Impact of genetic potential for residual feed intake and diet fed during early- to mid-gestation in beef heifers on carcass characteristics and meat quality attributes of their castrated male offspring.

Carcass attributes of steers were examined for influences of selection for residual feed intake (RFI), and exposure to different levels of prenatal nutrition. Heifers characterized for RFI corrected for backfat were mated to bulls with genetic potential for either High-RFI or Low-RFI, such that the progeny were expected to be H/H or L/L RFI (sire/dam). Pregnant heifers were assigned to a low diet (Ldiet; 0.40 kg/d ADG), or moderate diet (Mdiet; 0.57 kg/d ADG), from 30 to 150 days of gestation, after which all heifers were managed similarly. Steer offspring (n = 23) were also managed similarly until slaughter. Dressing percentage of steers from H-RFI dams/sires exposed to Ldiet during gestation was lower than all other groups (P = 0.02). Marbling was greater for steers from H-RFI parents, as was fat content of longissimus thoracis et lumborum and triceps brachii (P ≤ 0.02). Results suggest that parental selection for RFI and prenatal maternal diet can influence carcass characteristics of progeny.

Neurologic complications of myocarditis.

Myocarditis, a nonischemic acquired cardiomyopathy, is an uncommon condition with multiple presentation patterns which may be initially difficult to recognize and may simulate other conditions such as acute myocardial infarction, pericarditis, septicemia, etc. There are four distinct clinical presentation patterns that include: (1) low-grade nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue; (2) symptoms that resemble an acute myocardial infarction, especially in younger individuals; (3) a heart failure presentation which may be acute, subacute, or chronic and may be associated with cardiac conduction system defects and arrhythmias; and (4) an arrhythmia presentation that may produce sudden cardiac death, especially in young athletes with minimal or no prodromal symptoms. This chapter will provide a brief overview of various myocarditis etiologies and diagnostic modalities. The ultimate focus will be directed toward neurologic manifestations of myocarditis and its subtypes, complications of specific therapies including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for refractory heart failure, and review the current literature regarding the appropriate use of therapeutic anticoagulation in myocarditis and heart failure for stroke prevention. Covid-19 infection has been discovered to cause myocarditis. The emerging science will be discussed. Nuances of brain death (BD) determination in patients receiving venoarterial ECMO for heart failure refractory to standard medical therapies will be discussed.

Sequential Feeding of Lipid Supplement Enriches Beef Adipose Tissues with 18:3n-3 Biohydrogenation Intermediates.

The present study was designed to determine if feeding steers extruded flaxseed and hay (25 and 75%; DM basis) together as a total mixed ration (TMR), or sequentially (non-TMR) would result in different enrichments of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and their biohydrogenation intermediates (BHI) in beef adipose tissues [subcutaneous (SC) vs perirenal (PR) fat]. Forty-eight Angus cross steers (325 ± 16 kg) were stratified by weight to six pens, and pens were randomized to either TMR or non-TMR and fed ad libitum for an average of 242 days. The concentrations of α-linolenic acid increased by 18 mol% in both SC and PR in non-TMR steers compared to TMR steers (P < 0.01). trans 18:1 isomers were more concentrated in PR than SC (14.4 vs 9.5 mol%; P < 0.01) and increased by 10 mol% in both fat depots for non-TMR (P < 0.01). Other BHI including non-methylene-interrupted 18:2 (atypical dienes), conjugated linoleic acids and conjugated linolenic acids (CLnA) were affected by diet × tissue interactions (P < 0.01). The CLnA and CLA contents were higher in both fat depots when feeding the non-TMR, but the effect of diet was more pronounced in PR than in SC (P < 0.01). Atypical dienes were highest in PR from non-TMR and lowest in TMR fed steers (4.3 and 3.6 mol%) with SC contents being intermediate. The sequential feeding of lipid supplement can thus profoundly affect the enrichment of PUFA and their BHI in beef fat and their differentially enrichment is also fat depot dependant.

Effects of feeding steers extruded flaxseed on its own before hay or mixed with hay on animal performance, carcass quality, and meat and hamburger fatty acid composition.

The objective of the present experiment was to determine if carcass quality and fatty acid profiles of longissimus thoracis (LT) and hamburger would be affected by feeding steers extruded flaxseed on its own followed by hay (non-TMR) compared to when hay and extruded flaxseed were fed together (TMR). Forty-eight steers in six pens were assigned to TMR or non-TMR for an average of 242days. Dry matter intake was lower for non-TMR versus TMR steers (10.56 vs. 11.42kg/d; P=0.02), but final live weight (610±0.50kg) and average daily gain (1.18±0.02kg/d) did not differ. Compared to TMR, feeding non-TMR enriched LT and hamburger with α-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3n-3) by 14%, vaccenic acid (VA; t11-18:1) by 44%, rumenic acid (RA; c9,t11-18:2) by 40%, and conjugated linolenic acid (CLnA) by 58%. Overall, feeding extruded flaxseed separately from hay in a non-TMR was more effective at enhancing deposition of ALA, VA, RA and CLnA in beef.

Neurological Complications of Pregnancy.

Physiologic alterations during pregnancy create an environment for the occurrence of disease states that are either unique to pregnancy, occur more frequently in pregnancy, or require special management considerations that may be different from the nonpregnancy state. In the realm of cerebrovascular disease, preeclampsia, eclampsia, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, sources of cardiogenic embolization including peripartum cardiomyopathy, cerebral venous thrombosis, pituitary apoplexy, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, and special considerations for anticoagulation during pregnancy will be discussed. Management of epilepsy during pregnancy counterbalances maternal freedom from seizures against the potential for major, minor, cognitive, and behavioral fetal deformities. Teratogenic potential of the most common anticonvulsants are described. Considerations for anticonvulsant level monitoring during pregnancy are based upon differences in medication clearance in comparison to the prepregnancy state. The most common neuromuscular disorders of pregnancy are reviewed.

Effect of maturity at harvest for whole-crop barley and oat on dry matter intake, sorting, and digestibility when fed to beef cattle.

The objectives were to evaluate the effect of harvest maturity of whole-crop oat (Study 1) and whole-crop barley (Study 2) on forage intake and sorting, ruminal fermentation, ruminal digestibility, and total tract digestibility when fed to beef heifers. In Study 1, 3 ruminally cannulated heifers (417 ± 5 kg) were used in a 3 × 3 Latin square design with 24-d periods. Whole-crop oat forage harvested at the late milk (LMILK), hard dough (HD), or ripe (RP) stages was fed for ad libitum intake and heifers were supplemented (1% of BW) with alfalfa pellets, barley grain, canola meal, and a mineral and vitamin pellet. Maturity at harvest for whole-crop oat did not affect ( ≥ 0.058) forage intake, DE intake, amount of forage refused, ruminal short-chain fatty acid concentration, or digestibility of DM, OM, NDF, and ADF. Ruminal starch digestibility decreased ( < 0.001) from 92.6% at the LMILK stage to 90.0% at the RP stage, with total tract starch digestibility decreasing ( = 0.043) from 95.8% at the LMILK stage to 94.8% at the RP stage. Ruminal CP digestibility was reduced at the HD stage compared with the LMILK and RP stages ( < 0.001). Mean ruminal pH was greatest for the LMILK stage (6.36; = 0.003) compared with the HD and RP stages (6.30 and 6.28, respectively). In Study 2, 6 ruminally cannulated heifers (273 ± 16 kg) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 24-d periods. Dietary treatments included ad libitum access to whole-crop barley harvested at the LMILK, HD, or RP stage and a constant rate (0.8% BW) of supplement containing alfalfa pellets, barley grain, canola meal, and a mineral and vitamin pellet. Dry matter intake, ruminal content mass, and feeding behavior were not affected by harvest maturity ( ≥ 0.16). There was a decrease in total tract digestibility of DM, OM, and NDF observed at the HD stage compared with the LMILK and RP stages ( ≤ 0.004). Ruminal NDF digestibility decreased from 69.7% at the LMILK stage to 54.4% at the HD stage and 54.9% at the RP stage ( = 0.001), whereas ruminal ADF digestibility decreased from 70.0% at the LMILK stage to 44.4% at the HD stage and 42.5% at the RP stage ( = 0.002). Minimum and mean ruminal pH were least for the LMILK stage, intermediate at the RP stage, and greatest at the HD stage ( = 0.016 and = 0.031, respectively). These data suggest that despite reductions in ruminal digestibility of NDF and ADF with advancing maturity, harvesting whole-crop oat and barley forage at the HD and RP stages of maturity did not negatively affect DMI, fermentation characteristics, or DE relative to whole-crop cereal forage harvested at the LMILK stage.

Effects of diets supplemented with sunflower or flax seeds on quality and fatty acid profile of hamburgers made with perirenal or subcutaneous fat.

Steers were fed grass hay or red clover silage based diets containing flaxseed or sunflower seed as sources of 18:3n-3 and 18:2n-6 respectively. Hamburgers were made from triceps brachii and perirenal or subcutaneous fat. Perirenal-hamburgers contained more polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), several PUFA biohydrogenation intermediates (BHI), and 18:0 (P<0.05). Oxidative stability was similar across hamburgers (P>0.05). Sensory differences were found due to hamburger fat source, but were < one panel unit. Within perirenal-hamburgers, feeding flaxseed increased 18:3n-3 and its BHI (P<0.05), and feeding sunflower seed increased 18:2n-6 and its BHI (P<0.05). Feeding flaxseed increased off-flavour intensity and oxidation in perirenal-hamburgers (P<0.05). Feeding oilseeds in forage based diets while using perirenal fat to make hamburgers provides opportunities to increase PUFA and BHI with potential to impact human health, but control measures need to be explored to limit oxidation and off-flavours when feeding flaxseed.

Inclusion of sunflower seed and wheat dried distillers' grains with solubles in a red clover silage-based diet enhances steers performance, meat quality and fatty acid profiles.

The current study compared beef production, quality and fatty acid (FA) profiles of yearling steers fed a control diet containing 70 : 30 red clover silage (RCS) : barley-based concentrate, a diet containing 11% sunflower seed (SS) substituted for barley, and diets containing SS with 15% or 30% wheat dried distillers' grain with solubles (DDGS). Additions of DDGS were balanced by reductions in RCS and SS to maintain crude fat levels in diets. A total of two pens of eight animals were fed per diet for an average period of 208 days. Relative to the control diet, feeding the SS diet increased (P<0.05) average daily gain, final live weight and proportions of total n-6 FA, non-conjugated 18:2 biohydrogenation products (i.e. atypical dienes) with the first double bond at carbon 8 or 9 from the carboxyl end, conjugated linoleic acid isomers with the first double bond from carbon 7 to 10 from the carboxyl end, t-18:1 isomers, and reduced (P<0.05) the proportions of total n-3 FA, conjugated linolenic acids, branched-chain FA, odd-chain FA and 16:0. Feeding DDGS-15 and DDGS-30 diets v. the SS diet further increased (P<0.05) average daily gains, final live weight, carcass weight, hot dressing percentage, fat thickness, rib-eye muscle area, and improved instrumental and sensory panel meat tenderness. However, in general feeding DGGS-15 or DDGS-30 diets did not change FA proportions relative to feeding the SS diet. Overall, adding SS to a RCS-based diet enhanced muscle proportions of 18:2n-6 biohydrogenation products, and further substitutions of DDGS in the diet improved beef production, and quality while maintaining proportions of potentially functional bioactive FA including vaccenic and rumenic acids.

Types of oilseed and adipose tissue influence the composition and relationships of polyunsaturated fatty acid biohydrogenation products in steers fed a grass hay diet.

The current study evaluated the composition and relationships of polyunsaturated fatty acid biohydrogenation products (PUFA-BHP) from the perirenal (PRF) and subcutaneous fat (SCF) of yearling steers fed a 70 % grass hay diet with concentrates containing either sunflower-seed (SS) or flaxseed (FS). Analysis of variance indicated several groups or families of structurally related FA, and individual FA within these were affected by a number of novel oilseed by fat depot interactions (P < 0.05). Feeding diets containing SS increased the proportions of non-conjugated 18:2 BHP (i.e., atypical dienes, AD) and conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) with the first double bond from carbon 7 to 9, trans-18:1 isomers with double bonds from carbon 6 to 12, and these PUFA-BHP had greater proportions in SCF compared to PRF (P < 0.05). Enrichment of conjugated linolenic acids, AD and CLA isomers with the first double bond in position 11 or 12, and t-18:1 isomers with double bonds from carbon 13 to 16 were achieved by feeding diets containing FS, with PRF having greater proportions than SCF (P < 0.05). Principal component analysis visually confirmed interaction effects on these groups/families of FA, and further confirmed or suggested a number of relationships between PUFA-BHP. Feeding SS or FS in a grass hay diet and exploiting adipose tissue differences, therefore, present unique opportunities to differentially enrich a number of PUFA-BHP which seem to have positive health potential in humans (i.e., t11-18:1, c9,t11-18:2 and c9,t11,c15-18:3).

Neurology of pregnancy.

Pregnancy creates alterations in maternal physiology which predispose to unique neurologic disorders. Pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, certain types of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, and thunderclap headache all appear to share a common origin from vascular endothelial dysfunction, with overlapping clinical presentations. Multiple sclerosis often improves during pregnancy. Compression mononeuropathies may occur in the extremities. Myasthenia gravis may affect second stage labor. Various inflammatory peripheral neuropathies, dystrophies, myopathies may occur during pregnancy. The safety of specific immune suppressants is reviewed. Epilepsy does not have a significant effect upon the course of pregnancy, albeit there is a modest increase in the need for cesarean section. Certain antiepileptic drugs may produce fetal malformations, most notably valproic acid. Brain tumors are rare during pregnancy, but may increase in size due to activation of hormonal receptors on tumor cells surfaces, water retention, and engorged blood vessels.

Effects of feeding flaxseed or sunflower-seed in high-forage diets on beef production, quality and fatty acid composition.

Yearling steers were fed 70:30 forage:concentrate diets for 205 d, with either grass hay (GH) or red clover silage (RC) as the forage source, and concentrates containing either sunflower-seed (SS) or flaxseed (FS), each providing 5.4% oil to diets. Feeding diets containing SS versus FS significantly improved growth and carcass attributes (P<0.05), significantly reduced meat off-flavor intensity (P<0.05), and significantly increased intramuscular proportions of vaccenic (t11-18:1), rumenic (c9,t11-CLA) and n-6 fatty acids (FA, P<0.05). Feeding diets containing FS versus SS produced significantly darker and redder meat with greater proportions of atypical dienes (P<0.05). A significant forage × oilseed type interaction (P<0.05) was found for n-3 FA, α-linolenic acid, and conjugated linolenic acid, with their greatest intramuscular proportions found when feeding the RC-FS diet. Feeding GH versus RC also significantly improved growth and carcass attributes, sensory tenderness (P<0.05) and significantly influenced intramuscular FA composition (P<0.05), but overall, forage effects on FA profiles were limited compared to effects of oilseed.

Effect of maturity at harvest on yield, chemical composition, and in situ degradability for annual cereals used for swath grazing.

The objective of this study was to determine how harvest maturity of whole-crop cereals commonly used in swath grazing systems in western Canada affects yield, chemical composition, and in situ digestibility. We hypothesized that the increase in yield with advancing maturity would not offset the decline in digestibility and, thus, the yield of effectively degradable DM (EDDM) would decline with advanced stages of maturity. Four replicate plots of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.; cv. CDC Cowboy), millet (Panicum milliaceum; cv. Red Proso), oat (Avena sativa L., spp.; CDC Weaver), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.; cv. 07FOR21) were grown, with a subsection in each replicate harvested at 4 different maturities: head elongation, late milk, hard dough, and fully mature. At each stage of maturity, the wet and DM yields, and chemical composition (DM, OM, NDF, crude fat, and nonfiber carbohydrates; NFC) were determined. Whole-crop samples were ground (2-mm screen) and weighed into nylon bags (pore size of 53 ± 10 µm), and duplicate incubation runs were conducted by crop type. For each incubation run, nylon bags were randomly allocated (randomized by field replication, stage of maturity, and incubation time) to 1 of 7 heifers (32 bags/heifer during each run). Degradation rates were determined using a first-order kinetic model and data were analyzed with stage of maturity as a fixed effect and plot as a random effect. The DM, OM, and NFC yields increased linearly for barley and oat (P < 0.001), and increased quadratically for millet and wheat (P ≤ 0.025). Neutral detergent fiber yield increased linearly for barley (P = 0.005) and quadratically for millet, oat, and wheat (P = 0.044). There were no changes in CP yield observed for barley, millet, or oat with advancing maturity, but there was a linear increase observed for wheat (P = 0.002). The NFC concentration increased linearly for barley, millet, and oat (P < 0.001), and quadratically for wheat (P < 0.001), whereas the EDDM concentration decreased quadratically for millet, oat, and wheat (P = 0.003). The degradation rate of NDF decreased linearly with advancing maturity (P ≤ 0.014) for millet, oat, and wheat, but was not affected for barley (P = 0.13). The yield EDDM increased linearly for barley and oat (P < 0.001), and increased quadratically for millet and wheat (P ≤ 0.025). These findings suggest that harvesting whole-crop annual cereals at the hard dough and mature stages may maximize the yield of EDDM.

Eleven commonly asked questions about ischemic stroke.

Strokes are a major public health problem. In the United States, someone has a stroke every 40 seconds, and someone dies from a stroke every 4 minutes. This article discusses the diagnosis and management of stroke by posing 11 commonly asked questions about this disease.

Management of intracerebral hemorrhage in the presence of anticoagulant therapy.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) represents a potentially lethal form of stroke. ICH in a patient taking anticoagulant therapy presents unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Specific clinical circumstances, outcomes, and evidence-based or rationally derived treatments (when the evidence is incomplete) are reviewed.

Commonly asked questions: thrombolytic therapy in the management of acute stroke.

Questions about thrombolytic management arise frequently, often with the intent of ascertaining safety and efficacy in specific situations. Thrombolytic therapy is generally safe, even if a nonruptured intracranial aneurysm is present. The risk of cardiac rupture with tamponade is low, except for the first 7 weeks following myocardial infarction. Over this duration, there is an increased risk of intravenous thrombolytic therapy in specific patient groups. Stroke infrequently occurs during cardiac catheterization. Its infrequent occurrence has limited large treatment trials. Basilar artery occlusion management will be reviewed. Thrombolytic therapy is generally safe in the context of pre-existing cerebral microhemorrhages and cervical artery dissections. Additionally, the role of multimodal penumbral imaging in planning stroke therapy will be reviewed.

Understanding the differences in molecular conformation of carbohydrate and protein in endosperm tissues of grains with different biodegradation kinetics using advanced synchrotron technology.

Conventional "wet" chemical analyses rely heavily on the use of harsh chemicals and derivatization, thereby altering native seed structures leaving them unable to detect any original inherent structures within an intact tissue sample. A synchrotron is a giant particle accelerator that turns electrons into light (million times brighter than sunlight) which can be used to study the structure of materials at the molecular level. Synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform IR microspectroscopy (SR-FTIRM) has been developed as a rapid, direct, non-destructive and bioanalytical technique. This technique, taking advantage of the brightness of synchrotron light and a small effective source size, is capable of exploring the molecular chemistry within the microstructures of a biological tissue without the destruction of inherent structures at ultraspatial resolutions within cellular dimensions. This is in contrast to traditional 'wet' chemical methods, which, during processing for analysis, often result in the destruction of the intrinsic structures of feeds. To date there has been very little application of this technique to the study of plant seed tissue in relation to nutrient utilization. The objective of this study was to use novel synchrotron radiation-based technology (SR-FTIRM) to identify the differences in the molecular chemistry and conformation of carbohydrate and protein in various plant seed endosperms within intact tissues at cellular and subcellular level from grains with different biodegradation kinetics. Barley grain (cv. Harrington) with a high rate (31.3%/h) and extent (78%), corn grain (cv. Pioneer) with a low rate (9.6%/h) and extent of (57%), and wheat grain (cv. AC Barrie) with an intermediate rate (23%/h) and extent (72%) of ruminal DM degradation were selected for evaluation. SR-FTIRM evaluations were performed at the National Synchrotron Light Source at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (Brookhaven, NY). The molecular structure spectral analysis involved the fingerprint regions of ca. 1720-1485 cm(-1) (attributed to protein amide I C=O and C-N stretching; amide II N-H bending and C-N stretching), ca. 1650-950 cm(-1) (non-structural CHO starch in endosperms), and ca. 1185-800 cm(-1) (attributed to total CHO C-O stretching vibrations) together with agglomerative hierarchical cluster and principal component analyses. Analyses involving the protein amide I features consistently identified differences between all three grains. Other analyses involving carbohydrate features were able to differentiate between wheat and barley but failed however to differentiate between wheat and corn. These results suggest that SR-FTIRM plus the multivariate analyses can be used to identify spectral features associated with the molecular structure of endosperm from grains with different biodegradation kinetics, especially in relation to protein structure. The Novel synchrotron radiation-based bioanalytical technique provides a new approach for plant seed structural molecular studies at ultraspatial resolution and within intact tissue in relation to nutrient availability.

A high-density SNP genome-wide linkage scan in a large autism extended pedigree.

We performed a high-density, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), genome-wide scan on a six-generation pedigree from Utah with seven affected males, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Using a two-stage linkage design, we first performed a nonparametric analysis on the entire genome using a 10K SNP chip to identify potential regions of interest. To confirm potentially interesting regions, we eliminated SNPs in high linkage disequilibrium (LD) using a principal components analysis (PCA) method and repeated the linkage results. Three regions met genome-wide significance criteria after controlling for LD: 3q13.2-q13.31 (nonparametric linkage (NPL), 5.58), 3q26.31-q27.3 (NPL, 4.85) and 20q11.21-q13.12 (NPL, 5.56). Two regions met suggestive criteria for significance 7p14.1-p11.22 (NPL, 3.18) and 9p24.3 (NPL, 3.44). All five chromosomal regions are consistent with other published findings. Haplotype sharing results showed that five of the affected subjects shared more than a single chromosomal region of interest with other affected subjects. Although no common autism susceptibility genes were found for all seven autism cases, these results suggest that multiple genetic loci within these regions may contribute to the autism phenotype in this family, and further follow-up of these chromosomal regions is warranted.

Rapid characterization of molecular chemistry, nutrient make-up and microlocation of internal seed tissue.

Wheat differs from corn in biodegradation kinetics and fermentation characteristics. Wheat exhibits a relatively high rate (23% h(-1)) and extent (78% DM) of biodegradation, which can lead to metabolic problems such as acidosis and bloat in ruminants. The objective of this study was to rapidly characterize the molecular chemistry of the internal structure of wheat (cv. AC Barrie) and reveal both its structural chemical make-up and nutrient component matrix by analyzing the intensity and spatial distribution of molecular functional groups within the intact seed using advanced synchrotron-powered Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy. The experiment was performed at the U2B station of the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York, USA. The wheat tissue was imaged systematically from the pericarp, seed coat, aleurone layer and endosperm under the peaks at approximately 1732 (carbonyl C=O ester), 1515 (aromatic compound of lignin), 1650 (amide I), 1025 (non-structural CHO), 1550 (amide II), 1246 (cellulosic material), 1160, 1150, 1080, 930, 860 (all CHO), 3350 (OH and NH stretching), 2928 (CH(2) stretching band) and 2885 cm(-1) (CH(3) stretching band). Hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis were applied to analyze the molecular FTIR spectra obtained from the different inherent structures within the intact wheat tissues. The results showed that, with synchrotron-powered FTIR microspectroscopy, images of the molecular chemistry of wheat could be generated at an ultra-spatial resolution. The features of aromatic lignin, structural and non-structural carbohydrates, as well as nutrient make-up and interactions in the seeds, could be revealed. Both principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis methods are conclusive in showing that they can discriminate and classify the different inherent structures within the seed tissue. The wheat exhibited distinguishable differences in the structural and nutrient make-up among the pericarp, seed coat, aleurone layer and endosperm. Such information on the molecular chemistry can be used for grain-breeding programs for selecting a superior variety of wheat targeted for food and feed purposes and for predicting wheat quality and nutritive value in humans and animals. Thus advanced synchrotron-powered FTIR technology can provide a greater understanding of the plant-animal interface.

Evaluation of average daily gain prediction by level one of the 1996 National Research Council beef model and development of net energy adjusters.

Two data sets were developed to evaluate and refine feed energy predictions with the beef National Research Council (NRC, 1996) model level 1. The first data set included pen means of group-fed cattle from 31 growing trials (201 observations) and 17 finishing trials (154 observations) representing over 7,700 animals fed outside in dirt lots. The second data set consisted of 15 studies with individually fed cattle (916 observations) fed in a barn. In each data set, actual ADG was compared with ADG predicted with the NRC model level 1, assuming thermoneutral environmental conditions. Next, the observed ADG (kg), TDN intake (kg/d), and TDN concentration (kg/kg of DM) were used to develop equations to adjust the level 1 predicted diet NEm and NEg (diet NE adjusters) to be applied to more accurately predict ADG. In both data sets, the NRC (1996) model level 1 inaccurately predicted ADG (P < 0.001 for slope = 1; intercept = 0 when observed ADG was regressed on predicted ADG). The following nonlinear relationships to adjust NE based on observed ADG, TDN intake, and TDN concentration were all significant (P < 0.001): NE adjuster = 0.7011 x 10(-0.8562 x ADG) + 0.8042, R2 = 0.325, s(y.x) = 0.136 kg; NE adjuster = 4.795 10(-0.3689 x TDN intake) + 0.8233, R2 x = 0.714, s(y.x) = 0.157 kg; and NE adjuster = 357 x 10(-5.449 x TDN concentration) + 0.8138, R2 = 0.754, s(y.x) = 0.127 kg. An NE adjuster < 1 indicates overprediction of ADG. The average NE adjustment required for the pen-fed finishing trials was 0.820, whereas the (P < 0.001) adjustment of 0.906 for individually fed cattle indicates that the pen-fed environment increased NE requirements. The use of these equations should improve ADG prediction by the NRC (1996) model level 1, although the equations reflect limitations of the data from which they were developed and are appropriate only over the range of the developmental data set. There is a need for independent evaluation of the ability of the equations to improve ADG prediction by the NRC (1996) model level 1.

Optimal wet corn gluten and protein levels in steam-flaked corn-based finishing diets for steer calves.

A feeding trial evaluated the hypothesis that wet corn gluten feed would improve growth performance of cattle fed steam-flaked corn-based finishing diets and supply required degradable intake protein (DIP). The trial used 360 steer calves (initial BW = 288 +/- 11 kg) housed in 36 pens for 166 d in an incomplete 4 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. Pens of steers were assigned to treatments according to a completely randomized design (four replicates per treatment combination). Treatments were wet corn gluten feed (0, 20, 30, or 40% of dietary DM) and CP (13.0, 13.7, or 14.4% of dietary DM) via supplemental urea as DIP. The 0% wet corn gluten feed treatment included only the 13.7% CP diet, and the 40% wet corn gluten feed treatment included only the 13.7 and 14.4% CP diets. Final dietary DIP concentration was 9.0% for 0% wet corn gluten feed; 8.7, 9.5, and 10.2% for 20% wet corn gluten feed; 9.0, 9.7, and 10.3% DIP for 30% wet corn gluten feed; and 10.0 and 10.6% for 40% wet corn gluten feed. Hot carcass weight, ADG, DMI, and G:F responded quadratically (P < or = 0.05) to wet corn gluten feed. The 20, 30, and 40% wet corn gluten feed treatments increased ADG by 7, 6, and 3% and increased DMI by 4, 5, and 5%, respectively, relative to the 0% wet corn gluten feed treatment. Feed efficiency was 102, 101, and 98% of the 0% wet corn gluten feed treatment for 20, 30, and 40% wet corn gluten feed, respectively. Hot carcass weight, ADG, and G:F increased linearly (P < or = 0.05) in response to increased DIP. Nonlinear analysis for DIP over the combined 20 and 30% wet corn gluten feed treatments indicated a DIP requirement of 9.6% of DM for ADG and 9.2% of DM for G:F, corresponding to 14.6 and 14.3% CP for 20% wet corn gluten feed and 14.8 and 14.5% CP for 30% wet corn gluten feed, respectively. Fat thickness, marbling, LM area, and USDA yield grade were not affected (P = 0.12 to 0.99) by wet corn gluten feed or CP. These results show that the inclusion rate of wet corn gluten feed for maximizing ADG and G:F in steam-flaked corn-based finishing diets is approximately 20% of DM. The DIP requirement determined in this trial averaged 9.4% of DM.