

Mechanical Removal Of Juniper And Its Effects On Plant Diversity, Kyle Van Vleet

Undergraduate Research Symposium

The increase in density and distribution of juniper (Juniperus spp.) in sagebrush communities throughout the Western United States, primarily as a result of fire suppression and historic over-grazing, has raised concerns among land managers and ranchers due to the detrimental effects of juniper on livestock forage species, and wildlife habitat. Juniper may dominate sagebrush communities because it may decrease understory plant cover and is more proficient in accessing deep soil waters than common competitors in the area. The main objective of this study was to examine how removal of juniper by mechanical means may affect species richness and abundance …


Soil Bulk Density Variability In A Restored Prairie Ecosystem, Andy Johnson, Emilee Kurtz, Andrea Martinson, Steve Mccown, Mark A. Gathany Apr 2014

Soil Bulk Density Variability In A Restored Prairie Ecosystem, Andy Johnson, Emilee Kurtz, Andrea Martinson, Steve Mccown, Mark A. Gathany

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Soils act as the foundation for all terrestrial biotic activity. Given this it is important to consider the factors that influence the physical makeup of soil as well as the management practices that can lead to changes and significant biological implications. Beginning in 1999 Cedarville University established a Prairie Restoration Site. In the past fifteen years work has been to done to reseed the area with native prairie grasses as well as to introduce regular disturbances that are common to prairie grasslands, such as fire. The goal of this work the goal has been to aid a system in ecological …


Phosphorylation Regulates Myosin Driven Organelle Movements, Peter Andrew Duden Apr 2014

Phosphorylation Regulates Myosin Driven Organelle Movements, Peter Andrew Duden

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

Poster Competition for Undergraduate Research


Extracts Of Trichostema Lanatum Inhibit The Growth Of Gram-Positive Bacteria And An Escherichia Coli Δtolc Mutant Strain, Matthew C. Fleming Mar 2014

Extracts Of Trichostema Lanatum Inhibit The Growth Of Gram-Positive Bacteria And An Escherichia Coli Δtolc Mutant Strain, Matthew C. Fleming

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

The Chumash Native Americans of Southern California have well-documented traditions of using plants for medicinal purposes. If a specific plant has traditionally been used for the treatment of cuts, wounds and infections, it may contain chemicals with anti-bacterial properties. One plant that fits these criteria is Trichostema lanatum (woolly blue curls). We tested extracts of T. lanatum for their ability to inhibit the growth of a variety of bacteria. Because of the widespread use of antibiotics over the past sixty years bacteria are evolving greater resistance to known antibiotics, but unfortunately the rate of antibiotic discovery has diminished during the …


P-01 The Effects Of Celite Formulated Rhizobium Rubi And Tryptophan On Velvetleaf Plant Growth, Jonathon Ahn Mar 2014

P-01 The Effects Of Celite Formulated Rhizobium Rubi And Tryptophan On Velvetleaf Plant Growth, Jonathon Ahn

Honors Scholars & Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium Programs

Rhizobium rubi AT3-4RS/6 and tryptophan may be useful in replacing chemical herbicides as biological control agents. Previous research has shown that Rhizobium rubi AT3-4RS/6 produces IAA-like compounds that are deleterious to weed growth. In this project R. rubi AT3/4RS/6 will be formulated in Celite, a granular, diatomaceous earth carrier. The purpose of this research is to analyze if tryptophan influences R. rubi AT3/4RS/6 populations in the velveltleaf rhizosphere, and if this colonization is associated with reduced root weight and shoot length. The experiment design consists of five soil treatments (bacteria+tryptophan+celite, tryptophan+celite, bacteria+celite, celite alone, and soil alone) with 10 velvetleaf …


Photo Highlights From The 34th Kentucky Alfalfa Conference, Kentucky Alfalfa Conference Feb 2014

Photo Highlights From The 34th Kentucky Alfalfa Conference, Kentucky Alfalfa Conference

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

No abstract provided.


Adjustments And Maintenance Of Haying Equipments, Clayton Geralds, John Mccoy, Cris Scudder Feb 2014

Adjustments And Maintenance Of Haying Equipments, Clayton Geralds, John Mccoy, Cris Scudder

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

No abstract provided.


Advances In Alfalfa Promotion, Bill Talley Feb 2014

Advances In Alfalfa Promotion, Bill Talley

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Kentucky grain farmers have experienced several successful years seeing high prices and good yields, with the exception of the drought in 2012. If you were insured in 2012, which most lenders required, you probably also came out with a profit during that challenging time. Alfalfa producers in Kentucky have also seen high prices and decent yields. While the drought of 2012 affected them, most still harvested an 80 % crop with extremely high prices and demand. The fact that alfalfa is a deep rooted plant, coupled with timely rains proved beneficial to this group.


Why Aren't Big Square Balers Used More In Kentucky?, Tom Keene Feb 2014

Why Aren't Big Square Balers Used More In Kentucky?, Tom Keene

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

The history of making hay dates back for centuries and centuries. When mankind began to grow crops and livestock rather than being nomadic, they had to have some type of forage to feed their livestock during the cold and winter months. Since that time there has been a slow and steady progression from harvesting material by hand to today’s modern hay making equipment that maximizes time, labor, fuel, etc. However some countries to this day still use the methods that are thousands of years old when it comes to hay making.


Alfalfa For Summer Grazing, Roy Burris, Garry D. Lacefield Feb 2014

Alfalfa For Summer Grazing, Roy Burris, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa is most commonly used as a hay crop in the United States. However, with proper management, it can be utilized as a grazing crop with very good results. Liveweight gains per acre are quite high for grazing beef cattle with total season grains of 500 to 800 pounds per acre being reasonable. The authors realized 732 lb/acre of gains on 16 acres of alfalfa in 1991, with beef steers at Princeton.


Lessons Learned In Australia--Uk Forages Study Tour, Traci Missun, S. Ray Smith, Garry D. Lacefield Feb 2014

Lessons Learned In Australia--Uk Forages Study Tour, Traci Missun, S. Ray Smith, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

In September 2013, twenty Kentuckians traveled to Australia to tour farms and attend the International Grasslands Congress. The group included ten county agents, five farmers, four UK faculty/staff and a teacher. This study tour allowed participants to gain a new perspective of agriculture and how Australian farmers deal with adversity. Farmers there face many challenges each year with change in precipitation, ranging from severe drought to flooding. These challenges have forced them to incorporate different methods to be successful, including intensive grazing, use of overhead and drip irrigation for pasture and hay production, and fallow farming.


Alfalfa Baleage/Silage Preservatives: Do They Work? Are They Economical?, S. Ray Smith Feb 2014

Alfalfa Baleage/Silage Preservatives: Do They Work? Are They Economical?, S. Ray Smith

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

There are many variables with silage production including - type of silage operation (silo, bunk, tube, or wrapped bale), weather, packing or bale density, speed of covering. Therefore, no two silage crops are ever the same, which is why researchers are reluctant to give blanket statements regarding when and how to use silage inoculants. There has been a lot of good research though in recent years about the effect of silage inoculants under various management and conditions. What follows is an overview of this research and some general recommendations. Much of this overview was taken from a very good fact …


Role And Importance Of Alfalfa In Wku Teaching/Research/Farm Programs, Elmer Gray Feb 2014

Role And Importance Of Alfalfa In Wku Teaching/Research/Farm Programs, Elmer Gray

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa is the oldest and most widely grown forage legume in the world and in Kentucky, where approximately 250,000 acres are produced. It has gained this top position through producing forage suitable for most classes of livestock, by being drought tolerant, and by fixing atmosphere nitrogen.


Foreword And Recipients Of Kentucky Alfalfa Awards [2014], Garry D. Lacefield, Christi L. Forsythe Feb 2014

Foreword And Recipients Of Kentucky Alfalfa Awards [2014], Garry D. Lacefield, Christi L. Forsythe

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

No abstract provided.


Red Meat And Our Health: Separating Scientific Fact From Politics, Emotion And Misinformation, Peter Ballerstedt Jan 2014

Red Meat And Our Health: Separating Scientific Fact From Politics, Emotion And Misinformation, Peter Ballerstedt

Forage Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends restricting our intake of saturated fat to less than 7 percent of calories, and our cholesterol intake to less than 300 mg per day (less than two eggs). They promote the use of low-fat milk and lean meat, and the use of “meat substitutes” in school lunches. These recommendations are consistent with the official dietary policy that began in 1977 with the release of the first Dietary Goals for the United States by the United States Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs. These guidelines were not justified by the then-available science. …


Animal Welfare--Animal Rights: "Protecting Animals Or A Threat To U.S. Food Production And Our Way Of Life?", W. Roy Burris Jan 2014

Animal Welfare--Animal Rights: "Protecting Animals Or A Threat To U.S. Food Production And Our Way Of Life?", W. Roy Burris

Forage Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention

Cattle producers are accustomed to dealing with many forms of adversity. Adversity generally comes in the form of blizzards, droughts, floods and economic conditions but now we must deal with animal activists who have their own opinions of what we can and cannot do as it relates to animal welfare and animal rights.


Grazing: More Important Now Than Ever, Garry D. Lacefield Jan 2014

Grazing: More Important Now Than Ever, Garry D. Lacefield

Forage Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention

Benefits of grazing has been a major focus of the Kentucky Grazing Conference over the past decade. It has also been emphasized at thirteen Heart of America Grazing Conferences and three National Grazing Conferences. With all that emphasis, Why do I bring this up again and even have the nerve to say “More Important Now than Ever”? Well, the short answer is “things are different now!”