bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
74 Feeding style and its influence on growth, circulating insulin, and spatial preference of young pigs
Authors: Sommer Kaitlyn , Sutkus Loreta , Golden Rebecca , Dilger Ryan N 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
In this study, we investigated the influence of feeding style on growth performance, circulating insulin concentrations, and spatial preference within the home-cages (HC) of young pigs. Pigs (n = 43 boars) were weaned on postnatal day (PND) 2, allotted to treatment based on litter of origin and body weight (BW), and reared artificially over a 15-d period. Pigs were provided a nutritionally adequate milk replacer 20 h per day using one of two feeding styles: 1) ad libitum (i.e., continual access to milk replacer), and 2) prescribed [330 mL/kg of BW from PND 3-7 (wk 1), and 357.5 mL/kg of BW from PND 8-18 (wk 2)]. In addition to water in the reconstituted milk replacer, free choice access to fresh water was provided throughout the study. Milk intake (i.e., disappearance) and BW were recorded daily, with pigs undergoing continuous top-down video surveillance throughout the study. On PND 17, blood was collected from a subset of pigs (n = 24) for quantification of insulin concentrations. Video analysis of pigs (n = 43) was performed to establish time spent in each HC quadrant. All data were analyzed via a 1-way ANOVA using the MIXED procedure of SAS. During wk 1, ad libitum pigs exhibited increased (P &lt; 0.05) average daily BW gain (152 g/d) and average daily milk intake (728 g/d) compared with the prescribed treatment (127 g/d and 570 g/d, respectively). This same effect continued in wk 2 for average daily BW gain and average daily milk intake, with ad libitum-fed pigs consuming more (P &lt; 0.05) milk replacer (256 g/d and 1,356 g/d, respectively) compared with prescribed-fed pigs (192 g/d and 974 g/d, respectively). Over the entire 15-d feeding study, average daily BW gain (234 g/d), average daily feed intake (1,140 g/d) and milk intake-to-BW ratio (4.60) were greater (P &lt; 0.05) in the ad libitum treatment compared with prescribed feeding (180 g/d, 830 g/d, and 3.81 respectively). Insulin concentrations were greater (P &lt; 0.05) in the ad libitum treatment (348 µIU/mL) 30 min after feed provision compared with the prescribed treatment (190 µIU/mL). Video analysis of spatial preference within HC suggested pigs in the prescribed treatment spent more (P &lt; 0.05) time in quadrant 4 during wk 1 (5.43% of time recorded) compared with the ad libitum treatment (3.82% of time recorded), likely due to quadrant 4 housing the feed bowl. However, all other time points had no effect on spatial preference. Overall, the type of feeding style altered growth performance and insulin concentrations within young pigs and may impact the spatial preference of pigs within their home-cage environment.
71 Growth and reproductive responses to gonadotropins in gilts fed on ad libitum (AD) or restricted (RS) bases using an electronic sow feeder (ESF)
Authors: Niblett Richard T , Williams Kimberly A , Cross Marguerite B , Clapp Alexis L , Estienne Mark J 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Previous work in our laboratory showed that age at puberty was similar for replacement gilts fed on either RS or AD bases using an ESF. The objective of this investigation was to determine the effects of feeding (RS vs. AD) on growth and sexual development in gilts treated with gonadotropins (P.G. 600; Merck Animal Health, Rahway, NJ). Prepubertal crossbred gilts were moved at 150 d of age to an open pen with an ESF (ACCUTEAM, Osborne Industries, Osborne, KS) located in an environmentally controlled, curtain-sided building. A 10-d training period to the ESF ensued, during which all gilts received feed on AD basis. At 160 d of age, gilts were allocated to treatments in a 2-by-2 factorial design. Treatments were RS plus P.G. 600 (n = 9), RS without P.G. 600 (n = 10), AD plus P.G. 600 (n = 8), or AD without P.G. 600 (n = 8). The P.G. 600 treatment was administered at 170 d of age. Estrus detection commenced at d 171 and continued for 32 d. Puberty onset was not affected by feeding basis (P = 0.85), P.G. 600 (P = 0.56), or feeding basis x P.G. 600 (P = 0.25). Time in estrus and body weight (BW) at puberty were also similar between treatments. Estrous cycle length was shorter (P &lt; 0.01, 20.0 vs. 21.2 d, SE = 0.54) for RS compared with AD gilts. Bodyweights throughout the trial were similar between treatments but were affected by day (P &lt; 0.01), typical of growing gilts. Feed disappearance was affected by feeding basis (P &lt; 0.01, 2.30 vs. 4.54 kg/d, SE = 0.03 for RS and AD, respectively) and day (P &lt; 0.01). For pubertal gilts, gain to feed ratio was improved (P &lt; 0.01, 0.29 vs. 0.21, SE = 0.03) in RS compared with AD gilts, but average daily gain (ADG) was greater in AD gilts (P = 0.05, 0.75 vs 0.88 kg/d, SE = 0.09). Data were normalized for the 20-d period before second estrus. Feed disappearance was affected by feeding basis x day, and decreased in AD, but not RS gilts, as gilts approached estrus (P = 0.04). Feeding visits (P &lt; 0.01) and feeding visit duration (P &lt; 0.01) were affected by feeding basis with AD gilts consuming feed more frequently and spending less time eating per visit. In this study, RS feeding did not delay, and P.G. 600 did not hasten puberty onset. Moreover, RS gilts grew slower but were more feed efficient than AD gilts. We continue to find that employment of an ESF may support current estrus detection methods by monitoring feeding behavior in AD-fed gilts.
78 Estimates of genetic parameters for weight, wool, and carcass traits of Rambouillet sheep
Authors: Gunes Hilal Yazar , Brito Luiz F F , Murphy Tom W , Wilson Carrie S S , Lewis Ronald M 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
The Rambouillet sheep breed is the foundation to most western range sheep in the U.S. Through the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP), Rambouillet breeders seek to improve economically relevant traits. However, the parameters used in the NSIP genetic evaluation were last estimated two decades ago. Our aim was to re-estimate genetic parameters for body weight (BW), carcass, and wool traits. Data were provided by NSIP, which included BW at birth (BWT; n = 28,817), weaning [WWT; n = 5,633; age: 68 (SD 16) day], early post-weaning [PWTE; n = 23,303; 128 (SD 22) d], late post-weaning [PWTL; n = 7,689; 201 (SD 45) d] and as yearlings [YWT; n = 5,830; 375 (SD 33) d]. Yearling ultrasound scans of 12th rib backfat depth (YCF; n = 2,447) and eye muscle depth (YEMD; n = 2,457) were also available. Yearling wool traits were fiber curvature (YFC; n = 6,009), fiber diameter (YFD; n = 9,880), fiber diameter coefficient of variation (YFDCV; n = 8,803), greasy fleece weight (YGFW; n = 11,859) and staple length (YSL; n = 11,270). The pedigree consisted of 36,297 individuals. Animals with phenotypic records were progeny of 333 sires and 1,727 dams. A succession of univariate animal models was fitted. The most comprehensive model included direct and maternal additive genetic effects, their genetic covariance, and maternal permanent environmental and residual effects. Phenotypes were pre-adjusted for birth-rearing type category and, as covariates, dam age and age at recording. Contemporary group—a concatenation of flock, year, season, management group, sex, and, excluding BWT, recording date—was the only fixed effect fitted in the model. Model selection was based on the log-likelihood ratio test, and Akaike and Bayesian information criteria. The data structure, namely dams and their daughters and granddaughters contributing data, allowed reliable testing of the maternal effect terms. The direct-maternal genetic covariance did not explain variation for any trait (P &gt; 0.18). The most parsimonious model for BW traits included direct and maternal additive genetic, and maternal permanent environmental, effects. For carcass and wool traits, only direct additive genetic effects were included in the final model. Such was unsurprising, as maternal effects often diminish as animals age. For the final models fitted (Table 1), direct heritabilities (± SE) for body weights ranged from 0.14 ± 0.01 (BWT) to 0.38 ± 0.04 (PWTL); the maternal heritabilities ranged from 0.04 ± 0.02 (PWTL; YWT) to 0.13 ± 0.01 (BWT). For carcass traits, direct heritabilities were 0.13 ± 0.04 (YCF) and 0.31 ± 0.05 (YEMD). For wool traits, they ranged from 0.37 ± 0.02 (YSL) to 0.58 ± 0.02 (YFD). These re-estimated parameter values are consistent with those used by NSIP, with the exception of PWTL (greater) and YSL (lower). With genomic data accumulating in Rambouillet, further refinements in parameter estimation are planned.
64 Effect of feeding intact protein from soybean meal instead of crystalline amino acids on growth performance, protein synthesis, and immune response of growing pigs
Authors: Cristobal Minoy , Lee Su A , Mallea Andrea P , Torres-Mendoza Leidy J , Acosta Jessica P , Parsons Carl M M , Stein Hans H 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
The objective was to test the hypothesis that feeding intact protein from soybean meal (SBM) instead of crystalline amino acids (AA) does not affect growth performance, protein synthesis, intestinal morphology, or immune response of growing pigs. A control corn-SBM diet was used. Three additional diets were formulated by reducing the inclusion rate of SBM and adding 3, 4, or 5 crystalline AA (i.e., Lys, Met, Thr, Trp, Val) to the diets, which resulted in reducing the protein concentration from 20.0% to 13.4%. All diets were formulated to meet requirements for standardized ileal digestible indispensable AA. A total of 176 pigs [initial body weight (BW) = 32.2 kg; SD = 4.2] were used. On d 1, 16 randomly chosen pigs were euthanized and body nutrient composition was determined. The remaining 160 pigs were allotted to the 4 diets using a randomized complete block design with 4 pigs per pen and 10 replicate pens per diet. Starting BW was the blocking factor. Individual pig BW and feed consumption were recorded. On d 28, one pig per pen was slaughtered and blood, carcass, and viscera were collected and analyzed for N, fat, and energy to calculate deposition in the body. Ileal mucosa, ileum and colon tissue and digesta were analyzed for blood characteristics, cytokines, tissue morphology, ammonia, and gene expression. Contrasts coefficients were used to determine linear and quadratic effects of reducing dietary protein. Results indicated that average daily gain, average daily feed intake, gain to feed ratio, carcass characteristics, and protein, lipid, and energy depositions were not affected by reducing SBM and increasing crystalline AA in diets (Table 1). However, energy efficiency tended to decrease (quadratic, P = 0.083) by reducing dietary protein. Blood urea N was reduced (linear, P &lt; 0.001) as dietary protein was reduced, but blood total protein was not affected by dietary treatment. Cytokines, ileal and jejunal morphologies, and gene abundance of AA transporters in the ileal mucosa were not affected by dietary protein. Ammonia concentrations in ileal digesta increased and then decreased (quadratic, P = 0.043) and colon digesta tended to increase and then decrease (quadratic, P = 0.074) as dietary protein was reduced. Bacteria protein in colon digesta was reduced (linear, P = 0.030) by reducing dietary protein. In conclusion, providing AA from intact protein from SBM or from crystalline AA did not affect growth performance, intestinal morphology, and immune response of pigs. However, SBM in diets can provide energy that may be utilized more efficiently than energy from diets with less SBM and crystalline AA. Further research is suggested to elucidate if SBM improves utilization of other nutrients in diets for pigs.
72 Effect of In-feed fecal microbiota transplant on growth performance and gut microbiota dynamics of piglet subjected to post-weaning stress
Authors: Oladele Paul O , Richert Brian T , Johnson Timothy A 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Weaning is one of the most stressful events for piglets, due to diet change from sow milk to grain-based feed. This diet change causes turnover of the gut microbial which can allow proliferation of pathogens leading to diarrhea. Antibiotics are administered to treat or prevent post-weaning diarrhea (PWD). Increased occurrence of antimicrobial resistance has increased incentives to develop viable antibiotic alternatives. PWD is most often caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Similarly, in humans, severe diarrhea can be caused by Clostridium difficile colonization. Use of fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) has been shown to resolve C. difficile-induced diarrhea in 80 to 90% of human cases which may suggest FMT as a potential therapeutic option for post weaning diarrhea. We previously have shown that in feed fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) improved body weight (BW) gain in newly weaned piglets but it is not clear if this benefit will be replicated in piglets subjected to weaning stress. We hypothesize that FMT (in-feed) will increase colonization efficiency, improve growth performance and reduce diarrhea incidence compared with control in piglets subjected to post weaning stress. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of In-feed FMT of diarrhea index, growth performance and gut microbiota dynamics. Piglets (n = 240) subjected to physiological and transport weaning stress were allotted to 5 treatments: In-feed FMT (FMT1), doubles dose of In-feed FMT1 (FMT2), Oral gavage (FMT3), Antibiotic (positive control), and no supplementation (negative control). The donor material was screened for enterotoxigenic E. coli (F18 and F4). FMT was carried out for 14 d. Diarrhea index was observed for the first 14 d and animal BW, and fecal microbiota was collected by rectal swab on d 0, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 32 for analysis of microbiota composition. DNA was extracted from fecal samples and 16S rRNA gene libraries (V4 region) were prepared for bacterial community analysis. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA in R. Only positive control had significantly decrease in diarrhea index and significant increase BW gain on d 14, 21, and 28 (P &lt; 0.05) but there was no effect of FMT (P &gt; 0.05). In conclusion, antibiotics but not FMT was efficient in alleviating the negative performance effect in piglets subjected to post-weaning stress.
62 Implications of factor analyses and Bayesian network learning to develop composite traits of size attributes in developing beef heifers
Authors: Anas Muhammad , Zhao Bin , Dahlen Carl R , Swanson Kendall C , Ringwall Kris A A , Hanna Lauren L L Hulsman 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Advancements in phenotypic data collection methods provide opportunities to capture complex biological traits more efficiently. Even so, interpreting those phenotypes and using them in selection decisions is challenging in beef cattle production. Objectives of this study were to 1) develop composite phenotype(s) of economic importance in beef heifers given attributes of their body conformation and ultrasound-based measures of reproductive and carcass traits, and 2) identify associated genomic regions under selection using the structure equation modeling (SEM) approach. In this study, we hypothesized that the interplay of factor analysis and Bayesian Network Learning (BNL) approaches would better define the complex composite traits for size and carcass-related traits in beef heifers. Phenotypic data of admixed beef heifers (n = 336) for different reproductive, body conformational, and carcass-associated phenotypic traits (n = 16) were collected. Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, two latent variables explaining 14 phenotypic traits were identified, herein called Body Size (BS; n = 7 traits represented) and Body Composition (BC; n = 7 traits represented). To efficiently model them in genome-wide association studies (GWAS), fixed effects of data collection year, dam age, and primary breed group as well as causal network structure identified through BNL were used within SEM model of GWAS. Body Size was directly or indirectly contributing to BC based on BNL structure. Given the data-driven approach and novelty of the data, BayesCπ model was applied with the sliding window of 1 Mb to avoid noise and linkage disequilibrium implications. Regions capturing large amounts of genetic variance (Posterior Probability of Association, PPA ≥ 0.8) were mapped to their closest gene for enrichment analysis. Twenty-four different genes were identified associated with both composite phenotypes. Functional enrichment analysis of significantly involved pathways (FDR &lt; 0.05) indicated that genes from the HERC family (HERC3, HERC6, and HERC5) were found involved in cellular growth, and those from desmosomes (DC2, and DC3) were involved in morphogenesis like BS. Genes related to energy metabolism like IMPAD1, and PIGY, along with genes associated with traits like muscular development, and other carcass traits (i.e., FAM184B, NCAPG, and LCORL), were also found associated with BS and BC. Heritability ranged from 0.551 ± 0.048 to 0.897 ± 0.145 for BS and BC, respectively. The combined heritability of reproductive and carcass traits (BC) was much greater than the heritability of any related individual trait reported to date and was comparable for individual BS-related traits. Given this, we conclude that the implications of factor analyses with BNL can provide better biological insights for improved genomic selection in beef cattle, even for traits of low heritability.
132 Carcass merit, primal cutout, and retail yield of Holstein and Holstein x SimAngus finished calves
Authors: Schnurbusch Teagan , Callahan Zachary D , Petry Amy L , Wiegand Bryon R 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Dairy-beef has increased in popularity, altering the U.S fed beef supply. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Holstein x SimAngus breeding on carcass composition, carcass performance, and primal cutout. Calves were sourced (n = 10 Holstein steers, n = 13 Holstein x SimAngus (Hol x SimAngus) steers and n = 12 Hol x SimAngus heifers) from University of Missouri Foremost Dairy. At 190 kg calves were randomly assigned to one of two treatments, Fast = fed to achieve 1.13 kg gain/d or Slow = fed to achieve 0.57 kg gain/d. Calves were individually fed for 147 d, then moved to group feedlot housing. Cattle were humanely slaughtered under USDA inspection, immediately following slaughter hot carcass weight (HCW) was recorded. Following slaughter, carcass length, body width, backfat thickness and area of the longissimus muscle (LM) was recorded. One side of the carcass was fabricated to various cuts following the Institutional Meat Purchasing Specifications. Round were knife separated into fat, bone, and lean. Area of the LM was measured for the entirety of the Ribeye Roll and Strip Loin in 2.54 cm sections. Warner Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF) and Slice Shear Force (SSF) tests were analyzed on strip steaks. Data were analyzed as a linear mixed model as a 2 by 2 + 1 factorial design with the fixed effect factors of breed and diet nested relative to Holstein steers using PROC MIXED of SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). The Satterthwaite method for degrees of freedom was used to analyze data under the assumption of unequal variance between treatments. Significance was denoted at P ≤ 0.05. Treatment diet did not impact carcass composition or fresh meat parameters (P &gt;0.05). Hol x SimAngus carcasses exhibited shorter carcass length (P &lt; 0.01) and body lengths (P = 0.002) compared with Holstein carcasses. Body width was narrower for Hol x SimAngus carcasses (P &lt; 0.01). Hol x SimAngus carcasses had heavier hot carcass weights compared with Holstein carcasses (P = 0.0159). Dressing percentage was greater for Hol x SimAngus carcasses (P = 0.0001). Holstein carcasses had less backfat (P = 0.0003). LM area was larger for Hol x SimAngus carcasses (P &lt; 0.01). Hol x SimAngus carcasses had heavier Rib, Full Loin and Round primals (P &lt; 0.05). Ribeye Roll and Strip Loin weight was heavier in Hol x SimAngus carcasses (P &lt; 0.01). Holstein carcasses displayed heavier round (P = 0.0002), directly related to an increase in bone weight of the round (P &lt; 0.01) No differences were observed for WBSF (P = 0.427) or SSF (P = 0.264). Hol x SimAngus LM area for all sections of the Ribeye Roll and Strip Loin were larger than Holsteins (P &lt; 0.05). Carcass composition, primal cutouts, and retail yield suggest that Holstein x SimAngus carcasses had improved yield production compared with Holsteins without a loss in quality.
134 Does inclusion of high oleic soybeans in a swine finishing ration influence lipid oxidation and consumer taste panel preference?
Authors: Castellanos Natalie Acosta , Maddock Robert , Thaler Robert C , Young Jennifer M , Mueller Shane , Koch Kim , Berg Eric P 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine if a swine finishing ration that included soybeans with greater concentration of oleic acid will have an impact on lipid oxidation and palatability of pork. Crossbred pigs [n = 72; initial body weight (BW) = 78 ± 9 kg] were blocked by BW, sex, and distributed within 18 pens. Each pen was randomly assigned to 1 of 3 experimental diets: a control soybean-meal (CTRL), extruded conventional soybean (CONV), and extruded high oleic acid soybean (TRU). Six different harvest groups (n = 12/group) were created across treatments to ensure uniformity of final BW. Therefore, experimental diets were offered to animals for 34, 37, 41, 42, 48, or 50 d, until all pigs reached 118 ± 5 kg. Carcasses were harvested, and chilled (2°C) for 24 h, before fabricating one 2.5 cm chop from the 11th rib of the right carcass side. The chops were vacuum packaged, aged for 7 d at 2 oC, and frozen (-18 oC) for later sensory analysis. Pork chops were thawed and cooked to 71 oC peak internal temperature (AMSA sensory guidelines) and fed to 115 consumers that rated overall liking, flavor, tenderness, juiciness, and presence of off flavors using hedonic scales. Also, a 50 g sample was obtained from each loin at the 12th rib, aged for 7 d and frozen at -80 oC for evaluation of malondialdehyde (MDA) as indicator of lipid oxidation. Subcutaneous fat samples were obtained from the first thoracic vertebra, frozen, and saved for fatty acid analysis. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS where diet was the main effect, while pen and breed were random effects. Repeated measures were used to analyze the consumer panel. Differences were considered significant at P ≤ 0.05 with pen as experimental unit. There were no significant differences (P &gt; 0.05) for consumer perception of overall like, pork flavor, and presence of off flavors. Experimental diets impacted the perception of juiciness and tenderness (P &lt; 0.05), where CONV was perceived as juicier and more tender than CTRL and TRU. As expected, diet affected the fatty acid profile of subcutaneous fat (P &lt; 0.0001), with TRU having the greatest percentage for oleic (43.9 %), CONV the greatest percentage for linoleic and linolenic (17.8 and 1.3 % respectively), and CTRL for saturated fatty acids (34.5 %). Surprisingly, the lipid oxidation was not affected by the diet (P &gt; 0.05). These results indicate that feeding extruded high oleic soybeans during the finishing period can modify the fatty acid profile in pork by improving the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids, so these soybeans can be considered as an alternative to improve nutritional value of pork without increasing the lipid oxidation or affecting the consumers acceptability.