bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
328 Awardee Talk: The importance of genetic improvement to the sustainability of animal agriculture
Authors: Eenennaam Alison L Van 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
It is hard to overstate the important impact that food animal breeding programs have had on decreasing the environmental footprint of animal protein production. Genetic improvement, combined with improved nutritional and animal health programs, have resulted in a significant decrease in the current environmental footprint per unit of animal protein production, as compared to 50 years ago. Accelerated rates of genetic change have been enabled by the adoption of technologies such as artificial insemination and genomic selection. To address projected future animal protein demands using less inputs, animal breeders will need to continue to introduce new breeding methods into food animal breeding programs to further improve the rate of genetic change. Genome editing represents one such technique, offering an approach to precisely knock out undesirable traits, and rapidly introgress useful genetic variants in the absence of linkage drag. Although there is great potential for this technology, it comes following a fractious 30-year debate regarding the use of genetic engineering in food production systems. Additionally, FDA’s proposed regulatory approach to treat all “intentional genome alterations” introduced by genome-editing as new animal drugs, makes it unlikely public sector food animal researchers will be able to afford even basic research and development using genome editing reagents. There is a pressing need for animal geneticists to speak out about the opportunity costs of forestalling safe innovation in animal breeding programs. However, this mandate comes at a time when consumers are questioning the need, or desirability, of applying modern molecular technologies to agricultural production systems. This poses a vexing problem to animal geneticists – is the customer always right?, or are there compelling global food security and environmental reasons to advocate for the use of modern molecular techniques to enable the next inflection point in the rate of genetic improvement in food animal breeding programs.
49 Current status of genomic selection
Authors: Misztal Ignacy 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Early application of genomic selection relied on SNP estimation with phenotypes or de-regressed proofs (DRP). Chips of 50k SNP seemed sufficient. Estimated breeding value was an index with parent average and deduction to eliminate double counting. Use of SNP selection or weighting increased accuracy with small data sets but less or none with large data sets. Use of DRP with female information required ad-hoc modifications. As BLUP is biased by genomic selection, use of DRP under genomic selection required adjustments. Efforts to include potentially causative SNP derived from sequence analysis showed limited or no gain. The genomic selection was greatly simplified using single-step GBLUP (ssGBLUP) because the procedure automatically creates the index, can use any combination of male and female genotypes, and accounts for preselection. ssGBLUP requires careful scaling for compatibility between pedigree and genomic relationships to avoid biases especially under strong selection. Large data computations in ssGBLUP were solved by exploiting limited dimensionality of SNP due to limited effective population size. With such dimensionality ranging from 4k in chicken to about 15k in Holsteins, the inverse of GRM can be created directly (e.g., by the APY algorithm) in linear cost. Due to its simplicity and accuracy ssGBLUP is routinely used for genomic selection by major companies in chicken, pigs and beef. ssGBLUP can be used to derive SNP effects for indirect prediction, and for GWAS, including computations of the P-values. An alternative single-step called ssBR exists that uses SNP effects instead of GRM. As BLUP is affected by pre-selection, there is need for new validation procedures unaffected by selection, and for parameter estimation that accounts for all the genomic data used in selection. Another issue are reduced variances due to the Bulmer effect.
251 Oxidation of energy substrates in tissues of Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Authors: Li Xinyu , Wu Guoyao 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Because of growing interest in producing Largemouth bass (HMB) as a source of high-quality protein for human consumption worldwide, it is imperative to understand the metabolism of nutrients (including amino acids and carbohydrate) in this aquatic animal. The present study tested the hypothesis that amino acids are oxidized at a higher rate than carbohydrates (e.g., glucose) and fatty acids (e.g., palmitate) to provide ATP for tissues of LMB fed a 45%-crude protein diet. The liver, intestine, kidney, and skeletal muscle were isolated from juvenile LMB and incubated at 26 °C (the body temperature of LMB) for 2 h in 1 ml of oxygenated Krebs–Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (pH 7.4) containing a mixture of nutrients (2 mM glutamate, 2 mM glutamine, 2 mM aspartate, 2 mM alanine, 2 mM leucine, 5 mM glucose, and 2 mM palmitate). The rate of oxidation of each energy substrate was determined by using [U-14C]-labeled glutamate, glutamine, aspartate, alanine, leucine, glucose, or palmitate and collecting 14CO2 from each tracer. Results indicated that aspartate, glutamate and glutamine were extensively oxidized in all the four tissues and contributed to 67% of total ATP production. Glutamate contributed to more ATP than glutamine in the intestine, whereas similar amounts of ATP were produced from glutamate and glutamine in the liver, kidneys and skeletal muscle. In all the four tissues, rates of oxidation of alanine, leucine, palmitate and glucose were low and each of those nutrients contributed to &lt; 10% of total ATP production. Together, the oxidation of aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, alanine plus leucine provided 82–85% of total ATP for the liver, intestine, kidney, and skeletal muscle. We conclude that amino acids, rather than glucose and long-chain fatty acids, are the primary energy substrates in the major tissues of Largemouth bass.
81 Effects of engineered biocarbons on total gas and methane production, rumen fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in a semi continuous fermentation system (RUSITEC)
Authors: Tamayao Paul , McAllister Tim A , Ominski Kim , Ribeiro Gabriel , Okine Erasmus , Saleem Atef , McGeough Emma 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
This study investigated the effects of engineered biocarbon on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, total gas and methane (CH4) emissions, and microbial protein synthesis in a rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) fed a barley silage-based TMR. The basal diet consisted of 60% barley silage, 27% barley grain, 10% canola meal and 3% minerals. Three pine-based biocarbon products CP016, CP024 and CP028. were added at 2% of substrate DM. Biocarbons differed in bulk density, surface area, pore volume, pH, but had similar chemical compositions. Treatments were assigned to sixteen vessels (n = 4/treatment) in two RUSITEC apparatuses in a randomized block design. The experiment period was 17 d, with a 10-d adaptation and 7-d sample collection period. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED in SAS, with treatment (T), day (D) and TxD interactions as fixed effects and RUSITEC apparatus and fermenters as random effects. Compared to the control, biocarbon did not affect total gas (P = 0.98), the amount of CH4 produced per unit of DM incubated (P = 0.48) or per unit of DM digested (P = 0.27). Biocarbon treatments averaged 6.5 g of CH4 /g DM incubated and 9.06 g CH4 /g DM digested as compared to 7.1 g of CH4 /g DM incubated and 10.46 g CH4 / g DM digested in the control, respectively. Biocarbon CP024 had the greatest numerical reduction, followed by CP028 then CP016 in all CH4 associated parameters. Biocarbon addition did not affect the disappearance of DM (P = 0.63), OM (P = 0.34), CP (P = 0.48), NDF (P = 0.12), or VFA (P = 0.65) and ammonia N levels (P = 0.99) and protozoal counts (P = 0.72). The amount of bacterial nitrogen (mg/d) associated with feed particles increased (P &lt; 0.003), suggesting that biocarbon may have enhanced colonization. In conclusion, engineered biocarbon did not reduce CH4 emissions in the RUSITEC.
94 Essential oils improve barrier function and attenuate inflammatory responses in porcine intestinal epithelial cells
Authors: Hui Qianru , Omonijo Faith , Liu Shangxi , Zhang Hua , Lahaye Ludovic , Bodin Jean-Christophe , Gong Joshua , Nyachoti Martin , Yang Chengbo 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Thymol has been known as a functional phytochemical isolated from thyme essential oils and possesses antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, an in vitro lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation model using IPEC-J2 cell line was established to evaluate the inflammatory responses after thymol treatment. Cells were pre-treated with thymol for 1 h followed by LPS stimulation. Interleukin 8 (IL-8) secretion, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mRNA abundance of two pro-inflammatory cytokines, nutrient transporters, and tight junction proteins, transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and cell permeability were measured. The localization of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and β-actin were also detected by immunofluorescent staining. The results showed that LPS stimulation increased IL-8 secretion, ROS production, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) mRNA abundance (P &lt; 0.05), but the mRNA abundance of sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1), excitatory amino acid transporter 1 (EAAC1) and H+/peptide cotransporter 1 (PepT1) were decreased (P &lt; 0.05). However, thymol blocked ROS production (P &lt; 0.05) and tended to decrease the production of LPS-induced IL-8 secretion (P = 0.0766). The mRNA abundance of IL-8 and TNF-α was reduced by thymol pre-treatment (P &lt; 0.05), but thymol was unable to improve the gene expression of nutrient transporters (P &gt; 0.05). TEER was reduced and cell permeability was increased after LPS stimulation (P &lt; 0.05), but these effects were attenuated by thymol pre-treatment (P &lt; 0.05). Moreover, thymol boosted ZO-1 and β-actin staining in the cells, but the mRNA abundance of ZO-1 and occludin-3 was not affected by either LPS or thymol treatments. These results indicated that thymol can enhance gut barrier structure and functions by reducing ROS production and pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression in porcine epithelial cells during inflammation. The regulation of barrier function by thymol may be at post-transcriptional or post-translational levels.
98 Effect of engineered biocarbon on rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility, methane emissions, and rumen microbiota in beef heifers
Authors: Terry Stephanie , Ribeiro Gabriel , Gruninger Robert , Chaves Alex , Beauchemin Karen , Okine Erasmus , McAllister Tim A 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine the effect of engineered biocarbon (EB) on rumen fermentation, apparent total tract digestibility, methane (CH4) emissions and the rumen and fecal microbiome of Angus × Hereford heifers fed a barley silage-based diet. The experiment was a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square using 8 ruminally cannulated heifers (565 ± 35 kg initial BW). The basal diet contained 60% barley silage, 35% barley grain and 5% mineral supplement with EB added at 0% (control), 0.5%, 1.0%, or 2.0% (DM basis). Each period was 28-d consisting of 14-d adaptation and 14-d of measurements. Samples for profiling of the microbiome in rumen liquid, solids and feces were collected on d-15 before feeding. Rumen samples for fermentation characterization were taken at 0, 3, 6, and 12-h post feeding. Total collection of urine and feces was conducted from d-18 to 22. Heifers were housed in open-circuit respiratory chambers on d-26 to 28 to estimate CH4 emissions. Ruminal pH was recorded at 1-min intervals during CH4 measurements using indwelling pH loggers. Data were analyzed with the fixed effects of dietary treatment and random effects of square, heifer within square and period. Dry matter intake was similar across treatments (P = 0.21). NH3-N concentration and protozoa counts responded quadratically (P = 0.01) to EB. Minimum pH was increased (P = 0.04), and variation of pH was decreased (P = 0.03) by 2.0% EB. Total tract digestibility, N balance and CH4 production were not affected (P ≥ 0.17) by EB. EB affected the relative abundance of Fibrobacter (P = 0.05), Spirochaetaes (P = 0.01), Verrucomicrobia (P = 0.02), Tenericutes (P = 0.01), and Elusimicrobia (P = 0.02). Results suggest that at the examined concentrations, EB was ineffective at decreasing enteric CH4 emissions, however it altered the rumen microbiome.
108 Is there a relationship between future career choices and participation in youth livestock shows?
Authors: Davis Ronald J , Gurung Nar , Johnson Russell 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Livestock shows allow youth to get firsthand experience in handling and taking care of animals, and other life skills such as responsibility, time management, hard work, and leadership. However, the relationship between participation in livestock shows and future career choices has not been clearly established. A questionnaire survey was developed to gather information from students, agriculturists, and agricultural professionals in an attempt to answer the above question. The questionnaire reached 14 land-grant universities, five animal agriculture-related companies, and over 27,000 people on social media. 516 respondents competed the 19-question survey. Respondents were divided into four regions (Southern 1; Northeast, 2; Mid-west, 3 and West, 4). Data collected on binomial variables were analyzed using Probit analysis to determine regional and gender differences. Chi square tests of independence were used to test the association of selected categorical variables. All analyses were conducted using SAS (SAS Inst., Inc., Cary, NC). Significantly, more females (48.2%) considered community outreach as a benefit out of participating in youth livestock shows compared to males (31.9%). Fewer individuals in the southern region (24.1%) viewed financial management as a strength of participation compared to other regions (≈ 38%). Males were much more frequently members of Future Farmers of America (70.1%) compared to females (53.3%). The regions 2, 3, and 4 showed significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher levels of participation in 4-H (90%) compared to region 1 (69%). The results provided much useful information related to youth livestock shows but did not demonstrate a clear relationship between participation in livestock shows and future career choices.
261 Prescribed burning of endophyte-infected tall fescue pastures: Effects on forage production, ergot alkaloid concentrations, and stand composition
Authors: Meng Kevin , Bailey Eric , Allen Hannah , Brake Derek 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Prescribed fire may be a non-chemical alternative for seedhead suppression in endophyte-infected tall fescue forage systems. A study was conducted to observe the effects of a single prescribed burn on seed head production, ergot alkaloid concentration, forage production, forage quality, and stand composition in K31 tall fescue plots (endophyte infection=96%). Treatments of an undisturbed control (CON), March mow (MOW), March burn (EARLY), and April burn (LATE) were randomly applied to 56 square meter plots with ten replicates per treatment. Plots were sampled for forage quality and ergot alkaloid concentrations monthly from May to October. Forage production and species composition was recorded in June and October. Fescue seedhead count was conducted in May. After June sampling, plots were clipped to a height of 10 cm and litter was removed to simulate spring grazing. CON had greater (P &lt; 0.01) total forage production in June than other treatments. MOW had greater (P &lt; 0.01) forage production (≤107 kg/ha) than EARLY and LATE in June. There was no effect (P = 0.30) of treatments on forage production in October. LATE burn reduced (month × trt; P = 0.02) ergovaline concentration in June but all treatments were above the established threshold (150 ppb) for fescue toxicosis. Fescue seed head frequency was decreased (P &lt; 0.01) by 50% in LATE plots. There was no treatment effect (P ≥ 0.22) on forb and non-fescue grass frequency in May, but warm season grass frequency was greater (P &lt; 0.01) in LATE plots in October. Crude protein in LATE was greater than other treatments in May and both LATE and CON were greater than other treatments in June (P &lt; 0.01). Neutral detergent fiber for LATE was less than other treatments in May and June (P &lt; 0.01). Under conditions of this experiment, prescribed fire decreased seed head count and ergot alkaloid concentration, with a modest reduction in forage production.
255 Determining the optimal dose of microbial enzyme to enhance fiber digestion
Authors: Althaber Colton , Coffey K P , Compart Devan Paulus , Shelby Sarah , Hays Melanie , Niyigena Valens , Bignar John 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Certain enzymes may enhance fiber digestion, but the optimum dosage for ruminants consuming bermudagrass hay is not known. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal dosage of a combination of a protease with Aspergillus oryzae and A. niger fermentation extract blend on fiber digestion and rumen fermentation of bermudagrass hay by sheep. Twenty ewes (30.3 ± 5.29 kg BW) were allocated randomly to 1 of 5 diets (n = 4/treatment). Bermudagrass hay was chopped and offered for ad libitum consumption to ewes housed individually in 1 × 1.5-m pens with plastic-coated grate flooring. Diets were supplemented with 0.25% BW of soybean meal and either no enzyme or 1.5, 3, 4.5, or 6 g of a mixture of a protease with A. oryzae and A. niger fermentation extracts in a calcium carbonate carrier. A 14-d dietary adaptation was followed by 7 d of total fecal collection. On d 21, 3 rumen samples per ewe were taken at 4 h intervals for analysis of pH and VFA concentrations. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS and orthogonal linear and quadratic contrasts were used to assess enzyme dosage effects. Dry matter and ADF digestibility increased quadratically (P &lt; 0.05), and NDF and OM digestibility tended (P ≤ 0.07) to increase quadratically across dosages. Ruminal acetate concentrations decreased quadratically and ruminal propionate increased quadratically (P &lt; 0.05) with increasing enzyme dosage (P &lt; 0.05). Total VFA concentrations were not affected by dosage (P = 0.71), but the acetate:propionate ratio decreased quadratically (P &lt; 0.05) with increasing enzyme dosage. In conclusion, a protease and A. oryzae and A. niger fermentation extract blend increased fiber digestion, but dosages over 3 g of enzyme did not further enhance DMD or DMI.
348 An aggressive implant strategy altered non-carcass components in long-fed Jersey steers
Authors: Pillmore Sierra L , Kirkpatrick Tylo J , Wesley Kaitlyn , Cooper Kimberly , Tennant Travis , Lawrence Ty 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Jersey cattle are recognized for superior marbling, however, feeding Jerseys to market potential is typically uneconomical due to slow-maturation and excessive internal fat accretion. Growth-promoting agents have been used to improve growth and may improve the efficiency of Jersey steers. Our study was designed to evaluate by-product yields of Jersey steers in response to an aggressive implant program. Jersey steers (n = 12) were fed over a 420-d period and were randomly allocated to one of two treatments in a completely randomized design; control (CON) or implant (IMP). Control steers received no implant, whereas IMP steers received a Revalor-200 (200mg trenbolone acetate/20mg estradiol) implant in alternating ears every 70 d, totaling 6 implants per animal. Non-carcass components were weighed during harvest and results were analyzed using an independent t-test. A 19 and 30% reduction (P ≤ 0.02) in total internal fat (66.41 vs 81.66 kg) and cod fat (4.01 vs 5.70 kg) was observed for IMP vs CON steers. Aggressive implanting increased (P &lt; 0.01) penis weight by 51% (0.71 vs 0.35 kg) and decreased (P &lt; 0.05) skull thickness (12.06 vs 20.96 mm) and tail switch (0.36 vs 0.49 kg) of steers. When expressed on an empty body weight basis (g/kg EBW), cod fat and KPH decreased (P ≤ 0.05) from 11.09 and 50.88 g/kg EBW in CON to 7.70 and 37.74 g/kg EBW in IMP steers, and a 20% reduction (P ≤ 0.01, 126.60 vs 158.90 g/kg EBW) of total internal fat was observed for IMP vs CON steers. Implantation also increased (P ≤ 0.01; 0.67 to 1.35 g/kg EBW) penis and decreased (P = 0.04; 0.96 vs 0.67 g/kg EBW) tail switch weight on an EBW basis. These results suggest a shift in energy partitioning away from internal fat accumulation in aggressively implanted Jersey steers.
350 The effect of early intervention with fecal microbiota transplantation combined C. butyricum and S. boulardii on weaning stress of piglets
Authors: Xiang Quanhang , Peng Jian 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
This study was designed to determine the effect of early intervention with fecal microbiota transplantation combined C. butyricum and S. boulardii on anti-weaning stress capacity of piglets. 22 pregnant sows were selected in this study, 10 sows were divided into control group (CON), and 12 sows were divided into treatment group (FMT combined C. butyricum and S. boulardii, FMT+C+S). Piglets in CON were gavaged with placebo and piglets in treatment group were gavaged with bacterial solution once daily for the first 3 days after birth. Piglets were weaned at age of 28-day. To explore the effects of early intervention on weaning stress in piglets, after weaning, each group selected 65 healthy piglets to continue feeding for 4 weeks. The growth performance was measured by weekly individual weighing. ADFI during post-weaning period were measured daily. The blood biochemical markers for immunity function, intestinal barrier, and inflammation levels were determined by ELISA kits, and the indices of antioxidant ability were examined using the commercial assay kit. Isolated DNA from fecal were used for 16s rRNA amplicon sequencing to determine microbiota composition. FMT+C+S improved growth rate and decreased diarrhea rate both in sucking and post-weaning period in piglets. FMT+C+S significantly increased immunity function, intestinal barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and reduced inflammation levels in weaned piglets. FMT+C+S significantly increased the abundance of Firmicutes in feces before and after weaning (P &lt; 0.01). In addition, at the genus level, several beneficial bacteria, such as Phascolarctobacterium, Oscillospira, Faecalibacterium, etc. were significantly enriched (P &lt; 0.05) before weaning, and Lactobacillus, Lachnospira, Bacillus, Lysinibacillus, etc. were enriched significantly (P &lt; 0.05) after weaning. These results suggested that early intervention with fecal microbiota transplantation combined C. butyricum and S. boulardii may be a effectively method to promote piglets growth and protect piglets from weaning stress, and even disease, through regulating gut microbiota composition.