bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
4 Engineered Resilience in Livestock for Improved Animal Welfare
Authors: Williams Tawni N , Green-Miller Angela R
Published: October 2021

Welfare status for any species is dependent upon an animal’s ability to cope with its environment. Environmental conditions, animal husbandry, and overall health are major components that contribute to managing livestock species with quality animal welfare. Previous approaches intending to create more robust animals have applied genetic selection, nutritional programming, or advancements in facilities. Engineered resilience, the approach explored here, represents: (a) the ability to identify certain physiological biomarkers, behaviors, and environmental stressors that contribute to the individual’s response to a challenge; and (b) manipulate them in a targeted way with well-timed and controlled exposure to improve outcomes of a challenge to homeostasis (i.e. improve fitness with prior conditioning). Foundational understanding of natural adaptation in response to challenge reveals that some animals emerge from a challenge with greater coping abilities and others fail to thrive. By determining which animals have natural resilience and exploring the factors that created desired outcomes, scenarios can be identified to initiate resilience in susceptible animals. Such responses can then be stimulated through the development of managerial techniques. This project was conducted by reviewing published literature with the goal of identifying more refined areas of study for future research in engineered resilience in livestock species. Potential for application of this concept includes building thermal resilience, social resilience, and disease resilience.
24 The Effects of Vaginal pH on Fertility of Beef Cows and Heifers Enrolled in the 7-d Co-synch + Controlled Internal Drug Release (CIDR) Protocol
Authors: Wege Dias Nicholas W , Pancini Stefania , Haines Hannah , Rodrigues Gomes Mercadante Vitor R G
Published: October 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of vaginal pH on fertility of beef cows and heifers enrolled in a fixed-time artificial insemination (TAI) protocol. Year 1, 40 multiparous cows; and year 2, 48 multiparous cows and 41 heifers with no signs of vaginitis were enrolled. Vaginal flushes were collected for all females on D0, D7 and D10 and immediately analyzed for pH with a pH meter. As evidence of vaginitis, CIDR score was determined at CIDR removal (D7) following a 1 to 4 scoring system: 1=no secretion; 2=clear secretion; 3=purulent secretion; 4=purulent secretion and blood. Pregnancy status was determined by transrectal ultrasonography approximately 40 days after TAI. No animals had CIDR scores 1, whereas 23.7% of animals had a score 2, 69.6% a score 3, and 6.6% a score of 4. There was no effect of CIDR score on pregnancy outcome (P = 0.697). However, vaginal pH on D7, differed according to CIDR score (P = 0.045), where score 2 had greater pH (7.32±0.04) than score 4 (7.09±0.08), and score 3 were intermediate (7.25±0.02). No effect (P = 0.307) of CIDR score on vaginal pH on D10 was observed. There were no differences (P > 0.01) between vaginal pH of pregnant and open animals on D0 (7.06±0.05); D7 (7.26±0.03); and D10 (7.21±0.04). Nonetheless, on D10 females with vaginal pH 7.1 < pH ≤ 7.34 had greater (P = 0.005) PR (n=56; 66.1%) than cows with pH > 7.35 (n=33; 45.5%), and pH < 7.09 (n = 39; 33.3%). We conclude that vaginitis caused by the CIDR changes vaginal pH on D7, which is not carried on to D10. In addition, there is indication of an optimal vaginal pH range at the day of TAI for maximum PR to the protocol.
32 A Bayesian Hierarchical Model to Integrate Growth Models into Genomic Evaluation of Pigs
Authors: Yu Haipeng , Milgen Jaap , Knol Egbert , Fernando Rohan , Dekkers Jack C
Published: October 2021

Genomic prediction has advanced genetic improvement by enabling more accurate estimates of breeding values at an early age. Although genomic prediction is efficient in predicting traits dominated by additive genetic effects within common settings, prediction in the presence of non-additive genetic effects and genotype by environmental interactions (GxE) remains a challenge. Previous studies have attempted to address these challenges by statistical modeling, while the augmentation of statistical models with biological information has received relatively little attention. A pig growth model assumes growth performance is a nonlinear functional interaction between the animal’s genetic potential for underlying latent growth traits and environmental factors and has the potential to capture GxE and non-additive genetic effects. The objective of this study was to integrate a nonlinear stable Gompertz function of three latent growth traits and age into genomic prediction models using Bayesian hierarchical modeling. The three latent growth traits were modeled as a linear combination of systematic environmental, marker, and residual effects. The model was applied to daily body weight data from ~83 to ~186 days of age on 4,039 purebred boars that were genotyped for 24K markers. Bias and prediction accuracy of genomic predictions of selection candidates were assessed by extending the linear regression method of predictions based on part and whole data to a non-linear setting. The accuracy (bias) of genomic predictions was 0.58 (0.82), 0.46 (0.90), 0.54 (0.78), and 0.60 (0.84) for the three latent growth traits and average daily gain derived from integrated nonlinear model, respectively, compared to 0.58 (0.87) for genomic predictions of average daily gain using standard linear models. In subsequent work, the growth model will be extended to include daily feed intake and carcass composition data. Resulting models are expected to substantially advance genetic improvement in pigs across environments. Funded by USDA-NIFA grant # 2020-67015-31031.
83 Mapping Resilience Indicators and Measuring Emotions of Farm Animals Using Sensor Data
Authors: Neethirajan Suresh
Published: October 2021

More often sensor and the data analytical tools are established for human biomedical applications before it finds ways in solving farm animal problems. Resilience is a type of toughness or resistance against degrading forces and the capacity to recover or endure from potentially harmful dynamics. For moment-by-moment quantification of the individual farm animal’s cardiovascular functioning, physiological functioning indices sensor-based data becomes paramount. With much emphasis being given currently on the animal welfare, especially the cognitive, emotional, and psychological aspects of livestock, creating scientifically meaningful information from the sensor data becomes important. In this invited talk, I will be sharing results on measuring emotions, evaluating the indicators of resilience in farm animals, and developing solutions for livestock digital phenotyping through data analytics. I will walk you through some examples of how the data analytics was handled, and sensor-based data were collected, assimilated, integrated, and the insights were developed based on machine learning approaches.
112 Modulating Effects of Miscanthus Grass and Prebiotic Blends on Canine Fecal Microbiota, Metabolites, and Digestibility
Authors: Finet Shannon E , He Fei , Clark Lindsay V , de Godoy Maria R
Published: October 2021

Dietary fiber plays an important role in gastrointestinal health as it modulates the gut environment and promotes microbiome homeostasis. However, dietary fiber sources vary in composition, physico-chemical properties, and physiological effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of miscanthus grass fiber and prebiotic fiber blends on fecal microbiota, fecal metabolites, and apparent total tract digestibility in comparison to traditional dietary fiber sources. Animal procedures were approved by the University of Illinois Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Six dietary treatments were formulated to meet or exceed AAFCO nutrient profile (2018) and included either cellulose, beet pulp, miscanthus fiber, or a blend of miscanthus fiber and tomato pomace, miscanthus fiber and resistant starch, or miscanthus fiber and fructooligosaccharide. Twelve female adult beagles were randomly assigned one of the six treatments in a replicated 6x6 Latin square design and fed for 21 d including 17 d of diet adaptation followed by 4 d of total and fresh fecal collection. All diets were well digested by the animals. Dogs fed beet pulp had greater fecal total short-chain fatty acid concentration than the cellulose treatment (P < 0.05), while the dogs fed diets containing miscanthus fiber were intermediate. No difference in the α-diversity of fecal microbial communities was observed among treatments (P >0.05), while β-diversity of dogs fed the beet pulp treatment differed from the other treatment groups. Miscanthus grass can be utilized successfully in diets for adult dogs with tomato pomace and resistant starch blends resulting in similar physiological effects to cellulose.
110 Evaluation of Macronutrient Composition and Amino Acid Digestibility of Select Novel Dietary Proteins for Use in Canine and Feline Nutrition
Authors: Gomez Victoria A , Utterback Pam L , Parsons Carl M , de Godoy Maria R , Russell Haley
Published: October 2021

Demand for the inclusion of high-quality protein in companion animal diets has increased as owners have become more invested in the health of their pets. There is very little information on the nutrient content of novel proteins needed for a properly balanced diet, so as a result the objectives of this study were to determine the chemical composition, standardized amino acid digestibility using the precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay, and protein quality using digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS like) of raw chicken, spirulina, cricket meal, and fish (carp) slurry. Raw chicken has the lowest crude protein concentration (45.6%) on dry matter (DM) basis, whereas fish slurry had the highest (75.3%). All amino acids were moderately to highly digestible (70.2% to 98.8%, dry matter basis) with differences (P < 0.05) in all but arginine, phenylalanine, threonine, cysteine, serine, and tyrosine. The limiting amino acid based on DIAAS-like values for adult dogs compared with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recommended values were tryptophan for raw chicken and methionine for cricket meal. Comparing DIAAS-like values for adult dogs to National Research Council (NRC) recommended allowances, the limiting amino acids were the same where raw chicken and fish slurry still had tryptophan and spirulina and cricket meal had methionine as the first limiting amino acids. The DIAAS-like values for adult cats compared to AAFCO and NRC values were all above 100% with the lowest being threonine for chicken (123.65%) compared to AAFCO nutrient profile for adult cats and histidine for spirulina (123.13%) compared to NRC for cats at maintenance. Based on the data gathered in this study, the novel dietary protein sources evaluated are of similar or superior protein quality compared with raw chicken; a traditional protein source widely used in pet foods.
497 Late-Breaking: Low Number of Owner Reported Suspected Transmission of Foodborne Pathogens from Raw Meat-based Diets Fed to Dogs and/or Cats
Authors: Cammack Nicole R , Yamka Ryan M , Adams Vicki
Published: October 2021

The aim of this worldwide survey was to determine owner reported frequency of pathogen transmission to humans living in or in contact with households feeding their pets commercial and homemade raw meat-based diets (RMBD). A total of 5,611 responses were gathered from 62 countries with 77.1% of households feeding only RMBDs to dog(s) and/or cat(s) no confirmed cases of pathogen transmission or infection by laboratory testing. Eleven households (0.20%, 95%CI: 0.10 – 0.36) were classified as having experienced ‘probable’ transmission and 20 households (0.36%, 95%CI: 0.22 – 0.56) were classified as having experienced “possible” transmission to result in a total of 31 households (0.55%, 95%CI: 0.38 – 0.79) being identified as potential cases of transmission (fig. 1). The remainder of households (n = 5,580 = 99.45%, 95% CI: 99.21 – 99.62) were not considered to have experienced potential transmission of foodborne pathogens based on their responses to the survey. The most frequently reported pathogens were Salmonella (n = 11, 0.2%), Campylobacter (n=6, 0.1%) and E. Coli (n = 4, 0.1%), with the most common age group being adults age 18–65 (n=29, 78.4% of cases). Beef and chicken were the most common proteins reported as being fed in case households although this was not associated with pathogen transmission. Households feeding a greater number of different protein sources, including pork, turkey, duck, rabbit and salmon, were associated with decreased risk of pathogen transmission. Additional risk factors associated with pathogen transmission included preparing RMBD in a separate location, with different utensils than human food (fig. 2), mixing RMBD with dry (kibble) diets and feeding a limited variety of protein sources. Based on the results of this survey, confirmed pathogen transmission from RMBD to humans appears to be rare. We conclude that potential or probable cases of pathogen transmission is likely dependent upon hygiene and food safety measures and more education surrounding food safety should reduce risk.
128 Homemade Pet Diets—What Are the Key Supplement Considerations?
Authors: Morris Cheryl L
Published: October 2021

Interest in preparing pet foods at home has continued to build momentum over the last decade. Websites, blogs, and social media groups praise the benefits of feeding raw and home-prepared diets. Consistent research has demonstrated the beneficial effects of raw diets on macronutrient digestibility (primarily fat and protein); however, research is lacking on overall health impacts. While it is important to acknowledge the lack of substantial research, owner choice and compliance also should be considered. With well-established nutrient requirements for dogs and cats available through AAFCO and the National Research Council (NRC), it is relatively uncomplicated to meet requirements when typical processing methods are not required (extrusion or canning). Although it is not complicated to meet the requirements with home-based fresh or lightly cooked ingredients, care must be taken to properly ensure that vitamin and mineral requirements are met. In review of over 100 homemade diets submitted for evaluation, 0% met all vitamin and mineral requirements for dogs or cats. All diets were supplemented with some form of calcium. Approximately 25% of submitted diets utilized bones as the source of calcium. Bones can be problematic depending on type, particularly for digestion, broken pieces that can cause intestinal blockages, and broken teeth. None of the diets were properly balanced for copper, zinc and iron. It is likely, this triad of minerals has been overlooked in diet formulations. It is critical to note that improper balance of these minerals could play a significant role in oxidative stress and aging. Iodine is typically met through additions of kelp; however, variations in quality can result in over or under-supplementation having detrimental effects on the thyroid. Vitamins E and D also are often under-supplemented in these diets. Educating owners on nutrient requirements and ratios, and providing proper supplementation, can assure a quality and balanced diet.
130 Early Developmental Exposure to Stress and Programming of Lifelong Gut and Immune Function
Authors: Moeser Adam J
Published: October 2021

Prenatal and early postnatal life represents critical periods of development across species for many organ systems including immune, nervous, reproductive, and gastrointestinal systems. A high level of plasticity exists during these periods, and thus maternal and environmental cues including stress, immune stimulation, and nutrition, can alter the normal developmental programming of the fetus and neonate and impact the trajectory for disease risk and productivity across the lifespan. This presentation will focus on the impact of and biological mechanisms by which prenatal and early postnatal stressors, including psychological immune and nutritional stressors, alter the normal developmental programming of the immune, gastrointestinal, and neuroendocrine stress axes in the offspring and how this may link to increased disease risk and reduced productivity across the lifespan in animals and humans. Further, specifically how host factors such as biological sex interact with early life stress to shape gut and systemic neuroimmune development and later life disease risk will be discussed.
143 Effect of Supplementary Selenium Source on Dairy Cow Performance, Antioxidant Status, and Apparent Absorption and Retention
Authors: Cruickshank Keira M , Hatew Bayissa , Gehman Amanda M , Koenig Karen M , Ribeiro Eduardo S , Steele Michael A
Published: October 2021

The objective of this experiment was to determine how source of selenium (Se) affects dairy cow performance, antioxidant status, and apparent absorption and retention. Multiparous Holstein cows (n = 24; 597 ± 49 kg BW) were blocked by days in milk (161 ± 18) and randomly assigned to receive 0.3 mg/kg of either: 1) organic Se (selenized yeast; ORG; Sel-Plex-Alltech); or, 2) inorganic Se (sodium selenite; INO) premix, top dressed and mixed into a ration daily. After an 11-week adaptation period (blood and milk sampled monthly), cows received an intraruminal dose of Se77 (either Se77 yeast or NaSe77O3) followed by a 4-day period of blood and rumen fluid sampling, and total collection of feces, urine, and milk. Data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX in SAS with fixed effects of treatment, time, and their interaction, and random effect of block. Daily DMI (23 ± 0.6 kg), milk yield (35 ± 1.2 kg), plasma glutathione peroxidase (64 ± 4.2 U), and serum Se (0.11 ± 0.003 µg/g) were not different between treatments during the adaptation period. Serum Se77 maximum concentration and area under the curve (AUC) were not different between treatments for 72 hours following infusion, but rumen fluid Se77 AUC was higher (P = 0.02) for ORG cows. Apparent absorption (64 ± 1.3%) and retention (44 ± 1.5%) of the Se77 dose did not differ between treatments. The ORG cows had lower urinary excretion (13 vs. 17 ± 0.6%; P < 0.01), higher milk excretion (6 vs. 2 ± 0.3%; P < 0.01), and similar fecal excretion (36 ± 1.3%; P = 0.9) of Se77 compared to INO cows. These results indicate that ORG Se increased Se content of milk and decreased Se excretion in urine, but did not alter performance, antioxidant status, and apparent absorption and retention of Se in mid-lactation cows.
165 Rethinking Methane - Livestock’s Path to Climate Neutrality
Authors: Mitloehner Frank M
Published: October 2021

Animal agriculture is often shouldered with a large part of the blame when it comes to climate change, but that’s because we haven’t been looking at all greenhouse gases correctly. While methane is a potent climate pollutant that we can and need to reduce, it warms our atmosphere differently than other gases because of its short lifespan. By rethinking methane, we can see that animal agriculture can be on the path to climate neutrality with scalable solutions and give the global community tools to fight global climate change.
195 Maternal Impact on Fetal Muscle and Adipose Tissue Development
Authors: Du Min
Published: October 2021

Tissues and organs are actively developing during the fetal stage, which is sensitive to nutritional alteration and exerts long-term impacts on offspring performance. Both muscle and adipose tissue are derived from the dermomyotome during the early embryonic stage, and their common origins provide an opportunity to promote myogenic instead of adipogenic differentiation, which enhances the lean/fat ratio of offspring. In previous studies with sheep and cattle, we found that maternal nutrient deficiency reduces fetal myogenesis and the lean/fat ratio of offspring. Stress is common in animals during pregnancy, and we examined the impacts of maternal stress induced by dexamethasone on fetal muscle and adipose development. We found that maternal stress impairs fetal muscle and brown adipose tissue (BAT) development. Mechanistically, we found that maternal stress suppresses mitochondrial biogenesis during fetal muscle and BAT development by elevating DNA methylation in the promoter of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator α (PGC-1α), which persists in offspring muscle and BAT, generating lasting effects on the functions of muscle and adipose tissue. In short, available data clearly show that maternal nutrition and other physiological factors have profound impacts on fetal development, which programs offspring performance. Understanding related mechanisms are important for effective and precise management of animals during gestation in order to enhance production efficiency of offspring.
198 Effect of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Fermentate on Immune Cell Function Following Prolonged Head Elevation in 2-year-old Horses in Training
Authors: Tench Melissa , Bobel Jillian M , Bazurto Cinthya , Hansen Tayler L , Kirk Nicolet , Lopez Claudia , Warren Lori K
Published: October 2021

Horses are often restricted from lowering their heads while being transported, which prevents nasal drainage and triggers upper respiratory tract inflammation. Based on positive outcomes in other species, we hypothesized Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentate (SCF) would modify this immune response in horses. Two-year-old Quarter Horses (mean ± SEM; initial age 22 ± 0.3 mo and BW 439 ± 3 kg) were randomly assigned to receive SCF (Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, IA; 21 g/d; n = 10) or no supplement (CON; n = 10) added to their diet (60% hay, 40% concentrate) for 60 d. Horses were exercised 4 d/wk for 30–45 min/d at light to moderate intensity. On d 57 horses were tethered with their heads elevated 35 cm above wither height for 12 h to mimic long-distance transport. Whole blood samples were obtained before and up to 72 h after stress induction to evaluate immune cell function. Data were compared using mixed model ANOVA with repeated measures. Serum cortisol (P < 0.01) and blood leukocytes (P < 0.05) were greater after head elevation. Lymphocyte proliferation in response to lipopolysaccharide was lower (P < 0.01) following head elevation but did not differ by treatment. Lymphocyte proliferation in response to concanavalin A exhibited a time × treatment effect (P = 0.05) where it decreased in CON horses after head elevation (P < 0.05) but was unchanged in SCF horses. Neutrophil phagocytosis of Streptococcus equi (a respiratory pathogen) was temporarily reduced (P < 0.05) after head elevation in both treatments. A time × treatment effect (P = 0.05) was observed for phagocytosis-induced oxidative burst, where it increased in SCF (P < 0.01) but did not change in CON horses. These data indicate SCF modified peripheral immune cell activity following a localized mucosal stressor. Whether these responses improve resistance to opportunistic pathogens following transport needs to be determined.
209 The Effect of Waiting Time at the Lairage of Slaughterhouse of Holstein Bulls After a Short Transport on Animal Behavior, Carcass Quality and Meat Quality
Authors: Sanchez Denise , Gonzalez Joel , de Planell Guillem , Isla Eliseu , Bover Sara , Font Maria , Devant Maria , Marti Sonia
Published: October 2021

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of waiting time at the lairage before slaughter in Holstein bulls after a short transport. Half of the bulls of each transport (n = 8 transports; n = 48 ± 4 bulls/transport) were distributed in two treatments: short waiting time (SWT; < 2h; n = 200) and long waiting time (LWT; from 4 to 8h; n = 184). Behavior of LWT animals was observed with a 15 min scan sampling at the lairage pens. Hot carcass weight (HCW), conformation, fatness and pH in Longissimus dorsi (LD) at the 4th-5th lumbar vertebra between 30 and 36 h postmortem was registered. A caudal section of LD was collected for meat quality evaluation in a subset of 24 animals selected based on HCW and meat pH. Each loin was cut in 5 slices, one to determine instrumental color after 30 min blooming, and the others were disposed to evaluate microbiology (1, 5, 8 and 12 d) and color stability (1 to 12 d). Data were analyzed using mixed models with repeated measures. The percentage of animals standing with LWT treatment decreased (P < 0.001) with waiting time (100% and 64%, 1 h and 6 h, respectively). Meat pH was greater (P < 0.01) for SWT (5.6 ± 0.02) compared with LWT (5.5 ± 0.02); however, the percentage of carcass classified as DFD (pH > 5.7) did not differ between treatments. Lightness (L*) was greater (P < 0.05) for SWT (29.7 ± 0.47) compared with LWT (28.1 ± 0.49). Moreover, on day 12 color stability and enterobacteria count evolved differently (P = 0.09) between treatments. Waiting time below 2 h might impair meat quality as animals might not be able to recover from transport.
215 Effects of Reducing Crude Protein with Supplementation of Six Essential Amino Acids and Glutamate on Growth and Backfat of Finishing Pigs
Authors: Duarte Marcos E , Kim Sung Woo
Published: October 2021

This study evaluated the effects of low CP diets on growth performance of finishing pigs. Seventy-two pigs (54 kg BW) were allotted to 3 treatments (8 pens/treatment) based on RCBD with sex and initial BW as blocks. Pigs were fed for 56 d until 120 kg BW based on 3 phases (P1/2/3 for 21/17/18 d, respectively). Treatments were CON (18.0, 13.8, 12.7% CP for P1/2/3; supplementing Lys, Met, Thr, and Trp); LCP (13.5, 11.4, 10.4% CP; supplementing Lys, Thr, Trp, Met, Val, and Ile); and LCPG (14.1, 12.8, 11.1% CP; LCP + Glu to match % Glu with CON). All diets met NRC requirements and had 2.6 Mcal/kg NE. Growth performance and backfat thickness were measured by phase. At d 56, blood and fecal samples were collected to analyze blood parameters and fecal microbiota. Data were analyzed using SAS 9.4. Overall, the growth performance and backfat thickness did not differ among treatments. BUN of LCPG was lower (P < 0.05) than CON (4.03 to 6.05 mg/dL), whereas the insulin of LCPG was greater (P < 0.05) than CON (222 to 116 pmol/dL). Relative abundance of Streptococcaceae in CON (6.1%) was greater (P < 0.05) than LCP (2.0%) and LCPG (2.3%), whereas the abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae of CON (1.8) was greater (P < 0.05) than LCP (0.9%). Colectively, when Lys, Thr, Trp, Met, Val, and Ile were provided sufficiently and NE was maintained, CP can be reduced by 2.6% without affecting growth performance and backfat thickness compared to conventional diets with Lys, Met, Trp, and Trp. Feeding low CP diets reduced harmful bacteria, and Glu supplementation further enhanced nitrogen utilization and glucose metabolism. Application of low CP formulation with supplementation of 6 essential amino acids to finishing pigs can be successful, when NE is matched and further beneficial with Glu supplementation.
327 Effects of Inclusion of Amaferm on Animal Performance, Chewing Activity, and Nutrient Digestibility of Backgrounding Beef Heifers Fed Either a Sorghum Silage- or a Byproducts-based Diet
Authors: Podversich Federico , Tarnonsky Federico , Bollatti Juan , da Silva Gleise Medeiros , Schulmeister Tessa M , Martinez Juan Vargas , Heredia Daniella C , Ipharraguerre Ignacio R , Dubeux Jose C B , Ferrareto Luiz , Gonella-Diaza Angela Maria M , Chebel Ricardo , Di Lorenzo Nicolas
Published: October 2021

Eighty-four Angus crossbred heifers (13 ± 1 mo, 329.5 ± 61.92 kg of BW) were used in a generalized randomized block design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The objective was to evaluate the effect of a feed additive inclusion under two growing diets. Factors included: 1) diet type (whole plant sorghum silage- or byproducts-based diet) and 2) feed additive inclusion [Amaferm (Aspergillus oryzae (extract)] included at 0 or 0.02% of the diet DM. This resulted in four treatments: sorghum-control (SC), sorghum-amaferm (SA), byproducts-control (BC) and byproducts-amaferm (BA). Heifers were housed in 12 pens (108 m2/pen; 7 heifers/ pen) equipped with GrowSafe technology, to measure individual dry matter intake (DMI). After a 14-d adaptation, BW was measured every 14 d, during 56 days, and chewing activity was monitored through collar-mounted HR-Tags (SCR Engineers Ltd., Netanya, Israel). Apparent total tract digestibility was measured on 10 heifers per treatment after the 56-d performance period, using indigestible NDF as a marker. Heifers fed the byproducts diet had (P ≤ 0.01) greater DMI as % of BW (2.92 vs. 2.59%) and greater average daily gain (1.16 vs. 0.68 kg/d). Amaferm improved gain-to-feed ratio by 15% in the byproducts diet (P ≤ 0.05) but it had no effect in the sorghum silage diet (P = 0.59). Conversely, Amaferm inclusion increased apparent total tract organic matter digestibility in the sorghum silage diet (SC = 49.8 vs. SA = 55.9%; P ≤ 0.01), whereas reduced it in the byproducts diet (BC = 65.8 vs. BA = 61.7%; P ≤ 0.05). Heifers fed a sorghum silage-based diet had (P ≤ 0.01) 39 and 63% greater chewing in min/d and min/kg of DMI, respectively; however, chewing in min/kg of NDF intake was similar across diets (average 111.3 min/kg of NDF intake).
PSXII-9 Modeling genetic differences of combined broiler chicken populations in single-step GBLUP
Authors: Bermann Matias , Lourenco Daniela , Breen Vivian , Hawken Rachel , Lopes Fernando Brito , Misztal Ignacy
Published: October 2021

The objectives of this study were to model the inclusion of a group of external birds into a local broiler chicken population for the purpose of genomic evaluations and evaluating the behavior of two accuracy estimators under different model specifications. The pedigree was composed by 242,413 birds and genotypes were available for 107,216 birds. A five-trait model that included one growth, two yield, and two efficiency traits was used for the analyses. The strategies to model the introduction of external birds were to include a fixed effect representing the origin of parents and to use UPG or metafounders. Genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV) were obtained with single-step GBLUP (ssGBLUP) using the Algorithm for Proven and Young (APY). Bias, dispersion, and accuracy of GEBV for the validation birds, i.e., from the most recent generation, were computed. The bias and dispersion were estimated with the LR-method, whereas accuracy was estimated by the LR-method and predictive ability. Models with fixed UPG and estimated inbreeding or random UPG resulted in similar GEBV. The inclusion of an extra fixed effect in the model made the GEBV unbiased and reduced the inflation, while models without such an effect were significantly biased. Genomic predictions with metafounders were slightly biased and inflated due to the unbalanced number of observations assigned to each metafounder. When combining local and external populations, the greatest accuracy and smallest bias can be obtained by adding an extra fixed effect to account for the origin of parents plus UPG with estimated inbreeding or random UPG. To estimate the accuracy, the LR-method is more consistent among models, whereas predictive ability greatly depends on the model specification, that is, on the fixed effects included in the model. When changing model specification, the largest variation for the LR-method was 20%, while for predictive ability was 110%.
PSXIV-24 Real-time, on-site whole genome sequencing with oxford nanopore technologies’ MinION
Authors: Ostrovski Hanna , Savegnago Rodrigo Pelicioni , Huang Wen , Gondro Cedric
Published: October 2021

Most quantitative geneticists are traditionally trained for data analysis in genetic evaluation and genomic prediction, but rarely have extensive knowledge of molecular genetics or experience in experimental labs. Recent products, such as those launched by Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT), give those quantitative geneticists a comprehensible and hands-on toolkit to explore DNA sequencing. The ‘MinION’, a small DNA sequencer, is of interest for quantitative geneticists due to both the minimal learning curve and the non-proprietary USB connectivity. This device is small enough to be portable, allowing for potential real-time, on-farm sequencing. The objective of this project is to compare the whole genome sequence (WGS) output of the MinION sequencer to that of the Illumina HiSeq 4000. Blood was collected from a 6-month-old Akaushi calf born on a Michigan State University farm. DNA was extracted from the sample using the QIAamp DNA Blood Kit from Qiagen, and library DNA ligation preparation (SQK-LSK109) from ONT was used. After base-calling with guppy software (provided by ONT), the data were preprocessed and experimental runs with the MinION were compared using quality control. Finally, the data were aligned with guppy software, and was compared to the aligned WGS obtained with Illumina HiSeq. Quality results from each MinION indicate that, despite the low amount of sequence collected in each run (~225,303 reads per run), the quality of bases sequenced was high (Q≥7). The aligned data from the Illumina sequencer provided 40x coverage of the genome, with a total of 739,339,742 reads. Although the amount of data obtained with MinION is much smaller than that of Illumina HiSeq, the high quality of MinION’s data combined with its ease of use give an opportunity of genomic sequencing for users who are either inexperienced or do not have access to large genomic sequencing devices.
PSXV-2 The relationship of quantitative and qualitative indicators of meat productivity in Kazakh white-headed bulls
Authors: Lapshina Alexandra , Makaev Shakur , Lebedev Svyatoslav , Dzhulamanov Kinispay , Gerasimov Nikolay
Published: October 2021

Lifetime assessment and selection of animals based on meat quality indicators is difficult. For this purpose, the analysis of the correlation between the main features of the breeding value of Kazakh white-headed bulls and quantitative and qualitative indicators of meat productivity was carried out. Bulls (n = 12) was slaughtered at the age of 15 months. The results show that the live weight with an average strength correlates with carcass weight (r=0.61; P < 0.05), with rib eye area (r=0.46), and the weight of visceralfat (r=0.51). It should also be noted the positive relationship of weight growth with the dry matter content in minced meat (r=0.46), which is realized due to fat deposition in the carcass (r=0.52). The lifetime assessment of the body conformation score is on average positively correlated with the content of dry matter (r=0.54) and protein (r=0.55) in m. longissimus dorsi. There is a positive correlation of the height in the sacrum with carcass weight (r=0.44), with the content of dry matter and protein in m. longissimus dorsi (r=0.46), with the concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids in meat (r=0.43), as well as a negative relationship (r=-0.43) of the height in the sacrum with the content of non-essential amino acids in meat. The content of monounsaturated fatty acids is significantly (P < 0.05) determined by the growth weight (r=0.67) and carcass weight (r=0.67). A strong negative relationship (r=-0.61...-0.71) was found between the slaughter indicators and the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Thus, the high growth rate negatively affects the quality of beef lipids. There is an inversely proportional relationship between the weight of visceral fat and intramuscular fat (r=-0.79; P < 0.01), which indicates a divergent lipogenesis in the body. The rib eye area weakly correlates with the biological value of beef. This research was performed with financial support from the project of RAS 0526-2021-0001.
PSIII-11 The effect of feeding supplemental zeolite (clinoptilolite) of two different particle sizes on measures of nitrogen utilization and nutrient digestibility in finishing beef heifers
Authors: Myers Cheyanne A , de Haro Marti Mario , Chahine Mireille , Chibisa Gwinyai E
Published: October 2021

Clinoptilolite (CLN), could potentially improve nitrogen (N) utilization when fed to beef cattle as it can bind ruminal-ammonia-N (NH3-N), limiting its loss and subsequent detoxification into urea-N, which is released into blood and is excreted in urine. However, the effectiveness of CLN is influenced by physical properties such as particle size. Although decreasing the particle size has been shown to increase the binding of ammonium in-vitro, this remains to be evaluated in vivo. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of feeding CLN of two different particle sizes (30 and 400 µm) on ruminal NH3-N and plasma-urea-N (PUN) concentrations, ruminal pH, and nutrient intake and apparent total-tract digestibility. Six ruminally-cannulated beef heifers (mean initial BW± SD, 620.8 ± 30.15) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 21 d periods (sample collection from d 15 to 21). Dietary treatments were: 1) finishing ration with no supplement (CON), 2) CON +30-µm CLN (CL-30), and 3) CON + 400-µm CLN (CL-400). Clinoptilolite was top-dressed (2.5% of diet DM) during morning feeding. Intake was measured daily. Ruminal fluid was collected on d 19 for NH3-N analysis and blood was collected 3 h post-feeding on d 21 for PUN analysis. Indwelling pH loggers were used to measure ruminal pH (d 15 to 21) and grab fecal samples were collected from d 19 to 21 to determine total-tract nutrient digestibility. Statistical analysis was conducted using PROC MIXED in SAS. There was no treatment effect (P ≥ 0.13) on ruminal NH3-N and PUN concentrations, ruminal pH, and nutrient (DM, OM, NDF, ADF and CP) intake and apparent total tract digestibility. In conclusion, feeding CLN to finishing heifers had no effect on measures of N utilization, ruminal pH and nutrient intake and apparent total-tract digestibility.
PSIV-14 Evidence for functional G-coupled protein receptors 43 and 120 in subcutaneous and intramuscular adipose tissue of Angus crossbred steers
Authors: Westbrook Lindsay , Smith Stephen , Gang Gyoungok
Published: October 2021

We conducted experiments to demonstrate functional G-coupled protein receptor 43 (GPR43) and GPR120 in bovine intramuscular (i.m.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) adipose tissues. We hypothesized that media volatile fatty acids and long-chain fatty acids would affect cAMP concentrations differently in i.m. and s.c. adipose tissue, which would be dependent on GPR receptor populations in the adipose tissue sites. Fresh s.c. and i.m. adipose tissue from the 5th-8th longissimus thoracic rib muscle section of Angus crossbred steers (approximately 20 mo of age) was transferred immediately to 6-well culture plates containing 3 mL of KHB/Hepes/5 mM glucose. Samples were pre-incubated with 0.5 mM theophylline plus 10 μM forskolin for 30 min, after which increasing concentrations of acetate or propionate (0, 10–3, 10–2.3, and 10–3 M) in the absence or presence of 100 μM oleic acid (18:1 n-9) or 100 µM palmitic acid (16:0) were added to the incubation media. Acetate had no effect on forskolin-stimulated cAMP production in s.c. adipose tissue but decreased cAMP in i.m. adipose tissue (P < 0.05); this indicates a functional GPR43 receptor in i.m. adipose tissue. The combination of 10–2 M acetate and oleic acid decrease cAMP production in s.c. adipose tissue, consistent with GPR120 receptor activity, but oleic acid and palmitic acid attenuated the depression of cAMP production caused by acetate in i.m. adipose tissue. Palmitic acid depressed cAMP production in s.c. adipose tissue, and increased cAMP production in i.m. adipose tissue (P < 0.05). Propionate had no effect on cAMP production in s.c. or i.m. adipose tissue. These results provide evidence for functional GPR43 receptors in i.m. adipose tissue and GPR120 receptors in s.c. adipose tissue, both of which would suppress lipolysis. Further research may allow producers to increase marbling with exacerbating carcass fatness through pharmacological or dietary strategies.
PSIV-10 Effects of chronic molybdenum exposure in drinking water or feed on molybdenum and copper status and production performance of gestating and lactating beef cattle consuming a low-quality forage diet
Authors: Thorndyke Meghan P , Guimaraes Octavio , Medrado Matheus , Tangredi Briana V , Yi Loh Huey , Barrington Rebecca K , Casagrande Renan R , Schmitt Ken , Zervoudakis Joanis T , Tillquist Nicole M , Li Liping , Ippolito Jim A , Wagner John J , Engle Terry E
Published: October 2021

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of Mo source (feed or water) on performance and mineral status of cows and calves fed a forage-based diet for two years (DM basis: 6.6% CP; 0.14% S, 6.7 mg Cu/kg, 2.4 mg Mo/kg). Fifty-four cow-calf pairs were stratified by cow age, BW, and liver Cu and Mo status, and randomly assigned to one of six treatments. Treatments consisted of: 1) Negative control (NC; no supplemental Mo or Cu); 2) Positive control [PC: NC + Cu (3 mg Cu/kg diet DM from CuSO4·5H2O)]; 3) NC + 500 µg Mo/L from MoNa2O4·2H2O in drinking water (Mo 500-water); 4) NC + 1000 µg Mo/L of MoNa2O4·2H2O in drinking water (Mo 1000-water); 5) Mo 1000-water + 3 mg Cu/kg diet DM from CuSO4·5H2O (Mo 1000-water+Cu); and 6) NC + 3 mg Mo/kg diet DM from MoNa2O4·2H2O (3.0 Mo-diet). Cattle were allowed ad-libitum access to feed, water, and a protein supplement throughout the experiment. During the winter months animals were housed in three replicate pens per treatment and during the summer months animals were housed in separate pastures by treatment where cow and calf feed and water intake could be measured separately. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized block design. Throughout the experiment no signs of molybdenosis were observed. There was a treatment x time (P < 0.01) interaction for cow liver Cu concentrations. Cows not receiving supplemental Cu had lower (P < 0.01) liver Cu concentrations than cows receiving supplemental Cu. Cow and calf performance, calf mineral status, cow liver Mo, and plasma and milk Mo and Cu concentrations were similar across treatments. These data indicate that Mo supplemented in water or feed at concentrations used in this experiment had minimal impact on Cu status and overall animal performance.
Three Themes for the Future of Brands in a Changing Consumer Marketplace
Authors: Campbell Margaret C , Price Linda L
Published: October 2021

The purpose of our conceptual introduction is to theorize how brands will continue to be relevant in the future marketplace. We identify three themes that emerge in this special issue that offer intriguing directions for future exploration and managerial action. The first theme is that because of brands’ pervasiveness, consumers have developed a meta concept of “brands” that shapes how consumers think about the market, themselves, and others. While marketers consider the power of a particular brand as a valued consumer resource, this theme speaks to the power of “brands” as a category. The second theme contributes to a growing conversation highlighting consumer agency in relation to brands. Consumers manage their relationships with brands; selectively draw on media to create their own brand narratives; and can even upend the “rules” of brand management. The final theme is that brand owners must balance continuity and change, recognizing that brand contestation and cultural change are both inevitable. Brands need to actively consider the sometimes polarized, contesting and agentic voices of consumers and other actors, finding ways to positively influence firm and societal outcomes. We hope this special issue spurs continued new research to imagine future complex dynamics of consumers and brands.
“Just Enough Mystery”: Multivocal Afterlives of a Tokugawa Refugee in Japan and the United States, 1868–2018
Authors: Gedacht Anne Giblin
Published: October 2021

This article examines the life and afterlives of Okei, a political refugee from the Japanese Boshin Civil War (1868–69), who became the first Japanese woman interred in North American soil. Looking at a shared space of commemoration, in this case a grave site in California, this paper tracks how Okei’s memorialization on both sides of the Pacific constructed specific communal identities over a hundred and fifty years. Okei’s legacy has been consciously constructed by different actors to at once prove the resiliency of the Japanese spirit, provide an origin story for Japanese America, glorify Japanese expansionism, promote U.S.–Japanese friendship, establish regional prestige, and embody internationalism. Despite these multivocal trans-Pacific interpretations, all renderings of Okei’s story share one key similarity: the manipulation of history to empty Okei’s life of its divisive political context. A history replaced by multiple myths, the Okei narrative came to express contrasting yet parallel identities grounded in that lonely hill in California.
Pollen-specific gene SKU5-SIMILAR 13 enhances growth of pollen tubes in the transmitting tract in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhang Ming Jun , Zhao Tian Yi , Ouyang Xiu Ke , Zhao Xin-Ying , Dai Xinren , Gao Xin-Qi
Published: October 2021

Pollen tube growth and penetration in female tissues are essential for the transfer of sperm to the embryo sac during plant pollination. Despite its importance during pollination, little is known about the mechanisms that mediate pollen tube growth in female tissues. In this study, we identified an Arabidopsis thaliana pollen/pollen tube-specific gene, SKU5-SIMILAR 13 (SKS13), which was critical for the growth of pollen tubes in the transmitting tract. The SKS13 protein was distributed throughout the cytoplasm and pollen tube walls at the apical region. In comparison with wild-type pollen tubes, those of the sks13 mutants burst more frequently when grown in vitro. Additionally, the growth of sks13 pollen tubes was retarded in the transmitting tract, thereby resulting in decreased male fertility. The accumulation of pectin and cellulose in the cell wall of sks13 pollen tubes was altered, and the content of jasmonic acid (JA) in sks13 pollen was reduced. The pollen tubes treated with an inhibitor of JA biosynthesis grew much more slowly and had an altered distribution of pectin, which is similar to the pollen tube phenotypes of the SKS13 mutation. Our results suggest that SKS13 is essential for pollen tube growth in the transmitting tract by mediating the biosynthesis of JA that modifies the components of pollen tube cell walls.
Progress and challenges in sorghum biotechnology, a multipurpose feedstock for the bioeconomy
Authors: Silva Tallyta N , Thomas Jason B , Dahlberg Jeff , Rhee Seung Y , Mortimer Jenny C
Published: October 2021

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is the fifth most important cereal crop globally by harvested area and production. Its drought and heat tolerance allow high yields with minimal input. It is a promising biomass crop for the production of biofuels and bioproducts. In addition, as an annual diploid with a relatively small genome compared with other C4 grasses, and excellent germplasm diversity, sorghum is an excellent research species for other C4 crops such as maize. As a result, an increasing number of researchers are looking to test the transferability of findings from other organisms such as Arabidopsis thaliana and Brachypodium distachyon to sorghum, as well as to engineer new biomass sorghum varieties. Here, we provide an overview of sorghum as a multipurpose feedstock crop which can support the growing bioeconomy, and as a monocot research model system. We review what makes sorghum such a successful crop and identify some key traits for future improvement. We assess recent progress in sorghum transformation and highlight how transformation limitations still restrict its widespread adoption. Finally, we summarize available sorghum genetic, genomic, and bioinformatics resources. This review is intended for researchers new to sorghum research, as well as those wishing to include non-food and forage applications in their research.