Effects of Field Pea Usage in Growing and Finishing Diets for Beef Cattle

The value of field peas (FP) as a feedstuff has not been thoroughly assessed and compared to other feeds, such as corn, to better establish an economic value. Field peas are characterized by a high CP content (23-26%), a large portion (80%) being rumen degradable protein (RDP), and containing almost a third less starch (31-40%) than corn. Three research trials were performed to better understand the value of FP as a grazing supplement, finishing diet component, and any effects on digestion. Experiment 1 assessed the value of FP as a grazing supplement compared to corn. Grazing was followed by a finishing period with or without FP inclusion at 20% (DM basis). Cattle supplemented FP on pasture had greater ending BW and ADG than those cattle that were not supplemented and lower gains than those cattle supplemented a mixture of DRC, solubles and urea. Finishing performance and carcass characteristics were similar across treatments other than those cattle that were not supplemented on pasture experienced compensatory gain during finishing through increased ADG and G:F. Two digestion trials were conducted to compare FP to corn in high forage diets and to assess rumen undegradable protein (RUP) of FP. In Exp. 1 cattle were fed either a high (HQ) or low quality (LQ) forage with no supplement (CON), supplemented with FP (PEAS), or supplemented with dry-rolled corn, solubles, urea mixture (CORN) at 0.43% of BW (DM basis). Field peas increased DMI, DM digestibility, OMI, OM digestibility, and NDF digestibility when measured at 24 hours in situ. Feeding FP resulted in VFA concentrations similar to the CON treatment. In Exp. 2, FP were ruminally and duodenally incubated to evaluate RUP content and digestibility. Results show that the specific field peas that were evaluated ranged in CP content from 22 – 26.5% with an RUP content that was significantly affected by rumen incubation duration. As rumen incubation time increased, RUP content decreased. Digestibility of RUP of FP ranged from 97.4 – 98.9%. These studies suggest that if appropriately priced, FP would be a viable option for grazing supplementation or inclusion in finishing diets. Advisors: Karla Jenkins and James MacDonal

Examining Associations Between Infant Temperament, Parental Competence, and Family Resources and Their Effects on Parental Sensitivity

A sensitive parent-child relationship is essential in ensuring the healthy mental and physical development of an individual. Parental sensitivity can be affected by parent characteristics, such parental competence and resources as well as child characteristics, such as negative reactivity. The combination of how these parent and infant factors predict parental sensitivity has not been examined with both mothers and fathers. The current study involved 30, 4-month old infants and their mothers and fathers. Parents completed questionnaires measuring infant temperament and parental competence. They also participated in a demographic interview to measure family resources, as well as a dyadic parent-infant face-to-face play task to measure parental sensitivity. Results involving mothers indicated a moderating effect of infant temperament (e.g., negative reactivity) on the associations between parental competence (e.g., self-efficacy) and parental sensitivity. Whereas for fathers, results indicated significant main effects of infant temperament (e.g., orienting) and parental competence (e.g., self-efficacy) on parental sensitivity. The current study gives evidence and support that it is a combination of both parent characteristics and infant characteristics that affects parental sensitivity. However, this combination of characteristics is different for mothers and fathers, indicating that different factors play a part in parenting behaviors for mothers and fathers

Effects of Field Pea Supplementation on Digestibility and Rumen Volatile Fatty Acid Concentration of Diets Containing High and Low Quality Forages

Five ruminally cannulated steers were used to evaluate the effects of supplementation (no supplement, field peas, or dry rolled corn; 0.43% BW) with high and low quality forages on diet digestibility and rumen volatile fatty acid concentrations. Th e inclusion of field peas increased dry matter intake and organic matter digestibility over dry rolled corn and unsupplemented steers. Propionate proportions were less for field peas and control treatments than dry rolled corn, while acetate proportions increased in field peas, and control treatments as compared to dry rolled corn. As a result, acetate to propionate ratio was reduced when dry rolled corn was supplemented. Inclusion of field peas alters the volatile fatty acid concentrations, increases dry matter intake, and improves organic matter digestibility when supplemented to forage fed steers

Novel Approaches to Developing On-Farm Biomass Production Systems

Energy security and climate change are issues facing many countries today. Finding clean, renewable fuel sources has provided a challenge to look beyond the obvious and search for new ways to use old resources. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a warm season grass native to many parts of the United States. In 2007, the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture started a collaborative project with the UK Cooperative Extension, farmers in northern Kentucky, Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council and East Kentucky Power Cooperative to explore and demonstrate how switchgrass can be grown, harvested and utilized in an economical and environmentally friendly way (Greenwell 2012a,b). This pilot project was funded by the KY Agricultural Development Fund and successfully established 60 ha of switchgrass between 2007-2011 and produced \u3e 500 t of biomass that was combusted for electricity production. Switchgrass was chosen as the biomass crop of choice for this area for a variety of reasons. It can be grown on marginal soils that are not well suited to row crops. It produces high yields with relatively low inputs and can be harvested with equipment that is common on typical US farms. Because it is a native grass, there is little concern of it becoming invasive and it provides wildlife habitat for local animal species. Additionally, when harvested at a vegetative stage, it produces high quality forage

Mixed methods process evaluation of my breathing matters, a digital intervention to support self-management of asthma.

This study aimed to explore user engagement with 'My Breathing Matters', a digital self-management intervention for asthma, and identify factors that may influence engagement. In a mixed methods design, adults with asthma allocated to the intervention arm of a feasibility trial (n = 44) participated in semi-structured interviews (n = 18) and a satisfaction questionnaire (n = 36) to explore their views and experiences of the intervention. Usage data highlighted that key intervention content was delivered to most users. The majority of questionnaire respondents (78%; n = 28) reported they would recommend the intervention to friends and family. Interviewees expressed positive views of the intervention and experienced several benefits, mainly improved asthma control, medication use, and breathing technique. Factors that may influence user engagement were identified, including perceptions of asthma control, current self-management practices, and appeal of the target behaviours and behaviour change techniques. Findings suggested My Breathing Matters was acceptable and engaging to participants, and it was used as intended

The role of performance beliefs in the difference between self-report and behavioural measures of attentional control and their relationship with anxiety

While empirical findings closely link poor attentional control with elevated anxiety, this relationship is more consistently evident and stronger when attentional control is measured through self-report than through behaviour. One possible explanation for these diverging findings is that people lack insight into their attentional control capabilities, and people with elevated anxiety hold more negative beliefs about their level of attentional control, resulting in lower self-reported levels of attentional control. In two studies, participants (N = 78 and N = 207) completed the attentional control scale, the attentional network test (ANT), a questionnaire measuring beliefs about attentional control in the ANT, and a measure of anxiety. In both studies, no significant associations were present between beliefs about attentional control in the ANT and participants' performance on the ANT, suggesting a lack of insight in attentional control capabilities. Both studies further demonstrated that only beliefs about attentional control but not performance in the ANT were related to self-reported attentional control and anxiety. We thus show that evidence supporting the relationship between self-reported attentional control and anxiety is driven by biased beliefs about ability to control attention in people with heightened anxiety, and not by behavioural indices of attentional control.</p

Economics of Field Pea Supplementation for Cattle Grazing Crested Wheatgrass

Heifers grazing crested wheat grass were supplemented either field peas or dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) at 0.4% or 0.8% of body weight. Heifers supplemented with field peas had 10% lower daily gain compared to their DDGS supplemented counterparts. The decision to supplement field peas for producers depends on the price at which field peas can be acquired, as well as the distance that DDGS has to be hauled in order to be utilized. Field peas are a viable option in western Nebraska as a supplement for grazing cattle when DDGS is unavailable or field peas are in excess and can be obtained below the human consumption and pet food market price