Understanding the Importance of Fatherhood among Men Living with HIV in Ontario.

While pregnancy and motherhood have become paramount clinical issues for women living with HIV, parenting has received less attention among men living with HIV (MLWH). We conducted a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study assessing fertility desires and intentions of MLWH using a 5-point Likert scale based on the question: "Being a father is important to me". Logistic regression models were fit to calculate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) for significant correlates. Of the 276 respondents, 118 were heterosexual, 158 were gay, bisexual, 2-spirit, or queer (GBTQ), 55% had never parented before, and 65% wanted to parent. 191 (69%) respondents agreed that fatherhood was important to them. In unadjusted analyses, heterosexuality (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.15 to 2.03), African/Caribbean/Black ethnicity (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.12 to 2.19), African/Caribbean birthplace (OR 1.48; 95% CI 1.06 to 2.05), and history of parenting (OR 1.60; 95% CI 1.10 to 2.39) were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with importance of fatherhood. However, none of these variables were significant in adjusted analyses. From the unadjusted model, factors such as sexual orientation, ethnicity, and current parenthood may influence how MLWH value fatherhood, suggesting HIV and fatherhood is complex and must be explored further.

An exploration of the fertility desires and intentions of men living with HIV in Ontario, Canada.

Planning families is an important issue within the HIV community. The primary objective of this study was to explore the fertility desires and intentions of men living with HIV (MLWH). A cross-sectional survey containing 77 questions in 10 domains was developed, validated and administered to MLWH. The sample was stratified by sexual orientation, ethnicity, and city of residence. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine sociodemographic correlates of intention to have children. 276 men were recruited, of whom 118 (43%) identified as heterosexual and 158 (57%) as gay, bisexual, two-spirit or queer (GBTQ). 133 (45%) men wished and 120 (44%) actually intended to become a parent. Significantly more heterosexual men desired fatherhood (63% vs 37%, p < .0001) and intended to have children in the future (57% vs. 34%, p < .0001). Among all men, significant predictors of intention to have children were age ≤40, heterosexual orientation, African/Caribbean/Black ethnicity, living in Toronto, higher household income, and being partnered with an HIV-negative individual. When stratified by sexual orientation, younger age remained a significant correlate for both groups. A significant proportion of heterosexual and GBTQ MLWH desire and intend to become a parent. Health care providers and policy makers must support these individuals in their reproductive parenting needs.

Maintenance energy requirements and forage intake of purebred vs. crossbred beef cows.

The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of cow breed type and age on maintenance requirements, feed energy utilization, and voluntary forage intake. The main effect of breed type included Angus (ANG; n = 32) and Hereford × Angus (HA; n = 27) lactating cows. The main effect of age included 2- and 3-yr-old (YOUNG; n = 29) and 4- to 8-yr-old (MATURE; n = 30) cows. Within breed type and age class, cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 pens for a total of 8 pens, each housing 7 to 9 cow/calf pairs. To determine maintenance energy requirements, cows and calves were limit-fed for 105 d to body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) stasis. There were no differences between breeds in cow hip height, BW, average milk yield (P > 0.31), diet digestibility, or cow maintenance energy requirement (P = 0.54). Crossbred cows had greater BCS (P < 0.05) throughout the experiment. Efficiency of calf growth was not different between breeds when expressed as feed intake of the cow/calf pair nor as energy intake of the pair per unit of calf BW gain (P ≥ 0.31). Young cows produced less milk per day and per unit of BW0.75 (P < 0.01); however, there was no effect of cow age on maintenance energy requirement, diet digestibility, or efficiency of calf growth (P > 0.10). Subsequently, a 45-d experiment was conducted to determine voluntary low-quality forage intake. Cows were housed in dry-lot pens equipped with shade, windbreaks, and feed bunks with free-choice access to clean water and a chopped hay ration was provided ad libitum to determine forage intake. Daily forage intake was lower (P = 0.05) for HA compared with ANG (123 vs. 132 g/kg BW0.75, respectively) although there was no difference in BW. However, HA cows sustained greater BCS (P < 0.01). There was no difference (P = 0.60) in forage intake per unit of BW0.75 due to cow age. Results indicate similar calf growth efficiency among breed types although crossbred cows maintained greater body energy stores and consumed less low-quality forage during the voluntary intake experiment. These differences could not be attributed to lower maintenance energy requirements. Neither maintenance energy requirement nor calf growth efficiency was different between young and mature cows.

Effects of timing of weaning on energy utilization in primiparous beef cows and post-weaning performance of their progeny1.

Early weaning is used to minimize cow nutrient requirements in situations where feed inputs are scarce or expensive. For many years, maintenance energy requirements have been assumed to be 20% greater in lactating compared with non-lactating beef cows. While not well established, maintenance energy requirements are thought to be greatest in primiparous cows and to decline with age. Consequently, early weaning primiparous cow-calf pairs should improve overall efficiency, particularly in situations where mid-to-late lactation forage or feed nutritive value is low. The objective of this study was to determine the biological efficiency of early weaning and maintenance energy requirements of lactating versus non-lactating primiparous cows. Experiments were conducted in two consecutive years using 90 primiparous cows and their calves (48 in yr 1, 42 in yr 2). Pairs were randomly assigned to one of the six pens (8 pairs/pen yr 1, 7 pairs/pen yr 2) and pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments; (1) early weaning (130 d ± 15.4; EW, n = 6) and (2) traditional weaning (226 d ± 13.1; TW, n = 6). Late lactation cow and calf performance and feed consumption were measured for 92 d (yr 1) and 100 d (yr 2). Cows were limit-fed to meet maintenance requirements, while calves were offered ad libitum access to the same diet in a creep-feeding area. Calves were not allowed access to the cows' feed. Cow feed intake, body condition score, body weight (BW), milk yield and composition, and calf body weight gain and creep feed intake were recorded. After accounting for lactation and retained energy, there was a trend for greater maintenance energy requirements of lactating primiparous cows (P = 0.07). From the early weaning date to traditional weaning date, calf average daily gain (ADG) was greater (P < 0.01) for TW calves. Feed and energy efficiency of the pair was improved for the TW system (P < 0.01). Greater ADG were reported for EW calves during the stocker period (P = 0.03), but there were no differences during the finishing period (P > 0.40). At harvest, BW was greater (P = 0.02) and gain to feed ratio tended (P = 0.06) to be improved for TW calves. The increased TW calf performance offset the additional maintenance costs of their lactating dams, resulting in the TW system converting total feed energy to kilograms of calf BW gain more efficiently.