Agriculture Commons^™

Energy Value Of De-Oiled Distillers Grains Plus Solubles In Beef Cattle Diets, Meredith L. Bremer

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Ethanol plants are centrifuging off oil from the thin stillage stream as it has added market value currently. The impact of oil removal on cattle performance has been minimally researched. Thus four trials, one growing, one digestion, and two feedlot, were designed to determine the energy and feeding value of de-oiled distillers grains in beef cattle diets.

In growing cattle diets, diet concentration of modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) impacted cattle performance more than oil content. Ending BW, ADG, and G:F did not differ between cattle fed de-oiled or full fat MDGS, however cattle fed de-oiled MDGS had lower …

Effects Of Stocking Rate On Forage Nutrient Composition Of Nebraska Sandhills Upland Range When Grazed In Early Summer And The Effects Of Grazing On Nebraska Sandhills Meadow Forage Nutrient Compostion, Jared V. Judy

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The objectives of this research were to 1) evaluate the effects of stocking rate on forage nutrient quality 2) quantify the relative proportions of current vs. previous year growth being consumed in early summer upland range pastures and 3) determine how grazing effects forage nutrient quality in subirrigated meadows in the Nebraska Sandhills. Experiment 1 was a two year study conducted on the experimental upland range paddocks at Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory. Twelve 2-hectare paddocks were assigned one of three treatments stocked at 0 (control), 0.57 (light), and 0.85 (heavy) AUM/ha. Ten 0.25 m² quadrats were clipped per paddock during …

Litter Decomposition And Root Production In Response To Grazing On Sandhills Subirrigated Meadow, Ben W. Beckman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Stocking density can be manipulated by management factors including herd size, pasture size, and grazing period length. Ultrahigh stocking density (mob grazing) is commonly characterized at 200,000 kg animal live weight ha^-1 or higher with multiple movements of livestock per day. Practitioners claim increased plant production, soil development, and nutrient cycling rates because of high trampling percentages resulting from ultrahigh socking densities. This study was conducted on subirrigated meadow in the Nebraska Sandhills in 2012 and 2013 to determine grazing method effect on annual root production and litter decomposition. Stocking rates were held constant while stocking densities varied by …

Index-Based Insurance And Risk Management Among Nomadic Mongolian Herders , Kelsey Larson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Mongolian herders must contend with the risk of dzuds, harsh winters that can kill large numbers of livestock. To do so, they use a mixture of formal financial tools and traditional risk mitigation techniques. This paper is a study of the interaction between the Mongolian Index-based Livestock Insurance Program and traditional informal risk mitigation techniques. The researcher interviews herders in Bulgan soum, Arhangai aimag and Galuut soum, Bayanhongor aimag to compare the IBLI program’s impact in a community that has had IBLI since 2006 and one that only received IBLI in 2012. This study finds that insurance purchase is positively …

Performance Of A Temperate-Zone Channel Catfish Biofloc Technology Production System During Winter, Bartholomew W. Green

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

Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) have been grown successfully in an outdoor biofloc technology production system. Outdoor biofloc production systems in the tropic sare operated year-round, whereas the channel catfish studies were conducted only during the growing season and biofloc production tanks were harvested and idled for the winter. If an outdoor biofloc production system is to be adopted by farmers at temperate latitudes, then data gaps related to system and fish performance over the winter must be addressed. The present study was conducted to address these data gaps for channel catfish culture. Waters from a recently completed biofloc …

Economic Contribution Of Agriculture And Food To Arkansas' Gross Domestic Product 1997-2012, Leah English, Jennie Popp, Wayne Miller

Research Reports and Research Bulletins

Agricultural production, processing, and retail industries are major contributors to the Arkansas economy in terms of GDP. Agriculture contributes to the economy through direct agricultural production, value-added processing, and agricultural retail activities, and it also plays an important role through its interactions with other sectors. The use of non-agricultural goods and services as inputs into the agricultural sector promotes diversified growth in Arkansas’ economy; thus agriculture remains a vital part of Arkansas’ economy. This report: 1) compares the relative size of the Agriculture and Food Sector in Arkansas with those of neighboring states, the Southeastern region of the United States, …

2014 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Contents:

Cow/Calf

Effect of Pubertal Status and Number of Estrous Cycles Prior to the Breeding Season on Pregnancy Rate in Beef Heifers .5

Comparison of Long-term Progestin-based Synchronization Protocols on Fixed-time AI pregnancy Rate in Beef Heifers . 8

Androgen Excess in Beef Cows Results in Altered Theca Cell Gene Expression and Fertility 11

Follicular Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A Expression Before and After the LH Surge . 14

Evaluation of Genomic Predictors for Red Angus Cattle . 17

Preconception Distillers Grains Supplementation Improves Mature Beef Cow Return to Estrous . 19

Impact of Supplemental Protein Source on Pregnant Heifers …

Economic Contribution Of The Agricultural Sector To The Arkansas Economy In 2012, Leah English, Jennie Popp, Wayne Miller

Research Reports and Research Bulletins

This report is the ninth in a series of reports examining agriculture’s economic contribution on the Arkansas economy. Utilizing data from the United States Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), and IMPLAN Group, LLC , the economic contribution of agriculture on the Arkansas economy was estimated for the most recent year available, 2012.

How To Use Anti-Mullerian Hormone Testing To Diagnose Granulosa Cell Tumors In Mares, Dirk K. Vanderwall, Kerry A. Rood

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes how to use Anti-Mullerian hormone testing to diagnose granulosa cell tumors in mares.

Aquaponics And Basil Plant Density, Danika L. Macmaster, Brook Murphy, Dudley Burton

STAR Program Research Presentations

Aquaponics is the use of water from a fish tank to provide nutrients to plants in a soil-less environment. The rocks cultivate the bacteria that turns the ammonia into nitrates that the plants need, and the plant bed functions as a filter for the fish tank. In this study, with the guidance of Doctor Dudley Burton, Doctor Brook Murphy, we researched the optimal plant density for basil in an Aquaponics system. We attempted to control or measure all the other variables to consider, as to isolate the variable of distance between plants. The water flow was spread through the plant …

Efficacy Of An Electronic Scarecrow On 4 Mammalian Crop-Raiders In Limpopo Province, South Africa, Merrie Renee Richardson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In South Africa, 2 primate species, Chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) and vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), and 2 nocturnal mammals, Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) and bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), are among many species of crop raiders. Currently, cost-effective, non-lethal solutions are lacking. From June through December 2012, I installed novel electronic scarecrows on two commercial citrus orchards and a private reserve and used video-recording remote cameras to assess cropraiders’ reactions to them in Limpopo Province, South Africa. I used focal animal sampling data from treatment and control group animals to examine differences in activity …

Sheep Updates 2014, James Kynge, David Lindsay, Johan Greeff, John Young, Luke Stephen, Graham Gardner, Stephen Lee, Bindi Murray, James Rowe

Sheep Updates

This session covers nine papers from different authors:

Genetic Research: A brave new world of opportunities

1. "China's Appetite" - The implications for WA, James Kynge, Chairman, FT Confidential Research, Emerging Markets Editor, Financial Times, London.

2. The genetics warm-up - the secret language of genetic research and its impacts on WA's sheep flock, Professor David Lindsay, University of Western Australia, Perth WA

The strength of genetic data: is it really valuable?

3. Genetic research in Western Australia - What have the compromises in production been? Johan Greeff, Senior Geneticist, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia

4. Show …

Volume 11, Number 1 (Spring/Summer 2014), Ut Institute Of Agriculture

Tennessee Land, Life and Science Magazine

Issue Highlights:

• The four pillars of the Institute of Agriculture
• Alumna forges partnership amid Waldo Canyon fire
• Fishery biologists revive a river

Patch-Burn Grazing Effects On Cattle Performance: Research Conducted In A Working Landscape, Stephen L. Winter, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf, Mark Goes

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

• Patch-burn grazing is a range management strategy that might be able to simultaneously optimize livestock production objectives and wildlife habitat objectives.

• We compared patch-burn grazing to a traditional range management strategy in multiple pastures, representing a variety of land ownership and management histories, dispersed across a relatively large geographic area. Our results likely represent what land managers could expect if they adopted patch-burn grazing in similar situations.

• We found that cattle performance in pastures managed with patch-burn grazing did not differ from that found in pastures managed with a traditional range management strategy. This suggests that land …

Evaluating Colostrum Quality With Niacin Supplementation In The Diet Of Dairy Cattle, Allison Marie Pike

Student Research Projects

Dairy calves are born with a naive immune system, and must obtain passive immunity through ingestion of colostrum. Colostrum provides the newborn with antimicrobial proteins called immunoglobulins, such as immunoglobulin G (IgG), that protect the calf for the first few weeks of life. Calves that receive good quality colostrum (>50 g/L of IgG) are more likely to survive to adulthood. Niacin is a vasodilator that may increase blood flow to the mammary gland during production of colostrum in the mother. This experiment investigated the effect of niacin supplementation at a rate of 48 g/cow/day for 3 weeks before calving …

Economic Contribution Of Agriculture And Food To Arkansas' Gross Domestic Product 1997-2011, Jacob Manlove, Leah English, Jennie Popp, Wayne Miller

Research Reports and Research Bulletins

Agricultural production, processing, and retail industries are major contributors to the Arkansas economy in terms of GDP. Agriculture contributes to the economy through direct agricultural production, value-added processing, and agricultural retail activities, and it also plays an important role through its interactions with other sectors. The use of non-agricultural goods and services as inputs into the agricultural sector promotes diversified growth in Arkansas’ economy; thus agriculture remains a vital part of Arkansas’ economy. Part 1 of the report compares the relative size of the Agriculture and Food Sector in Arkansas with those of neighboring states, the Southeastern region of the …

Genome-Wide Analysis Of The Variation In Host Genetics In Response To Experimental Challenges With Porcine Circovirus 2b, Taylor B. Engle

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Porcine circovirus is the primary causative agent responsible for inducing a group of associated diseases known as porcine circovirus associated diseases (PCVAD), which can have detrimental effects on production efficiency as well as lead to mortality. The variation in host genetics plays a role in the ability to initiate an effective immune response. The objective of this research was to identify major genetic variants and genes that influence immune response and PCVAD susceptibility. Commercial crossbred pigs (n=974) were experimentally infected with a PCV2b strain to analyze genetic sources of variation in PCVAD susceptibility. The strain used for experimental infection was …

Effect Of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (Igf-1) On The Expression Of Nfκb And Cflip In Bovine Granulosa Cells, Samantha Kathleen Docos

Student Research Projects

Infertility, often attributed to follicular atresia, is a growing problem in the agricultural industry. Programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis, is a contributing factor of follicular atresia. It occurs in both the granulosa cells and the oocyte that comprise ovarian follicles. Here, mechanisms influencing the process of apoptosis, via the death receptor Fas, were explored using bovine granulosa cells (bGCs) because Fas-induced apoptosis is a plausible mechanism of follicular atresia. Cell culture techniques, optimized for bGCs, were developed and used throughout the current study. In brief, cultures of bGCs were exposed to Fas ligand (100ng/mL) for 24 hrs. This …

Effect Of Aquafeed On Productivity Of Red Amaranth And On Water Quality Under Aquaponic Cultivation, Miles D. Medina

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Aquaponics, the integrated production of fish and hydroponic crops in a recirculating system, is an intensive cultivation method in which metabolic fish wastes fertilize plants. This study compares the effects of two aquafeeds on Red amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) productivity and on water quality under cultivation of Blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus), with three aquaponic units (n=3) per treatment over a 60-day trial. The fishmeal-based control feed contains higher crude protein (40%) and phosphorus (1.12%) than the plant-based alternative feed (32% and 0.40%). The alternative feed resulted in a significantly higher amaranth crop yield (p

Potential Eradication And Control Methods For The Management Of The Ascidian Didemnum Perlucidum In Western Australia, Julieta Muñoz, Justin I. Mcdonald

Fisheries research reports

In Western Australia, the invasive colonial ascidian Didemnum perlucidum was first detected in the Swan River Estuary in 2010 and subsequently recorded at multiple locations across the State. Ongoing research by the Department of Fisheries (the Department) indicates that this species exhibits strong seasonal changes in abundance. Although, D. perlucidum is able to reproduce sexually (larvae) and asexually (budding) year round, larvae density and settlement, and overall colony size significantly decreases during the colder months (winter). From a management point of view this period would present the best opportunity for an attempt at eradication or control of this species.

Magnitude Of The Freshwater Turtle Exports From The Us: Long Term Trends And Early Effects Of Newly Implemented Harvest Management Regimes., Ivana Mali, Michael W. Vandewege, Scott K. Davis, Michael R.J. Forstner

College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Publications and Scholarship

Unregulated commercial harvest remains a major threat for turtles across the globe. Due to continuing demand from Asian markets, a significant number of turtles are exported from the United States of America (US). Beginning in 2007, several southeastern states in the US implemented restrictions on the commercial harvest of turtles, in order to address the unsustainable take. We have summarized freshwater turtle exports from the US between 2002 and 2012 and demonstrated that the magnitude of turtle exports from the US remained high although the exports decreased throughout the decade. Louisiana and California were the major exporters. The majority of …

Phages Of Non-Diary Lactococci: Isolation And Characterization Of Phi L47, A Phage Infecting The Grass Isolate Lactococcus Lactis Ssp Cremoris Dpc6860, Daniel Cavanagh, Caitríona M. Guinane, Horst Neve, Aidan Coffey, R. Paul Ross, Gerald F. Fitzgerald, Olivia Mcauliffe

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Lactococci isolated from non-dairy sources have been found to possess enhanced metabolic activity when compared to dairy strains. These capabilities may be harnessed through the use of these strains as starter or adjunct cultures to produce more diverse flavor profiles in cheese and other dairy products. To understand the interactions between these organisms and the phages that infect them, a number of phages were isolated against lactococcal strains of non-dairy origin. One such phage, ΦL47, was isolated from a sewage sample using the grass isolate L. lactis ssp. cremoris DPC6860 as a host. Visualization of phage virions by transmission electron …

Volume 10, Number 2 (Fall/Winter 2014), Ut Institute Of Agriculture

Tennessee Land, Life and Science Magazine

Issue Highlights:

• The four pillars of the Institute of Agriculture
• Alumna forges partnership amid Waldo Canyon fire
• Fishery biologists revive a river

Exposure Of Workers To Dust And Bioaerosol On A Poultry Farm, Sheryll B. Jerez, Y. Cheng, Joey Bray

Faculty Publications

Poultry houses are known for generating excessive dust, which originates from bedding materials, fiberglass insulations, feed, dried fecal materials, and feather particles. Dust may contain microorganisms, including endotoxins, fungi, and bacteria, that may affect living things when inhaled. Dust that contains living organisms is referred to as bioaerosol, and its particle size may range from 0.5 to 100 µm. Respirable dust, which has an aerodynamic diameter of less than or equal to 4 µm, can travel to and be deposited in the gas-exchange region of the human respiratory system. This is of particular concern because of the greater health hazard …

Nebraska Bqa: Antibiotic Use Guidelines, Rob Eirich

Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Program

Cattlemen have demonstrated a commitment to animal health through vaccination programs developed carefully in cooperation with their veterinarian. When animals must be treated with an antibiotic after disease diagnosis, producers need to follow important antibiotic use guidelines established through the National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program.

Nebraska Bqa: Effective Cattle Handling, Rob Eirich

Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Program

Cattlemen know the importance of proper cattle handling and its effect on animal health and performance. Beef Quality Assurance has been implementing effective cattle handling (low-stress) into educational programs since its establishment in the 1980s.

Handling Cattle Through High Heat Humidity Indexes, Rob Eirich

Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Program

As cattlemen enter the summer months, they need to understand and deal with heat and humidity. Consider incorporating the following practices into management plans to help reduce additional stress.

Nebraska Bqa: Handling Compromised Animals, Rob Eirich

Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Program

Cattle producers have long recognized the need of proper husbandry and stewardship for the animals entrusted into their care. Best livestock production practices, based on research and sound science, help ensure the well-being, animal health and productivity of cattle.

Calf Branding/Processing Time And Beef Quality Assurance, Rob Eirich

Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Program

It is spring and that means branding time across cattle country. As producers are finishing calving season and preparing for branding/processing, it is important to review Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) guidelines. Let's take a minute to look at the key BQA principles:

Audits And Assessments In Beef Cattle Production, Rob Eirich

Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance Program

Assessments and audits are becoming a part of doing business in beef cattle production, as we are seeing beef processors implementing third-party audits. Since beginning as the Nebraska Director of Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) in July, I have been studying and gathering information on the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) Assessment Guides and third-party audits in the beef industry.