Animal Sciences Commons^™

Tips For New Horse Owners, Kathleen P. Anderson, Cushman

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Pleasure horses for personal and recreational use representthe largest category of horse ownership in the United States, with about 2 million people owning such horses. Whether a person already owns a horse or is considering the initial purchase of a horse, this NebGuide will help answer many questions asked by new horse owners.

Horses can be kept at a person’s own place or boarded at a commercial stable. Keeping a horse on a person’s acreage provides more management control, saves time and expenses, and can reduce the risk of injuries and disease. Most importantly, it allows fuller enjoyment and greater …

Kdr-Lacz-Expressing Cells Are Involved In Ovarian And Testis-Specific Vascular Development, Suggesting A Role For Vegfa In The Regulation Of This Vasculature, Rebecca C. Bott, Debra T. Summers, Anna M. Fuller, Ryann M. Mcfee, Ningxia Lu, Renee M. Mcfee, Andrea S. Cupp

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Our objectives were to evaluate kinase insert domain protein receptor (KDR)-β-galactosidase (LacZ) expression as a marker for vascular development during gonadal morphogenesis and to determine whether any novel non-angiogenic KDR-LacZ expression was present in mouse testes or ovaries. Gonads were collected from mice expressing LacZ driven by the Kdr promoter (KDRLacZ) from embryonic day 11 (E11) through postnatal day 60 (P60). At E11.5, mesonephric cells expressing KDR-LacZ seemed to migrate into the developing testis and surrounded developing seminiferous cords. Cells expressing KDR-LacZ appeared in the ovary with no apparent migration from the adjacent mesonephros, suggesting a different origin of endothelial …

Neutralization Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Antiangiogenic Isoforms Or Administration Of Proangiogenic Isoforms Stimulates Vascular Development In The Rat Testis, Michelle M. Baltes-Breitwisch, Robin A. Artac, Rebecca C. Bott, Renee M. Mcfee, Jill G. Kerl, Debra T. Clopton, Andrea S. Cupp

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) plays a role in both angiogenesis and seminiferous cord formation, and alternative splicing of the Vegfa gene produces both proangiogenic isoforms and antiangiogenic isoforms (B-isoforms). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the expression of pro- and antiangiogenic isoforms during testis development and to determine the role of VEGFA isoforms in testis morphogenesis. Quantitative RT-PCR determined that Vegfa_165b mRNA was most abundant between embryonic days 13.5 and 16 (E13.5 and 16; P < 0.05). Compared with ovarian mRNA levels, Vegfa_120 was more abundant at E13–14 (P < 0.05), Vegfa_164 was less abundant at E13 (P < 0.05), and Vegfa_165b tended to be less abundant …

Identification Of Markers Associated With Sow Lifetime Productivity For Whole Genomic Selection, Daniel Ciobanu

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Sows are more productive today than ever before. However, concurrent with increased prolificacy, high sow death losses and replacement rates are serious economic and welfare issues facing producers. Reproductive failure is the most frequent reason for culling sows. Length of productive life is moderately heritable and has high variance; thus, substantial genetic variation is expected to exist in most populations. Genetic improvement in the swine industry occurs from selection in nucleus herds and is then transmitted through the breeding pyramid in the multiplication process. Thus, it is critical to identify selection methods that can be applied in nucleus herds that …

Registration Of ‘Warrior’, ‘Scout’, And ‘Chief’ Indiangrass, Kenneth P. Vogel, Robert B. Mitchell, H. J. Gorz, Francis Haskins, L. C. Newell, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen Erickson, Bruce Anderson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

‘Warrior’ (Reg. No. CV-252, PI 655523), ‘Scout’ (Reg. No. CV-253, PI 655524), and ‘Chief’ (Reg. No. CV-254, PI 655525) indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.)] Nash were developed for improved yield and forage digestibility by USDA-ARS and the University of Nebraska for use in the central Great Plains and the Midwest USA. Warrior was tested as Oto C3 and was developed by means of both half-sib family selection and restricted, recurrent phenotypic selection (RRPS). Scout and Chief which were tested as NE54 C2 and Holt × Oto Early C2, respectively, were developed by RRPS. Warrior is adapted to USDA Plant Hardiness …

Development And Usage Of Extension’S Horsequest: An Online Resource, E. A. Greene, A. S. Griffin, J. Whittle, C. A. Williams, A. B. Howard, Kathleen P. Anderson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

eXtension (pronounced e-extension) is an online resource transforming how faculty can collaborate and deliver equine education. As the first Community of Practice launched from eXtension, HorseQuest (HQ) offers free, interactive, peer-reviewed, online resources on a variety of equine-related topics at http://www.extension.org. This group has adapted traditional educational content to the online environment to maximize search engine optimization, to be more discoverable and relevant in the online world. This means that HQ resources are consistently being found on the first page of search results. Also, by researching key words searched by Internet users, HQ has guided new content direction and …

Oral Inoculation With Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium Or Choleraesuis Promotes Divergent Responses In The Somatotropic Growth Axis Of Swine, B. L. Davis, J. N. Fraser, Thomas E. Burkey, K. A. Skjolaas, S. S. Dritz, B. J. Johnson, J. E. Minton

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Enteric disease and immune challenge are processes that have detrimental effects on the growth performance of young swine. The current study tested the hypothesis that salmonella-induced enteric disease would perturb the endocrine growth axis in a serovar-dependent fashion. Specifically, we evaluated the effects of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (Typhimurium) and serovar Choleraesuis (Choleraesuis) on critical regulatory components of growth in young swine. Weaned pigs were housed 2 per pen with ad libitum access to feed and water in a 14-d experiment. Pigs were then repeatedly fed 108 cfu of either Choleraesuis or Typhimurium in dough balls, with control pigs receiving …

Short Communication: Detection Of Yeast Dna In Omasal Digesta Of Dairy Cows Consuming Dried Distillers Grains And Solubles, E. Castillo-Lopez, Paul J. Kononoff, Jess L. Miner

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Purine analysis is widely used to estimate microbial crude protein (MCP) flow, and the method assumes that all purines contained in feed are degraded in the rumen and that purines detected are of microbial origin. The objectives of our experiment were (1) to determine if DNA from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) contained in dried distillers grains and solubles (DDGS) escapes degradation in the rumen and (2) to estimate the proportion of yeast DNA compared with total bacterial DNA in omasal samples. Two ruminally fistulated Holstein dairy cows averaging 649 kg (SD = 42.0) and 126 d in milk (SD …

Evaluation Of Protein Fractionation And Ruminal And Intestinal Digestibility Of Corn Milling Co-Products, J. M. Kelzer, Paul J. Kononoff, L. O. Tedeschi, T. C. Jenkins, K. Karges, M. L. Gibson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Novel corn milling co-products developed from technological advancements in ethanol production vary widely in chemical composition and nutrient availability. The objectives of this study were to characterize feed protein fractions and evaluate differences in rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) and its digestible fraction (dRUP), amino acid concentration, and in vitro gas production of 7 corn milling co-products. The crude protein (CP; % of dry matter) of co-products was 12.7 for germ, 26.9 for dried distillers grains plus solubles that had no heat exposure before fermentation (DDGS1), 45.4 for highprotein dried distillers grains (HPDDG), 12.7 for bran, 30.2 for wet distillers grains plus …

Nitrogen Utilization, Nutrient Digestibility, And Excretion Of Purine Derivatives In Dairy Cattle Consuming Rations Containing Corn Milling Co-Products, A. M. Gehman, Paul J. Kononoff

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The objectives of this experiment were to determine the effects of feeding a combination of modified wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) and wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) on nutrient digestion, purine derivative excretion, and N utilization. Multiparous (n = 20) and primiparous (n = 20) cows were arranged in a replicated 5 × 5 Latin square with 21-d periods. Animals were fed one of 5 treatment diets during each period: 1) 0% co-products (control); 2) 15% WDGS (15WDGS); 3) 15% WCGF (15WCGF); 4) 7.5% WDGS and 7.5% WCGF (15MIX); and 5) 15% WDGS and 15% WCGF (30MIX; dry matter …

Evaluation Of In Vitro Gas Production And Rumen Bacterial Populations Fermenting Corn Milling (Co)Products, W. L. Williams, L. O. Tedeschi, Paul J. Kononoff, T. R. Callaway, S. E. Dowd, K. Karges, M. L. Gibson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to evaluate the fermentation dynamics of 2 commonly fed corn (co)products in their intact and defatted forms, using the in vitro gas production (IVGP) technique, and to investigate the shifts of the predominant rumen bacterial populations using the 16S rDNA bacterial tag-encoded FLX amplicon pyrosequencing (bTEFAP) technique. The bTEFAP technique was used to determine the bacterial profile of each fermentation time at 24 and 48 h. Bacterial populations were identified at the species level. Species were grouped by substrate affinities (guilds) for cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, starch, sugars, protein, lipids, and lactate. The 2 (co)products …

Utilization Of Nitrogen In Cows Consuming Wet Distillers Grains With Solubles In Alfalfa And Corn Silage-Based Dairy Rations, A. M. Gehman, Paul J. Kononoff

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The objectives of this experiment were to determine the effects of forage type on nutrient digestibility, purine derivative excretion, nitrogen utilization, and milk production in dairy cattle consuming rations containing high levels of wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS). Primiparous (n = 8) and multiparous (n = 20) Holstein cows were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square. Animals were fed 1 of 4 treatments during each 21-d period: 1) CONT-CS, 0% WDGS and high corn silage; 2) CONT-AS, 0% WDGS and high alfalfa silage; 3) WDGS-CS, 25% WDGS and high corn silage; and 4) WDGS-AS, 25% WDGS …

Tympanic Temperature In Confined Beef Cattle Exposed To Excessive Heat Load, Terry L. Mader, John B. Gaughan, Leslie J. Johnson, G. Leroy Hahn

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Angus crossbred yearling steers (n=168) were used to evaluate effects on performance and tympanic temperature (TT) of feeding additional potassium and sodium to steers exposed to excessive heat load (maximum daily ambient temperature exceeded 32°C for three consecutive days) during seasonal summer conditions. Steers were assigned one of four treatments: (1) control; (2) potassium supplemented (diet containing 2.10% KHCO3); (3) sodium supplemented (diet containing 1.10% NaCl); or (4) potassium and sodium supplemented (diet containing 2.10% KHCO3 and 1.10% NaCl). Overall, additional KHCO3 at the 2% level or NaCl at the 1% level did not improve performance or heat stress tolerance …

Effect Of Dietary Crude Protein Source On Hormone And Follicle Characteristics In Beef Heifers, J. L. Martin, D. M. Larson, H. L. Stroh, Andrea S. Cupp, Richard N. Funston

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Ground, raw soybeans (SB), or dried distillers grain plus solubles (DDGS) were utilized in heifer development diets to determine the effect of dietary fat and protein source on hormone and follicle characteristics and ADG. The experiment was conducted over 2 yr with 100 June-born heifers (199 ± 2 kg initial BW, n = 50 per yr). The experimental periods were 157 and 207 d in yr 1 and 2, respectively. Heifers were provided a dietary supplement (DM basis) of 1.23 kg of SB and 0.40 kg of corn or 1.65 kg of DDGS between weaning and breeding. Estrus was synchronized …

The Economic Effects Of Sorting Cattle By Weight And Time Of Year Into Different Production Systems1, D. R. Adams, T. J. Klopfenstein, G. E. Erickson, D. R. Mark, Matt K. Luebbe, W. A. Griffin

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

A 2-yr study using 288 steers each year was conducted to determine the economic effects of sorting and feeding genetically similar cattle in different production systems. Steers were purchased at weaning in November and assigned randomly into sorted or unsorted groups. Unsorted steers were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 production systems: calf-fed steers (enter feedlot after weaning), summer yearling, or fall yearling; n = 48 steers per system yearly. For sorted steers, the heaviest third were calf fed and the remaining steers grazed cornstalks during winter. After winter grazing, the heaviest half of those steers were fed as summer …

Effects Of Sorting Steers By Body Weight Into Calf-Fed, Summer Yearling, And Fall Yearling Feeding Systems, D. R. Adams, T. J. Klopfenstein, G. E. Erickson, W. A. Griffin, Matt K. Luebbe, Matthew A. Greenquist, J. R. Benton

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Two years of data (288 steers/yr) were used to determine if sorting cattle by BW into different production systems would decrease overweight carcasses (>431 kg) and hot carcass weight (HCW) variation. At receiving, steers were assigned randomly into sorted or unsorted groups (n = 144 steers/group). Within a group, steers were assigned to 1 of 3 feeding times: 1) calf-fed (entering the feedlot at receiving), 2) summer yearling (grazed during winter and entering the feedlot in May) and 3) fall yearling (grazed during winter and summer and entering the feedlot in September). Unsorted steers were assigned randomly to a …

Prediction Of Genetic Values For Feed Intake From Individual Body Weight Gain And Total Feed Intake Of The Pen, A. J. Cooper, Calvin Ferrell, Larry V. Cundiff, L. D. Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Records of individual feed intake (FI) and BW gain (GN) were obtained from the Germ Plasm Evaluation (GPE) program at US Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC). Animals were randomly assigned to pens. Only pens with 6 to 9 steers (n = 289) were used for this study (data set 1). Variance components and genetic parameters were estimated using data set 1. Estimated genetic values (EGV) for FI were calculated by 5 methods using single and 2-trait analyses: 1) individual FI and individual GN, 2) individual FI alone, 3) 2-trait with individual GN but with FI missing, 4) individual GN and …

High-Throughput Sequencing Of The Dba/2j Mouse Genome, Xusheng Wang, Richa Agarwala, John A. Capra, Zugen Chen, Deanna M. Church, Daniel C. Ciobanu, Zhengsheng Li, Lu Lu, Khyobeni Mozhui, Megan K. Mulligan, Stanley F. Nelson, Katherine S. Pollard, Williams L. Taylor, Donald B. Thomason, Robert W. Williams

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The DBA/2J mouse is not only the oldest inbred strain, but also one of the most widely used strains. DBA/2J exhibits many unique anatomical, physiological, and behavior traits. In addition, DBA/2J is one parent of the large BXD family of recombinant inbred strains [1]. The genome of the other parent of this BXD family— C57BL/6J—has been sequenced and serves as the mouse reference genome [2]. We sequenced the genome of DBA/2J using SOLiD and Illumina high throughput short read protocols to generate a comprehensive set of ~5 million sequence variants segregating in the BXD family that ultimately cause developmental, anatomical, …

Detection, Validation, And Downstream Analysis Of Allelic Variation In Gene Expression, Daniel C. Ciobanu, Lu Engle, Khyobeni Mozhui, Xusheng Wang, Manjunatha Jagalur, John A. Morris, William L. Taylor, Klaus Dietz, Perikles Simon, Robert W. Williams

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Common sequence variants within a gene often generate important differences in expression of corresponding mRNAs. This high level of local (allelic) control—or cis modulation—rivals that produced by gene targeting, but expression is titrated finely over a range of levels. We are interested in exploiting this allelic variation to study gene function and downstream consequences of differences in expression dosage. We have used several bioinformatics and molecular approaches to estimate error rates in the discovery of cis modulation and to analyze some of the biological and technical confounds that contribute to the variation in gene expression profiling. Our analysis of SNPs …

Srebp Pathway Genes As Candidate Markers In Country Ham Production, Benedicte Renaville, Kimberly L. Glenn, Benny E. Mote, Bin Fan, Kenneth J. Stalder, Max F. Rothschild

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Country hams are dry-cured products from the Southeastern region of the USA. This high value product requires quality fresh meat to avoid later processing problems. The marker SREBF1 is a transcription factor involved in the regulation of fatty acid synthesis and antioxidative enzyme transcription. The SREBF1 gene and its regulators, SCAP and MBTPS1, were investigated for associations with several meat quality traits in country hams. After single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) identification, PCR-RFLP tests were designed for one polymorphism in each of the three investigated genes. Meat quality and physical traits were collected on 299 fresh hams. Significant associations were …

Validation Of Live Animal Ultrasonic Measurements Of Body Composition In Market Lambs, J. C. Emenheiser, S. P. Greiner, Ronald M. Lewis, D. R. Notter

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Market lambs from the state fair of Virginia (n = 172) were ultrasonically evaluated by 4 scan technicians and 3 image interpreters to determine accuracy of ultrasonic estimates of loin muscle area (ULMA), backfat thickness (UBF), and body wall thickness (UBW). Lambs were initially scanned at the preferred magnification setting of each technician; 2 chose 1.5× and 2 chose 2.0×. Lambs were then scanned a second time for ULMA and UBF with machine magnification settings changed from 1.5 to 2.0×, or vice versa, midway through the second scan. Lambs were then slaughtered, and analogous measurements [carcass loin muscle area, …

Effects Of Co-Products And Breed Of Sire On The Performance, Carcass Characteristics, And Rates Of Ultrasound Backfat And Marbling Deposition In Feedlot Cattle, C. O. Trejo, D. B. Faulkner, A. Shreck, J. W. Homm, T. G. Nash, S. L. Rodriguez-Zas, L. L. Berger

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Recently, high prices have driven producers to replace corn partially or totally with more affordable ingredients. A total of 1,256 DNA-validated progeny from Angus (n = 241), Simmental (n = 599), Simmental × Angus (SA; n = 296), and 75% Simmental (75S; n = 120) sires were used to evaluate the effects of feedlot nutrition and sire breed on the performance, carcass characteristics, and rates of ultrasound backfat and marbling deposition in feedlot cattle. Diets included corn or a corn co-product: dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), fresh wet distillers grains, wet corn gluten feed, stored wet distillers grains, or …

Nutritional And Management Methods To Decrease Nitrogen Losses From Beef Feedlots, Galen Erickson, Terry Klopfenstein

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Nitrogen losses from open beef feedlots are a concern. Methods that decrease volatilization losses will lead to greater manure N, which is likely to be beneficial in open lot beef operations. Twelve or more pens were dedicated to N research whereby N intake, retention, and excretion were quantified and a mass balance conducted using manure, runoff, soil balance, and loss quantities. The objective was to decrease N volatilization losses or increase manure N or both. Dietary CP affects N excretion and N volatilization losses. Four experiments across 2 yr compared industry average CP (13%) to diets that were phase-fed to …

Interaction Of Bacillus Species And Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium In Immune Or Inflammatory Signaling From Swine Intestinal Epithelial Cells, C. C. Aperce, Thomas E. Burkey, B. Kukanich, B. A. Crozier-Dodson, S. S. Dritz, J. E. Minton

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Previous research evaluated a laboratory strain of Bacillus licheniformis (BL) in a model swine epithelium and found it exerted antiinflammatory effects on Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (Sal)-induced secretion of IL-8. The current investigation evaluated the antiinflammatory actions of Bacillus bacteria available commercially as feed additives for the swine industry. Three isolates were obtained from the product, 2 Bacillus subtilis (BS1 and BS3) and 1 BL (BL2). Swine jejunal epithelial IPEC-J2 cells were seeded into wells on permeable membrane supports and allowed to form confluent monolayers. Treatments included apical pretreatment with BL, BS1, BL2, or BS3 for 17 h without Sal, …

Effect Of Pen Mates On Growth, Backfat Depth, And Longissimus Muscle Area Of Swine, W. L. Hsu, Rodger K. Johnson, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Records on final BW (kg), backfat depth (cm), and LM area (cm²) of pigs from a University of Nebraska Large White/Landrace composite population were analyzed to estimate the effects of pen mates. Measurements were at approximately 180 d of age for 3,524 pigs in 351 pens (9 to 11 pigs per pen) farrowed from 1999 to 2005. The area of each pen was 8.13 m². The full model (M1) included the fixed effects of contemporary group, sex, line, and the covariates of age and inbreeding coefficient, and included random direct genetic, genetic pen-mate, permanent environmental, pen, …

Growth, Body Chemical Composition, And Tissue Deposition Rates Of Nursery Pigs Fed Crystalline Or Protein- Bound Lysine, J. J. Colina, P. S. Miller, A. J. Lewis, R. L. Fischer, R. M. Diedrichsen

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

A 4-wk experiment was conducted to compare the effect of feeding crystalline lysine relative to the lysine from soybean meal (SBM) on growth performance, body chemical composition, and tissue deposition rates in nursery pigs. Thirty-six pigs were used [18 barrows and 18 gilts, 15 d old; initial BW (mean ± SEM) = 6.11 ± 0.11 kg]. Six pigs (3 barrows and 3 gilts) were killed at the beginning of the experiment and the remaining pigs were killed at the end of the experiment to determine body chemical composition and deposition rates of protein, fat, water, ash, and amino acids. Pigs …

Feed Intake Of Sheep As Affected By Body Weight, Breed, Sex, And Feed Composition, R. M. Lewis, G. C. Emmans

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The hypotheses tested were that genetic size-scaling for mature BW (A, kg) would reduce variation in intake between kinds of sheep and that quadratic polynomials on u = BW/A with zero intercept would provide good descriptions of the relationship between scaled intake (SI, g/A0.73 d) and degree of maturity in BW (u) across feeds of differing quality. Both sexes of Suffolk sheep from 2 experimental lines (n = 225) and from 3 breed types (Suffolk, Scottish Blackface, and their cross; n = 149) were recorded weekly for ad libitum feed intake and BW; recording of intake was from weaning through, …

Strain Differences In Stress Responsivity Are Associated With Divergent Amygdala Gene Expression And Glutamate-Mediated Neuronal Excitability, Khyobeni Mozhui, Rose-Marie Karlsson, Thomas L. Kash, Jessica Ihne, Maxine Norcross, Sachin Patel, Mollee R. Farrell, Elizabeth E. Hill, Carolyn Graybeal, Kathryn P. Martin, Marguerite Camp, Paul J. Fitzgerald, Daniel C. Ciobanu, Rolf Sprengel, Masayoshi Mishina, Cara L. Wellman, Danny G. Winder, Robert W. Williams, Andrew Holmes

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Stress is a major risk factor for numerous neuropsychiatric diseases. However, susceptibility to stress and the qualitative nature of stress effects on behavior differ markedly among individuals. This is partly because of the moderating influence of genetic factors. Inbred mouse strains provide a relatively stable and restricted range of genetic and environmental variability that is valuable for disentangling gene–stress interactions. Here, we screened a panel of inbred strains for anxiety- and depression-related phenotypes at baseline (trait) and after exposure to repeated restraint. Two strains, DBA/2J and C57BL/6J, differed in trait and restraint-induced anxiety-related

behavior (dark/light exploration, elevated plus maze). Gene …