Veterinary Medicine Commons^™

Temporal And Spatial Blood Feeding Patterns Of Urban Mosquitoes In The San Juan Metropolitan Area, Puerto Rico, Matthew W. Hopken, Limarie J. Reyes-Torres, Nicole Scavo, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Zaid Abdo, Daniel Taylor, James Pierce, Donald A. Yee

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Simple Summary: Understanding the biodiversity of urban ecosystems is critical for management of invasive and pest species, conserving native species, and disease control. Mosquitoes (Culicidae) are ubiquitous and abundant in urban ecosystems, and rely on blood meals taken from vertebrates. We used DNA from freshly blood-fed mosquitoes to characterize the diversity of vertebrate host species in the San Juan Metropolitan Area, Puerto Rico. We collected two mosquito species that fed on a variety of vertebrates. Culex quinquefasciatus fed on 17 avian taxa (81.2% of blood meals), seven mammalian taxa (17.9%), and one reptilian taxon (0.85%). Aedes aegypti blood meals were …

Best Management Practices For Trapping Furbearers In The United States, H. Bryant White, Gordon R. Batcheller, Edward K. Boggess, Clifford L. Brown, Joseph W. Butfiloski, Thomas A. Decker, John D. Erb, Michael W. Fall, David A. Hamilton, Tim L. Hiller, George F. Hubert Jr., Matthew J. Lovallo, John F. Olson, Nathan M. Roberts

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Humans have used wild furbearers for various purposes for thousands of years. Today, furbearers are sustainably used by the public for their pelts, leather, bones, glands, meat, or other purposes. In North America, contemporary harvest of furbearers has evolved along with trap technologies and societal concerns, and is now highly regulated and more closely coupled with harvest analysis and population monitoring. Traps and regulated trapping programs provide personal or cultural rewards that can also support conservation, and can assist with advancing ecological knowledge through research, protecting endangered species, restoring populations or habitats, protecting personal property, and enhancing public health and …

Strategic Considerations For Invasive Species Managers In The Utilization Of Environmental Dna (Edna): Steps For Incorporating This Powerful Surveillance Tool, Jeffrey Morisette, Stanley Burgiel, Kelsey Brantley, Wesley M. Daniel, John Darling, Jeanette Davis, Thomas Franklin, Keith Gaddis, Margaret Hunter, Richard Lance, Tracy Leskey, Yale Passamaneck, Antoinette Piaggio, Brian Rector, Adam Sepulveda, Melissa Smith, Carol A. Stepien, Taylor Wilcox

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Invasive species surveillance programs can utilize environmental DNA sampling and analysis to provide information on the presence of invasive species. Wider utilization of eDNA techniques for invasive species surveillance may be warranted. This paper covers topics directed towards invasive species managers and eDNA practitioners working at the intersection of eDNA techniques and invasive species surveillance. It provides background information on the utility of eDNA for invasive species management and points to various examples of its use across federal and international programs. It provides information on 1) why an invasive species manager should consider using eDNA, 2) deciding if eDNA can …

Reproductive Trade-Offs In The Colorado Checkered Whiptail Lizard (Aspidoscelis Neotesselatus): An Examination Of The Relationship Between Clutch And Follicle Size, Hannah E. Caracalas, S. S. French, S. B. Hudson, B. M. Kluever, A. C. Webb, D. Eifler, A. J. Lehmicke, Lise M. Aubry

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Life history theory predicts that there should be an inverse relationship between offspring size and number, because individuals cannot simultaneously maximize both when resources are limited. Although extensively studied in avian species, the occurrence and determinants of reproductive tradeoffs in oviparous reptiles are far less understood, particularly in parthenogenetic species. We studied this trade-off in the Colorado Checkered Whiptail, Aspidoscelis neotesselatus, a female-only parthenogenetic lizard. Using data previously collected in 2018 and 2019, we tested for clutch and egg size trade-offs and determined whether this relationship could be influenced by female size and aspects of physiological condition. Physiological condition …

Modelling The Factors Affecting The Probability For Local Rabies Elimination By Strategic Control, Johann L. Kotzé, John Duncan Grewar, Aaron M. Anderson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Dog rabies has been recognized from ancient times and remains widespread across the developing world with an estimated 59,000 people dying annually from the disease. In 2011 a tri-partite alliance consisting of the OIE, the WHO and the FAO committed to globally eliminating dog-mediated human rabies by 2030. Regardless of global support, the responsibility remains with local program managers to implement successful elimination programs. It is well known that vaccination programs have a high probability of successful elimination if they achieve a population-coverage of 70%. It is often quoted that reducing population turnover (typically through sterilizations) raises the probability for …

Antibiotic Resistance In Manure- Amended Agricultural Soils, Maranatha Zelt, Zachary Staley, Xu Li, Bing Wang, Daniel N. Miller, Amy Schmidt

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Manure application to agricultural land benefits soil health and agronomic yields. However, as antibiotic resistance becomes a more serious threat to public health, there is concern that antibiotic resistance originating from livestock manure could impact human health through contamination of the environment or food. This study sought to quantify this risk by monitoring concentrations of antibiotic resistance bacteria and genes in fallow soil during the period of October through April, representing fall manure application through spring planting. Resistance to three common antibiotics— tylosin, azithromycin and tetracycline— was monitored following application of fresh, stockpiled, or composted beef feedlot manure, or inorganic …

Effect Of Vanadium (Iv) Chloride Supplementation On Appetite-Related Hormone Levels Inrats With Experimentally Induced Diabetes, Tünay Kontaş Aşkar, Adnan Adi̇l Hi̇şmi̇oğullari, Olga Büyükleblebi̇ci̇, Hati̇ce Nur Er Sarikaya

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Vanadium is one of the essential trace elements for mammals, which has important functions in the metabolism of carbohydrates. There is limited data about the effects of vanadium (IV) chloride supplementation on appetite-related hormones in literature. Our target was to analyse the impacts of vanadium supplementation on appetite-related hormone (leptin, nesfatin-1 and apelin) levels in rats with experimentally induced diabetes. Twenty eight male Sprague-Dawley albino rats were used in this study. After formation of diabetes, 0.3 mg/mL of vanadium was added to drinking water of rats for four weeks. A substantial increment was found in serum glucose (p < 0.001), HbA1c (p < 0.001), HOMA-IR (p < 0.01), and leptin (p < 0.001) levels and a significant decrease in insulin, apelin and nesfatin-1 concentrations in diabetic rats. Moreover, blood glucose, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, and leptin levels decreased in diabetic + vanadium group, but nesfatin-1 (1.74 ± 0.94 ng/mL), apelin (1.74 ± 0.94 ng/mL), and insulin concentrations were found higher compared with the diabetic group. As a result of this study, vanadium has increased the levels of circulating nesfatin-1 and apelin levels in diabetic rats while decreasing blood glucose and leptin concentrations. But further studies are required to determine the blood glucose lowering effects of vanadium and its relationship with appetite related hormones in diabet.

Impact Of Masters Choice Corn Silage On Nutrient Digestion In Growing Cattle, Jiehua Xiong, Mitch M. Norman, Hannah C. Wilson, Caleb Crabtree, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Monensin And Protein Type On Performance Of Yearling Steers Grazing Smooth Bromegrass Pastures, Z. E. Carlson, K. Butterfield, Levi Mcphillips, Galen E. Erickson, M. E. Drewnoski, J. C. Macdonald

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

Two-year study evaluated the effects of monensin on protein type, either rumen degradable or rumen undegradable, with yearling steers grazing smooth bromegrass pastures. Steers were supplemented soybean meal (rumen degradable protein) or nonenzymatically browned soybean meal (rumen undegradable protein) at isonitrogenous levels to dried distillers grains plus solubles provided at 0.50% BW. Likewise, steers were provided either zero or 200 mg/hd/d of monensin for a total of six treatments with a 2 × 3 (no protein, RDP, or RUP) factorial design. There was no interaction of monensin by protein type. Providing monensin to grazing yearlings did not …

2021 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Cow-Calf Nutrition and Management: Metabolic Profile Associated with Pre-Breeding Puberty Status in Range Beef Heifers 5 • Milk Production Impacts on Cow Reproductive and Calf Growth Performance 8 • Genetic Selection Tools: Using Pooling to Capture Commercial Data for Inclusion in Genetic Evaluations 11 • Categorization of Birth Weight Phenotypes for Inclusion in Genetic Evaluations Using a Deep Neural Network 14 • Genetic Parameter Estimates for Age at Slaughter and Days to Finish in a Multibreed Population 16

Growing Calf and Yearling Management: Effects of Monensin and Protein Type on Performance of Yearling Steers Grazing Smooth Bromegrass Pastures 18 • …

Genetic Parameter Estimates For Age At Slaughter And Days To Finish In A Multibreed Population, Lindsay R. Upperman, Larry A. Kuehn, Matthew L. Spangler

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

No abstract provided.

Categorization Of Birth Weight Phenotypes For Inclusion In Genetic Evaluations Using A Deep Neural Network, Andre Ribeiro, Bruce Golden, Matthew L. Spangler

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

No abstract provided.

Using Pooling To Capture Commercial Data For Inclusion In Genetic Evaluations, Johnna L. Baller, Stephen D. Kachman, Larry A. Kuehn, Matthew L. Spangler

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

No abstract provided.

Milk Production Impacts On Cow Reproductive And Calf Growth Performance, Tasha M. King, J. A. Musgrave, R. Funston, Travis Mulliniks

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

No abstract provided.

Metabolomic Profile Associated With Pre-Breeding Puberty Status In Range Beef Heifers, Joslyn K. Beard, Waseem Abbas, J. A. Musgrave, R. Funston, Samodha C. Fernando, Travis Mulliniks

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

A 4-yr study utilizing heifers from March and May calving herds collected serum samples prior to breeding to determine puberty status. Serum samples were used for Metabolomics analysis to investigate differences related to circulating serum metabolites in pubertal and non-pubertal heifers. Metabolomics, which is a shotgun approach analysis of a large number of small metabolites, is an emerging technology that can provide a more robust analysis of metabolism. No differences were observed in heifer ADG, pregnancy rate, or the percentage that calved within the first 21 d between heifers classified as pubertal and non-pubertal at the start …

Perceptions Of Barriers And Benefits Of Manure Use In Cropping Systems, Richard Koelsch, Daniel Andersen, Erin Cortus, Leslie Johnson, Amy Schmidt, Siok A. Siek, Melissa Wilson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Animal agriculture is tasked with recycling the nitrogen and phosphorus in manures in an environmentally sound manner, typically as a soil fertility amendment, which often requires voluntary transfer of manures to crop farms on which there may be little or no history of manure use. # e ability of manure to compete with commercially available fertilizers is essential for this transfer. A survey was conducted of farmers’ and their advisors’ perceptions of the benefits and barriers to manure use in crops. There exists a strong recognition of manure’s agronomic, yield, and soil health benefits. However, many challenges associated with manure …

Predicting Nitrogen And Phosphorous Flows In Beef Open Lots, Megan N. Homolka, Galen E. Erickson, Richard K. Koelsch

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Manure collected from open lot animal housing systems experiences variability due to weather conditions, management of beef cattle and pens, and other factors resulting in substantial changes in manure characteristics. Data from 15 winter and summer periods at the beef feedlot at Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center including 416 independent pen measurements, were summarized for nutrient mass balance, and then used to determine sources of variability impacting nitrogen and phosphorous. Understanding variability is important to regulated manure nutrient planning processes. The results of this review suggest significant challenge associated with planning based upon standard values for estimating manure characteristics. …

Transforming Manure And Cedar Mulch From “Waste” To “Worth”, Karla Melgar, Agustin Olivo, Richard Koelsch, Larry Howard, Gary Lesoing, Aaron Nygren, Randy Saner, Amy D. Timmerman, Troy Walz, Todd Whitney, Amy Schmidt

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

In nearly every production environment, there are opportunities to capture profits if waste streams can be further processed or enhanced to create “value added” products. Animal feeding operations in Nebraska generate significant amounts of manure that are considered as a “waste” product. Additionally, Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) encroachment into grazing land has become an economic and ecological threat, reducing forage production, fragmenting wildlife habitats, and increasing the risk and severity of wild fires. Value- added uses for cedar woodchips are being sought by the Nebraska Forest Service and other agencies to promote tree management by landowners. Using manure and …

Using Coal Char From Sugar Production In Cattle Manure Management, Bijesh Maharjan, K. H. Jenkins Pas

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Application of coal char, a coal combustion residue from the sugar factory in Scottsbluff, NE (containing up to 30 % C by weight), was evaluated as a nitrogen (N) loss mitigation tool for feedlot manure in three experiments. In experiment 1, when char was added to piled manure previously removed from feedlot pens, N loss potential was reduced (44% vs. 68% in the control). In experiment 2, manure was collected fresh from the animal, from the pen surface with cattle still in the pen, and from a pile removed from the pen. Char was mixed with these samples in replicated …

The Impact Of Oxidative Stress On Postmortem Meat Quality, Nicolas J. Herrera, Felipe A. Ribeiro, Nicolas A. Bland, Morgan L. Henriott, Kellen B. Hart, Jessica Lynn Petersen, Chris Calkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between animal oxidative status, using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a promoter for oxidation. This was used as a model to evaluate tenderization and meat quality factors early postmortem. Lambs were administered an intravenous injection of either saline, 50 ng/kg bodyweight (LPS50), or 100 ng/kg bodyweight (LPS100) every 72 hours for a 9- day period to stimulate physiological oxidative stress. After a day of rest, lambs were harvested, and pre- rigor Longissimus dorsi-muscles were obtained for transcriptomic analysis. Loins, aged for 1 and 14 days, were analyzed for attributes relating to oxidative potential, meat …

The Relationship Of Liver Abscess Scores And Early Postmortem Meat Tenderness, Nicolas J. Herrera, Felipe A. Ribeiro, Nicolas A. Bland, Morgan L. Henriott, Kellen B. Hart, Chris Calkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Acidosis is one of the most common nutritional disorders found in commercial feedlots. Cattle diets with high concentrations of starch can cause rapid production of acids in the rumen, disrupting microbial fermentation, causing liver abscess formation, and lowering livestock performance. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the occurrence of liver abscesses and beef tenderness early postmortem. Results showed numerically lesser shear force values (greater tenderness) in loins from animals without liver abscesses, however, this was not statistically significant for slice shear force or Warner- Bratzler shear force. Although the effects of liver abscess occurrence in relation to …

Proteomic Analysis Of Oxidized Proteins In Beef, Nicolas A. Bland, Nicolas J. Herrera, Felipe A. Ribeiro, Morgan L. Henriott, Kellen B. Hart, Chris Calkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

To evaluate the effects of diet and quality grade on tenderness and oxidative damage to proteins, strip loins from USDA Upper 2/3rd Choice and Select- grade carcasses were obtained. Steers were fed either a diet containing dry rolled corn, steam flaked corn, dry rolled corn with 30% dried distillers grains with solubles, or steam flaked corn with 30% dried distillers grain with solubles. Results suggest that steaks from steers fed dry rolled corn are more objectively tender than steam flaked corn; in addition, steaks grading USDA Upper 2/3rd Choice steaks were more tender when compared to USDA Select quality grade. …

Fate Of Generic Escherichia Coli In Beef Steaks During Sous Vide Cooking At Different Holding Time And Temperature Combinations, Heather B. Hunt, Samuel C. Watson, Byron D. Chaves, Gary Sullivan

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Sous vide cookery utilizes water baths held at precise temperatures to cook food and has increased in popularity in domestic and food service settings due to ease of use and consistent final cooking temperature of food. Some sous vide manufacturers’ cooking websites suggest cooking intact and nonintact beef products to internal temperatures as low as 115º F. To address the safety concerns of cooking non- intact beef products to temperatures below USDA- FSIS guidance temperatures, steaks were internally inoculated with a strain of generic E. coli and sous vide cooked to internal temperatures of 115, 125, 130, and 145º F …

Effect Of Increasing Corn Silage Inclusion In Finishing Diets With Or Without Tylosin On Performance And Liver Abscesses, Hannah C. Wilson, Levi Mcphillips, Bradely M. Boyd, Andrea K. Watson, J. C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A finishing study was conducted to assess the impact of increasing silage inclusion in finishing diets to reduce the prevalence of liver abscesses in beef cattle. Cattle were fed two inclusions of corn silage (15 or 45% of diet dry matter), with or without tylosin for control of liver abscesses. Cattle fed 15% corn silage had a 2% improvement in feed efficiency when tylosin was added to the diet. However, in cattle fed 45% corn silage, no improvements in feed efficiency were observed when tylosin was added to the diet. Cattle fed 15% corn silage without tylosin, had the greatest …

Evaluation Of Condensed Algal Residue Solubles As An Ingredient In Cattle Finishing Diets, John C. Gibbons, Bradley M. Boyd, Levi Mcphillips, Andrea K. Watson, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A study was conducted to evaluate feeding 0, 2.5, or 5.0% of a novel liquid feed, Condensed Algal Residue Solubles (CARS), in one of two base diets with CARS replacing corn. ! e two base diets were fed to mimic Northern Great Plains (high moisture and dry rolled corn blend fed with wet distillers grains plus solubles) and Southern Great Plains (steam- flaked corn and dry distillers grains plus solubles) feedlot diets. ! ere were no interactions between base diet and CARS inclusion. Feed intake and longissimus muscle area decreased as CARS inclusion increased in the diet. A quadratic effect …

Evaluation Of Wheat Blended With Corn In Finishing Diets Containing Wet Distillers Grains, C A. Coulson, B M. Boyd, B B. Conroy, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of grain type and wet distillers grains inclusion on finishing cattle performance and carcass characteristics. It was hypothesized that a greater inclusion of wet distillers grains would help mitigate acidosis previously observed with feeding wheat. Treatments were designed as a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with the first factor as grain type at either 100% dry rolled corn or a 50:50 blend of dry- rolled wheat and dry rolled corn, and the second factor as wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) inclusion at either 12 or 30% of diet dry matter. There …

Impact Of Feeding Aspergillus Subspecies Blend And Di! Erent Corn Processing Methods On Finishing Beef Cattle Performance And Carcass Characteristics, Stacia M. Hopfauf, Bradley M. Boyd, Levi Mcphillips, J. C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A feedlot study utilizing 320 crossbred calf- fed steers (initial body weight 588 lb) compared the effect of feeding an Aspergillus additive in either dry- rolled corn or high- moisture corn finishing diets on cattle performance and carcass characteristics. Steers were fed 0 g/steer daily or 10 g/steer daily Aspergillus for both corn processing methods. # ere were no significant interactions between corn processing method and Aspergillus. Feeding finishing cattle Aspergillus did not impact performance compared to feeding none. Cattle fed dry- rolled corn had greater final body weight, dry matter intake, and gain compared to high- moisture corn diets. …

Evaluation Of Processing Technique For High- Moisture And Dry Corn Fed To Finishing Cattle, C A. Coulson, B M. Boyd, Braden C. Troyer, Levi Mcphillips, Mitch M. Norman, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A 134- day finishing trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of milling method and corn type on finishing cattle performance and carcass characteristics. Treatments were applied in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, with the first factor as milling method (Automatic Ag roller mill or hammer mill) and the second factor as corn type, either 100% dry corn, 50:50 blend of dry and high moisture corn, or 100% high moisture corn. $ ere was no interaction between milling method and corn type for carcass- adjusted final body weight, average daily gain, or dry matter intake but there was an …

Evaluating Finishing Performance Of Cattle Fed High- Moisture Corn And Steam- Flaked Corn Blends With Modified Distillers Grains, Braden C. Troyer, Zac C. Carlson, Levi Mcphillips, Andrea K. Watson, J. C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The objective of this study was to determine the impacts of feeding different inclusions of high- moisture corn or steam- flaked corn in diets with 20% modified distillers grains plus solubles. Additionally, this study was designed to quantify any associative effects when high- moisture and steam- flaked corn are blended together with modified distillers grains plus solubles. Cross-bred yearling steers (n=90; BW=777 ± 7.9 lb) were individually fed using a Calan Gate system for 168 days. Animals received one of five finishing diets containing 100% high moisture corn, one of three blends of high moisture steam- flaked, or 100% steam- …

Growing Calf Intake Of Hay Or Crop Residue Based Diets, Aksel Wiseman, Andrea K. Watson, Rick Stock, Terry Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

It is important to know or predict feed intake by growing calves on forage- based diets in order to balance these diets for nutrients such as energy and protein. Several growing calf studies with forage- based diets were summarized. ! ese studies evaluated the use of crop residue as a substitute for conventional forages, primarily grass hay. Calves gained about 1.8 lb/day for all forage- based diets. Calves consumed 2.6% of body weight daily when fed hay- based diets, but those fed residue with distillers grains diets consumed only 1.6% of body weight. However, when feeding the residue with distillers …