Volatile Components of Wet and Modified Corn Distillers Grains—A Survey

Wet and modified distillers grain has been noted as tohaving a more net energy per unit than the dried equivalent.This difference seems to be due to the presence of volatilecompounds present in the liquid fraction that are lost duringdrying

Research in Progress: On-Farm Storage of Ethanol Co-Products

In the past four years, five new dry-mill ethanol plants have been constructed in the northwest Iowa, and another one is under construction. These six mills will process 82 million bushels of corn to produce 217 million gallons of ethanol and almost 700,000 tons of co-products. In the production of one million gallons of ethanol yearly, almost 9 tons of co-product are produced daily. Consequently, the daily marketing of ethanol co-products is important. Livestock producers, who take delivery of the coproducts on a regular basis, are using various storage methods and management schemes. Unfortunately, research in the storage of dry-mill ethanol co-products on-farm is in its infancy, and there are many questions yet to be addressed. The Department of Animal Science at ISU began this on-farm research to help determine nutritional and storage losses of ethanol co-products stored on-farm. This research involved four on-farm storage trials

Impact of Drought on Northwest Iowa Beef Cow-Calf Operations

This project assessed the impact that the 2012 drought had on northwest Iowa cow-calf operations. A survey was mailed to 293 beef producers in seventeen northwest Iowa counties. Producers indicated that feed resources were scarce, and those who bought feed noted high prices made feed an undesirable purchase. Future plans included extensive pasture management and feed supplementation. The average pregnancy rate of the females, 93%, was not significantly affected by the drought, but heat stress on the female was perceived to affect pregnancy rate. Despite drought, 11% of the producers planned to retain open females. The majority, 75%, of the operations indicated that drought had little impact on their financial position, but 25% responded that their financial position would be poorer. To cope, some producers would sell part of the cows, sell the 2012 calves, and/or sell the 2012 replacement heifers. Other producers indicated that total or partial dispersal of the herd may be required. Rain, availability of feeds, and price of feedstuffs would dictate whether they kept or sold calves and cows

Environmental Conditions in Beef Deep-Bedded Mono-Slope Facilities

Ammonia (NH3), temperature, moisture content, pH, pack depth, nutrient composition and concentration of odorous volatile organic compounds (VOC) were measured at 56 locations in each of four pens in two commercial beef deep-bedded mono-slope facilities (BDMF). Areas of high NH3 concentration occurred randomly throughout the pens. Ammonia concentration increased as pack and ambient air temperature increased. Concentration of VOC was highest in transition areas between the bedded pack and the concrete floor. Depth, moisture content, and pH of the bedded pack did not influence concentration of NH3 and VOC. Nutrient composition of the manure/bedding material in BDMF is similar to manure in open feedlots, except that in BDMF the volatile solids content is much higher. E. coli concentrations can occur at high levels in BDMF and vary with differences in ambient temperature. Priority should be given to NH3 and E. coli mitigation during hot months. However, locationspecific NH3 mitigation will not be effective due to the random distribution of NH3 in the pen. Frequent cleaning of the area surrounding the bedded pack should reduce VOC concentration

Implementing Risk Management Decisions that Optimize Nutrient Value of Dairy Manure while Minimizing Related Risk

Nutrients present in manure are increasingly receiving attention for environmental, production, and financial reasons. Dairy producers continue to strive for better ways and educational opportunities to improve profits by evaluating fertilizer and value of manure to their operation and to protect the environment. These farming decisions which help producers stay economically viable also support and stimulate their local economy, which promotes a more vital rural community. Utilizing 22 dairy nutrient management surveys, 14 on-farm workshops, 10 small group on-farm assessment workshops, one video, and individual producer visits, producers were able to make informed decisions using tools and knowledge gained to control risks associated with manure nutrients during handling, storage, and application

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Factors Affecting Preconditioned Calf Price Premiums: Does Potential Buyer Competition and Seller Reputation Matter?

Feeder-calf prices are determined by the interaction of many factors. This study uses transaction data from Iowa preconditioned and regular feeder-calf auction sales to quantify the impact of a wide variety of factors, several of which have not been used in previous studies on feeder-calf prices. Notably, market premiums for preconditioned sales versus regular sales, feedlot capacity utilization, and seller reputation are found to be significant factors affecting feeder-calf prices. Estimated coefficients are then used to predict prices to demonstrate how this information can be used in making management and marketing decisions

Beef Feedlot Systems Manual

This manual can help producers compare five feedlot facility types including confinement and open lot.Estimated costs, performance assumptions based on available research, manure value, and discussion on environmental issues are provided and analyzed for each facility type.The companion Feedlot Facility Economic Assessment calculator provides producers with a quick comparison between types of facilities and related costs. Spreadsheets can be customized to your operation to conduct an economic facility assessment, input costs, and performance related measures to optimize operations. Use it conjunction with the Beef Feedlot Manual.https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/extension_pubs/1093/thumbnail.jp