Life Sciences Commons^™

Utilization Of The Intact Male For Red Meat Production: A Review, S. C. Seideman, H. R. Cross, R. R. Oltjen, B. D. Schanbacher

Contraception and Sterilization

Castration has long been a traditional practice in the United States. Research studies indicate that intact males grow more rapidly, utilize feed more efficiently and produce a higher-yielding carcass with less fat and more edible product. The disadvantages of the intact male include aggressive behavior (bull and boar); undesirable odors and flavors (boar and ram); lower quality grade (bull); lower meat tenderness (bull and ram) and undesirable meat color (bull and ram). Research is needed to develop antemortem and(or) postmortem handling procedures that offset the disadvantages of the intact male so that the meat and livestock industry can take advantage …

Human-Bear Interactions In The Backcountry Of Yosemite National Park, Bruce Charles Hastings

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The objective of this study was to quantitatively document interactions between black bears and backcountry visitors, and to identify the factors affecting those encounters. Fine hundred and ninety-two interactions were observed. The most common responses of visitors to bears were to watch, walk toward, and talk to others and/or point at the bear. Bears responded to humans largely by walking away, watching, traveling around, walking toward, and running away from people.

Each behavior for both species was categorized into one of four response classes: (1) fear/avoidance, (2) neutrality, (3) approach, or (4) aggression. Over 65 percent of visitor responses were …

Forecast Of Farm Animal Numbers And Feed And Fertilizer Requirements To 1990 For Connecticut And New England, Tsoung-Chao Lee, Stanley K. Seaver

Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station

No abstract provided.

Genetic Adaptation In Relation To Animal Welfare, R. G. Beilharz

Genetics Collection

In this essay I outline the processes of adaptation of animals and of animal populations and discuss their relevance to the problem of animal welfare. Because "animal welfare" has many different aspects including philosophical, ethical, and biological, it is important to examine some of the fundamental issues that underly the concept. Hence, in this essay, I comment on how people come to "know," how information accumulates, and how what we know influences our actions. I also discuss the biological information that is relevant to animal welfare. It is my hope that, when this topic has been placed within a broader …

The Problem Of Pain: What Do Animals Really Feel?, Dana H. Murphy

Sentience Collection

Much of the contention and confusion that seem inevitably to arise whenever the subject of pain in animals comes up appear to stem principally from problems with the word "pain" itself. When used to describe responses in humans, "pain" can mean any subset of an incredibly broad spectrum of sensations and emotions, ranging from the instantaneous, galvanizing effect of a dentist drill hitting the nerve in a molar, to more airy notions such as the "pain" of rejection or "painfully" embarrassing situations. Humans even use concepts as abstruse as the German term, weltschmerz, or "world pain," which denotes a vaguely …

Behavioral Variability In Captive Slow Lorises, Nycticebus Coucang (Lorisidae, Primates), Shan Dustin Duncan

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This is a quantitative analysis of individual and sex-related variability in selected activities of captive slow lorises (Nyctivebus coucang).

Ruminal Effects Of Rumensin During Cold Stress, J.B. Robinson, D.R. Ames, David A. Nichols

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Two trials were conducted to determine the effects of Rumensin in cold-stressed cattle. Steers fed diets with and without Rumensin were exposed to cold stress (0 C) and thermoneutrality (20 C). Rumen volatile fatty acids and rumen vault gases were sampled to monitor rumen fermentation. Although not statistically significant, Rumensin decreased rumen acetate to propionate ratios and increased CO2/CH4 ratios in both thermal environments. Such a methane decease should improve feed efficiency because less energy is wasted. Thus, Rumensin appears to support a more efficient rumen fermentation in cold stress as well as thermoneutrality.

Feeding Rumensin To Yearling Heifers On Late-Summer Grass, M. Jensen, R. Held, E.F. Smith, Jack G. Riley

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Rumensin was self-fed in a loose salt mixture to yearling heifers on late-summer bluestem pasture (August to November). They ate 0.036 lbs. of salt mixture (124 mg of Rumensin) daily, but performance did not improve.

Effect Of Bovatec On Grazing Steer Performance, Lyle W. Lomas

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Steers fed 100 mg or 200 mg of Bovatec per head daily while grazing bromegrass gained 16.4% and 23.9% faster, respectively, during 112 days of grazing than did controls.

Effect Of 48-Hour Calf Removal, D.D. Simms, Kenneth G. Odde, L.R. Corah

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In three field trials, we removed calves from 187 beef cows for 48 hours at the beginning of the breeding season to determine the effect on the cows' cycling activity, conception rate, and pregnancy rate. When calves were removed, the cows were injected with Lutalyse. Removing calves for 48 hours did not change weight gain or sickness incidence of calves, but neither did it facilitate the cows' rebreeding.

Kansas Survey: What Do Commercial Cow-Calf Producers Consider When Buying Herd Sires?, R. Bolze, C. Lambert, S. O'Neill, L. Corah

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Recently, Kansas State University surveyed the factors a commercial cowman considers when he buys Angus, Simmental, or Hereford bulls. A mail survey of the customers of 29 purebred breeders of those three breeds was conducted. We attempted to include a reasonable cross section of both performance and show-ring-oriented breeders. A total of 1,447 survey forms were distributed and 613 (42%) were returned.

Reproduction And Production Of Heifers Implanted With Ralgro Before Weaning, D.D. Simms, F.L. Schwartz, L.R. Corah

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Over a 3-year period (1976-1978), heifer calves either were not implanted or were implanted between 2 and 5 months of age. In 1977, the study also included heifers implanted at birth. Implanting at birth increased the percentage of heifers open as yearlings. More implanted heifers tended to be open as 2- to 5-year-olds than control heifers, but the differences were not statistically significant. Implanting of the heifers had no effect on weight gains of their calves.

Effect Of Scabby Wheat In Starter Pig Diets (1982), D S. Pollmann, B A. Koch

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Two studies using a total of 64 starter pigs (averaging 16-18 lbs initial weight) to evaluate the influence of varying levels of vornitoxin-contaminated wheat on performance was conducted. In both trials it appears that when vomitoxin levels exceed 1 ppm, a reduction in performance was evident. Feed refusal was evident particularly the first week on the vomitoxin-contaminated wheat. No symptoms of sickness, nor an influence on tissue size and function, were observed. The pigs were unable to compensate for depression in gains after withdrawal of vomitoxin-contaminated wheat.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 11, 1982

Stability Of Commercially Available Lactobacillus Products (1982), D S. Pollmann, C A. Bandyk

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A study was conducted to determine the viability of three commercially available lactobacillus products in nonmedicated and medicated (lincomycin at 100 grams per ton) swine feed in several different environments over a 3-month period. Each product was stored in five environments: refrigeration (40°F), room temperature (70°F) in sealed container, room temperature in unsealed container, swine nursery (90°F) in a sealed container, and swine nursery in an unsealed container. Feed samples were counted for lactobacillus at weeks 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 12 with four replications. The three commercial products differed in stability while maintained in the various environmental conditions. …

Does Combiotic Administration At Artificial Insemination Improve Fertility? (1982), Duane L. Davis, W E. Scmidt, Jeffrey S. Stevenson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Injecting gilts with 10 cc's combiotic at artificial insemination did not improve farrowing rate or litter size.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 11, 1982

Fed Cattle Market Is Guardedly Optimistic, Says K-State's Sands, M. Sands

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Returns to cattle feeders should move back into the profit column during most of 1982. but feeding margins will remain narrow, says Mike Sands, extension economist specializing in livestock marketing at K-State. "Most of the improvement in profitability compared with last year will result from lower feed and feeder prices, rather than a dramatic rise in fed cattle prices." he points out. With Choice steer prices expected to average in the $64-66 cwt. range during January-June. feeding returns should average on the positive side, in sharp contrast to the average $95-per-head losses suffered during the first half of 1981. Sands …

The Effect Of Avoparcin On The Performance Of Grazing Steers, L.R. Corah, W.D. Busby, Jack G. Riley

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

One hundred two steers were used to study the effect of Avoparcin on the performance of grazing steers. Four desired dosages -- 0. 200, 400. and 600 mg/head/day -- were compared in a self-fed mineral mix. Feeding Avoparcin at the desired level of 400 mg/head/day increased steer gains By 22%.

Effects Of Rumensin Or Rumensin-Tylan Combination On Steer Performance And Liver Abscess Control, Jack G. Riley, Ronald V. Pope

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Combining Tylan with Rumensin dramatically reduced abscessed liver incidence, compared with that of steers fed a non-medicated control ration or Rumensin without Tylan. Only one steer out of 50 on the Rumensin plus Tylan combination had an abscessed liver, whereas livers from 16 of the control steers and 27 on Rumensin were condemned. There were no significant differences in daily gain among treatments; however, Rumensin plus Tylan improved feed efficiency by 9.4% compared with that of the control. Rumensin alone improved efficiency by 6%.

Natural Mating Of Estrus-Synchronized Heifers And Indicators Of Bull Fertility, R.J. Pruitt, L.R. Corah, D.D. Simms, M.F. Spire

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In six trials involving 486 heifers and 23 bulls, we studied factors affecting pregnancy rates of estrus-synchronized heifers mated naturally and evaluated indicators of bull fertility. Heavier heifers and those in fleshier condition had a higher response to estrus synchronization with Lutalyse. Heifers serviced more than once did not have higher pregnancy rates. Pregnancy rates achieved by bulls ejaculating up to 32 times in 2 1/2 days decreased only slightly as the number of ejaculations increased. There was considerable variation in pregnancy rates and the number of ejaculations achieved by individual bulls. Sex drive measured by a 3D-minute serving-capacity test …

Repopulation Of Pseudorabies-Infected Swine Herds By Embryo Transfers (1982), J E. James, D M. James, P A. Martin, Duane L. Davis

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Embryos were transferred from two pseudorabies infected herds to recipients from a pseudorabies free herd. All 38 donor sows had serum titers for pseudorabies but no recipients or pigs that were farrowed had clinical signs or serum titers for pseudorabies. In total 805 embryos were transferred to 34 recipient sows and gilts of which 22 (65%) farrowed 208 pigs (189 farrowed alive).; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 11, 1982

Cell-Mediated Immunity In Weaned Pigs (1982), Frank Blecha, D S. Pollmann, David A. Nichols

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The stress of weaning lowers cellular immune reactivity in 2-, 3- and 4-week-old pigs. However, pigs weaned at 5 weeks of age do not exhibit altered cell-mediated immune reactivity. Those changes could alter disease susceptibility in young pigs.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 11, 1982

Influence Of Supplemental Light On Sow Performance During And After Lactation (1982), Jeffrey S. Stevenson, D S. Pollmann, Duane L. Davis, James P. Murphy

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A study involving 327 crossbred sows was conducted to determine whether providing supplemental light in farrowing rooms would influence litter weight, number of pigs weaned, piglet survival rate, and subsequent rebreeding performance of sows exposed to 16 hr supplemental light/day during lactation. Litter weight was increased 7.7 lbs or .85 lb per pig weaned. More sows exposed to 16 hr light (83%) were mated by 5 days after weaning than were control sows (68%).; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 11, 1982

Sorghum Grain Stillage For Pregnant Gilts (1982), G L. Allee, B A. Koch, K Jackson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Gilts during pregnancy consumed approximately 29 pounds of milo stillage per day, when fed only stillage. Availability of water did not affect stillage consumption. Gilts fed stillage consumed only 2.2 pounds of DM per day which was not enough to maintain body weight. Gilts fed all the stillage they would consume and one pound of the control diet made similar weight gains and had similar reproductive performance as gilts fed three pounds of the control diet. This suggests that the energy value of the milo stillage is similar to that of the control diet (1620 kcal DE/lb DM) for gilts …

Economics, Veterinary Service And Herd Health Programs (1982), Steven C. Henry

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Among the many changes in the swine industry during the past two decades, the concept of "Herd Health Programs" came to be. Still a buzz word with poorly defined activities, "Herd Health Programs" are part of our industry. Just listen in the halls during producer or veterinary meetings -- we discuss getting one, already having one, offering one, getting into the business of delivering several of them -- and none of us is quite sure what "one" is and, most of all, what it's worth. There should be no surprise that neither of us, producer or veterinarian, really has the …

Silo-Best And Sila-Ferm Additives For Corn Silage And Drought-Stressed Corn Silage For Yearling Steers, K. Bolsen, H. Ilg

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Normal corn silage, with and without additives, and drought-stressed corn silage were evaluated in a 77-day growing trial using 64 steers. Steers fed drought silage had slowest and least efficient gains. Additive-treated silages were used more efficiently than the control silage. Dry matter recovery from the silos was consistently improved by the enzyme additive but not by the microbial inoculant additive. Steer gain per ton of corn crop ensiled was increased by 7.2 and 4.4 lb for enzyme and inoculant silages, respectively, compared with that for the control silage.

Stocking Rate And Supplementation For Steers Grazing Intensively On Early-Stocked Bluestem Pasture, R. Held, E.F. Smith, Jack G. Riley, Clenton E. Owensby

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Native bluestem pastures were grazed by 520-lb steers from April 30 to July 14 at stocking rates of 1.7, 1.3 and 1.1 acres per steer. Daily gain of the steers was about the same for the two heavier stocking rates, but was slightly lower for the lightest rate (1.7 acres/steer). The gain per acre increased with each increase in stocking rate. Half of the steers were self-fed a salt-limited sorghum grain-rumensin mixture. Each steer consuming approximately 1.5 pounds per day of this mixture gained about a half a pound more per day (P<.05) than did each steer not fed the supplement (1.77 vs 1.27 lbs.). Gain per acre was increased by 33 lbs. with the supplementation.

Trials On Commercial Silage Additives, K. Bolsen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Numerous commercial silage additives, manufacturers of which make various claims for their improving silage quality, are available to Kansas farmers and ranchers. In 2 previous years (1980 and 1981), we reported on nine trials involving six additives (Progress Reports 377 and 394). Each additive improved the silage in at least one of the four criteria we evaluated: 1) ensiling temperature, 2) dry matter recovery, 3) feeding value, and 4) aerobic stability. Two more trials with additives are reported on in this Progress Report (pages 6 and 11 ).

Effect Of Ralgro And Compudose On Grazing Steer Performance, Lyle W. Lomas

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

COMPUDOSE (an estradiol removable implant) increased steer gains during 202 days of grazing by 11.4%. Ralgro implants (once at the beginning of the study) increased gain 8.5%. Steer performance on the two implants was statistically similar.

High-Moisture Corn With Additives For Finishing Rations, B. Young, H. Ilg, K. Bolsen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Dry corn (dry), Harvestore ensiled high-moisture corn, stave silo ensiled high-moisture corn (stave H.M.C.) and stave H.M.C. ensiled with NaOH, Cold-flo ammonia, or Silo-Best additives were evaluated in steer and heifer finishing trials. Cold-flo and NaOH H.M.C. gave slowest gains; NaOH had the highest intake and Harvestore H.M.C. the lowest, efficiency of gain favored the Harvestore H.M.C. All H.M.C. corn except NaOH was unstable in air because of high dry matter at ensiling, slow corn use, and warm temperatures. Dry matter losses and temperature rises during air exposure were highest for Cold-flo and Harvestore H.M.C.

Alfalfa Silages And Hay And Corn Supplementation For Yearling Steers, K. Bolsen, H. Ilg, M. Hinds, J. Hoover

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Four alfalfa forages were evaluated: 1) hay; 2) low-dry matter (DM) silage; 3) medium-DM silage; and 4) high-DM silage. All forages were full-fed along with 2 lb of supplement or supplement plus 2 or 4 lb of cracked corn. Calves fed hay or medium-DM silage had the fastest and most efficient gains. Hay had the highest intake; low-DM silage, the lowest. Adding corn to the ration improved calf performance slightly, but feed costs per lb of gain were similar for all three levels of corn supplementation. Low- and medium-DM silages were better preserved than high-DM silage, which contained considerable spoilage …