The Impact of a Sport-Based Service Learning Course on Participants’ Attitudes, Intentions and Actions Toward Social Change

Framed in the context of a sport-based service learning program that engages in interdepartmental university partnerships (including athletics), the current study focused on addressing the need to analyze the long-term impacts of service learning on students’ intentions and actions toward social change. Service learning courses have been shown to facilitate positive outcomes such as increased cultural competency and future intentions toward civic engagement (Bruening et al., 2010, 2014). Building on this knowledge, the current study used in-depth interviews to investigate the social justice-related attitudes, intentions, and behaviors of alumni of a college service learning through sport course. Individual interviews (n = 22) with participants who had completed at least one semester in the course indicated that the course was influential in developing their ability to recognize social inequities. Furthermore, participants indicated future intentions and current involvement in initiatives that address social inequities in their given areas of life. Theoretical and managerial implications for effective academic and intercollegiate athletic partnerships, helping to increase impactful civic engagement and learning opportunities for student-athletes and non-student-athletes, are provided

Effects of grinding corn through a 2-, 3-, or 4-high roller mill on milling characteristics, and finishing pig growth performance and carcass characteristics

Citation: Gebhardt, J. T., Tokach, M. D., Woodworth, J. C., DeRouchey, J. M., Goodband, R. D., Coble, K. F., . . . Dritz, S. S. (2016). Effects of grinding corn through a 2-, 3-, or 4-high roller mill on milling characteristics, and finishing pig growth performance and carcass characteristics. Journal of Animal Science, 94, 59-59. doi:10.2527/msasas2016-126Finishing pigs (n = 922, initial BW = 40.1 kg) were used in a 97-d experiment to determine the effects of grinding corn through various roller mill configurations on milling characteristics and growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs in a commercial setting. Pens were randomly allotted to 1 of 4 experimental treatments by initial BW with 11 pens/treatment and 21 pigs/pen. All diets were fed in 5 phases with the same corn-soybean meal-based diets containing 20% dried distiller’s grains with solubles. Experimental treatments included corn ground to 685 µm using 2 sets of rolls (2-high), corn ground to 577 µm using 3 sets of rolls (3-high), corn ground to 360 µm using 4 sets of rolls in a fine grind configuration (4-high fine), and corn ground to 466 µm using 4 sets of rolls in a coarse grind configuration (4-high coarse). The same roller mill was used for all configurations with the appropriate lower rolls completely open when using 2 or 3 sets of rolls. Grinding rate (tonnes/hour) was greatest (P < 0.05) for the 2-high and 4-high coarse configurations followed by the 3-high configuration and lowest for the 4-high fine configuration. Electricity cost was lowest (P < 0.05) per tonne of ground corn for the 2-high configuration and was greatest for the 4-high fine configuration. Pigs fed diets containing corn ground with the 2-high configuration had the greatest (P < 0.05) ADFI and ADG with pigs fed diets with corn ground using the 4-high fine configuration having the poorest ADFI and ADG (2.81, 2.73, 2.65, 2.73 kg for ADFI and 0.987, 0.967, 0.940, 0.971 kg for ADG for 2-high, 3-high, 4-high fine, 4-high coarse, respectively). There were no differences in G:F, caloric efficiency, or carcass characteristics among pigs fed diets ground with the different roller mill configurations. Feed cost/kg gain was lowest (P < 0.05) for the 4-high coarse configuration and revenue/pig was greatest (P < 0.05) for the 2-high and 4-high coarse configurations. Income over feed cost (IOFC) was lowest (P < 0.05) for pigs fed diets with corn ground using the 4-high fine configuration; however, there were no differences in IOFC among the other milling configurations. In our study, roller mill configuration had a significant impact on grinding electricity cost, grinding rate, as well as ADFI and ADG; however, roller mill configuration had no impact on G:F

Effects of grinding corn through a 2-, 3-, or 4-high roller mill on pig performance and feed preference of nursery pigs

Citation: Gebhardt, J. T., De Jong, J. A., Tokach, M. D., Woodworth, J. C., DeRouchey, J. M., Goodband, R. D., . . . Dritz, S. S. (2016). Effects of grinding corn through a 2-, 3-, or 4-high roller mill on pig performance and feed preference of nursery pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 94, 101-102. doi:10.2527/msasas2016-215A total of 410 pigs were used in 2 experiments to determine the effects of grinding corn through various roller mill configurations on feed preference and performance of nursery pigs. In Exp. 1, 320 pigs (DNA 400 × 200; initial BW = 10.7 kg) were randomly allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments with 16 pens/treatment and 5 pigs/pen for a 21-d growth trial. The 4 dietary treatments used the same corn-soybean meal-based formulation that were mixed from the same batch of ingredients. Corn was ground through the same 4-high roller mill, but using different roller configurations including feed with corn fraction ground to 650 µm using 2 sets of rolls (2-high), feed with corn fraction ground to 495 µm using 3 sets of rolls (3-high), feed with corn fraction ground to 340 µm using 4 sets of rolls in a fine grind configuration (4-high fine), and feed with the corn fraction ground to 490 µm using 4 sets of rolls in a coarse grind configuration (4-high coarse). In Exp. 2, 90 pigs (PIC 327 × 200; initial BW = 12.2 kg) were randomly allotted to 1 of 3 diet comparisons to determine feed preference. The 3 diets compared were the 2-high, 4-high fine, and 4-high coarse configurations. Each pen contained 2 feeders, each containing 1 of the 3 treatment diets. Feeders were rotated once daily within each pen for the 7-d study, with 5 pigs per pen, and 6 pens per comparison. In Exp. 1, there were no differences in ADG, ADFI or G:F between roller mill configurations. Similarly, no differences were observed for caloric efficiency or economics among roller mill configurations. In Exp. 2, when given a choice, pigs consumed 67% (P < 0.05) of the diet containing corn ground through the 2-high roller mill when compared to the diet containing 4-high fine corn. There was no difference in feed consumption comparing diets with 2-high roller mill corn or corn from the 4-high roller mill in a coarse configuration. When comparing corn from the two 4-high configurations, pigs consumed 63% (P < 0.05) of the diet manufactured in the coarse configuration and 37% when manufactured in the fine grind configuration. When given a choice, pigs preferred diets manufactured using a mill configuration producing coarser ground corn (490 to 650 µm) to fine ground corn (340 µm); however, roller mill configuration did not affect performance

Multilevel needs assessment of physical activity, sport, psychological needs, and nutrition in rural children and adults

IntroductionPhysical activity yields significant benefits, yet fewer than 1 in 4 youth meet federal guidelines. Children in rural areas from low socioeconomic (SES) backgrounds face unique physical activity contextual challenges. In line with Stage 0 with the NIH Stage Model for Behavioral Intervention Development, the objective of the present study was to conduct a community-engaged needs assessment survey with middle school children and adults to identify perceptions, barriers, and facilitators of physical activity, sport, psychological needs, and nutrition from a multi-level lens.MethodsA cross-sectional survey data collection was conducted with children (n = 39) and adults (n = 63) from one middle school community in the Midwestern United States. The child sample was 33% 6th grade; 51% 7th grade and was 49% female. The adult sample was primarily between 30 and 39 years old (70%) and comprised predominantly of females (85%). Multi-level survey design was guided by the psychological needs mini-theory within self-determination theory and aimed to identify individual perceptions, barriers, and facilitators in line with the unique context of the community.ResultsAt the individual level, 71.8% of children and 82.2% of the overall sample (children and adults) were interested in new physical activity/sport programming for their school. Likewise, 89.7% of children and 96.8% of adults agree that PA is good for physical health. For basic psychological needs in the overall sample, relatedness was significantly greater than the autonomy and competence subscales. Children’s fruit and vegetable intake were below recommended levels, yet only 43.6% of children were interested in nutritional programming. Conversely, 61.5% indicated interest at increasing leadership skills. At the policy-systems-environmental level, the respondents’ feedback indicated that the condition and availability of equipment are areas in need of improvement to encourage more physical activity. Qualitative responses are presented within for physical activity-related school policy changes.DiscussionInterventions addressing children’s physical activity lack sustainability, scalability, and impact due to limited stakeholder involvement and often neglect early behavioral intervention stages. The present study identified perspectives, barriers, and facilitators of physical activity, sport, psychological needs, and nutrition in a multi-level context and forms the initial campus-community partnership between scientists and community stakeholders