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Trace Elements In The Aquatic Bird Food Chain At The North Ponds, Texaco Refinery Casper, Wyoming, Kimberly Dickerson, Pedro Ramirez Jr.

United States Fish and Wildlife: Staff Publications

The objectives of this study were to determine nesting success of aquatic birds, trace element concentrations in the aquatic food chain, and whether trace elements were biomagnifying through the aquatic food chain of ponds at the inactive Texaco Refinery, in Evansville, Wyoming. Trace element concentrations in samples collected from the Texaco Refinery were compared to those found in samples collected from a background site, Pathfinder National Wildlife Refuge.

The ponds at the inactive refinery provided a source of water to aquatic birds in an otherwise arid landscape. Nesting success for shorebirds using an island in Pond 1 was greater than …

Kirtland’S Warbler Dendroica Kirtlandii

United States Fish and Wildlife: Staff Publications

The first Kirtland’s warbler in North America was identified in 1851 from a specimen collected on Dr. Jared Kirtland’s farm near Cleveland, Ohio. Biologists did not learn where it nested until 1903 when they found a warbler nest in Michigan. Today, Kirtland’s warbler faces two significant threats: lack of crucial young jack pine forest habitat and the parasitic cowbird.

A pair of Kirtland’s warblers requires at least eight acres of young jack pine forest to nest, but usually needs 30 to 40 acres to raise a nest of young. Its exacting nesting habitat requirements, as well as cowbird parasitism, caused …

Evaluation Of The Ovine Callipyge Locus: Ii. Genotypic Effects On Growth, Slaughter, And Carcass Traits, B. A. Freking, J. W. Keele, Merlyn K. Nielsen, Kreg A. Leymaster

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

A resource flock of 362 F2 lambs provided phenotypic and genotypic data to estimate effects of callipyge ( CLPG) genotypes on growth, slaughter, and carcass traits. Lambs were serially slaughtered in six groups at 3-wk intervals starting at 23 wk of age to allow comparisons at different end points. Probabilities of CLPG genotypes were calculated at a position 86 cM from the most centromeric marker of chromosome 18. A contrast of CLPG genotypic effects, based on the paternal polar over-dominance model, was used to evaluate callipyge and normal phenotypes. Relationships of traits with slaughter age, carcass weight, or 12th-rib fat …

Effect Of Degradable Intake Protein Level On Finishing Cattle Performance And Ruminal Metabolism, D. H. Shain, Rick Stock, Terry J. Klopfenstein, D. W. Herold

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Two finishing trials and a metabolism trial were conducted to evaluate level of supplemental degradable intake (crude) protein (DIP) in finishing diets on cattle performance, carcass characteristics, and ruminal metabolism. Finishing trials were conducted in two consecutive years using 128 crossbred yearling steers (BW = 343 ± 5 kg, Trial 1) and 176 crossbred yearling steers (BW = 375 ± 4 kg, Trial 2) in a randomized complete block design. Steers were fed dry-rolled corn diets containing urea at 0, .88, 1.34, or 1.96% (DM basis). No differences in DMI, daily gain, or feed efficiency were noted among steers receiving …

Contaminants Information Bulletin: Environmental Contaminants In Sedimente From Oilfield Produced Water Discharge Points, Pedro Ramirez Jr.

United States Fish and Wildlife: Staff Publications

Oilfield produced water is generated from the extraction of oil mixed with groundwater. A separator is used to physically remove the water from the oil; however, the produced water can contain residual amounts of oil. Additionally, malfunction of the separator equipment can cause inefficient separation and result in higher amounts of oil in the water. The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WY DEQ) regulates the discharge of produced waters under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) .WY DEQ permits 10 µg/l of oil in produced water discharged into regulated waters of the state. Produced water discharges are not permitted …

Caribou Rangifer Tarandus Caribou

United States Fish and Wildlife: Staff Publications

Caribou are the largest members of the reindeer family (Rangifer tarandus) and are native to the arctic and sub-arctic regions of Siberia, North America and Greenland. Reindeer, which are traditionally herded in northern Europe and Eurasia, were introduced into Alaska in 1892. Although some herding of reindeer continues in Alaska today, many of the introduced reindeer interbred with caribou. The four caribou subspecies—barren ground, Peary’s, tundra and woodland—differ greatly in range, size, coloration, behavior, food habits and habitat use.

Caribou are a medium-sized member of the deer family and stand about 31⁄2 feet tall at the shoulder. Females …

Florida Panther Puma [Felis] Concolor Coryi

United States Fish and Wildlife: Staff Publications

There are only 30 to 50 adult Florida panthers left in the wild, making Florida's official state animal one of the most endangered mammals in the world. At one time perhaps 3,000 or more Florida panthers ranged throughout Florida, northward through Georgia, parts of South Carolina, and Tennessee, and westward through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and possibly eastern Texas. Today, the Florida panther's range is limited to parts of southern Florida, including the Big Cypress Swamp and the Everglades.

Initially, the Florida panter's decline was due to excessive hunting because of an unfounded fear for livestock and human safety. More …

Desert Tortoise Gopherus Agassizii

United States Fish and Wildlife: Staff Publications

Desert tortoises, also known as desert turtles or gopher tortoises, currently are found in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah, as well as parts of Mexico, and in the Mojave, Colorado, Sonoran and Sinaloan deserts. As the result of various human activities over the past 150 years, tortoises have been eliminated or reduced in large portions of their range in California and in areas near Las Vegas and St. George, Utah.

Desert tortoise population densities range from just a few per square mile to more than 200 per square mile. Although the number of desert tortoises in the world is unknown, …

Sea Turtles

United States Fish and Wildlife: Staff Publications

Of the six sea turtle species that are found in the U.S. waters or that nest on U.S. beaches, all are designated as either threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Endangered status means a species is considered in danger of exinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range; threatened means it is likely to become endangered.

Six of the seven sea turtles species are listed as endangered or threatened: green, Kemp's ridley, olive ridley, hawksbill, loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles. Only one species, the flatback sea turtle, is not considered threatened with extinction at this time. …

Effect Of Energy Source And Escape Protein On Receiving And Finishing Performance And Health Of Calves, R. A. Mccoy, Rick Stock, Terry J. Klopfenstein, D. H. Shain, M. J. Klemesrud

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Two receiving and two finishing trials evaluated energy source and escape protein supplementation for calves. In receiving Trial 1, 398 calves (257 ± 24 kg BW) were used in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Energy sources were dryrolled corn (DRC) and wet corn gluten feed (WCGF); each was fed without or with supplemental escape protein (EP). Calves fed WCGF gained slower ( P < .05) and consumed less DM ( P < .01) than calves fed DRC. Feed efficiency improved ( P < .10) with EP supplementation. In finishing Trial 1, 240 calves (305 ± 21 kg BW) were used. The arrangement of treatments was the same as in receiving Trial 1. Calves fed DRC/WCGF tended ( P = .15) to be more efficient and consumed less DM ( P < .05) than calves fed DRC. In receiving Trial 2, 315 calves (252 ± 23 kg BW) were fed diets similar to those fed in receiving Trial 1. Calves fed WCGF consumed less DM ( P < .01), gained similarly ( P > .15), and were more efficient ( P < .10) than calves fed DRC. In finishing Trial 2, 320 calves (298 ± 23 kg BW) were fed diets containing DRC, DRC/WCGF, high-moisture corn (HMC), HMC/WCGF, and DRC/HMC; each was fed without or with supplemental EP. An energy source ´ protein supplement interaction was detected for gain ( P < .05) and efficiency ( P < .01). Results suggest that WCGF has a NE_g greater than DRC in receiving diets and a NE_g similar to that of DRC but lower than that of HMC in finishing diets.

Expression Of An Inter-Α-Trypsininhibitor Heavy Chain-Like Protein In The Pig Endometrium During The Oestrous Cycle And Early Pregnancy, R. D. Geisert, J. V. Yelich, T. Pratt, Daniel Pomp

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

In pigs, changes in an unidentified endometrial glycoprotein, pGP30, are temporally associated with rapid trophoblast elongation and initial placental attachment on day 12 of gestation. Identification of endometrial pGP30 was undertaken through protein purification, NH2-terminal amino acid sequencing and cDNA sequencing of products generated through reverse transcription-polymerasechain reaction. Sequencing of 35 amino acids from the NH2-terminal end of pGP30 revealed that the 30 kDa glycoprotein is a cleavage product from the C-terminal region of inter-α-trypsininhibitor heavy chain 4 (IαIH4), previously known as inter-α-trypsininhibitor heavy chain-like protein. IαIH4 is unique compared with the three other inter-α-trypsininhibitor heavy chains as it does …

Effect Of Ignoring Random Sire And Dam Effects On Estimates And Standard Errors Of Breed Comparisons, K. L. Barkhouse, L. Dale Van Vleck, Larry V. Cundiff

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Data were weights of F₁ calves and weaning weights of top-cross progeny from sires and maternal grandsires of 13 breeds. Three analyses were performed on each trait to obtain estimates and standard errors of breed effects needed to calculate across-breed EPD and accuracies. Model (R) for records of F₁ progeny contained fixed effects for birth year and date of birth, sex, age and breed of dam, and breed of sire, and a random residual effect. The second analysis included random effects for sires (RS), and the third analysis included random effects for sires and dams (RSD). In maternal …

Effects Of Inbreeding And Heterozygosity On Preweaning Traits In A Closed Population Of Herefords Under Selection, L. Dale Van Vleck, M. D. Macneil

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Records of five inbred lines at the Livestock and Range Research Laboratory were used to evaluate effects of inbreeding and heterozygosity on preweaning traits. Members of each line were descendants of a single founder Hereford bull. A total of 8,065 records of birth weight and 7,380 records of preweaning daily gain and weaning weight were analyzed by derivative-free REML using a model that included fixed effects of sex, combination of year and month of birth and parity of dam, with covariates for direct and maternal genetic fractions of inheritance from the genetic groups, inbreeding, and heterozygosity fractions. Heterozygosity fractions were …

1997 Inventory For Spiranthes Diluvialis Sheviak In Western Nebraska: A Final Report, Volume I, Terri Hildebrand

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: White Papers, Conference Presentations, and Manuscripts

This study resulted from an agreement between Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW). After the 1996 discovery of Spiranthes diluvialis, in western Nebraska, NGPC was seeking to determine the extent of the Nebraska population. Information on the wet meadow community of orchid occurrence in Nebraska and eastern Wyoming was needed. This report includes descriptions of communities inventoried, Spiranthes diluvialis populations, and additional species monitored by Nebraska and Wyoming Natural Heritage programs.

The 1996 discovery of Spiranthes diluvialis in Nebraska by Hazlett merited the need for further inventory for the species …

1998 Southeast Nebraska Tallgrass Praire Inventory: Johnson, Gage, And Jefferson Counties, Final Report, Robert F. Steinauer

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: White Papers, Conference Presentations, and Manuscripts

This report is prepared as a requirement of the 1998 Southeast Nebraska Prairie Survey contract between the Platte/Rainwater Basin Project Office of the Nature Conservancy and Robert F. Steinauer. The original contract called for the examination of Johnson County south of Highway 136, and Gage County east of Beatrice. Due to the scarcity of prairies in these areas, the survey region was expanded to include northern Johnson County, and southern Jefferson County.

Prairies in these areas were identified using infrared and black and white photos, driving on county and within grassland roads, and conversations with landowners. Heritage Program “Site Survey …

Evaluating Stress In Calves Weaned At Three Different Ages, Andrea Bueno, Todd Cappel, Chuck Story, Richard J. Rasby, Edd Clemens, Mark Dragastin

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of weaning calves at 150, 210 and 270 days of age (i.e. August, October and December, respectively). A total of 75 Angus x MARC II heifers calves were used in this study. Heifers were bled on the day of weaning and again at 2, 7, 14 and 28 days after weaning. Blood was analyzed for differential WBC, cortisol, T₃ and glucose. Weight changes were recorded. The data suggests October weaned calves (210 days) had both greater blood cortisol and glucose at days 7, 14 and 28 post-weaning and greater weight gains when …

Calving Difficulty And Calf Response To Stress, Todd Cappel, Andrea Bueno, Edd Clemens

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Calving difficulty altered the stress-related capabilities of the calf, placing the newborn in a compromised situation. Calves derived by severe mechanical pull or cesarean section exhibited depressed short-term defensive capabilities, lower cortisol and elevated neutrophil values, necessary for fighting infectious organisms. Of equal concern: when compared to calves born with little or no parturition difficulty, the stressed calves failed to develop effective adaptive mechanisms, having lower thyroid activity and lymphocyte values of principle importance for long-term survival. Neither the heifer’s mothering ability nor her disposition tended to influence her calf’s stress indicators.

Effects Of Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone Antagonist On The Bovine Corpus Luteum, Debra T. Clopton, Jorge Quintal, Freddie Kojima, Karol Fike, Jim Kinder

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The size and function of the corpus luteum were examined after administration of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone antagonist. Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone antagonist was administered to three animal groups starting: 1) 2 days before the preovulatory luteinizing hormone surge inducing ovulation; 2) at initiation of the preovulatory surge; and 3) 2 days after the preovulatory surge. Although size and function of the corpus luteum were suppressed in all treated groups, the greatest developmental suppression occurred when luteinizing hormone release was blocked 2 days before the preovulatory surge of LH inducing ovulation. Therefore, optimal pregnancy rates in cattle may depend on …

Effects Of Feed Intake Variation On Acidosis And Performance Of Finishing Steers, Rob Cooper, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Rick Stock, Cal Parrott, Dan Herold

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Four metabolism and two finishing trials were conducted to determine the effects of imposed feed intake variation on acidosis and performance of finishing steers. In metabolism trials, intake variation of 3 lb DM/day increased acidosis of limit-fed steers as measured by ruminal pH. However, when steers were fed at ad libitum levels of intake, intake variation of up to 4 lb DM/day did not increase acidosis. In finishing trials, imposed intake variation of 4 lb DM/day neither decreased daily gain nor feed efficiency of steers fed at ad libitum levels of intake.

Effect Of Summer Grazing On Crude Protein And Digestibility Of Winter Diets Of Cattle In The Nebraska Sandhills, Dale Downs, Don C. Adams, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Walter H. Schacht, Patrick E. Reece

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Twenty-one pastures (three pastures/ treatment) were used in a two-year study to determine the effects of summer grazing on winter diet quality of Sandhills range. Summer grazing treatments consisted of no summer grazing (control) and June or July grazing at three stocking rates. After summer grazing, pastures were then diet sampled using esophageally fistulated cows in November, January and March following summer treatments. Year and sampling date had a significant effect on CP and IVDMD of winter range diets, whereas summer grazing treatments did not have a large impact.

Evaluation Of 1996 Nrc For Protein And Phosphorus Requirements Of Finishing Cattle, Galen E. Erickson, Todd Milton, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the 1996 Beef NRC computer model for protein and phosphorus requirements of feedlot cattle. The control ration was formulated for the same levels of crude protein (13.5%) and phosphorus (0.35%) in both trials; however, supplemental protein was from urea in Trial 1 and urea, feather meal and blood meal in Trial 2. The balanced ration was formulated utilizing the 1996 NRC. The balanced ration was changed to effectively meet the changing requirements for DIP, UIP and P. In Trial 1, gains and efficiencies were similar between treatments; however, DMI was lower with cattle fed …

Regulation Of Lh Secretion By Progesterone In Heifers, Karol Fike, Brad Lindsey, Ellen G. M. Bergfeld, Freddie Kojima, Jorge Quintal, Eraldo Zanella, Eric Melvin, Michael Wehrman, James E. Kinder

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Heifers experienced either a: 1) large magnitude of change in progesterone; 2) medium magnitude of change in progesterone; or 3) small magnitude of change in progesterone. During the 24 hours following the progesterone shift, heifers with the large magnitude progesterone shift had a greater LH pulse frequency than heifers with a medium or small magnitude of shift in progesterone. Despite the large or medium magnitude progesterone shift, LH pulse frequency did not differ from heifers in which a small change in progesterone occurred. We conclude that amount of progesterone in circulation is more important in regulation of LH secretion than …

Solvent-Extracted Germ Meal For Receiving Calves, Daniel Herold, Mark Klemesrud, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Todd Milton, Rick Stock

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

This study evaluated solvent-extracted germ meal as a dietary ingredient for receiving calves. Treatments were 7% of dry matter as either corn bran or solvent-extracted germ meal in 55% concentrate diets. Average daily gain, dry matter intake and feed to gain ratio were not influenced by treatment. Dry matter offered for the first 7 days calves were in the feedlot also did not differ due to treatment. Both dry matter consumption and calf performance indicated solvent-extracted germ meal can replace up to 7% corn bran in the diet without influencing either dry matter intake or performance.

Feather Meal As A Source Of Sulfur Amino Acids For Growing Steers, Mark Klemesrud, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

One-hundred twenty individually fed steer calves were used to evaluate feather meal as a source of sulfur amino acids. Treatment proteins included a urea control and meat and bone meal (6.4% of dietary DM) plus 0, 1, or 2% feather meal with incremental levels of rumen protected methionine. Adding feather meal to meat and bone meal resulted in a linear increase in gain. Likewise, rumen-protected methionine also improved gain. These results indicate feather meal can provide a portion of the sulfur amino acids lacking in meat and bone meal. However, additional methionine may further improve performance.

Use Of The Nrc Model For Evaluating Nutrient Balances Of Grazing Beef Cattle, Greg Lardy, Don C. Adams, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Dennis R. Brink

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Research conducted at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory evaluated the National Research Council Beef Cattle Nutrient Requirements Model. Equations describing seasonal variability in CP, IVOMD, escape protein and degradable intake protein of native Sandhills range and subirrigated meadow were developed. Estimates of TDN and protein degradability for feedstuffs commonly used by Nebraska cow-calf producers are given. The NRC Model generally predicted nutrient balances in agreement with research trials. Microbial efficiency is lower for less-digestible forages. The NRC model is useful for evaluating grazed diets when accurate estimates of protein degradability, digestibility and intake are available.

Lipid Sources In Finishing Diets For Yearling Steers, Ivan G. Rush, Burt Weichenthal, Brad Van Pelt

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Adding Synergy² to a corn-based finishing diet to provide 1.12% lipid did not significantly increase steer performance in this trial or in pooled results between this trial and one reported in 1995. However, numerical increases were observed in daily gain and feed dry matter intake for Synergy when compared to control values. Pooled results for additions of pork fat (white grease) to provide 1.12 or 2.24% lipid were intermediate to those for the control and Synergy treatments. Any performance benefit attributed to Synergy may be as much from its effect on dry matter intake as it is from nutrient …

An Enzyme-Microbial Feed Product For Finishing Steers, Burt Weichenthal, Ivan G. Rush, Brad Van Pelt

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Feeding MSE (multiple stabilized enzymes in an enzyme-microbial feed product) at the rate of 2 lb of product per ton of diet dry matter in two trials with finishing yearling steers, increased daily gain by an average of 6.9% over feeding Rumensin-Tylan at 29 g and 10 g per ton, respectively. Feed-to-gain ratio was improved by an average of 5.6% with MSE in the same comparison. Carcass measurements were similar, except for slight increases in hot carcass weight and dressing percent for cattle fed MSE. Percentages of liver abscesses were low and similar for both treatments.

Metazoan Parasites And Other Symbionts Of Cetaceans In The Caribbean, Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, Eric P. Hoberg, Doug Siegel-Causey, Ernest H. Williams Jr.

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty and Staff Publications

The parasite fauna in cetaceans from Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the larger Caribbean region is poorly known. We provide the first records for parasite biodiversity among a diverse assemblage of cetaceans from the Caribbean Sea. Internal and external parasites and commensals were collected from stranded whales and dolphins salvaged in Puerto Rico, the United States and British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, and Venezuela between 1989 and 1997. A total of 47 individuals of 16 species of whales and dolphins (15 odontocetes and one mysticete) were examined. Overall, parasites and commensals were found in 34 (72.3%) animals, representing 13 species …