bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
297 GWAS for complex models accounting for populations structure with GBLUP and ssGBLUP
Authors: Steibel Juan P , Aguilar Ignacio
Published: November 2020

Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (GBLUP) is the method of choice for incorporating genomic information into the genetic evaluation of livestock species. Furthermore, single step GBLUP (ssGBLUP) is adopted by many breeders’ associations and private entities managing large scale breeding programs. While prediction of breeding values remains the primary use of genomic markers in animal breeding, a secondary interest focuses on performing genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The goal of GWAS is to uncover genomic regions that harbor variants that explain a large proportion of the phenotypic variance, and thus become candidates for discovering and studying causative variants. Several methods have been proposed and successfully applied for embedding GWAS into genomic prediction models. Most methods commonly avoid formal hypothesis testing and resort to estimation of SNP effects, relying on visual inspection of graphical outputs to determine candidate regions. However, with the advent of high throughput phenomics and transcriptomics, a more formal testing approach with automatic discovery thresholds is more appealing. In this work we present the methodological details of a method for performing formal hypothesis testing for GWAS in GBLUP models. First, we present the method and its equivalencies and differences with other GWAS methods. Moreover, we demonstrate through simulation analyses that the proposed method controls type I error rate at the nominal level. Second, we demonstrate two possible computational implementations based on mixed model equations for ssGBLUP and based on the generalized least square equations (GLS). We show that ssGBLUP can deal with datasets with extremely large number of animals and markers and with multiple traits. GLS implementations are well suited for dealing with smaller number of animals with tens of thousands of phenotypes. Third, we show several useful extensions, such as: testing multiple markers at once, testing pleiotropic effects and testing association of social genetic effects.
304 Educational tools promoting biosecurity through discovery learning
Authors: McDonald Jeannette , Kerr Susan R , Rankin Jeanne M , Smith Julia M
Published: November 2020

Education is the most important component in creating and sustaining a healthy national agriculture industry. As part of a large USDA NIFA Coordinated Agricultural Project, we created education products for youth and an online resource, the Healthy Farms Healthy Agriculture (HFHA) website, to help existing and future farmers and ranchers discover how to create and implement a biosecurity plan for their livestock farms. A national team of three subject matter experts, led by a distance education expert, created a series of six biosecurity modules designed for youth audiences between 6thand 12thgrade. Four modules cover biosecurity basics, disease transmission risks, and biosecurity strategies while the last two prepare youth to be biosecurity advocates by helping them create and deliver a persuasive presentation. We used discovery learning to engage students and improve comprehension and retention. In the process of development and deployment of the modules we employed a thorough review process with peer reviews and pilot testing of each of the modules. Peer-reviewers were asked to evaluate the modules on multiple aspects of five dimensions: content, interactivity, effectiveness, usability, and versatility. Modifications were made based on these reviews and the low-end of the target audience was increased from 3rdto 6thgrade. FFA and 4-H youth and adult leaders piloted the revised modules for various parameters including content, effectiveness, and recommendations for improvement. Feedback was used to finalize the modules which were then published on the HFHA website. A summative evaluation plan has been created. We will demonstrate all the products and share formative and summative evaluation tools and results for the biosecurity educational series. All evaluation procedures have the approval of the Institutional Review Board at Washington State University. Funding for this effort is partially supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture, under award number 2015-69004-23273.
312 Statistical graphics and interactive visualization in animal science
Authors: Morota Gota
Published: November 2020

Statistical graphics has advanced significantly in recent years with the development of statistical computing tools that allow us to create reports dynamically, facilitate reproducible research, and explore data interactively. In particular, data visualization is a fundamental aspect of big data analysis in animal science. However, the static nature of standard visualization limits the information that can be displayed and extracted. The objectives of this hands-on workshop are to learn how to utilize interactive visualization and investigate both global and local structures of graphs with useful zooming in and zooming out capabilities. We will use the Shiny R package, which is a web application framework for R. A Shiny application has great potential to deliver interactive data analysis and visualization in a web browser. Yet there is limited application of this type of tool in agricultural science. We will learn the capabilities of R Shiny and its use with example applications in animal science and how to aid scientific discoveries and decision-making processes using interactive data exploration tools. After taking this workshop, the participants will be able to understand the concept of R Shiny and develop a web-based interactive visualization tool. The interactive and integrative data visualization features embedded in Shiny applications offer a new resource for users to readily extract extensive information from complex data.
77 Chemical composition, texture and color analyses, and true metabolizabile energy of green banana flour in retorted diets for domestic cats
Authors: Hsu Clare , He Fei , Mangian Heather , White Brittany , Lambrakis Leah , de Godoy Maria R C
Published: November 2020

Green banana flour (GBF) has gained popularity for its health-promoting properties, since it is nutrient-rich, gluten-free, low in free sugars, and high in fiber, particularly resistant starch type 2 and pectin. Resistant starch helps promote gut health, and pectin could act as a natural thickening agent for manufacturing. Also, GBF may contribute a natural brown color to finished products. The objective of this pilot study was to determine the chemical composition of four commercially available GBFs and the effects of inclusion of these ingredients on texture, color and water binding characteristics in wet pet food products. Four types of GBF were analyzed to determine their nutritional composition. Canned foods containing four sources of green banana flour in different amounts were tested for their effects on texture and/or color of the products. For the chemical composition, all four GBF had high resistant starch concentration, ranging from 28.4% to 40.9%, and low free sugar concentration (1.8% to 7.5%). Crude protein and acid hydrolyzed fat concentrations were below 6% and 4% for all GBF tested, respectively. Texture analyses showed that hardness, adhesiveness, springiness, resilience, and firmness/toughness of canned foods containing GBF were similar to at least one of the commercial diets tested (P >0.05). Using CIE L*a*b* for color parameter, lightness was variable among commercial diets (L* ranged from 24.55 to 36.75) and canned food containing GBF (35.60 to 63.41) (P < 0.05). Redness and yellowness of experimental diets were similar to those of commercial food (P >0.05), with a* ranging from 4.67 to 11.29 and b* from 13.58 to 24.26. Overall, GBF has potential to be a functional ingredient for pet food due to its high resistant starch and low free sugar content, and the resulting product is similar in texture and color to commercial wet pet foods.
330 The use of lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase for oral health
Authors: Nakano Manabu , Tanaka Miyuki , Abe Fumiaki
Published: November 2020

Lactoferrin (LF) and lactoperoxidase (LPO) are known as host defense factors in milk and saliva. LF has antibacterial and biofilm-inhibitory effects against periodontopathic bacteria. LPO catalyzes the formation of hypothiocyanite and exhibits bactericidal activity within a short time. Our research group developed LF- and LPO-containing powders, and examined their applications for oral hygiene. In this presentation, we review the clinical efficacies of LF- and LPO-containing tablets on oral malodor and oral microbiota in humans. We performed a randomized clinical trial to assess the effects of the single ingestion of LF- and LPO-containing tablets on malodor. The main components causing oral malodor are volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). Subjects with oral malodor ingested a test or placebo tablet in two crossover phases. The concentrations of total VSCs at 10 min after ingestion were significantly lower in the test group than in the placebo group. The effects of LF- and LPO-containing tablets on oral microbiota were also investigated. Elderly subjects ingested test or placebo tablets for 8 weeks. The test group exhibited a significant reduction in Porphyromonas gingivalis compared with the placebo group. Microbiota analysis using next-generation sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA genes revealed that the LF- and LPO-containing tablets suppressed the relative abundance of periodontal bacteria, but not that of indigenous bacteria such as Streptococcus. Another trial suggested that the regular intake of LF- and LPO-containing tablets can improve gingival inflammation and oral health-related quality of life in healthy adults. Our findings suggest the potential of LF- and LPO-containing tablets as a daily treatment to maintain good oral health and prevent progression to periodontitis. We consider these effects of LF and LPO to also be applicable to pet food for oral health.
367 Role of skeletal muscle satellite cells in the broiler chicken Wooden Breast myopathy
Authors: Starkey Jessica D
Published: November 2020

To meet the huge global demand for chicken meat, the commercial broiler industry has placed tremendous genetic selection pressure on breast meat yield, growth rate, and feed efficiency traits and has made remarkable improvements over the last 30 years. Unfortunately, along with those tremendous improvements has come a severe meat quality defect whose cause has yet to be elucidated. The Wooden (or Woody) Breast (WB) meat quality defect is characterized by visible bulging of the breast fillet with extreme hardness to the touch. The WB phenotype has been characterized by histopathologists as a degenerative myopathy in which excessive fibrotic tissue infiltration occurs. Skeletal muscle stem cells, also called satellite cells (MSC), play a critical role in post-hatch broiler skeletal muscle growth, repair, and maintenance. Yet the relationship between MSC function in high-yielding broilers and the development of the WB myopathy is still not well understood. Recent work using in vivo cell labeling, cryohistology, and immunofluorescence techniques demonstrates that the relative size and mitotic activity of the various MSC and macrophage populations and collagen deposition are altered in WB-affected muscle. Alterations in myogenic regulatory factor, collagen, and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine protein expression in WB-affected muscles have also been observed using quantitative fluorescent Western blotting. These data suggest the involvement of aberrant MSC function in the development of WB myopathy. Future work aimed at determining whether the apparent MSC dysfunction in WB-affected broilers is due to an issue with the MSC themselves and/or their environment will be accomplished using a combination of MSC isolation, labeling, transplant, and tracking strategies. Further exploration will also be required to understand how the local cell signaling mechanisms and cell population kinetics are related to the severity and timing of the development of the WB myopathy in today’s fast-growing, high-yielding broilers.
364 Branded Beef Program Response to COVID-19
Authors: Clark Diana
Published: November 2020

Travel halted. Consumer habits changed. Marketing strategies adjusted. Restaurants closed. Future projections deleted. All of this occurred in the food industry, and many others like it, once COVID-19 spread. As the leading brand of Angus beef, it shifted what it needed to in order to offer more support to its foodservice distribution, retail, restaurant and international partners. The Certified Angus Beef ® brand’s purpose has always been to promote high-quality beef brought to tables by family farmers and ranchers. While that still rings true, the pandemic has shed a light on how every link in the chain strengthens what those cattle caregivers do and what consumers have come to expect.
115 Functionality of a novel consensus bacterial 6-phytase variant on ileal phytate degradation in weaned piglets fed diets without inorganic phosphate
Authors: Hardy Rachael , Dersjant-Li Yueming , Christensen Trine , Velayudhan Deepak , Remus Janet C
Published: November 2020

Microbial phytases are used in animal feed to hydrolyze phytic acid (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate, IP6) and phytate (salt of phytic acid), to improve phosphorus (P) bioavailability. This study evaluated the efficacy of a novel consensus bacterial 6-phytase variant (PhyG) on ileal IP6 degradation in piglets. A positive control diet was formulated based on corn and soybean meal with adequate digestible P (2.9g/kg) and calcium (Ca, 7.0g/kg). A negative control (NC) diet was formulated without inorganic P (1.1 g digestible P/kg), reduced in Ca (5.0 g/kg) with analyzed phytate P of 2.6g/kg. This diet was supplemented with PhyG at 250, 500 and 1,000 FTU/kg. A total of 90 crossed Pietrain x (large White x Landrace) 21-d-old piglets were fed adaptation diets until 42 d old and then assigned to pens (2 pigs/pen and 9 pens/treatment) in a completely randomized block design. Piglets were fed mash diets ad libitum for 28 d, at the end of the study 1 piglet/pen was euthanized for collecting ileal digesta samples for determination of IP6 digestibility, using TiO2 as a marker. Data was analyzed by one-way ANOVA using JMP 14.0 with treatment comparison by Tukey test and dose response by curve fitting. The ileal IP6 content was reduced with increasing phytase dose in a dose dependent manner (Plinear < 0.0001; Pexponential = 0.08). Similarly, the ileal IP6 digestibility increased exponentially (P < 0.05) with increasing phytase dose (49.1% for NC and 89.3% for PhyG at 1,000 FTU/kg). Improved ileal IP6 digestibility is closely related to improved bone ash, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (R2 > 0.91). The in vitro IP6 degradation profile supports these in vivo observations. The results demonstrated that the novel consensus phytase variant is highly efficient in hydrolyzing phytate and increasing the bio-availability of phytate bound P in piglets fed diets without inorganic phosphate.
123 President Oral Presentation Pick: Identification of correlated metabolomic and microbiomic responses that connect dietary energy level with pig growth
Authors: Xie Yun , Song Yajian , Urriola Pedro E , Blavi Laia , Stein Hans H , Perez Victor G , Li Wenting , Chen Chi
Published: November 2020

Corn, soybean meal, DDGS and extracted lipids are common staple ingredients in swine feed. Purpose-based proportioning of these ingredients in the formulation can achieve distinct levels of net energy (NE) and amino acids (AA), as well as fiber and micronutrients, in feed. In this study, diets were formulated using a 2 × 2 factorial design on NE and AA, in which the diet with high AA (HAA) had more soybean meal than the diet with low AA (LAA), while the diet with high NE (HNE) had more choice white grease and less DDGS than the diet with low net energy (LNE). Total 160 pigs (4 pigs/pen) were fed for 90 days under a three-phase feeding program. In each phase, 4 groups of pigs (10 pens/group) were fed four respective diets of HNE+HAA, HNE+LAA, LNE+HAA, and LNE+LAA. On day 90, body weights were recorded to calculate ADG, and cecal digesta were collected for LC-MS-based metabolomic analysis and 16S RNA sequencing-based microbiomic analysis. The one-way ANOWA of ADG data showed that ADG was increased by NE (p < 0.05), but not by AA. Multivariate analysis (MVA) of metabolomics and microbiomics data also showed that NE, but not AA, caused apparent changes in the metabolome and microbiome of cecal digesta. The metabolites and microbes connecting NE level with ADG, including citrulline, hexadecenoic acid, Bacteroides stercoris, and Ruminococcus bromii, were identified through examining the markers that separate HNE and LNE feedings in the MVA models of cecal metabolome and microbiome as well as the markers that were significantly correlated with ADG in the Pearson correlation analysis. Overall, the results from this study revealed specific metabolomic and microbiomic changes associated with dietary NE level and growth performance, which could serve as a foundation for further analysis on the metabolic and prebiotic functions of feed ingredients.
124 Butyric acid and derivatives: In vitro effects on barrier integrity of porcine intestinal epithelial cells quantified by transepithelial electrical resistance
Authors: Kovanda Lauren L , Hejna Monika , Liu Yanhong
Published: November 2020

Intestinal barrier function in vitro is quantified by the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) across epithelial cell monolayers due to polarization and expression of tight junction proteins. The objective of the current study was to measure the TEER of porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2) treated with butyric acid, sodium butyrate, monobutyrin and tributyrin. MTT assays were performed for each compound to determine cell viability and appropriate treatment doses. Butyric acid and tributyrin treatments were: 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mM. Monobutyrin and sodium butyrate doses were: 0, 1, 2, 4, 8 mM. Cells were seeded at 5 × 105 cells/mL into 12-well plates on Corning transwell inserts. Cells were cultured for 4 to 5 days (until all wells had TEER close to 1000 Ωcm2) and were then treated with organic acids. Each compound was tested in a randomized complete block design with 10 replicates. TEER was measured in Ωcm2 using a Millicell ERS-2 voltohmmeter at 0 h (before treatment) and at 24, 48, and 72 h post-treatment. All data were analyzed by PROC MIXED of SAS. Butyric acid linearly enhanced (P < 0.001) TEER of IPEC-J2 dose-dependently, with the highest TEER observed at doses of 1 and 2 mM at each time point. Sodium butyrate did not impact TEER at h 24, but linearly increased (P < 0.05) TEER at h 48 and 72. Treatment of monobutyrin linearly improved (P < 0.001) TEER at h 24, 48, and 72, with the highest TEER observed at the dose of 8 mM. Tributyrin had the tendency to improve (P < 0.10) TEER at h 48 and 72 when the highest dose was applied. Results of the current in vitro study indicate that butyric acid and its derivatives may improve intestinal barrier function of pigs, which requires verification in vivo.
132 Performance response of the grow-finish pig (38 to 142 kg) fed different levels of tryptophan:lysine in diets containing 40% dry distiller grains with solubles
Authors: Clizer David A , Cline Paul , Frederick Brent , Samuel Ryan S
Published: November 2020

Dried distiller grains with solubles (DDGS) is a popular protein source in grow-finish swine diets to replace soybean meal. An experiment was conducted at the South Dakota State University commercial swine research facility to determine the effect of standardized ileal digestible (SID) Trp:Lys ratio in grow-finish swine diets containing 40% DDGS compared to a standard corn-soybean meal diet. A total of 1,170 pigs (38.6 ± 0.2 kg initial BW) were utilized in a 98-d trial (9 pens per treatment). Pens of pigs were randomly allotted to 1 of 4 DDGS dietary treatments providing SID Trp at 15, 18, 21, and 24% of Lys or a corn-soybean meal diet (18%). Diets were isocaloric, with lysine at 100% of the requirement. From d 0 to 82, increasing Trp:Lys ratio in DDGS diets improved (P < 0.01) BW, ADG, and ADFI with no effect on F:G. Pigs fed the corn-soybean meal diet had greater (P < 0.01) BW, ADG, ADFI, and F:G compared to the DDGS diets with the exception of the ADFI of the 24% Trp:Lys treatment. From d 82 to 98, increasing SID Trp:Lys in DDGS diets had no effect on performance. Overall (d 0 to 98), increasing SID Trp:Lys in DDGS diets increased (P < 0.02) final BW and ADG, but pigs failed to perform to the same degree as the corn-soybean meal diet. Increasing SID Trp:Lys in DDGS diets resulted in an increase in hot carcass weight (P < 0.01); however, diets containing DDGS had decreased (P < 0.02) hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, percent lean, and loin depth compared to pigs fed the corn-soybean meal diet. These results indicate that increasing the SID Trp:Lys in diets containing 40% DDGS improved performance in early grow-finish phases with no effect in late finishing, but performance was inferior to standard corn-soybean meal diets.
157 Spectroscopic analysis of tissues collected from male goats differing in genetic propensity to consume juniper
Authors: Tolleson Douglas R , Garza Nick , Hollingsworth Kaylee , Diaz Jose M , Welsh Thomas H
Published: November 2020

Juniper (Juniperus spp.) foliage is consumed by free-ranging goats in the southwestern US. Junipers contain monoterpenes which have toxicological and pharmacological effects. We sampled 20 male Spanish goats (Capra hircus; 10 young [2-year-old] and 10 old [3-5-year-old]) from a herd selected for their propensity to consume a high (estimated breeding value [EBV] = 13.01 ± 0.20) or low (EBV = -14.76 ± 0.48) proportion of juniper in the diet to determine the ability of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in detecting physico-chemical differences in animal tissues. Heart (ventricle; interior and exterior surfaces), liver (caudate lobe), and muscle (longissimus dorsi) samples as well as an entire kidney and testicle, were collected at harvest (n = 5 of each age [i.e. length of exposure to monoterpenes] and juniper EBV combination). Tissue samples were stored in whirl-pac bags at -20o C and later thawed to ~24o C for NIRS analysis. Spectra (400–2500 nm) were obtained with an ASD Field Spec using a contact probe directly through the whirl-pac sample bag. Principal component and partial least squares regression procedures were accomplished in SAS; P < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. Both age (RSQ, 0.2 to 0.6; P < 0.05) and juniper EBV (RSQ, 0.2 to 0.65; P < 0.05) were correlated with near infrared (NIR) spectral characteristics. Propensity to consume juniper was most strongly correlated with NIR spectra in testicular tissue (RSQ = 0.65, MSE = 0.25, P < 0.01), and least strongly correlated in the heart interior surface (RSQ = 0.21, MSE = 0.21, P < 0.05). Spectral correlations with propensity to consume juniper were stronger in tissues from old (RSQ ~ 0.68) than young (RSQ ~ 0.52) goats, especially in liver, kidney, muscle, and testicle. Physico-chemical differences in goat tissues were affected by genetic propensity to consume juniper, and these were detected by NIRS.
376 Awardee Talk: Consequences of Heat Stress During Late Gestation for the Dairy Cow and Her Calf
Authors: Dahl Geoffrey
Published: November 2020

As global temperatures continue to rise, heat stress emerges as a growing threat to animal productivity and well-being. Because of their high feed intake and metabolic heat production, dairy cows are particularly vulnerable to heat stress and the complications of that environmental insult. A significant knowledge base exists around the impact of heat stress during lactation, but more recent emphasis about impacts on the dry cow, and by extension on the developing fetus, have yielded new insights to inform management of heat stress throughout the production cycle. Heat stress at dry-off slows involution and reduces mammary cell proliferation as parturition approaches. Immune responses, both innate and acquired, are reduced with heat stress and can persist into lactation. Calves whose dams experience heat stress late in gestation have lower birthweights, poorer passive transfer and altered carbohydrate metabolism relative to calves from cooled dams. Calves from heat-stressed dams leave the herd at a higher rate before puberty compared with those from cooled dams, and thus fewer complete the first lactation. More importantly, in utero heat stress causes epigenetic changes in methylation patterns of liver and mammary tissue, and those differences are associated with yield reductions that are transferred through at least two generations, producing a drag on animal performance long after the initial in utero insult. Therefore, appropriate management of heat stress in the dry cow is critical to optimize performance of the cow and calf.
164 Effect of trenbolone acetate, melengestrol acetate, and ractopamine hydrochloride on growth performance of growing beef cattle
Authors: Ribeiro Gabriel O , Hünerberg Martin , Ominski Kim , Larney Francis J , McAllister Tim A
Published: November 2020

This study evaluated the effect of trenbolone acetate + estradiol implants (TBA), melengestrol acetate (MGA), and ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) on the performance of beef cattle fed barley grain/corn silage diets. Beef cattle (279 ± 10.1 kg) were used in a complete randomized 4-yr study (yr 1, 2, n = 120 heifers and 80 steers; yr 3, 4, n = 120 heifers and 120 steers). Cattle were blocked by weight and randomly assigned to 4 pens/treatment/yr. Treatments were 1) control heifers [no growth promoters (GP)], 2) TBA implanted heifers, 3) MGA heifers, 4) control steers (no GP), and 5) TBA implanted steers (yrs 1 to 4), and included a sixth treatment 6) TBA implanted + RAC steers for yrs 3 and 4. Cattle were fed for a similar duration (262 d ± 8) in all treatments. TBA increased the DMI of steers and heifers (P < 0.001) compared to controls (9.52 vs. 8.73 kg DM/d). MGA did not affect DMI (P = 0.41); however, TBA+RAC steers had grater DMI (P = 0.02; 9.91 vs. 9.58 kg DM/d) compared to TBA steers. Compared to controls, TBA heifers had greater ADG (P < 0.001; 1.45 vs. 1.29 kg), G:F (P < 0.001; 0.157 vs. 0.149), and carcass weight (P < 0.001; 390 vs. 360 kg). TBA also increased steers ADG (P < 0.001; 1.70 vs. 1.41 kg), G:F (P < 0.001; 0.174 vs. 0.161), and carcass weight (P < 0.001; 425 vs. 389 kg). Compared to control heifers, MGA increased (P < 0.01) ADG, G:F, and carcass weight by 8.1%, 7.0%, and 4.7%, respectively. The ADG and carcass weight of TBA+RAC steers increased (P < 0.01) by 5.6% and 3.2%, respectively with no effect (P = 0.87) on G:F compared to TBA steers. This 4-yr study demonstrates the consistent positive impact of conventional growth-enhancing technologies.
383 Harnessing the Power of Computer Vision System to Improve Management Decisions in Livestock Operations
Authors: Dorea Joao R , Bresolin Tiago , Ferreira Rafael E P , Pereira Luiz Gustavo R
Published: November 2020

In livestock operations, systematically monitoring animal body weight, biometric body measurements, animal behavior, feed bunk, and other complex phenotypes is unfeasible due to labor, costs, and animal stress. Applications of computer vision are growing in importance in livestock systems due to their ability to generate real-time, non-invasive, and accurate animal-level information. Such technology has emerged as a powerful tool to predict animal identification, body weight, biometric measurements, complex behavioral traits, and feed bunk score. However, the development of a computer vision system requires sophisticated statistical and computational approaches for efficient data management and appropriate data mining, as it involves massive datasets. The objective of this talk is to provide an overview of how computer vision systems can be an effective tool to integrate animal-level information and to create predictive modeling for precise management decisions. We will discuss some of the challenges, applications, and potentials of computer vision systems in livestock, and some examples to be presented include: (1) monitoring animal growth and behavior; (2) automated feed bunk management; (3) individual animal recognition; and (4) particle size distribution in total mixed ration. The development of computer vision technologies will potentially have a major impact in the livestock industry by predicting real-time and accurate phenotypes, which, in the future, could be used to improve farm management decisions, breeding programs, and to build optimal data-driven interventions.
381 Smart Farming for Extensive Grazing Ruminant Production Systems
Authors: Greenwood Paul L , Kardailsky Igor , Badgery Warwick B , Bishop-Hurley Gregory J
Published: November 2020

Smart farming for extensive grazing systems includes applications linking environment and supply-chain, including metrics for climate, soils, pastures, animals and animal products to enhance management, optimization and predictions. Technological developments for remote monitoring in extensive systems have varied in their success and remain limited in uptake, and include: In-field, fixed-device monitoring of livestock numbers, water, photosynthesis and greenhouse gas emissions; body composition and physiology assessments using devices fixed to handling facilities; ground- or aerial-based livestock, water, pasture, invasive weeds and/or soil monitoring using photogrammetry or technologies including LiDAR; multi-channel, satellite-based spectrometry coupled with weather and soil grids to model and predict pasture biomass components; automated in-field liveweight measurement and drafting; virtual fencing; on- and in-animal devices to monitor location, activity, behaviors and physiology; GPS to monitor asset and personnel location. These technologies target productivity, efficiency, health and welfare of ruminants, including genetic improvement, and more efficient, sustainable resource use, including soils, pastures and water, to improve individual ruminants and grazing systems. We have developed and validated technologies for remote, in-field determination of animal behaviors, pasture characteristics including availability and disappearance mapping for calibration and validation of satellite images, and pasture intake under varying grazing conditions. Examples of our R&D include experimental on-animal sensor devices to classify and monitor behaviors in extensive systems, and development of a GrazingApp linking satellite imagery, weather and soil information to model and predict animal production. Development of these technologies has required analytical methods for big data, including machine learning and artificial intelligence. These and other applications that function in near to real-time are enhanced by management and aggregation of enormous amounts of data generated by sensors and other devices into useful metrics before transmission using wireless networks. These metrics are the basis for data-driven management decisions that reduce risk and enhance profit for grazing enterprises.
224 A method for estimating the target for protein energy retention in sheep
Authors: Dougherty Holland C , Oddy Hutton , Evered Mark , Oltjen James W
Published: November 2020

Target protein mass at maturity is a common “attractor” used in animal models to derive components of animal growth. This target muscle protein at maturity, M*, is used as a driver of a model of animal growth and body composition with pools representing muscle and visceral protein; where viscera is heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, reticulorumen and gastrointestinal tract; and muscle is non-visceral protein. This M* term then drives changes in protein mass and heat production, based on literature data stating that heat production scales linearly with protein mass but not liveweight. This led us to adopt a modelling approach where energy utilization is directly related to protein content of the animal, and energy not lost as heat or deposited as protein is fat. To maintain continuity with existing feeding systems we estimate M* from Standard Reference Weight (SRW) as follows: M* (kJ) = SRW * SHRINK * (1-FMAT) * (MUSC) * (CPM)* 23800. Where SRW is standard reference weight (kg), SHRINK is the ratio of empty body to live weight (0.86), FMAT is proportion of fat in the empty body at maturity (0.30), MUSC is the proportion of empty body protein that is in muscle (0.85), CPM is the crude protein content of fat-free muscle at maturity (0.21), and 23800 is the energetic content (kJ) of a kilogram of crude protein. Values for SHRINK, FMAT, MUSC and CPM were derived from a synthesis of our own experimental data and the literature. For sheep, these values show M* to be: M* (kJ) = SRW * 0.86* (1-0.3) * 0.85 * 0.21 *23800 = SRW * 2557. This method allows for use of existing knowledge regarding standard reference weight and other parameters in estimating target muscle mass at maturity, as part of a model of body composition and performance in ruminants.
219 Developing country specific enteric methane emission factor of the South Korean dairy cattle production using the 2019 refined IPCC Tier 2 methodology
Authors: Kim Tae Hoon , Ibidhi Ridha , Lee Yoo-Gyung , Lee Hyun.June , Kim Kyoung Hoon
Published: November 2020

Dairy cattle farming was identified as an important source of enteric methane (CH4) emissions. In order to contribute to the improvement of the national greenhouse gas emission inventory, this work aims to develop emission factors (EF) for CH4 emissions from enteric fermentation in dairy cattle in South Korea. Information on dairy cattle herd characteristics, diet and management practices specific to the Korean dairy cattle population were gathered. EF was estimated according to the 2019 refinement to the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) using the Tier 2 approach. Three animal subcategories were considered: milking cows (650 kg body weight, BW), heifers 1~2 years (473 kg BW) and growing animals < 1 year (167 kg BW). The estimated enteric CH4 EFs for milking cows, heifers 1~2 years, growing animal < 1 year, were 139, 83 and 33 kg/head/year, respectively. South Korea adopted the Tier 1 default enteric CH4 EFs for GHG inventory reporting from the North America region. Compared with the generic Tier 1 default EF of 138 kg CH4/head/year proposed by the 2019 refinement to the 2006 IPCC guidelines for high milking cows, our suggested value is quite similar (139 kg CH4/ head/year). While enteric CH4 EFs values were 23% higher and 49% lower for heifers and growing animals < one year than Tier 1 default EFs values, respectively. In addition, enteric CH4 EF is highly correlated with the level of milk production, feed intake and digestibility and methane conversion factor (%Ym). The outcome of this study underscores the importance of obtaining country-specific EF to estimate national enteric CH4 emissions. Thus, this work is a step forward in the revision of dairy cattle enteric CH4 EF and can further support assessment of mitigation strategies in South Korean livestock farming systems.
212 Feedlot performance of Nellore bulls fed different starch levels in the diet associated with feed additives
Authors: Silva Thaiano I S , de Carvalho Victor V Valério , Perdigão Alexandre , Acedo Tiago S , Vasconcellos Guilherme S F M , Tamassia Luis Fernando , Martins Cyntia L , Arrigoni Mário B , Millen Danilo D
Published: November 2020

This study, conducted at DSM Beef Center, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, was designed to evaluate the effects of different starch levels in the diets associated to feed additives on performance of Nellore bulls. The experiment was designed as a completely randomized block, with a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, in which 210 18-mo-old yearling Nellore bulls (375.8 ± 16.8 kg) were fed in 30 pens (n = 7/pen), for 90 d according to the treatments: 25% starch (Low-S) + monensin (MON, 26 mg/kg DM); 35% starch (Med-S) + monensin; 45% starch (High-S) + monensin; Low-S + Essential Oils and amylase (CR, Crina®, 90 mg/kg DM and RumistarTM, 560 mg/kg DM, DSM Nutritional products); Med-S + CR; High-S + CR. Each treatment was replicated five times. Weight assessments were performed at day 0 and 90 of the study after 14 h fasting. A significant interaction was observed for final BW (P = 0.04) and HCW (P = 0.01). Cattle fed Med-S and High-S diets containing CR had heavier carcasses than those fed Med-S + monensin (287.4 vs. 270.9 kg) and High-S + monensin (281.4 vs. 263.0 kg), respectively; however, bulls fed Low-S diets with either monensin or CR had similar HCW (P > 0.05, 279.9 vs. 282.8 kg, respectively). In addition, cattle fed CR had greater dressing percentage (P < 0.01; 55.4 vs. 54.6%) regardless of starch levels. An interaction was observed (P = 0.02) for ADG, in which cattle fed Med-S + CR had greater ADG (1.58 kg) than cattle fed MON across all starch levels (1.48, 1.37 and 1.28, respectively) and then those fed High-S + CR (1.48 kg/d; P < 0.01). Similar responses were observed for DMI (P = 0.02). Cattle fed monensin improved G:F in 2.7% compared to those fed CR (0.150 vs. 0.146, P = 0.02). In conclusion, Crina® and RumistarTM increases carcass production of feedlot cattle fed medium and high-starch diets.
201 Effects of feeding vitamin and mineral and (or) energy supplements to beef heifers during the first 83 days of gestation on progesterone concentrations, corpus luteum size, and fetal body measurements
Authors: McCarthy Kacie L , Nestande Jocelyn , Kassetas Cierrah J , Baumgaertner Friederike , Kirsch James D , Dorsam Sheri T , Neville Tammi L , Ward Alison K , Borowicz Pawel P , Reynolds Lawrence P , Sedivec Kevin K , Forcherio J Chris , Scott Ronald , Caton Joel , Dahlen Carl R
Published: November 2020

Our objectives were to determine the effects of feeding vitamin and mineral (VTM) and (or) energy (NRG) supplements to beef heifers during the first 83 days of gestation on concentrations of progesterone (P4), corpus luteum (CL) size, and fetal body measurements. Crossbred beef heifers (n = 35; initial BW = 359.5 ± 7.1 kg) were blocked by weight and assigned to one of four treatments (n = 8 or 9/group) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with main effects of vitamin and mineral (NoVTM or VTM) and energy (NoNRG or NRG) supplements. A basal total mixed ration was fed once daily with VTM and NRG top-dressed. The VTM treatment (113 g•heifer-1•d-1) was initiated 71 to 148 d before AI. At AI, heifers were bred to a single sire, and NRG was initiated with target gains of 0.28 kg/d for NoNRG and 0.79 kg/d for NRG. Serum was collected on d 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 83 after AI and analyzed for. Gravid reproductive tracts were collected by ovariohysterectomy on d 83 ± 0.27 of gestation, and fetuses were dissected. An NRG × day interaction (P = 0.006) was observed for P4, with concentrations similar on d 14 to 56, a tendency (P = 0.09) for divergence at d 70, and greater (P = 0.002) concentrations for NRG on d 83 compared with NoNRG heifers. Furthermore, NRG heifers had greater CL weights than NoNRG (P = 0.003). Fetuses from NRG dams had greater (P = 0.009) femur weights than fetuses from NoNRG. Fetal liver weight was greater (P = 0.05) from dams fed VTM than NoVTM. Overall, providing NRG supplements during early gestation resulted in heavier CLs, that produced more P4, and greater fetal femur growth, whereas providing VTM supplements enhanced fetal liver growth.
386 Past, present and future of protein and N metabolism in ruminants
Authors: Huntington Gerald B , Eisemann Joan H
Published: November 2020

By 1900, research identified urea, ammonia, and protein as the basic components of N metabolism in ruminants. Energy and protein metabolic interactions were outlined, amino acids were individually recognized as constituents of protein molecules, and the concept of enzyme-catalyzed reactions was established. Research stations were publishing research results and feeding recommendations. By 2000, the National Research Council built on the work of Henry and Morrison to create and revise publications of nutrient requirements for various classes of ruminants. Use of surgically altered animals, isotopically labelled molecules, and standardized laboratory analyses created quantitative information on ingestion, digestion, absorption, and metabolism of N-containing compounds. Protein composition and structure as well as the role of protein turnover to determine the concentration of cellular proteins were elucidated. Hypothesis-driven, statistically valid experimental designs created quantitative information on protein and amino acid requirements. Methionine was identified as the likely first-limiting amino acid for several ruminant species and production states. The internet and the advent of international symposia provided links among researchers around the globe. Today, multidisciplinary research teams are needed to enlarge the data base, to describe proteomics and metabolomics, and to integrate “big data” into insightful and useful models. Those models currently use or estimate rates and daily amounts of ruminal (in)degradability of dietary protein, ammonia production, urea recycling, microbial protein synthesis, postruminal protein digestion, metabolic fecal nitrogen, and amino acid absorption and metabolism. They predict use of metabolizable amino acids for maintenance, milk yield, growth, and fetal growth. Directions of future research include integration of functional roles of amino acids into recommended dietary supply and requirements, and focus on solutions to challenges presented by climate change, (in)sustainability of livestock production, and changes in public perception of humans’ use of ruminants and other animals.
235 Effects of cottonseed hulls and bermudagrass hay particle size on dry matter intake, physiological parameters, and growth performance of feedlot lambs
Authors: Quadros Danilo G , Whitney Travis R , Weishuhn Cassie , Diaz Jose M , Tolleson Douglas R
Published: November 2020

A randomized design trial was used to evaluated effects of cottonseed hulls (CSH) and bermudagrass hay (BGH) particle size in feedlot diets fed to female Rambouillet lambs (n = 10/treatment) on dry matter intake (DMI), physiological parameters, and growth performance. After 14 days of adaptation, lambs were individually fed 80% concentrate diets during two distinct 21-d periods with either CSH or BGH as the roughage source, respectively. Diets were identical except for the roughage particle size (3/8, 1/4, or 3/16-inch hammermill screens); control diets contained unground CSH or course-ground BGH. Data were analyzed by period using a model including treatment as main effect and animal as repeated measure. No differences in initial and final BW were observed. Lamb DMI (g/d) did not vary (P > 0.10) among the different particle sizes. However, there was a linear decrease (P = 0.007) in DMI as a percentage of BW when CSH particle size increased, while no difference was observed for BGH (P > 0.55). Rumen fluid pH was not affected by roughage particle size (P > 0.19) in either Period. No differences (P > 0.10) in rumen fluid FAs concentration were observed related to CSH despite a quadratic trend (P = 0.07) in acetate concentration. Total VFA (P = 0.01), acetate (P = 0.008), and propionate (P = 0.04) concentrations in ruminal fluid from lambs fed diets containing BGH quadratically increased, while butyrate linearly decreased (P = 0.03). There was a trend for a quadratic increase (P = 0.09) in blood serum ammonia when CSH particle size increased. Blood serum urea during both periods and ammonia during Period 2, did not vary with roughage particle size. Results suggested that particle size is dependent upon type of roughage. Generally, in high concentrate lamb feedlot diets a course particle size (3/8” screen) is recommended.
248 Application of computer vision and data analytics strategies for prediction of carcass composition in live pigs
Authors: Fernandes Arthur Francisco Araujo , Dorea João R R , Valente Bruno D , Fitzgerald Robert , Herring William O , Rosa Guilherme J M
Published: November 2020

The measurement of carcass traits in live pigs, such as muscle depth (MD) and backfat thickness (BF), is a topic of great interest for breeding companies and production farms. Breeding companies currently measure MD and BF using medical imaging technologies such as ultrasound (US). However, US is costly, requires trained personnel, and involves direct interaction with the animals, which is an added stressor. An interesting alternative in this regard is to use computer vision techniques. Farmers would also take advantage of such an application as they would be able to better adjust feed composition and delivery. Therefore, the objectives of this study were: (1) to develop a computer vision system for prediction of MD and BF from 3D images of finishing pigs; (2) to compare the predictive ability of statistical (multiple linear regression, partial least squares) and machine learning (elastic networks and artificial neural networks) approaches using features extracted from the images against a deep learning (DL) approach that uses the raw image as input. A dataset containing 3D images and ultrasound measurements of 618 pigs with average body weight of 120 kg, MD of 65 mm, and BF of 6 mm was used in this study. To assess the predictive performance of the different strategies, a 5-fold cross-validation approach was used. The DL achieved the best predictive performance for both traits, with predictive mean absolute scaled error (MASE) of 5.10% and 13.62%, root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 4.35mm and 1.10mm, and R2 of 0.51 and 0.45, for MD and BF respectively. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that it is possible to satisfactorily predict MD and BF using 3D images that were autonomously collected in farm conditions. Also, the best predictive quality was achieved by a DL approach, simplifying the data workflow as it uses raw 3D images as inputs.
253 What the best animal science teachers do
Authors: Whitaker Brian D , Lamberson William R , Smith Michael F , Walters Bonnie , Youngs Curtis
Published: November 2020

Great teachers have the extraordinary ability to inspire and motivate even those that resist learning. The top educators are not only knowledgeable about the content of the course they are teaching but often conscious of the information, literature and practice of instructional delivery to their audience. Many exemplary educators have been profiled and studied, followed by attempting to emulate from ambitious peers. However, there is a gap between the examples of disciplines published and what the teachers of animal science do. The objective of this study was to identify and describe what the characteristics are of the best animal science teachers in addition to identifying and describing what the characteristics are of their classroom environments and students. The inclusion criterion for selecting faculty was being bestowed an excellence in teaching award through their professional organization. Each teacher answered a series of questions about themselves, their students and the class being taught both before and after the lecture. Lecture was captured using a digital all-inclusive camera and later analyzed for pedagogical trends, instructor-student interactions and student engagement. Despite a variety of topics being taught, there were multiple trends emerging from these classrooms. Common events included reviewing previous lectures, distributing something physical to the students, posing questions during class and calling on students by name. Most students in every class were not distracted and asked questions. Each teacher taught differently, but they all understood their audience; they grasped the subject matter and most importantly, they valued students learning. Collectively, these findings can be adopted by other teachers and be applied and utilized in their own environment in an attempt to foster improved classrooms and student learning through excellent teaching.