Life Sciences Commons^™

Breeding Ewe Lambs To Lamb First As Yearlings, Nyle J. Matthews

Archived Agriculture Publications

Getting the highest possible production from ewes is a goal of every sheep producer. Sheep respond well to management and will usually pay a producer for the extra times he spends in caring for them. Breeding ewe lambs is a practice that can pay dividends but requires the right management to make it work. Many years ago this practice was deemed unwise because it severely affected the young mothers in many ways. Modern research has spelled out requirements in terms of size and management that make a successful, workable program.

Vocal Perception: Brain Event-Related Potentials In A Chimpanzee, Gary G. Berntson, Sarah T. Boysen, Michael W. Torello

Sentience Collection

We describe the first brain event-related potential (ERP) study of cognitive processes in the chimpanzee. In an extension of our studies on the ontogeny of vocal perception, ERP measures were obtained during the presentation of simple nonsignal stimuli as well as conspecific and human vocalizations. We initially confirmed findings from humans and monkeys of the appearance of a long-latency positivity in the ERP waveform to a rare stimulus in an oddball paradigm. This ERP component is reminiscent of the P3a reported in humans under similar (passive) experimental conditions. We further demonstrated that both conspecific and human vocal stimuli having affective …

Ranch Management Practices In The Sandhills Of Nebraska: Managing Production, Sean A. Coady, Richard T. Clark

Historical Research Bulletins of the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station

This report represents the second in a two-part series that summarize a comprehensive survey of Nebraska Sandhills range cattle operations. The focus of this report is on management of the production aspects of the ranch business and provides details on pasture and meadow management, hay production, crops, breeding programs, nutritional programs, and maintaining the health of the herd.

An Update On The Biological Control Of Rabbits, Stuart Wheeler

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

When myxomatosis was introduced into Western Australia in the early 1950s, farmers, pastoralists and government alike thought it was an answer to the rabbit problem.

The disease was devastatingly effective in the short term and initially had a 99 per cent kill rate. With time, the virus declined in strength, and the surviving rabbits have multiplied.

There have been many recent reports about new forms of biological control for rabbits and potential improvements in old ones.

This article summarises each of the prospective methods and improvements, and assesses the potential usefulness of each.

A Standardized G‐Banded Karyotype For The Raccoon (Procyon Lotor) Compared With The Domestic Cat, Roscoe Stanyon, Francesca Bigoni, Johannes Weinberg, John Hadidian

Genetics Collection

We propose a standardized karyotype for the raccoon (Procyon lotor; 2n = 38, FN 74) and compare it with that of the domestic cat (2n = 38, FN 72). Numerous chromosomes (12) have similar and sometimes identical G-banding and 14 chromosome pairs have remained intact. Other chromosomes apparently differ by Robertsonian translocations and inversions. The conservation of these karyotypes is remarkable considering that the divergence of procyonids and felids predates 50 million years B.P. However, the common diploid number of 38 is not a primitive retention, as sometimes hypothesized. Instead, cats and raccoons converged on this chromosome number by a …

Assessing Animal Well-Being: Common Sense, Uncommon Science, David Fraser

Assessment of Animal Welfare Collection

The scientific assessment of the well-being of an animal involves finding indicators of three broad criteria: 1) a high level of biological functioning; 2) freedom from suffering in the sense of prolonged fear, pain, and other negative experiences; and 3) positive experiences such as comfort and contentment. The tools available to assess animal wellbeing include a mixture of common sense and cutting-edge science. Measures of animal productivity can help to assess an animal’s level of biological functioning, but they need to be used with care. Among veterinary approaches, pathology detects breakdown in biological functioning, while epidemiology identifies the circumstances under …

Refinements In Rabbit Husbandry, The Bvaawf/Frame/Rspca/Ufaw Joint Working Group On Refinement

Breeding of Laboratory Research Animals Collection

The aims of this report are to identify the needs of domesticated rabbits and to present information on ways in which the current systems of housing rabbits can be improved for the benefit of all concerned: the animal, the scientist, the animal technician and the breeder.

In recent years an increasing number of establishments have changed from standard caging to group housing systems, despite the traditionally-held view that mature rabbits cannot be housed together. In this report group housing in floor pens is discussed in detail (Section 2), with both the advantages and disadvantages of this system presented. It is …

Enlarged Posterior Maxillary Teeth In The Scarlet Snake, Cemophora Coccinea (Serpentes: Colubridae), Using Scanning Electron Microscopy, Stanley E. Trauth

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Counting In Chimpanzees: Nonhuman Principles And Emergent Properties Of Number, Sarah T. Boysen

Numeracy Collection

No abstract provided.

Use Of Cystorelin® And Artificial Insemination In Repeat-Breeding Beef Heifers After Estrous Synchronization, J.P. Holz, P.L. Houghton, M.F. Spire

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was administered to a group of 13- to 14- month-old Angus and Angus crossbred repeat-breeding heifers at the time of the second or third artificial insemination to determine its effect on conception rates. Little benefit was derived from the use of GnRH at either second or third service in highly developed repeat-breeding heifers.

Effects Of Application Of Water And Nitrogen On Nutrient Use From Corn And Sorghums By Pigs (1993), B T. Richert, P J. Bramel-Cox, Merle D. Witt, B J. Healy, Joe D. Hancock

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of growing conditions on nutrient yield and quality of corn and sorghum. Main effect treatments were: corn (C), bronze pericarp heterozygous-yellow endosperm sorghum (BS), and yellow pericarp homozygous-yellow endosperm sorghum (YS); optimal irrigation (I) and minimal irrigation (MI); 100 lb/acre of N fertilization (F) and no N fertilization (NF), in a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Grains were grown in 1988 (Year 1, with little rainfall) and 1989 (Year 2, with above average rainfall) in the semi-arid environment at Garden City, KS. In Year 1, sorghums yielded 15% more grain …

The Influence Of Threonine:Lysine Ratios On Growth Performance And On Plasma Urea Nitrogen In Growing-Finishing Pigs Fed From 85 To 240 Lb (1993), K G. Friesen, L J. Kats, K Q. Owen, B T. Richert, Robert D. Goodband, Jim L. Nelssen, Michael D. Tokach

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Eighty crossbred pigs (initially 85.2 lb BW) were used in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement to determine the influence of dietary threonine:lysine ratios on growth performance and plasma urea N in growing-finishing pigs. The experiment was conducted in three phases from 85.2 to 124.2, 139.1 to 203.1, and 204.9 to 241.1 lb, with pigs fed one of eight dietary treatments. Two levels of dietary lysine were fed (low vs high) and four levels of dietary threonine were fed within each lysine treatment (60, 65, 70, and 75% of dietary lysine). Dietary lysine decreased from 1.0% and .8% at 85.2 …

Effect Of Methionine:Lysine Ratio On Growth Performance And Blood Metabolites Of Growing-Finishing Pigs (1993), L J. Kats, K G. Friesen, B T. Richert, K Q. Owen, Robert D. Goodband, Jim L. Nelssen, Michael D. Tokach

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Eighty growing-finishing pigs (40 barrows and 40 gilts) were used in three consecutive growth assays to determine the optimum methionine:lysine ratio for pigs weighing from 48 to 107 lb, 120 to 179 lb, and 191 to 245 lb, respectively. Each growth assay was to be conducted for a 28-d period with a 14-d transition period between assays. Pigs were allotted by weight and placed in pens each containing one barrow and one gilt. Pigs were assigned to one of eight experimental treatments with five replicate pens per treatment. Pigs were fed diets containing either high lysine (1.0, .9, or .8%, …

In Vitro Digestibility Of Sorghum Parent Lines Predicts Nutritional Value Of Their Hybrid Offspring In Cannulated Finishing Pigs (1993), B J. Healy, P J. Bramel-Cox, Robert H. Hines, Joe D. Hancock

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Nutritional value of eight sorghum hybrids, resulting from matings of four male lines with two male-sterile lines, was determined. The male lines were two sorghums with consistently high in vitro digestibility (High-digestibility 1 and Highdigestibility 2) and two sorghums with consistently low in vitro digestibility (Lowdigestibility 1 and Low-digestibility 2). The male-sterile lines were Kansas 52 and Redlan, two lines commonly used for genetic testing by sorghum breeders. The hybrids were fed to eight barrows fitted with ileal T-cannulas and also evaluated for starch digestibility in ruminal fluid. Corn was used as a control. Corn had greater ileal and total …

Integrated Swine Systems "The Animal Component" - Phase One; The Kansas State University Survey (1993), B T. Richert, Michael D. Tokach, Robert D. Goodband, Jim L. Nelssen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 650 questionnaires were sent to Kansas swine producers, and 279 were returned. There was an excellent distribution in producer size based on number of pigs marketed per year and producer age and educational level. The use of a lagoon to store swine waste is the most popular method in Kansas (38.8% of the respondents). One-third of the swine waste is disposed of by surface spreading and only 10.0% is applied primarily by soil injection. Less than one-half (45.5%) of the producers feel that nitrates in swine waste are environmental concerns and even less (27.0%) are concerned about …

Economies Of Size For Farrow-To-Finish Hog Production In Kansas (1993), Michael R. Langemeier, Ted C. Schroeder

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Economies of size measure the impact on average cost of production of increasing the size of operation. Data from 91 farrow-to-finish operations enrolled in the Kansas Farm Management Associations in 1992 were used to empirically estimate economies of size. Results indicate that average total cost and operation size are significantly correlated, and that average total cost declines as operations become larger. Results also indicate a substantial variability in costs of production between producers. In fact, costs of production between producers of a given size vary more than costs of production between operations of different sizes.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November …

The Influence Of Dietary Lysine On Carcass Characteristics And Subprimal Cut Distribution Of High-Lean Growth Gilts Fed To 230 And 300 Lb (1993), S R. Stuewe, K G. Friesen, Jim L. Nelssen, Robert D. Goodband, Michael D. Tokach, John A. Unruh

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Seventy-two high-lean growth gilts were used to determine the effects of dietary lysine on carcass characteristics and subprimal cut distribution of gilts fed to 230 or 300 lb. The gilts were fed one of six lysine treatments (digestible lysine of .44, .54, .64, .74, .84, and .94% corresponding to .55, .67, .79, .91, 1.03, and 1.15% total lysine, respectively). For gilts fed to 230 or 300 lb, effects on carcass characteristics or subprimal cut distribution were minimal. For gilts fed to 230 lb, only slight linear decreases in 402 ham and boneless 402C ham were observed as dietary lysine increased. …

Influence Of Dietary Lysine On Growth Performance Of High-Lean Growth Gilts Fed From 160 To 300 Lb (1993), K G. Friesen, K Q. Owen, B T. Richert, L J. Kats, B J. Kerr, Jim L. Nelssen, Robert D. Goodband, Michael D. Tokach, John A. Unruh, Donald H. Kropf

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

One-hundred eight high-lean growth gilts (159.6 lb) were used to determine the dietary lysine requirement to optimize growth performance from 160 to 300 lb. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block, with initial weight serving as the blocking factor. Six dietary treatments were used, ranging from .44 to .94% digestible lysine (.59 to 1.16% total lysine). Pigs were housed in pens of three, with six replicate pens/treatment. Pig weights and feed disappearance were collected weekly to calculate average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed efficiency (F/G). Average daily gain increased from 160 to 230 …

Influence Of Dietary Lysine On Carcass Characteristics Of High-Lean Growth Gilts Fed From 80 To 160 Lb (1993), K G. Friesen, B J. Kerr, Jim L. Nelssen, Robert D. Goodband, Michael D. Tokach, John A. Unruh, Donald H. Kropf

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Seventy-two high-lean growth gilts (initially 75.5 lb BW) were used to determine the influence of dietary lysine on carcass characteristics at 120 and 160 lb. Gilts were randomly selected for slaughter when the average weight of pigs in the pen equaled or exceeded 120 and 160 lb. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block, with initial weight serving as the blocking factor. Six dietary treatments were included, ranging from .54 to 1.04% digestible lysine (.69 to 1.25% total dietary lysine). At 120 lb, hot carcass weight decreased and then increased as did dressing percentage for gilts fed increased …

Kansas State University Swine Enterprise Record Summary (1993), B T. Richert, Michael R. Langemeier, Robert D. Goodband, Michael D. Tokach, Jim L. Nelssen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Approximately 30 swine operations are enrolled in the 1992 - 93 Kansas Swine Enterprise Record Program provided by Kansas State University. This program evaluates biological and economic performance and is part of a cooperative record-keeping project with extension personnel and swine producers in Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Records are summarized every 6 months, and the corresponding data are pooled to form state and regional averages. This summary is the combined data for the 18 farrow-to-finish operations in Kansas that kept records during 1992. The semiannual data represents the last 6 months of 1992, whereas the annual data are for …

Influence Of Dietary Lysine On Growth Performance And Tissue Accretion Rates Of High-Lean Growth Gilts Fed From 80 To 160 Lb (1993), K G. Friesen, L J. Kats, B J. Kerr, Jim L. Nelssen, Robert D. Goodband, Michael D. Tokach, John A. Unruh, Donald H. Kropf

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

One-hundred eight high-lean growth gilts (75.5 lb initial weight) were used to determine the dietary lysine requirement to maximize growth performance and protein accretion from 80 to 160 lb. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block, with initial weight serving as the blocking factor. Six dietary treatments were included, ranging from .54 to 1.04% digestible lysine (.69 to 1.25% total dietary lysine). Pigs were housed in pens of three, with six replicate pens/treatment. Pig weights and feed disappearance were collected weekly to calculate average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake ADFI, and feed efficiency (F/G). Initially, six …

The Relationship Among Live Hog, Carcass, And Wholesale Cut Prices (1993), G L. Keeler, Michael R. Langemeier, Michael D. Tokach, Robert D. Goodband, Jim L. Nelssen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This study examined the relationship between live and carcass prices and the seasonality of live, carcass, and wholesale cut prices. Results using Omaha live prices suggested a unidirectional relationship between live and carcass prices, with farm prices leading carcass prices by 3 weeks. In contrast, the results generated using live prices from the St. Joseph terminal market suggested a bidirectional relationship. Live and carcass prices from 1987 to 1992 were found to be highly correlated. The average monthly price spread between the Omaha live price and the USDA carcass price ranged from $14.02 to $23.18 cwt, with an average spread …

Effects Of Nursery Diets On Growth Of Pigs To Market Weight (1993), Joe D. Hancock, C G. Mills, David A. Nichols, Robert H. Hines

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of nutrient concentrations and complexity of ingredients used in nursery diets on growth performance to market weight. In Experiment 1, nursery regimens were: 1) simple ingredients/low lysine (corn-soybean meal-dried whey-based diet with 1.25% lysine for d 0 to 23 and a corn-soybean meal-based diet with 1.1% lysine for d 23 to 37) and 2) complex ingredients/ high-lysine (blood products, lactose, and other specialty ingredients with 1.5% lysine for d 0 to 9 and 1.25% lysine for d 9 to 23, and a corn-soybean meal-based diet with 1.1% lysine for d 23 to …

Effect Of Spray-Dried Blood Meal In The Phase Iii Diet (1993), L J. Kats, K G. Friesen, B T. Richert, Robert D. Goodband, Jim L. Nelssen, Michael D. Tokach, Steven S. Dritz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 216 weanling pigs was used to evaluate the use of spray-dried blood meal (SDBM) in the phase III diet for pigs weighing approximately 25 pounds. At weaning, pigs (initially 11.6 lb and 21 d of age) were allotted by weight, gender, and ancestry to the dietary treatments. There were six pigs per pen with six replications per treatment. Pigs were started on a common phase I diet containing 20% dried whey, 7.5% spray-dried porcine plasma, and 1.75% spray-dried blood meal. This diet was formulated to contain 1.5% lysine and .44% methionine. On d 7 postweaning all pigs …

Evaluation Of Carcass Merit Pricing By Pork Packers (1993), Ted C. Schroeder

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Live hog prices must reflect end-use value to convey market information from consumers to producers. Precise end-use value is excessively costly to trace for each carcass given current technology. Pricing structures must be based upon carcass merit information that is correlated with end-use value. This study uses pork carcass cut out data from 794 carcasses to estimate hog carcass values based upon carcass characteristics. Carcass values varied by nearly $20/cwt based on quality differences alone. In addition, considerable differences were present in pricing schedules of different pork packers suggesting that hog producers need to shop around when deciding to which …

Comparison Of Feed-Grade Antibiotics In Starter Diets Containing Spray-Dried Blood Products (1993), K Q. Owen, Steven S. Dritz, Michael D. Tokach, Robert D. Goodband, Jim L. Nelssen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 240 pigs (initially 11.6 lb and 19 d of age) was used to compare four different feed-grade antibiotics or antibiotic combinations in phase I (d 0 to 14 postweaning) and phase II (d 14 to 28 postweaning) starter pig diets. Apramycin and carbadox were compared in the phase I diet. Combinations of tylosin/sulfamethazine and neomycin sulfate/oxytetracycline were compared in the phase II diet. No differences occurred in pig performance for the phase I and phase II periods between the feed-grade antibiotics compared in this growth assay. Therefore, determination of appropriate feed-grade antibiotic inclusion will depend on 1) …

Pellet Quality Affects Growth Performance Of Nursery And Finishing Pigs (1993), C R. Stark, Robert H. Hines, Keith C. Behnke, Joe D. Hancock

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of diet form (meal vs pellet) and amount of fines in pelleted feed on growth performance of nursery and finishing pigs. One hundred twenty-six weanling pigs, with an average initial body wt of 12.5 lb, were used in the 35-d nursery experiment. The same phase I diet (pelleted) was fed to all pigs for 7 d, then the pigs were switched to phase II diet treatments (d 7 to 35 postweaning). Treatments were the same phase II diet fed as: 1) meal; 2) screened pellets (fines removed); and 3) the screened pellets …

Comparison Of Carbohydrate Sources For The Early-Weaned Pig (1993), C A. Kerr, Steven S. Dritz, Robert D. Goodband, Jim L. Nelssen, Michael D. Tokach

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 180 weanling pigs (initially 11.7 lb and 21 d of age) was used in a 35 d growth assay to compare various carbohydrate sources from d 0 to 14 postweaning in phase I. Pigs were allotted by weight and ancestry to one of five experimental diets with six pigs per pen and six replications per treatment. Pigs were fed one of five experimental diets from d 0 to 14 postweaning. The experimental carbohydrate sources compared were corn, oat flour, two modified potato starches, and lactose. All pigs were then fed a common phase II diet from d …

Relationship Between Ham Composition And Carcass Composition In Finishing Swine (1993), M E. Johnston, Jim L. Nelssen, Robert D. Goodband, Robert H. Hines, Donald H. Kropf

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The relationship between ham and carcass composition of 120 barrows with an average initial weight of 130 lb was used to develop prediction equations to determine carcass composition based on ham composition. Eighty pigs were slaughtered to determine total body and ham composition. The first half were slaughtered at 230 lb and the second half at 280 lb. Longissimus muscle area, backfat thickness, whole ham weight, and trimmed ham weight of each pig were recorded 24 h following slaughter. The right ham and the right side of each carcass were ground and analyzed for protein, lipid, moisture, and ash contents. …

Spray-Dried Egg Protein In Diets For Early-Weaned Starter Pigs (1993), K Q. Owen, L J. Kats, Jim L. Nelssen, Michael D. Tokach, Robert D. Goodband, Steven S. Dritz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 197 weanling pigs (initially 11.7 lb and 18 d of age) was used in a 28 d growth trial to determine the influence of spray-dried egg protein as a protein substitute for either soybean meal or spray-dried porcine plasma on starter pig performance. Pigs were blocked by weight with six replications per treatment and seven to eight pigs per pen. Dietary treatments were based on level of egg protein (3 or 6%) added to a phase I high nutrient dense diet and the method of substitution (egg protein replacing either soybean meal or porcine plasma). A sixth …