Effect of Feeding Ethanol By-Products on Performance and Marbling Deposition in Steers Fed High-Concentrate or High-Forage Diets

Research on the effect of dietary ethanol by-products on beef quality has been limited. Some Universities have reported a decrease in marbling due to distillers grains inclusion, while others have not. It is unclear why marbling deposition may be decreased when increasing amounts of distillers grains are fed; however, decreased starch availability, increased vitamin A and D, and the high oil content in ethanol by-products may contribute. In contrast, distillers grains can increase unsaturated fatty acid content of beef, thus increasing healthfulness. Our objective was to measure the effect of wet distillers grains (0, 20, or 40 % of the diet) on growth, feed intake, and marbling deposition and to determine what may be responsible for decreased marbling. Average daily gain and feed intake did not differ between wet distillers grains treatments, but cattle fed distillers grains were more efficient. Marbling score decreased in high-concentrate-fed steers as WDG concentration was increased, but increased in high-foragefed steers from the 0 to 20% WDG inclusion rate and then decreased from the 20 to 40% WDG inclusion rate. Backfat thickness decreased in high-concentrate-fed steers as WDG concentration increased but increased in high-forage-fed steers from the 0 to 20% WDG inclusion rate and then decreased from the 20 to 40% WDG inclusion rate. Cattle fed distillers grains had lower plasma total vitamin A and plasma vitamin D. Retinol, however, was positively related to marbling and vitamin D was negatively related to marbling. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can enhance the healthfulness of beef, were increased by feeding wet distillers grains, but were related to decreased marbling

Improving Health Benefits of Beef and Milk: A Field Study

A study was conducted to assess the concentration of conjugated linoleic acid in beef and milk from various farms in northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin that represent a broad range of management systems.Intensively pastured cows produced milk with CLA concentrations that were about 3- to 4-fold greater than the initial concentration. Ribeye steaks from cattle finished on a combination of pasture and concentrates were higher in CLA content than steaks from cattle finished on conserved forages plus concentrates.Therefore, pasture grazing is an effective method to improve the healthfulness of milk and beef

Nutrient Regulation of Plasma Ghrelin Concentration in Lean and Overweight Female Humans

Investigating the role of appetite-related hormones on energy balance and body composition when varying diets are consumed could provide insight into the etiology of obesity. Eight female subjects, ages 20–30, were used in this study: four normal subjects with body mass index (BMI) of 19–24 and four overweight/obese subjects with of BMI of 27–30. Each subject received both treatments by a crossover design. Two normal and two overweight subjects were assigned to the Atkins’ diet. The Atkins’ diet contained 10% of energy as carbohydrate, 45% of energy as protein, and 45% of energy as lipid. The remaining two normal and two overweight subjects were assigned to the AHA diet that contained 63% of energy as carbohydrate, 12% of energy as protein, and 25% of energy as lipid. Each diet was fed for 14 days, and then subjects were switched to the other diet. We hypothesized that subjects consuming the Atkins’ diet would have lower plasma ghrelin concentrations than subjects consuming the AHA diet. On days 6 and 20, blood was taken at one hour before and after the noon meal. Blood was taken every hour from 7 am to 9 pm on days 13 and 27 of the study. On days 14 and 28, subjects were fasted from 7 am to 12 pm and fed their meal at noon. Two blood samples were taken on days 14 and 28 at 11 am and one hour after the meal. All plasma samples were analyzed for ghrelin. Normal weight women consuming the Atkins diet had lower fasting ghrelin concentrations than did women consuming the AHA diet (p=0.0141). Ghrelin concentrations in overweight women were not significantly different (p=0.8076). These results indicate a relationship of appetite-related hormones with respect to diet composition

Effects of Dietary Macronutrients on Appetite-Related Hormones in Blood on Body Composition of Lean and Obese Rats

Investigating the role of appetite-related hormones on energy balance and body composition when varying diets are consumed could provide insight into the etiology of obesity. Fifty-three adult male Sprague Dawley and 30 adult male Zucker Fatty rats were assigned randomly to one of five diets: Control, 75% control, American Heart Association (AHA), Atkins, or high fat (HF). Diets were fed for five weeks. Weekly plasma samples were collected and analyzed for ghrelin, leptin, insulin, and adiponectin. Terminal plasma samples were analyzed for ghrelin, leptin, insulin, glucagon, oxyntomodulin, adiponectin, and blood metabolites. Our results indicate that macronutrient composition of the diet influences appetite-related hormones differently in genetically divergent rats. For example, glucagon concentration was higher in obese rats fed the Atkins diet in comparison to obese rats fed the HF and 75% control diets (P\u3c0.05) and tended to be higher in obese rats fed the Atkins diet in comparison with rats fed the AHA and control diets (0.0

Astrochemistry and Astrophotonics for an Antarctic Observatory

Due to its location and climate, Antarctica offers unique conditions for long-period observations across a broad wavelength regime, where important diagnostic lines for molecules and ions can be found, that are essential to understand the chemical properties of the interstellar medium. In addition to the natural benefits of the site, new technologies, resulting from astrophotonics, may allow miniaturised instruments, that are easier to winterise and advanced filters to further reduce the background in the infrared.Comment: 4 pages, to be published in EAS Publications Series, Vol. 40, Proc. of 3rd ARENA conferenc

Effect of Feed Intake on Plasma Ghrelin Concentration in Beef Cattle

Two experiments were conducted to determine if ghrelin mRNA existed in ruminant digestive tract tissues and to establish the fluctuation in plasma ghrelin concentrations for fed and fasting steers. Tissues collected from the ruminant digestive tract indicate detectable ghrelin mRNA in the upper, middle, and lower portion of the abomasum and in the small intestine but no detectable ghrelin mRNA in the reticulum, omasum, and rumen. Plasma ghrelin concentrations are elevated by a fasting period that is as short as 22 h. Additionally, plasma ghrelin remain elevated throughout a 48-h fasting period. The magnitude of difference in plasma ghrelin concentration between the fed and fasting states warrants further investigation as to the impact that this fluctuation in hormone concentration has on feed intake, composition of gain, and energy expenditure in cattle

Effect of Ghrelin Injection on Blood and Body Composition in Rats

Ghrelin has been reported to cause hyperglycemia in humans and adiposity in rodents. The objective of trial one was to test the effects of ghrelin on blood and body composition in rats. The objective of trial two was to evaluate the effect of two doses of ghrelin on blood and body composition. Trial One: Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were administered 1 μg/rat ghrelin in 0.15 M NaCl or vehicle (0.15 M NaCl) every morning for 30 days. The terminal blood sample was analyzed for glucose, urea nitrogen, and nonesterified fatty acids concentrations. The carcasses were analyzed for total lipid and nitrogen content. Blood urea nitrogen, nonesterified fatty acids, carcass total lipid, and carcass total nitrogen concentrations were similar for the control and ghrelin groups. However, blood glucose concentration tended to be higher in the ghrelin group than in the control. Ghrelin administered at 2.4 μg/kg did not cause adiposity in rats but did tend to cause hyperglycemia. Trial Two: Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were administered 1 μg/rat ghrelin, 20 μg/rat ghrelin, or vehicle every morning for 30 days. The terminal blood sample was analyzed for glucose and cholesterol concentrations. The carcasses were analyzed for total lipid and nitrogen content. Carcass total nitrogen concentrations were similar for the control and ghrelin groups. Carcass percent lipid was higher in the 1 μg/rat ghrelin group (P = 0.04). Feed intake among all three groups was the same. Blood glucose concentration, however, tended to be higher in the ghrelin groups than in the control. Blood cholesterol concentration was lower in the ghrelin treated animals. In the second trial, ghrelin injection of 1 μg/rat did cause an increase in adiposity whereas 20 μg/rat did not cause an increase in adiposity. Both ghrelin treatments tended to cause hyperglycemia in rats. In summary, ghrelin increased blood glucose concentration without changing body composition