Performance of Nursing Awassi Ewes Fed Different Levels of Bread By-product.

Objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of partial substitution of barley grain with bread by-product (BB) on performance of Awassi ewes and their lambs. Forty Awassi ewes rearing single lambs were randomly allotted into four experimental diets containing various levels of BB. The experimental diets contained 0 (BB0), 10 (BB10), 15 (BB15), and 20% (BB20) of BB on dietary dry matter (DM). The study lasted for eight weeks, in which the first week was used as an adaptation period and seven weeks of data collection. Ewes and their lambs were penned individually where they were fed their lactating diets ad libitum. Ewes and lambs body weights were measured at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. However, milk production and composition were evaluated biweekly. Feeding BB had no effect (p>0.05) on dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and crude protein (CP) intakes. However, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake was the lowest (p<0.05) for the BB20 and BB15 diets followed to BB10 diet (i.e., 640, 677, 772 g/d, respectively) while the highest NDF intake was for the BB0 diet (i.e., 825 g/d). Similarly, NDF intake decreased linearly (p<0.001) as the BB content increased. Acid detergent fiber (ADF) intake was highest (p<0.05) for the BB0 and BB10 diets (425 and 416 g/d, respectively) followed by the BB15 and BB20 diets (359 and 342 g/d, respectively). Moreover, a linear (p<0.001), quadratic (p = 0.04), and cubic (p = 0.04) effects were observed in ADF intake among diets. Nutrient digestibility was similar among different diets. Bread by-product had no effect (p>0.05) on ewes body weight change and on lamb performance (i.e., weaning body weight and average daily gain). Similarly, no differences (p>0.05) were observed either in milk production or composition by the BB substitution. Inclusion of BB reduced feed cost by 9, 14, and 18% for the BB10, BB15, and BB20 diets, respectively. No differences were observed in milk efficiency (DM intake: milk production; p>0.05) among diets. However, cost of milk production ($US/kg milk) was the lowest (p<0.05) in the diet containing BB20. Results of the present study indicate that feeding bread by-product up to 20% of the diet DM had no effect on performance of Awassi ewes and their lambs and reduced feed cost.

A new approach to enhance reproductive performance in sheep using royal jelly in comparison with equine chorionic gonadotropin.

The objective was to compare the effects of royal jelly (RJ) and eCG treatments on reproductive performance of ewes synchronized using intravaginal progesterone-releasing devices. Forty-two cycling Awassi ewes were treated intramuscularly (i.m.) with 15 mg PGF2alpha. On the following day, all ewes were administered with CIDR-G for 12 days and were randomly allocated to three (RJ, eCG and control) groups of 14 ewes each. Ewes in the RJ-treated group received daily i.m. treatments of 400mg RJ during the period of CIDR-treatment. Each ewe in the eCG-treated group received an i.m. treatment of 500 IU eCG at the time of CIDR-G removal (day 0) and no further treatment was given to ewes in the control group. Ewes were exposed to four fertile rams for 72 h, from the time of CIDR-G removal, and checked for breeding marks at 6-h intervals. Blood samples were collected from day -13 until day 0 and thereafter until day 19 for progesterone analysis. Royal jelly treatment resulted in a greater rate of decline and lower (P<0.02) progesterone concentrations between days -10 and 0 than eCG-treated and control ewes. Expression of estrus was similar among the three groups and intervals to onset of estrus were shorter (P<0.01) in RJ-treated (31.3h) and eCG-treated (29.8h) than control (41.3h) ewes. First-cycle pregnancy and lambing rates were greater (P<0.05) in RJ-treated (71.4 and 71.4%) and eCG-treated (85.7 and 78.6%) than in control (42.9 and 35.7%) ewes, respectively. Results demonstrate that the treatments of RJ and eCG in conjunction with CIDR-G were similarly effective in induction of estrus and improvement of pregnancy and lambing rates.

Nutritive value of lentil and vetch straws as compared with alfalfa hay and wheat straw for replacement ewe lambs.

The objective of this study was to compare the nutritive value of lentil straw (LS) and vetch straws (VS) with alfalfa hay (AH) and wheat straw (WS). Forty Awassi ewes (body weight (BW)=56.2kg) were assigned randomly to four dietary treatments (10 ewes per treatment) for 6 weeks using a complete randomize design. In each dietary treatment, ewes were fed 550g per day of concentrate mix formulated to supply 40% of the metabolizable energy requirement. After the consumption of the concentrate mix, ewes had ad libtum access to AH, LS, VS, or WS. Forage intake, total dry matter intake (DMI), and organic matter intake (OMI) were higher for AH and LS and lowest for WS. Final weight of ewes fed AH and LS diets were higher (P<0.05) than VS and WS diets. However, ewes fed VS diet gained more weight (2.5kg) than ewes on WS diet (0.2kg). Dry matter digestibility was higher for the AH and LS diets (59.4%), and lowest for WS diet (49.6%). The VS diet had an intermediate value (54.4%). Ruminal passage rate was higher for AH and LS (3.4% per hour) compared with WS (1.9% per hour). Eating time for the AH diet was lowest compared with the rest of the forages. Eating time, expressed as minutes per kilogram NDF intake, was highest for WS and VS diets (680min) compared with AH and LS diets (535min). WS diet required more time for rumination (395min per day) compared to AH, LS, and VS diets. However, ewes on VS diet spent more time ruminating per kilogram NDF consumed (954min) compared with WS, LS, and AH diets (901, 617, and 597min, respectively). These results were significant and demonstrate that the nutritive value of LS is greater than VS and close to the nutritive value of AH. VS nutritive value is slightly greater than WS.

Optimum dietary crude protein level for finishing Awassi lambs.

Awassi is a multi-purpose sheep breed. Awassi lambs being finished are usually offered an 18% crude protein (CP) diet. The growth rate of Awassi lambs is lower than other meat breeds. Therefore, this high content of dietary CP is questionable. The objective of this study was to estimate the optimum CP level for finishing Awassi lambs. Fifty male Awassi lambs (23.0+/-1.2kg) were fed five high concentrate isocaloric diets (10 lambs per diet) that contained 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18% CP in a totally mixed diets for 9 weeks using a completely randomized design. Lambs were fed twice daily, and feed offered and feed refusals recorded for each feeding. Individual lamb intakes were calculated using daily feed offered and feed refused averaged over the interval of the experiment. Digestibility estimates were measured by total fecal collection. Lambs fed diets that contained 10, 12, and 14% CP gained less weight than those fed the 16 and 18% CP diets (P<0.05). Dry matter and CP intakes increased (P<0.05) with increasing levels of dietary CP. No difference (P>0.10) was observed in feed-to-gain ratio between diets except for the diet that contained 10% CP (P<0.05) which had a lower ratio. Organic matter and CP digestibility were lowest in lambs fed the 10% CP diet. Results suggest that the optimum CP concentration is 16% and that any increase above this level will not result in any improvement in production.

Effect of wheat straw treated with alkali on ruminal function and lactational performance of dairy cows.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of wheat straw treated with alkali on ruminal function and lactational performance of dairy cows. In Experiment 1, four ruminally fistulated Holsteins cows (X = 57 d of lactation) were fed four diets that contained 0, 20, 30, or 40% (dry basis) wheat straw treated with 3% NaOH plus 3% Ca(OH)2 in a 4 x 4 Latin square. The diets contained 60, 40, 30, and 20% (dry basis) prebloom alfalfa haylage to result in a 60: 40 ratio of forage to concentrate. In Experiment 2, 12 (X = 149 d of lactation) midlactation Holstein cows were fed diets containing 0 or 20% treated wheat straw to measure lactational performance during a 12-wk period. In Experiment 1, no effect of diet was observed on ruminal pH, osmolality, digestion of neutral detergent fiber of straw, or 4% fat-corrected milk. However, the dry matter intake of cows fed diets containing the two highest concentrations of treated straw was depressed and was associated with a significant body weight loss. The ruminal rate of passage of treated straw was not affected by diet; however, rate of passage of alfalfa haylage decreased when straw was included in the diet. In Experiment 2, no effect on cow performance was observed when straw treated with alkali was included at 20% of the diet. Inclusion of up to 20% wheat straw treated with 3% NaOH plus 3% Ca(OH)2 in diets of lactating cows resulted in ruminal function and performance that were similar to those of cows fed diets that contained alfalfa haylage only.

Effect of a mixture of feather and blood meals on lactational performance of dairy cows.

An experiment was conducted over 18 wk of lactation to determine the effect of supplemental feather and blood meals (85:15, wt/wt, dry matter basis) fed at two dietary concentrations of crude protein (CP) on dry matter intake and milk protein production. Forty-eight Holstein cows were grouped by parity and assigned randomly at 3 wk postpartum to one of four diets following a 2-wk covariate period. Diets consisted of 50% alfalfa silage and 1) no feather or blood meals, 17.6% CP, and 5.1% ruminally undegradable protein (RUP); 2) 4% mixture of feather and blood meals, 17.6% CP, and 6.3% RUP; 3) no feather or blood meals, 19.6% CP, and 6.3% RUP; and 4) 4% mixture of feather and blood meals, 19.6% CP, and 6.9% RUP. According to the National Research Council, diet 1 was deficient in RUP, diets 2 and 3 were adequate in RUP, and diet 4 contained excessive CP and RUP. Intakes of dry matter and CP were depressed by 11% for cows fed the 19.6% CP diet supplemented with feather and blood meals. For cows fed the 17.6% CP diet, the supplementation of feather and blood meals increased RUP intake, but the supplementation of feather and blood meals to the 19.6% CP diet had no effect on RUP intake. Supplemental feather and blood meals increased the production of milk protein and 3.5% solids-corrected milk by cows fed the 17.6% CP diet. Diets 2, 3, and 4 resulted in similar efficiencies of solids-corrected milk production, but the efficiency of milk protein production specifically was increased by the supplementation of feather and blood meals to the 17.6% CP diet only. Results of this experiment indicate that a mixture of feather and blood meals improves the production of milk protein when supplemented to a diet that meets, but does not greatly exceed, the requirements established by the National Research Council for RUP and that contains alfalfa as the sole forage.

Whole cottonseeds or a combination of soybeans and soybeans hulls in the diets of lactating dairy cows.

Whole raw soybeans and soybean hulls were evaluated as a dietary replacement for whole cottonseed as determined by rumination and total chewing activity, milk fat percentage, and efficiency of 4% fat-corrected milk (FCM) production. Twenty-six Holstein dairy cows (14 multiparous; 35 +/- 12 d of lactation) were assigned randomly to one of two total mixed rations (TMR) for 15 wk. The whole cottonseed TMR and the soybean plus soybean hull TMR contained 40% of a 45:55 mixture of alfalfa and corn silages (dry matter basis) and either 15% cottonseed or 15% soybeans, 8% soybean hulls, and 0.7% sodium bicarbonate. Both TMR provided 60% of dietary neutral detergent fiber from forage. The TMR, fed twice daily, were isonitrogenous (17.5% crude protein) and equal in neutral detergent fiber (30%). The TMR had no effect on dry matter intake (24.8 kg/d). The cottonseed TMR stimulated greater rumination and total chewing activity. Although milk production was greater for cows fed the cottonseed TMR (35.7 vs. 34.1 kg/d), milk fat production was unaffected by TMR (3.72%). The efficiency of 4% FCM production was similar for cows fed the cottonseed and soybean plus soybean hull TMR (1.33), and both TMR resulted in a positive net energy balance (10.9 Mcal/d). A combination of soybeans, soybean hulls, and sodium bicarbonate was an effective alternative to whole cottonseed as measured by the efficiency of FCM production.

Brown midrib sorghum silage for midlactation dairy cows.

Brown midrib sorghum silage was compared with alfalfa, corn, and normal sorghum silages for its effect on performance, ruminal metabolism, and digestive kinetics of Holstein dairy cows in midlactation. Twelve cows averaging 90 +/- 5 DIM were assigned to one of four diets in replicated 4 x 4 Latin squares with 4-wk periods. Additionally, 3 ruminally fistulated cows (95 +/- 20 DIM) were assigned to the same diets in a 3 x 4 Youden square for measurement of ruminal characteristics. Diets were fed as isonitrogenous TMR that contained 65% silage (DM basis). The DMI was greater for the corn and brown midrib sorghum (4% of BW/d) than for the alfalfa and normal sorghum diets (3.4% of BW/d). The brown midrib sorghum supported FCM production that was similar to that of cows on corn and alfalfa diets (25.8 kg/d), but cows fed normal sorghum produced less milk and fewer milk components. Source of silage had no effect on eating time, but rumination was least for the alfalfa diet. Ruminal pH and ammonia concentrations were similar for all diets. Total VFA concentrations were greatest for the corn and brown midrib sorghum diets. The brown midrib sorghum had greater in situ extent of ruminal NDF digestion than did the normal sorghum, which agreed with in vitro data. The brown midrib sorghum used in this experiment supported FCM production similar to the corn and alfalfa silages commonly fed to dairy cows in midlactation.

Digestibility of alkali-treated wheat straw measured in vitro or in vivo using Holstein heifers.

Three experiments were conducted to determine the effect of different alkali solutions on in vitro degradation and in vivo digestibility of wheat straw. In Exp. 1, ground wheat straw was treated with 15 different alkali solutions grouped as NaOH, NH4OH, urea, and Ca(OH)2. The greatest (P < .05) 48-h in vitro NDF degradability was obtained with 5% NaOH and the combination of 2.5% NaOH + 2.5% Ca(OH)2. In Exp. 2, chopped wheat straw was treated with one of the following: 1) untreated; 2) 2.5% NaOH; 3) 5% NaOH; 4) 2.5% Ca(OH)2 + 2.5% NaOH; or 5) 5% Ca(OH)2. Five Holstein heifers were fed diets that contained 60% straw, 20% alfalfa hay, and 20% concentrate mix (DM basis) fed as total mixed rations in a 5 x 5 Latin square design. The greatest in vivo NDF digestibility (P < .05) was obtained with the NaOH and NaOH+Ca(OH)2 treatments. The 5% Ca(OH)2 treatment had higher fiber digestibility than the control and was equivalent to the 2.5% NaOH and 2.5% NaOH+Ca(OH)2 treatments. Rate of passage of straw was not affected by chemical treatment, whereas rate of passage of dietary alfalfa hay increased with NaOH. In Exp. 3, wheat straw ground through a 2-mm screen was treated with one of the following chemicals: 1) untreated (control); 2) 5% NaOH; 3) 5% NH4OH; 4) urea supplying N equivalent to 5% NH4OH; and 5) 5% Ca(OH)2 (all on DM basis).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Challenges of space medical operations and life sciences management.

The Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has been the premier launch and landing site for America's space program since the early 1960s. Visitors are cognizant of space vehicles, processing facilities and launch pads which are treasured national resources. However, most are unaware of the unique organization which supports launch and landing activities and manages the center's occupational medicine, environmental health, ecological and environmental monitoring functions, as well as human and plant research programs. Management of this multifaceted organization can be complex because funding its different functions comes from a number of sources. Additionally the diverse disciplines of personnel present a special challenge in maintaining professional competencies while assuring efficiency in cyclical operations. This article explains the organization's structure and reviews some of its accomplishments.