Animal Sciences Commons^™

Changes To The Purine Assay Improve Purine Recovery And Assay Precision, Ryan Mass, Kelly Creighton, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Three experiments tested modifications of the purine assay designed to improve estimation of microbial crude protein supply. In Experiment 1, changing hydrolysis conditions from 12 normal perchloric acid to 2 normal increased purine recovery and lowered the coefficient of variation. In Experiment 2, phosphate buffer yielded greater recovery of purines than acetate buffer and using the extraction solution as a wash was less variable than silver nitrate in .005 molar hydrochloric acid. In Experiment 3, purine nitrogen:total microbial nitrogen ratios for five forages were determined by incubating NDF in situ and analyzing them before and after neutral detergent extraction.

Dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acids (Cla) And Body Fat Changes, Jess L. Miner, Chris Cederberg, Merlyn K. Nielsen, Xiaoli Chen, Clifton Baile

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A mixture of CLA isomers was fed to mice at 0, 1, and 2% of the diet for 5, 12, or 14 days. Dietary CLA caused a reduction of body fat approaching 50% but did not cause a loss of total body weight. Mice fed CLA also experienced programmed cell death (apoptosis) of fat cells. Certain (not all) CLA isomers are natural components of beef and dairy products but not other foods. Therefore, these observations prompt speculation of an additional health benefit, reduced adiposity — to humans that eat ruminant-derived foods.

The Effect Of Feeding Pressed Sugar Beet Pulp In Beef Cattle Feedlot Finishing Diets, Jessica Park, Ivan G. Rush, Burt Weichenthal, Todd Milton

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

When the two trials were analyzed together, average daily gain was higher in the corn silage treatment compared to the two levels of beet pulp. However, feed to gain conversions between the treatments were not different. Beet pulp can serve as a substitute for corn silage and even though dry matter intake may be slightly affected, feed efficiency will be equal.

Forage Intake And Nutrient Balance Of Heifers Grazing Sandhills Winter Range, Trey Patterson, Don C. Adams, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Two experiments with pregnant heifers grazing winter range investigated effects of supplementation to meet metabolizable protein versus CP requirements. Supplements were fed from October to February, and hay was fed in January and February of the second experiment. Supplementation to meet metabolizable protein requirements decreased weight loss in one experiment. Winter hay feeding reduced weight loss and body condition loss compared to no hay feeding. Forage intake declined from 2.1% of body weight in November to 1.3% in February. Metabolizable protein was deficient when animals were supplemented to meet CP requirements. Supplementation to meet metabolizable protein requirements may improve performance …

Undegradable Intake Protein Content Of Corn Steep Compared To Soybean Meal, Trey Patterson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, D. J. Jordon, Casey Wilson, Ryan Mass, Rick Stock

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Thirty calves were used in an 84-day growth trial to evaluate protein efficiency of corn steep compared to soybean meal. Calves were individually fed a base diet supplemented with either 1) urea, 2) soybean meal, or 3) corn steep. Soybean meal and corn steep were fed at graded levels replacing urea. In vitro ammonia release analyses showed the protein in both corn steep and soybean meal to be approximately 30% undegradable in the rumen. Calves fed corn steep had similar protein efficiency to calves fed soybean meal, supporting the in vitro data.

Performance And Economics Of Winter Supplementing Pregnant Heifers Based On The Metabolizable Protein System, Trey Patterson, Don C. Adams, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Richard T. Clark, Burke Teichert

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

In 1997-1998 and 1998-99, pregnant, March-calving heifers (2,375 head) at two locations of a ranch in Nebraska were used to evaluate the production and economic responses of winter supplementation (September to February) to meet metabolizable protein or CP requirements. Net present value was used to determine the economic benefits of supplement treatments. In 1997-98, metabolizable protein heifers had higher pregnancy rates and expected profitability than CP heifers at one of two locations. In 1998-99, metabolizable protein heifers had higher pregnancy rates and expected profitability at both locations.

A Diagnostic Strategy To Classify Pens Of Feedlot Cattle By The Prevalence Of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 Fecal Shedding, David R. Smith, Spring Younts, Mark Blackford, Todd Milton, Rodney A. Moxley, Jeff Gray, Laura Hungerford, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

This study evaluated two pen testing strategies to predict the percentage of cattle in a pen shedding detectable E. coli O157:H7. Culture of a composite fecal sample most accurately detected pens with 37% or more cattle shedding E. coli O157:H7 in feces. A new pen test device most accurately detected pens with 16% or more individuals shedding. The likelihood of detecting E. coli O157:H7 with either method increased as pen prevalence increased. If both pen-level test methods were used together, pens could be classified as high, medium or low prevalence with less labor and expense than testing individual cattle.

The Relationship Of The Characteristics Of Feedlot Pens To The Percentage Of Cattle Shedding Escherichia Coli O157:H7 Within The Pen, David R. Smith, Mark Blackford, Spring Younts, Rodney A. Moxley, Jeff Gray, Laura Hungerford, Todd Milton, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

This study was designed to discover relationships between characteristics of feedlot pens and the percentage of cattle shedding Escherichia coli O157:H7. Twenty-nine pens from five Midwestern feedlots were each sampled once between June and September, 1999. Feces were collected from all cattle in each pen. E. coli O157:H7 was isolated from the feces of 714 of 3162 cattle tested (23%), including at least one animal from each of the 29 pens. Pen prevalence did not differ between feedyards, but did vary widely within feedyards. Muddy pens were more likely to have a higher pen prevalence than normal pens.

A Comparison Of Beef Cattle Crossbreeding Systems Assuming Value-Based Marketing, U. Jon Tomsen, D. Kirk Darnell, Merlyn K. Nielsen

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

This study simulated total life-cycle expenses and income under value-based marketing to arrive at predicted net returns for crossbreeding systems. The simulation used a deterministic model of totally contained beef breeding systems and evaluated 14 breeds and their crosses from biological data collected at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Nebraska. Comparing beef cattle crossbreeding systems under value-based marketing will aid us in understanding the interactions of the total system. Besides value of carcasses, feed requirements, level of milk production and other characteristics are important in determining net returns.

Fiber Type Composition Of The Beef Chuck And Round, Kevin Kirchofer, Chris R. Calkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The fiber type composition of 38 muscles of the beef chuck and round was studied to facilitate optimal muscle use in value-added products. Select grade chucks and rounds (n=4 each) were used. Muscles containing greater than 40% &#;-red fiber numbers were classified as red; greater than 40%&#;&#;&#;-white were classified as white. All others were classified as intermediate. Nine of 12 round muscles were white, while chuck muscles were equally dispersed between red (10 of 26), intermediate (9 of 26), and white (7 of 26), indicating variation among muscles of the chuck, which may create differences in processing characteristics.

Effects Of Hydroperiod On Metamorphosis In Rana Sphenocephala, Travis J. Ryan, Christopher T. Winne

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Hydroperiod, the time a temporary pond holds water, is an important factor influencing recruitment in amphibian populations and structuring amphibian communities. We conducted an experiment to test the effect of hydroperiod on metamorphic traits of the southern leopard frog (Rana sphenocephala), a common amphibian in the southeastern United States. We reared larval R. sphenocephala in artificial ponds at a density of 32 larvae per tank (initial volume = approximately 650 liter). We dried the tanks according to natural patterns, using three different hydroperiods (60, 75 and 90 d). Experimental hydroperiods had a significant effect on the number of …

Managing N Inputs And The Effect On N Losses Following Excretion In Open-Dirt Feedlots In Nebraska, Galen Erickson, Terry Klopfenstein

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Feedlot nutrition will play an important role in meeting environmental challenges of beef cattle feedlots. Nutritionists are continually refining protein requirements and recently adopted a new, metabolizable protein (MP) system to more efficiently use N and allow more accurate diet formulation. Protein requirements vary by animal age and weight during the finishing period. Our hypothesis was that formulating diets with the MP system would decrease N inputs leading to decreased excretion and losses. Comparing industry average diets (13.5% CP) to phase-fed diets formulated to not exceed MP requirements decreased N inputs by 10 to 20% for calves and yearlings without …

Estimating Forage Protein Degradation In The Rumen, Terry J. Klopfenstein, R. A. Mass, K. W. Creighton, H. H. Patterson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Forage proteins are degraded rapidly by rumen microorganisms and therefore supply relatively small quantities of undegraded intake protein (UIP). Growing cattle with high metabolizable protein requirements and lactating beef and dairy cows respond to UIP supplementation when fed high-forage diets, even though degradable intake protein (DIP) is adequate. This observation suggests that an accurate estimate of forage UIP is needed to establish optimal supplementation conditions. Microbial protein must be quantitated in duodenal or in situ residue samples to accurately measure forage UIP. Purines commonly are used as a microbial protein marker. Recent reports suggested that the original purine procedure generates …

Switching Feedlot Dietary Fiber Level For Cattle Fed In Winter, T. L. Mader, M. S. Davis, J. M. Dahlquist, A. M. Parkhurst

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Four feeding regimens were evaluated in two different outside facilities [tree windbreak provided (SP) vs no wind protection provided (NP)] over two winter seasons. Feeding regimens were 1) 7.5% (DM basis) alfalfa hay (AH) diet (Low- Low); 2) 15% (DM basis) AH diet switched to a 7.5% (DM basis) AH diet under cold stress conditions (High-Low); 3) 7.5% (DM basis) AH diet switched to a 15% (DM basis) AH diet under cold stress conditions (Low-High); and 4) 15% (DM basis) AH diet (High-High). For feeding regimens High-Low and Low- High, cold stress was determined by use of a model, based …

Utilization Of Bt Corn Hybrids In Growing Beef Steers, Jeffrey Folmer, Galen E. Erickson, D. J. Jordan, Todd Milton, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Two trials were completed to evaluate the efficacy of Bt corn hybrids for growing steers. After grain harvest, trial 1 used two fields of N7333 Bt and nonBt corn to evaluate grazing performance and preference of growing steers. Trial 2 compared early and late maturing varieties (N4242 and N7333, respectively) of Bt and nonBt corn hybrids in corn silage-based growing diets. No differences in performance or grazing preference were observed between N7333 Bt or nonBt residue. Steers fed corn silage from hybrids N4242 gained 11% faster (P>.01) and were 7% more efficient (P>.01) than those fed N7333 hybrids. …

Summer Grazing And Fall Grazing Pressure Effects On Protein Content And Digestibility Of Fall Range Diets, Trey Patterson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Don C. Adams, Walter H. Schacht, Patrick E. Reece, Jacqueline A. Musgrave, Amy Herron

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

In 1997 and in 1998, four blocks of Sandhills range were used to examine summer grazing time and fall grazing pressure effects on fall diet quality. Three pastures within each block were grazed in June, July, or deferred from summer grazing each year. Multiple grazing pressures were created by grazing cows at various stocking rates in the fall. Diets were collected by esophageally fistulated cows. In 1997, diet protein and digestibility declined with increasing grazing pressure. In 1998, there were no effects of grazing pressure on fall diet protein or digestibility. July grazing reduced fall diet protein compared to June …

Candidate Gene Analysis For Loci Affecting Litter Size And Ovulation Rate In Swine, R. C. Linville, Daniel Pomp, R. K. Johnson, M. F. Rothschild

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

A candidate gene approach was used to determine whether specific loci explain responses in ovulation rate (OR) and number of fully formed (FF), live (NBA), stillborn, and mummified pigs at birth observed in two lines selected for ovulation rate and litter size compared with a randomly selected control line. Line IOL was selected for an index of OR and embryonic survival for eight generations, followed by eight generations of two-stage selection for OR and litter size. Line C was selected at random for 16 generations. Line COL, derived from line C at Generation 8, underwent eight generations of two-stage selection. …

"Vertebrate Pests Of Agriculture, Forestry And Public Lands" 2001 Annual Meeting

Western Region Coordinating Committee for Vertebrate Pests of Agriculture, Forestry, and Public Lands (WCC-95)

Table of Contents

2001 Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Minutes ................................................................ 2

Number and Title of the Regional Project ................................ 2

Location and Dates of the Meeting ................................... 2

Participants ................ , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . …

Boletín De El Iucn/Birdlife/Wpa Grupo De Especialistas En Crácidos 12-16 (2001-2003), Iucn, Birdlife International, Wpa Cracid Specialist Group

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Newsletters

Volume 12 (March 2001)

Recientes registros de crácidos de Tikal, Petén, Guatemala, con notas sobre su conservacion, Thomas M. Donegan

Recent records of cracids from Tikal, Petèn, Guatemala, with notes on their conservation, Thomas M. Donegan

El muitú (Crax fasciolata) como emblema de una actividad de ecoturismo en el norte Argentino, Emilio E. White

O mutum-penacho (Crax fasciolata) como símbolo de uma atividade de ecoturismo no norte da Argentina, Emilio E. White

The bare-faced curassow (Crax fasciolata) as an emblem of ecotourism activity in northern Argentina, Emilio E. White

Grants, Research opportunities, Interested in signing up? …

Yellow Lupins For The Pig Industry, Bruce P. Mullan

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

There is no doubt that Yellow lupins are suitable as an ingredient in the diet of pigs from weaning through until slaughter. While no research has been conducted on feeding this variety to breeding stock, there is no reason to believe that it would not be a suitable source of energy and amino acids. Whether it will become a significant ingredient in pig diets will depend on its availability and price.

Investigating Teeth Eruption And Eating Quality, Sarah Weisse, Rob Davidson, Brian Mcintyre, David Pethick, John Thompson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In Australia, a sheep ceases to be a lamb as soon as the eruption of its first permanent incisor teeth is evident. As part of a wider program to investigate a number of aspects of sheep meat eating quality, a project was undertaken to determine whether lamb eating quality would be compromised if sheep with partially erupted teeth continued to be classified as lamb.

Overall, the results indicated that meat from young sheep with partially erupted teeth was unlikely to be inferior in eating quality than the meat currently classified as lamb.

Re-Thinking The Summer Drenching Program, Brown Besier

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The summer drenching program has provided highly effective sheep worm control in Western Australia for many years - but recent research challenges its long term sustainability.

Trial results suggest that in large parts of the State, summer drenching is the main factor leading to the development of drench resistant worms. Alternative programs less likely to lead to drench resistance will require greater monitoring of worm burdens and panning pasture moves.

Saratoga National Fish Hatchery, Wyoming: Restoring America’S Fisheries

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

Saratoga NFH, established in 1911, has served as an egg-producing station during most of its years of operation.  Between 1915 and 1984, various strains of brook, rainbow, brown, golden and cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden eggs were produced.  In 1966, Saratoga NFH was formally designated as a broodstock hatchery, and in 1984 the hatchery became involved in the Great Lakes lake trout recovery program.  Today, the hatchery's broodstock program includes supplying about 5 million eyed Lewis Lake lake trout eggs to the Great Lakes restoration program and 3 to 4 million Plymouth Rock brown trout eggs for Service, State, and …

Fish Survey Of Nathan's Lake, Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge, Corey Lee, William Davison

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

The Columbia Fishery Resources Office conducted fish surveys at Nathan's Lake, a proposed component of Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), in June 2001.  Boyer Chute NWR is located in the Missouri River Floodplain about three miles north or Omaha, NE and four miles southeast of Ft. Calhoun, NE.

Nathan's Lake is located about one mile southwest of Boyer Chute (Figure 1) in Washington County and is connected to the Missouri River by a drainage ditch with a control structure located at the northeast corner of the lake,  Nathan's Lake is approximately a 50-acre shallow lake (0.61-1.22-m) that contains aquatic …

Ennis National Fish Hatchery, Montana Restoring America’S Fisheries

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

Established in 1981, Ennis NFH was located for the purpose of taking trout eggs from wild populations, and introducing fingerling fish back into public waters to sustain and enhance the sport fishery.  The site was selected for the fractured rock out-cropping which gravity flows 15,000 gallons per minute of 54 °F spring waters; the ideal environmnet for producing trout.

In the 1970's the demand for catching trout decreased, but the demand for eggs increased.  More emphasis was placed on broodstock and by the mid-80's production exceeded 20 million eggs.  Today Ennis NFH operates as a federal broodstock hatchery and produces …

Use Of Py-Gc/Ms Analysis Techniques In Animal Waste Management: A Preliminary Survey Of Dairy Manures, Daniel L. Vaughn, Michael A. Kruge

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The increasing practice of industrial-scale agriculture tends to concentrate large masses of animal waste in relatively compact areas, potentially leading to excessive release of polluting nutrients into waterways during major storms. Anaerobic treatment conditions are generally favored to conserve nitrate N as an agricultural commodity. However, overall N contents in waste are often in excess of crop fertilization needs: storing excess N in soluble nitrate form increases pollution potential. Thus the perceived needs of agriculture and society-at-large become at odds. Organic nitrogen forms (e.g., proteins) are more environmentally stable and are less subject to unintentional release. Although U.S. farmers tend …

Locomotor Activity, Core Body Temperature, And Circadian Rhythms In Mice Selected For High Or Low Heat Loss, M. R. Mousel, Walter W. Stroup, Merlyn K. Nielsen

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Daily locomotor activity, core body temperature, and their circadian rhythms were measured in lines of mice selected for high (MH) or low (ML) heat loss and unselected controls (MC). Lines were created by selecting for 16 generations in each of three replicates. Collection of locomotor activity and core temperature data spanned Generations 20 and 21 for a total of 352 mice. Physical activity and core body temperature data were accumulated using implanted transmitters and continuous automated collection. Measurement for each animal was for 3 d. Activity was recorded for each half hour and then averaged for the day; temperature was …

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (Cla), Body Fat, And Apoptosis, Jess L. Miner, C. Cederberg, Merlyn K. Nielsen, Xiaoli Chen, Clifton Baile

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine if consumption of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) by mice could induce apoptosis in adipose tissue. Other objectives were to determine the influence of feeding mice CLA for ≤2 weeks on body fat, energy expenditure, and feed intake.

Research Methods and Procedures: A mixture of CLA isomers (predominantly c9,t11 and t10,c12) was included in the AIN-93G diet at 0, 1, and 2%, and fed to mice for 12 days (Trial 1), or was included at 2% and fed to mice for 0, 5, and 14 days (Trial 2). Feed intake …

Use Of Intra-Uterine Insemination Of Pigs: Pros, Cons & Economics, Donald G. Levis, Scott Burroughs, Sara Williams

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Reproductive performance is a major concern for pork producers because the financial stability of a pork enterprise that produces piglets is substantially influenced by fecundity index (FI) for number of piglets born alive (FI = farrowing rate x litter size born alive). It is well known that farrowing rate and litter size are affected by numerous factors. A new reproductive technique that pork producers are hearing and reading about is intra-uterine insemination. Intra-uterine insemination is the process of placing spermatozoa directly into the uterine body instead of the cervix as traditionally done. The uterine body is located between the cervix …

Effect Of Animal Grouping On Feeding Behavior And Intake Of Dairy Cattle, R. J. Grant, J. L. Albright

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Although data are scarce, it is clear that grouping strategy can have a significant impact on the feeding behavior and feed intake of dairy cattle. Feed intake is controlled by ruminoreticular fill and physiological mechanisms, but grouping is a component of the cow’s feeding environment that can modulate intake as a result of its impact on cow comfort, competition for feed and other resources, and herd health. Social dominance and competition for feed impact feeding behavior and proper grouping strategy will minimize the negative impact of excessive competition on intake and enhance beneficial effects of group feeding such as social …