Efficacy of laidlomycin propionate in low-protein diets fed to growing beef steers: effects on steer performance and ruminal nitrogen metabolism

We conducted two experiments to evaluate the effect of the ionophore laidlomycin propionate (LP) on steer performance and ruminal N metabolism. Experiment 1 was a 91-d growth study evaluating the growth and ruminal characteristics of steer calves consuming supplemental LP. Steers (n = 96; 255 +/- 3 kg; four steers/pen; six pens/treatment) were used in a randomized complete block design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments consisting of two levels of dietary CP (formulated to be 10.5 and 12.5% of DM) with and without LP (11 mg/kg diet DM). Ruminal fluid was collected via stomach tube on d 91 from one steer randomly selected from each pen. No CP x LP interactions were observed with performance data (P > .64). Final weight and total gain were greater (P < .07) for 12.5% CP and LP compared with 10.5% CP and control steers, respectively. Also, DMI was increased (P = .08) with 12.5% CP but not with LP supplementation (P = .36). In addition, ADG and gain:feed ratio were greater (P < .03) for both 12.5% CP and supplemental LP. Ruminal NH3 N concentration was greater (P < .09) with 12.5% CP and LP. Total VFA concentration and molar proportion of acetate were not affected by treatment (P > .11). However, propionate concentration was increased (P < .09) with 12.5% CP and LP, and acetate:propionate was lower (P = .02) with LP supplementation. In Exp. 2, six steers were used in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design to compare ruminal fermentation and protein degradation in steers without ionophore feeding or adapted to LP or monensin. In vitro deamination of amino acids by adapted ruminal microbes was also assessed. Ionophore supplementation decreased (P = .07) ruminal NH3 N concentration compared with control steers, and LP increased (P = .02) ruminal NH3 N compared with monensin. Molar proportion of acetate was decreased (P = .02) and propionate increased (P = .01) with ionophore treatment. Consequently, ionophore supplementation depressed the acetate:propionate ratio (P = .01). In situ degradation rate of soybean meal (SBM) CP was greater (P = .09) with ionophore treatment, but estimates of SBM undegradable intake protein were not altered by treatment (P > .25). Microbial specific activity of net NH3 N release and alpha-amino N degradation were decreased (P < .04) with ionophores. Based on this study, LP and monensin did not affect the extent of ruminal degradation of SBM CP but decreased amino acid deamination.     

Host-specific Genetic Composition of Melampsora larici-epitea Populations on Two Salix viminalis Varieties in a Mixture Trial

The genetic composition of Melampsora larici-epitea populations on two Salix viminalis varieties in monoculture and in mixed stands of Salix was studied using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). A total of 88 isolates collected from a large-scale mixture trial in Northern Ireland were analyzed. Genetic analyses were based on polymorphism for 63 AFLP markers. Differences in genetic composition of M. larici-epitea populations between the two S. viminalis varieties were indicated by all population characteristics used. In neighbor-joining analysis and principal component analysis, isolates from the same variety tended to group together. Analysis of molecular variance indicated a substantial differentiation between varieties (_ST = 0.20) and differences in genotypic composition was indicated by the non-random distribution of clonal isolates between the two varieties. The detection of host specialization with selectively neutral DNA markers was ascribed to predominant asexual reproduction. No differences in gene or genotypic diversity between M. larici-epitea populations in mixed and monoclonal stands were found for any of the two S. viminalis varieties.     

Seasonal changes in nodular nitrogenase activity of Alnus glutinosa and Elaeagnus angustifolia

Root nodule development, and seasonal patterns of nodular nitrogenase and hydrogenase activities were determined for 5- to 8-year old black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) and Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.) interplanted with black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) on bottomland and upland sites in central Illinois, USA. Black alder produced nodules at both sites, but Russian olive did so only at the bottomland site. Nodular nitrogenase activity was detectable in both species over a 220-day period. Maximum, midday rates of nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction) of 15 to 20 micromoles C(2)H(4) per g dry nodule per hour were maintained by black alder for approximately 150 days at both the upland and bottomland sites. Near maximum rates of nodular nitrogenase activity were maintained for a similar period by Russian olive at the lowland site, although specific nitrogenase activity was approximately 25% lower than in black alder owing to a larger proportion of necrotic nodular tissue in Russian olive. In both species, nitrogenase activity increased exponentially with temperature between 10 degrees C and 20 to 25 degrees C. No net hydrogen evolution by nodules of either species was detected at any time during the assay period, indicating efficient hydrogenase systems were operating under the conditions of the field assay. Height of black walnut interplanted with nodulated black alder and Russian olive was greater than that of black walnut grown in pure stands.