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Effects Of Electrostatic Particle Ionization On Air Quality, Emissions, And Growth Performance Of Pigs Housed In A Thermo-Regulated Facility (2014), Jon A. De Jong, Korrin N. Card, Joel M. Derouchey, M Baumgartner, Peter J. Tomlinson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Two identical 200-head nurseries at the Kansas State University Segregated Early Weaning Facility were used for 5 consecutive all-in, all-out groups to determine the effect of electrostatic particle ionization (EPI) on air quality, emissions, and growth performance of pigs housed in a thermo-regulated facility. During five 6-wk periods (13 to 51 lb BW), the EPI system was used in one barn for a complete group and then used in the other barn for the next group. At the beginning of each 6-wk trial period, pigs were randomly allotted to pens based on average pig weight. Air measurements and pig growth …

Effects Of Protease, Phytase And A Bacillus Sp. Direct-Fed Microbial On Nutrient And Energy Digestibility, Ileal Brush Border Digestive Enzyme Activity And Cecal Short- Chain Fatty Acid Concentration In Broiler Chickens, G. R. Murugesan, L. F. Romero, M. E. Persia

G. R. Murugesan

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of protease and phytase (PP) and a Bacillus sp. direct-fed microbial (DFM) on dietary energy and nutrient utilization in broiler chickens. In the first experiment, Ross 308 broiler chicks were fed diets supplemented with PP and DFM in a 262 factorial arrangement. The 4 diets (control (CON), CON + PP, CON + DFM, and CON + PP + DFM) were fed from 15–21 days of age. In Experiment 1, significant interaction (P#0.01) between PP and DFM on the apparent ileal digestibility coefficient for starch, crude protein, and amino acid indicated that both …

Species Distribution Modelling Using Bioclimatic Variables To Determine The Impacts Of A Changing Climate On The Western Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus Occidentals; Pseudocheiridae), Shaun Molloy, Robert Davis, Eddie Van Etten

Shaun W Molloy Dr

The ngwayir (western ringtail possum Pseudocheirus occidentalis) is an arboreal species endemic to south-western Australia. The range and population of this species have been significantly reduced through multiple anthropogenic impacts. Classified as vulnerable, the ngwayir is highly susceptible to extremes of temperature and reduced water intake. Ngwayir distribution was determined using three different species distribution models using ngwayir presence records related to a set of 19 bioclimatic variables derived fromhistorical climate data, overlaid with 2050 climate change scenarios.MaxEnt was used to identify core habitat and demonstrate how this habitat may be impacted. A supplementary modelling exercise was also conducted to …

Habitat Characteristics Of Mexican Spotted Owls (Strix Occidentalis Lucida) In The Canyonlands Of Southern Utah, Leah Lewis

Leah R Lewis

I studied the habitat characteristics of Mexican Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis lucida), a federally threatened species, in the canyonlands region of southern Utah. Vegetative and geologic features were measured within 10m wide belt plots at each current or historic nest/roost site. Based on our findings, past research, and species life history characteristics, I constructed a species distribution model (SDM) predicting Mexican Spotted Owl distribution in Utah for the Colorado Plateau region. The SDM was generated using the following inputs as important habitat variables: elevation, aspect, surface ratio, curvature, slope, geology, and vegetation. Program R was used for model development and …

Prediction Of Total Phenols, Condensed Tannins, And 3-Deoxyanthocyanidins In Sorghum Grain Using Near-Infrared (Nir) Spectroscopy, L. Dykes, L. Hoffmann, O. Portillo-Rodriguez, W.L., Rooney, L.W. Rooney

Elvis A. Heinrichs

The reported high phenolic levels in sorghum have led an interest from sorghum breeding programs in developing and identifying germplasms with high phenolic levels, which require screening a large number of samples to find those with the highest levels. Since wet chemistry screening methods are slow, expensive, and destructive, the use of NIR calibration curves could be an alternative. The objectives of this project were to determine the variation range in total phenols, condensed tannins, and 3-deoxyanthocyanidin levels in a diverse set of sorghum genotypes and to assess the predictive value of NIR curves to estimate these compounds in sorghum. …

Frequency-Dependent Mate Selection In The Guppy (Poeciliidae: Poecilia Reticulata), Andre Porter, Jack Frankel

Jack Frankel

The Centennial Of The Smith-Lever Act And Aquaculture Extension, Michael A. Rice

Michael A Rice

Effects Of Direct-Fed Microbial Supplementation On Broiler Performance, Intestinal Nutrient Transport And Integrity Under Experimental Conditions With Increased Microbial Challenge, G. R. Murugesan, N. K. Gabler, M. E. Persia

G. R. Murugesan

1. The effects of Aspergillus oryzae- and Bacillus subtilis- based direct-fed microbials (DFM) were investigated on the performance, ileal nutrient transport and intestinal integrity of broiler chickens, raised under experimental conditions, with increased intestinal microbial challenge. 2. The first study was a 3 × 2 factorial experiment, with 3 dietary treatments (control (CON), CON + DFM and CON + antibiotic growth promoter) with and without challenge. Chicks were fed experimental diets from 1 to 28 d, while the challenge was provided by vaccinating with 10 times the normal dose of commercial coccidial vaccine on d 9. In a second experiment, …

Influence Of A Direct-Fedmicrobial And Xylanase Enzyme On The Dietary Energy Uptake Efficiency And Performance Of Broiler Chickens, G. R. Murugesan, M. E. Persia

G. R. Murugesan

BACKGROUND: Efficacy of a multi-strain direct-fed microbial product (PoultryStar® ME; PS) and a xylanase enzyme product on the dietary energy utilization efficiency and resulting performance in broiler chickens was evaluated. Apart from performance parameters, cecal and serum metabolites and activities of hepatic enzymes involved in energy metabolism were also determined. Ross 308 chicks were fed one of four experimental diets [control (CON), CON + PS, CON + xylanase and CON + PS + xylanase] using a 2×2 factorial arrangement from 1–21 days of age.

RESULTS: Cecal proportions of propionate and butyrate, as well as total short-chain fatty acid concentration were …

Can They Dig It? Functional Morphology And Degrees Of Semifossoriality Among Some American Shrews (Mammalia, Soricidae)., Neal Woodman, Sarah A. Gaffney

Neal Woodman

Small-eared shrews (Mammalia: Soricidae: Cryptotis), exhibit modifications of the forelimb skeleton that have been interpreted as adaptations for semifossoriality. Most species inhabit remote regions, however, and their locomotory and foraging behaviors remain mostly speculative. To better understand the morphological modifications in the absence of direct observations, we quantified variation in these species by measuring 151 individuals representing 18 species and populations of Cryptotis and two species of moles (Talpidae) for comparison. From our measurements, we calculated 22 indices, most of which have been used previously to characterize substrate use among rodents and other taxa. We analyzed the indices using 1) …