Veterinary Medicine Commons^™

Effects On Pinniped Immune Response Upon In Vitro Exposure To The Perfluorinated Compounds, Pfos And Pfoa, Elizabeth J. Meiman

Honors Scholar Theses

This study investigated the effects of environmental toxicants on the immune system of two pinniped species, grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and hooded seals (Cystophora cristata). The toxicants included two perfluorinated compounds (PFC), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), compounds commonly found in a wide variety of household consumer products, including Scotchguard and Teflon. Although corporations such as 3M curtailed the use of these chemicals in the past decade, concentrations of these chemicals are increasing in the arctic aquatic ecosystem and have been measured in the tissues and blood of arctic pinnipeds. However, the effects of …

Developing Transmissible Vaccines For Animal Infections: Intrinsically Safe Designs And A Staged Transparent Development Process Will Be Essential, Daniel G. Streiker, Megan E. Griffiths, Rustom Antia, Laura Bergner, Peter Bowman, Maria Vitoria Dos Santos De Moraes, Kevin Esvelt, Mike Famulare, Amy T. Gilbert, Biao He, Michael A. Jarvis, David A. Kennedy, Jennifer Kuzma, Carolyne Nasi,Iyu Wanyonyi, Christopher Remien, Tonie Rocke, Kyle Rosenke, Courtney Schreiner, Justin Sheen, David Simons, Ivet A. Yordanova, James J. Bull, Scott L. Nuismer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Developing Transmissible Vaccines for Animal Infections: Intrinsically Safe Designs and a Staged Transparent Development Process Will Be Essential

Intrinsically safe, biologically compelling vaccine designs

Pahsed development must incorporate checkpoints and engagement

Staged development with established checkpoints

Wquitable partnerships with international governance

Toward deployment

Workshop organization

Seven proposed commitm ents for the responsible development of transmissible vaccines for infectious disease control in animals

Evolutionary outcomes of vaccine transmission depend on the viral vector and the genetic modifications introduced

Approaches To Canine Health Surveillance, Dan G. O'Neill, David B. Church, Paul D. Mcgreevy, Peter C. Thomson, Dave C. Brodbelt

Epidemiology Collection

Effective canine health surveillance systems can be used to monitor disease in the general population, prioritise disorders for strategic control and focus clinical research, and to evaluate the success of these measures. The key attributes for optimal data collection systems that support canine disease surveillance are representativeness of the general population, validity of disorder data and sustainability. Limitations in these areas present as selection bias, misclassification bias and discontinuation of the system respectively. Canine health data sources are reviewed to identify their strengths and weaknesses for supporting effective canine health surveillance. Insurance data benefit from large and well-defined denominator populations …

Forecasting The Spread Of Raccoon Rabies Using A Purpose-Specific Group Decision-Making Process., Aaron M. Anderson, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Richard B. Chipman, Todd C. Atwood, Tyler Cozzens, Frank Fillo, Robert Hale, Brody Hatch, Joanne Maki, Olin E. Rhodes Jr., Erin E. Rees, Charles E. Rupprecht, Rowland Tinline, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Dennis Slate

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and USDA Wildlife Services (WS) have been involved in an oral rabies vaccination (ORV) program for raccoons (Procyon lotor) that has slowed the westward spread of raccoon rabies. The objective of this study was to forecast the spread of the disease if an ORV zone was not maintained. A group decision-making process was designed to address the forecasting problem and was implemented using a group of 15 experts and 4 support personnel at a meeting at the USDA National Wildlife Research Center. Ten expansion regions were constructed that described the spread of …

Prevalence Of Disorders Recorded In Dogs Attending Primary-Care Veterinary Practices In England, Dan G. O'Neill, David B. Church, Paul D. Mcgreevy, Peter C. Thomson, Dave C. Brodbelt

Epidemiology Collection

Purebred dog health is thought to be compromised by an increasing occurence of inherited diseases but inadequate prevalence data on common disorders have hampered efforts to prioritise health reforms. Analysis of primary veterinary practice clinical data has been proposed for reliable estimation of disorder prevalence in dogs. Electronic patient record (EPR) data were collected on 148,741 dogs attending 93 clinics across central and south-eastern England. Analysis in detail of a random sample of EPRs relating to 3,884 dogs from 89 clinics identified the most frequently recorded disorders as otitis externa (prevalence 10.2%, 95% CI: 9.1–11.3), periodontal disease (9.3%, 95% CI: …

Evaluation Of Wing Fractures On Survival And Re-Release, Katherine O'Neill

Animal Science

No abstract provided.

Transitioning Cattle From Ramp® To A Finishing Diet On Feed Intake And Ruminal Ph, Cody J. Schneider, Adam L. Shreck, Terry J. Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A metabolism trial was conducted where steers were adapted to high grain diets using a traditional approach or one of two RAMP^® adaptation programs. RAMP programs adapted cattle to a finishing diet either gradually over 28 days in four steps or switched to a finishing ration without steps. Feed intake and ruminal pH were monitored continuously throughout the trial. Cattle on the 4-STEP treatment spent more time eating compared to other treatments but total feed consumption was similar among treatments. Ruminal pH was greater for cattle on RAMP adaptation programs when compared to traditional grain adaptation. Cattle fed RAMP …

The Effects Of Diet And Cooler Aging On Specific Flavor Notes In Beef, Kimberly A. Varnold, Chris R. Calkins, Rhonda K. Miller Miller, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Crossbred steers (n = 64) were grazed on warm- or cool-season grass-dominated pastures, without or with energy supplementation of wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS), and were finished on a corn-based diet with or without 35% WDGS. Finishing on corn increased desirable flavor notes and decreasedundesirable flavor notes in both L. dorsi and B. femoris steaks. In addition, grazing on warm-season grasses increased the prevalence of undesirable flavors but was often dissipated by the addition WDGS supplementation. Longer aging periods tended to increase the prevalence of undesirable flavors, especially in B. femoris steaks. It is recommended producers provide WDGS supplementation, …

Evaluation Of Genomic Predictors For Red Angus Cattle, Stephen D. Kachman, Matthew L. Spangler

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Purebred Red Angus genotypes, via the Ilumina BovineSNP50 assay, and expected progeny differences (EPD) were used to evaluate the accuracy of genomic predictors for traits that are currently reportedthrough the American Red AngusAssociations’ National Cattle Evaluation. Two genomic predictors were evaluated, one derived using prediction equations from the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium and the other from Zoetis.

Follicular Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A Expression Before And After The Lh Surge, Renee M. Mcfee, Robin A. Artac, Adam F. Summers, William E. Pohlmeier, Vanessa M. Brauer, Scott G. Kurz, Robert A. Cushman, Jennifer R. Wood, Andrea S. Cupp

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Granulosa cell expression of VEGFAisoforms in dominant bovine follicles was evaluated. Collection of granulosa cells via follicle aspiration revealed altered expression of the proangiogenic VEGFA_164 isoform but not the antiangiogenic VEGFA_164B isoform prior to and after the LH surge. Expression of VEGFA_164 declines as both the LH surge and ovulation approaches. In addition, VEGFA_164 and VEGFA_164B expression prior to the LH surge was positively correlated with FSHR and CYP19A1 expression, suggesting that VEGFA expression may be regulated by FSH. These data indicate differential expression of VEGFA isoforms may be an important feature of bovine dominant follicle development.

Androgen Excess In Beef Cows Results In Altered Theca Cell Gene Expression And Fertilityand, Adam F. Summers, William E. Pohlmeier, Vanessa M. Brauer Brauer, Kevin M. Sargent, Renee M. Mcfee, Scott G. Kurz, Robert A. Cushman, Jennifer R. Wood, Andrea S. Cupp

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Within the University of Nebraska–Lincoln physiology herd, two sub-populations of cows with different concentrations of androstenedione have been identified. Androstenedione is a precursor for estradiol production, and androstenedione concentration is increased 24.5-fold in the high androstenedione cows. Our objective was to determine the cause of increased androstenedione production in high androstenedione cows and the effects on theca cell and oocyte gene expression. High androstenedione cows had increased steroidogenic enzyme abundance in theca cells and altered oocyte mRNA abundance. Increased androgen production in high androstenedione cows is associated with altered gene expression and/or mRNA stability during oocyte growth and maturation, which …

Comparison Of Long-Term Progestin-Based Synchronization Protocols On Fixed-Time Ai Pregnancy Rate In Beef Heifers, Rebecca A. Vraspir, Adam F. Summers, Doug O'Hare Hare, Larry D. Rowden, Rick N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Yearling Angus heifers at a commercial ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills were randomly assigned to one of two progestin-based fixed-time AI protocols (MGA or 14-day CIDR) to compare pregnancy rates. Heifers had similar fixed-time AI pregnancy rates between MGA and 14-day CIDR. A similar proportion of MGA and 14-day CIDR heifers displayed a second estrus; however, heifers previously synchronized with MGA tended to have a greater second AI pregnancy rate. Overall pregnancy rate was similar between MGA and 14-day CIDR treatments. The MGA system was the more cost effective synchronization protocol in this study.

Effect Of Pubertal Status And Number Of Estrous Cycles Prior To The Breeding Season On Pregnancy Rate In Beef Heifers, Rebecca A. Vraspir, Adam F. Summers, Andrew J. Roberts Roberts, Rick N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate whether pubertal status and number of estrous cycles prior to breeding influences pregnancy rate in beef heifers. Pubertal heifers were heavier and older at the start of breeding and had greater AI and overall pregnancy rate than non-pubertal heifers. Second season pregnancy rate was greater for heifers reaching puberty prior to first breeding and for heifers having ≥ 2 estrouscycles prior to breeding compared with non-pubertal heifers. Pregnancy rate was greater for heifers achieving puberty prior to breeding; however, earlier onset of puberty did not significantly improve first pregnancy rates.

Economics Of Distillers Grains Supplementation In A Forage System With Spayed Heifers, Kari L. Gillespie, Terry J. Klopfenstein, James C. Macdonald Donald, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Cody J. Schneider, Galen Erickson, J. D. Volesky

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

In a two-year study, spayed heifer calves were backgrounded on cornstalks with 2 lb or 5 lb wet distillers grains with solubles supplemented daily. During the summer, heifers grazed native range and received no summer supplementation or were supplemented with modified distillers grains with solubles at 0.6% BW daily. Heifers were finished on a common regimen, and an economic scenario was applied to each phase of production and overall. Supplementing more in winter increased profit, but summer supplementation did not impact overall profitability. Numerically, heifers not supplemented during the summer were more profitable than supplemented heifers.

Distillers Grains Supplementation In A Forage System With Spayed Heifers, Kari L. Gillespie, Terry J. Klopfenstein, James C. Macdonald Donald, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Cody J. Schneider, Jerry D. Volesky, Galen Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Spayed heifers were developed into yearlings by grazing corn residue and bromegrass, followed by native range, and were finished on a common diet. Treatments were 2 lb or 5 lb of wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS; DM basis) supplement on corn residue daily, and modified distillers grains with solubles (MDGS) fed at 0.6% BW daily or no MDGS during summer grazing. Feeding 5 lb increased winter ADG by 0.68 lb (year 1) or 0.40 lb (year 2) compared to 2 lb, and increased HCW after finishing. Summer supplementation increased summer ADG by 0.50 lb (year 1) or 0. 44 …

Effect Of Winter Supplementation Level On Yearling System Profit Across Economic Scenarios, Kari L. Gillespie, Terry J. Klopfenstein, James C. Macdonald Donald, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Cody J. Schneider

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Calves backgrounded in a forage–based, yearling system at a greater ADG maintained a performance advantage through finishing. High-level supplemented cattle gained an additional 0.18 lb daily during finishing and produced an additional 81 lb of saleable live weight compared to cattle backgrounded at a low-supplementation level. Across four economic scenarios with varying corn and distillers prices, high-level supplemented cattle returned $55.54 more than cattle fed a low level of supplementation during the winter backgrounding phase. Corn price would have to exceed $11.70/bu for high supplementation level to no longer be profitable.

Energy Value Of De-Oiled Modified Distillers Grains Plus Solubles In A Forage-Based Diet, Meredith L. Bremer, Andrea K. Watson, Dirk B. Burken Burken, James C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Sixty individually fed steers were used to determine the effects of feeding de-oiled modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) on steer performance in an 84-day forage-based growing study. De-oiled MDGS did not significantly alter performance when compared to normal MDGS if fed at the same concentration in growing diets. Inclusion of either de-oiled or normal MDGS at 40% of the diet resulted in improved ending BW, DMI, ADG, and F:G as compared to inclusion of 20% MDGS in the diet.

Effects Of Forage Quality, Mdgs, And Monensin On Performance, Methane Concentration, And Ruminal Fermentation Of Growing Cattle, Anna C. Pesta, Andrea K. Watson, Samodha Fernando Fernando, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A growing study was conducted to evaluate a novel method for measuring methane concentration by feedlot cattle, and to determine the effects of forage quality, inclusion of modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS), and presence or absence of monensin on performance, methane concentration, and rumen fermentation characteristics. Performance was improved by use of high-quality forage and MDGS, while response to monensin was variable across basal diet type. Response of methane concentration and volatile fatty acid (VFA) profile due to diet was variable and subject to multiple interactions, reflecting the complexity of the microbial processes involved within the rumen.

Effects Of Calf Age At Weaning On Cow And Calf Performance And Efficiency In A Drylot/Confinement Production System, Jason M. Warner, Karla H. Jenkins, Rick J. Rasby, Matt K. Luebbe, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

An ongoing study evaluated the effectsof calf age at weaning on cow and calf performance and reproduction in a confinement production system. Early-weaning improved cow BW at normal weaning. Pregnancy rates were not impacted by calf age at weaning. Dry matter intake was not different between early-weaned cows and calves compared with normal-weaned pairs. Feed requirements and energy utilization were equal between early- and normal-weaned pairs when fed a distillers grains and crop residue based diet.

Effects Of Winter Supplementation On Cow Performance And Post-Weaning Management On Steer And Heifer Progeny In A Late Spring Calving System, John D. Harms, Rick N. Funston, L. Aaron Stalker Stalker, Jacqueline A. Musgrave, Andrew F. Applegarth, Adam F. Summers

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of winter supplementation while grazing dormant Sandhills winter range or meadow on cow performance and the effects of post-weaning management on steer and heifer progeny. Winter treatment had no effect on cow BCS or BW at precalving, prebreeding, and weaning. Steers and heifers fed hay gained more BW during winter treatment compared to those grazing meadow, but post-weaning management had no subsequent effects on steer or heifer progeny.

Impact Of Supplemental Protein Source On Pregnant Beef Heifers, Adam F. Summers, T. L. Meyer, Michael F. Kirby Kirby, Jim R. Teichert, Rick N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Crossbred, AI-pregnant heifers were fed in a Calan Broadbent individual feeding system for 110 days beginning at approximately day 142 of gestation. Heifers were offered ad libitum grass hay and no supplement, hay plus distillers based supplement, or hay plus dried corn gluten based supplement. Supplements were isocaloric, isonitrogenous, and equal in lipid content but differed in rumen undegradable protein. Protein supplementation increased DMI and ADG in pregnant heifers; however, calf birth BW and subsequent pregnancy rates were similar.

Preconception Distillers Grains Supplementation Improves Mature Beef Cow Return To Estrous, Adam F. Summers, Daniel M. Larson, Andrea S. Cupp Cupp

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

For three years, cows and first-calf heifers were supplemented two levels of RUP prior to breeding to determine the effect of RUP on reproductive efficiency and performance. Cows resumed estrous after being supplemented 30 days with distillers grains, but pregnancy rate was not different. First-calf heifer performance and reproductive efficiency was similar regardless of protein supplement offered. Protein supplements offered in this study did not impact cow BW, milk production, or progeny performance. More cows supplemented with distillers grains prior to the breeding season resumedluteal activity prior to breeding; however, pregnancy rates were similar.

Feeding Elevated Levels Of Corn Silage And Mdgs In Finishing Diets, Dirk B. Burken, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Terry J. Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A finishing experiment evaluatedsubstitution of corn silage and modified distillers grains with solubles (MDGS) in place of corn. The treatment arrangementwas a 2 X 2 + 1 factorial with 15 or 45% corn silage and 20 or 40% MDGS plus a control containing 5% cornstalks and 40% MDGS. There were interactions between corn silage and MDGS for carcass adjusted performance. As corn silage inclusion was increased in the diet, F:G increased when fed with 20% MDGS, however there was no difference when fed with 40% MDGS.

Effects Of A Terminal Sorting System With Zilpaterol Hydrochloride On Feedlot Steers, F. Henry Hilscher, Dirk B. Burken, Brandon L. Nuttelman Nuttelman, Galen E. Erickson, Kathy Hanford, Kyle J. Vander Pol, John P. Hutcheson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Crossbred yearling steers were utilized to evaluate the effects of Zilpaterol hydrochloride (Zilmax^®) and terminal sorting 50 days prior to harvest on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics. Four treatments were used: an unsorted group not fed Zilmax (–CON), an unsorted group fed Zilmax, sorting by weight into two market groups and fed Zilmax, or sorting by weight into four market groups and fed Zilmax (4-Sort). Carcass weight was increased in cattle fed Zilmax by 33 lb and was further increased by 9 lb by 4-SORT. Yield grade and marbling score were lower for all cattle fed Zilmax compared …

Effects Of Increasing Inclusion Of Wet Distillers Grains Plus Solubles With And Without Oil Extraction On Finishing Performance, Melissa L. Jolly, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Dirk Burken Burken, Cody J. Schneider, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A finishing study was conducted to assess the effects of feeding increasing amounts of wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) with and without corn oil removal. Oil removal and WDGS inclusion did not interact. Compared to normal oil, de-oiled WDGS did not impact ADG, F:G, or carcass characteristics. Increasing inclusion of WDGS decreasedDMI and F:G linearly, with no change in ADG. Regardless of inclusion, oil removal via centrifugation had little impact on finishing cattle performance.

Optimum Inclusion Of Alkaline-Treated Cornstalks And Distillers Grains Fed To Calf-Fed Steers, Sarah J. Peterson, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Cody J. Schneider Schneider, Dirk B. Burken, James C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A finishing study evaluated the effects of adding 10, 20 or 30% CaO treated cornstalks to diets containing either 20 or 40% (DM basis) modified distillersgrains (MDGS). Steers fed a diet containing 40% MDGS responded quadratically with 10 and 20% (DM basis) treated residue having equal and better F:G than feeding 30% treated stalks. However, cattle fed 20% MDGS did not respond as well to treated cornstalks with 10% treated stalks having the lowest F:G, but poorer than the control diet with 5% stalks and 20% MDGS.

Transitioning Cattle From Ramp® To A Finishing Diet On Feedlot Performance And Feed Intake Variance, Cody J. Schneider, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Dirk B. Burken Burken, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Individually fed cattle were adapted to high grain diets with a traditional grain adaptation program or one of two RAMP^® adaptation programs. RAMP programs adapted cattle to a finishing diet gradually over 28 days in four steps or directly without an adaptation. Feed intake variance among d was greater for traditionally adapted cattle compared to either RAMP program, but DMI was not different during the adaptation period. Over the 138-day period, feedlot performance and carcass traits were not affected by adaptation treatment. Cattle fed RAMP for 10 days can be transitioned to a finishing ration containing 47.5% Sweet Bran …

Alkaline Treated Wheat Straw Or Corn Stover Fed To Growing Calves, Adam L. Shreck, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Cody J. Schneider Schneider, Dirk B. Burken, Casey N. Macken, William A. Griffin, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Four hundred sixty steer calves were fed CaO treated (5% of DM) or untreated wheat straw and corn stover with wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) during a 69-day growing study. An interaction between crop residue and alkaline treatment was observed for ending BW and ADG. The relative response in ADG and ending BW due to alkaline treatment was greater for wheat straw compared to corn stover. Steers fed wheat straw diets had greater DMI and improved F:G compared to corn stover diets. Alkaline treatment increased DMI and improved F:G, although the F:G response was small. Growing calves on untreated …

Use Of A Pelleted Corn Residue Complete Feed In Receiving Diets, Sarah J. Peterson, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Dirk B. Burken Burken, James C. Macdonald, Matt K. Luebbe, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The effects of feeding a complete pelleted feed to newly received steer calves (585 ± 4 lb; n = 1318 ) was compared to a control ration consisting of 32% (DM basis) wet or modified distillers grains, 32% alfalfa hay, 32% dry-rolled corn, and 4% supplement. The pelleted complete feed consisted of 35% corn residue and a blend of grain byproducts and minerals. Feeding the complete pelleted feed increased DMI but decreased ADG, thereby reducing feed efficiency. The pelleted feed numerically reduced morbidity. Feeding a complete pellet consisting of corn residue appears to be a viable option for receiving calves …

Use Of Treated Corn Residues In Growing Diets, Sarah J. Peterson, Dirk B. Burken, James C. Macdonald Donald, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A growing study compared the effectsof pelleting corn residue and treating with calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. All diets contained 60% corn residue, 36% distillers products, and 4% supplement (DM basis). Steers consuming pelleted diets had increased DMI, greater ending BW, but poorer F:G compared to non-pelleted treatments. Diets containing the chemically treated corn stover had increased ADG and lower F:G compared to the non-treated diets. While both pelleting and chemical treatment with CaO increased DMI, and ADG, only the use of CaO improved feed efficiency.