Effects of Nutrition, Management, and Medical Treatment
on the Health and Performance of Newly-Arrived Stressed Stocker Cattle
Measure the effects of morbidity in shipping stressed calves on subsequent performance and carcass traits. Examine effects of season and holding time on body temperatures of normal and sick cattle. Evaluate efficacy of current and new injectable antibiotics and sulfas used for sick cattle, or as mass-medications. Test the effects of modified management and health practices on health and performance during receiving, grazing, and feedlot phases of production. Test the effect of rate of gain during the receiving program on health and subsequent grazing and feedlot performance. Examine morbidity and mortality responses to dietary or parenteral adjuncts. Determine the prevalence of zoonotic pathogens carried by shipping stressed calves. (1875)
Sponsor: Oklahoma
Agricultural Experiment Station
PIs: Don Gill, Robert Smith
Develop a net requirement system (NRS) describing broiler energy and oxygen needs. Examine altitude effects on NRS model estimates. Determine growth promoter effects on NRS components. Determine NRS feeding value of rations varying in composition and develop predictive equations to quantify feed NRS values. Quantify nutrient savings and equations to quantify feed NRS values. Quantify nutrient savings and carcass uniformity advantages of within-day ration adjustment to meet NRS needs. (2025)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PI: Robert Teeter
Forage Protein Characterization and Utilization for Beef
Cattle
Develop and evaluate techniques for characterizing forage protein fractions. Determine the effects of forage protein composition on intake, nutrient flow and utilization, and animal performance. (2069)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PIs: Gerald Horn, Hebbie Purvis
Evaluation of Postpartum Reproductive Performance of
Tropically Adapted Breeds of Beef Cattle
Determine the effect of genotype and body condition score at calving on the intervals from calving until onset of luteal activity and conception, and pregnancy. (2177)
Sponsors: Oklahoma
Agricultural Experiment Station, USDA-ARS
PIs: Bob Wettemann, William Phillips, Sam Coleman
Effect of Lamb Genotype and Finishing System on Growth
Rate, Feed Efficiency, and Carcass Traits
Determine the effect of lamb genotype on postweaning growth rate, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics under feedlot and pasture finishing system. (2178)
Sponsors: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, USDA-ARS
PIs: Rod Geisert, William Phillips, Jerry Fitch
Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria as Beneficial Food
Adjuncts
Isolate new strains of lactobacili and/or bifidobacteria having potential to control serum cholesterol levels. Enhance the growth of L. acidophilus and bifidobacteria in milk. Isolate new strains of Lactobacillus lactis that produce sufficient hydrogen peroxide to inhibit growth of undesirable bacteria on refrigerated foods. (2293)
Sponsors: Nutrition Physiology Corporation, Culture Systems, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PI: Stan Gilliland
Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Proteins in Bovine Ovarian Granulosa and Thecal Cells
Determine the hormonal control of insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) production by bovine granulosa and thecal cells in vitro. Determine the hormonal control of IGFBP gene expression by bovine granulosa and thecal cells in vitro. Determine changes in IGFBP mRNA within granulosa and thecal cells during follicular development in cattle. (2329)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PIs: Leon Spicer, Gregor Morgan, Jerry Malayer, Rodney Geisert
Evaluate the effect of season on behavioral estrus and to determine the time of ovulation relative to the onset of estrus. Determine the influence of body condition score at calving and postpartum nutrient intake on behavioral estrus, ovarian function, and reproductive performance at the first postpartum estrus in spring calving beef cows. Evaluate time of fall calving on cow and calf performance. (2331)
Sponsors: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Pharmacia, Upjohn, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PIs: Bob Wettemann, David Lalman
Breeding to Optimize Maternal Performance and Reproduction of Beef Cows in the Southern Region
Evaluate reproduction and maternal performance of cows having divergent maternal additive genetic effects. (2333)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PI: David Buchanan
Improve the global competitiveness of the U.S. livestock and red meat industries by conducting integrated/cross-disciplinary research that addresses the following primary production and marketing issues: 1) Improving global red meat customer satisfaction by focusing on red meat food safety issues and red meat quality issues through new technologies; 2) Enhancing the ability of the red meat and livestock industries to capture value by reducing industry generated quality defects, extending display life of retail cuts, increasing value-added product development, and improving packaging and shipping containers for prevention of product deterioration; and 3) Evaluating the transmission of economic signals throughout the market by analyzing the efficiency of current market structures and the impact of alternative pricing systems, market structures, and trade agreements and address the issue of price reporting/discovery for these alternative pricing systems and markets. (2344)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PIs: Brad Morgan, James Trapp
Postional and Functional Identification of Economically
Important Genes in the Pig
Subtractive hybridization is used to identify genes with variable expression during processes of economic importance in the pig. (2350)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PIs: Guolong Zhang, Rod Geisert
Detection, Characterization, and Inhibition of Foodborne Pathogenic and Spoilage Microorganisms
Detect, isolate, quantify, and characterize pathogenic microorganisms in food and food processing environments. Develop novel molecular approaches for genetic analysis and diagnostic detection of foodborne pathogens, including fluorescence-based PCR detection. Reduce the incidence, survival, and/or proliferation of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms in food by physical, chemical, or biological control mechanisms. (2355)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PI: Peter Muriana
Evaluation of Degradable Intake Protein Sources for Cattle Consuming Low Quality Forages
Determine the yearly changes in ruminal available protein
from forages commonly grazed by beef cattle. Develop practical methods for addressing deficiencies in
ruminal available protein in grazing situations and the use of different
protein sources to overcome these deficiencies. Document the effect of energy and protein supplementation on
forage protein utilization and fiber digestion. (2365)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PI: Hebbie T. Purvis, II
Dietary Manipulation to Reduce Nutrient and Volatile Organic Compound Excretion From Swine
Determine the effect of diet on nutrient excretion in swine with special emphasis on nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc, copper and sulfur. Dietary regimens will be assessed as a potential means for reducing excretion of these particular nutrients. The effect of diet on odorous compound excretion also will be assessed. The development of dietary regimens that limit nutrient excretion and odorous compounds is a high priority of the project. (2367)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PI: Scott Carter
Specific goals of research are to 1) Determine gene expression levels for porcine endometrial inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4, inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain l and bikunin during the estrous cycle and throughout pregnancy in the pig; 2) Evaluate the expression of kallikrein in the porcine endometrium and conceptus during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy; 3) Determine gene and protein expression for porcine endometrial kininogen and kinin release during the estrous cycle and throughout pregnancy in the pig and 4) Evaluate the in-vivo effects of kallikrein in endometrial function of the pig. (2378)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PI: Rodney Geisert
To assess the benefit of supplemental chromium picolinate in gestation-lactation diets for reproducing sows. (2379)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PI: Scott Carter
National Animal Genome Research Program
This work contributes to the growing body of information on genes of economic importance in swine and their expression pattern. Identification and comparative mapping of these genes will provide many new candidates for QTL detected in genomic scans. (2389)
PI: Udaya DeSilva
Calcium and Phosphorus Requirements and Bioavailability in the Horse
Goals are to: 1) Determine the dietary Ca and P requirements for maximizing bone growth and mineralization and minimizing developmental orthopedic problems; 2) Quantify the dietary Ca and P requirements of young, growing horses in order to reduce the potential of environmental nutrient pollution; and 3) Quantify Ca and P bioavailability to maximize absorption and mineralization and minimize excessive feeding and subsequent excretion of nutrients. (2435)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PI: Steven Cooper
Specific goals are to: 1) Evaluate and characterize the traits of the three primary muscles which comprise the beef bottom sirloin; 2) Using professional meat fabricators, “time and motion” information will be collected and utilized to estimate the costs associated with innovative fabrication of the chuck and round; 3) Investigate the impact of various palatability improvement procedures (i.e., blade tenderizing, marinating, calcium injection, extended postmortem aging), on bottom sirloin beef cuts differing in U.S. Quality grade. (2436)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PI: Brad Morgan
The primary objective of this research program is to enhance the value of food processing by-products through recovery and utilization. In the area of meat by-products a project is being conducted to recover a functional protein concentrate from red meat by-products using protein solubilization. In addition, research is being conducted on the gasification of organic material reclaimed from pork wastewater in order to create an alternate source of energy for the processing plant. In the area of dairy by-products, research is being conducted to enhance the ability of transglutaminase enzymes to increase the yield of cheese by reducing the amount of proteins lost to the whey (acid or sweet whey). Additionally, investigation is being done on the effectiveness of gravity filtration technology utilizing paper waste as the filter media to recover organic material from food processing wastewater. Lower organic loads would reduce municipal wastewater treatment costs for the food processor. In addition, the organic loaded paper will also be evaluated for its potential use as a feed supplement for ruminants. (2437)
Sponsors: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Food and Agricultural Products Research Initiative Program
PIs: Christina A. Mireles DeWitt, Stanley Gilliland, Danielle Bellmer, J. Chance Brooks, Halldor Sigfusson, Paul Weckler, Tim Bowser, K. N. Patil, Dan Wyatt, Jeff Luttrell
Impact of Nutrition on Metabolism, Performance, Carcass Merit, and Nutrient Balance by Feedlot Cattle
Determine the effect of previous grazing (e.g., type, quality, quantity and duration of forage grazed) by growing steers on grazing and feedlot performance, carcass traits, body composition, critical organ mass, tissue oxygen consumption, liver enzymes, and net portal and hepatic flux of nutrients. Determine the effect of limit feeding on adaptation to a high-grain diet. Determine the effects of protein source and level on performance and carcass merit, ruminal and postruminal nutrient digestion, and nitrogen balance by cattle fed high-grain diets. (2438)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PI: Clinton R. Krehbiel
To develop supplementation programs for delivery of new technologies that will decrease production risks of growing cattle on wheat pasture and increase profitability of the enterprise; characterize the physiological bases for differences in finishing performance of feeder cattle off wheat pasture; determine the effects of wheat breeding practices, varietal improvement, and cultural and management practices on productivity of the wheat/stocker cattle enterprise; determine the economic consequences of alternative strategies for managing cropland suitable for dual-purpose winter wheat production; determine current production and marketing practices being used by wheat-stocker cattle producers in Oklahoma; determine persistence, yield, and nutritive value of selected cool-season perennial forage grasses as complementary forages to wheat pasture; and characterize rumen degradable and undegradable protein fractions of wheat forage and cool-season perennial grasses. (2457)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PIs: Gerald W. Horn, Gene Krenzer, Frances Epplin, Brett Carver
Alternative Beef Cow/Calf Nutritional Management Systems to Improve Beef Production Efficiency and Carcass Traits
When considering beef production costs from conception through the finishing phase, the largest single costs are investment costs in land for the cowherd and purchased feed and harvested forage costs. One purpose of this experiment is to explore the use of nontraditional, unprocessed feed resources to reduce purchased and harvested feed costs. A second purpose is to explore management systems that have the potential to minimize inputs while optimizing animal performance and beef product quality. (2464)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PI: David Lalman
Gene Expression in the Peri-Implantation Porcine Conceptus and Endometrium
Early embryonic loss contributes to reduced reproductive efficiency in pigs. Regulation of early embryo development in the pig is largely unknown. The purpose of this study is to identify genes expressed in porcine conceptuses during peri-implantation development. This project examines uterine genes involved with maintenance of pregnancy in the pig. (2465)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PI: Rod Geisert
Improving the Value of Beef Through Product Enhancement
Consumers of beef products have identified the quality and inconsistency of beef as an area for improvement. In order to maintain or improve current beef buying trends, new products must provide a safe, convenient, and tasty eating experience. This project involves a series of tests to determine the optimum ingredient levels, infusion levels, and packaging environments to optimize tenderness, palatability, and retail shelf life of young and mature beef steaks. (2466)
Sponsor: Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station
PI: J. Chance Brooks