bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
414 Awardee Talk: Current Status and Future Opportunities for Fresh Pork Quality
Authors: Dilger Anna 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Pork is often viewed as a “middle-of-the-road” option. It is typically less expensive than beef, but more expensive than chicken. While beef cuts, especially steaks, are viewed as luxury items or high-end dining experiences, pork is more of a staple food featured as a variety of fresh and processed products at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. To increase demand for pork and capture more of the high-end market, improving fresh pork loin quality has been a focus of the industry for many years. There is evidence that these efforts have been successful. Compared with pork of the past, fresh pork loins have increased pH and darker color. Additionally, the incidence of tough pork has been reduced and overall pork tenderness improved. However, per capita consumption of pork by the consumers of the United States has not changed. This suggests that consumer acceptance and demand for fresh pork may not depend on intrinsic characteristics such as pH, color, and tenderness. Extrinsic factors like endpoint cooking temperature may have a larger influence on consumer acceptability of fresh pork loin chops. It is possible that, in terms of pork quality, we have been successful in eliminating the problems of the pork industry like pale, soft and exudative pork, but this is not sufficient to reach a consistently excellent eating experience in pork loins.
268 Copper Methionine Hydroxy Analogue Chelate in a Reduce and Replace Copper Strategy Improves Nutrient Availability in Growing Pigs
Authors: Lawrence Bradley V , Foran Chelsie K , Hintz Alex , Torres David , Acosta Camargo Jesus A , Provin Ashley 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Research has shown that methionine hydroxy analogue chelated minerals [MHAC; MINTREX Trace Minerals (Novus International Inc., St. Charles, MO)] are more available than inorganic trace minerals. In growing pigs, 50 mg/kg of Cu as Cu-MHAC has been shown to reduce feed conversion compared with feeding 125 mg/kg Cu as CuSO4 and 150 mg/kg Cu as tri-basic copper chloride (TBCC). A metabolism study was conducted using 2 groups of 10 barrows (average BW of 33.2 + 3.03 kg) fed either 50 mg/kg Cu as Cu-MHAC or 150 mg/kg Cu as TBCC. There was a 14-d acclimation period followed by 3-d of total fecal and 5-d of total urine collection. Corn-soybean meal diets with 15% distillers dried grains and &lt; 1% fat as soy oil were formulated to 0.98% SID lysine with 0.65% Ca and 0.49% P. Phytase was included at 1,500 FTU/kg. A common basal trace mineral premix supplying 120 mg/kg Zn, 10 mg/kg Cu and 20 mg/kg Mn in the SO4 form was used. Diets were provided in meal form twice daily at 5% of body weight per day. The total trial period was 21-d with BW measured at d 0 and 21. Feed disappearance was recorded throughout. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS with treatment and initial BW as fixed effects and group as a random effect. Pigs fed Cu-MHAC gained 816 g/d compared with 787 g/d for those fed TBCC (P = 0.55). Feed conversion was 2.07 for TBCC pigs and 1.98 for Cu-MHAC pigs (P = 0.48). Dry matter digestibility was 90.9% and 89.9% (P = 0.18) for Cu-MHAC and TBCC pigs respectively. Dry matter fecal output was 9% less for Cu-MHAC pigs (P = 0.24). Cu retention percent was not different between Cu sources (64.4% Cu-MHAC vs 62.4% TBCC; P = 0.63). Cu excretion was less for Cu-MHAC pigs (41.3 mg/d Cu-MHAC vs. 103.9 mg/d TBCC; P &lt; 0.001) as a result of reduced Cu intake. Cu-MHAC increased Zn (P &lt; 0.05) and Mn (P &lt; 0.01) retention by 8.9 and 11.1 percentage points, respectively. Iron absorption (P = 0.86) and retention (P = 0.81) were not affected by Cu source. Calcium absorption and retention were 3.8 percentage points greater (P = 0.12) for Cu-MHAC pigs. Absorption and retention of P was 3.4% (P = 0.25) and 2.7% greater (P = 0.49) for pigs fed Cu-MHAC. Cu-MHAC resulted in 1.9% greater N absorption (P = 0.06) and 8.7% greater N retention (P = 0.06%) than when 150 mg/kg Cu in the TBCC form was fed. These results indicate a reduce and replace Cu strategy with Cu-MHAC can reduce Cu excretion by 60% and improved overall mineral and N retention with the exception of Fe. These nutrient availability improvements may contribute to the improved feed conversion observed in performance trials with Cu-MHAC vs inorganic sources.
32 Feeding Gilts and Sows to Maximize Their Mammary Development
Authors: Farmer Chantal 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The task of feeding growing replacement gilts, gestating gilts and sows to maximize their future milk yield is not easy. Yet, this is particularly important when considering the great demands made by the large litters of our current hyperprolific sow genetic lines. One aspect that needs to be considered is the effect of feeding on mammary development taking place before the onset of lactation, which is a major determinant of potential milk yield. One can only attempt to stimulate mammogenesis during periods with rapid mammary development. In swine, these periods are from three months of age until puberty, from 90 days of gestation until farrowing, and throughout lactation. Early studies showed that a 20% or 26% feed restriction from 90 days of age until puberty drastically reduces mammary parenchymal tissue mass. However, in a more recent study, sow milk yield was not altered following a 10% or 20% feed restriction, or a 25% dietary fiber addition (diluting dietary energy by 5%) from 90 days of age to breeding. This absence of effect may be due to the greater feed intake of control gilts in that recent study compared with the older studies. Such a difference in feed intake was likely brought about by genetic selection for faster growing pigs, and it appeared that feed intake of growing gilts can be reduced to 2.7 kg/day without detrimental effects on their future milk yield. During prepuberty, inclusion of the phytoestrogen genistein (2.3 g/day) in the diet increases the number of mammary parenchymal cells. During late gestation, feeding very high energy levels (10.5 Mcal ME/day) may have detrimental effects on mammary development and subsequent milk production. Furthermore, feed intake throughout gestation is important because of its effect on body condition. Gilts that are too thin (&lt; 16 mm backfat thickness) in late gestation have reduced mammary development. A 40% increase in SID Lys via inclusion of additional soybean meal to the diet of gilts from days 90 to 110 of gestation increased mammary parenchymal mass by 44%. On the other hand, providing the same 40% increase in dietary SID Lys to multiparous sows during late gestation had no significant effect on mammary parenchymal mass. These findings therefore support the use of phase-feeding during gestation of gilts only. Increasing circulating concentrations of the growth factor IGF-1 during late gestation also increased mammary parenchymal mass by 22%. Current data clearly demonstrate that feeding management before lactation can be used to improve sow milk yield.
290 Ewe Undernutrition Alters Cotyledon Development and Function
Authors: Welter Francesca , Marques Rodrigo S , Bradbery Amanda N , Posbergh Christian , McCoski Sarah 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Undernutrition is common for animals maintained in a range setting, particularly during periods of drought, and during gestation can be detrimental to offspring development. The placenta is a known mediator for maternal-fetal nutrient exchange, and developmental impacts to the placenta during times of nutritional stress contribute to poor offspring outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine the impacts of maternal nutrient restriction on the development and function of placental cotyledons. Targhee ewes were allocated into two dietary treatment groups for the entirety of gestation. The control group (CON; n = 10) was fed to meet 100% of NRC requirements and the nutrient restricted group (NR; n = 11) was fed to meet 60% of NRC requirements, to mimic the nutritional stress experienced by range ewes during drought. At the time of lambing total placental weight, total cotyledon number, and lamb birth weight were recorded. Cotyledons (n = 3 / placenta) were removed from multiple locations, weighed, and processed for RNA-sequencing. Total placental weight, total cotyledon number, and lamb birth weight were not affected by maternal diet restriction (P &gt; 0.05). Average cotyledon weight was greater in the CON group compared with the NR group (P &lt; 0.05). Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathways (KEGG) analyses were performed to identify biological pathways involved in placental function and nutrient transfer. Cotyledons from NR singletons vs CON singletons expressed 470 differentially expressed genes (DEGs; P &lt; 0.05; 187 up-regulated, 283 down-regulated). Gene ontology terms represented by DEGs include hormone activity (P = 0.0003) and antigen processing and presentation (P = 0.0004). KEGG pathways of interest include pyruvate metabolism, estrogen signaling, extracellular matrix receptor interaction, and antigen processing and presentation. There were also 426 DEGs (P &lt; 0.05; 195 up-regulated, 231 down-regulated) in cotyledons of NR twins vs CON twins. Represented GO categories include heme binding (P = 0.003) and oxidoreductase activity (P = 0.03). These data show that prolonged nutrient restriction alters cotyledon development and gene expression indicating modifications in placental function. These changes in placental function likely mediate poor offspring developmental outcomes observed following gestational under nutrition.
28 Melanocortin 3 Receptor in Neural Circuits Linking Metabolic State with Reproduction and Growth
Authors: Bedenbaugh Michelle N , Sweet Serena , Mendoza-Romero Haley , Brener Samantha , Hawkins Sydney , Yu Gina , Zimmermann Jessie , Sweeney Patrick , Cone Roger , Simerly Richard 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Metabolic state must be communicated to the brain to regulate behavior, growth, nutrient partitioning and development to meet energetic demands. While it is clearly evident that reproduction and energy balance are closely intertwined, the neural circuits integrating these two processes are poorly understood. Recent functional data suggests the melanocortin 3 receptor (MC3R) mediates the exchange of information between reproductive and metabolic state. Additionally, females exhibit uniquely aberrant metabolic and reproductive phenotypes after deletion of MC3R. In this work, we aimed to characterize the role of MC3R neural circuits in linking metabolic state with reproduction and growth in females. We found that MC3R is expressed in brain regions known to have a role in the control of reproductive and metabolic state, including the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) and arcuate nucleus (ARH). In the ARH of female mice, significant differences in overall levels of Mc3r mRNA were not observed at postnatal day 16 (P16), P28 or P48, nor did the percentage of ARH Kiss1, Esr1, Sst, Pomc or Agrp neurons doubly-labeled for Mc3r appear to change during postnatal development. However, the percentage of ARH Ghrh neurons labeled for Mc3r significantly increased from P16 to P48. Thus, MC3R in the ARH may play a potential role in conveying metabolic signals critical for growth during development. In the AVPV of female mice, overall abundance of Mc3r mRNA was low at P16, but increased significantly by P28, and was further elevated in mature mice (P48). Additionally, the percentage of Kiss1- and Esr1-expressing neurons in the AVPV labeled for Mc3r increased significantly between P16 and P48, suggesting that Mc3r may have an important role in the timing of sexual maturation. In addition to the direct regulatory action of MC3R expressed in KISS1 neurons in the AVPV, the impact of MC3R signaling may also be transmitted transynaptically via direct neural projections from MC3R neurons to KISS1 neurons in the AVPV, or to GnRH neurons in the rostral preoptic area. Clearly labeled MC3R terminals were observed in close apposition to both KISS1 neurons in the AVPV, and GnRH neurons in the rostral medial preoptic area. Although both the GnRH and KISS1 neuronal populations appeared heavily innervated by MC3R neurons, the density of MC3R terminals onto KISS1 neurons appeared to be substantially greater than that onto GnRH neurons, suggesting that inputs to AVPV neurons may be particularly impactful on reproduction. Thus, MC3R may not only regulate the activity of KISS1 neurons in the AVPV directly, but may also function transynaptically as an important neurobiological substrate for coordination of metabolic state with sexual maturation and reproductive function.
312 Emissions Intensity of Growing Cattle with Contrasting Residual Methane Production, Average Daily Gain, Feed Conversion Ratio, Residual Feed Intake, and Feed Intake
Authors: Gonzalez Luciano A , Shirvan Milad Bagheri , Molfino Juan 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Various options exist to produce beef from growing cattle with low environmental footprint normally linked to the genetic merit of animals for traits such as residual feed intake (RFI), residual methane production (RMP), residual CO2e production (RCeP), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and dry matter intake (DMI; % of BW). The ultimate environmental footprint can be measured through the intensity of methane emissions (IME) in g CH4/kg ADG or the intensity of CO2e (ICDE) adding up both CH4 and CO2 production in g CO2e/kg ADG. The objective of the present study was to compare the IME and ICDE of animals with low, medium, and high traits for RMP, RCDE, ADG, FCR, RFI, and DMI. Five cohorts of 77 steers composite steers and heifers (Angus, Charolais, and Shorthorn) were tested for RFI for 70 d using electronic feeders and CH4 and CO2 production measured using two GreenFeed units in the pens. Only animals with more than 25 visits longer than 3 min were used for the analysis and the final dataset contained 202 animals. Animals within each RFI test were divided into equal groups with low, medium, and high values for each variable RFI, RMP, ADG, FCR, and DMI. Data were averaged for each animal and trial, and analyzed using ANOVA with the fixed effects of group, trial, and their interaction. The IME were different for animals with contrasting RMP, ADG, and FCR (P &lt; 0.05) but not between animals with contrasting DMI and RFI (P &gt; 0.05). The largest difference on IME was found between animals with low and high RMP, ADG, and FCR, and least for RFI and DMI with values being 33.9, 28.1, 22.3, 6.2, and 1.5 g CH4/kg ADG, respectively (Table 1). Results were similar when emissions intensity were expressed as ICDE (Table 1), except animals with low RFI produced less ICDE compared with those with high FI (P = 0.02). Results indicate that the environmental footprint of growing cattle can be reduced with animals with low RMP and high ADG at similar extents, whereas RFI and DMI have lesser impact.
308 Effect of Thermal Variation During Late-Stage Incubation and Sex on Broiler Chicken Body Weight and Carcass Parts Uniformity
Authors: Banegas Jorge E , Hutson Brittany , Gregg Caroline R , Rueda Martha , Davis Jeremiah D , Purswell Joseph , Starkey Charles , Starkey Jessica D 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Low uniformity of broiler live body weight, carcass, and parts weights can reduce overall processing yields and profitability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of thermal manipulation (TM) during late-stage incubation (LSI) and sex on the uniformity and coefficient of variation (CV) in high yielding broilers. Yield Plus ′ Ross 708 broiler breeder eggs (n = 2,160) were incubated at 37.5 °C from embryonic day (ED) 0 to 10. From ED 11 to 18, eggs were incubated at 1 of 3 air temperature set points: 37.5 °C (CTL), 36.4 °C (COLD), or 38.6 °C (HOT; n = 2 incubators per treatment). On ED 18, all eggs were transferred to baskets in hatchers set to 36.7 °C. Chicks were vent sexed, placed in floor pens blocked by incubation treatment and sex (n = 6 replicate pens of 30 birds per treatment), and fed a common diet. Broilers were individually weighed at d 9, 23, and 32, then, the 15 birds from each pen closest to the pen median BW were processed on d 33. The distance of each bird BW from the pen mean and median, TM treatment, sex, and whole flock BW over time, uniformity of BW (within 10% of the mean), and intra-pen CV were calculated. Data were analyzed as a 2-way ANOVA using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS ver. 9.4 with TM treatment and broiler sex serving as the main effects. Means were separated at P ≤ 0.05 with the PDIFF option. On d 9, a TM by sex interaction was observed, and the BW of female CTL chicks was less variable from the pen mean compared with broilers hatched from COLD and females from HOT incubators (P ≤ 0.026). On d 9, sub-optimal incubation temperatures (HOT and COLD) during LSI resulted in higher individual female bird BW variation from the pen mean and median (P = 0.013). Incubating chicks in COLD incubators during LSI increased d-9 individual bird BW distance from the treatment, sex, and flock mean and median BW compared with CTL and HOT (P ≤ 0.037). In addition, BW uniformity within a pen was less in broilers hatched from COLD incubators than both CTL and HOT on d 9 (P = 0.033) and tended to be less on d 32 (P = 0.099). The inverse was observed for CV (P ≤ 0.040). Broilers hatched from COLD and HOT incubators had greater CV for carcass (P = 0.049) and wing (P = 0.028) as well as drumstick (P = 0.079) weights. These results indicate that sub-optimal LSI conditions can negatively influence uniformity of broiler live BW, carcass and parts weights and highlights the importance of achieving optimal incubation conditions.
354 Effect of Finishing System on Growth, Efficiency, and Carcass Quality of Dairy × Beef Hybrids
Authors: Grote Ally J , Wommack Addie , Robison Colton A , Farran Garrett , Wilson Blake K , Beck Paul A , Genther Schroeder Olivia N , Wistuba Troy 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Our objective was to determine how calf-fed or yearling finishing systems affect the performance and efficiency of dairy-beef crossbred steers. Dairy-beef hybrid steers were acquired from Land O’ Lakes Calf Milk Research Facility at Grey Summit, Missouri at 12-wk (BW /SD) of age and transported to Willard Sparks Beef Research Center (WSBRC). Upon arrival at WSBRC, steers were weighed, vaccinated, treated for parasites, and implanted with 36 mg of zeranol (Ralgro). Alternating groups of steers were placed either directly on finishing diets (FIN) or on high-quality pasture and supplementation for 5 to 6 mo before returning to WSBRC for finishing (GRW/FIN). Steers in FIN were grown on successively higher energy growing diets through d 112, stepping up to a 20% roughage growing diet from d 28 to 112. On d 112, FIN steers were transitioned to a 12% roughage finishing diet. A final 8% roughage finishing was fed to FIN steers from d 224 to slaughter. Steers in FIN were reimplanted with Ralgro on d 56, Component TE-IS (80 mg trenbolone acetate, 16 mg estradiol, and 29 mg tylosin tartrate; Elanco US, Greenfield, IN) on d 112, and Component TE-S (200 mg progesterone, 20 mg estradiol benzoate, 29 mg tylosin tartrate; Elanco) on d 224. Steers in GRW/FIN were returned to WSBRC, weighed, and processed when they reached 312 ± 7.0 kg. Steers in GRW/FIN were implanted with Component TE-IS at the start of finishing, and Component TE-S on d 120. Steers in GRW/FIN were stepped up to the finishing diet when they reached 407 ± 6.0 kg. Finishing diets for the final 28 d for FIN and GRW/FIN included ractopamine hydrochloride at a rate of 300 mg·steer-1·d-1. At WSBRC, steers within each finishing system were sorted by BW into 4 to 5 head pens. Initial and terminal BW were greater (P &lt; 0.01) in steers in the GRW/FIN finishing system. Body weight at reimplant was greater (P &lt; 0.01) for FIN. Steers in the GRW/FIN system were on feed for fewer (P &lt; 0.01) days compared with FIN steers. Average daily gain (ADG) and DMI (kg·steer-1·d-1) were greater (P &lt; 0.01) for GRW/FIN. Steers in GRW/FIN had a greater (P &lt; 0.02) feed:gain ratio than those placed directly into a finishing system. There were no differences (P &lt; 0.10) in USDA Yield Grade, marbling, ribeye area (REA), or back-fat thickness (BFT) between finishing systems. Steers in FIN had a greater (P &lt; 0.01) dressing percentage (DP) and lighter (P &lt; 0.01) hot carcass weight than those for GRW/FIN. Finishing system has an impact on performance and efficiency of dairy-beef hybrid steers, but minimal impact on carcass quality.
348 The Influence of Previous Nitrogen Levels on Nitrogen Metabolism and Rumen Gene Expression of Grain Or Forage-Fed Finished Steers
Authors: Silva Aghata , Franco Arturo Macias , Mazza Pedro , Brody Tio , Rockwell Macy , Ferguson Bradley S , Fonseca Mozart A 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate how the previous nitrogen levels (PNL) in the diet might affect nitrogen balance and nitrogen-related genes in the rumen of either forage-fed or grain-fed steers during finishing. Twenty-four crossbred Angus steers were randomly distributed into one of two backgrounding nutritional plans: moderate (MP; crude protein (CP): 9.10%) or high (HP; CP:12.6%). After 85 d, animals were blocked by PNL, transitioned, and fed a finishing diet for 105 d, which consisted of either alfalfa only (forage-fed; CP: 21.3%) or predominantly whole grain (grain-fed; CP: 10.8%). Feed, orts, feces, and urine samples were collected in both phases. By the end of the finishing phase, animals were slaughtered, and ventral sac rumen tissue was collected. Gene expression of Aquaporins (AQP) -3 and -7, and UT-B from rumen tissue were assayed via real-time qPCR; 18S rRNA was used as an endogenous control. Animals on MP diets excreted less N through urine (P &lt; 0.01) and feces (P &lt; 0.01), while retaining more N (P &lt; 0.01), which resulted in an increased N efficiency (P &lt; 0.01) compared with HP animals. No differences were observed for microbial N production (P &gt; 0.05). Grain-fed animals consumed less N (P &lt; 0.01), but still had a greater amount of N being digested compared with forage-fed animals (P &lt; 0.01), as well as the least excretion of N through feces (P &lt; 0.01) and urine (P &lt; 0.01), and consequently a greater rate of N being retained (P &lt; 0.01) and a greater efficiency on utilizing the ingested N (P &lt; 0.05). Further, an interaction was also observed between treatment and PNL, where animals coming from a MP had the least dry matter intake, greatest amount of N being digested and least N excretion, fecal output, and excretion of N through the feces (P &lt; 0.05) when finished on a grain-based diet. In the rumen, steers coming from a low PNL that were finished as forage-fed, had the greatest expression of AQP7, with no statistically significant differences observed for the other groups. When comparing only animals backgrounded on MP, AQP7 (P &lt; 0.01) expression was greater in forage-fed animals, with a trend for greater expression of UT-B in grain-fed animals (P &lt; 0.1). Overall, these results indicate that animals receiving MP will reduce their excretion of N while producing the same amount of microbial N due to more efficient N recycling. Further, carried-over effects were also observed after these animals were transitioned to grain-fed finishing systems. In the rumen, PNL affects expression of AQP7 and UT-B, which may ultimately impact nitrogen metabolism, since both genes are also related with urea transport.