Animal Sciences Commons^™

Technical Notes: Economic Weights For Direct And Fetal Genetic Effects In Choosing Sires, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

A procedure is developed to determine the relative economic values of effects of sire of cow and sire of fetus. The economic weights for selection will depend on the time and discount rate. For example, for 10 yr and a 10% discount rate, the relative economic weights are 1.240 and 1.284 for the sire's direct genetic and fetal genetic effects when the fetal effect of the sire affects only the subsequent lactation of the mate of the sire. If the fetal effect is carried over to each future lactation of the mate, the relative economic weights are 1.240 for the …

Effect Of Proportion Of Concentrates In Herd Ration On Lactation Curves, G. R. Wiggans, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The proportion of net energy in the herd's ration derived from concentrates as reported to Dairy Herd Improvement was the basis for defining five groups of milk production records from New York and New England. The relative daily milk production by season and stage of lactation was estimated for each group at two ages by a generalized least squares procedure. These solutions showed little variation due to the grouping by proportion of concentrates, but season of freshening and age were important. The mean yield did increase with an increasing proportion of concentrates, and, consequently, extension factors would differ by group …

Genetics Of Dairy Goats: A Review, M. U. Iloeje, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The literature on genetics of dairy goats was reviewed to point out not only world wide research but also the need for research in the United States to achieve the goal of uniform national genetic evaluations similar to those now available for dairy cattle. The number of breeds studied and the variety of research are remarkable. The numbers of animals and records involved in most studies, however, suggest large sampling variances of estimates.

Effect Of Energy Source Prior To Parturitian And During Lactation On Piglet Survival And Growth And On Milk Lipids, R. Dean Boyd, B. D. Moser, E. R. Peo, Jr., P. J. Cunningham

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of level and source of energy fed to sows prior to parturition and during lactation on birth weight, gain, and survival of piglets and fat content of the dam's milk.

Studies On The Feasibility Of Predicting Feedlot Performance From Certain Laboratory Grain Analyses, M. L. Galyean, D. G. Wagner, R. K. Johnson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Data from 14 cattle feeding trials were utilized to study the relationship between several laboratory analyses and animal feed intake (INTAKE), gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (F/G). Laboratory analyses considered were 6, 12 and 24 hr in vitro dry matter disappearance (IV6, IV12, IV24, respectively); in vitro gas production in 1 hr and 6 hr (GP1 and GP6, respectively); and degree of gelatinization (GEL). A multiple regression equation with variables for treatment and trial classification, initial weight and the quadratic effect of initial weight was fit to the data. The effect of initial weight was significant for all three performance …

Effect Of Energy Source Prior To Parturitian And During Lactation On Tissue Lipid, Liver Glycogen And Plasma Levels Of Some Metabolytes In The Newborn Pig, R. Dean Boyd, B. D. Moser, E. R. Peo, Jr., P. J. Cunningham

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of energy source (carbohydrate or fat), fed to sows prior to parturition and during lactation, on energy storage and some metabolite levels in the neonatal pig which may exert an influence on rate of survival.

Factors Affecting Twinning And Effects Of Twinning In Holstein Dairy Cattle, R. A. Cady, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Data were obtained from 23,978 calving records collected by the Eastern Artificial Insemination Cooperative's Calving Survey. The survey information included breed, parity and size of dam, date of breeding and birth, identification of sire and maternal grandsire, sex, size, and vigor of calf, and difficulty of birth. Due to small numbers of records for non-Holstein breeds, only Holstein records were used in the analyses. As parity increased, the incidence of twinning increased (P<.05). Month of birth (conception) and the size of dam measured within parity did not affect the twinning rate. The heritability of twinning, estimated using the genetic covariance between paternal half-sibs was .05 over all parities and within parity was .06, .03, and .03 for the first, second and third parities, respectively. Length of gestation for twins was 5 days less (P<.05) than for singles. In addition, twins were smaller and weaker, and their birth was accompanied by more dystocia than monoparous calves (P<.05). Neonatal mortality was four times higher (P<.05) for twins as compared to single births. In view of these facts, it does not appear that selection programs designed to increase twinning rates would be desirable for Holstein dairy cattle.

Factors Influencing Racing Performance Of The Standard-Bred Pacer, R. L. Hintz, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Generalized least squares solutions were used to estimate effects of post position, track condition, purse within class of race, and breaking stride on time at finish of the Standardbred pacer. A total of 30,181 race records made during the 1972 racing season were analyzed. All effects were found to have a significant influence on time at finish. Differences between effects were generally uniform across age groups. Since post position, track condition, purse within class of race, and breaking stride were found to have a substantial influence on racing performance, these factors should be considered when estimating a horse's racing ability. …

Breeding For Increased Protein Content In Milk, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The principles of selection are reviewed as a basis for discussing selection for protein content of milk. The correlations among components of milk will cause correlated responses in all even when selection is for only one component. Selection for fractional composition of fat or protein would lead to increases in content of fat and protein, but the expected increases in total yields of fat and protein would be much less than if selection were for yield of milk, fat, or protein. Selection should be for milk, fat, and protein yield with relative economic emphasis determined by the net economic value …

Direct And Indirect Sire Evaluations For Fat Test And Economic Merit, G. R. Ufford, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Evaluations for milk, fat yield, and fat test for Holstein sires in artificial insemination were calculated from first lactation records of Holstein daughters by best linear unbiased prediction procedures. Indirect evaluations for fat test also were calculated by adding best linear unbiased predictions for milk and fat yield to breed averages for milk and fat yield to calculate test and then subtracting breed average fat test. The indirect evaluation for test had a simple correlation of .99 with fat test from best linear unbiased prediction. Dollar value indexes were calculated from evaluations for milk yield and from evaluations for fat …

Economic Analysis Of Protein Testing For Selection, R. D. Anderson, R. W. Everett, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The expected change in dollar return from incorporating milk, fat, and protein records in a selection index (Index 1) was compared to that from an index utilizing just milk and fat records (Index 2) under pricing systems paying for milk, fat, and protein.

Dollar return 1 was superior to dollar return 2 when there was either no payment for protein or high payment for protein. For sire selection the expected changes in dollar return for the two indices were equal at a price for protein of $.88 per kg whereas for cow selection the returns were equal at a protein …

Estimation Of Genetic Trends From Cow And Sire Evaluations, R. L. Hintz, R. W. Everett, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Milk production records of Ayrshire, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, and Brown Swiss in the Northeast were used to estimate trends in transmitting ability of sires and genetic merit of cows. Genetic trends in the transmitting ability of Artificial Insemination sires for the Ayrshire, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, and Brown Swiss breeds averaged 23.7, 14.6, 17.9, 18.3, and 34.7 kg per year.

Genetic trends in the AI cow populations averaged 36.1, 25.4, 26.1, 25.0 and 38.1 kg. The genetic trends of cow populations were less than twice the contribution of sires to genetic trends, indicating that estimating genetic trends in cow populations by …

Osteoarthrosis In A Coyote X Dog Hybrid From Nebraska, B. R. Mahan, P. S. Gipson

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Osteoarthrosis is described in a wild, 14-year-old coyote (Canis latrans) x dog (C. familiaris) hybrid shot in southeastern Nebraska. There was ankylosis of five vertebrae, the head of the left femur was absent, and periarticular osteophytes occurred throughout the skeleton. The age is significant because wild coyotes seldom live beyond 6 years and coyote x dog hybrids are considered to be less fit for survival in the wild than coyotes.

Analysis Of The Flehmen Display In American Bison (Bison Bison), Brian R. Mahan, Michael P. Munger, Harvey L. Gunderson

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

A tota1 of 873 Flehmen (lip curl) displays by bison (Bison bison) was recorded and statistically analyzed in relation to individual factors such as age and sex, and external factors such as wind speed, wind direction, temperature, humidity, and Flehmen stimulus to determine if differences between subgroups of individuals existed and if Flehmen was environmentally affected. The mean lip curl display duration for all individuals was 8.4 seconds. Statistical tests of Flehmen duration means grouped by Flehmen stimuli showed a significant difference (p < 0.05). Lip curl duration means for males (8.3 sec.) and females (9.3 sec.), "maturity classes", all age-classes, cow age-classes, and bull age-classes were significantly different (p < 0.05). Because of a marked decrease of duration means for "prime" bulls, some relationship between Flehmen duration and sexual behavior of bulls was suggested. Windspeed, humidity, and temperature were determined …

Mycobacteriosis (Tuberculosis) Of Fishes, S. F. Snieszko

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

Mycobacteria are widely distributed in nature. They are abundant in the soil, on the surface of plants, on the skin of vertebrates, in human food (e.g., milk and butter), and in animal feeds. Most mycobacteria are saprophytic, but some species are highly pathogenic and cause diseases such as tuberculosis and leprosy in humans, and similar diseases in mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes.

Mycobacteria that cause diseases of fishes differ considerably from those that cause diseases in humans and other mammals. Therefore, to avoid association between tuberculosis in mammals and mycobacterial infections in fishes, it is better to call the …

Avian Mortality Caused By A September Wind And Hail Storm, Kenneth F. Higgins, Michael A. Johnson

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

In recent study of nonhunting mortality of wild waterfowl, Stout and Cornwell (1976) identified weather as one of the more significant causal agents. This paper describes an occurrence of spectacular avian mortality caused by a severe thunderstorm in North Dakota on 8 September 1977.

The storm was associated with a low pressure system in South Dakota. It developed about Noon CST north of Dickinson, traveled eastward and generally north of highway 1-94, and continued into Minnesota at about 5:00 p.m. CST. The system moved at about 60 mph (97 km/h) over a 300 mile (483 km) stretch of the state; …

1978 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, Leo E. Lucas, H. W. Ottoson, T. E. Hartung

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Retail value of wholesale meat cuts is influenced by quality and the proportion of lean, fat and bone. Wholesale cuts vary widely in value; for example, loins and ribs sell for more than rounds, rounds more than chucks, and chucks more than flanks, plates, or briskets. This value difference has prompted many attempts to find breeding and feeding systems that will increase the proportion of high-priced cuts.

Results shown here characterize the composition of carcass wholesale cuts from 14 breed combinations that were part of a cattle germ plasm evaluation program at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, …

Review Of Helminths Of Fish-Eating Birds Of The Palaearctic Region. I. Nematoda, Glenn L. Hoffman

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

The title is accurate but the subject is a little misleading. One would expect that the fish-eating birds will acquire nematodes from the fish they eat. On the contrary, with one exception, Eustrongylides tubifex, as far as is known none of these nematodes use fish as normal intermediate hosts. A few species use fish as paratenic hosts. The book consists of an Introduction (2 pages), General Account of Nematodes (4 pages), the Systematic Part (233 pages), List of Fish-Eating Birds and Their Nematodes (22 pages), References (29 pages) and Index (13 pages). There are keys to families, genera, and …

Relating Wolf Scat Content To Prey Consumed, Theodore J. Floyd, L. David Mech, Peter A. Jordan

United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: Publications

In 9 trials, captive wolves (Canis lupus) were fed prey varying in size from snowshoe (Lepus americanus) to adult deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and the resulting scats were counted. collectible scats were distinguished from liquid, noncollectible stools. In collectible scats, the small prey occurred in greater proportion relative to the prey's weight, and in lesser proportion to the prey's numbers, than did the remains of larger prey. A regression equation with an excellent the data (r² = 0.97) was derived to estimate the weight of prey eaten per collectible scat for With this information …

Zoogeography Of Antillean Bats, Robert J. Baker, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Analysis of the bat fauna of the Antillean Islands suggest that the most probable source of invasion of the islands by bats is by overwater dispersal. The bat fauna of ·the Greater Antilles is unique, a percentage of endemism on each island being over 50 percent except for the Virgin Islands which has 33 percent endemics.

The richest bat fauna in the Antilles is on Cuba (32 species) followed by Jamaica (23 species) then Hispaniola (17 species) and Puerto Rico (16 species). The number of species found on Cuba is probably the result of the island's proximity to Central and …

On The Notion That Insectivory Is A Specialized Condition, Patricia W. Freeman

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Insectivory as a specialized feeding condition in mammals has not been explored as has been carnivory or herbivory. Insect-feeding, non-edentate mammals have dilambdodont teeth and modifications in the craniomandibular joint which distinguish them from other mammals such as carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores. Variation in a family of insectivorous bats, Molossidae, can be likened functionally to the kinetic-inertial and static-pressure jaw systems noted in rhipidistians, amphibians, and reptiles. Food data show that the bats with the kinetic-inertial system eat moths and ones with the static-pressure system eat beetles. Not only do these insectivorous mammals eat insects, they also are modified to …

1977 Fall Field Day

Nebraska Bird Review

1977 Fall Field Day

The 1977 Fall Field Day started Saturday night with a get-together at the home of the George W. Browns in Kearney. Sunday, 2 October, started out gray and chilly, but eventually developed into the fine fall day which had been ordered and promised. The trip started at the Newark Township building and went north on Nebraska 10 to the north bank of the Platte River and explored eastward along the river. After that area had been covered the group went to an area northeast of Fort Kearney. After the lunch at the Newark Township building, at …

Sixty-Five Years Of Whooping Crane Records In Nebraska, Paul A. Johnsgard, Richard Redfield

Nebraska Bird Review

In 1933, Myron Swenk determined the status of the Whooping Crane in Nebraska by summarizing all of the records then available to him, and established the general pattern of timing and geographic distribution of Whooping Crane occurrence in this state. Although the population of this species has remained very low since that time, a sufficient number of observations have been made to warrant updating his analysis and comparing the more recent records with these earlier ones. During the summer of 1977 the junior author undertook such a summary as a class project, by extracting such records from all of the …

Whole Issue Nebraska Bird Review (December 1977) 45(4)

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

Sixty-five Years of Whooping Crane Records in Nebraska .......... 54

1977 Fall Field Day ............................... 56

Notes ........................................................ 57

Index of Volume XXXXV ....................................... 58

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (December 1977) 45(4).

Nebraska Bird Review

Published quarterly in March, June, September, and December by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union Inc. as its official journal and sent free to all members who are not in arrears for dues. Subscriptions (on a calendar year basis only) at $5.00 per year in the United States and $5.25 in all other counties, payable in advance. Single numbers $1.25 each.

Memberships (on a calendar year basis only): Student, $3.00; Active, $5.00; Sustaining, $7.00; Family Active, $7.00; Family Sustaining, $9.00; Life, $75.00.

All dues and subscriptions should be remitted to the Treasurer, A. W. Madison, Box 505, Sutherland, Nebraska 69165. Orders for …

Morphometric Variation In The Tropical Pocket Gopher (Geomys Tropicalis), Stephen L. Williams, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

The tropical pocket gopher (Geomys tropicalis). which exhibits no chromosomal or genic variation, was examined for variability at the morphometrical level. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine age, sexual, and geographical variation. Significant differences were found between different age classes and between sexes. The amount of individual variation was comparable with other rodents and did not exhibit the reduced variation expressed at the chromosomal and genic levels, G. tropicalis is considered to be a monotypic species.

Reproductive And Testicular Characteristics Of Purebred And Crossbred Boars, E. R. Wilson, R. K. Johnson, R. P. Wettemann

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

One-hundred-ninety-five Duroc (D), Hampshire (H), Duroc x Hampshire (D x H) and Hampshire x Duroc (H x D) boars were evaluated for reproductive performance. One-hundred- sixteen boars were castrated at approximately 225 days of age to evaluate testicular and epididymidal weights and sperm numbers. Testes from crossbred boars were 95.33 ± 22.81 g heavier (P<.01) and contained 14.41 ± 3.92 billion more sperm (P<.01) than those from purebred boars. Testes from Hampshire boars were 50.40 ± 31.75 g heavier with 6.27 ± 5.45 billion more sperm than those from Durocs. There were no significant differences between breeds for caput-corpus epididymidal measurements. Durocs had 24.55 ± 12.16 billion more sperm (P<.05) in the cauda epididymis than Hampshire boars. Testes weight and testes sperm numbers were significantly correlated with caput-corpus epididymidal and cauda epididymidal sperm numbers. Correlations of testicular and epididymidal characteristics with growth rate and backfat to 100 kg were small and nonsignificant. Twenty 7.5-month to 9-month-old D1 D x H and H x D boars and 19 H boars were each mated to two Yorkshire gilts to evaluate reproductive efficiency. Conception rates were: D, 63.2%; D x H, 67.5%; H x D, 60.0%; and H, 48.6%. Number of embryos 30-days postbreeding was 10.66 ± .49 and 11.25 ± .43 (P>.10) for gilts mated to purebred and crossbred sires, respectively. Twenty-eight of 36 crossbred boars mated each time they were exposed to an estrus gilt but only 11 of 36 of the purebred boars mated each time. None of the crossbred boars failed to mate …

Habitat Use By Native Gambel' S And Scaled Quail And Released Masked Bobwhite Quail In Southern Arizona, John G. Goodwin Jr., C. Roger Hungerford

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Reports and Other Materials

Populations of both Gambel's and scaled quail surveyed in southern Arizona declined by 60% from October 1975 to June 1976. Masked bobwhite population density increased during the study because of additional releases, but survival patterns are uncertain. Raptors were efficient quail predators.

Gambel's quail were associated with a dense overstory of mesquite, hackberry, wolfberry, and catclaw. Understory species varied in density and appeared less essential to good habitat. Scaled quail preferred open, grass-shrub habitat, with few of the plants over 6 feet tall. Masked bobwhite selected dense, grass-weed habitat, with pigweed a characteristic species.

Green vegetation and insects were seasonally …

Productivity, Mortality, And Population Trends Of Wolves In Northeastern Minnesota, L. David Mech

United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: Publications

Population parameters, mortality causes, and mechanisms of a population decline were studied in wolves (Canis lupus lycaon) from 1968 to 1976 in the Superior National Forest. The main method was aerial radio-tracking of 129 wolves and their packmates. Due to a decline in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), the wolf population decreased during most of the study. Average annual productivity varied from 1.5 to 3.3 pups per litter, and annual mortality rates from 7 to 65 percent. Malnutrition and intraspecific strife accounted equally for 58 percent of the mortality; human causes accounted for the remainder. As wolf …

Sixty-Five Years Of Whooping Crane Records In Nebraska, Paul A. Johnsgard, Richard Redfield

Paul Johnsgard Collection

In 1933, Myron Swenk determined the status of the Whooping Crane in Nebraska by summarizing all of the records then available to him, and established the general pattern of timing and geographic distribution of Whooping Crane occurrence in this state. Although the population of this species has remained very low since that time, a sufficient number of observations have been made to warrant updating his analysis and comparing the more recent records with these earlier ones. During the summer of 1977 the junior author undertook such a summary as a class project, by extracting such records from all of the …