Disruption of female reproductive function by endotoxins

Endotoxemia can be caused by obesity, environmental chemical exposure, abiotic stressors, and bacterial infection. Circumstances that deleteriously impact intestinal barrier integrity can induce endotoxemia and controlled experiments have identified negative impacts of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; an endotoxin mimetic) on folliculogenesis, puberty onset, estrus behavior, ovulation, meiotic competence, luteal function and ovarian steroidogenesis. In addition, neonatal LPS exposures have transgenerational female reproductive impacts, raising concern about early life contacts to this endogenous reproductive toxicant. Aims of this review are to identify physiological stressors causing endotoxemia, to highlight potential mechanism(s) by which LPS compromises female reproduction, and identify knowledge gaps regarding how acute and/or metabolic endotoxemia influence(s) female reproduction

Methods for reproductive tract scoring as a tool for improving sow productivity

Improving sow lifetime productivity (SLP) is essential for maximizing farm profitability. Study objectives were to determine the accuracy for different vulva scoring methods in a commercial production system and to assess whether gilt reproductive tract scoring (evaluated by vulva width; VW) prior to puberty could serve as useful gilt selection criteria. To accomplish this objective, 958 prepubertal replacement gilts in a commercial system were evaluated at approximately 15 weeks of age. Gilt body weight was recorded in addition to four different methods to evaluate VW. Methods for VW assessment included digital caliper measurement (mm), visual evaluation and scoring by trained farm personnel (Farm Score; FS), and two methods using scoring tools (Vulva Score Method A and B; VSA and VSB, respectively) specifically calibrated from the VW distribution measured on gilts from previous studies. The VSA and FS methods assigned gilts to one of three categories (S, M, L and 1, 2, 3, respectively) whereas VSB classified gilts vulvas using a five-point scoring system (1 to 5). At 15-wk of age, a low proportion of variability in vulva size (27.8 ± 0.1 mm) could be explained by BW (62.2 ± 0.2 kg; R2 = 0.05). All three scoring methods were effective in categorizing gilts based upon VW, as the measured VW size within methods differed by score (P \u3c 0.01). The proportion of gilts achieving their first parity increased with score for VSA (64.7, 73.2, and 84.4%; P = 0.02), VSB (66.0, 71.7, 79.2, 76.4, and 84.2%; P = 0.02), and FS (67.2, 75.0, and 88.8%; P = 0.03), but VSA, VSB, and FS did not influence percentage of gilts achieving their second parity (P = 0.32, 0.29, and 0.30, respectively). Litter performance of gilts scored as M or L using VSA improved with an increased total born over two parities compared to those scored as S (23.96 vs. 26.38 pigs; P \u3c 0.01) as well as born alive (21.13 vs. 23.05 pigs; P \u3c 0.05). Results were similar for VSB, where scores 2-5 had greater total born (23.97 vs. 26.33 pigs; P \u3c 0.01) and born alive (21.11 vs. 23.02 pigs; P \u3c 0.05) through two parities compared to gilts scored 1. Using the FS method, total born pigs tended to be increased (P = 0.06) through two parities for gilts having a 2 or 3 vulva score compared to those scored as a 1. Collectively, assessing VW at approximately 15 wk of age may identify sows with improved productivity through two parities as breeding herd females

Leaky Gut’s Contribution to Inefficient Nutrient Utilization

There are a variety of situations in an animal’s life when nutrient utilization is reprioritized from productive towards agriculturally unproductive purposes. Two well-known examples that markedly reduce production are heat stress and ketosis. Decreased feed intake, experienced during both disorders, is unable to fully explain production losses. Additionally, both disorders are characterized by negative energy balance, body weight loss, inflammation, and liver fat accumulation. While the metabolism of ketosis and heat stress has been thoroughly studied for the last 40 years, the initial insult in the cascade of events ultimately reducing productivity in both heat-stressed and ketotic cows has not been identified. To that end, we have generated preliminary data strongly implicating a metabolic disruptor, endotoxin, as the underlying cause in each case

Ornamental plants: a summary of research, 1993-1994

Aesthetic evaluation of crabapples at the Secrest Arboretum in Wooster, Ohio: 1993-1994 / Erik A. Draper and James A. Chatfield -- Evaluation of crabapples for apple scab at the Secrest Arboretum in Wooster, Ohio: 1993-1994 / James A. Chatfield and Erik A. Draper -- The Ohio State University Water Quality Assessment Program / Mary Ann Rose, John Peterson and Laura Kramer -- Root rot of Taxus spp in Ohio caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi / Michael A. Ellis, Sally A. Miller, August F. Schmitthenner and Kenneth D. Cochran -- Winter injury on woody ornamental plants in Ohio: the winter of 1993-1994 / T. Davis Sydnor, James A. Chatfield, Randall H. Zondag, Pamela J. Bennett, Joseph F. Boggs, Kenneth D. Cochran -- Ornamental plant problems in Ohio: 1994 / James A. Chatfield, David J. Shetlar, Nancy Taylor, Joseph F. Boggs, Pamela J. Bennett, Randall H. Zondag, Michael A. Ellis, Allen Baumgard -- Ornamental plant problems in Ohio: 1993 / James A. Chatfield, Joseph F. Boggs, Paul Kauffman, David J. Shetlar, Nancy Taylor, Randall H. Zonda

Ornamental plants: annual reports and research summaries

The Ohio State University Extension Nursery, Landscape, and Turf Team (ENLTT) -- Extension Nursery, Landscape, and Turf Team (ENLTT) directory -- An evaluation of composts for landscape soil amendments / Mary Ann Rose and Hao Wang -- Aesthetic evaluation of crabapples at Secrest Arboretum in Wooster, Ohio: 1994-1995 / James A. Chatfield, Erik A. Draper, Kenneth C. Cochran, Peter W. Bristol and Charles E. Tubesing -- Evaluation of crabapples for apple scab at Secrest Arboretum in Wooster, Ohio: 1995 / Erik A. Draper, James A. Chatfield, Kenneth C. Cochran, Peter W. Bristol and Charles E. Tubesing -- Emergence, longevity, and aesthetic evaluations of flowers in ornamental crabapples at Secrest Arboretum in Wooster, Ohio: 1995 / Erik A. Draper, James A. Chatfield and Kenneth C. Cochran -- Environmental and cultural ornamental plant problems in Ohio: 1995 / Pamela J. Bennett and Jane A. Martin -- 1995 -A Challenging Year for Ohio golf courses / Joseph W. Rimelspach, John R. Street, Karl Danneberger, William E. Pound, Barbara Bloetscher -- Plant insect pest problems in Ohio: 1995 / Joseph F. Boggs, David J. Shetlar, Gary Yu Gao, Daniel Balser, Douglas C. Caldwell, Randall H. Zondag and James A. Chatfield -- Gypsy moth in Ohio: 1995 / Allan Baumgard, David F. James and Randall H. Zondag -- Landscape ornamental disease problems in Ohio: 1995 / James A. Chatfield, Nancy Taylor, Randall H. Zondag, Mary Ann Rose, Gary Yu Gao, Daniel R. Balser and David J. Shetlar -- The Response of native and naturalized trees to construction activity / T. Davis Sydnor, Joseph F. Boggs and Mary Ann Ros

Climate Change and Agriculture in the United States: Effects and Adaptation

This is a report by the USDA as climate change relates to its affect on livestock and agriculture