For giraffes, few standardized methods exist for quantifying chronic stress. Allostatic load index is quantified from a panel of multi-system stress biomarkers to estimate cumulative stress. Our ...objective was to determine whether a panel of biomarkers selected for their role in allostatic load would reflect the number of documented stress events experienced by giraffes. Cortisol, DHEA-S, cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and fructosamine were determined in serum samples from zoo-housed giraffes (n = 18). These were correlated with the overall number and frequency of ZIMS-documented stress events experienced prior to blood collection. We also compared giraffes grouped by high vs. low total stress events and event frequencies. Giraffes experiencing higher total stress events tended to have 1.65-fold greater (p < 0.10) serum cortisol, had 1.49-fold greater (p < 0.05) serum fructosamine, and had 3.9-fold greater (p < 0.05) allostatic load. Giraffes experiencing higher stress-event frequency had 2.4-fold greater (p < 0.05) serum NEFA. Correlations for individual biomarkers with individual stress event categories were inconsistent, but DHEA-S (r = −0.44), cortisol/DHEA-S (r = 0.49), fructosamine (r = 0.54), and allostatic load (r = 0.49) correlated (p < 0.10) with total stress events. These findings indicate that the allostatic load index robustly reflected total cumulative stress events for these giraffes and was more consistent than the individual biomarkers used for its calculation. We conclude that allostatic load index is a promising tool for assessing stress in captive giraffes, although revision of the biomarker panel is warranted.
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate potency and timing of trenbolone acetate (TBA) administration on live performance and carcass characteristics of beef × dairy steers. A total of ...6,895 beef × dairy steers initial body weight (BW) = 157 ± 5.2 kg were allotted into 30 pens, with pen as the experimental unit. Each pen was randomly assigned one of three implant treatments: 1) Revalor-IS (IS) at d 0, IS at d 80, and Revalor-XS (XS) at d 160 (IS/IS/XS); 2) Ralgro at d 0, IS at d 80, and XS at d 160 (Ral/IS/XS); or 3) Encore at d 0 and XS at d 160 (Enc/XS). Steers were blocked by arrival date, each pen was terminally sorted in three ways at 257 ± 22 days on feed and harvested at 329 ± 25 days on feed. For live and carcass outcomes, fixed effect of implant treatment and random effect of block was evaluated. Data are reported on a deads and removals out basis. Removals, morbidity, and mortality were similar (P ≥ 0.45). Steers administered TBA prior to d 160 were 5.8 kg heavier (P = 0.03) than Enc/XS steers at d 160. Final BW was not different (P = 0.78). Early administration of a TBA-containing implant resulted in an increased prevalence of bullers 2.40%, 5.18%, 6.86% (for Enc/XS, Ral/IS/XS, and IS/IS/XS) respectively; P < 0.01. Dry matter intake (DMI) was 2.3% greater (P < 0.01) in steers administered Enc/XS compared to IS/IS/XS; however, DMI as a percentage of BW, average daily gain, and feed efficiency were not different (P ≥ 0.12). Dressing percentage, hot carcass weight, heavy carcass occurrence, Longissimus muscle area, and 12th rib fat thickness were similar among all steers (P ≥ 0.28). Marbling score tended to be greatest for Enc/XS and Ral/IS/XS (P = 0.09). Enc/XS graded a greater proportion of USDA Prime and fewer USDA Select carcasses than IS/IS/XS (P < 0.05). Enc/XS and Ral/IS/XS tended (P = 0.09) to have more USDA Yield Grade (YG) 1 carcasses. While delayed administration or decreased total potency of TBA-containing implants may decrease buller incidence and improve Quality Grade, few differences were observed in live or carcass outcomes.
Increased potency and earlier administration of TBA-containing implants increased prevalence of bullers, but implant treatment did not affect live growth performance outcomes.
Quality Grade improved and empty body fat percentage was greater in steers administered the lowest potency and latest administration of TBA implants, with no other differences for carcass performance.
Lay Summary
This experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of timing and potency of trenbolone acetate (TBA) on live and carcass performance of beef × dairy steers. Administration of TBA occurred at d 0, 80, or 160 in total dosages of 320, 240, or 160 mg for IS/IS/XS, Ral/IS/XS, or Enc/XS, respectively. Morbidity and mortality were similar for implant treatment; however, percentage of buller steers increased as TBA was administered earlier and at higher dosages. Feed intake increased in steers receiving greater dosages of TBA, but no differences in feed efficiency or growth performance were observed. Final body weight, hot carcass weight, and dressing percentage were not affected by implant treatment. Aside from improved marbling score and Quality Grade for the least and latest dosage of TBA treatment, no differences in carcass characteristics were observed. These results indicate decreased dosage and delayed administration of TBA-containing implants may improve quality grade with minimal effects on live and carcass performance compared to greater and earlier TBA administration treatments in beef × dairy steers.
We evaluated gene transcription in canine skeletal muscle (biceps femoris) using microarray analysis to identify effects of age and diet on gene expression. Twelve female beagles were used (six ...1-year olds and six 12-year olds) and they were fed one of two experimental diets for 12 months. One diet contained primarily plant-based protein sources (PPB), whereas the second diet contained primarily animal-based protein sources (APB). Affymetrix GeneChip Canine Genome Arrays were used to hybridize extracted RNA. Age had the greatest effect on gene transcription (262 differentially expressed genes), whereas the effect of diet was relatively small (22 differentially expressed genes). Effects of age (regardless of diet) were most notable on genes related to metabolism, cell cycle and cell development, and transcription function. All these genes were predominantly down-regulated in geriatric dogs. Age-affected genes that were differentially expressed on only one of two diets were primarily noted in the PPB diet group (144/165 genes). Again, genes related to cell cycle (22/35) and metabolism (15/19) had predominantly decreased transcription in geriatric dogs, but 6/8 genes related to muscle development had increased expression. Effects of diet on muscle gene expression were mostly noted in geriatric dogs, but no consistent patterns in transcription were observed. The insight these data provide into gene expression profiles of canine skeletal muscle as affected by age, could serve as a foundation for future research pertaining to age-related muscle diseases.
The Online FFA Veterinary Science Career Development Event (CDE) Study Website was created to better prepare FFA members for the Veterinary Science CDE but is useful to Extension educators as well. ...The website provides resources for students who may not have access to hands-on study materials for the CDE. These resources include (a) instructional videos of clinical and handling and restraint practicums, (b) photographic identification examples, and (c) practice examinations. Students indicated that they felt more prepared for the CDE after using the online study guide. Because of the types of materials on the website, the site can be used in various ways by Extension educators working with youths interested in animal sciences.
At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, veterinary students enrolled in a nutritional biochemistry course designed their own case studies in groups of 4-5 people. Upon completion of the project, ...students completed an exit survey ranking items on a 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) Likert-type scale to analyze the effectiveness of using case studies. A total of 41 students completed the survey. Students indicated that they had a better appreciation for nutrition research after they completed the project (mean = 3.54, SD = 1.21). Students expressed that the nutrition assignment allowed them to apply what they had learned in previous classes to the case study they were presenting (mean = 3.78, SD = 0.91), as well as, allowed them to apply what they were taught in this class to their case study (mean = 4.09, SD = 0.92) . Individuals indicated that the completion of the project did not improve their communication skills (mean = 2.63, SD = 1.01), but did slightly improve their critical thinking skills (mean = 3.29, SD = 0.98). The project objective was to encourage students to connect previous knowledge to new concepts, but the group-work/case study likely had other benefits beyond this one project.
The chemical composition and protein quality of 11 alternative protein sources (chicken products, blood products, enzyme-hydrolyzed fish protein concentrate, soybean meal, and spray-dried pork liver) ...were determined, and an experiment was conducted to determine palatability and digestibility of processed red blood cell-containing diets. Chicken protein sources differed in concentrations of CP, acid-hydrolyzed fat, and total AA (TAA) by 20, 31, and 24%, respectively, and GE by 1.7 kcal/g. Blood protein sources varied little in acid-hydrolyzed fat and GE concentrations, but concentrations of CP and TAA differed by 11 and 8%, respectively. Protein solubility of chicken and blood protein source categories averaged 57 and 69%, respectively. Protein solubility of enzyme-hydrolyzed fish protein concentrate, soybean meal, and spray-dried pork liver was 53, 67, and 26%, respectively. Based on calculations from immobilized digestive enzyme assay values, lysine digestibility averaged approximately 80.4 and 81.7% for blood and chicken protein sources, respectively. Lysine digestibility values for soybean meal and spray-dried pork liver were 89 and 77%, respectively. A chick protein efficiency ratio (PER) assay showed that chicken protein sources had high protein quality values, as the PER ranged from 2.7 to 5.3, whereas blood protein sources had poor protein quality (PER values less than 1.5). Enzyme-hydrolyzed fish protein concentrate, spray-dried pork liver, and soybean meal had high protein quality (PER values greater than 2.8). In the dog palatability and digestibility experiments, a corn and chicken-based diet supplemented with either 0 or 3% processed red blood cells was tested. The palatability test showed that dogs consumed more of the diet that contained 0% vs. 3% processed red blood cells. The intake ratio for the 3% processed red blood cells diet was 0.34. Nutrient digestibilities did not differ, except for CP, where the digestibility was greater (P = 0.01) for dogs consuming the 0% processed red blood cells diet. These data suggest that chemical composition and quality of alternative protein sources differ greatly among ingredients within the same category. Palatability data suggest that a processed red blood cells-containing diet is not highly palatable but, when this diet was offered as only one food, dogs demonstrated no aversion response but some decrease in protein digestion.
Abstract
A trial utilizing 3,340 beef steers (initial BW = 387 ± 14.2 kg; DOF = 161 ± 7) was conducted to evaluate the effects of tylosin removal from finishing diets with increasing roughage ...concentration. A randomized complete block design with 8 pen replications (70 steers/pen) and 4 treatments were used. Dietary treatments were: 1) 7.1% corn stalks with tylosin (7.1TYL), 2) 7.1% corn stalks with no tylosin (7.1NT), 3) 13.1% corn stalks with no tylosin (13.1NT), or 4) 19.1% corn stalks with no tylosin (19.1NT). Corn stalks replaced steam flaked corn on a DM basis. Data were analyzed using the ANOVA procedure of Stata 15 with fixed effects of treatment and block and pen was the experimental unit. Categorical data (carcass grade distributions and liver scores) were analyzed using logistic regression (binreg; Stata 15). Single degree of freedom contrasts were used to compare 7.1TYL vs. 7.1NT; 7.1TYL vs. 13.1NT and 19.1NT; and the linear effect of increasing roughage without tylosin. Increased roughage resulted in a linear increase in DMI (P < 0.001). Increased roughage linearly reduced final BW, ADG, and resulted in poorer G:F (P ≤ 0.001). Final HCW was similar between 7.1TYL and 7.1NT (411 vs. 410 kg, respectively; P = 0.49); however, HCW linearly decreased as roughage increased (410, 408, or 401 kg, respectively; P < 0.001). Tylosin inclusion reduced liver abscess occurrence by 32.1% (13.03 vs. 19.18%, respectively; P = 0.001). Liver abscess occurrence decreased linearly with increased roughage (19.18, 11.88, or 14.40%, respectively; P = 0.009). Increased roughage did not improve liver abscess severity (P ≥ 0.13).These data indicate that replacing steam flaked corn with corn stalks in diets without tylosin may reduce liver abscess occurrence but not severity. However, decreased dietary energy led to increased DMI and lighter HCW in cattle fed to the same DOF.
An abstract of an article by Holland et al evaluating the effects of tylosin removal from finishing diets with increasing roughage concentration by trial utilizing 3,340 beef steers (initial BW = 387 ...± 14.2 kg; DOF = 161 ± 7) is presented. A randomized complete block design with 8 pen replications (70 steers/pen) and 4 treatments were used.
Differences in cultural and economic status may place ethnic subgroups of children at higher risk for exposure, leading to heightened health risks, and health inequities. Although Latino-Americans ...represent 22 % of all children in the United States, few studies have explored within-group differences in their exposure to toxicants. Using socio-demographic and biomarker data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2008, we characterized determinants of health and estimated geometric means of environmental contaminant biomarkers (blood concentrations of lead and mercury, serum concentrations of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene p,p'-DDE and cotinine, and urinary metabolites of organophosphate OP pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs) among 4,257 Mexican American (MA), 677 Other Latino-American (OL), and 3,370 Non-Hispanic White (NHW) children. MAs had the lowest levels of health insurance coverage and regular access to health care, and largest household size compared to NHWs and OLs. MAs had higher levels of p,p'-DDE, lead, and cadmium while OLs had higher estimates of mercury relative to other groups. MAs had higher urinary metabolite concentrations of 2-hydroxynaphthalene; otherwise MAs and OLs had lower concentrations of PAHs. NHWs had higher levels of cotinine and dimethylthiophosphate. For other OP metabolites, differences among groups were less clear. Lead and p,p'-DDE exposure differences likely reflect later and less regulatory control of these chemicals in Latin America. Additionally, poor quality housing with lead paint is more common in economically disadvantaged subpopulations. Dietary habits are possible sources of differential cadmium, mercury, and organophosphate exposure. Cotinine exposure differences by income and U.S.- vs. foreignborn may represent increased acculturation. These results, coupled with additional research on exposure sources may contribute to refinement of environmental health promotion programs for the fast-growing Latino-American population.
To quantify variation in U.S. soybean meals (SBM), samples were collected from 55 U.S. soybean (SB) processing plants located in seven of the geographic SB maturity zones at three time points. These ...samples were analyzed for crude and acid-hydrolyzed fat, oligosaccharide, and amino acid concentrations. Acid-hydrolyzed fat concentrations were poorly correlated (r = 0.28) to crude fat concentrations and were higher for SBM prepared in the southern zones (V−VII) as compared with the northern zones (I and II). Raffinose and verbascose concentrations were lowest (P < 0.05) for SBM prepared in northern maturity zones, while stachyose concentrations were highest for SBM prepared in central maturity zones (III and IV). Total essential, total nonessential, and total amino acid concentrations were lowest for SBM prepared in northern zones. There was variation in oligosaccharide and amino acid concentrations over time, probably due to variation in composition of SB arriving at the plants within maturity zone. Keywords: Soybean meal; fat; amino acids; oligosaccharides
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