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G89-942 Can You Afford To Use Bovine Somatrophin (Bovine Growth Hormone)?, Jeffrey F. Keown

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Factors to consider before using Bovine Somatrophin in your dairy herd are covered here.

Much has been written recently about the effect of administering Bovine Somatrophin (BST) to dairy animals. The expected increase in income that could be generated by the use of BST catches producers' attention.

Before any producer uses BST, however, there are a few questions that should be addressed. The most crucial is, "Can BST administration be cash flowed in my dairy operation?"

The answer to this question is dependent on three crucial areas--your current herd average, herd management situation, and the costs involved in the application …

G89-952 Estrus (Heat) Detection Guidelines, Jeffrey F. Keown, Duane N. Rice

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Ways to spot cows in heat are covered in this NebGuide.

Several factors are essential in maintaining a herd's reproductive health. Among the most important are: (1) maintaining accurate records, (2) knowing the visual signs of estrus (heat), (3) using proper heat detection aids, and (4) maintaining a herd health program.

By taking the four basic steps listed above, the expected calving interval for dairy animals will be close to the recommended 12 to 13 months. Beef producers need to strive for a 12-month calving interval to maintain a profitable enterprise.

This 12- to 13-month calving interval returns the most …

G89-989 How To Interpret The New Animal Model For Dairy Sire Evaluation, Jeffrey F. Keown

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

In question and answer format this NebGuide addresses changes in genetic evaluations of both dairy cows and sores.

Why is the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) changing the dairy sire and cow evaluation system?

The answer is simple. The Animal Model for genetic evaluations is more accurate than the old Modified Contemporary Comparison Method (M.C.C.). Previously the major limiting factors to implementing the Animal Model were computing costs and memory requirements. With the advent of new Super Computers, the computations are feasible on a national scale.

What is the Animal Model?

The Animal Model simultaneously evaluates cows and sires …

Influence Of Energy And Protein Intake During Lactation On Body Composition Of Primiparous Sows, J. H. Brendemuhl, A. J. Lewis, E. R. Peo, Jr.

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The effects of energy and protein intakes by 32 primiparous sows during a 28-d lactation on sow and litter performance and sow body composition and bone properties were examined. Dietary treatments were energy intakes of 8 (LE) and 16 (HE) Mcal of ME/d and protein intakes of 380 (LP) and 760 (HP) g of CP/d in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Sows fed diets that were inadequate in either energy or protein lost more weight than did sows fed the HE-HP diet, but back fat losses were greater when energy intake was deficient than when protein was deficient.

Genetic Variability For Mineral Element Concentration Of Crested Wheatgrass Forage, Kenneth P. Vogel, H. F. Maryland, P. E. Reece, J. F. S. Lamb

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Grass tetany is a complex metabolic disorder that causes substantial livestock production losses and deaths in temperate regions of the world. It is caused by low levels of Mg or an imbalance of K, Ca, and Mg in forage consumed by animals. Development of grasses with improved mineral balance would be an economical means of minimizing losses from this malady. This study was conducted to determine if genetic variability exists among crested wheatgrasses, Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertner and A. desertorum (Fisher ex Link) Schultes, for forage Mg, Ca, K, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Na, and P concentrations. Forage of spaced …

Grazing Selectivity And In Vivo Digestibility Of Switchgrass Strains Selected For Differing Digestibility, M. G. Ward, J. K. Ward, Bruce E. Anderson, Kenneth P. Vogel

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Animal selectivity and digestibility differences among switchgrass strains selected for different in vitro dry matter digestibilities (IVDMD) were measured in a grazing trial with esophageally fistulated steers and a sheep digestion trial. Extrusa selected by esophageally fistulated steers grazing high-IVDMD (Trailblazer), Pathfinder and Iow-IVDMD strains of switchgrass were compared, as were top and whole plant hand-clipped samples from each strain. Trailblazer extrusa had higher (P < .1) in vitro organic matter disappearance (IVOMD) and lower (P < .1) NDF and ADF than Pathfinder extrusa. Extrusa from all three strains appeared to be of higher quality than top or whole plant hand-clipped samples. In vitro organic matter disappearance tended to be highest for Trailblazer top hand-clipped samples. Composition of hand-clipped samples among strains was not significantly different. Mature crossbred wethers were used to compare Trailblazer and P ~ switchgrass hay in a digestion trial. No differences (P > .1) were detected between slrains for DMI or apparent digestibility of DM, NDF, ADF and CP. Extrusa from Trailblazer switchgrass that had been selected for whole plant IVDMD had higher IVOMD; however, there was no …

Evolution Of The Aeluroid Carnivora: Significance Of The Ventral Promontorial Process Of The Petrosal, And The Origin Of Basicranial Patterns In The Living Families, Robert M. Hunt Jr.

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

In studies of carnivoran phylogeny, the configuration and ontogenetic development of the auditory bulla enclosing the middle ear have been useful in tracing modern lineages to their first appearances in the mid-Cenozoic. Pre-Oligocene carnivorans, however, lack preserved bullae and have been difficult to relate to later Cenozoic groups. The carnivoran petrosal bone, because of its durability both in intact skulls and as an isolated element, can be tracked through Cenozoic time, and can supply new information on lineage continuity through its geometry and spatial relationships. Aeluroid carnivorans are united by a petrosal of characteristic shape, distinguished by a ventral promontorial …

Dragons, Blossoms, Sunbursts: Textile Arts Of The Caucasus, Carol Bier

Textile Research Works

Rugs from the Caucasus have long been appreciated in Europe and America. Widely known for their bright colors and bold designs, Caucasian rugs have attracted collectors for nearly a century. These rugs, produced in towns and villages, reflect regional design traditions which were amalgamated from diverse sources.

Although embroideries and flatweaves (rugs without pile) from the Caucasus are less well known in the West, their designs are no less bold nor their colors less striking. Produced as a domestic art, they were destined for home use and local commerce. The richness of patterns in these textile arts is in part …

An Essay On The Concept Of Demonstration Rooftop Prairies, Patrick Horsbrugh

Proceedings of the North American Prairie Conferences

The concept of demonstration prairies on the roofs of industrial and commercial premises is recommended as a means of stimulating interest in prairie ecology and of providing educational facilities in urban areas. The economics of such rooftop locations for prairie studies and research depends upon the multiple use of land for seemingly incompatible activities. The use of selected vegetation as an integral part of the structure provides the opportunity for the prairie to invade the city, while potentially offering the benefits of effective insulation, microclimatic modification, and reductions in roof maintenance costs. This would be one method to meet the …

51-Year Change In The Shortgrass Prairie Of Eastern Wyoming, Herbert G. Fisser, Kendall L. Johnson, Kellie S. Moore, Glenn E. Plumb

Proceedings of the North American Prairie Conferences

In 1936, vegetation analyses were conducted on repurchased federal lands in the Powder River Basin of eastern Wyoming. During the summer of 1987 the 74 remaining plots of 97 originally established on a 2.6 km² (1 mi²) area in Converse County were re-examined. Both surveys were conducted with the "square foot density procedure." During the past 51 years, vegetation abundance increased significantly on the saline upland site as a result of the interactive effects of favorable long-term weather patterns, annual grazing by livestock and wildlife, and reduced fire. Total vegetation cover increased significantly (P < 0.05) from 3% in 1936 to 11 % in 1987, including a threefold increase for all grasses and a fourfold increase for all woody species. A negligible change occurred for all forbs. A shift in the cover composition occurred with grasses decreasing from 52% to 44% and non-grass species showing a corresponding increase. All growth forms, except shrubs, gained wider distribution over the study period, especially succulents and annual grasses. Continuation of current management practices probably means that this range will not return to a short grass-dominated prairie.

Populations And Prey Selection Of Wintering Raptors In Boulder County, Colorado, Stephen R. Jones

Proceedings of the North American Prairie Conferences

Wintering raptor populations were monitored between 1983 and 1988 in a 35 km² study area centered 8 km north-northeast of the city of Boulder, Colorado. Raptors congregated around active prairie dog (Cynomys sp.) colonies. Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) , ferruginous hawks (Buteo regalis), and red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis ) were observed hunting and capturing prairie dogs. Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and northern harriers (Circus cyaneus) participated in the competition for captured prey. Thirteen occurrences were noted of bald eagles stealing captured prairie dogs from ferruginous hawks. A bubonic plague …

Is Fire A Disturbance In Grasslands?, E. W. Evans, J. M. Briggs, E. J. Finck, D. J. Gibson, S. W. James, D. W. Kaufman, T. R. Seastedt

Proceedings of the North American Prairie Conferences

Many grasslands, and in particular the tallgrass prairies of North America, are generally thought to be maintained by periodic fire. Semantic disagreement among researchers, however, threatens to hamper discussion of fire as an ecological force in grassland ecosystems. Some authors emphasize that fires are disturbances (or perturbations) since these fires disrupt or alter ecosystem states, trends, and dynamics (e.g., accumulating nitrogen is volatilized, plant and animal communities change in composition). Other researchers point out that, because these fire-induced disruptions and alterations can maintain the status quo of the ecosystem (e. g., prevent it from becoming woodland), it is the lack …

Hulbert's Study Of Factors Effecting Botanical Composition Of Tallgrass Prairie, David J. Gibson

Proceedings of the North American Prairie Conferences

Lloyd Hulbert's death in May 1986 left a wealth of unfinished projects as well as the legacy of Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Kansas. One of these was an incomplete manuscript on fire, mowing, and soil effects on the tallgrass prairie, in which canopy cover and frequency in 27 soil-treatment combinations from Konza Prairie were reported. Treatments included unburned and April burned at 1-,2-, and 4-year intervals, annual burning during three seasons, and mowing during two seasons. Soils ranged from deep and non-rocky to shallow, rocky, silty clay loams. Late April burning favored tall C4 grasses at the expense of …

Forage Value Of Weed Species In A Grass Seeding, B. K. Lawrence, S. S. Waller, L. E. Moser, Bruce Anderson, L. L. Larson

Proceedings of the North American Prairie Conferences

Weeds are a major problem in seeding rangeland and cropland to native grasses. However, many immature weedy forbs and grasses are palatable to cattle. Research was conducted using yearling cattle for weed control in big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii Vitman) seedings (1987, 1988) at Mead, Nebraska on a Sharpsburg silty clay loam (fine, montmorillonitic, mesic Typic Argiudoll) soil. Prominent volunteer species were annual foxtails (Setaria spp. Beauv.), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus SSL.), velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.), and common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.). Cattle consumed annual foxtails and redroot pigweed, but did not consume velvetleaf …

Small Mammals Of A Relict Wet Prairie In Ohio, Eric D. Osborn, Carl W. Hoagstrom

Proceedings of the North American Prairie Conferences

Killdeer Plains is a Wildlife Area in northwest Ohio managed primarily for waterfowl. At the turn of the century, the area was a wet prairie remnant of the prairie peninsula. Despite attempts at drainage and farming, parts of the area retain the characteristics of a wet prairie. Two spruce-pine (Picea - Pinus) clumps in the plains are used as winter roosts by long-eared owls (Asio otus). Pellets regurgitated by these owls were examined to determine the species and relative numbers of small mammals in the area. Nearly 90% of all individuals taken by the owls were …

Small Bison Herd Utilization Of Tallgrass Prairie, Lorence Larson, G.K. Murdock

Proceedings of the North American Prairie Conferences

The utilization of a tall grass prairie remnant by a small bison (Bison bison) herd is described. Three bulls and six cows were introduced to a 257 ha section of Prairie State Park, Liberal, Missouri in 1985. Between 1985 and March 1988, ten calves were born; four cows and a bull were introduced to the herd in 1988. Since March 1986, the behavior of the herd has been observed three times per week, year-round. The portion of the herd using mowed fire breaks or burned or unburned portions was determined at ten-minute intervals; for 3,249 observations over 213 …

Silica, Nitrogen, And Phosphorus Dynamics Of Tallgrass Prairie, T. R. Seastedt, R. A. Ramundo, D. C. Hayes

Proceedings of the North American Prairie Conferences

Experiments were conducted on big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) 10 the greenhouse and on a tallgrass site on Konza Prairie to evaluate the effects of simulated grazing on the cycling of silica (SiO₂), nitrogen, and phosphorus. Concentrations of all elements increased in vegetation that had been clipped or pruned. The absolute amount of nitrogen obtained by plants 10 the greenhouse experiment was increased by clipping foliage. Phosphorus exhibited only neutral or negative responses, while the absolute amount of silica declined in all but one experiment involving root pruning. In that experiment, the absolute amount of silica in …

Tallgrass Prairie Remnants Of Eastern Nebraska, Judith F. Boettcher, Thomas B. Bragg

Proceedings of the North American Prairie Conferences

Ten eastern Nebraska tallgrass prairie remnants were evaluated up to four times during the 1979 growing season to assess vegetative composition and the effects of mowing, topographic and size differences, and season of evaluation. Frequent mowing resulted in a reduced canopy cover of some species, such as big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) (21% lower with frequent mowing), but increased cover of others, particularly the introduced species smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss. subsp. inermis) (35% higher cover with frequent mowing). In addition, frequent mowing resulted in a higher proportion of disturbance species. Comparing the time of mowing, canopy …

1989 Annual Report Nebraska Game And Parks Commission

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Publications

No abstract provided.

Selenium In The Aquatic Environment Of Quivira National Wildlife Refuge In 1987, R. Mark Wilson, George T. Allen

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

Selenium is a widely distributed element generally found at low concentrations in surface waters and soils (Cooper et. al. 1974. Kubota 1980. Raptis et. al. 1983. Trelease 1945). Selenium has received recent attention from the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) because high levels of selenium borne by irrigation return flows have caused serious problems for fish and wildlife (Clark 1987. Hoffman et. al. 1988. Lemly 1987. Ohlendorf et. al. 1986a,b, 1987, 1988, Saiki and Lowe 1987). Because selenium concentrations can occur in coal deposits, ash from coal-fired powerplants has caused serious selenium contamination …

Remarks By The President At Swearing-In Ceremony Of Secretary Of Agriculture Clayton Yeutter, Clayton K. Yeutter

Clayton K. Yeutter, United States Secretary of Agriculture: Papers

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Peter, and all the members of the Cabinet; the members of the United States Congress here; distinguished ambassadors and others. I've come over here today for the swearing-in of our Secretary. Clayton Yeutter is about to make an enduring commitment to this Department and I should acknowledge the fact that I think five of his predecessors are here today -- Democrats and Republicans which I think gives him an extraordinarily good send-off. There's a difference, you know, between involvement and commitment. You all know it. Remember the old farmer making eggs and bacon. The chicken is …

Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Polysaccharide Vaccine: An Efficacy Study, Lee H. Harrison, Claire V. Broome, Allen W. Hightower

United States Public Health Resources

The Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine was licensed for use in the United States in April 1985. Postlicensure case-control efficacy studies have yielded markedly different estimates of efficacy, leading to contradictory recommendations to practicing physicians. To obtain additional information about the efficacy of the vaccine, we studied cases of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease ascertained through active surveillance in areas with a total population of 34 million. We enrolled children 24 to 59 months of age who did not attend day-care centers. (Data from our day-care study have been published elsewhere.) For each case child, as many as …

Performance And Design Of Vegetative Filters For Feedlot Runoff Treatment, Elbert C. Dickey, D. H. Vanderholm

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Installation of a zero-discharge, runoff-control system is one method for solving potential water pollution problems from many feedlot operations. Even though the zero-discharge system is required by regulation in several states, this approach may be economically prohibitive for many small operations. An alternative is to install a vegetative filter system to adequately control the runoff so that violations of water quality standards will not occur during storm runoff. Vegetative filters are systems in which a vegetative area such as pasture, grassed waterways, or even cropland is used for treating feedlot runoff by settling, filtration, dilution, adsorption of pollutants and infiltration. …

Using Plant Breeding And Genetics To Overcome The Incidence Of Grass Tetany, D. A. Sleeper, Kenneth P. Vogel, K. H. Asay, H. F. Mayland

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Plant breeders developing cultivars to minimize the hazards of grass tetany are concentrating largely on increasing herbage Mg concentrations in cool-season (C 3) grasses. Significant genetic variation has been found for Mg, Ca and K concentrations within C3 grass species studied to date. For most C 3 forage grass species, heritability estimates are highest for Mg, slightly lower for Ca and lowest for K concentrations. The largest genotype x environmental interactions are found for K values, whereas small environmental effects have been observed for Mg and Ca values. No C 3 forage grass cultivar has been developed to date that …

The Quest Of Dr. Ernest F. Bashford For Knowledge About Cancer Etiology In Man And Mouse, Anne J. Krush

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Dr. Ernest F. Bashford, an English physician,lived from 1873 to 1923. For many years before his untimely death, he was an officer for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. From articles in the British Medical Journal and other publications, Bashford prepared a volume of reprints (1903-1909) concerning problems, growth, and heredity of cancer, and experiments with breast cancer in mice. Cancer had been studied histologically and clinically, with only speculation as to its origin, nature, and cause in man. He suggested cooperative studies by investigators in many different fields. Concerned with why the growth of cancer seemed limitless, and with problems …

Diversity Of Coprophagous Scarabaeidae (Coleoptera) In Grazed Versus Ungrazed Sandhills Prairie In Western Nebraska, Mary Liz Jameson

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Baited pitfall traps were used to compare the dung-feeding Scarabaeidae (Coleoptera) of a grazed versus an ungrazed sandhills prairie in western Nebraska. Traps yielded 14,832 coprophagous Scarabaeidae over a 4-week sampling period in 1987. Canthon ebenus (Say), C. pilurarius (L.), Onthophagous hecate Panzer, and O. pennsylvanicus Harold were the dominant species on both prairies. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index indicated that diversity was slightly higher on the grazed site whereas the Margalef diversity index showed the diversities to be nearly the same. Activity and foraging by scarabs (as measured by trapping success) were found to be most closely correlated with temperature …

Molecular Evidence For Inclusion On The Phylum Pentastomida In The Crustacea, Lawrence G. Abele, Won Kim, Bruce E. Felgenhauer

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

The phylogenetic status of the phylum Pentastomida (tongue worms) was considered on the basis of comparison of nucleotide sequences of 18S ribosomal RNA from the pentastome Porocephalus crotali, the branchiuran crustacean fish louse Argulus nobilis, other crustaceans, and representatives of the Annelida, Chelicerata, Myriapoda, and Insecta. Maximum parsimony and invariants (at P < 0.04) analyses support an Argulus/Porocephalus clade, providing strong support for the proposal that tongue worms are highly modified crustaceans closely related to fish lice.

Determining Crop Residue Cover With Electronic Image Analysis, Elbert C. Dickey, David P. Shelton, G.E. Meyer, K.T. Fairbanks

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Crop residue management is one of the best and most efficient soil conservation methods available to farmers. Determinations of the percentage of the soil surface covered with crop residue are often needed for: soil conservation research; erosion control demonstrations; and maintaining compliance with federal, state, or local soil conservation regulations. A number of methods can be used to estimate residue cover, however, many have limitations. To help overcome some of these limitations, a technique, which uses readily-available microcomputer-related hardware and standard video camera equipment has been developed to estimate crop residue cover from photographic slides. This procedure is relatively rapid, …

Lasting Responsiveness Of A Kea (Nestor Notabilis) Toward Its Mirror Image, Judy Diamond, Alan B. Bond

Papers in Behavior in Biological Sciences

At the San Diego Zoo we had the opportunity of observing the behaviour of a Kea Nestor notabilis toward its mirror image under conditions of constant exposure over a period of 12 months. ... The introduction of the mirrors appears to have had a striking impact on the bird's listless state. Reports from keepers indicated that the Kea's appetite was restored after the introduction of the mirrors, and the animal was generally more active. Incidents of feather pulling were generally reduced in frequency.

Studies Of Learning And Memory In Natural Contexts : Integrating Functional And Mechanistic Approaches To Behavior, Alan Kamil

Papers in Behavior in Biological Sciences

My purpose in this paper is to describe two research projects that combine experimental psychology and behavioral ecology . The first employs the operant conditioning technology developed by psychologists to test hypotheses arising from ecological studies of foraging animals. The second uses concepts from natural history and ecology to explore the nature and evolution of spatial memory. These two projects demonstrate both the advantages and the challenges of interdisciplinary work.

There are many advantages to combining psychological and biological perspectives on the behavior of animals. But truly interdisciplinary work is rare, mostly because it is so difficult to achieve meaningful …