bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
415 Awardee Talk: Foraging for Collaboration: Beef-Forage System Strengths Unite Research and Extension Efforts in the Asas Southern Section
Authors: Mullenix Kimberly , Gadberry Shane , Rhinehart Justin D , Dillard S Leanne , Tucker Jennifer J J , Stewart Robert Lawton , Vendramini Joao , Poole Daniel H , Sanchez Nicole C Burdick , Mercadante Vitor R G , Bratcher Christy L , Welsh Thomas H , Arthington John , Poore Matthew H , Earnhardt-San Audrey L , Carrell Russell C , Justice S Maggie , Soffa Dallas R 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The American Society of Animal Science Southern Section has a rich history of collaboration and hosts an annual professional development meeting for ASAS members. The Section meeting includes scientific presentations, academic quadrathlon, undergraduate and graduate student competitions, symposia, and networking opportunities for its members. The Section has used strategic collaborations to foster multi-state projects and initiatives. One of the key discipline focus areas of the Section is forage-based beef production systems. The Section holds two symposia focused on research, Extension, and industry topics related to beef cattle management. The Bill E. Kunkle Interdisciplinary Symposium was started in 2014 to honor the impact of Dr. Kunkle, University of Florida, and fosters multi-disciplinary communication of beef cattle science. The SERA 41 Symposium is part of the regional NIMSS project focus-group on improving production efficiency of the beef cow herd in the Southeast US. The NIMSS group works collectively to create partnerships and common goal-oriented projects across the Southern Section states. The section is also home to the Randel Physiology Lecture series which was formed in 2016 to highlight Dr. Ron Randel’s commitment to the Southern Section physiology section, and to promote high-quality science for the next generation of physiologists and endocrinologists. More than 25 peer-reviewed publications and several webinars have resulted from these symposia and invited lectureships. This creates a referenceable resource for scientists on emerging topics and identifies potential priority areas of focus for scientists within the Southern region. Another highlight of the Section is the collaborative work of the Extension committee. The Extension committee collaboratively fosters Extension program development across the Southern region. The committee developed a regional webinar series in 2015 for regional training of Extension agents on livestock and forage management topics. Subsequent in-service training courses have emerged through both virtual and in-person delivery. Training is primarily focused on forage-based livestock management systems. Through these opportunities, the Southern Section has remained a gathering point for professional engagement and should continue to evolve to meet the needs of animal scientists.
423 Effects of Prescribed Fire Timing on Stocker Cattle Performance and Native Plant Species Composition in the Kansas Flint Hills
Authors: Duncan Zachary M , Tajchman Alan J , Lemmon Jack , Hollenbeck William R , Blasi Dale A , Olson K C 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Ranchers in the Kansas Flint Hills apply spring-season prescribed fire to improve growth performance of yearling stocker calves, increase native warm-season grass production, and reduce encroachment of woody and invasive plant species. Shifting prescribed fire application from spring (i.e., April) to late summer (i.e., August) or early fall (i.e., September) can reduce Sericea lespedeza infestation, increase native forb diversity, and improve air quality by distributing smoke produced from burning the Flint Hills throughout the year. Effects of late-summer or early-fall prescribed fire on yearling grazing cattle performance is unknown; therefore, our objective was to determine the impact of prescribed-fire timing on growth performance of yearling grazing cattle and plant community characteristics in the Kansas Flint Hills. Over a four-year period, 18 pastures were grouped by watershed and each watershed was assigned to one of three prescribed-fire treatments (24 pastures/treatment): spring (9 April ± 5.1 d), summer (23 August ± 4.9 d), or fall (29 September ± 8.7 d). Burn treatments were applied in years 1, 2, and 3 but were not applied in year 4 due to unfavorable burn conditions. Over 4 consecutive grazing seasons, 1,416 yearling calves (initial BW = 304 ± 49.6 kg) were grazed from May to August following prescribed fire application. Calves were grazed for 90 d at a targeted stocking density of 280 kg live-weight· ha-1. A permanent 100 m transect was established in each pasture and was used to determine plant species composition and soil cover using a modified step-point method. Plant species composition was determined annually in June. Data were analyzed as a completely random design using a mixed model. The final model contained treatment as a fixed effect and year and pasture within treatment as random effects. Average daily gain (ADG) tended to be greater (P = 0.06) for spring-burned pastures compared with fall-burned pastures, whereas ADG for summer-burned pastures were intermediate. Proportions of bare soil were greater (P &lt; 0.01) in spring-burned pastures compared with summer- and fall-burned pastures. Conversely, proportions of litter on the soil surface were greatest (P &lt; 0.05) in summer, intermediate (P &lt; 0.05) in fall, and least (P &lt; 0.01) in spring-burned pastures. Total grass, native grass, total forb, and native forb basal cover did not differ (P ≥ 0.13) among treatments. Conversely, basal cover of nectar-producing forbs was greater (P &lt; 0.01) in fall-burned pastures compared with spring- and summer-burned pastures. Overall, fall prescribed-fire tended to reduce ADG; however, stocker cattle growth performance and native rangeland plant composition was similar between spring- and summer-burned pastures.
232 In Vitro Digestibility of Dry Matter and Nitrogen of Napier Grass Silage Is Affected By Fertilization with Cow-Dung Bio-Digester Slurry and Fermentable Carbohydrate Additives at Ensiling
Authors: Rambau Mashudu Daniel , Fushai Felix , Baloyi Joseph J 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The use of silages during the dry season could ameliorate major nutritional constraints in ruminant livestock production in tropical regions. Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) is a tropical forage source that is used for silage in South Africa. The present objective was to determine the effects of fertilization with bio-digester slurry (BDS) and of carbohydrate additives [no additive (control), molasses, brown sugar, and maize meal] at ensiling on in vitro digestibility of Napier grass silage. Fresh Napier grass irrigated weekly with either BDS or water was cut after 12 weeks and ensiled for 90 days in 1 liter glass jars in a 2 (control and slurry irrigation) x 4 (no additive, molasses, maize meal and brown sugar) factorial arrangement replicated three times. The nutrient composition was determined using standard protocols. The in vitro digestibility of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) were determined by the three-stage method after incubation in rumen of steers for 12, 24 and 48-hour incubation. The bags containing rumen undegradable residuals (RURs) were removed from the bags, composited by treatment, and ground through a 1 mm sieve. Approximately 1g samples of RURs of each silage sample were placed in a 0.1 N HCl solution adjusted to pH 1.9 with 1 g ℓ-1 of pepsin, and then in pancreatin solution and rinsed with deionized water and dried at 60°C for 48 h. At 24 h incubation, the no BDS, no additive (control) treatment had the least (P &lt; 0.01) DM degradability. As incubation time progressed to 48 h, fertilization with BDS with molasses inclusion increased (P &lt; 0.05) DM disappearance. However, the BDS fertilization and carbohydrate additive interaction had no effect (P &gt; 0.05) on 12 incubation h, and in vitro digestibility after 12, 24 and 48 h of incubation. Fertilization with BDS reduced (P &lt; 0.05) DM digestibility after 48 hours of rumen incubation. Carbohydrate additives increased (P &lt; 0.01) DM disappearance at 12, 24 and 48 rumen incubation h but did not not influence in vitro DM digestibility after 12, 24, and 48 h of rumen incubation. Fertilization with BDS and carbohydrate additives at ensiling interaction had no effect (P &gt; 0.05) on CP degradability at 12, 24, and 48 h of rumen incubation, and in vitro CP digestibility after 12, 24, and 48 h of incubation. Carbohydrate additives increased (P &lt; 0.01) CP disappearance at 12, 24 and 48 rumen incubation h and reduced (P &lt; 0.01) in vitro CP digestibility after 12 h of rumen incubation but did not have an effect (P &gt; 0.05) on in vitro CP digestibility after 24 and 48 h of rumen incubation.
426 Forages Containing Plant Secondary Compounds Can Improve Digestibility, Rumen Ammonia and Rumen Metabolites of Pasture: an in Vitro Continuous Culture Case Study
Authors: Christensen Rachael G , Halvorson Jonathan , MacAdam Jennifer W , Kronberg Scott L , Hendrickson John R 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Forages containing plant secondary metabolites (PSM) have been investigated for use in reducing nitrogen waste in feedlot and dairy cattle diets but use as supplements to grazing beef cattle to capture the positive effects of PSM is unclear. Here we investigate potential improvement in rumen digestibility and metabolome, rumen ammonia production and flow from feed protein due to PSM bioactivity in forages used to supplement pasture grass using in vitro methods. Can PSM-containing forages offer a practical way to improve range nutrition and provide delivery of phytochemical benefits? Phytochemical- containing forages birdsfoot trefoil (BFT), sainfoin (SAN), small burnet (SMB) and cicer milkvetch (CMV) supplemented grass pasture diets (200 g/kg of DM). In vitro true dry matter digestibility was determined using 2-stage in vitro methods. Randomly assigned diets of PAS supplemented with one of the PSM-containing forage diets (PAS+X) or not supplemented (PAS) were randomly applied to in vitro dual flow continuous culture (CC) vessels inoculated with grazing beef cow rumen fluid as a metabolic host. For 2-stage digestibility, SMB digestibility exceeded that of CMV, followed by BFT and SAN. The grass diet (PAS) was the least digestible (Table 1). Saponin was detected in CMV samples, which is a new finding. For CC, compared with PAS, minimum culture pH for PAS+CMV was highest (P &lt; 0.02) but no differences were observed in pH between PAS, and PAS+BFT and PAS+SAN. Compared with PAS, the molar proportion of the fatty acid propionate increased with PAS+CMV(P = 0.03) in contrast to the acetate- to- propionate ratio found highest for PAS and decreased for all diets with supplementation of PSM forages. Concentration of rumen NH3–N flow to rumen fluid per gram of protein intake was lower (P &lt; 0.01) with PAS+CMV and PAS+SMB, compared with grass only. Feeding CMV and SMB to grazing cattle may improve nutrient utilization, metabolome, and environmental sustainability of beef cattle production by improving diet digestibility and reducing ammonia waste.
234 Can We Use Moderate Quality Round Bale Bermudagrass Silage to Stretch Wheat pasture?
Authors: Beck Paul A , Beck Matthew R , Hubbell Don , Hess Tom , Foote Andrew P , Gadberry Shane , Kegley Beth B 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Grazing wheat pasture with growing calves is an economically important enterprise in the Southern Great Plains and Southeastern U.S. Wheat forage is available when there are few other high quality forage options, and a offers a favorable seasonality of net returns for the stocker cattle enterprise. Our objective was to determine if a moderate quality wrapped round bale silage can be used to profitably increase stocking rates during the fall and winter. This research was conducted at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Livestock & Forestry Research Station near Batesville, AR (35°50′N, 91°48′W; elevation 150 m) over 3-yr from fall 2018 to spring 2021. Treatments were: HCON, where steers were stocked at 2.47 steers/ha in the fall without bermudagrass baleage or were stocked at 1× (H1.0), 1.5× (H1.5), or 2× (H2.0) the HCON stocking rate with ad libitum access to bermudagrass round bale wrapped silage during the fall. In the spring all pastures were stocked at 5.56 steers/ha without baleage (HCON) or with access to baleage (H1.0, H1.5, H2.0). Steer performance, forage mass and nutritive quality were analyzed as a randomized complete block design with SAS 9.4 (SAS Inst. Inc. Cary, NC). The bermudagrass baleage was analyzed to be 48.8% DM in yr 1, 40.2% DM in yr 2, and 46.8% DM in yr 3; and ranged from 13 to 14% CP and 55 to 56% TDN across the 3-yr (Table 1). Baleage intake based on estimated disappearance from feeders increased (P &lt; 0.01) with increasing stocking rate in the fall and tended (P = 0.07) to increase during the spring with increased fall stocking rate. Steer ADG showed a positive associative effect of baleage feeding in the fall with greater (P = 0.01) ADG for H1.0 than HCON, while HCON and H1.5 did not differ (P = 0.71), but were greater (P ≤ 0.03) than H2.0. Gain per hectare in the fall tended (P = 0.06) to be greater for H1.0 than HCON, H1.5 and H2.0 were greater (P &lt; 0.01) than H1.0 but did not differ from each other. Performance and BW did not differ (P ≥ 0.73) during the spring, but steer grazing days/ha and BW gain/ha were greater when baleage was offered in the spring compared with HCON. Supplemental efficiency of feeding silage did not differ (P ≥ 0.47) among treatments, on the average gains were increased by 0.22 kg/kg baleage DM fed in the fall and 0.11 kg/kg baleage DM in the spring. Offering moderate quality warm-season grass baleage to steers on wheat pasture enabled increased stocking rates in the fall while maintaining acceptable levels of performance and extending the length of the grazing season in the spring.
239 Impaired Myoblast Function and Poor Muscle Growth in Intrauterine Growth-Restricted Fetal Sheep Is Improved By the Anti-Inflammatory Nutraceutical, Eicosapentaenoic Acid
Authors: Gibbs Rachel L , Beer Haley N , Lacey Taylor A , White Melanie R , Hicks Zena M , Grijalva Pablo Cesar C , Peterson Jessica L L , Schmidt Ty B B , Yates Dustin T 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Chronic heat stress during pregnancy causes low birthweight due to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) of the fetus. Recent findings indicate that IUGR fetal programming includes enhanced inflammatory sensitivity that disproportionally affects skeletal muscle. Thus, our objective was to determine if 5-d intravenous fetal infusion of the anti-inflammatory ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) improved growth metrics and ex vivo myoblast (i.e., muscle stem cell) function in heat stress-induced IUGR fetal sheep. Maternal heat stress (40°C, 35% humidity, THI = 85) from d 40 to 95 of gestation was used to produce IUGR fetuses. Saline or EPA (25 mg/d) was infused via fetal femoral catheter from d 118 to 122 of gestation. At 122 d gestation, IUGR fetuses (n = 10; 2.31 ± 0.16 kg) were 26% lighter (P &lt; 0.05) than control fetuses (n = 10; 3.10 ± 0.15 kg). Body mass of EPA-infused IUGR fetuses (n = 9; 2.70 ± 0.16 kg) were intermediate between controls and IUGR fetuses. Likewise, IUGR fetuses had lighter (P &lt; 0.05) hindlimbs (28%), semitendinosus (30%), longissimus muscle (28%), flexor digitorum superficialis (30%), and soleus (31%) than controls. EPA infusion partially recovered (P &lt; 0.05) hindlimb and longissimus muscle mass and fully recovered (P &lt; 0.05) flexor digitorum superficialis and soleus mass but did not improve semitendinosus mass. Primary myoblasts were isolated at necropsy and incubated in proliferation media (DMEM + 20% fetal bovine serum) for 2 h or differentiation media (DMEM + 2% fetal bovine serum) for 96 h. Proliferation rates (determined by EdU incorporation over 2 h) were less (P &lt; 0.05) for myoblasts from IUGR fetuses (38 ± 2% EdU+) and EPA-infused IUGR fetuses (39 ± 2% EdU+) than controls (44 ± 1% EdU+). Differentiation rates (determined by myogenin expression after 96 h) were less (P &lt; 0.05) for myoblasts from IUGR fetuses (9 ± 1% myogenin+) but not EPA-infused IUGR fetuses (13±1% myogenin+) compared with controls (12 ± 1% myogenin+). IUGR fetuses had lighter (P &lt; 0.05) heart (19%) and brain (11%) mass than controls, but heart/fetal mass and brain/fetal mass were greater (P &lt; 0.05) than controls, which indicates tissue sparing for these organs. EPA infusion did not affect heart or brain mass but reduced (P &lt; 0.05) heart/fetal mass and brain/fetal mass. Together, these findings demonstrate that skeletal muscle growth is disproportionately restricted compared with whole-body, brain, heart, or liver growth, and that this is facilitated by intrinsic impairment of myoblast function. Moreover, prolonged fetal infusion of the anti-inflammatory nutraceutical, EPA, partially recovered myoblast function and muscle growth in IUGR fetal sheep.
79 Functional Amino Acids in Dogs and Cats: Implications for Overall Health
Authors: Pezzali Julia Guazzelli 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The majority of pets depend exclusively on commercial pet food supplied by their owners, who now more than ever are looking for diets supporting the health and well-being of their companion animals. Due to the diverse roles of amino acids beyond protein synthesis, their use as functional nutrients in canine and feline nutrition has gained attention. Dietary supplementation of tryptophan or tyrosine, as the precursors of serotonin and catecholamines, respectively, may reduce stress, anxiety-related and agonistic behavior in dogs. Surplus dietary arginine may also confer benefits by improving cognitive function in aging dogs likely through the enhancement of nitric oxide synthesis. In adult cats, phenylalanine has been studied for its potential effect on delaying gastric emptying and promoting satiety, which could aid in prevention of feline obesity. On the other hand, diets with greater dietary lysine:calorie may protect lean body mass of senior cats, and thus, may help combat sarcopenia. Studies investigating the functional role of amino acids in dogs and cats, however, are limited and the results are often conflicting. Additionally, data on empirical determination of amino acid requirements in adult dogs and cats are scarce, potentially preventing the dietary delivery of the ideal ratios of amino acids and subsequently the provision of specific amino acids in targeted doses above the requirement to evaluate their potential functional roles. Consequently, although the functional properties of some amino acids in dogs and cats are promising, more research focusing not only on their potential health benefits, but also on the empirical determination of amino acid requirements in dogs and cats is warranted to promote their use as functional nutrients in pet food.
432 Fluctuations in Equine Cutaneous Ph and Trans-Epidermal Water Loss Associated with Anatomical Location, Time, and Weather
Authors: Discepolo Dakota , Perry Erin B , Gaare Elizabeth 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Although skin health is of critical importance for all horse owners, understanding of cutaneous pH and trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and the normal ranges of these variables is lacking. Cutaneous pH and TEWL measures provide insight into the barrier function of the epidermis and have the potential to determine the resident dermal microbiota. However, these measures have been recorded to fluctuate due to a variety of factors such as environment and anatomical locations in other species. Accordingly, the objectives of this study were to identify the impacts of anatomical location, weather, and time of day on cutaneous pH and TEWL in equines. This study utilized nine (n = 9) stock type mares, group-housed in a pasture setting at Southern Illinois University Equine Center. Researchers measured cutaneous pH and TEWL three times (6:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 6:00 PM) daily across five anatomical locations (nose, whither, heart-girth, mid-back, and base of tail) for five consecutive days. All statistical analysis was conducted using SAS On Demand for Academics (P &lt; 0.05). Analysis of changes in variables associated with time, anatomical location, and day were conducted utilizing a PROC GLM three-way repeated measures ANOVA utilizing a Greenhouse-Geiser correction. Cutaneous pH results displayed significant main effects of day (P = 0.0052) and time (P = 0.0073) as well as a significant interaction of day and location (P = 0.0004). Mean cutaneous pH fluctuated daily, however, certain anatomical locations fluctuated more than others each day. Additionally, pH was highest in the morning (mean of 7.28) and lowest in the evening (mean 7.011). However, the mean overall pH for the study is 7.14 which is congruent with other work. TEWL measurements had significant main effects of day (P &lt; 0.0001), time (P &lt; 0.0001), and location (P = 0.0231), as well as a significant interaction of day, time, and location (P &lt; 0.0001). TEWL measurements fluctuated with day, likely a result of weather changes. Mean TEWL measurements were less in the morning (mean 24.68) and greatest in the afternoons (mean 38.52). Overall mean TEWL measurement was 30.25. The results of this work indicate fluctuations in dermal barrier variables are associated with day, anatomical location, and time of day. These findings may have implications for applications of dermal treatments for horses as well as catalog the natural fluctuations which may affect future research.