Sheep and Goat Science Commons^™

Proteomic Analyses Identify Differences Between Bovine Epididymal And Ejaculated Spermatozoa That Contribute To Longevity, Saulo Menegatti Zoca, Emmalee J. Northrop-Albrecht, Julie A. Walker, Robert A. Cushman, George A. Perry

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center

Sperm are stored for extended periods of time in the epididymis, but upon ejaculation motility is increased and lifespan is decreased. The objective of this study was to identify differences in proteins between epididymis and ejaculated samples that are associated with longevity. Ejaculated semen was collected from mature Angus bulls (n = 9); bulls were slaughtered and epididymal semen was collected. Epididymal and ejaculated semen were centrifuged to separate sperm and fluid. Fluids were removed and sperm pellets were resuspended in a high ionic solution and vortexed to remove loosely attached proteins. Sperm samples were centrifuged, and the supernatant was …

Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Animal Protein For Human Consumption., Homero Salinas

Title III Professional Development Reports

Livestock is a key to nutrition and food security. Livestock is key to livelihoods, and it is calculated that there are 400 million poor animal keepers.

There are two indicators of gas emissions. One is the GDP in $US per ton of CO2e, and the other is the gobs created per ton of CO2e. For this presentation, the comparison of interest is agriculture vs. other productive activities. So, at the broad word level, around 300% more GDP is produced from other goods than from agricultural goods per ton of CO2e. Even in high-income countries, there is 700% more GDP/CO2e than …

Effects Of Harvest Season On Carcass Characteristics Of Lambs In The Intermountain West, J. R. Whaley, T. W. Murphy, C. L. Gifford, W. J. Means, J. P. Ritten, H. N. Mckibben, C. M. Page, W. C. Stewart

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center

Objective: The objectives of this study were to survey characteristics including hot carcass weight (HCW), 12th rib fat thickness (RFT), body-wall thickness (BWT), longissimus muscle area (LMA), USDA yield grade (USDA YG), percentage closely trimmed retail cuts (RC), and calculated yield grade (Calc YG) of lamb carcasses in the Intermountain West to determine the effects of season of slaughter and interrelationships among carcass characteristics.

Materials and Methods: Lamb carcass characteristics were evaluated in 2 commercial Intermountain West processing plants over one year (n = 10,027). Carcasses were evaluated by season: spring (December–April, n = 2,322) and summer (May–August, n …

Effects Of Increasing Dietary Zinc Sulfate Fed To Gestating Ewes: Ii. Milk Somatic Cell Count, Microbial Populations, And Fatty Acid Composition, C. M. Page, R. M. Knuth, T. W. Murphy, D. C. Rule, B. Bisha, J. B. Taylor, W. C. Stewart

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center

Objective: The objective of the research was to evaluate the effects of increasing dietary Zn sulfate concentration for primiparous gestating ewes on subsequent milk SCC, intramammary microbial identifications, and fatty acid composition.

Materials and Methods: Commercial white-face (WF; n = 27) and black-face (BF; n = 24) ewes (age ≈18 mo; BW = 87.48 ± 8.37 kg) were sorted into breed-type groups and within groups ranked by BW, and then, they were randomly divided into 3 dietary supplement treatment groups: CON (n = 13; 40 mg/kg Zn; ≈1 × NASEM recommendations), Zn500 (n = 21; 500 mg/kg Zn; …

Using Acid-Detergent Insoluble Ash As An Internal Marker To Compare Digestibility And Fecal Output By Ovine That Were Offered Hays Of Varying Nutrient Composition, Kennedy Barnett, Trisha Adams, Kenneth P. Coffey, Kathleen S. Jogan

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Digestibility markers are used to determine total digestibility without collecting total feces, which reduces time and labor and allows greater numbers of animal observations to be obtained. The goal was to determine if the digestibility marker acid detergent insoluble ash (ADIA) was fully recovered, and based on that information, determine the accuracy of total digestion predictions using ADIA. Different proportions of sericea lespedeza hay and alfalfa silage were offered to 16 gestating Dorper ewe lambs (Ovis aries) (41.8 ± 4.61 kg body weight) to determine digestibility. Total feed intake and fecal excretion were measured during 2 experimental periods consisting of …

Evaluation Of Salmonella Biofilm Cell Transfer From Common Food Contact Surfaces To Beef Products, Rong Wong, David A. King, Norasak Kalchayanand

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center

Meat contamination by Salmonella enterica is a serious public health concern. Available data have suggested that biofilm formation at processing plants and contaminated contact surfaces might contribute to meat contamination. Because transfer from contact surfaces to food products via direct contact has been deemed the most common bacteria transmission route that can lead to contamination, we evaluated the effect of Salmonella biofilm forming ability, contact surface material, and beef surface tissue type on Salmonella biofilm transfer from hard surfaces to beef products. Salmonella biofilms developed on the common contact surfaces stainless steel (SS) and polyvinylchloride (PVC) were transferred consecutively via …

Hotline Number To Reach And Offer Agricultural Information To Plain Anabaptists During The Covid-19 Workplace Closures, Emily Shoop, Carly Becker, Nathan Glenn Briggs, Danielle Smarsh

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

The Penn State Extension Animal Systems Team developed a toll-free hotline phone number to convey short educational messages to maintain contact and outreach to Pennsylvania’s animal producing Amish, Mennonite, and other plain Anabaptist populations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Penn State Extension’s programming went largely online via webinars, online courses, and emails. This change in programming excluded a large sector of Pennsylvania farmers who do not use or have access to the internet and, as such, were liable to miss important best management practice reviews and timely updates in animal agriculture. The Animal Systems Hotline offered callers the choice to listen …

Is There Room In The United States Diet For Goat Meat? Analysis Of The 2019 National Goat Meat Survey, Everett Marcus Martin

MSU Graduate Theses

Demand for goat meat has steadily increased in the past decade, but few studies have been conducted addressing goat meat attributes and demographic factors on consumers’ willingness to buy goat meat products. Analyzing a national consumer survey on goat meat preference, a logit modeling is used addressing factors affecting willingness to buy three goat meat products: grass-fed, locally grown, and organically raised. Results indicate that quality and freshness attribute characteristics significantly affect consumer willingness to buy grass-fed, organic, and locally grown goat meat.

Considerations And Best Practices In Animal Science 16s Ribosomal Rna Gene Sequencing Microbiome Studies, Margaret D. Weinroth, Aeriel D. Belk, Chris Dean, Noelle Noyes, Dana K. Dittoe, Michael J. Rothrock Jr, Steven C. Ricke, Phillip R. Myer, Madison T. Henniger, Gustavo A. Ramírez, Brian B. Oakley, Katie Lynn Summers, Asha M. Miles, Taylor B. Ault-Seay, Zhongtang Yu, Jessica L. Metcalf, James E. Wells

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center

Microbiome studies in animal science using 16S rRNA gene sequencing have become increasingly common in recent years as sequencing costs continue to fall and bioinformatic tools become more powerful and user-friendly. The combination of molecular biology, microbiology, microbial ecology, computer science, and bioinformatics—in addition to the traditional considerations when conducting an animal science study—makes microbiome studies sometimes intimidating due to the intersection of different fields. The objective of this review is to serve as a jumping-off point for those animal scientists less familiar with 16S rRNA gene sequencing and analyses and to bring up common issues and concerns that arise …

Twenty-Four-Month Longitudinal Study Suggests Little To No Horizontal Gene Transfer In Situ Between Third-Generation Cephalosporin-Resistant Salmonella And Third-Generation Cephalosporin-Resistant Escherichia Coli In A Beef Cattle Feedyard, John W. Schmidt, Sarah A. Murray, Aaron M. Dickey, Tommy L. Wheeler, Dayna M. Harhay, Terrance M. Arthur

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center

Third-generation cephalosporins (3GCs) are preferred treatments for serious human Salmonella enterica infections. Beef cattle are suspected to contribute to human 3GC-resistant Salmonella infections. Commensal 3GC-resistant Escherichia coli are thought to act as reservoirs of 3GC resistance because these strains are isolated more frequently than are 3GC-resistant Salmonella strains at beef cattle feedyards. During each of 24 consecutive months, four samples of pen surface material were obtained from five pens (N = 480) at a Nebraska feedyard to determine to the contribution of 3GC-resistant E. coli to the occurrence of 3GC-resistant Salmonella. Illumina whole genome sequencing was performed, and …

Primary Industries Development Research Highlights 2021, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Tim Scanlon

Books & book chapters

The Primary Industries Development Research Highlights 2021 showcases the breadth and depth of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s research and development activities over the past several years.

Stories featured in Research Highlights 2021 stem from about 60 (of 140) current and recently-completed projects undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) 1100 scientists, technical experts and economists throughout the State.

Explore our Research Highlights 2021.

The publication demonstrates the innovative and applicable research that DPIRD and its collaborators and investment partners deliver to Western Australia.

Download the Research Highlights 2021 here. Alternatively, …

Meat Tenderness: Advances In Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Mechanisms And New Technologies, Robyn D. Warner, Tommy L. Wheeler, Minh Ha, Xin Li, Alaa El-Din Bekhit, James Morton, Rozita Vaskoska, Frank R. Dunshea, Rui Lui, Peter Purslow, Wangang Zhang

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center

Meat tenderness is an important quality trait critical to consumer acceptance, and determines satisfaction, repeat purchase and willingness-to-pay premium prices. Recent advances in tenderness research from a variety of perspectives are presented. Our understanding of molecular factors influencing tenderization are discussed in relation to glycolysis, calcium release, protease activation, apoptosis and heat shock proteins, the use of proteomic analysis for monitoring changes, proteomic biomarkers and oxidative/nitrosative stress. Each of these structural, metabolic and molecular determinants of meat tenderness are then discussed in greater detail in relation to animal variation, postmortem influences, and changes during cooking, with a focus on recent …

Cranial Cruciate Ligament Desmotomies In Sheep Resulting In Peroneus Tertius Injury, Peter J. Welsh, Crystal G. Collier, Holly M. Clement, Michael N. Vakula, Jeffrey B. Mason

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Student Research

Surgical destabilization of the stifle joint via cranial cruciate ligament desmotomy (CCLD) is a routine procedure for the study of osteoarthritis (OA). Traditionally performed in rats, rabbits, cats, and dogs, CCLD in sheep provides an opportunity to study the pathology and treatment of joint instability in a species whose stifle better represents the equivalent human femorotibial joint. The surgical approaches for CCLD in sheep are variable and can result in inconsistent outcomes. Eight sheep underwent CCLD for use in a gene therapy study. We report this case in which six of the eight sheep were clinically diagnosed by pathognomonic signs …

The Effects Of Poor Maternal Nutrition During Gestation On Colostrum And Milk Quality And Immunoglobulin G Concentrations In Sheep, Alexandra Bettencourt

Honors Scholar Theses

Maternal over- and under-nutrition have negative effects on the growth and development of offspring. Colostrum and milk are critical to neonatal development, and composition and quality of colostrum and milk may be influenced by maternal factors, including diet. In this study, 46 pregnant ewes received one of three diets, 60% (RES), 100% (CON), or 140% (OVER) of National Research Council (NRC) nutrition requirements for total digestible nutrients from d 30 of gestation until parturition. Colostrum samples were collected within 24 hours of parturition. Milk samples were collected on d 3 and d 21 postpartum. Total solid concentrations of samples were …

Sustainable Winter-Feeding Practices For Meat Goats Within The Southeastern United States, Nikisha Ryan, Nar Gurung, Jeremy Byrant, Frank Abrahamsen, Wendell Mcelhenney

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

Winter feeding systems were evaluated on male Kiko meat goats against the traditional practice of raising goats in the winter months. Forty-Five Kiko bucks were randomly assigned to one of three treatments; Treatment 1, Treatment 2, and Treatment 3 consisted, respectively, of Cosaque Oats, annual Ryegrass, Crimson Clover mix, and 1.0% of BW concentrate supplementation with free choice hay. Forage clippings were analyzed for dry matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber. Body weights were monitored over the grazing period. Blood samples were collected during the experiment, and animals were slaughtered for the evaluation of carcass traits. Data were analyzed …

Biosecurity Measures For Meat Goat And Sheep Managers, Maria Lenira Leite-Browning, Richard Browning Jr., Cassandra F. Vaughn, Kenneth Andries

Extension Publications

No abstract provided.

Incorporation Of Summer Annual Mixtures Into Grazing Systems In Kentucky, Kelly Marie Mercier

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Utilizing summer annual grass-legume forage mixtures has the potential to improve forage yield and nutritive characteristics, and/or animal performance during times when cool-season pasture growth is limited by high temperatures. Legumes can utilize atmospheric nitrogen, which can increase crude protein and forage digestibility in mixtures. As nitrogen application generally improves both the yield and nutritive characteristics of summer annual forages, but can have a negative effect on legume competitiveness, nitrogen fertilizer recommendations for legume-containing summer annual mixtures are not well established.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the feasibility of utilizing summer annual mixtures in Kentucky, USA. The first experiment …

Effect Of Fecal Egg Count Estimated Breeding Value On Antibody Production In Katahdin Lambs, Kelsey L. Bentley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

With current pressures to seek out genetic solutions to combat antimicrobial resistance, genetic resistance to the gastrointestinal nematode Haemonchus contortus may reduce need for prophylactic antibiotic use. The Katahdin breed has effectively utilized post-weaning fecal egg count estimated breeding value (PFEC EBV) to reduce parasitism within their flocks, but there still remains significant opportunity for selection within breed. In a previous study, Katahdin sheep sired by low PFEC sires had greater survivability to weaning than lambs sired by high PFEC rams and preweaning was caused by other diseases than parasitism. Those data lead to the hypothesis that selection for PFEC …

Classification Of Small Ruminant Lentivirus Subtype A2, Subgroups 1 And 2 Based On Whole Genome Comparisons And Complex Recombination Patterns, Aaron M. Dickey, Timothy P.L. Smith, Michael L. Clawson, Michael P. Heaton, Aspen M. Workman

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center

Background: Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) cause a multisystemic chronic wasting disease in sheep across much of the world. SRLV subtype A2 is prevalent in North America and further classified into multiple subgroups based on variation in the group antigens gene (gag) and envelope (env) genes. In sheep, the ovine transmembrane protein 154 (TMEM154) gene is associated with SRLV susceptibility. Ewes with at least one copy of TMEM154 encoding a fulllength protein with glutamate at position 35 (E35; haplotypes 2 and 3), are highly susceptible to SRLV infection while ewes with any combination of TMEM154 …

Evaluation Of Different Ensiling Methods On Storage And Feeding Value Of The Residual Material From Edamame Soybean Processing, Ellen Herring

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Use of organic waste material by ruminant animals from food processing operations potentially reduces costs and reduces environmental issues from disposal of these residues. Therefore, 2 experiments were conducted to evaluate the storage and feeding value of residual from edamame soybean processing for ruminant animals. Two types of waste streams, waste during harvest time and waste from processing stored material, were ensiled (on a laboratory scale) using various methods and effects on post-ensiling nutritive value were examined. Material from both waste streams were ensiled either without wilting or after wilting; each moisture level was ensiled with and without an inoculant. …