Animal Sciences Commons^™

Effect Of Direct-Fed Microbials And Monensin On In Vitro Rumen Fermentation, Sheryl Wingard

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The impact of supplying a mixed culture of lactate producing bacteria on in-vitro rumen fermentation of forage- (Experiment 1) and concentrate- (Experiment 2) based diets in the presence and absence of monensin was explored. In experiment 1, interactions between DFM and MON were absent (P>0.10) for gas production and fermentative end products. Gas production and fermentative end products were unaffected by DFM alone (P>0.10). Monensin decreased (P<0.001) CH₄ and NH₃ production, rate and total gas production, as well as total VFA concentration and molar proportions of acetate and butyrate. However, MON increased (P<0.001) proportions of propionate, valerate, isobutyrate and isovalerate. Independently, DFM and MON increased (P<0.001) end point pH. In experiment 2, DFM x MON interactions or tendencies (P=0.07, P<0.01, P<0.01) were present, DFM effects were abated by MON, for rate, total gas production and total VFA concentrations. Acetate:propionate ratio was decreased (P<0.01) with MON and was unaffected by DFM. Ammonia-N concentration was increased (P<0.01) by DFM and unaffected (P=0.75) by MON. Both DFM and MON treatment increased (P<0.01) ruminal pH levels. These studies suggest the effects of DFM and MON of in-vitro fermentation are …

Evaluating Dietary Amino Acid Adequacy In Horses Using Isotopic Techniques, Sara L. Tanner

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Little is known about amino acid (AA) requirements in horses despite muscle mass accretion being of importance to an athletic species. Isotope methods for determining AA requirements and whole-body protein synthesis (WBPS) had not been previously used in growing horses. The first study herein was the first to apply isotope methods to determine WBPS in growing horses. In the study, weanling colts received two different levels of crude protein. Whole-body protein kinetics indicated that WBPS was greater when the weanlings were fed the diet with a greater crude protein content (P<0.05). The second study sought to determine a lysine requirement for yearling horses using the indicator AA oxidation (IAAO) method. Despite using six dietary levels of lysine; three above and three below the current recommendation, no breakpoint could be determined. Phenylalanine kinetics were not affected by lysine level (P>0.05), but plasma lysine increased linearly with lysine intake …

Evaluation Of A Novel Feedstuff For Horses, Catherine Whitehouse

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Determining digestibility of feed ingredients is a challenge. While forage type feeds may be fed as the sole dietary component, concentrates cannot. To determine the apparent digestibility of these ingredients a by difference method can be utilized. The study was conducted to investigate the nutritional value of corn germ dehydrated (AAFCO 48.32) for horses in comparison to two processed corns commonly fed to horses. The second objective was to compare total tract digestibility of the treatments to determine differences in digestibility of the various fiber fractions due to added concentrate and to use the difference method to determine nutrient digestibility …

Gestational Form Of Supplemental Selenium (Se) Affects Steroidogenic Gene Expression In The Newborn Calf Testis, Stefani R. Garbacik

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Selenium (Se) is an important trace mineral in the diet of cattle. Our objective was to determine whether the form of supplemental Se fed to the dam would affect the expression of genes regulating steroidogenesis in the newborn testis. Twenty-four Angus-cross cows were assigned randomly (n=8) to individual ad libitum access of a mineral mix containing 35 ppm of Se supplied as sodium selenite (inorganic, ISe; Prince Se), Sel-Plex (organic, OSe; Sel-Plex, Alltech) or a 50/50 mix of ISe/OSe (MIX) 4 months prior to breeding and throughout gestation. All male calves were castrated within 2 days of birth and total …

Modeling Digestibility And Rate Of Passage In Horses, Tayler L. Hansen

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Horses consume large amounts of fiber in their diet, which may affect digestibility and digesta rate of passage. The objective of these studies was to assess the effects of diet composition on digestibility and rate of passage in horses using mathematical models. Using previously published data, forage dry matter digestibility (DMD) was related to forage neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentrations and crude protein (CP) concentrations (DMD = 66.1178 – 0.3410*NDF + 0.6356*CP, DM basis; P < 0.001). In a second experiment, horses were fed diets formulated to have high fiber (HF, n= 3; NDF = 55.3%, CP = 11.8%) or low fiber (LF, n = 3; NDF = 40.5%, CP = 13.3%) concentrations. The LF treatment had greater DM, organic matter, and gross energy digestibilities (P < 0.05), whereas the HF treatment had greater NDF digestibility (P < 0.05). Mathematical models were useful to determine mean retention time (MRT) and there were no differences between model MRT and algebraic MRT, or treatment. Some compartmental parameters were different between treatments (P < 0.05), indicating that dietary fiber may alter some components of digesta passage in horses.

An Assessment Of Two Feed Additives To Improve Feed Utilization In Pigs, Amanda Shaw Thomas

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Three experiments were conducted to assess the efficacy of including selected feed additives in the diet of weaning and grow-finish pigs. Experiment 1 utilized 24 crossbred grow-finish pigs and measured the effect of added EHY on DM, N, and energy digestibility. There were no differences in DM, Energy, and N digestibility between diets 1 through 4. Experiment 2 utilized a total of 36 crossbred pigs [18 barrows, 18 gilts] in order to determine if preference would be shown when presented with naturally-contaminated corn. There were three dietary comparisons, Control vs Diet 2 (Comparison 1), Control vs Diet 4 (Comparison 2), …

The Impact Of Dual Chamber Cow Waterbeds As A Freestall Base, Barbara Alice Wadsworth

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The objectives of this research were to compare lying time, milk yield, rumination time, hock score, stall cleanliness, and stall temperature for 97 cows (Holsteins (n = 71), Jerseys (n = 10), and crossbreds (n = 16)) housed on Dual Chamber Cow Waterbeds™ (DCCW, Advanced Comfort Technology, Reedsburg, WI) or conventional rubber mattresses (MAT). This study was conducted at the University of Kentucky Coldstream Research Dairy Farm from January 18, 2012 to May 3, 2013. Lying times were longer (P < 0.01) for cows housed on the DCCW (10:32 ± 0:13) compared to cows housed on the MAT (9:47 ± 0:15). Milk yield was not different (P ≥ 0.05) between cows housed on the DCCW or MAT. Rumination times were greater (P = 0.03) for cows housed on MAT (6:44 ± 0:08) compared to cows housed on DCCW (6:29 ± 0:08). Hock scores were lesser (P = 0.02) for cows housed on DCCW (1.86 ± 0.03) compared to cows housed on MAT (1.97 ± 0.04). Stall cleanliness was not different (P ≥ 0.05) between the DCCW and the MAT. The DCCW stall temperature was warmer (P < 0.01) (13.29 ± 0.21 ⁰C) than the MAT (10.52 ± 0.21 ⁰C).

The Acoustic Emissions Produced By Escherichia Coli During The Growth Cycle, Traci Jane Cox

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The objective of this study was to determine if acoustic emissions (AE) generated by three strains of Escherichia Coli (5024-parent strain, 8279-mutant strain and 8279-random/unrelated strain) could be used to differentiate each strain during their growth cycle. An acoustic sensor with an operating range of 35 kHz-100 kHz was inserted into the growth vessel and attached to a selected channel to capture AE data. The growth vessel was loaded with 60 ml of tryptic soy broth (TSB) (0.25% fructose) media with alginate (1.1%) or without alginate and inoculated with 1% (10⁸ CFU/ml) of an E. coli strain. The growth …

Compost Bedded Pack Barns For Dairy Cattle: Bedding Performance And Mastitis As Compared To Sand Freestalls, Elizabeth A. Eckelkamp

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Lameness and mastitis are the two most costly diseases in the dairy industry. Reduction of these diseases through housing and management is beneficial. Compost bedded pack (CBP) and sand freestall barns were compared in a long-term, on-farm study to assess the effect of housing on each disease. Another research objective was to evaluate the effects of ambient weather conditions on moisture and 20 cm internal temperature of CBP. Compost bedded pack moisture, C:N ratio, and internal temperature effects on cleanliness, mastitis, and bedding bacterial counts were also considered. The last research objective was to evaluate the economics of bedding material …

Evaluating The Effect Maturity On The Intake And Digestibility Of Switchgrass Hay Consumed By Beef Steers, David H. Davis

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

There has been increased interest in utilizing switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) as biomass. There are several challenges to developing this industry, and these have led to the potential use of switchgrass as hay for feeding beef cattle in Kentucky. The effect of increasing maturity on crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and nutritive values of switchgrass hay has been well documented, but few in vivo intake and digestibility trials have been conducted to assess this effect on animal performance when feeding beef cattle. Two in vivo intake and digestibility trials were conducted in 2011 …

"Beef: The Real Health Food", Peter Ballerstedt

Forage Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends restricting our intake of saturated fat to less than 7 percent of calories, and our cholesterol intake to less than 300 mg per day (less than two eggs). They promote the use of low-fat milk and lean meat, and the use of “meat substitutes” in school lunches. These recommendations are consistent with the official dietary policy that began in 1977 with the release of the first Dietary Goals for the United States by the United States Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs. These guidelines were not justified by the then-available science. …

Pasture Finishing Beef Opportunities In Kentucky, Greg S. Halich

Forage Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention

Beef cattle were routinely finished locally in Kentucky before the 1950’s, primarily on pasture with some grain and by-products from distilleries. Cattle were typically born, raised, and finished on the same farm, sent to a local butcher, and the meat sold in nearby communities and cities. This all changed after the Second World War as grain and transportation costs decreased dramatically in conjunction with the establishment of supermarket chains that required a large, steady supply channel. The combined effect of these changes made finishing in large centralized locations more economical. Over the next couple of decades the finishing industry consolidated, …

Forages: Change-Challenges-Opportunities, Garry D. Lacefield

Forage Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention

No abstract provided.

Foreword [2013], Garry D. Lacefield, Christi L. Forsythe

Forage Symposium at the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Th1 Cytokines And T Cell Markers Gene Expressions Between Virulent And An Attenuated Eiav Vaccine Strain, Talia R. Henkle

Lewis Honors College Capstone Collection

The equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is closely related to HIV and has been used as a model to identify protective mechanisms against lentivirus infection. In horses, EIA infection progresses for about a year before infected horses manage to control virus replication. This naturally-gained protection is absolutely dependent on active immune responses as evidenced by the fact that immunosuppressive drugs can induce the recurrence of disease. As the resolution of initial viremia correlates with the appearance of virus specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), we believe that cellular immune responses play a key role in controlling EIAV in the horse. In …

The Buzz On Bees, Rebecca Ruiz

Lewis Honors College Capstone Collection

Apis mellifera, more commonly known as the honeybee, plays a pivotal role in the ecosystem and in the survival of the planet. Many do not understand, nor realize, that the honeybee offers a wide array of products and services besides sweet honey. Honeybees have become endangered at a time when their presence is vital and evidence indicates that they can be the means to a more sustainable future for our planet. Particularly focused on in this research are the ideas of honeybees’ essential presence in medical advances, their participation in global economics, and their involvement in the development of …

Effects Of A Proprietary Premix On Productive Performance And Egg Quality Of White And Brown Egg Laying Hens Fed Diets High In Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles (Ddgs), Megan D. Van Benschoten

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The objective of this thesis was to evaluate inclusion of up to 35% by-product DDGS (with reduced Ca and P) with and without addition of a proprietary premix (enzyme and antioxidant; Alltech Inc.) on productive performance and egg quality of white and brown egg laying hens. A total of 288 white or brown hens were randomly allocated to one of the following treatments: 1) corn-soybean meal (control), 2) 25% DDGS, 3) 25% DDGS plus premix, 4) 35% DDGS, and 5) 35% DDGS plus premix. Hen body weight values were impaired with addition of 25 and 35% DDGS when compared to …

Compost Bedded Pack Barns: Management Practices And Economic Implications, Randi Alyson Black

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Compost bedded pack (CBP) barn design and pack maintenance procedures vary considerably, making advising and problem-solving challenging. One objective of this research was to characterize herd performance and management practices employed by Kentucky CBP managers (42 farms and 47 CBP facilities). Producer satisfaction, changes in historical bulk-tank somatic cell count, and improvement in herd performance parameters after transitioning to a CBP barn support reported CBP barn system benefits. Daily milk production increased from before moving into the CBP barn to the second year after (29.3 ± 0.3 vs. 30.7 ± 0.3 kg, respectively; P < 0.05) for farms using the CBP barn as the primary housing facility (n = 8). Increasing stirring frequency, stirring depth, and ambient temperatures increased pack temperature. Increased drying rate decreased CBP moisture. Increased 20.3 cm depth CBP temperature and ambient temperatures improved cow hygiene. Mastitis-causing bacteria thrive in conditions similar to optimal composting bacteria conditions, making reduction of these bacteria difficult in an active composting environment. Producers must pay attention to other management areas where preventive measures can be employed. The New Dairy Housing Investment Analysis Dashboard provides users an interactive and flexible decision tool to make more informed facility investment decisions.

Acoustic Emission Signal Of Lactococcus Lactis Before And After Inhibition With Nan3 And Infection With Bacteriophage C2, Debasish Ghosh, John M. Stencel, Clair D. Hicks, Frederick Payne, Didem Ozevin

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

The detection of acoustic emission (AE) from Lactococcus lactis, ssp lactis is reported in which emission intensities are used to follow and define metabolic activity during growth in nutrient broths. Optical density (OD) data were also acquired during L. lactis growth at 32°C and provided insight into the timing of the AE signals relative to the lag, logarithmic, and stationary growth phases of the bacteria. The inclusion of a metabolic inhibitor, NaN₃, into the nutrient broth eliminated bacteria metabolic activity according to the OD data, the absence of which was confirmed using AE data acquisition. The OD …

Effect Of Estradiol Supplementation On Blood Estradiol And Metabolite Levels, And Hepatic Protein Expression, In Growing, Mature, And Senescent Beef Cattle, Edwena D. Miles

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Estradiol (Compudose®, COM) implants are extensively used in beef cattle production systems to alter body composition and feed efficiency. Little information exists about the physiological mechanisms affected by COM treatment in growing, mature, and senescent female cattle. Moreover, no reports describe the level of blood estradiol resulting from COM treatment. The effect of COM on levels of plasma estradiol and blood metabolites and proteins, and relative content of glutamine synthetase (GS) and other amino acid nitrogen-metabolizing enzymes in liver tissue, was studied using three experimental models relevant to cow-calf production regimens: senescent cows (Trial 1), young mature (young) versus senescent …

Use Of Mtb-100tm, Provided Through A Mineral Mix, To Reduce Toxicity When Lactating Beef Cows Graze Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue, Melanie E. Hoar

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Two experiments were conducted at the University of Kentucky, Eden Shale Farm, Owenton, KY to evaluate the use of MTB-100^TM (Alltech, Inc., Nicholasville, KY) to alleviate the symptoms of fescue toxicity when lactating Angus x Beefmaster cows and their calves grazed endophyte-infected KY-31 tall fescue. Experiment 1 provided a carbohydrate based toxin adsorbent, MTB-100^TM, ad libitum in a commercial mineral supplement to project a daily consumption rate of 0, 20 or 40 g of MTB-100^TM per cow. Cows were weighed, assigned a body condition score (BCS) and hair coat score (HC), rectal temperatures were recorded and …

The Causes And Consequences Of Individual Variation In Parental Care Behavior, Daniel P. Wetzel

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Behavioral traits can be remarkably flexible depending on the conditions in which they are expressed, yet, in spite of this flexibility, persistent differences between individuals appear to limit the potential expression of behaviors. For example, despite evidence that parents provide variable amounts of parental care in response to changing environmental conditions, they also differ in the overall level of care they provide. I used a behavioral reaction norm approach to study individual variation in parental care behavior in free-living house sparrows (Passer domesticus). I investigated the nature of this variation by studying the relationship between different forms of …

Evidence For The Maturation Of Cellular Immune Responses In Equine Infectious Anemia Virus-Infected Ponies, Chong Liu

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) has been used as a model to investigate protective mechanisms against lentiviruses. Unlike other lentiviruses, EIAV replication can be eventually controlled in most infected horses leading to an inapparent carrier state free of overt clinical signs which can last for many years. Maintenance of this carrier state is absolutely dependent on active immune responses as evidenced by the fact that immunosuppressive drugs can induce the recurrence of disease. However, the immune mechanisms that are responsible for this control of infection are not yet identified. As the resolution of the initial infection is correlated with the …

Equine Serum Antibody Responses To Streptococcus Equi And Streptococcus Zooepidemicus, Rafaela De Negri

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Sz) and Streptococcus equi (Se) share 98% DNA sequence homology, but display different pathogenic properties. Infection by one organism does not cross-protect against the other. To better understand pathogenic differences between these organisms and gain information about which proteins are expressed in horses infected experimentally with Se, intrauterine Sz or naturally with respiratory Sz we compared antibody specificities of convalescent sera using ELISA. These comparisons were based on sets of 8 and 14 immunoreactive recombinant proteins of Se strain CF32 and Sz strain NC78, respectively. Sera from donkeys that were previously naturally affected with strangles and later developed …

Development Of A New Allelic Discrimination Real-Time Pcr Assay For The Diagnosis Of Equine Herpesvirus-1 And Characterization Of The Virulence Determinants Of The Virus, Kathryn L. Smith

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) can cause acute upper respiratory tract disease, abortion, neonatal death and neurological disease in horses. Rapid, accurate and timely diagnosis of EHV-1 infection in horses is important to curtail the spread of this pathogen. It has been reported that the neuropathogenic phenotype of EHV-1 can result from a single non-synonymous nucleotide substitution at position 2254 (A→G₂₂₅₄) in open reading frame 30 (ORF30). This was the basis for the development of an allelic discrimination, real-time PCR assay to distinguish between potential neuropathogenic and non-neuropathogenic EHV-1 strains. However, PCR analysis of a panel of EHV-1 abortion isolates …

Impact Of Direct-Fed Microbials On Nutrient Utilization In Beef Cattle, Nicole Kenney

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The impact of lactate producing direct-fed microbial (DFM) on growth performance and rumen fermentation in beef cattle was explored in four studies. Experiment 1 studied the interaction between DFM and degradable intake protein (DIP) supply in receiving cattle. No differences (P≥0.06) in intake, morbidity, or immune response were observed; however, during the first 28 d gain and efficiency responses to DFM were dependent on DIP (DIP×DFM P≤0.05). Experiment 2 showed that in vitro gas production and select endpoint metabolites differed (P≤0.04) with DFM application. Experiment 3 compared lactate producing DFM to a lactate producing/utilizing DFM in finishing cattle. No differences …

Detection Of Antibodies Against Parascaris Equorum Excretory-Secretory Antigens, Steffanie V. Burk

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Parascaris equorum is a nematode parasite that infects young horses, sometimes causing unthriftiness, respiratory signs, or intestinal impaction in severe cases. Infection can be diagnosed by detection of eggs in feces, but this is only possible after the worms are fully mature. The goal of this study was to develop an antibody-based test for prepatent diagnosis of P. equorum infection. To produce western blot (WB) antigen, P. equorum larvae were cultured for collection of excretory-secretory antigens (ESA). Sera from 18 pregnant broodmares, their subsequent foals, and a group of 12 older mares and geldings were analyzed. In order to check …

The Effects Of Actigen® And Threonine Supplementation On Growth Parameters, Immune Function, And Intestinal Health In Monogastrics, Lindsay Good

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The objectives of these experiments were to evaluate the main effects and interactive effects between dietary supplementation of a mannan oligosaccharide based product, Actigen® (ACT), and different levels of threonine in monogastrics, as evidenced by growth parameters, immune function, and intestinal health characteristics.

In nursery piglets, ACT supplementation decreased average daily feed intake (P=0.04), but had no effect on body weight or feed conversion ratio. There were no noted differences between threonine levels on performance traits. There were no consistent differences in complete blood count or cytokine gene expression profiles in the blood. The highest level of threonine, …

Management And Technology Solutions For Improving Milk Quality, Amanda E. Sterrett

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Mastitis is one of the most common and expensive dairy cattle diseases. Mastitis prevention and management are key factors in herd health and improved milk quality. One objective of this research was to evaluate management solutions to maintain a low somatic cell count, based on survey responses from Kentucky dairy producers. Because hyperkeratosis may increase mastitis incidence, another objective of this research was to examine changes in teat end hyperkeratosis in a herd transitioning from a standard pulsation milking system to an individual quarter pulsation milking system. The last objective of this research was to evaluate technologies that monitored rumination …

Phosphorus Digestibility And Phytate Degradation In Long Yearlings And Mature Horses, Ashley Fowler

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Much of the phosphorus (P) in grain-based concentrates fed to growing horses is in the form of phytate-P. Little is known about the ability of young horses to degrade phytate-P or whether age affects mineral digestion in horses. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of age on P, calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) digestibility and phytate-P degradation. Four long yearling geldings and 4 mature geldings were fed a diet of alfalfa cubes, timothy cubes and a pelleted concentrate. The diet contained 0.28% total P and 17.4% of that P was in the phytate form. There was …