Leaves from tropical trees as protein supplements in diets for sheep

The effects of forage supplement and level of maize grain (Zea mays L.) offered on intake, digestibility, N balance, and rate of gain were determined for rams fed teff straw (Eragrostis abyssinica). Supplements (leaves from five trees, Faidherbia albida, Carissa edulis, Dichrostachys cinerea, Leucaena leucocephala, and Sesbania sesban, or chopped alfalfa hay, Medicago sativa) provided 40 g per day of crude protein. Maize grain was supplemented to half of the sheep at 100 g per day. Rams fed leaves of F. albida, L. leucocephala, S. sesban, and the alfalfa hay gained 49 g per day with maize and 23 g per day without maize. Higher content of proanthocyanidins and related polyphenols in F. albida had no detrimental effect on N balance and rate of gain (P < 0.05) in comparison to alfalfa. The high content of proanthocyanidins and related polyphenols in C. edulis and D. cinerea resulted in low intake, digestibility, and rate of gain (6 g day-1) when fed with maize, and high weight loss (-63 g day-1) without maize

Comparison of two in situ reference methods to estimate indigestible NDF by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy in alfalfa

Undigested forage neutral detergent fiber (uNDF) from long-term ruminal in situ incubations are used to estimate indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF). Measurement of iNDF is important in forage evaluation because it defines the potentially digestible pool of neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) can be calibrated to in situ reference sets to rapidly predict uNDF. Our objective was to compare uNDF estimates after 240 h of incubation when two types of bags were used in the in situ reference method. The bags compared were 4 cm × 5 cm Ankom F57 bags (25 micron pore size), and 5 cm × 10 cm Ankom in situ bags (50 micron pore size). Alfalfa samples from Pennsylvania and Wisconsin (n = 144) of different varieties and harvest intervals were used. One-half or two gram samples, respectively, were weighed into the small and large bags in triplicate. Mass to surface area was 0.05 and 0.02 g/cm2 for the small and large bags, respectively. The iNDF content after 240 h incubation was evaluated by two types bags in three rumen-cannulated Holstein cows. Each dried and ground forage was also scanned to determine the visible–near-infrared-reflectance spectra with a FOSS 6500 spectrophotometer. Prediction equations were developed for each bag type using modified partial least square regressions. The estimated iNDF fraction from small and large bags were 13.75% and 9.97%, respectively (SED = 0.39, P < 0.001). The coefficient of determination for calibration (R2), cross-validation (1 - VR), calibration standard deviation (SEC), and interactive authentication standard deviation (SECV) was 0.94, 0.92, 0.85 and 0.98 for values determined with the small bag and 0.88, 0.85, 1.12 and 1.27 for iNDF for values determined with the large bag, respectively. Results indicate that iNDF varies among alfalfa cultivars and NIRS can be used to quickly and quantitatively estimate iNDF content in alfalfa. Bag type influences 240h NDF residues. NIRS predictions of iNDF from the small bag calibration set had higher R2 and lower SEC and SECV than the large bag calibrations

An Examination of Interracial Contact: The Influence of Cross-Race Interpersonal Efficacy and Affect Regulation

The ability of employees to interact cooperatively and collaboratively is the fulcrum of competitive advantage for organizations operating in pluralistic environments. Contact theory suggests several conditions under which effective interpersonal relationships across racial, ethnic, and cultural groups may occur: Research examining the contact hypothesis has been mixed. The explanation of this inconsistency in the research generally centers on procedural rather than cognitive aspects of the interactions. This article discusses the contact hypothesis with respect to social cognitive functioning of interaction participants. We propose that positive outcomes from application of the contact hypothesis may be influenced by the individual employees’ level of cross-race interpersonal efficacy and affect regulation. An investigation of the influence of cross-race interpersonal efficacy and affect regulation may lead to a more developed theoretical understanding of the variance currently associated with the application of the contact hypothesis