Effects of pen bedding and feeding high crude protein diets on manure composition and greenhouse gas emissions from a feedlot pen surface.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from concentrated animal feeding operations vary by stage of production and management practices. The objective of this research was to study the effect of two dietary crude protein levels (12 and 16%) fed to beef steers in pens with or without corn stover bedding. Manure characteristics and GHG emissions were measured from feedlot pen surfaces. Sixteen equal-sized feedlot pens (19 x 23 m) were used. Eight were bedded approximately twice a week with corn stover and the remaining eight feedlot pens were not bedded. Angus steers (n = 138) were blocked by live weights (lighter and heavier) with 7 to 10 animals per pen. The trial was a 2 x 2 factorial design with factors of two protein levels and two bedding types (bedding vs. non bedding), with four replicates. The study was conducted from June through September and consisted of four -28-day periods. Manure from each pen was scrapped once every 28 days and composite manure samples from each pen were collected. Air samples from pen surfaces were sampled in Tedlar bags using a Vac-U-Chamber coupled with a portable wind tunnel and analyzed with a greenhouse gas gas chromatograph within 24 hr of sampling. The manure samples were analyzed for crude protein (CP), total nitrogen (TN), ammonia (NH3), total volatile fatty acid (TVFA), total carbon (TC), total phosphorus (TP), and potassium (K). The air samples were analyzed for methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrous oxide (N2O) concentrations. The concentration of TN was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in manure from pens with cattle fed the high protein diets. The volatile fatty acids (VFAs) such as acetic, propionic, isobutyric, butyric, isovaleric, and valeric acids concentrations were similar across both treatments. There were no significant differences in pen surface GHG emissions across manure management and dietary crude protein levels.

Interplay between desolvation and secondary structure in mediating cosolvent and temperature induced alpha-synuclein aggregation.

Both increased temperature and moderate concentrations of fluorinated alcohols enhance aggregation of the Parkinson's disease-associated protein α-synuclein (αS). Here, we investigate the secondary structural rearrangements induced by heating and trifluoroethanol [TFE]. At low TFE concentrations, CD spectra feature a negative peak characteristic of disordered polypeptides near 200 nm and a slight shoulder around 220 nm suggesting some polyproline-II content. Upon heating, these peaks weaken, while a weak negative signal develops at 222 nm. At high TFE concentrations, the spectra show distinct minima at 208 and 222 nm, indicative of considerable α-helical structure, which diminish upon heating. We observe a crossover between the low-TFE and high-TFE behavior near 15% TFE, where we previously showed that a partially helical intermediate is populated. We postulate that the protein is well solvated by water at low TFE concentrations and by TFE at high TFE concentrations, but may become desolvated at the crossover point. We discuss the potential roles and interplay of desolvation and helical secondary structure in driving αS aggregation.

Irradiation-hyperthermia in canine hemangiopericytomas: large-animal model for therapeutic response.

Results of irradiation-hyperthermia treatment in 11 dogs with naturally occurring hemangiopericytoma were reported. Similarities of canine and human hemangiopericytomas were described. Orthovoltage X-irradiation followed by microwave-induced hyperthermia resulted in a 91% objective response rate. A statistical procedure was given to evaluate quantitatively the clinical behavior of locally invasive, nonmetastatic tumors in dogs that were undergoing therapy for control of local disease. The procedure used a small sample size and demonstrated distribution of the data on a scaled response as well as transformation of the data through classical parametric and nonparametric statistical methods. These statistical methods set confidence limits on the population mean and placed tolerance limits on a population percentage. Application of the statistical methods to human and animal clinical trials was apparent.

Chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran concentrations in beef animals from a feeding study.

Four calves were fed polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans for 120 days at levels somewhat higher than what may be found in forage near some waste incinerators and manufacturing plants. Four calves were fed identical diets but without the chemicals. Using bioelectrical impedance measurements of total body fat, 30-50% of the dosed 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, and 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF was estimated to be retained by the animals. Although these same congeners were bioconcentrated in adipose tissue (BCF approximately 10), consumer products such as ribeye showed concentrations less than what were found in the animal feed (BCF approximately 0.1). Distribution of the dioxins and furans into various lipid compartments appeared to be rather uniform in back fat, perirenal fat, and ribeye for tetra to hexa congeners. Ribeye, serum, and liver lipids had higher concentrations of the higher chlorinated congeners, due in part to not reaching a steady state. An unexpected source of dioxin and furan contamination was discovered during the experiment, resulting in the control animals having concentrations of some congeners that were equal to or in some cases greater than those of the dosed animals. Pentachlorophenol-treated wood components in the pole barn where the feeding experiment was conducted were found to have contributed to the animals' exposure.

Effect of crambe meal on performance, reproduction, and thyroid hormone levels in gestating and lactating beef cows.

Crambe meal was compared to a combination of sunflower and soybean meal as a protein supplement for mature beef cows in two experiments. In Exp. 1, cows (n = 80, average BW 651+/-14.4 kg) were fed crambe meal at 9.86% of dry matter intake (DMI) during the last trimester of gestation. No differences (P < .05) were detected due to treatment for cow weight, condition score, thyroid hormones, calf birth weight, or calving interval. In Exp. 2, cows (n = 100, average BW 566+/-6.82 kg) were fed crambe meal at 7.44% of DMI during the last trimester of gestation and at 8.33% of DMI during early lactation (53+/-6 d of lactation). Gains were greater during gestation (P = .09) and throughout the supplementation period (P = .06), and days to first estrus were reduced (P < .01) for cows fed crambe meal. During lactation, serum triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations did not decline as much (P = .03) in cows fed crambe meal as in cows fed sunflower-soybean meal-based supplements. No differences (P > .10) were apparent for condition score, birth weight, calf growth rate, weaning weight, thyroid hormones during gestation, or calving interval. These data indicate that crambe meal fed at the levels used in this experiment can be used as a protein supplement for beef cows without negatively affecting cows' performance.

Crambe meal is equivalent to soybean meal for backgrounding and finishing beef steers.

Growth, feed efficiency, and carcass characteristics of 70 crossbred steers fed one of four diets were compared. The four diets differed in source of protein supplementation: 100% soybean meal (SB), 67% SB and 33% crambe meal (CM), 33% SB and 67% CM, and 100% CM. All supplements were fed in isonitrogenous amounts. Steers were fed backgrounding diets (12.9% CP) for 84 d and finishing diets (11.2% CP) for 96 d. Average initial weight was 303.4 kg. Backgrounding gains ranged from 1.38 to 1.41 kg/d (P = .92). Finishing gains ranged from 1.43 to 1.47 kg/d (P = .86). Range in entire-experiment gains was 1.41 to 1.46 kg/d (P = .85). Feed efficiencies were equal; entire-experiment efficiencies averaged .144 (P = .96). Growth and efficiency patterns were the same for all four treatments. No overall treatment differences were detected for the seven carcass variables (P = .26 to .96). Average fat depth, longissimus muscle area, yield grade, and dressing percentage were .95 cm, 84.0 cm2, 2.45, and 61%, respectively. At the protein percentage levels of these diets, CM substituted equally for SB for growth rate, feed efficiency, and carcass characteristics.

Effect of energy source and ruminally degradable protein addition on performance of lactating beef cows and digestion characteristics of steers.

Two trials were conducted to determine the effect of energy source (ENG) and ruminally degradable protein (RDP) on lactating cow performance and intake and digestion in beef steers. In Trial 1, 78 cow-calf pairs were used in a 2 x 2 factorial design to determine the effect of ENG (corn or soyhulls; SH) and RDP (with our without sunflower meal) to a forage diet for lactating beef cows. The basal diet consisted of 75% grass hay (11.5% CP) and 25% wheat straw (7.4% CP). Supplement treatments and predicted RDP balances were corn (-415 g of RDP/d); SH (-260 g of RDP/d); corn plus RDP (0 g of RDP/d); or SH plus RDP (0 g of RDP/d). Data were analyzed as a split-plot in time, with pen as the experimental unit (two pens per treatment). No interaction between ENG and RDP was present (P > 0.08) for any response variable. No differences (P > 0.39) due to ENG or RDP were noted for BW, BCS, or milk yield; however, final calf weight tended to increase with ENG (P = 0.06). In Trial 2, a 5 x 5 Latin square was used to determine effects of ENG and RDP on intake and digestion in steers (686 +/- 51 kg BW). Treatments were arranged as a 2 x 2 plus one factorial and comprised a control (CON; grass hay, 7% CP), grass hay plus 0.4% BW SH, grass hay plus 0.4% BW SH and 0.15% BW sunflower meal, grass hay plus 0.4% BW corn, and grass hay plus 0.4% BW corn and 0.2% BW sunflower meal. Preplanned contrasts included main effects of ENG and RDP, ENG x RDP interaction, and CON vs. supplemented (SUP) treatments. Supplementation increased total DMI compared with CON (P = 0.001), but forage DMI was greater (P = 0.001) for CON than for SUP. An ENG x RDP interaction occurred for forage DMI (P = 0.02); addition of RDP to corn decreased forage intake, whereas addition of RDP to SH had no effect. There was an ENG x RDP interaction (P = 0.001) for ruminal pH; pH tended to increase with RDP addition to SH (P = 0.07), but decreased with RDP addition to corn (P = 0.001). Supplementation increased ruminal ammonia compared with CON (P = 0.001). Likewise, RDP increased ruminal ammonia (P = 0.001). An interaction occurred for OM disappearance (OMD; P = 0.01). The RDP addition to SH numerically decreased OMD (P = 0.23), whereas RDP addition to corn numerically increased OMD (P = 0.14). Intake and digestion seem to respond differently to RDP addition depending on supplemental energy source. Both corn or SH seem to be suitable supplements for the quality of forage used in this trial. Addition of supplemental protein did not improve cow or calf performance.

Influence of crambe meal as a protein source on intake, site of digestion, ruminal fermentation, and microbial efficiency in beef steers fed grass hay.

Four ruminally and duodenally cannulated beef steers (558 +/- 37 kg) were arranged in a 4 x 4 Latin square to evaluate the influence of crambe meal as a protein source on intake, digestion, and microbial efficiency. Steers were offered chopped (10.2 cm) brome hay (6.2% CP) for ad libitum consumption and one of four supplements. Protein sources used were soybean and crambe meals (CM). Protein sources were blended to provide four levels of supplemental CM protein (0, 33, 67, and 100%). Protein supplements were fed to provide similar amounts of protein and energy. Amounts of supplements fed were 831, 885, 950, and 996 g of DM/steer daily for 0, 33, 67, and 100% CM treatments, respectively. Crambe meal represented 0, 2.00, 3.83, and 5.88% of the DM intake for respective treatments. Steers were allowed a 21-d adaptation to diets before each collection period. Supplements were offered at 0800 and forage at 0830. Crambe meal had no influence (P > .10) on forage and total DM intake (grams/kilogram of BW). Apparent total tract, ruminal, and postruminal digestion of OM, NDF, ADF, and N were unaffected (P > .10) by CM supplementation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of gentamicin in sheep.

Dose-related changes in the pharmacokinetics of gentamicin sulfate were investigated in 9 sheep given 3, 10, or 20 mg/kg of body weight IV in a crossover design with a 24-day washout period. The pharmacokinetics of the 3 mg/kg single dose were compared with that of the terminal phase pharmacokinetics of 3 mg of gentamicin/kg IV every 8 hours for 7 days in 8 additional sheep. Serum concentrations were monitored for 21 to 24 days after the dose. Polyexponential equations were fit to each data set. The number of exponential terms was determined by optimizing the fit for each data set. The pharmacokinetics of the 3 mg/kg single dose were mainly described by triexponential equations. The 10 mg/kg and the 20 mg/kg single doses and the 3 mg/kg multiple-dose data were described by a tetraexponential equation. The elimination rate constant was significantly smaller (P less than 0.05) after the larger single doses, and the serum gentamicin clearance increased as the dose increased (P less than 0.05). The crossover design sequence had a significant effect on serum gentamicin clearance and the area under the curve normalized to unit dose (P less than 0.01). The final exponential phase was not detectable with the present assay sensitivity under the 3 mg/kg single dose. The triexponential equation underpredicted the terminal serum concentrations determined after the 3 mg/kg multiple dose, whereas the 4 phase equation overpredicted the same terminal serum concentrations, perhaps reflecting saturation of the tissue pools that were mirrored by the serum gentamicin concentrations after 24 hours. The present study emphasized the complexity of the terminal phase gentamicin. pharmacokinetics and acknowledged the need for a long-term washout period when using the crossover design for gentamicin pharmacokinetic studies.

Relationship between commercially available DNA analysis and phenotypic observations on beef quality and tenderness.

Warner-Bratzler shear force values from 560 mixed breed heifers and steers were used to determine estimates of genetic selection. Cattle were marketed from 2008 to 2011, and included five feedlot based research projects at the North Dakota State University-Carrington Research Extension Center. Samples were collected for IGENITY® analysis providing information that included selection indices and estimated breeding values for carcass traits. DNA-based test results were compared with actual carcass measurements. Marbling accounted for over 10% of the variation in WBSF while hot carcass weight was the second most influential carcass trait accounting for 4% (P<0.01). Regression coefficients of IGENITY® molecular breeding value on phenotype for WBSF, marbling, ribeye area, yield grade, and fat thickness were low (R(2)=0.14, 0.02, 0.03, 0.03, and 0.02, respectively). Therefore selecting cattle for a higher degree of marbling and feeding a diet that meets or exceeds recommended nutrients for growth are the most important factors influencing beef tenderness and acceptability.

Evaluation of feedlot cattle working chute behavior relative to temperament, tenderness, and postmortem proteolysis.

The objective was to investigate if the association between working chute behavior and beef tenderness found in our previous study is related to protein degradation and calpain system activity. Crossbred steers (n=183) allotted to 16 pens were weighed every 28 d. Temperament was evaluated as exit velocity (EV), chute score (CS), and catch score (CAPS). Between 14 and 16 mo of age (606±52 kg), steers were harvested. Strip steaks were collected and aged for 14 d. Subsamples were collected at 36 h and 7d postmortem and analyzed for calpastatin activity, µ-calpain autolysis, and troponin-T degradation. Shear force (WBSF) was correlated (P<0.05) with calpastatin activity and measurements of troponin-T. Calpastatin activity, µ-calpain autolysis, and troponin-T measurements did not correlate with the measurements of EV, CS, and CAPS. Therefore, activation of the calpain system or differences in protein degradation did not appear to influence the differences in tenderness that are correlated with working chute behavior.

Predicting beef tenderness using color and multispectral image texture features.

The objective of this study was to investigate the usefulness of raw meat surface characteristics (texture) in predicting cooked beef tenderness. Color and multispectral texture features, including 4 different wavelengths and 217 image texture features, were extracted from 2 laboratory-based multispectral camera imaging systems. Steaks were segregated into tough and tender classification groups based on Warner-Bratzler shear force. The texture features were submitted to STEPWISE multiple regression and support vector machine (SVM) analyses to establish prediction models for beef tenderness. A subsample (80%) of tender or tough classified steaks were used to train models which were then validated on the remaining (20%) test steaks. For color images, the SVM model correctly identified tender steaks with 100% accurately while the STEPWISE equation identified 94.9% of the tender steaks correctly. For multispectral images, the SVM model predicted 91% and STEPWISE predicted 87% average accuracy of beef tender.