Comparing the effects of monensin and sodium butyrate on coccidia in post-weaned heifers

The emergence of antibiotic resistances has raised concerns in society about the widespread use of antibiotics, such as monensin, as growth enhancers in agriculture. Pressure to find alternatives has increased since the European Union banned the use of ionophorous antibiotics. Butyrate supplementation has been found to enhance growth in pre-weaned calves and it has been recently suggested to enhance growth in post-weaned heifers. In a recent study by Rice in 2017, there was a quadratic (P=0.03) response for coccidia counts as sodium butyrate was increased, with the lowest counts being at the intermediate doses. This suggested that butyrate has the potential to decrease coccidian in post-weaned heifers. Monensin is also used as a coccidiostat. While the objective of the study as a whole was to determine if sodium butyrate can replace monensin in the prevention of coccidiosis and in enhancing growth and feed efficiency, this report focuses only on the prevention of coccidiosis. At this time, only six of the forty Holstein heifers entered the study. The design was a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design. Heifers were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: (1) carrier (control; C); (2) 0.75 g SB/kg of body weight + carrier (SB); (3) 1.0 mg M/kg of body weight + carrier (M); (4) (0.75 g SB/kg of body weight and 1.0 mg M/kg of body weight + carrier (SB/M). Heifers entered the study and were trained to Calan doors from week 12 to 13 age of life. Treatment began on week 14 of life and continued for 12 weeks. Fecal samples were taken from each calf weekly beginning in the covariate period for determination of coccidia. (Measurements were also taken to evaluate the growth of post weaned calves and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility). Oocyte counts were determined through the modified Wisconsin sugar floatation method. Due to the small sample size a statistical analysis was unable to be completed. However, the preliminary data suggested a negative trend in coccidian oocyte counts 2 as treatment progressed. This indicates that both sodium butyrate and monensin have the ability to decrease the shedding of coccidian oocytes, though the statistical significance is not known at this time

Low phase-shift amplifier

Single-stage MOSFET amplifier is described which is identical to standard neutralized amplifier except that neutralization provided by broadband transformer is applied to AGC gate instead of signal gate. Neutralization of drain-to-control gate capacity minimizes the phase change induced by variation in AGC

High-Temperature, Low-Cycle Fatigue Behavior of Tantalum

High temperature, low cycle fatigue tests of tantalum in inert argon atmospher

Growing Vegetables in Containers

Are you short on space? Many kinds of vegetables can be easily grown in containers. Just follow these basic guidelines: Select containers. You can use buckets, empty milk jugs, dishpans, or window boxes. Each container should be clean and have at least one drainage hole in the bottom. Use a potting mix or mix your own with garden soil, compost, peat, and vermiculite. If you are starting plants from seed, check seed packets for planting and space recommendations. Not all of the seeds will germinate, so plant more seed than you need and thin later. If you are using transplants, fill each container until it is about half to three-quarters full. Then set your plants on the mix. Keep all plants at least one inch away from the side edge of the container so they don’t get too hot. Add potting mix around plants to within an inch of the top of the container and press lightly. Put your container where it will get at least 6 hours of sun each day. Water thoroughly. Plants in containers dry out more quickly than plants that are in the ground: you may have to water them daily. To keep plants growing and flowering, water with a balanced (20-20-20), water-soluble fertilizer, mixed as directed, every other week in summer. Pull any weeds out of your container. Pick your vegetables when they are ripe so the plant will continue to set more fruit. Then wash them and make something good to eat!https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/extension_garden_yard/1003/thumbnail.jp

Effectiveness of a Gardening Newsletter

Newsletters are a time-honored Extension method of disseminating research-based information to help clients live fuller, more productive lives. But are they as effective as we think they are? To find out, we surveyed home gardeners receiving a monthly garden newsletter from their county Extension office. The survey demonstrated that this newsletter, in its present format, (paper, and online in HTML and PDF) is meeting the needs of the target audience and has effectively fostered more sustainable gardening practices. The survey also demonstrated an interest among this audience in receiving electronic versions of newsletters in the future

Selling Beef in Maine #1048

Are you a beef producer interested in learning more about the different markets available to you to sell your beef? This bulletin discusses the risks, benefits, and requirements for selling beef in Maine. 2 pages. © 2015 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/extension_ag/1001/thumbnail.jp

Frequency and timing system for the consolidated DSN and STDN tracking network

The consolidation on the existing Deep Space Network (DSN) and colocated Goddard Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network (STDN) stations into a multiple antenna array is discussed. Each site includes a signal processing center (SPC) centered in an array of four or five antennas each located within approximately 300 to 800 meters of the SPC. A central frequency and timing system (FTS) located in the SPC contains reference frequency, timing and time code generation, and distribution equipment for both the SPC and each antenna with its associated front end antenna control building. The reference frequency distribution and clock equipment are driven by a hydrogen maser as the prime frequency standard with cesium beam frequency standard as the secondary

Learning the language of school history: the role of linguistics in mapping the writing demands of the secondary school curriculum

This paper reports on a research study which used the tools of functional linguistics to illuminate the writing requirements of the history curriculum in the context of Australian secondary schools. It shows how the resulting linguistic description was integrated into a sequence of teaching and learning activities through collaboration between linguist specialists and content/pedagogic specialists. These activities were designed to facilitate students’ writing skills whilst simultaneously developing their historical knowledge. An independent evaluation of the approach pointed to positive changes in teachers’ attitudes and behaviours regarding the role of language in learning history. Equally, students’ writing improved, particularly in terms of its organisation and structure

Bulletin 2220: Best Management Practices for Small Scale Poultry Producers in Maine

Written for small-scale poultry producers. University specialists, Extension educators, and agriculture service providers from New England and New York developed this list of Best Management Practices to assist small-scale poultry growers to provide the best of care for their birds, minimize losses due to disease and predation, as well as minimizing the impact on the environment while assuring a high quality, wholesome product for their family and customers.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/extension_ag/1004/thumbnail.jp

Using exchange structure analysis to explore argument in text-based computer conferences

Computer conferencing provides a new site for students to develop and rehearse argumentation skills, but much remains to be learnt about how to encourage and support students in this environment. Asynchronous text-based discussion differs in significant ways from face-to-face discussion, creating a need for specially designed schemes for analysis. This paper discusses some of the problems of analysing asynchronous argumentation, and puts forward an analytical framework based on exchange structure analysis, which brings a linguistic perspective to bear on the interaction. Key features of the framework are attention to both interactive and ideational aspects of the discussion, and the ability to track the dynamic construction of argument content. The paper outlines the framework itself, and discusses some of the findings afforded by this type of analysis, and its limitations