Animal Sciences Commons^™

Muskrats, James E. Miller

Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series

The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a common, semi-aquatic rodent native to the United States (Figure 1). It spends its life in aquatic habitats and is well adapted for swimming.

Although muskrats are an important part of native ecosystems, their burrowing and foraging activities can damage agricultural crops, native marshes and water control systems, such as aquaculture and farm ponds and levees. Such damage can significantly impact agricultural crops like rice that rely on consistent water levels for growth.

Muskrats also cause damage by eating agricultural crops, other vegetation, and crayfish, mussels and other aquaculture products. Loss of vegetation …

Wild Turkeys, James E. Miller

Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series

Like other bird and mammal species whose populations have been restored through conservation efforts, wild turkeys (Figure 1) are treasured by many recreationists and outdoor enthusiasts. Wild turkeys have responded positively to wildlife habitat and population management. In some areas, however, their increased populations have led to increased damage to property and agricultural crops, and threats to human health and safety. Turkeys frequent agricultural fields, pastures, vineyards and orchards, as well as some urban and suburban neighborhoods. Because of this, they may cause damage or mistakenly be blamed for damage. Research has found that despite increases in turkey numbers and …

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus Adamanteus) Telemetry Techniques And Translocation, Michael Thomas Jungen

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Internal implantation of radio-transmitters is the preferred attachment technique for snakes, but the high costs and invasive nature of the surgery make a functional alternative desirable. External radio-transmitters are cost-effective alternatives to surgical implantation. Rattlesnake rattles are unique morphological features that can serve as an attachment site for external radio-transmitters. Using thread and epoxy, I attached transmitters to the rattles of eastern diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus adamanteus; EDB). I calculated average monitoring duration using radio telemetry data collected from 49 adult EDBs telemetered from 2014 to 2017 in coastal South Carolina. On average, we monitored EDBs for 189 ±78 days with …

2018 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report (Complete)

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Contents

Cow/Calf: Analyses of Birthdate and Growth in Beef Heifers Categorized by Puberty and Pregnancy Status • Letrozole: A Steroid-Free Estrous Synchronization Method • Comparison of Two Alternate Prostaglandin Products in Yearling Beef Heifers • Impact of Pre-and Postpartum Nutrition on March-calving Cow and Progeny Productivity • Effects of Late Gestation Supplementation, Synchronization, and Creep Feeding in a Spring Calving Beef Herd in the Nebraska Sandhills • Effect of Supplementation during the Breeding Season on a May-calving Herd in the Nebraska Sandhills • Impact of Winter Supplementation of May Calving Cows and Heifer Development System in Two Different Breeding Seasons …

Impact Of Intake On Methane Production In Growing Steers, Tom M. Winders, Bradley M. Boyd, F. Henry Hilscher Hilscher, Samodha C. Fernando, Richard Stowell, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A study was conducted to evaluate the impact that level of intake has on methane and carbon dioxide production by growing steers. Two treatments were evaluated that included ad-libitum intake compared to limit-fed steers. The ad-libitum fed cattle had greater gains, similar feed efficiency and produced more methane and carbon dioxide per day, while the limit fed cattle produced more methane and carbon dioxide per pound of intake than the ad-libitum fed cattle.

Supplementing Rumen Undegradable Protein To Grazing Cattle, Braden C. Troyer, Bradley M. Boyd, Andrea K. Watson Watson, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A pooled-analysis of previous Nebraska Beef Report Articles examined the impact of rumen undegradable protein (RUP) supplementation for cattle grazing different types of forage. Each lb of RUP supplement increased ADG by 0.63 lb/d when cattle were grazing smooth brome and 0.43 lb/d when grazing warm season grasses. Cattle did not respond to RUP when grazing summer annuals which were high (18.2%) in CP.

Experience Improves The Reliability Of Subjective Measurements Of Temperament In Beef Cattle, Jaime T. Praham, Amy E. Tanner, Mark L. Wahlberg Wahlberg, W. S. Swecker Jr., Ronald M. Lewis

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Reliability of experienced and inexperienced observers when assessing the behavior of cattle when restrained in a squeeze chute (chute score), and when exiting the chute (exit score), was compared. Overall, experienced observers had higher reliability than inexperienced observers. Increasing the number of individuals scoring an animal decreased the degree of agreement. However, within an acceptable tolerance for difference in scores, such disagreement may be beneficial; it allows for subtlety in interpretations of temperament, which when averaged, may better reflect docility. Reliabilities were higher for exit score than chute score. This may reflect the complexity of the trait being evaluated, with …

Antimicrobial Interventions And Application Time Effects On Ground Beef Quality, Ashley R. Mccoy, Dennis E. Burson, Gary A. Sullivan Sullivan

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Small business meat processors can use organic acid antimicrobial interventions to control Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) when producing ground beef; however, many small producers are concerned about the impact on ground beef quality. The effects of two commonly used organic acids, lactic acid and peroxyacetic acid, were evaluated at short (15 seconds) or extended (3 minutes) raw material dip times on ground beef quality parameters. Beef trim dipped in lactic acid for 3 minutes had a reduction in total aerobic bacteria plate count, but also increased ground beef discoloration and lipid oxidation during retail display. Use of a shorter …

Steer Performance Grazing Corn Residue And Supplemented With Modified Distillers Grains Plus Solubles With Or Without Urea, Robert M. Jones, Robby G. Bondurant, F. Henry Hilscher Hilscher, Jim C. Macdonald

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A growing study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing growing calves grazing corn residue with modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS; 3 or 5 lb/d) and with or without urea on growth performance. There were no significant MDGS × urea inclusion interactions observed. Urea inclusion level (0 and 0.12 lb/d) did not affect supplemental intake, ADG, or ending BW. Steers fed 5 lb of MDGS had an increased ADG and a heavier ending BW compared to steers fed 3 lb MDGS daily. Supplemental urea is not necessary when supplementing at least 3 lb MDGS to steers grazing corn …

Evaluation Of Corn Distillers Solubles On Growing Steer Performance, Benjamin H. Hansen, Robert G. Bondurant, F. Henry Hilscher Hilscher, Galen E. Erickson, Jim C. Macdonald

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A growing study evaluated increasing inclusions of corn distillers solubles (CDS) at 10, 20, 30, and 40%, or increasing wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) at 10, 20, 30, and 40% compared to a corn control. Corn was replaced by CDS or WDGS in each forage-based diet. Increasing CDS resulted in a quadratic increase for both DMI and F:G. Increasing WDGS linearly increased both DMI and ADG with no effect on F:G. The energy value of CDS is less than that of corn, whereas WDGS had an energy value similar to corn in growing diets with 50% brome hay. A …

Analyses Of Birthdate And Growth In Beef Heifers Categorized By Puberty And Pregnancy Status, Aline Gomes Da Silva, Andy Roberts, T. L. Meyers, Richard N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Heifer records were retrospectively evaluated to see if Julian birthdate, cycling status prior to breeding, and body weight collected from weaning through final pregnancy diagnosis differed when heifers were categorized by 5 different approaches: 1) pubertal status prior to estrous synchronization, 2) whether or not detected in estrus at AI, 3) heifers impregnated by AI vs all other heifers, 4) final pregnancy status, and 5) a 5-way classification accounting for AI and pregnancy status (AI pregnant, heifers subjected to AI that subsequently conceived to bull, heifers not AI that were impregnated by bull, heifers subjected to AI that were not …

The Effect Of Harvest Method And Ammoniation Of Corn Residue On Growing Calf Performance, Ashley C. Conway, Robert G. Bondurant, F. Henry Hilscher Hilscher, James C. Macdonald, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Mary Drewnoski

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A growing trial was conducted to determine the effect of feeding baled corn residue harvested using three different methods, with and without ammoniation of the residue. Residue harvested with the New Holland Cornrower™ with two rows of chopped stem added to the windrow resulted in a 9% increase in ADG compared to conventional rake and bale harvest or turning off the combine spreader and baling tailing. Ammoniation of residue increased ADG 67% (increase of 1.1 lb/d) over non-ammoniated residue. Feed efficiency was not affected by harvest method, but ammoniation decreased F:G by 13% compared to cattle fed non-ammoniated residue. Although …

Impact Of Corn Oil Removal From Modified Distillers Grains Plus Solubles And Supplemental Corn Oil On Finishing Cattle Performance, Jordan E. Burhoop, Curtis J. Bittner, F. Henry Hilscher Hilscher, Matt K. Luebbe, Jim C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A finishing study was conducted to evaluate removal of corn oil from modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) and replacement of supplemental corn oil on finishing cattle performance. Four treatments were evaluated: a corn control diet, 40% de-oiled MDGS, 38% de-oiled MDGS plus 2% corn oil to equal the fat content of full fat MDGS, or 40% full fat MDGS. There was a significant improvement in ADG and F:G for cattle fed de-oiled MDGS plus oil compared to other treatments. Cattle fed full fat MDGS had numerically lower ADG and numerically poorer F:G (3.7%) compared with cattle fed MDGS plus …

Quality Of Fresh And Stored Mares’ Milk, Grażyna Czyżak-Runowska, Jacek Wójtowski, Alicja Niewiadomska, Maria Markiewicz-Keszycka

Articles

Mares’ milk is characterised by unique nutritional profile. In this study, the microbiological analysis of mares’ milk was performed. The presence of total bacteria, total lactic bacteria, Lactobacillus spp., Streptococcus lactis, Salmonella spp. and coliforms was investigated. Moreover, the influence of refrigerated and frozen storage on the total bacteria count, vitamin C, acidity and colour of milk was examined. Pathogenic Salmonella spp. and coliforms were not detected in the raw milk. It was revealed that mares’ milk can be stored for 72 hours under refrigeration at a temperature of +4 °C without reducing its microbiological quality. Most of the physicochemical …

Small Mammal Abundances In A Grassland And Forest Area At The Lake Fayetteville Environmental Center, Arkansas, Douglas A. James, S. A. Bartholomew, A. Deshwal, P. Panwar

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

We examined changes in abundance of small mammals in forest and prairie-grassland habitat at Lake Fayetteville, Arkansas over a period of 32 years. We estimated the population size of small mammals using a mark-recapture method by capturing small mammals employing rat-sized Sherman live traps laid out in a grid with 8 rows of traps, 15 traps per row, 9.14 m (30 feet) between traps and rows covering an area of 1.01 ha (2.5 acres) in size. Six species of mammals were trapped in the prairie-grassland and three species were captured in the forest habitat. In the forest, the white-footed deermouse …

Parasites Of The Spotted Sucker, Minytrema Melanops (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) From Arkansas And Oklahoma, Chris T. Mcallister, Donald G. Cloutman, Anindo Choudhury, Tomas Scholz, Stanley E. Trauth, Thomas J. Fayton, Henry W. Robison

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

During October 2015, March and April 2016 and again between March and April 2017, 15 Spotted Sucker (Minytrema melanops) were collected from sites in the Ouachita (n = 5), Red (n = 1), and St. Francis (n = 5) river drainages, Arkansas, and the Arkansas River drainage, Oklahoma (n = 4), and examined for protozoan and metazoan parasites. Found were Calyptospora sp., Myxobolus sp., Pseudomurraytrema alabarrum, Biacetabulum banghami, Penarchigetes oklensis, and Acanthocephalus sp. New host and distributional records are documented for these parasites.

Additional Records Of Acanthocephalan Parasites From Arkansas Fishes, With New Records From Missouri Fishes, Chris T. Mcallister, Michael A. Barger, Henry W. Robison

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Over the last decade, our research consortium has provided information on acanthocephalan parasites of Arkansas vertebrates, including records from some of the state’s fishes. Here, we continue to provide data on new geographic and new host records of acanthocephalans from Arkansas fishes. In addition, for the first time, we report records of acanthocephalans for some Missouri fishes. We document 2 new state records as well as 10 new host records for some fish acanthocephalans.

A Preliminary Checklist Of The Stoneflies (Arthropoda: Insecta: Plecoptera) Of Arkansas, Henry W. Robison, Chris T. Mcallister

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Seventy-seven species of stoneflies representing 8 families and 24 genera are herein reported from Arkansas. The most diverse families of state stoneflies were Perlidae (26 species), Capniidae (14 species), and Perlodidae (12 species) while Pteronarcyidae had only a single representative species. Additional taxa will surely be added to the list with future taxonomic studies incorporating molecular analyses.

Incidental Captures Of Plains Spotted Skunks (Spilogale Putorius Interrupta) By Arkansas Trappers, 2012-2017, D. Blake Sasse

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Arkansas trappers were surveyed following the 2012 and four subsequent trapping seasons regarding accidental captures of spotted skunks while attempting to trap other species. A total of 132 trappers reported capturing spotted skunks although further investigation confirmed the validity of only 42 reports from trappers that caught a total of 60 spotted skunks. Incidental captures were rare; only 0.35-1.29% of trappers each year caught spotted skunks and came primarily from the Ozark and Ouachita regions of the state.

Additional County Records Of Invertebrates From Arkansas, Chris T. Mcallister, Henry W. Robison, Renn Tumlison

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Re-Evaluating Captive Chimpanzee “Dominance”: Dominance Hierarchy And Chimpanzee-Caregiver Relationships At Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, Jake Funkhouser

All Master's Theses

This thesis is composed of two journal-ready articles and an accompanying appendix with additional data and interpretation. Overall, this thesis describes and statistically analyzes dominance relationships in two nonhuman primate groups with novel methods, possible correlations between dominance and testosterone, and uncovers the prominent connection of caregivers to captive chimpanzee social networks. Chapter I addresses current and past variability in behavioral measures and statistical methods to derive dominance rankings. I propose a novel approach to using existing statistical techniques to analyze dominance ranks, context-dependent dominant structures (agonistic competitions, lack of agonism, privileged role, priority access to resources), the reliability of …

Response Of Three Species Of Monkeys To Caregiver Use Of Species-Typical Behavior, Lillian Anna Stolar

All Master's Theses

Caregivers are a primary part of captive monkey environments. When addressing psychological well-being of captive nonhuman primates, social environment should be considered. Chimpanzees, gorillas, New World monkeys, and Old World monkeys responded positively to interactions with caregivers. Some species showed increased affiliative behaviors and decreased abnormal or self-directed behaviors after interactions. These studies showed that caregivers can affect the behavior of nonhuman primates. Caregivers are underutilized as a source of social interaction for captive nonhuman primates. Utilizing species-typical behaviors during interactions, caregivers and nonhuman primates can communicate and interact in different ways that may be beneficial to both caregiver and …

Life In The Dirt: Factors Influencing The Behavior And Distribution Of Spea Intermontana In Eastern Washington State, Corey Brumbaugh

All Master's Theses

I divided my thesis into two major studies focusing on the Great Basin Spadefoot Toad, Spea intermontana, at the Beverley Dunes (Beverley, WA). The first study explored the effects of temperature and water level on the rate of metamorphosis. We gathered data on rates of development, survival, body mass, snout-vent length, and hind leg length of metamorphs under 4 treatments: 20C x High Water, 30C x High Water, 20C x Water Loss, and 30C x Water Loss. These data show that temperature has a stronger effect on the overall rate of metamorphosis of Great Basin Spadefoot Toads. The second …

Single And Pair Housed Chacma Baboons’ (Papio Ursinus) Response To Caregivers’ Use Of Species-Specific Behavior, Josefine Holm

All Master's Theses

Most captive primates suffer from stereotypical or abnormal behavior which can be reduced by implementing enrichment protocols. There is, however, often spatial or economic limitations to facilities’ enrichment programs, and implementing the most beneficial and cost-effective enrichment is therefore crucial to ensure the best welfare for captive primates. Social enrichment has been designated as the most effective type of enrichment, but often captive primates cannot be housed in social groups. Through this study, I wanted to determine if species-specific behavioral interactions between human caregivers and captive chacma baboons (Papio ursinus)would alter the baboons’ behaviors, and if these interactions could …

Intertidal Habitat Utilization By Endangered Green Sturgeon (Acipenser Medirostris), Willapa Bay, Washington, Luke Stilwater

All Master's Theses

This study looks at a portion of the designated critical habitat for the threatened southern distinct population segment of green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) in Willapa Bay, Washington. Willapa Bay is an intermediate size (258.7mi2) estuary on the southwest coast of Washington State, approximately 30 miles north from the mouth of the Columbia River. Recent studies completed by the National Marine Fisheries Service have shown that significant aggregations of green sturgeon in Willapa Bay occur during the late summer months, and foraging activity for burrowing ghost shrimp (Neotrypaea californiensis) is evidenced by small round feeding pits (30-60 cm diameter) in the …

Role Of Nest Site Microclimate And Food Availability In Chick Development And Reproductive Success In Black-Legged Kittiwakes (Rissa Tridactyla), Lindsay Mae Lacey

Honors Theses

Seabirds are marine top predators, and as such are often studied as bioindicators of climate shifts (Oswald and Arnold 2012). Though many studies have analyzed the effect of macroclimatic variation on marine prey species availability and thus seabirds, few have analyzed effects of microclimate - fine spatial patterns of climate (Mantua and Hare 2002; Hatch 2013; Kim and Monaghan 2005a). I tested the hypothesis that localized temperature and humidity at nest sites interact with food availability to alter black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) nest site quality, chick body condition during growth and development, and reproductive parameters including Julian lay …

Endocrine And Hematobiochemical Profile Of Lambs Raised In A Semiaridregion With Different Growth Potentials During The Postweaning Period, Shiva Pratap Singh, Gopal Dass, Ramachandran Natesan, Yogender Kushwah, Nandini Sharma, Ashok Kumar

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study was conducted for establishment of the relationship of blood variables with growth rate of postweaned lambs. Eight lambs each of fast growth (FG; 11.6 ± 0.5 kg live wt. at weaning) and slow growth (SG; 7.7 ± 0.5 kg live wt. at weaning) were monitored fortnightly for endocrine and hematobiochemical variables along with parasitic load and growth performance. Recording of body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) was performed monthly from birth to 180 days. Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher while thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in FG lambs compared to SG lambs. Blood cell counts, hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in FG lambs compared to SG lambs. Except for the birth wt., the BW and ADG of FG lambs were significantly (P < 0.05) higher at all time points. Liver enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase) and triglyceride were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in SG lambs compared to FG lambs. These findings indicate a significant influence of growth rate on peripheral concentrations of endocrine and some hematobiochemical variables in lambs. These selected variables can be used for early identification and culling of slow-growing lambs for better economic return to lamb producers.

A Case Report Of Apatemon Gracilis (Szidat, 1928) Infectionin Domestic Geese In Mainland China, Dandan Liu, Zhennan Zhuo, Jianping Tao, Jinjun Xu

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This is the first report of the diagnosis and treatment of Apatemon gracilis infection in domestic geese in mainland China confirmed at the molecular level. The mortality of geese reached 10% (150/1500). Necropsy examinations confirmed hemorrhagic inflammation of the small intestine and blood and catarrhal mucus in the enteric cavity. A large number of flukes were found in the first third of the small intestine, with one end buried in the intestinal mucosa, forming lesions at the absorption sites. The ITS-1 sequence of the parasites was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis confirmed that the isolated worms were …

Ultrastructure Of The Tongue And Histochemical Featuresof The Lingual Salivary Glands In Buzzards, Emi̇ne Ümran Örsçeli̇k, Murat Erdem Gülti̇ken, Di̇nçer Yildiz, Durmuş Bolat

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The macroscopic characteristics of the tongues of 8 long-legged buzzards are described and scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the epithelial tissue of the tongue?s surface. Crossman?s modified triple staining method and hematoxylin and eosin dye were used to determine the locations and general histological features of the lingual salivary glands. The nature of the glandular secretions was examined by staining with PAS, AB pH 1.0, AB pH 2.5, and PAS-AB pH 1.0 and pH 2.5, and diastase enzyme digestion. PAS staining and weak, moderate, and strong methylation procedures as well as sialidase and hyaluronidase applications were performed. We …

Comparison Of Pre- And Postpartum Serum Leptin, Ghrelin, And Lipid Levels In Sheep, Ethem Mutlu Temi̇zel, Hüseyi̇n Ci̇han, Pinar Levent, Ahmet Saril, Yeşi̇m Özarda, Zeki̇ Yilmaz

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Serum leptin and ghrelin play important roles in energy metabolism and inducing appetite during pregnancy and lactation. We investigated the serum levels of leptin and ghrelin and their relationship with the duration of lactation and serum biochemical responses during the prepartum (last week before lambing) and postpartum periods in sheep. They were also evaluated between pregnant and nonpregnant (control ewes) ewes. For these purposes, pregnant (n = 15) and control Awassi ewes (n = 15) that were 2 years of age were used in this study. Blood samples were collected 1 week before the expected date of lambing (baseline) and …