bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
337 Efficient RFI Bulls Presented Lower Fractional Synthesis Rates of Plasma Proteins When Fed Corn but Not Grass Based Diets
Authors: Lopez Pablo Guarnido , Marty Isabelle Ortigues , Faure Pascal , Celine Chantelauze , Gonzalo Cantalapiedra-Hijar
Published: October 2021

Protein turnover (PT), the continual synthesis and degradation of body proteins not leading to protein gain, is an essential high energy-demanding process. We assumed that PT might explain the between-animal variations of residual feed intake (RFI). The objective was to measure PT in extreme RFI cattle fed two contrasted diets (grass or corn-based). We conducted a RFI test for 84 days with 100 Charolais bulls and we selected the 32 most extreme (8 per diet and RFI group) for PT measurements using 1) the urinary 3-methyl-histidine to creatinine ratio, as a biomarker of the fractional protein degradation rate (FDR) of skeletal-muscle and 2) the isotopic N turnover rate measured in urine and plasma, as a proxy, respectively, of the whole-body FDR and the fractional protein synthesis rates (FSR) of plasma proteins. The 3-methyl-histidine and creatinine were determined from 10 d total urine collection. Isotopic N turnover in urine and plasma was evaluated by modelling the 15N depletion rate over 112 d following an isotopic N dietary change. Higher plasma FSR and higher skeletal-muscle and whole-body FDR were observed with corn-vs-grass diets (≥11%; P ≤ 0.03), in line with higher metabolizable protein and net energy intakes (≥10%, P = 0.001). Differences between extreme RFI animals were noted with the corn diets only, where efficient animals presented significant lower plasma FSR (-10%; P = 0.04) and numerically lower skeletal-muscle and whole-body FDR (-13% and - 8.9%; P > 0.16 respectively) than non-efficient. Non-significant differences were probably due to an insufficient size of our experimental setup. Plasma FSR is related to the PS of hepatic exportation, hence the lower plasma FSR observed in efficient RFI animals fed corn diets may reflect a lower organs to carcass ratio. Altogether results suggests that efficient RFI bulls fed corn diets had a lower hepatic PT with no-significant changes of whole-body and skeletal muscle PT.
349 Awardee Talk: How the Immune System Interacts with Ruminant Nutrient Partitioning
Authors: Baumgard Lance H , Rhoads Robert P
Published: October 2021

Adverse weather conditions are a large constraint to maximizing farm animal productivity. Heat stress, in particular, compromises almost every metric of animal agriculture profitability. Suboptimal production during HS was traditionally thought to result from hypophagia. However, independent of inadequate nutrient consumption, HS affects a plethora of endocrine, physiological, metabolic, circulatory, and immunological variables. Mounting evidence suggest that direct effects of HS originating at the gastrointestinal tract precede the observed effects on the aforementioned systems. Heat stress compromises intestinal barrier integrity causing the appearance of luminal contents, e.g. endotoxin, in circulation. Endotoxin stimulates both a classic immune response with local and systemic inflammatory reactions as well as directly acting on numerous organs and tissues. Once activated, leukocytes switch from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis where the glucose requirement of an intensely triggered immune system can exceed 2 kg/d in a lactating dairy cow. Whole body metabolic adjustments are primarily characterized by increased basal and stimulated circulating insulin, increased hepatic glucose output, decreased adipose tissue mobilization, and decreased skeletal muscle flexibility characterized by a reliance on glucose as a fuel substrate rather than lipid. Ultimately, the metabolic and physiological consequences of heat stress share a similar phenotype with immune challenges. Describing the physiology and mechanisms that underpin how HS jeopardizes animal performance is critical for developing approaches to ameliorate current production issues and requisite for generating future strategies (genetic, managerial, nutritional, and pharmaceutical) aimed at optimizing animal well-being, and improving the sustainable production of high-quality protein for human consumption.
346 Nutritional Strategies to Enhance Nutrient Retention in Cattle, Fields, and Farms
Authors: White Robin R
Published: October 2021

Nutrient retention within livestock systems is a critical goal for enhancing efficiency of food production and promoting sustainable livestock farming. We define nutrient retention as the sequestering of C, N, and P within biotic elements of farming systems in sinks which have minimal loss to environmentally detrimental ends. Our objective is to summarize strategies to improve nutrient retention from ruminant animal production systems using nutritional management. Nutritional strategies for nutrient retention within animals and downstream food products include dilution of maintenance; precision feeding; and nutrient synchrony. Dilution of maintenance is a phenomenon where more efficient animals partition proportionally less of their consumed nutrients to maintenance processes, allowing proportionally greater quantities to be used for productive processes. Precision feeding encompasses numerous strategies, including amino acid feeding; precision carbohydrate feeding; individualized ration formulation; and precise feed delivery; among others. These strategies all precisely match nutrients supplied within a diet to nutrients required by an animal, thereby reducing nutrient overfeeding and waste. Nutrient synchrony is a feeding strategy promoting theoretically optimal microbial growth by ensuring appropriately matched supplies of carbohydrate and N substrates to facilitate fermentation. Improved microbial fermentation also serves to reduce nutrient loss to the environment through enhanced feed digestion efficiency. Evaluating animal feeding strategies and nutrient retention requires considering nutrient sinks beyond the animal and its productive outputs. Such sinks include soil and plant nutrient stores within the ecosystem. For pastured animals in particular, grazing strategies for enhanced forage production and soil C sequestration have been broadly reviewed. Sequestration of N and P within soils and plants have been less broadly reviewed but merit further discussion in the context of attempting to design management to create non-volatile sinks for multiple nutrients simultaneously. Whole-farm strategies for enhanced nutrient sequestration should be evaluated in a multi-nutrient environment to evaluate sustainability outcomes.
348 Integration of Nutrition with Air and Water Environmental Concerns
Authors: Rotz Alan
Published: October 2021

The dairy and beef cattle industries face a number of environmental challenges related to air and water quality as well as the use of limited resources such as water and fossil energy. Mitigation strategies are available and being developed to reduce environmental impacts, but economical solutions remain a challenge. Assessment of mitigation strategies requires a comprehensive evaluation to assure that benefits in one component are not offset by harm in another. Process-based modeling and life cycle assessment provide tools for conducting this type of integrated evaluation. The most cost-effective strategies often begin with animal feeding. The diet of the animal affects resource use and nutrient excretion where the amount and form of nitrogen and phosphorus excreted affect air and water emissions. National assessments of the U.S. beef and dairy industries indicate where mitigation is most needed. Although greenhouse gas emissions receive most of the concern today, water consumption is another important concern, particularly for producers in drier regions such as the western United States. Over 90% of the water consumed in beef and dairy production is used in irrigated feed-crop production. Therefore, animal diets that use byproduct or other feeds not related to irrigated production can provide large reductions in the water footprint of beef and dairy products. Another emerging concern is that of ammonia emission where beef and dairy cattle may contribute more than half of the national emission inventory. Efficient protein feeding is the most economical and effective step that can be taken to reduce this environmental impact. Simulation of mitigation strategies using production system models provides comprehensive evaluation and prioritization among available and possible options, giving direction toward more sustainable ruminant animal production systems.
245 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Mitigation Strategies
Authors: Kebreab Ermias , Honan Mallory , Roque Breanna , Tricarico Juan
Published: October 2021

Livestock production contributed 3.9% to the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emission from the US in 2018. Most studies to mitigate GHG from livestock are focused on enteric methane because it contributes about 70% of all livestock GHG emissions. Mitigation options can be broadly categorized into dietary and rumen manipulation. Enteric methane emissions are strongly correlated to dry matter intake and somewhat sensitive to diet composition. Dietary manipulation methods include increasing feed digestibility, such as concentrate to forage ratio, or increasing fats and oils, which are associated with lower methane emissions. These reduce digestible fiber that are positively related to methane production and more energy passing the rumen without being degraded, respectively. Rumen manipulation through feed additives can be further classified based on the mode of action: 1. rumen environment modifiers indirectly affecting emissions and 2. direct methanogenesis inhibitors. The rumen environment modifiers act on the conditions that promote methanogenesis. These include ionophores, plant bioactive compounds such as essential oils and tannins, and nitrate rich feeds that serve as alternative hydrogen sinks and directly compete with methanogens thereby reducing methane emissions. The inhibitor category include 3-nitroxypropanol and seaweeds containing halogenated compounds. The former was reported to reduce enteric methane emissions (g/d) by 39% in dairy and 22% in beef cattle. Seaweed, in particular Asparagopsis spp., reduced emissions intensity (g/kg milk) by up to 67% in dairy and emissions yield (g/kg dry matter intake) by up to 98% in beef cattle. Because inhibitors are structural analogs of methane, their mode of action is through competitive inhibition of the methyl transfer reaction catalyzed by methyl coenzyme-M reductase, the last enzyme in methanogenesis. The combination of dietary and rumen manipulation options, including feed additives, is expected to reduce enteric methane emissions by over 30% in the next decade without compromising animal productivity and health.
352 A Century and a Half of Nitrogen and Protein Metabolism in Ruminants
Authors: Huntington Gerald B , Eisemann Joan
Published: October 2021

By 1870, we knew plants and animals contained protein, and the participation of protein and urea in animal and human N metabolism was recognized. Nitrogen balance studies had been conducted, and the atomic theory was established. By 1900, research established the concepts of energy and protein metabolic interactions, the role for urea in ruminant metabolism, amino acids as constituents of protein molecules, and enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Research stations were publishing research results and feeding recommendations. By 1950, the concept of biological value was established, and we knew ruminal microorganisms use dietary NPN, degrade dietary protein, and form microbial protein as a source of amino acids for ruminant tissue protein. By 2000, hypothesis-driven, statistically valid experimental designs created quantitative information on metabolizable protein and essential amino acid requirements. Use of surgically altered animals, isotopically labelled molecules, and standardized laboratory analyses created quantitative information on ingestion, ruminal degradability of dietary protein, digestion, absorption, and metabolism of N-containing compounds. Research showed that ruminants respond to manipulation of postruminal amino acid supply. We had elucidated protein composition and structure, the role of protein turnover to determine the concentration of cellular proteins, and the quantitative significance of protein turnover to whole body protein metabolism. The internet and the advent of international symposia provided links among researchers around the globe. By 2020, proteomics and metabolomics enhanced description of underlying control mechanisms related to amino acid metabolism. Research quantified integration of amino acid supply and use among body tissues. Multidisciplinary research teams had created empirical and mechanistic 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, reproduction, postnatal growth, and lactation.
361 Methods for Identification and Classification of Phenylthiocarbamide Sensitivity in Mature Rams
Authors: Southerland Claire N , Yelich Joel , Taylor Bret , Ellison Melinda
Published: October 2021

Rams exhibit varying levels of sensitivity to phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), which has been correlated with the ability to perceive bitter-tasting foods. Previously, the only procedure for measuring PTC-sensitivity in rams involved a 9-d test phase with 5 PTC concentrations. The objective of this experiment was to develop a more streamlined approach for identifying and classifying rams on extreme ends of the bitter-tasting spectrum. Mature Targhee, Rambouillet, Polypay, and Composite-breed rams (n = 44), housed in three separate barns, and subjected to 4-d acclimation, 2-d sham, and 2-d testing phases. The 2-d sham phase was conducted to determine if ethanol-spiked water (delivery vehicle for PTC) influenced voluntary fluid intake; no effect (P = 0.16) was observed. The 2-d test phase was a side-by-side preference study between water (control; 3.0 kg) and 1 of 2 concentrations (0.2 and 2.0 mM) of PTC solution (3.0 kg) delivered on alternate days. Average consumption of PTC as a percentage of total test fluid intake was used determine taster status. No PTC-treatment effect (P ≥ 0.23) was observed, but within each treatment level, PTC intake was less (P < 0.001) than water intake. Classification levels of PTC consumption were determined by ± 1.0 standard deviation of the mean and used to classify rams into non- (n = 9; 61.5 ± 3.9%), intermediate- (n = 29; 40.7 ± 1.8%), or super- (n = 6; 15.6 ± 3.3%) PTC tasting groups, which were different (P < 0.001) from each other. Likewise, water consumption intakes were different (P< 0.001) between the non- (38.5 ± 3.9%), intermediate- (59.3 ± 1.8%), and super- (84.4 ± 3.3%) PTC tasting groups. The methods outlined in this study will facilitate further research focused on the influence of bitter tasting sensitivities on the dietary preferences of sheep.
365 The Extent and Pattern of Correlation Among Blood Parameters Differed Between Pasture-raised Goats and Sheep
Authors: Karki Uma , Tiwari Anand , Norwood Kendra , Johnson Ja’Nia , Karki Lila B
Published: October 2021

Various blood parameters are generally used to monitor the nutrient status and health condition of goats and sheep. Relationship of a parameter with others may be useful to depict a bigger picture when that parameter is known. However, information on how different blood parameters are related to each other in goats and sheep has not been documented well. The objective of this study was to determine the correlation among different blood parameters in goats and sheep, both within and between species. Kiko does (19; 15–16 m old; live wt. 34±1.4 kg) and Katahdin ewes (18; 21–22 m old; live wt. 40±1.4 kg) were rotationally stocked in fall pastures for 87 days. Blood samples were collected on Day 1, Day 47, and Day 87, and analyzed for 34 blood parameters. Data were analyzed for Pearson Correlation Coefficients (r) (ɑ= 0.05) in SAS 9.4. In does, concentration of red blood cells (RBC) was found positively correlated with hemoglobin (HGB) (r=0.68), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) (r=0.36), albumin (r=0.36), and cholesterol concentrations (r=0.34) (P < 0.05). However, RBC concentration was negatively correlated with mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (r=-0.58) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) (r=-0.71) (P < 0.0001). Cholesterol was found positively correlated with hematocrit, hemoglobin, lymphocyte, basophil, calcium, albumin, and chlorine, and negatively correlated with neutrophil and amylase (P < 0.05). In ewes, RBC concentration was found positively correlated with hematocrit (r=0.81) and hemoglobin (r=0.84) (P < 0.0001), and negatively correlated with MCV (r=-0.29), MCH (r=-0.59), MCHC (r=-0.42) and mean platelet volume (r=-0.39) (P < 0.05). Cholesterol was found positively correlated with creatinine, calcium, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and potassium, and negatively correlated with glucose, blood urea nitrogen, and lipase (P < 0.05). Results show that blood parameters are correlated with one another, and the correlation pattern and extent among blood parameters occur differently in goats and sheep.
511 Late-Breaking: Dietary Glycine Supplementation During Growing and Finishing Phases Increases Body Weight and Improves Meat Quality of Intrauterine Growth Restricted Pigs
Authors: Posey Erin A , He Wenliang , Steele Chandler C , Savell Jeffrey W , Wu Guoyao
Published: October 2021

Glycine is required for maximum growth and development for growing pigs. Traditional swine diets are deficient in glycine. This is concerning for intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) pigs (20–25% of all pigs born) as they are born with low bodyweights and underdeveloped skeletomuscular systems. Therefore, IUGR piglets are culled at birth, as they are unlikely to survive and unable to reach market weight at the same rate as normal birthweight (NBW) littermates. Additionally, IUGR pigs are not fed to market weight due to undesirable carcass attributes at slaughter such as increased subcutaneous fat deposition and decreased overall desirable protein yield. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that providing dietary glycine supplementation in traditional corn- and-soybean meal-based diets would improve the growth rate of IUGR pigs between weaning (age 21d) and market weight (age 188d). Fourteen IUGR pigs (birthweight = 0.98±0.03 kg, mean ± SEM) and 20 NBW pigs (birthweight = 1.44±0.02 kg, mean ± SEM) were obtained at weaning and used for this study. Pigs from each birthweight group were randomly assigned to 1% glycine + 0.19% corn starch treatment group or 1.19% alanine group (isonitrogenous control). Data were analyzed by using 2-way ANOVA and Duncan multiple comparison test. At 188 d of age, glycine supplemented IUGR pigs were 4.4 kg heavier (P < 0.05) than control IUGR pigs, and had similar (P >0.05) body weights to those NBW counterparts. Feed intake did not differ among the treatment groups (P >0.05). Additionally, glycine supplementation improved markers of meat quality in IUGR pig carcasses compared to control IUGR carcasses, including decreased backfat thickness, increased loineye area, and increased overall muscle score (P < 0.05). Overall, results of this study show that dietary glycine supplementation to IUGR pigs post-weaning has positive effects on lean tissue gain and meat quality. (Supported by USDA-NIFA)
512 Late-Breaking: A Postbiotic from Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation (LAF) Accelerates Progression of Compositional and Functional Gut Microbiome Clusters and Promotes Body Weight in Nursery Pigs
Authors: Khafipour Ehsan , Chakrabarti Anirikh , Sardi Maria , Kozlowicz Briana , Petry Derek B , Koontanatechanon Anantawat , parnsen Wanpuech , Srichana Pairat
Published: October 2021

This study investigated the effects of a postbiotic from Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation (LAF) on pig gut microbiome during nursery. Piglets (n = 32) at weaning (day 21 ± 2) were randomized based on BW (7.4 ± 1.7 kg) and received basal diets that met NRC nutrient requirements for phase 1 (d 0–14) and phase 2 (d 14–32) post-wean. Treatments included i) NC, negative control; ii) PC, antibiotic positive control, iii) LAFa (Dia-V™ Nursery, Diamond V, IA) supplemented at 1000 ppm in phase 1 and 1500 ppm in phase 2, and iv) LAFb (Dia-V™ Nursery) supplemented at 2000 and 1000 ppm during phase 1 and 2, respectively. Fecal samples were collected on d 0, 7, 14, and 32 post-wean and subjected to DNA extraction and long read Nanopore shotgun metagenomics to assess composition, function and progression of gut microbiome and their correlations with BW. On d7, PC and LAF supplemented pigs numerically were closer to microbiome of d 14 and 32 compared to NC pigs. From d 0 to 32, pigs progressed through five compositional clusters (P < 0.05). By d 32, more pigs from PC and LAF groups were exhibiting a compositional cluster that was characterized by dominance of members of Bacteroidetes phylum including several Prevotella species. From d 0 to d 32, four microbiome functional clusters were observed (P < 0.05) with varying abundances of carbohydrate-active-enzymes (CAZy). Pigs in LAF groups compared to other treatments exhibited clusters with greater abundances of CAZy that was correlated with greater BW on d 32 (P = 0.004). The 2000 ppm supplementation of LAF in phase 1 and 1500 ppm in phase 2 numerically increased all measured of diversity compared to 1000 ppm. Overall, while PC and LAF groups promoted more similar microbiome compositional clusters compared to NC, LAF pigs exhibited superior functional clusters.
483 Current Knowledge Gaps in Swine Reproduction
Authors: Belstra Brad A
Published: October 2021

Identifying swine reproduction research opportunities, especially those that add value by addressing industry challenges and leveraging assisted reproductive technologies (ART) will be the focus of this talk. ART and genetic selection to increase pork production efficiency have been intertwined since the use of artificial insemination (AI) became widely adopted 30 years ago. Tremendous efficiency gains have been made in part by increasing litter size which is nearly 6 to 7 pigs larger today than it was in 1990. The increased farrowing duration and stillbirths, and decreased piglet birth weight, colostrum intake, and survival to weaning that has been associated with these larger litters are prime targets to be ameliorated with sow and pig management solutions. There is also clear evidence that pigs from smaller litters have the advantage of superior reproductive performance compared to those from larger litters. Thus, litter size and pre-weaning growth may need to be managed, or at least taken into account, to select the best boars and gilts for breeding stock and replacements. Any other accurate, early indicators of boar and gilt puberty, fertility, and lifetime productivity could add significant value. The seasonal fluctuation in fertility that has plagued pig production is costly and may be smoothed out by strategies that mitigate heat stress and improve health. Another opportunity to improve both pig and sow welfare may be intermittent suckling and induction of a fertile estrus and ovulation for breeding during lactation. Even more genetic and pig growth value could be added via AI with sex-sorted semen, if methods to better estimate boar fertility, deliver increased sperm quality, and more precisely synchronize or predict ovulation can be found to reduce the number of sperm required per female. Existing and evolving ART will synergize with genomics and gene editing technologies to unlock new levels of production efficiency.
490 Hiflex Delivery: How Do You Turn It Around When Things Go Bad?
Authors: Linne Paige
Published: October 2021

Upon return to classrooms in Fall 2020, University policy required every class delivered in person also offer an online option, resulting in hiflex delivery of a careers preparation course that traditionally relied on student interaction and in-person opportunities for knowledge application to teach soft skills. Early in the semester, the class experienced a dramatic decline in physical attendance as well as engagement across all platforms, resultantly substantial real-time changes were necessary. The first step in increasing student engagement was to dedicate a single course period to candidly discuss the decline in class quality and invite participants to take an active role in improving the course and facilitating learning. Concurrently, an anonymous survey was administered to gauge interest in remaining topics, anticipated method of attendance, and incentives to engagement. Student feedback was used to adapt lesson plans and class structure moving forward. These plans were shared with students, implemented, and resulted in increased engagement and performance. Active curriculum adjustment based upon honest feedback and increased student agency improved content retention and application based upon assessment. This presentation will provide an overview of methods utilized including: student surveys, transparency of course scaffolding, small stakes assignments, adaptation of a group project to focus on application, scheduled instructor interaction and feedback on assignments and discussion boards, and intentional creation of an online learning community. Adaptations were effective for improving performance toward course learning outcomes – every student that completed all small stakes assignments and remained actively engaged in class material for the remainder of the semester earned a high scoring grade. Acknowledging a lack of success with implementation of traditional teaching strategies in a non-traditionally delivered course was necessary and enabled the instructor to engage in active dialogue with students, which created opportunities for student-supported and informed adjustments for achievement of learning outcomes.
PSX-B-17 Appeasing substance application at weaning enhanced growth and temperament of bos indicus-influenced weaned calves in grazing system
Authors: Viera Douglas G , Ranches Juliana , Cappellozza Bruno I , Fernandes Henrique J , D’Oliveira Marcella , Rocha Raizza , Valério Luan , Curcio Uriel , Franco Gumercindo L
Published: October 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a synthetic analogue of the bovine appeasing pheromone (i.e. bovine appeasing substance; BAS) on growth and temperament of weaned calves grazing Capim-Marandú (Urochloa brizantha cv Marandú). At weaning (d 0), 86 calves (47 steers and 39 heifers; Aberdeen Angus ′ Nelore; 8 ± 1 mo) were stratified by body weight (197.9 ± 24.9 kg) and randomly assigned to receive a single dose of BAS (n = 43; SecureCattle; Nutricorp, Araras, SP, Brazil) or saline (CON; n = 43; saline 0.9% NaCl). Treatments (5 ml) were topically applied to the nuchal skin area of each animal on d0. Body weight was collected on d 0, 8, 15, 51 and 100. Chute score (1 to 5; 1 = calm, no movement; 5 = violent and continuous struggling) and chute entrance and exit scores (1 to 3; 1 = slow; 3 = fast) were collected on d 3, 8, 15, 51 and 100. Scores were averaged across 3 trained technicians. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Calves assigned to BAS treatment had greater (P < 0.01) average daily gain (ADG) from d 8 to 15 (0.158 and -0.284 kg/d ± 0.07). Calves assigned to BAS treatment tended (P = 0.10) to have lower chute entrance score on d 8 and 51 and had lower (P = 0.02) chute exit score on d 8 than calves assigned to CON treatment. Additionally, calves assigned to BAS treatment tended (P = 0.07) to have lower chute score on d 8 when compared to calves assigned to CON treatment. The application of BAS at weaning improved calf ADG and improved calf temperament as observed by chute score and chute entrance and exit scores, suggesting that BAS application has calming effects.
PSXVI-20 Real-time localization system for dairy cattle in a commercial facility: Evaluation of dynamic positioning ability
Authors: Rice Emily M , Costa Joao H C
Published: October 2021

Real-time location tracking of dairy cattle on commercial facilities enables producers to quickly locate and tend to cows and provides insight into health status and animal welfare. The effectiveness of these systems depends on accurate and reliable reporting of information. Therefore, this experiment’s objective was to assess the dynamic positioning abilities of a commercially available real-time location ear tag system (SmartBow; Zoetis, Parsippany, NJ) for use in group-housed dairy cattle. Using 2 pens of a freestall barn, cameras (n = 18) were installed on barn fixtures and positioned to photograph cow usage of feedbunk (n = 4), stall (n = 10), or waterer (n = 4). Photographs were captured automatically at 1-min intervals for 85 hours, consecutively. Laser measurements determined X and Y coordinates for reference point locations respective to camera. In dynamic position assessments, variations in ear tag proximity to measured reference points are to be expected. One trained observer reviewed photographs, saving only those depicting cows with visible farm-assigned ID. Data points were only defined if farm-assigned ID was associated with an active technology ear tag. For data analyses, technology-reported X and Y coordinates of data points were compared to reference point locations. Of all data points (n = 114,633), mean distance error was 3.82 m (SD= 6.73 m). Median distance error was 2.44 m (SD= 6.73; Q1= 1.41 m; Q3=5.13 m). With removal of outliers (99th percentile), data (n = 113,487) had a mean distance error of 3.82 m (min= 0.01 m; max= 33.80 m) and a median of 2.41 m (SD= 2.78 m; Q1= 1.40 m; Q3= 4.95 m). Using distance error, mean percentages of data points that fell within specified radii of circles centered about reference point locations were calculated (Table 1). These results suggest that this ear tag technology can accurately report the dynamic positions of dairy cattle moving freely in a commercial freestall barn environment.
PSI-B-28 Breed effect on weight gain of broilers
Authors: Oladipo Sodiq , Kareem-Ibrahim Khadeejah , Abanikannda Olatunji T
Published: October 2021

Poultry production as an aspect of livestock production is important to the biological needs, economic and social development of the people in any nation. Broiler birds are specifically bred for rapid growth to attain mature body size within 7–10 weeks depending on the strain, sex and management. This study was carried out in the humid tropics of Southwestern Nigeria. The experimental units were derived from four commercial broiler breeds namely Arbor Acre, Cobb, Marshall and Ross. Each breed had 76 chicks totaling 304 across the four breeds. On arrival, each chick was tagged by breed and identification number, and the initial weight of the chicks were recorded. Each of the breeds were thereafter randomly selected and randomly assigned to four experimental plots as replicates of the same treatment. The broiler birds were reared for 10 weeks and their weight taken and recorded at weekly intervals. All statistical analyses were conducted using boxplot, descriptive statistic and general linear models of Minitab® 16. After exploratory analysis to check for normality and outliers, a total of 217 birds were used in the final analyses. Except for the Marshall breed that had a highly significantly (P < 0.01) lower weight at hatching, other breeds had fairly similar weight (Table 1). However, there was no statistical (P > 0.05) difference in mean initial weight across the four replicates. While breed alone accounted for 37.81% of the total variation in initial weight, it only accounted for 30.07% of the difference in weight gain. The effect of breed on weight gain was only significant (P < 0.01) in Marshall, while the other three breeds were not statistically different (P >0.05). It can be deduced from this study that performance in terms of weight gain of most of the commercially available breeds in Nigeria are similar with the exception of Marshall.
PSVI-19 Evaluation of birth weight, weaning weight and average daily weight gain of Holstein female calves carrying the SLICK1 allele of the Prolactin Receptor (PRLR) gene
Authors: Carmickle Allie T , Zamaroni Madison R , Pereira Jessica , Hansen Peter J , Denicol Anna C
Published: October 2021

Objectives of this study were to evaluate birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), and average daily weight gain (ADG) of female calves carrying the SLICK1 allele, i.e., the slick gene. Holstein cows in four dairy farms located in central California were inseminated with semen from two heterozygous slick Holstein sires to produce slick and non-slick calves. Calves were born during the cool season (November 2019-March 2020). BW was recorded for 125 calves in four farms within 24 h of birth; WW was recorded for 92 calves in three farms within one week of weaning. Weaning age was recorded at day of weighing. ADG was calculated as the weight difference between birth and weaning divided by days of age at weaning. Only female calves were used in the analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS version 9.4. The model for BW included the effects of genotype, farm, sire, and the interaction between genotype and farm. The model for WW and ADG included the effects of BW, genotype, farm, weaning age, sire, and interaction between genotype and farm. Significant effects were considered as those with P < 0.05. There was no difference in BW or WW between genotypes (BW: slick=40.1 ± 0.7 vs non-slick=39.7 ± 0.6 kg; P = 0.7 and WW: slick=82.5 ± 2.8 vs non-slick=80.9 ± 2.8 kg; P = 0.6). The mean age at weaning was 64.8 ± 0.4 and was similar for both genotype groups (P = 0.8). As a result, ADG was similar between genotypes (P = 0.7). There was a main effect of farm on BW, WW and ADG. Results indicate that slick heifer calves born in the cool season perform similarly to non-slick calves in regards to birth weight, average daily weight gain, and weaning weight. Funding provided by the Holstein Association USA Research Program and L.E. “Red” Larson Endowment.
Retracted: PSVIII-10 Genome-wide CNV analysis unravels a deletion associated with parasite resistance in Florida native sheep
Authors: Diehl Brittany N , Pech-Cervantes Andres A , Terrill Thomas H , Ogunade Ibukun M , Rae Owen , Estrada-Reyes Zaira M
Published: October 2021

This poster abstract has been retracted at the request of the conference organizers, who were notified by the first author that they had been included without their knowledge and without participation in the research. The co-presenters have been unresponsive to attempts to contact them for explanation.
PSXI-10 How to use ultrasonic cutter on frozen semen for multiple embryo production
Authors: Kim Sung Woo , Lee Jae-Yeong , Kim Chan-Lan , Hwang In-Sul , Ko Yeoung-Gyu , Lee Sung-Soo
Published: October 2021

The objective of the present study was to establish conditions for using technology that can potentially enhance the efficiency of bovine embryos derived from in vitro fertilization (IVF) with frozen semen. Frozen semen from selected bulls can be stored indefinitely in liquid nitrogen as genetic resources; however, these resources are considered consumable because they cannot be regenerated. Therefore, to optimize the utilization of frozen semen, as many oocytes as possible should be fertilized with one straw. However, a sufficient number of prepared oocytes might not be available for one experiment, which can limit the use of the total spermatozoa population. Thus, an economical method for producing embryos needs to be established by optimizing technology for transplantable embryos. In this study, the utilization of frozen semen was increased by dividing the straw with an ultrasonic cutter. The post-thaw survival rate of uncut straws from Korean Proven Bulls did not differ from that of half cuttings. When ultrasonic cutting was applied to frozen semen, spermatozoa could be prepared for IVF trials at least four times, and blastocysts were produced. Therefore, cutting frozen semen with an ultrasonic cutter represents a potentially useful tool to expand genetic resources from excellent breeding stocks. This approach could also be valuable in the field of IVF of endangered species or rare breeds for their preservation, as well as in ovum pick-up (OPU) techniques.
PSXII-11 Parameters for yearling wool production, wool quality and liveweight traits in mutton-wool breed of sheep with a different kinship ratio
Authors: Sabrekova Valentina , Korenyuga Maxim , Timoshenko Julia , Feyzullaev Feyzullah
Published: October 2021

This study aimed to determine the effect of crossbreeding on wool production for sheep of different kinship ratios. Purebred (Volgograd) and crossbred (F3, Volgograd x ¼ North Caucasian) sheep were used. The birth liveweights (n = 100) of tups were similar (3.71 kg and 3.69 kg) whereas crossbred ewes were heavier than purebreds (3.45 kg vs 3.3 kg). At 2.5 months (n = 97), crossbred tups outweighed purebreds by 6.94% (22.17 kg and 20.73 kg (p ≤ 0.05); ewes’ liveweights were similar (19.98 kg and 19.88 kg). Crossbred tups’ weaning weights (n = 70) exceeded purebred tups by 20.85% (32.33 kg and 26.75kg, (p ≤ 0.01); crossbred ewes outweighed purebreds by 7.38% (27.20 kg and 25.33 kg). Crossbred tup yearlings (n = 67) outweighed purebreds (52.10 and 48.90 kg) (P ≤ 0.01) whereas ewe yearlings were similar (37.30 kg vs. 36.70 kg). However, fleece weights (n = 30) of crossbred tups were heavier than of purebreds. Greasy fleece weight of crossbred tups was 6.72 kg and 6.14 kg (P ≤ 0.05). Clean fleece weight of crossbred tups outweighed purebred by 13.73% (3.56 kg and 3.13 kg, P ≤ 0.05). Greasy fleece weight of crossbred ewes was 3.95 kg and 3.57 kg (P ≤ 0.05). Clean fleece weight of crossbred tups outweighed purebred by 15.34% (2.18 kg and 1.89 kg, P ≤ 0.05). Wool yield of crossbred and purebred tups were 53 and 51%, ewes were 55 and 53%. Staple lengths of crossbred and purebred tups were 12.53 cm and 10.51 cm (P ≤ 0.001), crossbred and purebred ewes were 11.48 cm and 9.56 cm (P ≤ 0.01). This study indicates there was no negative effect of an admixture of new blood of North Caucasian breed on wool productivity of F3. These results can help improve meat and wool production.
PSXII-2 Identification of candidate SNPs associated with high prolificacy in Romanov sheep
Authors: Shakhin Alexey V , Dotsev Arsen V , Deniskova Tatiana E , Brem Gottfried , Zinovieva Natalia A
Published: October 2021

Prolificacy is a very important trait in sheep. Romanov sheep, the well-known Russian sheep breed, are characterized by very high prolificacy; however, the genetic basis of this unique property of Romanov sheep is still unknown. It was reported that Ovine BMPR1B gene, located on the OAR6, is associated with prolificacy in several sheep breeds. The aim of our study was to identify candidate SNPs within BMPR1B gene, related to prolificacy. To achieve this goal, using NGS technology, we sequenced ovine BMPR1B gene in Romanov sheep (n = 6), which are characterized by high prolificacy (about 270 lambs per 100 ewes). The sequences of BMPR1B gene of Noire du Velay, Tan, Southdown and Australian Horned Merino sheep breeds as well as Asiatic mouflon (n = 1), which are characterized by significantly lower prolificacy (from 110 to 180 lambs per 100 ewes) were derived from publicly available sources and used for comparison. FST analysis performed in PLINK 1.9 program revealed 10 SNPs with values higher than 0.8. The majority of candidate SNPs under putative selection were localized in the region from 29,382,098 to 29,430,387 on OAR6 of Ovine reference genome (Oar_v3.1 (Ensembl release 98). Thus, we can suggest, that this region of the BMPR1B gene can be considered as the putative region, associated with high prolificacy of Romanov sheep. Additional studies will be needed to confirm the effect of identified candidate SNPs on prolificacy traits. The research results will be useful for artificial selection of sheep with higher prolific capacity, including the introduction of desired alleles in sheep populations using genome editing technologies. This work was supported by the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education No. 0445-2019-0024 and RFBR No. 20-516-56002.
PSXII-3 Identification of key metabolic mediators during dietary tryptophan supplementation in low-birth-weight pigs by RNA sequencing
Authors: Xiao Ping , Goodarzi Parniyan , Habibi Mohammad , Roberts Kennedy , Sutton Julia , Shili Cedrick , Pezeshki Adel , Hagen Darren
Published: October 2021

Low birth weight (LBW) is associated with the development of metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance. While tryptophan (Trp), one of essential amino acids supplied by diet, plays an essential role in fetal growth and development, the effects of Trp supplementation on metabolic processes of postnatal LBW individuals remain unclear. The objective of this study was to identify differentially expressed (DE) genes and altered biological processes in liver of LBW and normal birth weight (NBW) piglets supplemented with Trp. RNA was isolated from liver tissues of three weeks old piglets supplemented with Trp (NBW-0% and LBW-0, 0.4, and 0.8%) and was used for RNA sequencing (RNAseq). There were 100, 191 and 39 DE genes in NBW (N0) and LBW tryptophan 0.4%, 0.8% (L4 and L8) when compared to LBW without Trp supplementation (L0). To determine whether Trp supplementation can resume metabolic regulation-related gene expression to N0 level, DE genes from N0 vs. L0 were clustered into 3 groups based on co-expression trends and clusters were enriched for genes associated with lipid catabolic process, circadian regulation of gene expression and fatty acid response. Further, eight hub genes (PID1, PAFAH2, MAP3K15, ANKRD44, CYP2J34, N4BP2L1, RUSC1 and SALL1) identified in co-expression networks based on Pearson correlation coefficient had strong co-expression coefficients (|r| > 0.9) with each other. In particular, PID1 was significantly associated with many neurological, metabolic, environmental and cardiovascular traits based on phenome-wide association analysis (Phe-WAS). In summary, our study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanism underlying LBW metabolic changes with Trp supplementation in porcine liver tissue and highlights that LBW metabolism restoration may be regulated by genes participating in fatty acid response and cardiovascular diseases.
PSXIV-27 Simulation controlling inbreeding for selection experiments on woody breast meat in broiler
Authors: JEON Hye Rin , SHIN Seungjun , OH Sang-Hyon
Published: October 2021

The purpose of this study was to control inbreeding for selection experiments on woody breast (WB) meat in broiler. The simulation was designed to figure out which mating plan would show proper breeding values while optimizing inbreeding assuming that a selection study would be done on WB in broilers starting with 500 males and 500 females as a foundational population. The simulated selections were based on Optimum Genetic Contribution theory (OGC) under different conditions over 10 generations, which uses relationships among individuals as weighting factors. It is selecting individuals by weighting estimated breeding values with average relationships among individuals. From the 2nd generation, various selection plans were considered in each sex, which were top 10, 20, 50 and 100 males selected, and top 100 and 200 females selected every generation. Each female bird was assumed to have 10 eggs. The algorithm is as follows: 1) Identify the individual having the best EBV; 2) Calculate average relationships between selected and candidates; 3) Select the individual having the best EBV adjusted for average relationships using the weighting factor k; 4) Repeat process until the number of individuals selected equals number required. Three different weighting values (k=0, 1, 2) were used, which made a total 24 different conditions compared (4×2×3). Additive genetic variance of breast meat was 1.134. Mendelian sampling terms were also considered when the breeding values were generated. Results showed that higher k value (k=2) controlled effectively inbreeding and maintained consistent increases in selection response. Differences in breeding values among selection plans with OGC algorithm and by EBV only was 4% on average; however, average rate of inbreeding (0.1) was controlled by 27% after 10 generations. These results indicate that the OGC algorithm can be used effectively in a short-term selection program with the relatively smaller number of populations.
PSXV-10 Study of allelic pattern of PLAG1 gene in the historical and modern populations of two oldest Russian dairy cattle breeds
Authors: Abdelmanova Alexandra S , Kharzinova Veronika R , Dotsev Arsen V , Sermyagin Alexander A , Boronetskaya Oxana , Chinarov Roman , Brem Gottfried , Zinovieva Natalia A
Published: October 2021

Increasing animal stature is one of the goals of modern breeding programs for many dairy cattle breeds, because stature related to higher milk yield. The PLAG1 gene was shown to be a strong candidate responsible for stature in different cattle breeds. The polymorphic SNP BovineHD1400007259, located within PLAG1 gene, is considered as a causal mutation responsible for stature. The aim of our work was to evaluate the effect of long selection for the increased body height on the alterations of the allele’s frequencies of the PLAG1 gene in the historical and modern populations of the Russian Yaroslavl and Kholmogor dairy cattle breeds. The historical specimens of Yaroslavl (n = 22) and Kholmogor (n = 12) cattle dated by the first quarter of the 20th century were derived from the craniological collection of the E.F. Liskun Museum for Animal Husbandry. The modern representatives of Yaroslavl (n = 31) and Kholmogor (n = 25) breeds were used for comparison. All works with historical samples were performed in dedicated facility of the L.K. Ernst Research Center for Animal Husbandry. The samples were genotyped using high-density DNA arrays (Illumina Inc., USA). The historical DNA was treated by USER enzyme before genotyping to avoid the misincoporated nucleotides occurred due to postmortem DNA damage. We observed significant differences in allele frequencies of PLAG1 genes between historical and modern populations of both breeds. The frequencies of G allele, which is associated with higher stature, were increased from 0.114 in historical Yaroslavl cattle and from 0.167 in historical Kholmogor cattle to 0.633 and 0.860 in the modern breeds’ representatives, respectively. Our data suggest that PLAG1 gene was affected by artificial selection in studied cattle breeds. The research results will be useful for elucidation of the history of these two oldest Russian dairy cattle breeds. The study was funded by the RSF No. 21-66-00007.