Effects of different supplemental sugars and starch fed in combination with degradable intake protein on low-quality forage use by beef steers.

Twenty ruminally fistulated steers (Exp. 1, 448 kg and Exp. 2, 450 kg) were used in two consecutive randomized complete block experiments with five treatments in each experiment. The purpose was to evaluate the impact of feeding different supplemental sugars or starch in combination with supplemental degradable intake protein (DIP) on the utilization of low-quality tallgrass-prairie hay. In Exp. 1, steers were given ad libitum access to forage and, except for the negative control (NC), received a limited supply (insufficient to maximize forage use) of supplemental DIP (.031% BW/d, DM basis). In addition to the NC, this experiment included four supplementation treatments in which one of four carbohydrate (CHO) sources (starch, glucose, fructose, or sucrose) was fed at .30% BW of DM/d. In Exp. 2, the treatment structure was identical except that the supplemental DIP level (.122% BW, DM basis) was near the level needed to maximize forage use. Forage OM intake (FOMI) was not affected (P> or =.26) by supplementation in Exp. 1 but was increased (P = .05) in Exp. 2. However, no difference (P> or =.46) in FOMI occurred among CHO sources in either experiment. Total OM and digestible OM intakes were increased (P<.01) by supplementation in both experiments. In Exp. 1, no difference (P>.26) in OM digestion (OMD) occurred among treatments. In Exp. 2, supplementation increased (P<.01) OMD. Additionally, sugars yielded a higher (P = .04) OMD than starch, and the monosaccharides yielded a higher (P = .02) OMD than sucrose. In Exp. 1, NDF digestion (NDFD) was decreased (P = .02) by supplementation, but no differences (P> or =.21) occurred among CHO sources. In Exp. 2, NDFD was increased (P = .03) by supplementation. Additionally, sugars led to higher (P = .05) NDFD than starch, and the monosaccharides led to higher (P = .03) NDFD than sucrose. In both experiments, discernible patterns were observable with regard to the effects of supplementation and type of supplemental CHO on ruminal fermentation characteristics. In conclusion, even though some consistency in fermentation profiles for different carbohydrate sources was evident in both experiments, forage intake and digestion responses were not consistent across experiments. This raises the possibility that carbohydrate source may interact with the amount of supplemental DIP fed and, as such, deserves additional investigation.     

Cellophane banding for the gradual attenuation of single extrahepatic portosystemic shunts in eleven dogs

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and short term effects of a cellophane banding technique for progressive attenuation of canine single extrahepatic portosystemic shunts.
Design A prospective trial of 11 dogs with single congenital extrahepatic shunts.
Procedure Rectal ammonia tolerance testing and routine biochemical tests were performed preoperatively on all dogs. In seven dogs, preoperative abdominal Doppler ultrasonography was also performed. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a single extrahepatic portocaval shunt in each animal, which was attenuated using a cellophane band with an internal diameter of 2 to 3 mm. The abdomen was closed routinely. Follow-up biochemical analysis and abdominal Doppler ultrasonography or splenoportography were performed postoperatively.
Results The shunt was not amenable to total ligation in 11 dogs, based upon reported criteria. All dogs recovered uneventfully from surgery without evidence of portal hypertension, and showed clinical improvement thereafter. Shunt occlusion was deemed to have occurred in 10 dogs based on resolution of biochemical and/or sonographic abnormalities. One dog continued to have sonographic evidence of portosystemic shunting when evaluated 3 weeks after surgery, despite normal ammonia tolerance, but was lost to subsequent follow-up. Two dogs, in which 3 mm cellophane bands were placed, experienced delayed shunt occlusion.
Conclusion Cellophane banding is simple to perform, and causes progressive attenuation of single extrahepatic shunts in dogs. Further work is needed to determine the maximum diameter of a cellophane band which will produce total attenuation, and the long-term safety and reliability of the treatment.     

Efficacy of Bacillus subtilis MBI 600 Against Sheath Blight Caused by Rhizoctonia solani and on Growth and Yield of Rice

Rice sheath blight disease(ShB),caused by Rhizoctonia solani,gives rise to significant grain yield losses.The present study evaluated the efficacy of Integral?,the commercial liquid formulation of Bacillus subtilis strain MBI 600,against rice ShB and for plant growth promotion.In greenhouse studies,four log concentrations of Integral(from 2.2×106 to 2.2×109 cfu/mL) were used as seed treatment(ST).After 25 d,seedlings were dipped(SD) into Integral prior to transplanting.At 30 d after transplanting(DAT),leaf sheaths were inoculated with immature sclerotia of the pathogen.At 45 DAT,a foliar spray(FS) with Integral was applied to some treatments.The fungicide control was 50% carbendazim at 1.0 g/L,and a nontreated control was also included.Overall,there were 10 treatments,each with five replications.ShB severity was rated at 52 DAT,and seedling height and number of tillers per plant were rated at 60 DAT.In 2009,two field trials evaluated Integral at 2.2×108 and 2.2×109 cfu/mL.Integral was applied as ST,and seedlings were produced in a nursery bed.After 32 d,seedlings were treated with Integral as SD and transplanted into 10 m2 blocks.Foliar sprays were given at 45 and 60 DAT.There were seven treatments,each with eight replications arranged as a factorial randomized complete block design.At 20 DAT,the plots were broadcast inoculated with R.solani produced on rice grains.Seedling height before transplanting,ShB severity at 90 DAT,and grain yield at harvest were recorded.Integral at 2.2×109 cfu/mL provided significant increase of seedling heights over other treatments under greenhouse conditions.The Integral treatments of ST + SD + FS at 2.2×109 cfu/mL significantly suppressed ShB over other treatments.In field studies,Integral provided significant increase of seedling height in nursery,and number of tillers per plant,compared with the control.ShB severity was significantly suppressed with higher concentrations of Integral compared to lower concentrations.Grain yield were the highest at an Integral concentration of 2.2×109 cfu/mL.Overall,Integral significantly reduced ShB severity,enhanced seedling growth,number of tillers per plant and grain yield as ST + SD + FS at the concentration of 2.2×109 cfu/mL under the conditions evaluated.     

Multilevel analysis of environmental Salmonella prevalences and management practices on 49 broiler breeder farms in four south-eastern States, USA

A two-part serial survey of 49 broiler breeder farms was conducted in four south-eastern states: Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina. Broiler breeder farms from three to five broiler company complexes in each state were visited on two separate occasions to document management practices and perform environmental sampling for Salmonella prevalence estimation. Salmonella was detected in 88% of the broiler breeder houses that were sampled and was identified on all 49 farms enrolled. Many management characteristics were consistent across the different states and companies. Multilevel analysis was used to evaluate management characteristics as risk factors for Salmonella prevalence and to estimate the proportion of variance residing at the different hierarchical sampling levels. Management characteristics associated with increased Salmonella prevalence included treatment of the flock for any disease, having dusty conditions in the house, having dry conditions under the slats and walking through the house more than one time per day to pick-up dead birds. After adjusting for state as a fixed effect, the percentages of variance in Salmonella prevalence occurring at the complex, farm, visit, house and individual sample levels were 5.2%, 6.8%, 11.8%, 2.8% and 73.4%, respectively. The intraclass correlations for samples collected from the same house; for samples from different houses during the same visit; for samples from different visits to the same farm; and for samples from different farms in the same complex were as follows: 0.27, 0.24, 0.12 and 0.05, respectively.     

Efficacy of maduramicin ammonium against coccidiosis in turkeys under laboratory and floor-pen conditions

Experimental infections with field isolates of Eimeria meleagrimitis, E. adenoeides, E. gallopavonis, and E. dispersa in turkey poults were used to test the efficacy of maduramicin ammonium at 2.5-10 ppm in laboratory experiments. Infection with single or mixed species of coccidia reduced the weight gain of unmedicated infected controls and caused 18.1-65% mortality in two experiments. Maduramicin ammonium given at 5-7 ppm prevented mortality, significantly reduced droppings scores and oocyst passage, and improved weight gain to near that of the unmedicated uninfected controls. Maduramicin ammonium was tested at 4-7 ppm in a floor-pen trial lasting 10 weeks. Mortality from coccidiosis averaged 11.9% in unmedicated controls, compared with 0.6% with 4 ppm of maduramicin or no mortality with 5-7 ppm. Average weight gain and feed conversion at 10 weeks were significantly improved over unmedicated infected controls when maduramicin ammonium was given at 5-7 ppm. These results suggest that maduramicin ammonium is highly efficacious against field isolates of Eimeria in turkeys, especially within the range of 5-7 ppm in the feed.     

Effects of feeding strategy and age on live animal performance, carcass characteristics, and economics of short-term feeding programs for culled beef cows

To evaluate production and economic effects of feeding management strategy and age on intensively managed culled beef cows, a study was conducted using 125 cows of British breeding blocked by age (Young = 3 and 4 yr olds; LowMid = 5 and 6 yr olds; HighMid = 7 and 8 yr olds; and Aged = 9 yr and older) and assigned to one of three steam-flaked corn based feeding strategies. Treatments were as follows: Conservative (CSV), 30% roughage throughout; Standard (STD), decrease roughage from 30 to 10% over 20 d; and Aggressive (AGR), decrease roughage from 30 to 10% over 10 d. There were four pens per treatment in a randomized complete block design. Cows were fed for a total of 54 d, and BW was measured on d 0, 14, 28, 42, and 54. Half the cows from each pen were randomly selected and slaughtered at a commercial abattoir, and carcass data were collected. Average daily gain, daily DMI, and G:F during each weigh period and across the entire feeding period were calculated. Over the 54-d feeding period, strategies that employed more energy-dense diets numerically increased ADG (1.28, 1.63, and 1.55 +/- 0.14 kg/d for CSV, STD, and AGR; P = 0.26) and decreased DMI (11.91, 10.74, and 10.89 +/- 0.27 kg/d for CSV, STD, and AGR; P = 0.05), such that G:F was lower for CSV than for STD or AGR (0.105, 0.150, and 0.141 +/- 0.010; P = 0.05). Carcass weight was least for the CSV strategy (298 kg) and greatest for STD (328 kg); AGR resulted in intermediate carcass weight (317 +/- 6 kg; P = 0.04). Total cost of gain was over 30% greater for CSV strategy than for STD or AGR strategies (P < 0.01). In many cases, block effects (age) had a greater effect on responses than treatments. Average daily gain, DMI, and G:F decreased linearly with age (P < 0.01). Hot carcass weight, dressing percent, and fat thickness decreased linearly with age (P < 0.03); yield grade decreased and carcass maturity attributes increased linearly with age (P < 0.02). Performance and intake differences resulted in linear increases in total cost of gain (P < 0.01) and breakeven price (P = 0.03) with increasing age. These data indicate advantages to more aggressive feeding management strategies for culled beef cows, although maximal intake may be achieved with higher-roughage diets. Despite management effects, an increase in market price above purchase price may be required for intensive feeding of culled beef cows to be a profitable enterprise.