Animal Sciences Commons^™

Wildlife Biologue: American Buffalo (Bison Bison)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

It is believed that buffalo, or bison, crossed over a land bridge that once connected the Asian and North American continents.  Through the centuries buffalo slowly moved southward, eventually reaching as far south as Mexico and as far east as the Atlantic Coast, extending south to Florida.  But the largest herds were found on the plains and prairies from the Rocky Mountains east to the Mississippi River, and from Great Slave Lake in Canada to Texas.

Because the great herds were nearly gone before any organized attempts were made to survey populations, we may never know just how many buffalo …

Space Allocation Decisions For Barrows And Gilts, Mike Brumm, Jim Dahlquist

Nebraska Swine Reports

An experiment was conducted to determine if barrow and gilt performance could be modified by varying pen space allocation for each sex and whether performance of barrows given less space per pig could be enhanced with a more nutrient-dense diet. Barrows given 6 ft² of pen space per pig consumed less feed and grew slower with no effect on lean gain compared to barrows provided 7 ft² of pen space per pig. Increasing diet nutrient density by feeding the diet sequence recommended for gilts to barrows had no effect on performance for barrows at 6 ft² per …

Pork Quality Assurance...Dollars And Sense, Angela Baysinger

Nebraska Swine Reports

Is there any reason a pork producer would not want to reduce production cost or improve management skills? With the pork industry becoming more consumer driven, should producers take an active role in producing a quality pork product? The Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) Program, developed by the National Pork Producers Council on behalf of the pork industry, is available to help pork producers answer these questions and ensure future success.

Impact Of Feeder And Drinker Designs On Pig Performance, Water Use And Manure Production, Mike Brumm, Jim Dahlquist

Nebraska Swine Reports

Two experiments were conducted to examine the impact of feeder and drinker designs on pig performance, water use and manure volume. In the first experiment, pigs with access to a Crystal Springs® wet/dry feeder grew faster, but had a poorer feed conversion and similar carcass merit as pigs using dry feeders with wall-mounted nipple drinkers. Water use was reduced 25.6% in the combined winter and summer trials and manure volume reduced 28.9% in the summer trial for the wet/dry feeder system versus the dry feeder and wall-mounted nipple drinker system. In the second experiment, there was no difference in pig …

The Effects Of Reducing Dietary Crude Protein Concentration On Odor In Swine Facilities, Claudia Obrock H.

Nebraska Swine Reports

The effect of dietary manipulation on odor emission in a research pig facility was evaluated with 26 finishing gilts (initial weight 161 lb). The two diets were formulated to contain 13% crude protein or 9% crude protein supplemented with crystalline amino acids. Two environmental chambers were used and each housed a group of four or five gilts for 21 days. Relative humidity, temperature and air exchange were maintained throughout the experiment. Samples of feces and air were taken on days 4, 7, 11, 14, 18 and 21 of the experiment. Aerial ammonia and hydrogen sulphide concentrations were measured using detector …

Segregated Early Weaning Of Pigs: Dietary Challenges And Opportunities, Stacy Norin, Duane Reese, Austin Lewis

Nebraska Swine Reports

Segregated early weaning (SEW) technology is being adopted by many producers in the pork industry. With the implementation of this technology come many challenges and opportunities to exploit the lean-growth potential and health status of the SEW pig. This review provides insight into some of the reasons for these challenges and discusses some possible ways of utilizing the unique characteristics of the SEW pig to reduce production costs.

Effect Of Early Weaning On Sow Reproductive Performance — A Review, Donald G. Levis

Nebraska Swine Reports

A review of literature was conducted to evaluate the effects of lactation length on reproductive performance of sows. As lactation length decreases there is an increase in the weaning-to-estrus interval, a decrease in farrowing rate, a decrease in subsequent litter size and an increase in pigs weaned per sow per year. Because of herd-to-herd differences in the influence of lactation length on reproductive performance, it is advised that each farm conduct a preliminary study to evaluate the effect of the considered lactation length before implementing the “new” weaning age of piglets.

Purple Sulfur Bacteria In Anaerobic Treatment Lagoons, Richard K. Koelsch, Tong Tong Chen, Dennis D. Schulte

Nebraska Swine Reports

Purple or pink colored lagoons, indicating the presence of purple sulfur bacteria, are less likely to be considered an odor nuisance than a more typical non-purple lagoon. The design and management factors that encourage the growth of purple sulfur bacteria are poorly understood. A study of eight purple and non-purple lagoons was initiated during the spring and summer of 1996. The intent of this effort was to identify critical factors that would allow purple lagoons to become a more predictable odor control alternative. A preliminary comparison of design and management factors assumed to be critical suggests more similarities between these …

Growth Performance And Digestive And Metabolic Responses Of Finishing Gilts Penned Individually Or In Groups, Sergio Gómez-Rosales, Phillip S. Miller, Austin Lewis

Nebraska Swine Reports

An experiment was conducted using one or four finishing gilts/pen to identify factors related to the lower performance of pigs penned in groups. Feed intake, daily gain and final weight were greater in pigs penned individually. There was a trend for greater loin weight and primal cut percentage for pigs penned individually. Apparent digestibilities of dry matter, crude protein and gross energy and the plasma concentrations of urea, glucose and nonesterified fatty acids were similar for both individually and group-penned pigs. These results suggest the lower performance of group-penned pigs is related neither to changes in digestive processes nor plasma …

Explanation Of Statistics Used In This Report

Nebraska Swine Reports

Pigs treated alike vary in performance due to their different genetic makeup and to environmental effects we cannot completely control. When a group of pigs is randomly allotted to treatments, it is nearly impossible to get an “equal” group of pigs on each treatment. The natural variability among pigs and the number of pigs per treatment determine the expected variation among treatment groups due to random sampling.

Retention Of Selected Nutrients In Grilled Boneless Pork Chops, Judy A. Driskell, Fayrene Hamouz, Sharon Davis, David Giraud, Jidong Sun

Nebraska Swine Reports

Fresh pork Canadian Backs, cut into boneless pork chops, were cooked to 160°F internal temperature by grilling at one of the following temperatures: 200, 250, 300, 350, or 400°F. Significantly longer cooking times were observed for chops grilled at 200°F than for those grilled at the higher temperatures. The yields, as well as the moisture and crude fat content of the chops in the different treatments, were similar. Retention values for selenium were similar for all treatment groups. Chops grilled at 400°F had significantly lower retention values for vitamin E and thiamin and a tendency for lower retention values for …

Addition Of Fat To Diets Of Lactating Sows: Ii. Effects On Energy Mobilization And Hormone-Sensitive Lipase Activity, Scott Tilton, Austin Lewis, Phillip S. Miller, Paul Ermer

Nebraska Swine Reports

The effect of dietary fat intake on the ability of the lactating sow to mobilize energy from adipose tissue fat was examined. Sows had ad libitum access to diets formulated to contained 1% lysine and either zero or 10% tallow. Data from two epinephrine challenges indicated sows fed tallow tended to have higher baseline concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and lower stimulated release of NEFA in response to epinephrine than did control sows. Because baseline glycerol values did not differ between treatments, we interpreted this to suggest control sows tended to re-esterify (recycle) a greater portion of the fatty …

Dietary Fiber In Sow Gestation Diets — A Review, Duane Reese

Nebraska Swine Reports

Gestation sows are well suited to utilize high-fiber, low-density diets. They utilize fiber better than growing pigs and during gestation have a high feed intake capacity relative to their energy requirement. When research results from several studies were pooled and weighted according to the number of litters produced, sows fed additional fiber during gestation farrowed and weaned more pigs/litter than sows fed control diets. Feeding fiber during gestation also improved lactation feed intake, but reduced sow weight gain during pregnancy and pig birth weight. Sows fed fibrous diets also exhibit less stereotypic behavior (i.e., bar-biting), which may be an indication …

Achievements In Wool 1997, Agriculture Western Australia

Animal production and livestock published reports

The Wool Strategy Group, which I initiated in 1993, and Agriculture Western Australia's Wool Program are strategic partners working together with industry to develop and market this State's wool industry.

Wool is Western Australia's second most important agricultural industry, with a current export value of $643 million. It has the potential to return to a billion dollar industry in the next five years and the industry needs to be strongly focused on producing what the market requires to take advantage of this.

The Wool Strategy Group, led by Chairman Mr Philip Gardiner, and the Wool Program, have established an international …

Effects Of Two (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquito Control Agents On Growth And Reproduction Of Red-Winged Blackbirds (Agelaius Phoeniceus), Joann M. Hanowski, Gerald J. Niemi, Ann R. Lima, Ronald R. Regal

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

We compared red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) reproductive success and nestling growth in 1988 in 10 wetland site treated with methoprene and 10 sites treated with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) to 30 sites that had never received any mosquito (Diptera: culicidae) control treatment. No differences were detected between reference and treatment sites for clutch size, egg volume, growth rates, or fledge weight. The probability that an egg survived to the nestling stage was greater in methoprene-treated than reference sites. No other differences were detected among sites for reproductive success estimated using the Mayfield method. We conclude that treatment of the wetlands …

Bat House Use In Central Florida, With Emphasis On Nycticeius Humeralis And Tadarida Brasiliensis Cynocephala, Laura Seckbach Finn

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Bat houses and roost sites utilized by Tadarida brasiliensis and Nycticeius humeralis were studied in four central Florida counties. Temperatures were monitored in occupied roosts and in bat houses. It was determined that the presence of bats affects roost temperature. The mean temperature in the bat house that was preferred at the Seminole Community College (SCC) site was above ambient temperature a significantly greater amount of time than mean temperature in the other style houses located at that site. A colony of bats roosting in buildings on the property of SCC was successfully relocated into bat houses located .4 kilometers …

A Study Of Biochemical And Haematological Variables With Performance In Showjumping Horses, Darren B. Simmons

Theses : Honours

This honours project examined the biochemical and haematological changes induced by exercise in the showjumping horse to determine whether a relationship exists between these values and performance. To complete this study 7 geldings and 1 stallion who were considered competition fit by their trainers were subjected to 2 forms of exercise. The first phase of this study involved an incremental exercise test performed at the Byford City Council horse training facility. The horses were cantered/galloped around a 1300m all weather training track at velocities of 6, 8, 10, and 12 m/sec for a duration of 2 minutes for each workload. …

Effects Of Supplementing High Levels Of Cu, Co, Mn, And Zn After Calving On Productivity Of Two-Year-Old Cows, Pete Olson, Dennis R. Brink, Mike Carlson, Dave Hickok, Norman Shcneider, Gene H. Deutscher, Dave Colburn

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

When cow management, health and nutrition are adequate. supplementation of trace minerals at high levels is not beneficial and may in fact be detrimental to reproductive performance.

Estimating In Situ Degradability Of Protein In Forages, Ryan Mass, Greg Lardy, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

In situ neutral detergent fiber nitrogen is an effective method of estimating undergraded intake protein in forages. The information obtained allows for more accurate protein formulation of ruminant diets.

Effects Of Feeding Level And Diet Energy Density On Cattle Exposed To Heat, Terry L. Mader, Bruce Young, John Gaughan

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Under hot environment conditions, individually fed steers maintained lower body temperatures and grater intakes when limit fed when compared to steers fed the same diet ad libitum.

Mutants Of Prevotella RuminicolaDefective In Peptidase Activity: Impact On Ammonia Production, Humberto Madeira, Lasha Peng, Mark Morrison

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

An enzyme from a predominant ruminal bacterium that degrades peptides has a significant impact on ammonia production, and its manipulation could increase efficiency of nitrogen retention in forage- fed animals.

Ammonia (Npn) Utilization By Prevotella Ruminicola Is Affected By The Availability Of Peptides, Zezhang Wen, Mark Morrison

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Ammonia (NPN) utilization by a predominant ruminal bacterium is rapidly decreased, once peptides are available in sufficient quantities.

1996 Beef Cattle Report

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Contents:

Cow-Calf: Range or Meadow Regrowth Grazing and Weaning Effects on Two Year-Old Cows • Grazing: An Alternative to Haying Subirrigated Meadows in the Nebraska Sandhills • Multi-elemental Analysis of Sandhills Meadow Hay • Use of a Metabolizable Protein System to Predict Deficienciesin Diets of Cattle Grazing Sandhills Native Range and Subirrigated Meadow • Rumen Degradable Protein Requirements of Gestating Beef Cows Grazing Dormant Native Sandhills Range • Multi-elemental Analysis of Liver Biopsies and Serum to Determine Trace Element Status of Cows • Multi-elemental Analysis of Bovine Liver Biopsy and Whole Liver • The Incidence of Precocious Puberty in Developing …

Continuous Vs Rotational Stocking Of Warm-Season Grasses At Three Stocking Rates, Bruce Anderson, Mike Trammell, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Pastures containing big and little bluestem, indiangrass, sideoats gramu, and switchgrass were stocked with 2.1, 2.7, and 3.3 yearling steers/acre from June to August. Continuous stocking and six-paddock rotations were used. Grazing terminated early on most continuously stocked pastures due to low herbage mass. As stocking rate increased, ADG declined; continuous Stocking produced highest (1.6 lbs) and lowest(. 69 lbs) ADG. Gai1n/acre was unaffected by stocking rate using rotational stocking (224 lbs/acre) but declined,from 250 to 133 lbs/acre as stocking rate increased using continuous stocking. Continuous stocking caused big bluestem to replace little bluestem and indiangrass and caused a slight …

1997 Beef Cattle Report

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Table of Contents

Cow-Calf: Seasonal Changes in Protein Degradabilities of Sandhills Native Range and Subirrigated Meadow Diets and Application of a Metabolizable Protein System • First Limiting Nutrient of Native Range for Summer Calving Cows During the Breeding Season and Late Lactation • Rumen Degradable Protein Requirement of Gestating Summer Calving Beef Cows Grazing Dormant Native Sandhills Range • Supplemental Protein on Performance of Lactating Beef Heifers • Evaluation of Feather Meal for Cows Grazing Cornstalks • Effects of Supplementing High Levels of Cu, Co, Mn, and Zn after Calving on Productivity of Two-Year-Old Cows • Effects of Copper and …

Effects Of Sire Epd, Dam Traits And Calf Traits On Calving Difficulty And Subsequent Reproduction Of Two-Year-Old Heifers, Dave Colburn, Gene H. Deutscher, Don C. Adams, Merlyn K. Nielsen, Pete Olson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A three-year study evaluated effects of sire birth weight EPD, heifer and calf traits on valuing difficulty and subsequent rebreeding of two-year-old cows. MARC II yearling heifers (n=550) were assigned for breeding to one of four angus sires with birth weight EPD of -2.1, -1.8, +6.3 and +5.9 lb. Of all heifer weights, only dam birth weight affected calving difficulty score. Heifers requiring caesareans had smallest pelvic areas. Calving difficulty increased as calf birth weight and external measurements increased. Low EPD sires produced calves with smaller head and foot circumferences and less dystocia. Degree of calving difficulty did not affect …

Effects Of Copper And Selenium Injections On Cow Productivity And Concentration Of Copper In Liver Biopsy Samples, Jerre Johnson, David Hickok, Pete Olson, Dennis R. Brink

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

In the conditions of the study when additional copper and selenium were provided, cow reproduction and calf performance were not improved.

Seasonal Changes In Protein Degradabilities Of Sandhills Native Range And Subirrigated Meadow Diets And Application Of A Metabolizable Protein System, Greg Lardy, Don C. Adams, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Dick Clark, Jim Lamb

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Meadow and range diets increased in digestibility, crude protein. and escape protein during periods of active growth.

First Limiting Nutrient Of Native Range For Summer Calving Cows During The Breeding Season And Late Lactation, Greg Lardy, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Don C. Adams, Jim Lamb, Dick Clark

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Rumen degradable and escape protein are co-limiting for summer calving cows during the breeding season and late lactation.

Distribution And Status Of The Ozark Shiner, Notropos Ozarcanus Meek, In Arkansas, Henry W. Robison

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The Ozark shiner, Notropis ozarcanus, an endemic species of the Ozark Highlands, was studied from 1994-1995 to determine its present distribution and conservation status in Arkansas. One-hundred and four collections of fishes were made from throughout the historic range of the Ozark shiner. A total of 91 Ozark shiners was collected during the two-year study. The present state distribution is described as well as the conservation status of the Ozark shiner in Arkansas. The largest populations seem to be present in the protected Buffalo River.