Animal Sciences Commons^™

Aspects Of The Feeding Ecology Of The Bonneville Cisco Of Bear Lake, Utah-Idaho, David C. Lentz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Bonneville cisco (Prospium gemmiferum), a small planktivorous whitefish, is an important part of the distinctive fish community of Bear Lake, Utah-Idaho. The Bonneville cisco plays a key role in the trophic structure by converting zooplankton to fish biomass and providing a major forage source for cutthroat and lake trout. Aspects of cisco feeding ecology studied include characterization of the zooplankton community composition and dynamics and cisco feeding habits and prey selection.

Composition and seasonal dynamics of the zooplankton community were determined for a fifteen month period during 1981-1982. The community was dominated by a calanoid copepod, Epischura …

Vulnerability Of Cougars To Hunting, Dan Barnhurst

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Forty radio-collared cougars (Felis concolor) were monitored for 630 cougar months. Track searches were conducted and tracking information was gathered over a 20-month period. Vulnerability was estimated to be greatest for 0 to 6-month-old kittens. This age class is the most susceptible to starvation after being orphaned, or being killed by hounds when the hunter is unaware of their presence, since their tracks were found with their mother's tracks only 19 percent of the time. Tracks of 7 to 12-month old kittens were found with their mother's tracks 43 percent of the time. Relative road-crossing frequencies of seven …

Effect Of Overall Indispensible Amino Acid Levels On Performance Of Broiler Chicks, Jack D. Kelly

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

An attempt was made to determine the effect of overall indispensible amino acids (IAAs) level on growth rate and efficiency of broiler chicks. There were two overall levels: the low (8.33% IAA, 17.6% CP containing all IAAs at the minimum requirement found in preliminary studies), and the high (10.77% IAA, 21.5% CP with IAAs increased by 28%). Both diets contained 13.7 Megajoules ME (3277 Kcal) per kilogram.

These two diets along with other variations of the two diets were fed to Hubbard chicks. Growth rate, with the low IAA diet was as good as with the high, but feed efficiency …

Color Vision In The Bovine, B. John Gilbert

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Eight heifers were trained using operant conditioning to press a plate to receive a feed reward. Different wavelengths of light were presented as correct and incorrect stimuli. Positive and negative responses to the stimuli were registered electronically. Daily sessions of 17 minutes were conducted in a chamber with external light being excluded.

The duration of the stimulus was fixed at 17 seconds after which stimuli were randomly presented. Only presses on the plate when the correct stimulus was presented were reinforced with feed. A 75% correct choice was the criterion used as acceptable discrimination.

Ratios of correct to incorrect responses …

Predicting Digestibilities Of Alfalfa Hays With Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy, David H. Clark

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Forty-four alfalfa hays from different cuttings, maturities, and locations were fed to sheep in a digestion study. Subsamples of the hays along with corresponding fecal samples were ground and analyzed for dry matter, (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and permanganate lignin. In vivo digestibility (IVDMD) were also determined fro each hay.

The hay and fecal samples were scanned with a near infrared reflectance spectrophotometer. Chemical and digestible data for each hay and fecal sample were entered into the computer and separate multiple regression equations developed.

Fifteen other alfalfa hays with …

Coprecipitation Of Phosphorus With Calcium Carbonate In Bear Lake, Utah - Idaho, Paul W. Birdsey Jr.

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Monitoring of Bear Lake was conducted in 1981 and 1982 to describe the current limnology and trophic state of the lake. The nutrient loadings of various parameters were measured from April, 1981 through June, 1982. The rate of coprecipitation of phosphorus was determined for different initial phosphorus concentrations by use of non-algal assays. Algal bioassays with Selenastrum capricornutum were used to determine the reduction in potential algal biomass as a result of the coprecipitation of phosphorus.

The lake exhibited chemical characteristics indicative of mesotrophy or eutrophy. Total phosphorus values averaged 11μg/1 for 1981 and 20 μg/1 for 1982. A hypolimnetic …

Influence Of Breed Type, Milk Production Potential And Cow Size Upon Maintenance Requirements, Jacqueline Lee Kennedy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Two biological types of cows, straightbred Herefords (HxH) and Simmental-Hereford crosses (SxH), of similar body condition were individually fed over a 10 week period to compare the biological types for maintenance and to determine the influence of milk production potential and of size. Cows were nonlactating and in the last part of the first trimester of pregnancy. During the first 5 weeks of the feeding experiment, one-half of each type was fed 75% of estimated maintenance while the other half was fed 125% of estimated maintenance. During the last 5 weeks of the experiment those fed at 75% of maintenance …

Combined Scale Weight, Height At Hips And Visual Condition Score As An Indicator Of Functional Body Size In Range Cows, Patricia B. Davis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Thirty-five range cows of various breeds were obtained for the study. Body measurements taken were live weight and hip height and all cows were condition scored for level of fatness. The cows were slaughtered and the following morning several carcass measurements were taken and the plate was removed from the left side. These plates were boned and the remaining flesh ground for chemical analysis of percent carcass fat. Regression equations were calculated for estimating percent carcass fat from condition score, weight:height ratio and hip height (R²=.765). However, condition score alone is the single best estimator for percent carcass …

Detailed Description And Nomenclature Of High Resolution G-Banded Horse Chromosomes And Cytogenetic Analysis Of Hereditary Multiple Exostosis In Horses, Alma Maciulis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A reliable technique for obtaining late prophase, prometaphase and greater numbers of metaphase chromosomes is presented. The increased number of mitoses and high resolution chromosomes were obtained using a modification of the typical three-day blood culture technique in which the cell cycle was temporarily blocked at the G₁-s border with methotrexate. A high resolution G-band idiogram is presented using a system similar to the standardization of human chromosomes. The use of this technique and system of nomenclature will facilitate routine analyses of horse chromosomes and provide a basis for the identification and recording of chromosome aberrations in this …

Range Beef Cattle Productivity In Southern Utah, Mouslim A. Maiga

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Twenty-six range beef cattle ranches in southern Utah were surveyed by personal interview to obtain production data. The data were used to characterize the level of production efficiency in terms of calving rate, weaning rate, weaning weight, and net weaning weight in these operations; and to identify factors associated with differences in productivity.

The data revealed that productive efficiency was generally lower than the potential.

Mean calving rate of cows exposed for breeding was 83.4%. Stepwise regression involving calf death losses at or shortly after birth and heifer replacement rate accounted for 98.3% of the variance in calving rate. Calving …

The Relationship Of Ewe Body Mass To Lamb Production, Sebhatu Gebrelul

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Body size was estimated by multiplying the average of the hip and chest widths by body length and chest depth in 208 ewes of three genotypes: Targhee x Targhee (TXT), Finn x Targhee (FXT), and Suffolk x Targhee (SXT), and two seasons, fall (pre-breeding) and spring (post-lambing). The estimated ewe body size did not fluctuate with season, body condition or physiological stress and proved to be a constant measure of size. Measuring linear body dimension is time consuming; and hence ewe body size can best be approximated by the chest depth in a regression equation. In the absence of linear …

Production Factors In Beef Cattle Finishing, Gary L. Anderson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A feeding trial was conducted comparing four finishing diets, typically fed in this area, two hormone implants zeranol (Ralgro) and estradiol 17-beta (Compudose), and a feed additive. Thirty-two Hereford steers were fed in individual pens to maintain accurate intake records. The four diets compared were: 1) a whole corn diet with a small amount of corn silage as roughage; 2) a high energy ground barley diet using corn silage and chopped alfalfa as roughage; 3) a total diet consisting of rolled barley, beet pulp, and ground alfalfa hay; and 4) a high energy rolled barley diet using corn silage and …

Chemical Composition And Acceptability Of Rain Damaged, Field Dried Alfalfa Hay, Cesar Augusto Araque H.

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Water was applied to swaths of cut alfalfa forage with oscillating sprinklers to stimulate rain damage to field drying alfalfa hay to determine the changes in chemical composition, loss of yield, and acceptability of rain damaged hay to sheep. An additional objective was to develop models to estimate yield losses form experimental hay. The experimental hay was prepared with a 2x2x4x4x2 factorial design. The factors were two different cuttings (July and September), two width of swath (3.05 m and 4.27 m), four times of applying artificial rain (3h, 8h, 13h, and 24h after cutting), four levels of artificial rain (no …

An Extension Teaching Demonstration Using Broiler Chicks As A Model, Joseph B. Ishaya

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This test demonstration was intended to develop a modern management program to improve broiler production in Nigeria through extension teaching methodology. The management programs included animal health, nutrition, and general care.

Some of the factors that limit broiler production in Nigeria are associated with the management strategy presently adopted by Nigerian subsistence farmers.

This report considers the effect of different protein sources on broiler nutrition and the techniques necessary to get the farmers to practice the result of up-to-date research findings.

The extension teaching demonstration reported here is based on 60 day-old chicks. Chicks were randomly assigned to two pens, …

A Study Of The Action Of Bovine Cathepsin D On Intramuscular Connective Tissue, Elimosaria Elikalia Maeda

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Cathepsin D has been postulated to play a role in the tenderization of meat with ageing. Meat toughness has been related to connective tissue content and degree of myofibrillar shortening. This investigation was undertaken to determine the activity of cathepsin D on bovine intramuscular connective tissue.

Highly purified cathepsin D preparations from bovine spleen and bovine sternomandibularis muscle were obtained by ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by affinity chromatography on pepstatin coupled to controlled pore size alkyl amine glass beads. Maximum proteolytic activity using hemoglobin as substrate was obtained at pH 3.5 and 3.8 for bovine spleen and muscle cathepsin D, …

Electronic Feeding Doors For Individual Feeding Of Group Housed Sheep Compared To Individual Housing And Feeding Or Group Housing And Feeding, Ronald J. Lane

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Thirty-six mature purebred cheviot ewes and 36 polypaysired wether lambs were used in two separate experiments to determine the usefulness of an electronic feeding door as contrasted with traditional feeding situations. The sheep were stratified by weight into three management categories; group housing and feeding (G+G), individual housing and feeding (1+1), or group housing and individual feeding (G+1) using an electronic feeding door. The weight stratification formed a light and a heavy weight class resulting in a 3x2 factorial design. Two different training procedures were used to arrive at a generalized 14-day training sequence that does not require physical handling …

Growth Of Targhee And Targhee Crossbred Lambs On Utah Rangelands, Holly Ann George

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Growth data were collected on 1848 Targhee and Targhee crossbred lambs from the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station flock at Cedar City for 1981 and 1982. The study objectives were to establish growth curves for seven lamb genotypes and examine within genotype growth differences among four grazing treatments (sheep alone, sheep and cattle mixed, both continuous and rotation).

Body weights were measured at birth, and at mean ages of 56, 120, and 154 (weaning) days of age. Linear, quadratic, and cubic regressions of weight on age were used to establish growth curves. Among genotype comparisons of entire growth curves were impossible …

Investigation Of Selected Aspects Of Kokanee (Onchorhynchus Nerka) Ecology In Porcupine Reservoir, Utah, With Management Implications, Paul Joel Janssen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Several aspects of kokanee (Onchorhynchus nerka) ecology were studied in the fluctuating, 80ha Porcupine Reservoir, Utah in order to determine optimum management strategies. In 1981, escapement was enumerated and estimates of egg deposition were made. An estimate of the resulting fry recruitment was also attempted and was successful up to the arrival of spring runoff. In 1982, escapement was enumerated and estimates of egg deposition were made, with subsequent estimates of egg deposition and percent survival to the advanced eyed stage. Age and growth rates were determined and survival rates estimated.

Escapement for 1981 and 1982 was 5,463 …

Sheep Diets And Feeding Behavior In Single And Common Use Grazing Trials On Southwestern Utah Summer Range, George B. Ruyle

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A series of grazing trials were conducted on high elevation summer range near Cedar City, Utah. Cattle and sheep were stocked alone and in common in .4 hectare (ha) paddocks. Stocking rates were .76 ha/AUM in 1981 and .60 ha/AUM in 1982. Vegetation measurements were taken before and after grazing treatments to quantify vegetation disappearance. Diet samples were collected from esophageally fistulated sheep in the paddocks before grazing treatments were applied. After a predetermined level of forage utilization was achieved, the paddocks were re-sampled by the esophageally fistulated sheep to examine diets consumed from the forage-reduced vegetation. Behavioral observations were …

Nutrition And Feeding Behavior Of Goats And Sheep Grazing Deciduous Shrub-Woodland In Northeastern Brazil, James Alan Pfister

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Production of sheep and goats in the Brazilian Northeast is important for the livelihood of both subsistence and market-oriented producers. Seasonal nutritional stress on animals in the caatinga vegetational zone of this region causes periodic high mortality and chronically low productivity. Under such conditions, the survivability of goats has been higher than for other domestic livestock. Possible reasons for this include unique aspects of dietary selection and goat feeding behavior. The objectives of this research were to seasonally determine the botanical and nutritive content of goat and sheep diets, to determine forage intake by grazing goats and sheep, and to …

Human-Bear Interactions In The Backcountry Of Yosemite National Park, Bruce Charles Hastings

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The objective of this study was to quantitatively document interactions between black bears and backcountry visitors, and to identify the factors affecting those encounters. Fine hundred and ninety-two interactions were observed. The most common responses of visitors to bears were to watch, walk toward, and talk to others and/or point at the bear. Bears responded to humans largely by walking away, watching, traveling around, walking toward, and running away from people.

Each behavior for both species was categorized into one of four response classes: (1) fear/avoidance, (2) neutrality, (3) approach, or (4) aggression. Over 65 percent of visitor responses were …

Endocrine And Physiological Responses Of The Female Goat During Three Reproductive Phases, Dana Dean Clark

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Female Spanish x Dairy cross goats were divided into three reproductive phases--breeding season or cyclic (20), seasonal anestrus (20), and early postpartum (20). Each group of animals was further divided into three treatments--control (10), Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) treated (5), and pituitary Luteinizing Hormone (LH) (5). During each of the above mentioned reproductive phases, the following were measured: progesterone and LH profiles, serum LH levels following GnRH injection, pituitary LH concentration and ovarian responses following GnRH treatment.

Progesterone levels indicative of luteal development were present only in the breeding season. Progesterone levels during the seasonal anestrous and postpartum periods were …

Effect Of Three Methods Of Processing Barley On Intake And Production Of Lactating Cows, Carlos Garcia Jauregui

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Twenty-four lactating cows were randomly assigned to three treatments within eight each 3 x 3 latin squares with three periods of 21 days duration. Three processing treatments of barley were 1) steam-rolled, 2) ground (fine), and 3) soak-rolled (soaked in water for appr. 24 hours, rolled, and fed within 48 hours). All rations were fed ad libitum and were comprised of 24% alfalfa hay, 16% corn silage, 35.5% barley, 12% whole cottonseed, 12% wheat bran, 0.3% salt, and 0.3% dicalcium phosphate on a dry matter (DM) basis. Electronic doors were used to collect individual feed intake data. Rations and feces …

Toxicologic Effects Of Extracts Of Cestrum Parqui L'Héritier In Mice, Tomás A. López

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Cestrum parqui L'Héritier is a Solanaceous weed of wide distribution throughout the world. It causes poisoning of animals, particularly cattle and sheep, and constitutes a serious problem for animal production in some countries.

The present study was undertaken to develop a biological test for the detection of toxicity of extracts obtained from the plant. This test will be utilized to assess the toxicity of extracts obtained from the plant in future studies.

The plant is known to induce poisoning in laboratory animals, but there are no precise references on doses to be utilized and of appropriate routes of dosing. Oral …

Assay, Purification, And Characterization Of A Pantetheine Hydrolyzing Enzyme From Pig Kidney, Carl Thomas Wittwer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A microsomal glycoprotein hydrolyzing pantetheine to pantothenate and cysteamine has been solubilized and purified to homogeneity as determined by sodium dodecylsulfate electrophoresis. Four rapid, independent assays of pantetheine hydrolysis are described and compared along with a method for localizing enzymatic activity on polyacrylamide gels. The enzyme is solubilized on exposure to butanol and purified by heat treatment, (NH4)₂SO₄ fractionation, hydrophobic chromatography, and hydroxyapatite chromatography. The glycoprotein, purified 5600-fold in 22% yield, has a specific activity of 14 μmoles pantothenate produced/min/mg of protein, 35 times that previously reported. The enzyme has a pH optimum of 9.0-9.5 and a …

Variations In The Coagulation Properties Of Milk From Individual Cows, Leslie M. Okigbo

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Milk samples from fifty individual Holstein cows at the Utah State University Dairy Farm were tested monthly for 10 months for total protein, casein, fat, somatic cells and pH. A new instrument (Foss Formagraph) was used to measure the coagulation properties of the samples. Simulated cheese making procedures were utilized to measure recovery of fat and protein. All the data were statistically analyzed in relation to individual animals, stage of lactation, number of lactation and milk yield.

Significant variations in clotting time and curd firmness were observed in relation to period of lactation, season, individual cow difference, and milk pH. …

The Effect Of Rain Leaching On Field Dried Alfalfa Hay Yield And Lamb Production From The Hay, John M. Kaykay

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A 2 x 3 x 2 factorial arranged split plot experiment was used to determine the decrease of dry matter yield from field-dried alfalfa hay caused by the application of a measured quantity of artificial rain (sprinkling irrigation). The three hay treatment factors were (1) alfalfa hay was cut at late vegetative and early bloom stage of maturity and (2) leached by 0, 5 mm or 20 mm of artificial rain applied by sprinkling and (3) sprinkled in the swath, 24 or 48 hours after cutting.

Changes in dry matter yield were not significantly (P < .05) related to stage of maturity of forage, level of artificial rain applied or the time of application of artificial rain. There were no significant interactions for dry matter yield. The non-significant results were probably due to the variability of the alfalfa stand among the specific areas harvested for each treatment and insufficient replications to control the variability.

Forty-eight lambs were fed for …

Nutrient Requirements Of Ruminants In Developing Countries, Leonard C. Kearl

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This book was assembled using the latest information for compiling the nutrient requirements of sheep, goats, cattle and water buffalo. Because of the complexity of the interactions between an animal, its diet, its physiological state, and the environment; the values depicting the nutrient requirements are estimates and not absolutes. These values, however, are considered to be adequate to meet the minimum requirements of healthy animals maintained in a thermoneutral environment.

The mean energy and protein values used in the nutrient tables were arrived at from combining values found in the literature and those provided in personal communication with animal nutritionists …

Reproductive Behavioral And Physiological Traits In Domestic, Wild, And Hybrid Ovis, Kara-Lynn Crocker-Bedford

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was part of a program to develop new genotypes of sheep (Ovis spp.) and goats (Capra spp.) which are more useful for food and fiber production. The study examined the influence of domestication on behavioral and physiological traits of ewes and lambs, the influence of a single or twin offspring on ewe and lamb behaviors, and general relationships between ewes and lambs during the lambs' first month of life.

Domestication has caused the intensities of observed traits to diverge greatly from the tendencies shown by wild populations. Domestication has produced increases in measurements associated with maternal …

Cougar Predation And Ecological Energetics In Southern Utah, Bruce Bennet Ackerman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Diet of cougars (Felis concolor) was studied from December 1978 to August 1981, on a 4500 km2 study area near Escalante, Utah. Prey eaten was determined from analysis of 112 animals consumed as prey, and from 239 cougar scats. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) were the major prey item, comprising 81% of biomass consumed. Lagomorphs, large rodents, and smaller predators were also important components. Cattle comprised <1% of the diet, although commonly grazed on the cougar's summer range. Adult male and juvenile (<1yr) mule deer were killed more often than expected, in fall (P<0.10) and in winter (P<0.005). Cougars were a major cause of mortality of adult deer (41% of all adult female deaths, 35% of male), but only 6% of mortality of juveniles. Selection of prey seemed to be a function of prey vulnerability, rather than one of active choice by the predator.

Motion-sensitive radio-transmitters were placed on 15 cougars, from 3 months to 7-9 years of age. Three parameters of the radio signal were used to determine activity levels during 6843 …