bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
79 Dietary buffer comparison and tannins supplementation modulating subacute ruminal acidosis and fermentation in beef cattle
Authors: Lehmann Andres Fernandez , Garcia Liza , Maderal Araceli B , Fernandez-Marenchino Ignacio , Tarnonsky Federico , Podversich Federico , Vargas Juan , Cuervo Wilmer , Gomez Camila , Erazo-Mendes Cristian , Dubeux Georgia , Schulmeister Tessa M , DiLorenzo Nicolas 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
As the demand of nutrients by the population will continue to grow over the years, efficient practices are required in the food chain to satisfy the demand. This practice involves the intensification of production systems. Moreover, intensification can potentially harm the animal or environment if the resources are used to the limit. The latter, product of pushing to the limit the ruminal environment. Dietary buffers and tannins offer a key role addressing issues related to intensification. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of two dietary buffers and tannins. Ruminal fermentation parameters, in vitro methane production, ruminal pH, in vitro organic matter digestibility were measured. Eight ruminally cannulated steers were used in a duplicated 4 x 4 Latin square design. Steers were fed with a basal diet comprised of 35.5% corn silage, 18.7% protein supplement, 21.5% corn grain, 22% bermuda hay, 1% mineral supplement (DM basis). Four treatments were used: BICARB (Basal diet + 1.2% DM Sodium Bicarbonate), BRIC-050 (Basal diet + 1.2% DM BRIC), BRIC-150 (Basal diet + 1.2% DM BRIC + 0.15 % DM Tannins), TAN (Basal diet + 0.15% DM Tannins). Steers were housed in individual pens and received every morning a TMR and water ad libitum. The experiment consisted of 4 periods with 16 days total, composed by 3 d of covariates, 7 d of treatment adaptation, 1 d of 50% feed restriction, 1 d SARA challenge, 4 d of recovery, and 20 d of washout between periods. Two in vitro batch culture were performed in every period at the last day of covariates and last day of recovery, collecting ruminal fluid from each animal. Treatments with BICARB promoted a higher pH than TAN during the adaptation at 4 h after feeding (P = 0.01). Moreover, BRIC-150 showed similar results with a tendency to increase (P = 0.07) when compared with TAN. During the feed restriction BRIC-150 showed a greater pH (P = 0.01) when compared with TAN. While, for BICARB and BRIC-050 pH tended to be greater (P = 0.06) than TAN. During the SARA challenge and the recovery, treatments with buffer tended to have greater pH (P &lt; 0.1). A significant reduction ammonia nitrogen was observed for BICARB and TAN compared with BRIC-050 and BRIC-150 (P &lt; 0.01). Overall, the three buffers tested showed similar results in terms of maintaining a greater pH than treatment without buffer.
93 Red clover as a functional feed: Effects on rumen microbiota of finishing ram lambs
Authors: Ragsdale Macy E , Ely Donald G , Weinert-Nelson Jennifer R , Davis Brittany E , Flythe Michael D , Hamilton Tracy A , Hamilton Matthew C , Jacks W Leann , Davis Sydney 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Red clover (RC) contains bioactive isoflavones. Supplementing RC as a functional feed (as little as 7.5% of the total diet) has been shown to alter ruminal fermentation and improve feed efficiency in ram lambs fed high-concentrate finishing diets. The objectives of this study were to determine if reduced RC inclusion will produce similar rumen microbiological effects. It was hypothesized that RC supplementation below 7.5% RC will alter rumen microbial community composition during the finishing period. Sixteen individually housed Polypay ram lambs (age; 134 ± 2.5 d; initial body weight: 31 ± 0.53 kg) were used in a complete block design and fed one of four isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets (85:15 concentrate:roughage ratio; n = 4 rams diet1): a control diet in which the roughage component (15.0% wt/wt of total diet) consisted of orchardgrass hay, 2.5%-RC (roughage: 2.5% RC; 12.5% orchardgrass wt/wt), 5.0%-RC (roughage: 5.0% RC; 10% orchardgrass wt/wt), and 7.5%-RC (roughage: 7.5% RC; 7.5% orchardgrass wt/wt). Rumen fluid was collected via oral intubation at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h post-feeding at the end of the adaptation period (14 d; all rams on control diet) and at 21-d intervals during the trial. Rumen functional bacterial guilds, including hyper-ammonia-producing bacteria (HAB), amylolytic, lactate-utilizing (LU), and cellulolytic bacteria were enumerated via serial dilution at 4 h post-feeding. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED with repeated measures in SAS (v.9.4, SAS inst. Inc., Cary, NC). There were no differences between diets on d 0 for any variable (P &gt; 0.05). At d 21, all RC-containing diets exhibited a 10- to 100-fold reduction in ruminal HAB compared with the control (P &lt; 0.05). While suppression of HAB was no longer apparent by d 42 in 2.5%-RC, HAB had decreased 100-fold (109 to 107) in lambs fed the 5.0%-RC and 7.5%-RC diets (P &lt; 0.01). No differences in amylolytic bacteria were detected on d 21 (P &gt; 0.05), but were 10-fold less in all diets containing RC by d 42 in comparison with control (109 to 108; P = 0.08). In contrast, LU increased by d 21 and were 100-fold greater (106 to 108) by d 42 when compared with the control for all levels of RC supplementation (P &lt; 0.05). Cellulolytic bacteria also increased across the study period in all lambs fed RC diets, with 100-fold greater cellulolytics (106 to 108) by d 42 (P &lt; 0.05). Consistent with the hypothesis, supplementing RC at levels as low as 2.5% wt/wt of the total diet decreased protein-wasting HAB and amylolytic bacteria while coincidingly increasing LU and cellulolytic bacteria in the rumen. These results indicate that adding red clover to finishing diets has the potential to increase lamb growth and feed efficiency through a functional feed action.
103 Goats complement cattle in a woody-plant encroached, diverse Cross Timbers rangeland
Authors: Lippy Brittany A , Sherrill Cooper , Goodman Laura , Reuter Ryan R 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Our objectives were to 1) determine diet selection of goats and cattle grazing woody plant-encroached tallgrass prairie, and, 2) determine the effect of the presence of goats on cattle diet selection. In 2019, pastures (n = 6) were allocated to 1 of 2 experimental grazing treatments. Pastures (n = 3) grazed by cattle only (crossbred Angus yearling heifers) were moderately grazed year-round at 4.2 ha per heifer. Pastures (n = 3) grazed by cattle (similar heifers) and goats (Boer x Spanish crossbred mature does) were moderately grazed year-round at 4.7 ha per heifer and 2.3 ha per goat simultaneously. Each pasture was burned in 6 patches (2 patches per year) to facilitate range management objectives. Every 35 d from May 2022 until June 2023, fecal samples were collected from all animals and stored frozen and later composited into 2 composites per animal species per pasture. Composites were then analyzed by a commercial lab with DNA barcoding and high-throughput sequencing. For statistical analysis, the top 50 Exact Sequence Variants (ESVs), representing species of forage, across all treatments were used for analysis. Each ESV was georeferenced to eliminate plants that did not grow in the study area, and assigned to a representative functional group: graminoid, forb, legume, and woody plant. Analysis of variance and Tukey’s post-hoc separation of estimated marginal means were performed to assess the effects of season, grazer species, and the interaction. The interaction of season and grazer species was significant (P &lt; 0.01) for the percentage of diet selected from each functional group of plants. As expected, goats selected a greater percentage of their diet as woody plants in summer (57%) and winter (74%) compared with cattle (27%). Cattle selected more grass in winter (34%) than goats (11%). Goats selected more forbs in spring (33%) than cattle (10%). However, goats selected a lesser percentage of their diet as legumes in summer (16%) than cattle (58%), which was unexpected. Overall, these results indicate that both species of grazers select a diverse diet from these diverse pastures, and selection is dynamic over time. Goat presence in a pasture does not seem to drastically alter cattle selection, actually complementing cattle in these pastures where goats can be used to target species cattle do not prefer.
7 Environmental sustainability of livestock systems in the southeastern U.S.: Opportunities and research gaps
Authors: Beck Matthew R , Gunter Stacey , Friend Emalee J , Moffet Corey A 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), enteric methane (CH4) was the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture in 2021 behind nitrous oxide emissions from soil management. Cattle production in the southeastern U.S. represent a significant source of enteric CH4. In 2021, 31.5% of all cattle derived enteric CH4 arose from the southeastern U.S., representing 43.3% of cow-calf, 27.4% of stocker, 23.1% of feedlot, and 12.1% of dairy derived enteric CH4, according to the EPA. Previous work has demonstrated that reducing CH4 emissions represents the most promising means to limit climate change in the short-term, due to the short atmospheric lifespan of CH4. As such, developing enteric CH4 mitigation strategies for southeastern cattle producers is imperative. Enteric CH4 mitigation strategies can be grouped into diet formulations (e.g., lipid additions; feeding more grains; protein source and inclusion), feed management (e.g., grain and forage processing; grazing management; forage species), rumen manipulations [e.g., feed additives (ionophores or inhibitors); secondary plant compounds (tannins, essential oils, saponins)], and breeding strategies (e.g., selecting for low CH4 emitters; selecting for low residual feed intake). Of these options, the direct CH4 inhibitors appear to be the most promising. The largest source of enteric CH4 from the southeastern U.S. is from cow-calf production, representing 71.6% of the total. Furthermore, a 13.6% reduction in enteric CH4 from the southeastern cow-calf herd would offset more emissions than a 100% reduction in the southeastern dairy, stocker, or feedlot sectors. Despite the large gains in emission reductions that could be achieved by focusing on enteric CH4 mitigation strategies from southeastern pastoral systems, there has been relatively little research efforts in this area. For example, there has yet to be any investigation into the mitigation potential of CH4 inhibitors when fed to grazing cattle. This is especially important, because the mitigation potential of inhibitors is likely much greater for grazing than for confined fed cattle. Additionally, there are limited and aging research into grazing management strategies effects on enteric CH4 emissions. There also exists a gap-in-knowledge of how common (e.g., supplementation) or changes in management (e.g., selecting for smaller mature cow sizes) practices could potentially influence enteric CH4 emissions. Future research is still needed to further develop enteric CH4 mitigation strategies, with efforts needed in grazing systems, especially for the southeastern U.S.
8 Opportunities in enteric methane emissions mitigation in beef cattle
Authors: Place Sara E 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Enteric fermentation is the largest source of methane emissions in the United States, with beef cattle representing 71 percent of total enteric methane emissions in 2021. Approximately 87% of the enteric methane produced from US beef cattle comes from animals not housed in feedlots, thus significantly opportunity lies in development and delivery of mitigation solutions to grazing situations. Mitigating methane emissions can be expressed in two ways: on an emissions intensity basis (i.e., methane per kg of beef) or in absolute terms (i.e., methane emissions from the entire beef system). Mitigation solutions that reduce absolute or total emissions consistently are currently limited or in the case of higher concentrate diets in finishing cattle, already widely used. Genetic selection is a promising solution to mitigate enteric methane emissions; however, standardization of phenotype collection is required, as methane emissions estimates can be influenced by a wide array of measurement errors and methodological choices by investigators. Economically viable, practical, and scalable solutions are needed. Researchers and extension professionals should provide objective guidance to cattle producers and others in the cattle industry on the costs and benefits of the variety of potential enteric methane mitigation solutions.
126 Effects of Tall Fescue Seeds and Quercetin on the Meat Quality of Finishing Lambs
Authors: Wang Yongjie , Ge Jing , Shelby Sarah , Huang Yan , Morse Palika 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Tall fescue is a major cool-season grass for grazing livestock in North America. However, it is typically infected with endophyte fungus, and the intake of the infected tall fescue was toxic to ruminant animals. Quercetin is one of the natural flavonoids that could increase the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacity of an animal. This experiment aims to investigate the effects of infected tall fescue seeds on the carcass characteristics and meat quality of finishing lambs, and also to determine the mitigation effect of quercetin on the toxicity of tall fescue seeds. A total number of 24 lambs were randomly assigned to four groups: 1) Control group (C, n = 6), tall fescue seed group (E+Q-, n = 6, feed with tall fescue seed infected with alkaloid endophyte), tall fescue seed, and quercetin group (E+Q+, n = 6, feed with tall fescue seed infected with alkaloid endophyte), and quercetin group (E-Q+, n = 6, feed with quercetin). All the groups were fed ad libitum for 42 d. The longissimus dorsi muscle of each lamb was collected to analyze the meat quality parameters. The results show that the tall fescue seed decreased the final body weight and the hot carcass weight of finishing lambs (P &lt; 0.05). Intake of tall fescue seed with quercetin increased the meat color parameters (L*, a*, b*, C, and h) significantly (P &lt; 0.05). The tall fescue decreased the intramuscular fat content in the longissimus dorsi muscle and also modulated the fatty acids composition (P &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, infected tall fescue negatively affected the carcass characteristics and intramuscular fat deposition of finishing lambs. However, the quercetin didn’t mitigate the influence of tall fescue seeds on carcass characteristics but increased the meat color characteristics.
125 Relationship of electrical conductivity to color variables (chroma, hue, L*, a*, b*) of fresh beef loins
Authors: Mesquita Carolina S , Richardson Reed , Kerth Christopher , Sudhakaran Pratheesh 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Appraisal of beef color and overall quality assessment by consumers may be variable. In this study, Prime Grade beef strip loins were used to determine if electrical conductivity measurements (ECM) are correlated with color variables (chroma, hue, L*, a*, and b*) and could be used to improve color quality assessment and evaluation. An experimental design consisting of 6 full strip loins x 6 steaks per loin x 2 locations per steak was used and provided 72 total observations for analysis. Electrical conductivity measurements (ECM) procedures developed in our lab consisted of using emulsified meat samples concealed in silicon vessel connected to copper electrodes leading to a digital multimeter. ECM was measured in microsiemens (µS) over 60 sec with a sampling rate of 2/sec. Color variables were measured using a Varian Cary 50 Series Spectrophotometer following procedures of AMSA to ensure standardization. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficients. ECM means in microsiemens (µS) were 14.37, 42.52, 34.86, 22.89, 16.05, and 24.70 for the six groups of fresh steaks and were not different (P &gt; 0.05). However, ECM values for cooked steaks differed (P &lt; 0.05). Mean values for chroma, hue, L*, a*, and b* were different (P &lt; 0.05) across fresh loin steaks. Correlations of ECM to all five of the color variables were different and negative (P &lt; 0.05): chroma -0.013, hue -0.050, L* -0.009, a *-0.031, b* -0.110. These data show that ECM provide another analytical procedure that may be used in evaluating the color of fresh beef loins, and in the overall assessment and evaluation of beef products.
169 Hemp as a forage crop: Harvest date effects on yield and nutritive value
Authors: Podder Swarup , Fike John H , Wilson Bain 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Hemp (Cannabis sativaL.) has been a valuable species for humans throughout history due to its adaptability and diverse uses. Farmers are interested in hemp as a forage and feedstuff due to its unique nutritional properties and rapid summer production. This study examined yield and nutritive value of three hemp cultivars, ‘Grandi’, ‘Joey’, and ‘EcoFibre’ as potential forage crops when harvested at weekly intervals in Blacksburg, VA, USA, during 2021 and 2022. The greatest biomass and TDN yield across all cultivars were 3.17 Mg ha-1 and 2.08 Mg ha-1, respectively, at 2 mo after establishment in 2021. However, biomass and TDN yield were 1.9 Mg ha-1 and 1.03 Mg ha-1, respectively at 2 mo after establishment in 2022. The nutritive value in hemp plant biomass harvested at different times varied by cultivar and harvest time (P &lt; 0.05). Depending on cultivar and harvest time, hemp plant biomass contained 13 to 32% CP, 22 to 45% NDF, 20 to 38% ADF, 4 to 9% lignin, and 52 to 80% TDN (cultivar × time interaction; P &lt; 0.05). Hemp CP and TDN decreased gradually with maturation while ADF, NDF, and lignin increased; however, this decline with maturity did not appear as severe as occurs with many other forages. These preliminary results suggest that hemp has the potential to be used as a forage crop. More research is needed to address hemp management and utilization, including field establishment and production, harvest timing for optimum tonnage and forage quality, and animal intake and performance studies.
164 Effect of distillers grains supplementation and fertilization rate on performance of stocker cattle grazing wheat pasture and stand performance
Authors: Gruber Cody , Johnson Michelle , Hess Tom , Rivera Daniel , Mitchell James , Gadberry Shane 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Within this study, the objectives were to determine how varied Nitrogen (N) fertilization rates and inclusion of dried distiller’s grains plus solubles (DDGS) impacted stocker and wheat stand performance within a no-till (NT) production system. A total of twenty-four 1.62-ha pastures were split between 3 unsupplemented treatments with urea spread at fixed rates of 50.44, 67.25, 84.06 kg N/ha in autumn and again in spring along with an additional 6 pastures fertilized with 50.44 kg N/ha each growing season plus supplemented with DDGS. From fall of 2021 to Spring of 2023, 576 beef steers (286.62 ± 36.67 kg) were randomly allocated at fixed stocking rates of 2.47 steers/ha (4 steers/pasture) in the fall, and 4.94 steers/ha (8 steers/pasture) in the spring. Steers were weighed upon arrival, at turnout, every 28 d, and when pulled off pasture. Steers were pulled off pasture when forage mass (FM) became insufficient, temperatures became too cold to support regrowth, or forage entered reproductive phase. Sampling dates to determine forage mass and quality coincided with weigh dates, where 20 plate meter readings were taken in every field and were recorded with a 0.25m2 plate meter, and 0.25m2 grass clippings were obtained from 15 fields every sampling date to estimate FM. Pairwise comparisons using the Mixed Model procedure in JMP were used to analyze data, with N rates with and without supplementation as a single fixed categorical variable, and year modeled as a random effect. In the fall, supplemented pastures produced greater ADG than 67.25 and 84.06 kg N/ha pastures (P &lt; 0.05), along with greater total costs of supplemented pastures compared with all unsupplemented treatments (P &lt; 0.0001). In the spring, supplemented pastures produced greater end weights, gain per hectare, forage mass and ADG than all unsupplemented treatments (P &lt; 0.0001), and supplementation provided more grazing days (P &lt; 0.05). While total sale income for supplemented pastures were greater than all unsupplemented treatments (P &lt; 0.05), total costs of supplemented pastures were all increased (P &lt; 0.0001), resulting in less income after variable costs (P &lt; 0.0002). Response changes to supplementation were more pronounced than responses to increased fertilization. In conclusion, these results indicate that DDGS supplementation provided greater performance benefits to stocker cattle grazing wheat pasture than increased N fertilization rate, but the added costs associated with feeding resulted in lower profitability. However, the addition of DDGS supplementation may provide an opportunity to increase stocking rates to potentially improve profitability.
167 Use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in bermudagrass systems of the Southeast US
Authors: Mirahki Isaac , Crabtree Jennifer , Neto Jose D Pereira , Smith Brandon , Adesemoye Tony , Mullenix M Kim , Dillard Sandra L 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Since the discovery of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in the mid-20th century, efforts have focused on utilizing them to reduce synthetic fertilizer usage and to improve the sustainability of agricultural systems. However, research in forage systems is lacking. The objective of the current study was to determine the use of PGPR in bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) forage systems in Central Alabama. The study was designed as a split plot and conducted at the E.V. Smith Research and Extension Center (Shorter, AL) and compared four levels of PGPR and five levels of nitrogen fertility rates. The PGPR included a negative control, Paenibacillus riograndensis DH44, Bacillus subtilis DH267, and UrtrishaN (Corteva Agriscience, Indianapolis, IN) were allocated to main plots. The strains of DH44 and DH267 were sprayed during each application at a population of 1-5 × 108 cfu/mL while UtrishaN (Corteva) was sprayed at a population of 3×107 cfu/mL with an activator at the rate of 0.25% vol/vol according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. The nitrogen fertilizer treatments were the subplot and were 25 and 50% of the recommended nitrogen for bermudagrass. The N treatments were as follows: negative control, 25% urea, 25% ammonium sulfate, 50% urea (F4), and 50% ammonium sulfate. Plots were treated with PGPR and N fertilizer starting on 11 May 2023. The forage harvest operation was conducted with at least 4 wk intervals depending on precipitation. After one year of the study, PGPR did not have any significant effect on forage biomass (1,209 kg /ha; P = 0.58). There was also no effect of N fertilizer (1,596 kg/ha; P = 0.35) or PGPR × N fertilizer interaction on forage biomass (1,408 kg/ha; P = 0.56). The lack of differences between positive and negative control plots indicates that growing conditions (i.e., lack of timely rainfall) during the first year of the study limited forage production for all treatments. The results from future years of this study will provide a more accurate conclusion on the use of PGPR with and without N fertilizer for bermudagrass systems.