An Update on Wheat Straw as a Feed for Confined Ewes

The purpose of the paper was to evaluate the effect of various levels of wheat straw in self-fed alfalfa rations on productivity of confined ewes. Rations containing up to 60% wheat straw with the balance alfalfa did not adversely affect production when fed during maintenance

Evidence for Extrusive Mg-Suite Magmatism on the Moon? Fine-Grained Magnesian Clasts in an Apollo 16 Impact Melt Breccia

The magnesian suite (Mg-suite) of rocks record some of the earliest intrusive magmatism on the Moon. Studies of these Mg-suite rocks find they are plutonic or hypabyssal, formed typically kilometers under the lunar surface. Several models exist to explain the formation and evolution of the Mg-suite but distinguishing between hypotheses can be difficult given the limited sample availability. The global extent of Mg-suite magmatism remains in debate and is key to constraining models of early secondary crust building. In this study, we present magnesian clasts within Apollo impact melt rock 68815. These clasts contain olivine, plagioclase, with minor amounts of Mg-Al-spinel and pyroxene similar to spinel troctolites of the Mg-suite, but they lack plutonic textures. We provide evidence that some of the clasts may be of extrusive volcanic origin akin to terrestrial komatiites while others might represent crystalline impact melts. There exists a large breadth of evidence for Mg-suite intrusives, whereas here, we present possible evidence of Mg-rich volcanic counterparts. If valid, this would broaden the known diversity of lunar volcanism during the initial stages of secondary crust building. We anticipate this finding to provide a greater constraint onto models of Mg-suite ascent and emplacement, which only currently consider intrusive magmatism, as well as renewed motivation to examine impact melt breccias for rare and understudied lithologies. Future trace element studies or radiometric dating could be used to further interrogate the connections of these clasts to the Mg-suite. © 2023 The Authors.Open access articleThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Creating models for the prediction of colostrum quantity, quality, and immunoglobulin G yield in multiparous Jersey cows from performance in the previous lactation and environmental changes

ABSTRACT: With multiparous Jersey cows, colostrum production seems to be variable. Due to this, we aimed to identify specific variables involved in colostrum production and quality. From 2021 to 2023, data from 28 US farms (415 multiparous Jersey cows) were used to investigate if colostrum yield, IgG concentration (g/L), and IgG yield (g) could be predicted by farm variables and transmitting abilities. With the data collected, multiple regression equations were developed to aid in predicting colostrum yield, IgG concentration, and IgG yield. Colostrum was weighed and sampled for IgG analysis. Dairy Herd Information (DHI), calving, diet, and management information data were compiled. Days below 5°C (D), and days between 5 and 23°C (D) were recorded. We evaluated transmitting abilities for milk, fat, protein, and dollars; previous lactation milk yield, fat percent, fat yield, protein percent, protein yield, previous lactation somatic cell score, previous lactation days open, previous lactation days dry, previous lactation days in milk, and previous parity; and current lactation parity, days dry, and calving information, birth ordinal day, and latitude. Colostrum yield, IgG yield, and concentration had 1 added to correct for values = 0. After addition, values >0 were transformed to ln or log10. Nontransformed variables were also used to develop the model. Variance inflation factor analysis was conducted, followed by backward elimination. The log10 colostrum yield model (R2 = 0.55; β in parentheses) included herd size (−0.0001), ordinal days (−0.001), ln ordinal days (0.07), latitude (−0.02), dry period length (0.004), D (0.38), ln time to harvest (−19.42), colostrum yield (−4.29), ln diet type (18.00), ln previous lactation fat percent (74.43), and previous parity (5.72). The model showed that previous lactation milkfat percent contributed the most toward increasing and time from parturition to colostrum harvest contributed the most toward decreasing colostrum IgG concentration. The log10 IgG yield model (R2 = 0.79) included ln ordinal days (0.03), time to harvest (−0.01), colostrum yield (−0.11), ln colostrum yield (1.20), ln pasture access (−0.09), ln previous lactation fat percent (0.53), and previous parity (0.02). The model showed that colostrum yield contributed the most toward increasing IgG yield, followed by previous lactation milkfat percentage. Pasture access contributed the most toward decreasing IgG yield, although the contribution was very small. These models were validated using 39 samples from 22 farms. Actual minus predicted colostrum yield and IgG concentration and yield were 0.89 kg, −21.10 g/L, and −65.15 g, respectively. These models indicate that dry period management and cow information can predict colostrum yield and IgG concentration and yield

Supplementing sodium butyrate to limit-fed heifers: Effects on growth, coccidiosis, urinary purine derivatives, and apparent total-tract nutrient digestibility

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to assess the growth, apparent total-tract digestibility of nutrients, the prevalence of coccidia, and purine derivatives in postweaning heifers when limit-fed a diet supplemented with sodium butyrate (SB). A 12 wk randomized complete block experiment was conducted using 24 Holstein heifers (92.8 d ± 1.9 d of age and initial body weight [BW] of 99.6 ± 15.2 kg [mean ± standard deviation]). Treatments were 100 g soybean meal (control; CON) and 0.75 g of SB/kg of BW + 100 g soybean meal (SB). Diets were formulated to contain 16.4% crude protein, 2.27 Mcal/kg metabolizable energy (ME), and fed at a feed out rate of 2.15% of BW on a dry matter basis. Intakes were recorded daily while growth measurements and BW were recorded weekly. Urine and fecal samples were taken every 2 wk. On d 42 through d 49 an apparent total-tract digestibility phase took place using acid detergent insoluble ash as a marker. Growth measurements were similar among treatments except CON heifers grew longer and tended to be taller at the withers. A trend was observed for CON animals to have lower levels of coccidian oocytes by week. Heifers fed SB had lower blood glucose levels and higher levels of ketones in their blood. Urinary volume was greater for heifers fed SB throughout the 12 wk study. Total purine derivatives were greater in CON heifers. Dry matter, organic matter and acid detergent fiber digestibilities were greater for heifers fed SB compared with CON heifers. Crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and ash digestibilities tended to be greater in heifers fed SB than in CON heifers. These results suggested no growth benefit of supplementing SB to limit-fed heifers; however, apparent total-tract fiber, ash, and crude protein digestibilities were improved in the SB fed heifers likely due to improved ruminal and intestinal development