Life Sciences Commons^™

Reintroduction Of River Otters Into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Mary C. Miller

Masters Theses

Beginning in December 1988, 14 river otters were obtained from South Carolina and Louisiana, implanted with radio transmitters, and released on Little River in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). A total of 896 radio locations were obtained. There were four mortalities.

Five otters established home ranges in Little River. Four otters traveled out of Little River. Of those otters, three established home ranges on the North Carolina side of GSMNP. One otter established a home range in the French Broad River outside of GSMNP. The remaining otter has not been located since its release.

After a brief period of …

Comprehension Of Role Reversal In Chimpanzees: Evidence Of Empathy?, Daniel J. Povinelli, Kurt E. Nelson, Sarah T. Boysen

Sentience Collection

Four chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes, were individually trained to cooperate with a human partner on a task that allowed both participants to obtain food rewards. In each chimpanzee-human dyad, one of the participants (the informant) could see which pair of food trays on a four-choice apparatus was baited, but had no means of obtaining it. The other participant (the operator) could pull one of four handles to bring a pair of the trays within reach of both participants, but could not see which choice was correct. Two of the chimpanzees were initially trained as informants and adopted spontaneous gestures to indicate …

Ua68/6/1 Broomsedge Chronicles: Farm Living In South Central Kentucky, Wku English, Wku Glasgow

WKU Archives Records

A collection of essays written by English 100 Freshman Composition and English 200 Introduction to Literature students attending WKU Glasgow from 1983 through 1992 taught by Loretta Murrey. Student authors are: Joyce Alford, Joyce Amer, Jeff Ballard, Sandie Barrick, Jerry Bean, Shela Bingham, Brent Bledsoe, Steven Bunch, Billy Carver, Angela Cowan, Karen Decker, Betty Dillahay, Dibbie Dilley, Amy Doyel, Jeff Duncan, Craig Emmitt, Barbara England, Kathy Fancher, Amanda Gillon, Michelle Glover, Jeanelle Gooch, Faye Johnson, Celena Martin, Sonia Martin, Tracy Mathews, Ila Moody, Angela Morris, William Myatt, Judy Parker, Dorothean Powell, Maria Pulanco, Diane Rather, Jennifer Reneau, LaDarra Rich, Pam …

Vocal Recognition In Mexican Free-Tailed Bats: Do Pups Recognize Mothers?, Jonathan Balcombe, Gary F. Mccracken

Sentience Collection

Mother Mexican free-tailed bats, Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana, produce 'directive' calls while searching for pups inside cave maternity roosts. These calls consist of highly repetitive pulses of sound uttered in rapid sequence. Calls are sufficiently intense that they are perceptible above the substantial background noise within roosts at distances of at least 1m. Calls are stereotyped within individuals, and statistically discriminable between individuals. These characteristics are expected for vocalizations that function for mother-pup reunions, and are shared with directive calls described previously in other bats. Mother T. b. mexicana directive calls are statistically no less discriminable than are the isolation calls …

Nonlethal Repellents: The Development Of Cost-Effective, Practical Solutions To Agricultural And Industrial Problems, Russell Mason, Larry Clark

Larry Clark

Repellents substances and devices cause pest species to avoid otherwise attractive or palatable materials. For birds, repellents can be visual, auditory, pyrotechnic, tactile, chemosensory, physiologic, or physical. Here, we consider chemical agents only. Few substances arc registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and thus legally available for use. This lack of available bird repellent technology reflects the small demonstrable economic impact of many agricultural bird damage problems. Accurate information about damage and market size is virtually nonexistent, and private companies are reluctant to invest resources in the unknown. To successfully commercialize new repellents, clearly lucrative markets must be …

An Ecological Study Of The Cumberland Plateau Salamander, Plethodon Kentucki Mittleman, In West Virginia, Jeffrey E. Bailey

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

A study was conducted to determine various aspects of the ecology of Plethodon kentucki in West Virginia. Results of studies on range and distribution revealed that P. kentucki is limited to southwestern counties in West Virginia. A population of P. kentucki at Beech Fork State Park was extremely seasonal with regard to activity. Seasonal activity was not significantly correlated with air temperature, soil temperature, air relative humidity, or soil pH. Seasonal activity was significantly correlated with soil moisture. Critical Thermal Maxima and dehydration values were not significantly different between f· kentucki and its congener, P. glutinosus, thus each is equally …

Effects Of Moose Foraging On Browse Availability In New Hampshire Deer Yards, Michael T. Pruss, Peter J. Pekins

New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station Publications

Food habits of moose (Alces alces) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) overlap in northern New Hampshire during autumn and winter. High moose and deer densities in deer yards, where deer may be confined for extended periods, could result in competition for limited deciduous forage. The purpose of this study was to investigate possible impacts by moose on browse availability in deer yards, and the potential effects on deer. Fifteen deer yards were studied in northern New Hampshire during spring and fall, 1990-91. Unbrowsed and browsed deciduous twigs, and deer and moose pellet groups were counted on 900 permanent plots to …

Counting As The Chimpanzee Views It, Sarah T. Boysen

Numeracy Collection

No abstract provided.

Blood Meal Source Influences Starter Pig Performance (1992), L J. Kats, T L. Weeden, Jim L. Nelssen, Robert D. Goodband, Michael D. Tokach

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 144 weanling pigs (initially 14.1 lb and 24 d of age) was used to compare three different blood meal sources in starter diets. The three sources included spray-dried porcine, spray-dried bovine, and flash-dried bovine blood meal. Each diet contained 10% dried whey and 2.5% of one of the three blood meal sources. Diets were formulated to contain 1.25%lysine and .31% methionine. Pigs receiving diets containing either source of spray-dried blood meal had improved average daily gain and feed efficiency during the first 2 weeks of the experiment and the overall trial compared to pigs receiving diets containing …

Does Diet Form (Pelleted Vs Meal) Affect Optimum Particle Size Of Corn For Finishing Pigs? (1992), K J. Wondra, G A. Kennedy, Robert H. Hines, Joe D. Hancock, Keith C. Behnke

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

One hundred and sixty pigs, with an average initial wt of 121 lb, were used in an experiment to determine the effects of diet form and particle size on growth performance and nutrient digestibility. The pigs were fed corn-soybean meal-based diets with the corn milled to particle sizes of 1,000, 800, 600, or 400 p,m. The diets were fed in meal and pellet forms. In general, reducing particle size increased electrical energy required for milling and decreased production rate. Milling to 400 p,m, as opposed to 600 JLm, required twice as much electrical energy and reduced production rate by 50%. …

The Interrelationship Between Genotype, Sex, And Dietary Lysine Effects On Growth Performance And Protein Accretion In Finishing Pigs Fed To 230 And 280 Lb (1992), K G. Friesen, L J. Kats, J A. Hansen, J L. Laurin, Jim L. Nelssen, Robert D. Goodband, Michael D. Tokach, John A. Unruh

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

One hundred and twenty pigs (initially 96 lb BW) were used to determine the interrelationship between genotype, sex, and dietary lysine effects on growth performance and carcass composition in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Genetic comparisons were made between pigs characterized by either high or medium potential for lean tissue gain. Within genotype, barrows and gilts were separately fed either a .90 or a .70% lysine diet until the mean weight of pigs in each pen of three reached 230 lb. One pig per pen was then slaughtered to determine carcass characteristics and chemical composition. From 230 …

Computerization Of Sow Feeding And Estrous Detection - Tests Under Low-Investment Housing Conditions In Kansas (1992), R M. Blair, David A. Nichols, Duane L. Davis

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In Exp. 1, weight change, backfat thickness, and litter size were compared for gilts fed individually or with a computer-controlled electronic sow feeder provided by Osborne Ind., Inc. and NEDAP-Poiesz, B.V. Twenty gilts were fed by each method, and no treatment effects were observed. In Exp. 2, electronic monitoring of visits to a boar were studied to evaluate the potential of the data to predict time of estrus. A very good correlation between boar visitation and estrous behavior was obtained. The data indicate that gilts can be fed with computercontrolled equipment under outside housing conditions in Kansas. Further, there is …

The Effect Of Moist And Dry Extrusion Processing On Growth Performance And Nitrogen Digestibility In The Early-Weaned Pig (1992), K G. Friesen, L J. Kats, Jim L. Nelssen, Robert D. Goodband, Keith C. Behnke

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

One hundred pigs (initially 13.0 lb and 21 d of age) were used to assess the differences between moist and dry extruded soybean meal in diets for early-weaned pigs. Dietary treatments included: 1) corn+ dried skim milk+dried whey+casein, 2) corn+soybean meal, 3) corn+dry extruded soybean meal, and 4) com+moist extruded soybean meal. The diets were formulated to contain 1.4% lysine and 24.4% lactose. Soybean meal (with or without extrusion processing) replaced milk protein on an equal lysine basis. Experimental diets were fed for the entire 28 d experiment. On d 14, fecal samples were collected to determine apparent DM and …

Influence Of Fumaric Acid And Calcium Formate On Starter Pig Performance (1992), L J. Kats, Michael D. Tokach, Jim L. Nelssen, Robert D. Goodband

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A 25 d growth trial utilizing 198 pigs was conducted to determine the influence of fumaric acid and calcium formate on starter pig performance. At weaning (19 d of age and 11.9 lb), pigs were blocked by weight and allotted to one of three dietary treatments: a control diet without acid addition or diets containing 1.5% fumaric acid or 1.5% calcium formate. Adding calcium formate to the diet had no influence on average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), or feed efficiency (F/G). Pigs fed the diet containing fumaric acid had improved feed efficiency during the first 2 …

Evaluation Of Expelled Soybean Meal In Swine Finishing Diets (1992), J L. Lauren, Robert D. Goodband, Michael D. Tokach, Jim L. Nelssen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Thirty crossbred fmishing gilts (initial weight = 150 lb) were used to evaluate the effects of feeding expelled soybean meal (41% analyzed CP) or conventionally extracted soybean meal (46.5% analyzed CP) on growth performance. Gilts were fed a control diet containing conventionally processed soybean meal or diets containing expelled soybean meal formulated to replace conventionally extracted soybean meal on either a guaranteed protein basis or an analyzed protein basis. Thus, the effects of possible variation in the protein content and quality of expelled soybean meal as a result of expeller processing could be established. Gilts fed either diet containing expelled …

Effects Of Wheat Gluten On Nursery Pig Performance (1992), B T. Richert, J L. Morrill, Joe D. Hancock

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

One hundred eighty weanling pigs, averaging 23 d of age and 12.6 lb initial weight, were used to evaluate spray-dried wheat gluten (WG) in phase 1 (d 0 to 14) and(or) phase 2 (d 14 to 37) nursery diets. Phase 1 treatments were 1) dried skim milksoybean meal-dried whey-based control (DSM-SBM), 2) Diet 1 with WG and lactose used to replace the DSM (WG-SBM), and 3) Diet 1 with WG used to replace the SBM (DSM-WG). Phase 2 treatments were 1) corn-SBM-dried whey-based control and 2) WG and lactose used to replace the dried whey. During phase 1, diets with …

Comparison Of Spray-Dried Blood Meal And Fish By-Products In The Phase Ii Starter Pig Diet (1992), L J. Kats, J L. Laurin, Michael D. Tokach, Jim L. Nelssen, Robert D. Goodband

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 311 weanling pigs (initially 10.9 lb and 17 d of age) was used to compare fish by-products, spray-dried blood meal and combinations of spray-dried blood meal and fish by-products in the phase II (d 7 to 25) diet. Pigs were allotted by weight to one of five experimental treatments with 8 to 11 pigs/pen and seven replications. Pigs were placed on a common phase I diet (d 0 to 7 postweaning) that contained 7.5%spray-dried porcine plasma, 1.75% spray-dried blood meal, and 20% dried whey. The phase I diet was formulated to contain 1.5% lysine, .9% Ca, and …

The Effect Of Dietary Soybean Meal Level In Phase I On Subsequent Phase Ii Growth Performance (1992), K G. Friesen, L J. Kats, Robert D. Goodband, Jim L. Nelssen, Michael D. Tokach

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

One hundred and four pigs (initially 11.7 lb and 21 d of age) were used to determine the effect dietary soybean meal has on growth performance in the early-weaned pig. Pigs were fed one of four diets from d 0 to 14 postweaning. Diets were formulated to 1.5% lysine and 24.4% lactose with either 0, 7.5, 15.0, or 22.5% soybean meal. Soybean meal and lactose replaced dried skim milk to maintain equal lysine and lactose levels. From d 14 to 35 postweaning, all pigs were fed a common (1.25% lysine) corn-soybean meal diet containing 10% dried whey and 4% select …

The Effects Of Slow-Release Copper Boluses On Cow Reproductive Performance And Calf Growth, J.D. Arthington, Robert L. Larson, L.R. Corah

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Two Kansas cow/calf herds known to be copper deficient were utilized to examine the effect of slow-release copper boluses. In herd I, 34 spring-calving cows and calves were divided into a treated and control group at 3-4 months following calving. In herd II, 1106 fall-calving cows and 172 calves were divided into a treated and control group at 3-4 months following calving. In both herds, cow liver and serum samples were collected and assayed for copper and iron. Cows in herd II were also examined for various reproductive parameters. Calf ADG was monitored over a 42-day treatment period in herd …

Effect Of Supplemental Grain Sorghum And Overseeding With Ladino Clover On Grazing And Subsequent Feedlot Performance Of Steers Early-Intensively Grazed On Acremonium Coenophialum - Infected Tall Fescue Pastures, K.P. Coffey, Joseph L. Moyer, Lyle W. Lomas, F.K. Brazle

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Eighty mixed breed steers (avg. wt. 560 lb.) were used to evaluate the effect on grazing gain and subsequent feedlot performance of different management options for steers early-intensively grazing Acremonium coenophialuminfected tall fescue pastures. Steers were allotted to pastures of infected fescue pastures or infected fescue overseeded with ladino clover and received no supplement or were offered grain sorghum at .25% of their body weight. Neither supplementation nor overseeding affected grazing or feedlot performance. However, grain supplementation on overseeded pastures reduced subsequent feedlot feed efficiency (P<.10). These management options did not substantially affect grazing or subsequent feedlot performance by steers early-intensively grazing infected fescue pastures.

Synchronization Of Estrus In Yearling Beef Heifers With The Mga®/Prostaglandin F2Α System: Iii. Timed Insemination After 72 Hours Of Estrous Detection, Robert L. Larson, L.R. Corah

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The percentage of heifers conceiving to artificial insemination (AI) following melengestrol acetate/prostaglandin F2"(MGA®/PG) estrous synchronization can be increased by mass insemination of all heifers not showing estrus by 72 h after PG. Inseminating at 12 h after estrus detection all heifers showing estrus within 72 h after PG; then inseminating those not detected in estrus by 72 h after PG as a group increased the proportion of heifers conceiving to AI by 10.8%.

Record-Keeping Systems For Beef Safety And Feedlot Health, C.D. Cranwell, D.D. Simms

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Three hundred nine feedlots were mailed questionnaires to ascertain the types of recordkeeping systems currently being used to monitor health programs and FDA-specified treatment withdrawal times. Microcomputer systems were of special interest. Approximately one third of the feedlots responded. A majority with a one-time feeding capacity of more than 10,000 head were using a microcomputer record-keeping system, whereas most of those with fewer than 10,000 head used a manual, paper-based system. Those feedlots using computerized record-keeping systems had purchased their software package from one of five companies. Managers felt these software packages were adequate for billing customers, monitoring pharmaceutical inventory …

Effects Of Estradiol Or An Estradiol-Trenbolone Acetate Reimplant Scheme And Time On Feed On Performance And Carcass Traits Of Finishing Steers, Robert T. Brandt Jr., Michael E. Dikeman, Sally L. Stroda

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Two hundred eighty-eight predominantly British and British crossbred steers (702 lb) were used in a 2x3 factorially arranged experiment. Main effect factors were reimplant scheme [estradiol (E2) vs estradiol plus trenbolone acetate (E2 + TBA)] and time on feed (111, 125 or 139 days). The initial slaughter occurred when 65 to 70% of all steers were estimated to grade low Choice. No interactions occurred for any variable measured. Reimplanting 57 days after the initial implant with E2 + TBA increased overall daily gain 6.9% (P<.003) and feed efficiency 4.9% (P<.005). Feeding steers for an additional 14 or 28 days resulted in linear decreases in overall daily gain (P<.005) and feed efficiency (P<.0004). Reimplanting with E2 + TBA increased (P<.001) carcass weight but did not reduce marbling score or percent Choice carcasses. Feeding steers for an additional 14 or 28 days resulted in linear increases (P<.0001) in hot carcass weight, ribeye area, adjusted backfat (P<.004), and skeletal maturity (P<.0005). Additional days on feed increased dressing percentage (P<.002) and marbling score (P<.05) curvilinearly and tended (P=.25) to increase the percentage of carcasses grading Choice and Prime. Incidence of dark cutters was higher (P<.05) for E2 + TBA carcasses, and was very high at the first slaughter date (54 days after reimplantation). Although feeding for an additional 14 or 28 days can result in heavier live and carcass weights, higher dressing percentage, and increased marbling, poor efficiency of gain may create negative feeding margins.

Variation In The Quality Of Forage Grazed By Pregnant/Lactating Beef Cows At Key Periods In The Year, E.S. Vanzant, R.C. Cochran, T.A. Stanley

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Seven ruminal and esophageally fistulated crossbred beef cows were used to monitor changes in chemical composition of tallgrass-prairie forage selected during November of 1989 and January, March, June, and August of 1990. Quality of forage selected by beef cows was lowest during the period just before calving (cows calved in early February) but had begun to improve by the March sampling (postpartum period) and reached its peak during June sampling period (breeding season). Observed variability in the fiber and protein components of grazed forage highlights the dynamic nature of forage quality and emphasizes the importance of using such information when …

Short-Run Impact Of Captive Supplies On Fed Cattle Prices, J. Mintert, R. Jones, F. Brazle, Ted C. Schroeder

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Factors affecting western Kansas fed cattle prices during May through November 1990 were investigated. In particular, the impact of changes in captive cattle supplies on cash prices was examined. The term captive cattle supplies refers to cattle procured by a packer well in advance of slaughter. Captive supplies take one of three forms: 1) packer-owned cattle, 2) cattle procured on forward contracts, and 3) cattle procured under formula price (or marketing) agreements. Captive supplies were defined as cattle procured under forward contracts or formula price agreements, because data on packer-owned cattle were unavailable. Over the May through November 1990 period …

Effect Of Feed Additives On Shipping Shrinkage Of Yearling Heifers, F.K. Brazle

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Two studies were conducted to determine the effect of feed additives on the transit shrink of yearling cattle. In Trial I, 146 mixed-breed heifers were offered a mineral mixture containing either Terramycin® or Bovatec®, or without additive while grazing native grass pastures. Shrinkage after 300 miles in transit was lower (P<.09) for Bovatec-fed heifers than the other groups. In Trial II, 60 mixed-breed heifers were offered free choice prairie hay, plus soybean hulls without additive or containing either Aureomycin ®, Rumensin, or Bovatec®. Both ionophores tended to reduce live weight shrink following a 10-hour withholding of feed and water, but treatment differences were not significant (P>.05). The small shrinkage differences observed in these two trials would not justify changes in the weighing practices of feeder cattle.

Interrelationship Between Copper And Bovine Health, Robert L. Larson, J.D. Arthington, L.R. Corah

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Trace mineral nutrition is important to production efficiency and animal health. Trace mineral imbalances may be the roots of many diagnosed or undiagnosed problems in a herd. The low cost of a complete mineral analysis when compared to production losses encourages its use in the evaluation of any bovine herd in which trace mineral imbalances are suspected. A systematic gathering of information on mineral intake, antagonist intake, and serum and tissue values is necessary in order to make a diagnosis and a rational treatment decision. It is important to understand the complex interactions between minerals so that supplementation with one …

Effects Of Source And Level Of Energy Or Protein Supplementation On Nitrate Toxicity In Cattle, M.W. Smith, M.R. Blanding, L.R. Corah, Dale A. Blasi

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Two experiments were conducted to investigate whether level or source of energy and protein supplementation would reduce the incidence or severity of clinical toxicity in cattle fed forages high in nitrate (NO3). Heavily fertilized sudan hay with 40,000 to 50,000 ppm NO3 was fed in both experiments. The percentage of total blood hemoglobin converted to methemoglobin by nitrate was used to compare treatment effectiveness. Energy supplementation at levels tested in Exp. 1 had no effect on methemoglobin concentration. In Exp. 2, all protein sources (wheat midds, urea, soybean meal) reduced the maximum methemoglobin levels and increased the rate of reconversion …

Interactive Effects Of Porcine Somatotropin And The Beta-Agonist Salbutamol On Growth And Carcass Criteria Of Three Genotypes Of Swine (1992), J A. Hansen, J T. Yen, J A. Nienaber, T L. Wheeler, J Klindt, Jim L. Nelssen, Robert D. Goodband

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this research was to examine the interactive effects of porcine somatotropin (pST) and the beta-agonist salbutamol on the growth and carcass characteristics of three genotypes of pigs differing in lean and fat deposition potential. Thirty-two pigs each of either 1/4 Duroc-3/4 white composite (Duroc crossbred), purebred Meishan, or 1/4 Meishan-3/4 white composite (Meishan crossbred) breeding were injected daily with 0 or 4 mg pST and fed a diet containing 0 or 2.75 ppm salbutamol for approximately 34 d and subsequently slaughtered. As the percentage Meishan in the genotype increased, loin muscle area, semitendinosus weight, average daily gain …

Synchronization Of Estrus In Yearling Beef Heifers With The Mga®/Prostaglandin System: I. Effect On Inducement Of Puberty And Conception Rates, L.R. Corah, J.R. Yaeger, J.C. Whittier, J.C. Meiske, D.J. Patterson, K. C. Olson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

We evaluated the estrous response and fertility of yearling beef heifers after treatment with melengestrol acetate (MGA) and prostaglandin F2" (PG). The 304 heifers, at three locations, were allotted to two treatments: nonsynchronized controls and those receiving .5 mg MGA per head daily for 14 days followed by a 25 mg PG injection 17 days after the end of MGA feeding (MGA/PG). Heifers in the control and MGA/PG groups were artificially inseminated 12 hours after observed estrus for 21 days or 6 days after PG, respectively. Conception rate at first service and overall pregnancy rate did not differ (P>.10) …