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Animal Science Alumni Newsletter, Winter 1996

Department of Animal Science: Departmental News

Contents:

From the Department Head’s Desk
Animal Science Alumni Day
Graduate Program
Undergraduate Program
Deaths
Block and Bridle
New Faculty
Recent Department Awards and Recognitions
Officers for 1995-1996
Activities for 1995-1996
New Livestock Gene Mapping Research Program is Initiated
Faculty Activities
Extension Activities
Omega Egg Research
Chuck Schroeder Accepts New Position
Courses
Judging Team Activities
Your Newsletter Committee
Alumni News
Calendar of Events for 1995-1996

Cattle, Co-Wives, Children, And Calabashes: Material Context For Symbol Use Among The Il Chamus Of West-Central Kenya, Alan J. Osborn

Department of Anthropology: Faculty Publications

This paper examines systemic contexts for symbol use among the Maa-speaking Il Chamus in the Lake Baringo region of west-central Kenya. The systemic context for symbols and material culture consists of the environmental constraints and behavioral responses that characterize pastoralist life in East Africa. The author's interest in this problem developed in response to Ian Hodder’s work among the Il Chamus, Pokot, and Tugen in the Baringo District. Unlike Hodder, however, the author argues that symbols and their use in East Africa can be more productively explained from a materialist perspective. Specifically, it is proposed that symbols affixed to certain …

Nf96-251 A Comparative Study Of Fiber Digestion And Subsequent Nutrient Absorption In The Ostrich Versus The Ruminant, Sheila E. Scheideler

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact compares the digestive systems of the ruminant and the ostrich.

Ec96-1555 Insect Pest Management Strategies For Yards And Gardens, Frederick P. Baxendale, Robert J. Wright

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

A growing awareness of problems associated with overusing pesticides has prompted many home gardeners and landscape managers to seek alternative methods of insect control. Integrated pest management (IPM) uses suitable methods in a compatible manner to maintain pest densities below levels of unacceptable injury.

IPM principles can be applied to all pest groups (insects, mites, weeds, plant diseases and vertebrates), and urban as well as agricultural settings. This publication will discuss how integrated pest management can be applied to insect and mite management in yards and gardens.

Nf96-281 Soil Fertility Considerations For Land Coming Out Of Crp, Charles A. Shapiro, Gary W. Hergert, Melinda Mcvey Mccluskey

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact discusses soil nutrients and fertility for CRP farmland.

Nf96-306 Olestra — Fat Substitute Approved By Fda In January 1996, Linda S. Boeckner, Jan Massey

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

On January 24, 1996, after $200 million and 25 years of study by Procter & Gamble, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved another fat substitute called Olestra. At this time, the product is approved for use only in snack foods such as potato, corn and tortilla chips, and crackers. The company plans to use the fat substitute under the trade name Olean. This publication discusses the facts of this fat substitute.

1996 Nebraska Swine Report, Duane E. Reese

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This publication was prepared by the staff in Animal Science and cooperating Departments for use in Extension,Teaching and Research programs. It deals with the results that were done in reproduction, breeding, health, nutrition, economics and housing of swine.

G96-1292 Winter Care For Horses, Kathleen P. Anderson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses energy requirements, feeding alterations, water requirements, hair and hoof implications, and shelter needs for horses during winter.

As the weather turns cold, many horses are ridden less and less. It is easy to become relaxed in a horse's daily care since they are not being used as often. However, horses still require much care and attention throughout the winter. Often, even greater attention is needed since there are no green pastures to graze or ponds and creeks to drink from.

Nf96-252 Controlling Feed Costs On Your Dairy Farm, Rick Grant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact discusses ways to control feed costs on dairy farms.

Pqf News: Newsletter Of The Partridge, Quail, And Francolin Specialist Group 7-12 (1996-1998), Iucn Species Survival Commission, Birdlife International, World Pheasant Association

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Newsletters

The purpose of the newsletter is to receive details of new projects, re-assessments of the status of relevant species, interesting discoveries or observations, taxonomic changes, conservation successes or threats and anything else that members might find interesting. We would like in future issues to produce a list of relevant publications which appear during the year in order to keep members up-to-date with current information. We will publish requests for contacts or information, advertisements for conferences and workshops and news of projects and project proposals.

Issue 7 (Autumn 1996)

Foreword by John P. Carroll

In focus: Punjab Wildlife Research and Training …

Cc363 Revised 1996 1996 Agriculture Outlook And Policy Issues, Lynn Lutgen

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Campaign Circular363: 1996 Agricultural Outlook and Policy Issues. Factors Affecting the Livestock Industry. Agricultural Inputs. Commodity Marketing. Land and Taxes Issues. Government Program and Implications.

G96-1285 Dairy Health Management For Optimum Production And Reproductive Performance, Duane N. Rice, Rick J. Grant, Larry L. Larson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Maintaining a healthy herd is a constant challenge to today's dairy producer. This NebGuide suggests ways to increase and maintain the quality of your dairy herd. Maintaining a healthy herd is a constant challenge to today's dairy producer. Each year an average of 20 to 25 percent of dairy cows are culled due to poor reproductive performance or other health problems. Many factors influence the health and performance of a dairy herd. These include the entire scope of management factors from "on farm" activity to the associated business and financial interactions. All of these are controllable but require knowledge and …

Ec96-824 Dairy Economics In Nebraska: An Analysis Of Costs And Returns And Comparisons With Other States, H. Douglas Jose, Richard J. Grant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Dairy Economics in Nebraska

The dairy sector is undergoing major structural changes and economic adjustments. The industry is also becoming more market oriented as government price supports decline. Increased competitiveness has kept milk prices relatively stable, but increased grain and other input costs in 1995-96 have put increased pressure on profit margins which were already narrow.

This publication is a compilation of data related to the current economics of dairy farming. The objective is to provide data to help dairy farmers make adjustments in their operations, such as expanding their herds, and to provide basic data for operators setting up …

Population Genetics And Gene Variation Of Stable Fly Populations (Diptera: Muscidae) In Nebraska, Allen L. Szalanski, David B. Taylor, Richard D. Peterson Ii

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Genetic variation in stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.),populations from Nebraska, Canada, and Texas was sampled. Four of 12 allozyme loci were polymorphic, with an average of 1.7 alleles per locus. Observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.086 and 0.070,respectively. Nei's genetic distance between populations averaged 0.001 and ranged from 0.000 to 0.005. Wright's F statistics revealed greater variation within than among populations. Allele frequencies were homogeneous among temporal samples from a single population. Polymerasechain reaction—restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR—RFLP) analysis of 6.4 kb of the mitochondrial DNA genome with 16 restriction enzymes revealed no variation in stable fly populations from Canada, …

Development Of House Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) In Sand Containing Varying Amounts Of Manure Solids And Moisture, Jerome Hogsette

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

House flies, Musca domestica L., developed in 200 cm³ of coarse sand containing just 1 ml (0.47%) of dairy manure solids and 10 ml (4.74%) of moisture. At these levels, development was slow (21.5 d from 1st instar to adult), adult survival was low (7.5%), but successful development did occur. At higher manure and moisture levels, rates of development and survival were similar to those reported previously. All soil samples collected from a feedlot dairy contained higher levels of manure solids than the highest level tested in the laboratory. The implications for fly control in soil/manure mixtures and the …

An Ecological Risk Assessment Of Lead Shot Exposure In Non-Waterfowl Avian Species: Upland Game Birds And Raptors, Ronald J. Kendall, Thomas E. Lacher Jr., Christine Bunck, Bernard Daniel, Crystal Driver, Christian E. Grue, Frederick Leighton, William Stansley, Philip G. Watanabe, Molly Whitworth

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

There is increasing concern that birds in terrestrial ecosystems may be exposed to spent lead shot. Evidence exists that upland birds, particularly mourning doves (Zenaida macroura), ingest spent lead shot and that raptors ingest lead shot by consuming wounded game. Mortality, neurological dysfunction, immune suppression, and reproductive impairment are documented effects of exposure to lead in birds. An ecological risk assessment on the impact of lead shot exposure in upland birds was conducted and is presented in the context of the new United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Ecological Risk Assessment Paradigm. A considerable amount of spent lead shot …

New Swine Nutrition Guide Available, Duane Reese

Nebraska Swine Reports

A new swine nutrition guide from the University of Nebraska and South Dakota State University is available for pork producers, veterinarians, and others. The guide addresses many fundamentals of swine nutrition and modern feeding program design. Single copies are available for $1 from a Cooperative Extension Office in Nebraska or by writing to Swine Nutrition, PO Box 830918, Lincoln, NE 68583- 0918. Mail orders must include 55 cents shipping and appropriate sales tax. The guide should help readers develop better feeding strategies for pigs.

Bioavailability Of Iron In Two Different Sources For Weanling Pigs, Austin Lewis, Phillip S. Miller, Cynthia Wolverton

Nebraska Swine Reports

The bioavailability of the iron in iron methionine was compared with that in feed-grade ferrous sulfate. Pigs, which were anemic at weaning, were given diets containing supplements of one of the two iron sources. Iron supplementation increased weight gain and hemoglobin repletion. The increases were greater for ferrous sulfate than for iron methionine. This indicates that the iron in ferrous sulfate is more bioavailable than the iron in the iron methionine source that we investigated.

Impact Of Cooking Method On Quality Of Boneless Pork Loin Roasts, Fayrene Hamouz, Judith Batenhorst, Judy A. Driskell, Roger W. Mandigo

Nebraska Swine Reports

Chef’s Prime™ pork loin roasts were roasted, braised and cooked in a bag at an oven temperature of 325°F to an internal temperature of 160 or 180°F. Roasting improved yield and surface browning of Chef’s Prime™ roasts. While roasting and braising resulted in similar quality, the presence of moisture (braising and cook-in bag) reduced cooking time. Cooking in the bag had the greatest impact on quality characteristics as these roasts were least tender and they tended to be less juicy and favorable than braised or roasted loins. Reduction of the final internal temperature from 180 to 160°F did not improve …

The Effects Of Dietary Protein Concentration On Performance And Visceral Organ Mass In Finishing Barrows And Gilts, Hsin-Yi Chen, Austin Lewis, Phillip S. Miller

Nebraska Swine Reports

The response of finishing barrows and gilts to five dietary protein concentrations was evaluated. Barrows and gilts have different requirements for protein and differ in their sensitivities to excessive intakes of protein. Gilts appeared to be affected by dietary protein concentrations to a greater extent than did barrows. Significant differences in weight gain did not occur but, the lowest average daily gain was for pigs fed the two highest protein levels. Increased dietary protein concentration resulted in increased liver, kidney, and pancreas weights. These data indirectly suggest that maintenance energy requirements of barrows and gilts may be increased as dietary …

1996 Nebraska Swine Report

Nebraska Swine Reports

1996 Nebraska Swine Report

Costs And Benefits Of Monogamy And Polygyny For Yanomamö Women, Raymond B. Hames

Department of Anthropology: Faculty Publications

In this paper I analyze some of the economic costs and benefits of monogamy and polygyny for Yanomamö women. The evolutionary ecological model of resource defense polygyny predicts that when female choice is operative females will choose those males who control resources that will maximize a female’s reproductive success. A female will choose a polygynous strategy (i.e., become a co-wife) if a currently married male has more resources to offer than other unmarried males or monogamous males. This model has been successfully used to predict polygynous mating in tribal societies where males are stratified in terms of their ownership or …

Evaluation Of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, And Organic Matter Balance In The Feedlot As Affected By Nutrition, Sheri Bierman, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Rick Stock, Drew Shain

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A steer finishing trial was conducted to evaluate level and source of dietary fiber on nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter excretion. One-hundred twenty steers were fed one of the following treatments: wet corn gluten feed (41.5% of diet DM), 7.5% roughage diet, and all concentrate diet. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter intake of steers fed wet corn gluten feed were greater than the other two treatments. Fecal nitrogen output was greatest with the wet corn gluten feed diet. All treatments lost about 50% of excreted nitrogen through volatilization. The all concentrate treatment had the highest percentage of phosphorus and organic …

Multi-Elemental Analysis Of Liver Biopsies And Serum To Determine Trace Element Status Of Cows, David Hickok, Pablo Martin, Dennis R. Brink, Richard J. Rasby, Michael Carlson, Norm Schneider

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Cattle producers have commonly supplemented trace elements to prevent deficiencies. The beef cow, primarily grazing forage or fed harvested forage, may be able to store adequate amounts of trace elements in the liver during periods of excess availability to maintain homeostasis during periods of marginal availability. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the seasonal effects on trace element status of multiparous cows in the absence of supplementation. Trace element concentrations in the liver biopsy were compared with serum concentrations removed at the same time.

Digestibility Of Wet And Dry Distillers Grains From The Fermentation Of Corn Or Sorghum, Shanna Lodge, Rick Stock, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Dan Herold

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Research conducted at the University of Nebraska has evaluated wet and dry distillers byproducts as energy sources for cattle. The majority of the research has been conducted with distillers byproducts resulting from the fermentation of corn. However, in the dry milling industry various cereal grains may be used to produce ethanol and distillers byproducts. The resulting byproducts have the potential to have a different feeding value when compared to byproducts produced from corn. A Nebraska trial (1995 Nebraska Beef Report, pp. 25-26) conducted by Lodge et al. indicated steers consuming diets containing distillers byproducts (40% of diet DM) produced from …

Factors Affecting Attwater's Prairie-Chicken Decline On The Attwater Prairie Chicken, Michael E. Morrow, Robert S. Adamcik, Jenny D. Friday, Lloyd B. Mckinney

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

We examined the association between changes in the number of Attwater's prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri) on the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge from 1972 to 1993 and changes in refuge management practices (burning and grazing). We also examined the relationship of prairie-chicken population increases and decreases on the refuge to rainfall and off-refuge prairie-chicken populations. Burning within the prairie-chicken's core habitat on the refuge and variability in grassland structure were directly correlated (P < 0.05) with increases and declines in prairie-chicken populations. Refuge population increases and declines were inversely correlated (P < 0.1) with average April rainfall/event, May absolute departure from long-term average rainfall, May number of rainfall events, annual absolute departure of rainfall from the long-term average, and the annual number of rainfall events. Refuge population increases and declines were directly correlated (P < 0.1) with off-refuge populations, although the off- refuge population decline began 4 years earlier than on-refuge.

Annual Forages: New Approaches For C-4 Forages, Jeffrey F. Pedersen

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The current agricultural paradigm in the U.S. is heavily biased towards the production and marketing of crops as commodities. This paradigm is kept in place by grain handling and marketing infrastructure, as well as government farm programs, designed for crops as commodities. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) and maize (Zea mays L.) grown for grain certainly fit into this current paradigm.

A new approach to agricultural production and marketing, identity preserved products, is gaining in importance. This is made possible through new technologies and markets demanding products designed specifically for their needs. Examples of investment in identity preserved …

Allergenic Foods, Susan L. Hefle, Julie A. Nordlee, Steve L. Taylor

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Virtually all food allergens are proteins, although only a small percentage of the many proteins in foods are allergens. Any food that contains protein has the potential to cause allergic reactions in some individuals. However, a few foods or food groups are known to cause allergies on a more frequent basis than other foods. At a 1995 consultation on food allergies sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization, a group of international experts confirmed that peanuts, soybeans, crustacea, fish, cow’s milk, eggs, tree nuts, and wheat are the most common allergenic foods. These foods are responsible for more than 90% …

Relationship Between Bp (Baculovirus Penaei) Energy Reserves In Larval And Postlarval Pacific White Shrimp Penaeus Vannamei, Kenneth C. Stuck, Lidia M. Stuck, Robin M. Overstreet, Shiao Y. Wang

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

The relationship between energy reserves of the penaeid shrimp Penaeus vannamei and Baculovirus penaei, or BP, were investigated in a series of experiments using mysis stage or early postlarval shrimp. Pre-exposure and post-exposure levels of protein and triacylgycerol (TAG) were determined. The effect of pre-exposure protein and TAG levels on susceptibility to BP infections was also investigated by starving a group of shrimp immediately prior to BP exposure. There was no consistent relationship between either pre-exposure or post-exposure protein levels and the percent of shrimp developing patent BP infections. There was, however, a significant positive correlation between TAG levels …

Culicoides Variipennis And Bluetongue-Virus Epidemiology In The United States1, Walter J. Tabachnick

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

The bluetongue viruses are transmitted to ruminants in North America by Culicoides vuriipennis.US annual losses of approximately $125 million are due to restrictions on the movement of livestock and germplasm to bluetongue-free countries. Bluetongue is the most economically important arthropod-borne animal disease in the United States. Bluetongue is absent in the northeastern United States because of the inefficient vector ability there of C. variipennis for bluetongue. The vector of bluetongue virus elsewhere in the United States is C. vuriipennis sonorensis. The three C. variipennis subspecies differ in vector competence for bluetongue virus in the laboratory. Understanding C.vuriipennis genetic variation controlling …