Digital Commons Network^™

Memorial Khem Shahani, Robert W. Hutkins, Burt Maxcy, Steve Taylor

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Khem Shahani, Professor Emeritus at the University of Nebraska, died recently in Sicily while on a speaking tour and visiting family. Professor Shahani had a long, illustrious career in dairy microbiology and was one of the world's leading researchers in the area of probiotic bacteria. This is a field that, in the past few years, has seen remarkable growth and interest in the scientific comm.unity. Khem was one of only a few scientists who early on worked toward establishing a scientific basis for the role that probiotics play in nutrition and health. His outstanding record of research, teaching, and service …

Effects Of Manipulating Protein And Phosphorus Nutrition Of Feedlot Cattle On Nutrient Management And The Environment, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Feedlot nutrition will play a role in meeting challenges such as nutrient management. Nitrogen and phosphorus are two nutrients that are currently studied in this context. One nutritional method is formulating diets not to exceed requirements for nitrogen and phosphorus. Requirements are different for calves and yearlings. The requirements also change during the finishing period. Phosphorus requirements have not been extensively studied for feedlot cattle between 270 and 600 kg. Therefore, P requirements studies were conducted to determine the P requirement of calves (265 kg) and yearlings (385 kg). The requirement was not detected with P levels as low as …

Phosphorus Requirement Of Finishing Feedlot Calves, Galen Erickson, Terry Klopfenstein, C. T. Milton, Dennis Brink, M. W. Orth, K. M. Whittet

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Dietary P supplied to feedlot cattle is important because an inadequate supply will compromise performance, whereas excess P may harm the environment. However, P requirements of feedlot cattle are not well documented. Therefore, 45 steer calves (265.2 ±16.6 kg) were individually fed to determine the P required for gain and bone integrity over a 204-d finishing period. The basal diet consisted of 33.5% high-moisture corn, 30% brewers grits, 20% corn bran, 7.5% cottonseed hulls, 3% tallow, and 6% supplement. Treatments consisted of 0.16 (no supplemental inorganic P), 0.22, 0.28, 0.34, and 0.40% P (DM basis). Supplemental P was provided by …

The Role Of Nutrition In Reducing Nutrient Output From Ruminants, L. D. Satter, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Much of the effort expended on nutrient management has focused on the post-excretion product. It is important to keep in mind that management of the diet can have important impacts on quantitative and qualitative aspects of the excreted nutrients. Surveys of nutritionists and extension specialists show that dairy producers are advised to feed 0.45 to 0.50% phosphorus (P) (DM basis) in their lactating cow diets. This is 20% in excess of NRC (2001) requirements. Feeding to requirement would reduce P excretion by 25 to 30% and would reduce solubility and potential for runoff of the P that is applied to …

Greenhouse And Field Evaluation Of Biological Control Of Fusarium Head Blight On Durum Wheat, D. A. Schisler, N. I. Khan, Michael J. Boehm, P. J. Slininger

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a devastating disease that causes extensive yield and quality losses to wheat and barley. In durum wheat, the pathogen-produced toxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is retained in semolina at ~50%, and the causal agent of FHB, Gibberella zeae, has a strong adverse effect on pasta color. Two bacteria and two yeast strains with known efficacy against G. zeae on hexaploid wheats were produced in liquid culture and assayed on two cultivars of durum wheat in greenhouse bioassays. All antagonists reduced FHB severity on cultivar Renville, and three of the four reduced severity on cultivar Ben, with …

Recycled Paper Products As Substitutes For Gelling Agent In Screwworm (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Larval Diet, M. F. Chaudhury, L. Alfredo Alvarez, L. Lopez Velazquez

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

Absorbent recycled paper products were tested and compared with a sodium polyacrylate gelling agent, Aquatain, for solidifying larval diets of the screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel). A recycled newsprint product, Terra-Mulch, when mixed with water and dietary ingredients produced a diet medium of homogeneous texture that supported larval growth and development comparable to the standard diet prepared with the gelling agent. Biological yields as calculated from number of pupae per tray from both the diets were similar. Three other types of recycled paper products were tested. Although less homogeneous in texture, these diets were as good as the diet with Terra-Mulch. …

Southeast Research And Extension Center 5-Year Issue-Based Review

Southeast Research and Extension Center: Reports and Administration

Director's Introduction

Demographic and Economic Profile of Southeastern Nebraska

Geography and Organization

Population

Agriculture

Income and Poverty

Commuting

Race and Ethnicity

Preface - Writing Team

Agriculture Issue Team Report

Acreage Team Report

Small/Medium Farm Team Report

Large Farm Team Report

Agribusiness/Consultants Team Report

Structure of Agriculture Report

Crops

Animal Agriculture

Agribusiness

Public Policy

Community Visions: Urban/Rural Issue Team Report

Environmental Sustainability Issue Team Report

Family Life Issue Team Report

Healthy Lifestyles Issue Team Report

Food Safety

Healthcare in Communities

Nutrition Education Program

Nutrition Through the Lifecycle

Youth Issue Team Report

Research in the Southeast District

Final Report of Focus Group …

Biomass And Nitrogen Traits Of Summer Pigeon Peas And Winter Wheat Grown For Three Rotations In Containers, Srinivas C. Rao, Charles T. Mackown, James E. Bidlack

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

Pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] cultivars, ‘Georgia-1’ and ‘ICPL-87’, were grown without inoculation and with Bradyrhizobium inoculation (multistrain, TAL 1127, or TAL 1132) to evaluate legume dry weight (DW) and nitrogen (N) content, soil mineral N, and subsequent wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity. Pigeon peas were grown during summer and ‘TAM 101’ wheat was grown during winter, along with summer fallow controls fertilized with 0, 45, and 90 kg N ha^-1, in 36-cm diam. 20-L pots from 1992 to 1995. Representative pigeon peas were harvested in the fall and remaining plants were incorporated into the …

Epidemic Malaria In The Menoreh Hills Of Central Java, Mazie J. Barcus, Ferdinand Laihad, M. Sururi, Priyanto Sismadi, Harijani Marwoto, Michael J. Bangs, J. Kevin Baird

United States Navy: Publications

After more than 50 years of effective management, resurgent malaria threatens residents in the Menoreh Hills and the foothills of the Dieng Plateau of Central Java, Indonesia. The Dieng Plateau dominates the highland center of Central Java. The steep Menoreh Hills, surrounded by rice paddy habitats, cover approximately 500 km² with no peaks greater than 1,000 m. We studied epidemic malaria in Purworejo district, one of the three districts containing the Menoreh Hills. Between 1986 and 1995, the annual parasite incidence (API) in Purworejo ranged from 2 to 11 cases per 1,000 residents per year and was typically approximately …

Selenium Toxicity: Cause And Effects In Aquatic Birds, Julian E. Spallholz, David J. Hoffman

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

There are several manners in which selenium may express its toxicity: (1) an important mechanism appears to involve the formation of CH₃Se⁻ which either enters a redox cycle and generates superoxide and oxidative stress, or forms free radicals that bind to and inhibit important enzymes and proteins. (2) Excess selenium as selenocysteine results in inhibition of selenium methylation metabolism. As a consequence, concentrations of hydrogen selenide, an intermediate metabolite, accumulate in animals and are hepatotoxic, possibly causing other selenium-related adverse effects. (3) It is also possible that the presence of excess selenium analogs of sulfur-containing enzymes and …

Managing Swine Dietary Phosphorus To Meet Manure Management Goals, Mike Brumm, Charles A. Shapiro, William L. Kranz

Nebraska Swine Reports

A demonstration was carried out for 15 months at a 1,200-head growing- finishing facility in Holt County, Neb. The purpose was to document the impact of diet formulation on phosphorus excretion and the associated land area needed to utilize the phosphorus in the accumulated manure. The demonstration facility had four 300-head rooms. Prior to the demonstration, pigs in all rooms were fed diets formulated to contain 0.55-0.57% total phosphorus for all phases of growth. For the demonstration, two rooms were fed diets formulated to the University of Nebraska recommended levels for available phosphorus. The other two rooms were fed diets …

Phytase Sources In Pelleted Diets, Mike Brumm

Nebraska Swine Reports

An experiment was conducted to determine whether there were differences in performance between two commercial sources of phytase when added to corn and soybean meal-based diets prior to pelleting. Pelleted diets investigated for growing-finishing barrows of high-lean-gain-potential included: 1) University of Nebraska recommended formulations; 2) diets formulated to contain 0.1% less available phosphorus than recommended; 3) diets formulated with 500 FYT/kg added phytase from Ronozyme-P®; 4) diets formulated with 750 FYT/kg added phytase from Ronozyme-P®; 5) diets formulated with 500 FTU/kg added phytase from Natuphos®; and 6) diets formulated with 750 FTU/kg added phytase from Natuphos®. Temperature of the pellets …

Defining The Optimal Feed Budget System For Terminal-Crossed, Growing-Finishing Barrows, Robert Fischer, Phillip S. Miller, Austin Lewis, Darren J. Critser

Nebraska Swine Reports

This experiment was conducted to evaluate growth performance and carcass quality measurements in growing-finishing barrows assigned to different feed budget systems. Forty-eight barrows with an initial body weight of 47.3 lb were randomly allotted to one of three different feed budget systems. The experiment was continued until the average body weight was 270 lb, at which time all pigs were slaughtered. Growth performance and real-time ultrasound measurements were taken biweekly, except for the final period, which was 24 days. Carcass tenth-rib backfat and longissimus muscle area measurements were made 24 hours postmortem. Overall, average daily feed intake (ADFI) was affected …

Factors Affecting Bacon Color And Composition, J. E. Mann, Roger W. Mandigo, Dennis E. Burson, R. Garza

Nebraska Swine Reports

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of genetic line, diet, sex, slaughter weight and location within the slab on the proximate composition and color of bacon lean and fat. Bacon slabs manufactured from bellies of 756 barrows and gilts of six different genetic lines equally distributed among four feeding regimes, with differing lysine levels, and three weight groups and processed into sliced retail bacon (nine slices/inch) were used. Sliced bacon slabs were divided into five equally sized sections and two bacon slices were taken from the anterior end of each for machine vision and proximate analyses. …

Update On The Economics Of Feeding Ractopamine (Paylean™) To Finishing Pigs, Duane Reese, Larry L. Bitney

Nebraska Swine Reports

Ractopamine is a feed additive that improves feed efficiency, daily gain, and carcass merit in finishing pigs. An economic feasibility analysis on the feeding of 4.5 and 9.0 g/ton ractopamine to finishing pigs fed a 1% lysine, corn-soybean meal diet for an average of 29 days before slaughter was conducted. The analysis was performed in two stages: 1) an economic benefit for ractopamine was calculated from revenues due to improved feed efficiency, daily gain and carcass yield (dressing percent), and 2) the amount of a carcass lean premium needed per pig to recover the added cost of feeding ractopamine was …

Environmental Effects On Developing Wheat As Sensed By Near-Infrared Reflectance Of Mature Grains, Stephen R. Delwiche, Robert A. Graybosch, Lenis Alton Nelson, William R. Hruschka

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

For 30 years, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has routinely been applied to the cereal grains for the purpose of rapidly measuring concentrations of constituents such as protein and moisture. The research described herein examined the ability of NIR reflectance spectroscopy on harvested wheat to determine weather-related, quality-determining properties that occurred during plant development. Twenty commercial cultivars or advanced breeding lines of hard red winter and hard white wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were grown in 10 geographical locations under prevailing natural conditions of the U.S. Great Plains. Diffuse reflectance spectra (1,100-2,498 nm) of ground wheat from these samples were modeled by …

The Rwandese, Clea Msindo Koff, Ralph J. Hartley

Department of Anthropology: Faculty Publications

The Rwandese are a set of peoples who live in the country of Rwanda in eastern central Africa who today number an estimated 7.9 million.2 Rwanda is a small country that has the highest population density (numbers of people per square-mile) in Africa. All Rwandese speak Rwanda (Kinyarwanda), and some speak French, Swahili, or English. Rwandese identify with three population groups called Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa. Today, these labels are used as ethnic identifiers; however, in the past they designated an individual's occupation. It is not clear if the words Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa existed in ancient times when people …

Weaning Date For Spring Calving Cows Grazing Sandhills Range, Lane Ciminski, Don C. Adams, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Dick Clark, Andy Applegarth, Jacqueline A. Musgrave, Russ Sandberg

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A two-year experiment was conducted with March calving cows to determine the effect of the weaning date on cow body condition score, cow body weight, and calf body weight. Treatments were of eight weaning dates imposed at consecutive two-week intervals, beginning in mid-August and ending in late November. Cow body condition score declined linearly as weaning date was later in the fall. Calf body weight gains from August through November increased with weaning dates from August 18 through October 13; however, weaning after October 13 provided no advantage of increased calf body weight gain.

Forage Quality And Animal Performance Of Steers Grazing Smooth Bromegrass/Legume Pastures, Mark Ullerich, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Bruce Anderson, Michael Trammell

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A trial was conducted to evaluate effects of interseeding legumes into smooth bromegrass pastures on animal performance and forage quality. Animal gains on legume/bromegrass treatments were higher than bromegrass alone. Laboratory analysis of diet samples collected from ruminally fistulated steers indicated no difference in the undegradable intake protein content of pastures. Legume/bromegrass treatments had higher IVDMD than the control. Therefore, the increases in gain are attributed to increased energy of legume/bromegrass diets and not undegradable protein content.

Genetic Modification Of Lignin Concentration Affects Fitness Of Perennial Herbaceous Plants, M. D. Casler, D. R. Buxton, Kenneth P. Vogel

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

Populations of four perennial herbaceous species that were genetically modified for altered lignin content (or associated forage digestibility) by conventional plant breeding were evaluated for two agricultural fitness traits, plant survival and plant biomass, in three Northcentral USA environments for more than 4 years. Reduced lignin concentration or increased digestibility resulted in increased winter mortality in two of four species and reduced biomass in one species. Results from other experiment indicate that these apparent genetic correlations may be ephemeral, suggesting that selection for fitness can be successful within high-digestibility or low-lignin germplasm. Results indicate that perennial plants genetically engineered with …

Growing Rice Grain With Controlled Cadmium Concentrations, Urszula Kukier, Rufus L. Chaney

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

Two solution studies were conducted a) to investigate the uptake of zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) by rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) and interaction between these elements, and b) to determine experimental conditions for growing rice grain with desired Cd concentration for an animal feeding study. In both studies, free metal activities of cadmium and cationic microelements were buffered by an excess of chelating agents. The first study was a factorial design with two Zn levels (1.0 and 3.89 μM) and four Cd levels (0.81, 1.44, 2.56 and 4.55 μM) in the solution. In the second study, rice was …

Kura Clover And Birdsfoot Trefoil Response To Soil Ph, L. R. Dehaan, M. P. Russelle, C. C. Sheaffer, N. J. Ehlke

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

Use of the rhizomatous perennial forage legume kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.) has been limited by slow establishment. Mature kura clover responds to liming on some acid soils, but the soil pH required for vigorous growth of young plants is unknown. A factorial greenhouse experiment was conducted with two kura clover cultivars (Rhizo and Endura) and one cultivar of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L., Norcen) planted in three soil types (Sartell loamy fine sand, Hubbard loamy sand, and Sanborg clay loam) amended with Ca(OH)₂ to obtain six soil pH levels. The experiment was performed twice, once …

One Plus One Equals Three: The Synergistic Effects Of Crop Rotation On Soil Fertility And Plant Nutrition, Walter E. Riedell, Joseph L. Pikul Jr., Lynne Carpenter-Boggs

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

Corn grown under annual corn-soybean crop rotation has greater accumulation of certain mineral nutrients and higher yields than corn grown in monoculture. This study was conducted to determine if complex crop rotations (with legumes in the rotation as alfalfa hay as well as soybean row crops) and different levels of agriculture chemical input affect soil fertility and corn mineral nutrient composition. The effects of crop rotation [monoculture corn, corn-soybean 2-yr rotation, corn-soybean- wheat underseeded with alfalfa-alfalfa 4-yr rotation] and input level [high input (fertilizer application for 8.15 Mg ha^-1 yield goal, prophylactic herbicide and insecticide application, fall moldboard plow/spring …

A Personal Account Of Creating The Sterile Insect Technique To Eradicate The Screwworm From Curacao, Florida And The Southeastern United States, Alfred H. Baumhover

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

The history is recounted of developing the sterile insect technique to eradicate the screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), from the Caribbean island of Curacao, Florida and the southeastern U.S. Observations of screwworm biology and challenges faced in conducting these eradication projects are described by the author who worked on all aspects of the research and field operations. Eradication was first demonstrated on Curacao, essentially a 170 mi² outdoor laboratory. The population dynamics of the wild screwworm was determined and overflooding ratios and dispersal patterns essential for population suppression were defined. Eradication was achieved with minimal resources by attacking the pest …

Differences Among Mycorrhizal Fungi For Mineral Uptake Per Root Length Of Switchgrass Grown In Acidic Soil, R. B. Clark

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

Plants commonly encounter deficient and=or toxic levels of mineral elements when grown in acidic soil, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have potential to overcome many of these effects. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) was grown in acidic Lily soil (Typic Hapludult) at pH_Ca 4 and 5 (soil : 10mM CaCl₂, 1 : 1) and inoculated with Glomus (G.) clarum, G. diaphanum, G. etunicatum, G. intraradices, Gigaspora (Gi.) albida, Gi. margarita, Gi. rosea, and Acaulospora (A.) morrowiae to determine differences among mycorrhizal (AM) plants for mineral uptake per root length (RL). Shoots of AM plants grown …

Does Increasing Daylength Control Seasonal Changes In Clutch Sizes Of Northern Pintails (Ana Acuta)?, Gary Krapu, Glen Sergeant, Alison Perkins

United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: Publications

We evaluated spatiotemporal variation in clutch sizes of Northern Pintails (pintails; Anas acuta) nesting in California (1985 to 1996), North Dakota (1982 to 1985), Saskatchewan (1982 to 1985) and Alaska (1991 to 1993) to determine whether seasonal declines in clutch size varied in ways that were consistent with a controlling influence of increasing day length. Pintails began nesting in mid-March in California, mid-April in North Dakota and Saskatchewan, and mid-May in Alaska. Observed durations of nesting were 70 ± 2.6 days (SE) in California, 60 ± 6.3 days in North Dakota, 66 ± 1.3 days in Saskatchewan, and 42 …

Immobilization Of Swift Foxes With Ketamine Hydrochloride-Xylazine Hydrochloride, Rebecca L. Telesco, Marsha A. Sovada

United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: Publications

There is an increasing need to develop field immobilization techniques that allow researchers to handle safely swift foxes (Vulpes velox) with minimal risk of stress or injury. We immobilized captive swift foxes to determine the safety and effectiveness of ketamine hydrochloride and xylazine hydrochloride at different dosages. We attempted to determine appropriate dosages to immobilize swift foxes for an adequate field-handling period based on three anesthesia intervals (induction period, immobilization period, and recovery period) and physiologic responses (rectal temperature, respiration rate, and heart rate). Between October 1998–July 1999, we conducted four trials, evaluating three different dosage ratios of …

Use Of Spectral Radiance To Estimate In-Season Biomass And Grain Yield In Nitrogen- And Water-Stressed Corn, S.L. Osborne, James S. Schepers, D.D. Francis, Michael R. Schlemmer

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Current technologies for measuring plant water status are limited, while recently remote sensing techniques for estimating N status have increased with limited research on the interaction between the two stresses. Because plant water status methods are time-consuming and require numerous observations to characterize a field, managers could benefit from remote sensing techniques to assist in irrigation and N management decisions. A 2-yr experiment was initiated to determine specific wavelengths and/or combinations of wavelengths indicative of water stress and N deficiencies, and to evaluate these wavelengths for estimating in-season biomass and corn (Zea mays L.) grain yield. The experiment was …

Corn Yield Potential And Optimal Soil Productivity In Irrigated Corn/Soybean Systems, Achim R. Dobermann, Timothy J. Arkebauer, Kenneth G. Cassman, Rhae A. Drijber, J. Lindquist, S. Madhaven, John P. Markwell, Lenis Alton Nelson, James E. Specht, Daniel T. Walters, Haishun Yang, Brigid Amos, Darren L. Binder, C. Murphy, Gregory J. Teichmeier

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

In 1999, an interdisciplinary research team at the University of Nebraska established a field experiment to (1) quantify and understand the yield potential of corn and soybean under irrigated conditions, (2) identify efficient crop management practices to achieve yields that approach potential levels, and (3) determine the energy use efficiency, global warming and soil C-sequestration potential of intensively managed corn systems. The experiment compares systems that represent different levels of management intensity expressed as combinations of crop rotation (continuous corn, corn-soybean), plant density (low, medium, high) and nutrient management (recommended best management vs. intensive management). Detailed measurements include soil nutrient …

Genetic Analysis Of Feed Quality And Seed Weight Of Sorghum Inbred Lines And Hybrids Using Analytical Methods And Nirs, C. Hicks, M. R. Tuinstra, Jeffrey F. Pedersen, F. E. Dowell, K. D. Kofoid

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Eight lines of grain sorghum and their F1 hybrids were evaluated for contents of crude protein (CP), fat (FAT), and starch (STA); protein digestibility (PD); and in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD). The effect of seed weight (SW) on these traits and the potential use of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict them also were investigated. The male lines included three normal-seeded lines (TX2737, TX435, and P954063) and two largeseeded lines (PL-1 and Eastin1). The female lines included commonU.S. seed parent lines (Wheatland, Redlan, and SA3042). The lines and their hybrids were grown under dryland conditions at Kansas State …