bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
177 Peer Community in Animal Science: A Free Publication Model for Transparent and Open Science
Authors: Muñoz-Tamayo Rafael , Gagaoua Mohammed , Gondret Florence , Hess Matthias , Morgavi Diego P , Olsson I Anna S , Taghipoor Masoomeh , Tedeschi Luis O , Veissier Isabelle
Published: September 2022

The scientific publication system should evolve into practices that enhance free dissemination and full access to research findings. At the same time, it should ensure reproducibility and transparency and safeguard scientific integrity from the detrimental effects of the current “publish or perish” culture. The objective of this contribution is to introduce the Peer Community In (PCI) Animal Science initiative (https://animsci.peercommunityin.org/), which represents an alternative to the current publication system under the umbrella of the “Peer Community In” project (https://peercommunityin.org/ ). PCI Animal Science is an international community of researchers working in animal science and related areas and it promotes open science and research transparency. Although PCI Animal Science is not a scientific journal, it operates similarly with editors (here: recommenders) and reviewers. Currently, the PCI Animal Science community has 64 recommenders from 20 countries. PCI Animal Science is a non-profit initiative, run and managed by researchers. The PCI Animal Science community performs, at no cost, rigorous open reviews of preprints that have been deposited on repositories such as bioRxiv and Zenodo from a wide range of research areas related to animal science. Based on independent reviews, a recommender decides whether a paper is recommended or not. Recommended preprints are peer-reviewed and citable stand-alone articles of high scientific value that do not need publication in traditional journals. However, if the authors wish, they can also publish their recommended preprint in the Diamond Open Access Peer Community Journal (https://peercommunityjournal.org/section/animsci/) at no cost. Authors can also submit their recommended manuscript to PCI-friendly journals (i.e., journals that consider the PCI evaluation in their own review processes) or to other journals. This contribution shows the workflow of the evaluation of manuscripts by PCI Animal Science and the advantages of adopting this new publishing model.
194 Sustainable Livestock Production from Phytochemically Diversified Pastures
Authors: Ates Serkan
Published: September 2022

Agricultural systems must increase productivity while conserving the natural resource base and optimizing ecosystem services to meet the converging challenges posed by a growing human population, increasing costs of production inputs, and widespread environmental degradation. Thus, sustainability concerns justify the needs for readjustment of pasture strategies and redefining the role of forages in livestock production. The function of forages in pasture-based livestock systems needs to be broaden beyond their agronomic and animal nutrition benefits. Specifically, the potential of bioactive compounds found in forb species in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, boosting animal immune system, increasing the biochemical richness of animal products and ecosystem benefits should be considered in designing pasture systems. It is key to take full advantage of the benefits provided by the biochemicals present in diverse arrays of forages, as they can contribute to the enhancement of feed efficiency and animal health at relatively low costs to the producer. The use of phytochemically diverse pastures that include legumes and forbs with high nutritive quality together with the presence of beneficial plant secondary compounds can improve the antioxidant capacity and the immune function of livestock and reduce animal CH4 emissions and nitrate (NO3) leaching from soils. The main tenet of the invited talk will be to provide information on recent research findings on the effects of temperate forb species with high bioactive compounds on animal production, health and GHG emissions. Furthermore, how these forages can be successfully incorporated in pasture systems and animal feeding programs in temperate agro-ecologies will be discussed.
195 Breeding Winter and Spring two-row Barley for More Sustainable Livestock Production
Authors: Sherman Jamie Douglas , Hoogland Traci , Williams Jessica , Lutgen Greg
Published: September 2022

Global climate change is impacting agricultural production systems and the ability to feed a growing world population. While welcomed in cool humid regions, warmer temperatures are exacerbating water shortages in dryland areas across the western United States. The impacts of these shortages on grain and beef production were evident when both dropped because of persistent drought in 2021, foreshadowing the challenges faced by dryland farmers and ranchers. We are developing barley adapted to abiotic stress to support more sustainable livestock production. In spring barley, we have found that the length of developmental stages impact grain yield, forage yield, and forage quality potentially providing resilience to drought. We have genetically dissected traits that could improve drought tolerance, forage yield, and forage quality in spring barley with the goal of improving breeding efficiency for these traits. We are working to develop cold tolerant winter barley to provide a rotational tool for growers to provide potential early grazing, resistance to drought, and increased grain and forage production. A long-term goal is to develop barley suitable for integration into livestock systems.
198 Using Annual Forage Crops to Extend Grazing: What are the Benefits to Production and Livestock Enterprise Economics
Authors: Beck Paul A , Coblentz Wayne , Jennings John , Beck Matthew R
Published: September 2022

Extending the grazing season, and thereby reducing reliance on harvested and stored forages, positively affects the economics of grazing livestock. In the Southern Great Plains and Southeastern regions of the U. S., grazing systems are dominated by warm season perennial grasses. The most famous example of using annual forages to extend the grazing season in the Southern Great Plains is the use of wheat (and other cool-season annuals) in crop fields as a forage resource during the winter and early spring in either dual purpose (grazing and grain production) or graze-out (grazing entire crop) uses. Even in foraging systems that utilize both warm-season perennials and cool-season annuals in the Southern Great Plains, a substantial forage shortfall occurs in late summer and early fall. In the Northern Great Plains, native and perennial introduced forage species are primarily cool-season species, but still have primary productivity during late spring and summer, with production shortfalls during early winter and spring. While in the Mid-West, predominantly cool-season perennial pastures have production shortfalls and reduced forage nutritive value in mid-summer, commonly known as ‘summer slump’. In any and all of these environments, annual forages can and have been used to fill gaps in forage production. Recent research has investigated using annual forages in novel ways to further extend grazing seasons. In the northern Midwest summer plantings of cool season annuals such as oats have been used to provide grazing resources during the fall and early winter. While in the southeast, late summer plantings of warm-season annuals have filled the fall forage gaps. Annual forages offer many advantages in designing systems to extend grazing seasons in all environments. Annual forages are generally higher in nutritive value than perennials and plantings can be timed to fill gaps in availability of the dominant perennial forages in the local environment.
205 Exposure to Heat Stress Stimulates Cell Proliferation and Heat Shock Protein Expression in Bovine Primary Satellite Cells
Authors: Kim WonSeob , Eckhardt Erika P , Kim Jongkyoo
Published: September 2022

Understanding the myogenic and self-renewal capability of satellite cells under heat stress (HS) is fundamental to coping with global warming in the beef cattle industry. Study objectives were to determine transcriptomic changes and proliferation capability of bovine satellite cells (BSCs) under moderate versus acute levels of HS and exposure times. Satellite cells were isolated from four three-month-old Holstein calves (semitendinosus) and cultured with 10% FBS/DMEM. Following 24h of attachment period, BSCs were incubated under the following temperature conditions 1) control (38°C; Con), 2) moderate (39.5°C; MHS) and extreme (41°C; EHS) and for various exposure times (0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h). Cells were harvested and used for mRNA gene expression via RT-qPCR at each time point. Cell proliferation was measured using the ELISA kit. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD test. The expression of HSP70 was greatest (P < 0.05) in cells treated EHS at 1 and 3 h. Cells treated EHS overexpressed (P < 0.05) HSPB1 at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h. A similar pattern was observed (P < 0.05) for MyoD expression at 24 h after heat exposure. Contrarily, Myf5 and PAX3 were decreased (P < 0.05) by EHS compared to the Con at 3 h. Cell proliferation rate was enhanced (P < 0.01) in both MHS and EHS treated BSCs compared withthe Con at 48 h. Our results suggest that extreme heat exposure stimulates the HSPs (HSP70 and HSPB1) expression while modulating muscle regeneration by regulating myogenic regulatory factors (MyoD, Myf5) and PAX3. The transcriptional effect peaked after 3h of heat exposure, but the long-term (48h) exposure may activate the proliferation of BSCs.
206 Efficacy of Using Ammonium Chloride Supplements During Crisis Management to Stop Growth in Various Ages of Pigs
Authors: Walsh Kadence M , Kokinos Brittney P , Capdeville Mariola Grez , Amundson Laura A , Stevens Andrew W , Chavas Jean-Paul , Crenshaw Thomas D
Published: September 2022

This project aimed to develop nutritional strategies to “hold” pigs at no growth for 2-6 weeks during crisis management. Previously, growth was reduced in 25-kg pigs fed hold-growth (HG) diets formulated with reduced nutrients +2%NH4Cl (HG+2). Recovery was only monitored for 11-days. The current experiment assessed HG+2 diets fed at 25, 50, and 75kg for 28-days followed by recovery to market weight. Eighty crossbred pigs were allotted (20kg) to 16 pens. Other than during the 28-d hold, pigs were fed standard diets and marketed at a constant weight. Compared with ADG of Ctl (0.963, 1.086, and 1.094 kg/d) growth was reduced (P< 0.01) by 81.9, 77.1, and 79.9% at 25, 50, and 75 kg in pigs fed HG+2 (0.174, 0.249, and 0.220 kg/d). Pigs fed HG+2 recovered and only required 14 extra days to reach market weight (128.6 kg). During the 28-d hold phase feed intake was reduced (P< 0.01). However, feed efficiency (0.310, 0.184, and 0.132 G:F) was reduced compared with Ctl (0.689, 0.397, 0.351 G:F) pigs at 25, 50 and 75 kg, respectively. Dramatic shifts occurred in growth and feed intake during initial recovery phases. Over the entire trial, gain was only reduced by 13.0, 12.6, 12.7% and total feed intake was increased by 1.9, 5.3 and 6.0% for HG+2 pigs held at 25, 50 and 75 kg, respectively. Whole body DXA scans (n=4/treatment) revealed reduced %bone mineral of Ctl vs. HG+2 (2.06 vs. 1.84, 1.82, and 1.83%) at 25, 50, and 75 kg, respectively. No differences were detected in DXA %Fat, %Lean, or traditional carcass traits (fat depth, loin depth, % lean). No adverse effects associated with treatments were observed. Thus, HG+2 diets provided a successful strategy to hold pigs during crisis management. This empirical data will be used to generate dynamic models to guide decisions on economic consequences.
218 Hard and Easy Keeper Microbiomes Reveal Unique Microbial Responses to Carbohydrate and Protein Sources
Authors: Johnson Alexa C B , Biddle Amy S
Published: September 2022

This study reports differential responses of the equine gut microbiome to protein- and/or carbohydrate-based on keeper status [easy keeper (EK), medium keeper (MK), hard keeper (HK)]. Anaerobic microcosms were inoculated with equine feces from healthy animals on the same diets (n=12 total, n = 3 / EK, MK, HK of four breeds) with three dietary treatments [C = Carb (cornmeal), P = Protein (soybean meal), M = mix (50% C, 50% P), and F = fecal (no additive)]. Over 48 hours, fermentation products were measured using colorimetric assays and high performance liquid chromatography. Microbial populations were surveyed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyzed by QIIME2. Total SCFA production was not different between keeper status but the acetate: propionate ratio and isobutyrate production was greatest for HK and least for EK. Residual protein and carbohydrate at hour 48 was greatest in HK pointing to less efficient nutrient utilization. Diversity measures were not different between keeper statuses over time or within treatments (P > 0.05). Differential abundance (ANCOM and LEfSe), and Spearman correlations identified that while EK, MK and HK shared responses to treatment, groups had characteristic microbial responses to C and P. For example, Lactobacillales, a prominent lactate producer was differentially abundant for EK and MK across treatments but not a biologically significant marker in HK. Opportunistic Gamma proteobacteria bloomed in MK and HK by hour 48, but was only identified in EK at hour 8 indicating that EK communities can resist this growth. While the gut microbiome compositions of keeper groups were similar, they were functionally different in processing key nutrients. MK were more adaptive to dietary challenges and HK were less efficient at nutrient utilization. Analysis of the keeper status microbiomes may uncover novel functioning pathways and relationships that underlie the metabolic tendency of the host towards obesity or leanness.
219 Evaluation of Dietary Arginine Supplementation to Increase Placental Nutrient Transporters of Aged Mares
Authors: Martinez Rafael E , Leatherwood Jessica L , Bradbery Amanda N , Silvers Brittany L , Hammer Carolyn J , Kelley Dale , Bazer Fuller W , Wu Guoyao
Published: September 2022

Nine pregnant mares (18.2 ± 0.7 y; 493.82 ± 13 kg BW) were used to test the hypothesis that dietary supplementation of arginine would enhance placental vascularity and nutrient transport throughout gestation in aged mares. Mares were balanced by age, BW, and stallion pairing, and randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments consisting of supplemental L-arginine (50 mg/kg BW; n=5) or L-alanine (100 mg/kg BW; n=4; isonitrogenous control). Mares were individually fed concentrate top-dressed with the respective amino acid treatment plus ad libitum access to Coastal bermudagrass hay. Treatments began on d 14 of gestation and were terminated at parturition. Mare BW, BCS, and rump fat were determined every 28 d and concentrate adjusted accordingly. Parturition was attended with foaling variables and placental measures recorded. Placental tissue from the pregnant horn underwent histological analyses to assess cell-specific localization of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cationic amino acid transporter 1 (CAT1) proteins. Semiquantitative analyses were performed using 10 non-overlapping images per sample fixed in a 10X field (Fiji ImageJ v1.2). Data were analyzed using SAS PROC MIXED procedure. BW increased (P < 0.01) in all mares with advancing gestation. BW, BCS, and gestation length of mares were not influenced (P > 0.05) by supplemental arginine. Compared with arginine-supplemented mares, control mares had a thicker rump fat layer (P < 0.01) at parturition. Body length, height, and BW of foals at birth, as well as placental weight, volume, and positive staining for VEGF and CAT1 at parturition were not affected (P > 0.05) by maternal arginine supplementation. These results indicate dietary arginine supplementation (50 mg/kg BW) is safe for gestating mares and promotes mobilization of white adipose tissue. A larger number of mares is required to determine effects of supplemental arginine on embryonic/fetal survival and growth in mares.
224 Awardee Talk: Investigating Muscle Fiber Hypertrophy During pre- and Post-Natal Growth
Authors: Duckett Susan K , Greene Maslyn A
Published: September 2022

Research has established that muscle fiber hyperplasia is complete during mid gestation; therefore, skeletal muscle fiber hypertrophy is responsible for the increase in muscle mass observed during late gestation and postnatal growth periods. Our research is investigating key times points during muscle fiber hypertrophy and the role of miRNA and mRNA transcriptome in this process. Two studies were conducted to examine changes in muscle mass, muscle fiber hypertrophy, and gene expression from gestational d (gd) 85 to market weight in Suffolk or Texel cross lambs. Longissimus muscle (LM) samples were taken for muscle fiber histology at the following time points: gd85, gd110, gd133, and market (d243) in study one and at postnatal d2, d14 and d203 in study two. microRNA (miRNA) and mRNA sequencing of the LM were conducted in study one and included biopsies at d 42 and 65. Type I and Type II muscle fiber area increased (P < 0.05) at each stage of growth evaluated. Type I muscle fiber area increased by 26.7-fold and Type II muscle fiber area increased by 37.4-fold from gd85 to market (d243). mRNA sequencing identified a total of 9360 unique genes differentially expressed (DEGs; P < 0.05) in LM during hypertrophic growth but the majority of DEGs were observed in the prenatal (51%) and early postnatal (54%) periods. There were 142 unique miRNAs differentially expressed (P < 0.05) during hypertrophic growth of LM but the majority (62%) were observed in the transition period from prenatal to postnatal growth. Overall, muscle fiber hypertrophy is dynamic from late gestation through postnatal growth, but transcriptomic changes indicate key time periods during development in which mechanisms underlying hypertrophic growth may be altered.
231 Electrical Conductivity, Color, and Tenderness Values of Fresh and/or Cooked Beef
Authors: Mesquita Carolina , Richardson Carl , Kerth Christopher , Sudhakaran Pratheesh , Villanueva Ana
Published: September 2022

A study with fresh and cooked beef loins, beef jerky, and water types was conducted to evaluate electrical conductivity (EC) measurements as a procedure in quality appraisal. Six full strip loins x 6 steaks per loin x 2 types provided 72 electrical conductivity (CV) observations, and 72 measurements of color variables (chroma, hue, L*, a* b*) of loins. Six core samples per cooked steaks provided 216 Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) values. EC was also measured on three water types and saline (n=20), and commercial beef jerky samples (n=72). Procedures used for EC were developed in our lab and consisted of using emulsified samples enclosed in a silicon vessel with copper electrodes connected to a digital multimeter. Microsiemens (µS) were measured over 60 s with a sampling rate of two per s. Color variables were measured using a Varian Cary 50 Series Spectrophotometer. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficients. EC means (µS) were 14.4, 42.5, 34.9, 22.9, 16.1 and 24.7 for fresh steaks (P= .07); and 7.8, 16.5, 6.4, 10.7, 5.2, and 8.0 for cooked steaks (P=.36). Means for all color variables were different (P< 0.05) across fresh steaks. Correlation of EC to each color variable was negative: chroma -0.013, hue -0.050, L*-0.009, a*-0.131, b*-0.110. Only a* was significantly correlated (P< 0.05) to EC. WBSF tenderness (kg/f) means were not different (P > 0.05) across steaks but did differ (P< 0.05) within steaks. Correlations of EC to tenderness was not significant (P > 0.05). EC mean of beef jerky was 106.9 (SEM 5.05). EC of water types differed (P< 0.05) - deionized 0.40, purified 1.56, tap 1.30. EC for saline was 0.04. These data indicate that EC of beef can be effectively measured, but high variations across EC, color, and tenderness values decreased the overall probability of finding relationships.
249 Awardee Talk: Swine Nutrient Requirements: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Miller Phillip S
Published: September 2022

Since 1944, there have been 11 editions of the Nutrient Requirements of Swine coordinated by the National Research Council (NRC; currently the National Academies of Sciences, Medicine and Engineering [NASEM]) and published by the National Academy Press. Between 1944 and 1988 there were 9 editions and 3 editions between 1988 and 2022. The description of nutrient requirements for swine has been refined and augmented to reflect modern pig genetics and expanding methodology to measure pig performance. The scope of the publication has expanded (9th edition, 93 pages; 11th edition, 400 pages). The 11th edition highlighted gaps in literature that were identified by the study committee. For several of these areas, research is still needed. The last two editions have included computer models developed to generate energy and nutrient requirements. Also, feed composition tables were included in the last two editions. Development and maintenance of these models and ingredient databases require significant resources from committees appointed by NASEM. Shortly after the publication of the 11th edition, a National Research Support Program grant has funded the efforts of the National Animal Nutrition Program (https://animalnutrition.org/). This program has generated the ingredient databases for the Beef, Dairy, and Poultry study reports. It is anticipated that this program will play a key role in developing ingredient databases and requirement models for future NASEM swine (and other species) nutrient requirement publication(s). This approach should help maintain a repository for swine nutrient requirement information and ingredient composition.
253 The Effect of Increasing Standardized Ileal Digestible Methionine Intake on Whole-Body Nitrogen Retention of Gilts During Late Gestation
Authors: Munoz Alfonso Cristhiam J , Htoo John K , Huber Lee-Anne
Published: September 2022

A total of 70 gestating gilts (166±13 kg BW) were used to determine whole-body N retention when standardized ileal digestible (SID) methionine (Met) was fed at one of seven levels (n=10), ranging between 50 and 150% of estimated requirements during late gestation. The experimental diets provided excess Cys and 2.61, 3.39, 4.44, 5.22, 6.00, 7.05, and 7.83 g SID Met/d, respectively, with a feed allowance of 2.61 kg/d. Diets were fed to individual gilts for a 7-d adaptation period followed by a N balance period between gestation days 109 and 112. Contrast statements were used to determine linear and quadratic effects of the dietary inclusion level of Met. The average N intake was 70.8 g/d among treatments. Urinary N excretion decreased with increasing SID Met content, with no further change after 3.39 g/d SID Met (quadratic; P < 0.0001). Fecal N excretion decreased with increasing SID Met content, with no further change after 5.22 g/d SID Met (linear and quadratic; P < 0.0001 and P < 0.05, respectively). Whole-body N retention increased as SID Met content increased between 2.61 and 4.44 g/d SID Met, no differences were observed between 4.44 and 7.05 g/d SID Met, with intermediate N retention for gilts fed 7.83 g/d SID Met (linear and quadratic; P < 0.01 and P < 0.0001). Whole-body N retention efficiency (% of intake) was greatest (60.74%) at 7.05 g/d SID Met. Whole-body N retention (g/d) was optimized at 4.04 and 4.58 g/d SID Met based on linear and quadratic broken-line linear models, respectively, for gilts during late gestation. Therefore, for whole-body protein retention, the average SID Met requirements (4.31 g/d) appear to be less versus those recommended by the NRC in late gestation (5.22 g SID Met/day), which do not take into consideration the non-protein partitioning of dietary Met.
265 Effects of non-Starch Polysaccharide Degrading Enzymes + Lysophospholipids in Feeds with Varied ME Contents on Growth Performance and Nutrient Utilization of Pigs from 25 to 75 Kg BW
Authors: Baker Jonathan , Kim Sung Woo
Published: September 2022

This study aimed to investigate efficacy of the combinational use of non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes (NSPase) and lysophospholipids (LPL) on growth performance and nutrient utilization in pigs fed feeds with varied metabolizable energy (ME) levels. Grower pigs (n = 270; 28.1 ± 0.6 kg BW) were allotted in a randomized complete block design with a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments fed for 51 d in 2 phases (30 and 21 d, respectively). Two factors were ME (3,260, 3,335, and 3,410 kcal/kg) and NSPase + LPL (ELPL at 0.00, 0.05, and 0.10%). Growth performance and backfat were measured. Blood was collected to measure plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) concentrations. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure on SAS 9.4. Increasing ME tended to increase (P = 0.066) ADG during Grower 2 and increased (P < 0.05) G/F during the overall period. Increasing ELPL supplementation increased (P < 0.05) both ADG and ADFI during Grower 2, whereas it tended to reduce (P = 0.084) G/F during the overall period. Supplemental effects of ELPL on increasing ADG was prominent (P < 0.05) at high ME content (3% above NRC requirement). Supplementation of ELPL tended to reduce (P = 0. 057) G/F during Grower 2 at low ME content (3% below NRC requirements). Backfat thickness and NEFA were not influenced by 2 factors. Increasing ME increased (P < 0.05) PUN during Grower 1 whereas increasing ELPL tended to increase (P = 0.077) PUN during Grower 2. In conclusion, supplementation of ELPL enhanced growth and feed intake of pigs from 50 to 75 kg BW, especially when dietary ME was above NRC requirement (3%) by fat supplementation (4%). These improvements may be due to increased nutrient utilization as indirectly indicated by increased PUN during fed status.
266 Effects of Lactobacillus Fermentate on Modulation of Mucosa-Associated Microbiota in Relation to Intestinal Health of Nursery Pigs Challenged with F18+ Escherichia Coli
Authors: Duarte Marcos Elias E , Xu Xiangyi , Kim Sung Woo
Published: September 2022

This study investigated the effects of a Lactobacillus fermentate (LBF) on mucosa-associated microbiota and its correlation with intestinal health of pigs challenged with F18+ Escherichia coli. Newly-weaned pigs (n = 64; 6.6 ± 0.7 kg BW) were allotted in a randomized complete b;ock design (RCBD) to 4 treatments: NC: no-challenge/no-supplement; PC: E. coli/no-supplement; AGP: E. coli/bacitracin (30 g/t feed); and PBT: E. coli/LBF (2 kg/t feed). At d 7, challenge groups were orally inoculated (2.4 x 1010 CFU) with F18+ E. coli whereas NC received sterile solution. Pigs were fed for 28 d until euthanasia to collect jejunal mucosa to evaluate intestinal health and microbiota. PC reduced (P < 0.05) Selenomonas (1.39 to 0.32%). AGP increased (P < 0.05) Bifidobacteriaceae (0.19 to 2.13%), Burkholderiaceae (0.18 to 1.54%), Comamonadaceae (1.13 to 6.97%), Enterobacteriaceae (0.81 to 2.29%), Microbacteriaceae (0.27 to 1.96%), Moraxellaceae (0.28 to 5.57%), and Pseudomonadaceae (0.36 to 2.59%). PBT increased (P < 0.05) Propionibacteriaceae (0.16 to 3.55%). AGP and PBT increased (P < 0.05) the microbiota diversity (Chao1: 48.8 to 76.4 and 71.6, respectively). Burkholderiaceae and Comamonadaceae were negatively correlated with TNF-α (r = -0.31 and -0.30, respectively; P < 0.05), whereas Burkholderiaceae, Comamonadaceae and Microbacteriaceae were positively correlated with protein carbonyl (r = 0.39, 0.33, and 0.37, respectively; P < 0.05). Bifidobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae were positively correlated with VH:CD (r = 0.41 and 0.40, respectively; P < 0.05), whereas Pseudomonadaceae was positively correlated with villus height (r = 0.34; P < 0.05). Enterobacteriaceae was negatively correlated with G:F (r = -0.41; P < 0.05), whereas positively correlated with IL-8 and MDA (r = 0.39 and 0.32; P < 0.05). Moraxellaceae was negatively correlated with IL-6 (r = -0.29, P < 0.05). Collectively, AGP and LBF increased diversity of beneficial microbiota which was related to improved intestinal health in pigs after E. coli F18+ challenge.
264 Evaluation of in-Barn Feeder Management Prior to Marketing to Reduce Feed Cost and Improve Carcass Yield and Economic Return
Authors: Cordoba Hilario , DeRouchey Joel M , Goodband Robert D , Tokach Mike D , Woodworth Jason C , Gebhardt Jordan T
Published: September 2022

A total of 695 mixed sex growing-finishing pigs (110.1 ± 0.62 kg) were allotted in a randomized complete block design and assigned to 1 of 3 treatments (24 pens/treatment; 9-10 pigs/pen). Treatments consisted of a total of 12, 18, or 24 h (including transportation and lairage) of feed withdrawal prior to harvest to determine its effects on carcass weight (HCW), carcass yield, and economics of pigs marketed at two different marketing events (3 heaviest pigs/pen marketed 14-d prior to final marketing of all remaining pigs). There was no evidence of differences (P≥0.10) on growth performance during the 14-d period between the first and final marketing event. However, for pig BW at time of loadout, pigs with 24h of feed withdrawal prior to harvest were lighter (P < 0.05) then those with 12h of feed withdrawal at the first marketing event and overall. For carcass characteristics, pigs at final marketing with 12h of feed withdrawal prior to harvest had increased (P < 0.05) HCW compared with those with 24h of feed withdrawal, leading to a tendency (P=0.055) for increased HCW overall for the combined marketing events (0.5 kg heavier). When evaluating carcass yield using live weights at 24h prior to harvest, pigs in the final marketing group with 12h of feed withdrawal prior to harvest had greater yield (P < 0.05) than those marketed with 24h of feed withdrawal; however, using live weights 12h prior to harvest to calculate yield, pigs with 24h of feed withdrawal prior to harvest had increased yield (P < 0.05) compared with those marketed with 12h of feed withdrawal for both marketing events. There were no differences in backfat, loin depth, and percentage lean between treatments (P>0.10). In conclusion, carcass yield was affected by time of feed withdrawal prior to harvest with greater HCW for pigs with 12h compared with 24h of feed withdrawal.
272 Effects of a Probiotic Bacillus Strain on Ileal Digestibility of Crude Protein, Starch, Energy and fat and Total Tract Digestibility of Energy and Dietary Fiber in Diets fed to Weanling Pigs
Authors: de Oliveira Maryane Sespere Faria , Jimenez Guillermo , Stein Hans H
Published: September 2022

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that probiotic Bacillus toyonensis M15750 improve the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy and nutrients when included in diets fed by weanling pigs. A control diet was formulated based on corn, soybean-meal, and distillers dried grains with solubles and a second diet was formulated by supplementing the probiotic Bacillus toyonensis M15750 (1 × 109 cfu/kg feed) to the control diet. Titanium dioxide (0.50 %) was added to the diets as an indigestible marker. Sixteen weanling barrows (10.7 ± 0.7 kg) that had a T-cannula in the distal ileum were allotted to the two diets with 8 replicate pigs per diet in a randomized complete block design with body weight being the blocking factor. Pigs were adapted to the diets and to the metabolism crates for 7 days, urine and fecal materials were collected during the following 4 days according to standard procedures using the marker-to-marker approach, whereas ileal digesta were collected for 8 h during the following 2 days. The AID and ATTD of energy and nutrients were calculated for each diet. The AID of dry matter and gross energy was greater (P < 0.05) and the AID of starch tended to be greater (P = 0.05) in the diet supplemented with the probiotic Bacillus toyonensis M15750 compared with the control diet (Table 1). However, no differences were observed for the ATTD of energy or nutrients between the 2 diets, which indicates that the increased digestibility in the small intestine of pigs fed the diet supplemented with Bacillus toyonensis M15750 was offset by a reduction in hindgut fermentation. These results indicate that inclusion of probiotic Bacillus toyonensis M15750 in diets for weanling pigs have the potential to improve the AID of dry matter, gross energy and starch.
271 Effects of Increasing Lactation Dietary Energy Concentration by Adding fat During the Summer Period on sow and Litter Performance
Authors: Estrada Jorge , Vier Carine M , Hanson Andrea , Lu Ning , Diaz Julia , Van De Stroet Denise , Zaragoza Luis E , Peterson Beau , Parr Eric , Dritz Steve , Navales Ron , Cast Wayne R , Orlando Uislei A
Published: September 2022

The objective was to determine the effects of increasing energy in lactation diets fed during the summer period on sow and litter performance. A total of 356 sows (PIC Camborough) were randomly assigned at entry into the farrowing room to 1 of 4 treatments within parity in a randomized complete block design with body weight and breeding day blocks. Pre-farrowing caliper scores were balanced across treatments. The trial was conducted from July to September 2021 in Carthage, Illinois, with external barn minimum and maximum temperatures averaging 21-32°C. Treatments consisted of increasing levels of added fat in the lactation diet: 0, 1.67, 3.34, and 5.00% of corn oil. Diets were corn-soybean meal-based with a fixed soybean meal inclusion rate of 28.90%. Net energy (NE) concentrations of the treatment diets consisted of 2.345, 2.427, 2.509, and 2.591 Mcal NE/kg. Sow was the experimental unit and data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models with the lmer and glmer functions of R. Increasing corn oil inclusion rates marginally (linear, P=0.086) reduced lactation average daily feed intake but did not significantly (P>0.10) impact total or average daily NE intakes. There was no evidence (P>0.05) for treatment effects on sow body weight, sow caliper score or sow backfat depth changes during lactation, percentage of removed and fall-off piglets, pre-weaning mortality, number of weaned pigs, litter weaning weight, total litter weight gain, and piglet average daily gain. In summary, increasing energy in the lactation diet by adding up to 5% corn oil during the summer period resulted in a marginal linear reduction in lactation average daily feed intake, but did not influence daily NE intake. Under the conditions of this study, no evidence for treatment effects were observed for sow or for litter performance during the nursing period.
243 Nutritional Intervention for Reduced Nitrogen Excretion and Better Intestinal Health
Authors: Duarte Marcos Elias E , Kim Sung Woo
Published: September 2022

Increased awareness on public welfare has augmented the demand for more sustainable swine production. Nutritional interventions have been done to improve the dietary nitrogen utilization in order to reduce nitrogen excretion and enhance the intestinal health of pigs. Highly digestible protein supplements have been used as a strategy to enhance intestinal health and nitrogen utilization. Taking advantage of crystalline amino acids, low CP formulation with adequate amino acid supplementation has been used to reduce feed cost and improve intestinal health by decreasing protein fermentation. It has been estimated that reducing 1% protein in the diet reduces 9% nitrogen excretion and, consequently, environmental pollution. Feeding functional feed additives is another strategy to enhance intestinal health and nutrient digestion. Selected feed enzymes can reduce nitrogen excretion and improve intestinal health by directly increasing the digestibility of protein or by reducing antinutritional compounds such as allergenic proteins, phytate, and NSP that can impair protein digestion. Selected organic acids have antimicrobial properties and used in animal feeds to modulate intestinal microbiota, to enhance intestinal epithelial barrier function, and to improve protein digestibility. Selected prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics can reduce nitrogen excretion by changing the intestinal environment, enhancing the intestinal morphology, immune status, and the microbiota composition. Enhanced intestinal health with increased beneficial microbiota would increase the efficiency of nitrogen utilization consequently reducing nitrogen excretion. In summary, different nutritional strategies can be adopted to improve growth efficiency related to enhanced intestinal health and nutrient utilization, consequently reducing nitrogen excretion. Finally, improved feed efficiency and reduced nutrient waste would assure sustainable swine production, economic incentives to producers, and public welfare.
246 Pathogenic Escherichia Coli Populations within the gut Microbiota of Commercial Swine Herds in the U.S
Authors: Davis Ellen
Published: September 2022

Enteropathogenic E. coli (ETEC) is a common infection in neonatal and nursery pigs resulting in significant economic losses from morbidity, mortality, and production inefficiencies. Due to the plasticity of its genome, E. coli can be particularly challenging to manage in swine production systems. Populations of E. coli are continuously changing their genome content via multiple methods of genomic modification to better adapt and compete within ecological niches in the intestinal tract. This ability to acquire genetic information allows individuals within E. coli populations to exchange virulence and antibiotic resistance genes, developing into disease-causing ETEC strains that are difficult to manage with therapeutic antibiotics and other antimicrobial methods. Virulence genes associated with ETEC are harbored within healthy swine populations and usually result in disease when individual strains acquire four or more genes associated with virulence. Monitoring and enumerating the virulence gene pool of E. coli populations within U.S. commercial swine herds indicates that incorporating methods to manage the potentially pathogenic E. coli population in its entirety may be a more effective strategy than focusing on disease mitigation.
248 U.S. Challenges with E. Coli and Road map for the Future
Authors: Coble Kyle
Published: September 2022

In recent years U.S pork producers have been faced with what seems to be a never-ending uphill battle, with Enterotoxigenic E. coli which causes severe post weaning diarrhea and mortality. Numerous hypotheses ranging from pig genetics to changes in bacterial resistance have all been discussed as potential causes, but no clear answer has been provided to date. Over the past two years, many nutritional strategies (low crude protein, higher fiber diets, etc.) aimed at mitigating the deleterious effects of ETEC have been tried in both field and research nurseries with varying success. There is a concerted effort across the industry to better understand E. coli and possible mitigation and prevention strategies. However, to be successful we need to understand that controlling E. coli is a multidisciplinary issue that requires understanding how each piece of the puzzle impacts E. coli. Production practices, veterinarian protocols, stress events (weaning, transportation), temperature, and clear plans for a world post pharmacological levels of zinc and feed grade medications all contribute to the success of mitigating/eliminating ETEC. While the pig demands we find solutions quickly, the sustainability of healthy swine production and lower production cost require us to find the root source. This requires starting at the beginning of the process and piecing the puzzle together. We need research at all levels of production to understand key triggers–actions and reactions. What things are we doing in the farrowing crate today that impacts this? When pigs are placed in the nursery, what is the required temperature for newly weaned pigs? Are there possibly production practices that have benefits in one place and harsh impacts in another? These are examples of questions needing answered. To fix an issue of this magnitude, you must understand it simply – and we simply do not understand this issue well enough today.
281 The Relationship between Postnatal Hormone Concentrations and the Development of Boar Taint at Puberty
Authors: Bone Christine , Squires E James
Published: September 2022

The development of boar taint is dependent on the balance between the rate of androstenone synthesis and metabolism, which regulates the quantity of androstenone available for accumulation in the fat. The pubertal production of androstenone and other sex steroids is influenced by sexual maturity status and preceded by a significant period of hormone production during postnatal development that occurs from 14 to 35 days of age (DOA). However, the relationship between postnatal and pubertal hormone production is not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if postnatal hormone concentrations can be used to predict sexual maturity status and boar taint development at puberty. Crossbred [(Yorkshire x Landrace) x Duroc] boars (n=90)] were housed in groups of 10. Blood samples were taken at 14, 21, 28, and 35 DOA and again at 120, 130, and 140kg live weights (LWs) along with backfat samples. Plasma and fat androstenone concentrations were quantified using an androstenone-specific ELISA. Plasma estrone sulfate (E1S) concentrations were determined by RIA and used as an indicator of sexual maturity status. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman correlation. Several nonlinear monotonic relationships were identified between postnatal and pubertal hormone concentrations and are presented in Table 1. A moderate positive correlation was identified between plasma androstenone concentrations at 21 and 28 DOA and fat androstenone concentrations at 120, 130, and 140kg LWs, and between E1S concentrations at 21 DOA and E1S concentrations at 120, 130, 140kg LWs. However, the strength of the relationship between postnatal and pubertal hormone concentrations was insufficient for accurately predicting sexual maturity status or boar taint at puberty. These results suggest that additional factors regulating the development of boar taint, such as the rate of metabolism or accumulation, should be considered in future efforts to develop a predictive model using postnatal hormone concentrations.
283 Quercetin Antagonizes Tall Fescue Toxicosis-Induced Cardiovascular Toxicity in Lamb (Ovis Aries) via Modulating PGC-1α Mediated Mitochondrial Biogenesis
Authors: Huang Yan , Ge Jing , Wang Yongjie , Shelby Sarah , Morse Palika , Coffey Ken
Published: September 2022

Quercetin is a natural flavonoid with a higher antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory. Tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort; E+] is perennial cool-season grass for grazing livestock in North America. Fescue infected with the endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum) produces chemicals toxic to livestock. However, the impact of quercetin on alleviating fescue toxicosis has received only limited attention. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the mitigation effect of quercetin on fescue toxicosis-induced cardiotoxicity of lambs. A total number of 24 Dorper lambs were randomized to four groups (n = 6 per group) and grazed tall fescue seed for 42 days. The results indicated that quercetin treatment alleviated fescue toxicosis induced cardiovascular histopathology injury (Fig 1), inhibited the increased trend of creatine kinase activities, and serum prolactin concentrations (Fig 2). Meanwhile, quercetin mitigated fescue toxicosis-induced cardiovascular oxidative damage by decreasing MDA and H2O2 contents, increasing antioxidant enzymes (T-SOD, Cu-Zn SOD, CAT, and T-AOC) activities (Fig 3). Quercetin evidently enhanced fescue toxicosis-induced down-regulation of phase I, II, and II detoxification gene expression to relieve oxidative damage (Fig 4-6). Moreover, quercetin triggered the NF-kB signaling pathway to ameliorate fescue toxicosis-induced cardiovascular inflammation (Fig 7-9). Quercetin attenuated cardiac mitochondrial impaired via Parkin/PINK modulated mediated mitophagy and PGC1-α mediated biogenesis (Fig 10-13). Collectively, our findings demonstrated that quercetin explicated potential protection against fescue toxicosis-induced cardiovascular toxicity.
288 Chemical Characterization of the Marking Fluid of Breeding and non-Breeding Male Cheetahs
Authors: Esposito Giulia , Tommasi Alexia , Tredoux Andreas G J , Koziel Jacek A
Published: September 2022

Volatile semiochemicals released, amongst other methods, through marking fluid (MF), and characterized by scent/odor, are involved in communication and identification of an individual. Scent has an important role in reproduction of cheetahs and other felids; in fact, the presence/odor of a male cheetah has been noted to trigger the estrous cycle of females. The objectives of the study were to analyze the MF of male cheetahs from different breeding groups to determine the composition of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) present. Five males per group (e.g., breeding vs non-breeding) were selected from two facilities. The first facility only had breeding males (B; e.g., animals regularly exposed to females on estrus and actively involved in breeding programs); the second facility, only had non-breeding males (NB). The average age of the B and NB males was of 8.1±2.3 and 6.7±2.8 years respectively. Eighteen MF samples were collected from both groups. VOCs were extracted from the headspace, using solid-phase microextraction techniques and analyzed with gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry. Possible relationships between the frequency of presence/absence of each VOC and the respective groups were evaluated through a contingency test with Fisher’s exact test. Differences in relative concentration (RC) of the identified compounds between groups were analyzed using analysis of variance for repeated measures. Fifty-eight VOCs were identified from the MF, and twelve were commonly identified in the samples collected. The RC of dodecanoic acid and nonanoic acid was significantly greater in the B compared with the NB males; whereas indole tended to be greater in the NB compared with the B group. Although the observed differences could indicate the possible involvement of specific VOCs in reproductive behavior, the different diets and age could have also affected the VOCs RC. Further studies are needed to better understand possible differences in RC of VOCs between breeding groups to confirm their role in reproduction.
294 Awardee Talk: Porcine Sperm Storage in the Oviduct Before Fertilization: A Sweet Spot
Authors: Miller David J
Published: September 2022

Sperm storage in the female reproductive tract from sperm deposition until ovulation is conserved among a wide variety of animals allowing some asynchrony between mating and ovulation. Mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, and insects are among those that store sperm from a day or two to as long as a decade. We have studied the molecular basis of how sperm are retained and then released from the reservoirs in the female tract to fertilize oocytes, primarily in swine. Previous research by others implicated various oviduct glycans as receptors to retain sperm in the lower oviduct, the isthmus, but the complete structures of the glycans that bound sperm had not been identified. We used an array of hundreds of glycans to identify those that bound sperm and identified several glycans with sperm binding ability. Further inspection revealed that all sperm binding glycans contained at least one of two motifs, either a branched 6-sialylated structure or a Lewis X trisaccharide. Profiling all glycans produced by the isthmus showed that these motifs were abundant among the complex N-linked glycans of the isthmus. Further, they were found on the apical surface of the isthmic epithelium where they are available to bind sperm. These glycans suppressed the normal increase in intracellular free Ca2+ in sperm during capacitation and, when immobilized on beads, lengthened sperm lifespan, mimicking the effect of sperm of binding to the oviduct. Binding to oviduct glycans alters sperm metabolism in specific ways to prolong sperm viability. Sperm are released from immobilized glycans by progesterone, which induces hyperactivated motility, and by capacitation, which reduces the binding affinity of capacitated sperm for oviduct glycans. This information may be used to improve sperm lifespan in vivo or enhance sperm storage outside of the female tract.