Managing Pastures During and After Drought

Drought provides dramatic evidence of the role of short- and long-term management of native rangeland and tame pastures. Proper management of range and pasture resources during drought is critical for sustainable livestock production and centers on one key strategy: reducing stocking rate

Effects of Sulfates in Water on Performance of Steers Grazing Rangeland

Surface and subsurface water in South Dakota often contains high concentrations of total dissolved solids (TDS) and sulfates, which, in severe cases, can cause livestock deaths. Data from our laboratory have demonstrated that sulfate concentrations of 3,000 ppm in water consumed by steers in dry-lot decreased ADG, feed intake, and water consumption. Little information is available on the effects of water sulfate concentrations on grazing livestock. This study evaluated the effects of water quality and two vegetation communities on the performance of steers grazing rangeland. Eight native pastures at the SDSU Cottonwood Research Station were used. Four pastures were dominated by warm-season shortgrasses (SG) and four by cool-season midgrasses (MG). Yearling steers (105/year) were allotted to pastures in 2001 and in 2002 to attain a moderate stocking rate of 0.50 AUM/acre during a 4-month grazing season. In 2002, cattle were removed after two months due to drought, resulting in a stocking rate of 0.25 AUM/acre. Number of cattle per pasture varied from 7 to 30, depending on pasture size. Cattle in two of the SG and two of the MG pastures received high sulfate water (HS, 2001: average = 3,947 ppm sulfates; 2002: average = 4,654 ppm sulfates) with low sulfate water (LS, 2001: average = 404 ppm sulfates; 2002: average = 441 ppm sulfates) provided in the remaining pastures. Average daily gain was greater for the LS steers than HS steers in 2001 (P = 0.003; 1.85 and 1.65 lb/d, respectively) and in 2002 (P = 0.001; 2.43 and 1.79 lb/d, respectively). An interaction between sulfate concentration in water and vegetation community in 2002 (P = 0.078) resulted from similar ADG for steers on SG (1.83 lb/d) and MG (1.74 lb/d) pastures for HS water, but greater ADG for steers on MG (2.54 lb/d) than SG (2.32 lb/d) pastures for LS water. During the two-year study, only one steer had health problems related to sulfur, with no deaths. Our study showed water with sulfate concentrations of 3,947 ppm and greater reduced ADG of grazing steers, and that the response was influenced by vegetation

Mapping Africana Religions: Transnationalism, Globalization, And Diaspora

This work is from the edited proceedings of a 2013 symposium at Northwestern University, organized around the question of how to theorize the study of Africana religions across wide expanses of time and space. An international body of scholars representing the fields of history, religious studies, anthropology, American studies, sociology, African studies, classics, and African American studies gathered in a two-day event to consider the past, present, and future of their shared commitment to understanding the religions of African and african-descended people. Scholars discuss the challenges of and opportunities for the study of Africana religions from ancient to modern times, across Africa and its diaspora

Effect of Total Dissolved Solids and Sulfates in Drinking Water for Growing Steers

A study was conducted to determine the effects of implants and transportation on the metabolic status of feedlot steers. Steers (n = 28) were sorted by body weight, allocated into light or heavy blocks, and randomly assigned to one of two treatments. Treatments included non-implanted controls (CON) and steers implanted with Synovex Plus 70 d prior to harvest (IMP). Jugular blood and muscle biopsy samples (longissimus dorsi (LD) and semimembranosis (SM)) were collected 70 d post-implant, prior to transit. Steers were transported to Schuyler, NE, where blood and biopsy sampling was repeated. After harvest, carcass data were collected and muscle samples were taken from the LD, SM, Psoas Major (PM), and Illiacus (IL) muscles. Implanting increased (P \u3c 0.05) estradiol levels and improved live animal performance. Carcass weight and rib eye area were increased (P \u3c 0.05) in implanted steers. No dark cutters were found in either treatment. Pre-transit insulin/glucagon ratio and muscle glycogen levels did not differ (P \u3e 0.10) between treatments. Non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels were reduced (P \u3c 0.05) in implanted steers pre-transit. Transit increased (P \u3c 0.05) NEFA levels, but had no effect (P \u3e 0.10) on insulin/glucagon ratio or muscle glycogen levels. Implanting did not affect (P \u3e 0.10) insulin/glucagon ratio, NEFA, or LD glycogen levels post-transit. Implanted steers had lower (P \u3c 0.05) glycogen levels in the SM than did non-implanted steers post-transit. Weight block affected (P \u3c 0.05) insulin and insulin/glucagon ratio levels, with steers in the light block having greater levels of each. Muscle pH and objective color (L*, a*, b*) of the LD were not biologically different between treatments. Implanted steers had greater (P \u3c 0.05) glycolytic potential values in the LD, and tended (P \u3c 0.10) to have higher L* values in the PM. Implanting increased (P \u3c 0.05) shear force of the LD. These data indicate that although implants affect bovine metabolism, other factors are necessary to cause a sufficient reduction in muscle glycogen and to produce a dark cutting carcass

Effects of Sulfates in Water on Performance of Cow-Calf Pairs

Past data from our laboratory showed water sulfate levels of 3,000 ppm reduced performance and health of growing steers during the summer. This experiment, conducted at the South Dakota State University Cottonwood Research Station, evaluated the effects of high sulfate water on cow and calf performance, milk production, and cow reproduction. Ninety-six crossbred, lactating cows (ages 2-13; average calving date of May 1) and their calves were assigned, after stratifying by age, weight, and previous winter management, to one of six pastures (16 cows/pasture) from June 3 to August 26, 2003. Pastures were randomly assigned to one of two water sulfate levels (three pastures/level). Treatments were low sulfate water (LS; average 388 ± 17 ppm sulfates) or high sulfate water (HS; average 2,608 ± 408 ppm sulfates). The HS water was created by adding sodium sulfate to the LS water. Cow 12-hour milk production was estimated by the weigh-suckle-weigh method at the initiation of the trial and again on July 2 and July 29. Initial milk production estimates were used to adjust the July 2 and July 29 estimates, which represented an average of 64 and 91 days into lactation, respectively. Cows on LS gained 15 lb and cows on HS lost 36 lb during the experiment (P = 0.04). Cows on HS tended to loose more (P = 0.10) body condition than LS (-0.27 and -0.48 for LS and HS, respectively). Twelve-hour milk production did not differ on July 2 (P = 0.33; 10.6 and 9.5 lb for LS and HS, respectively) or July 29 (P = 0.48; 11.9 and 11.0 lb for LS and HS, respectively). Calf ADG did not differ (P = 0.71) between treatments. Pregnancy rates (55-d breeding season) were 98% and 94% for the LS and HS treatments, respectively (P = 0.36). Sulfate levels averaging 2,608 ppm in the drinking water of cow-calf pairs during the summer increased cow weight loss and condition loss but did not reduce calf performance or reproduction compared to sulfate levels averaging 388 ppm

Public Price Reporting, Marketing Channel Selection, and Price Discovery: The Perspective of Cow/Calf Producers in the Dakotas

Cow/calf producers operating in the Dakotas were surveyed on their price discovery strategies, marketing channel preferences, and their perceptions of how regime change in the public price reporting system for fed cattle affected the beef industry in general and the cow/calf industry in particular. Survey results indicate cow/calf producers consider local institutions (auction barns, etc.) to be more reliable for price discovery than regional or national institutions (futures market, USDA public price reports, satellite auctions, etc.). The auction barn marketing channel is the preferred channel for marketing cattle and is considered the most reliable source of market information by producers. Dakota cow/calf producers perceive livestock mandatory price reporting as benefiting the beef industry in general, but consider public price reports to be less reliable than local sources of market information.beef supply chain, cow-calf marketing, marketing channel, price discovery, public price reporting, Livestock Production/Industries,

Validation of a Technique for Estimating Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Biomass from Canopy Volume

Determining biomass production of individual alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plants in space planted evaluation studies is generally not feasible. Clipping plants is time consuming, expensive, and often not possible if the plants are subjected to grazing. A regression function (Bʹ = 0.72558 + 0.11638 × Vʹ) was developed from spaced plants growing on rangeland in northwestern South Dakota near Buffalo to nondestructively estimate individual plant biomass (B) from canopy volume (V). However, external validation is necessary to effectively apply the model to other environments. In the summer of 2015, new data to validate the model were collected from spaced plants near Brookings, South Dakota. Canopy volume and clipped plant biomass were obtained from ten alfalfa populations varying in genetic background, growth habit, and growth stage. Fitted models for the model-building and validation data sets had similar estimated regression coefficients and attributes. Mean squared prediction errors (MSPR) were similar to or smaller than error mean square (MSE) of the model-building regression model, indicating reasonable predictive ability. Validation results indicated that the model reliably estimated biomass of plants in another environment. However, the technique should not be utilized where individual plants are not easily distinguished, such as alfalfa monocultures. Estimating biomass from canopy volume values that are extrapolations (\u3e2.077 × 106 cm3) of the model-building data set is not recommended

The Effect of Early vs. Normal Calf Weaning on Feedlot Performance and Herd Management: A Cross-Discipline Case Study

A study of early vs. normal weaning of calves concludes that early weaning improves feedlot production efficiency, reducing per day and per pound feedlot production costs. Early weaned steers finished higher thus feedlot profitability was not affected. Early weaning has a positive affect on cow health and pasture utilization rates.Livestock Production/Industries,

Aerosol physical properties and processes in the lower marine boundary layer: A comparison of shipboard sub-micron data from ACE-1 and ACE-2

The goals of the IGAC Aerosol Characterization Experiments (ACE) are to determine and understand the properties and controlling processes of the aerosol in a globally representative range of natural and anthropogenically perturbed environments. ACE-1 was conducted in the remote marine atmosphere south of Australia while ACE-2 was conducted in the anthropogenically modified atmosphere of the Eastern North Atlantic. In-situ shipboard measurements from the RV Discoverer(ACE-1) and the RV Professor Vodyanitskiy(ACE-2), combined with calculated back trajectories can be used to define the physical properties of the sub-micron aerosol in marine boundary layer (MBL) air masses from the remote Southern Ocean, Western Europe, the Iberian coast, the Mediterranean and the background Atlantic Ocean. The differences in these aerosol properties, combined with dimethylsulfide, sulfur dioxide and meteorological measurements provide a means to assess processes that affect the aerosol distribution. The background sub-micron aerosol measured over the Atlantic Ocean during ACE-2 was more abundant (number and volume) and appeared to be more aged than that measured over the Southern Ocean during ACE-1. Based on seawater DMS measurements and wind speed, the oceanic source of non-sea-salt sulfur and sea-salt to the background marine atmosphere during ACE-1 and ACE-2 was similar. However, the synoptic meteorological pattern was quite different during ACE-1 and ACE-2. The frequent frontal passages during ACE-1 resulted in the mixing of nucleation mode particles into the marine boundary layer from the free troposphere and relatively short aerosol residence times. In the more stable meteorological setting of ACE-2, a significant nucleation mode aerosol was observed in the MBL only for a half day period associated with a weak frontal system. As a result of the longer MBL aerosol residence times, the average background ACE-2 accumulation mode aerosol had a larger diameter and higher number concentration than during ACE-1. The sub-micron aerosol number size distributions in the air masses that passed over Western Europe, the Mediterranean, and coastal Portugal were distinctly different from each other and the background aerosol. The differences can be attributed to the age of the air mass and the degree of cloud processing

Palliative care needs in patients hospitalized with heart failure (PCHF) study: rationale and design

Abstract Aims The primary aim of this study is to provide data to inform the design of a randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) of a palliative care (PC) intervention in heart failure (HF). We will identify an appropriate study population with a high prevalence of PC needs defined using quantifiable measures. We will also identify which components a specific and targeted PC intervention in HF should include and attempt to define the most relevant trial outcomes. Methods An unselected, prospective, near-consecutive, cohort of patients admitted to hospital with acute decompensated HF will be enrolled over a 2-year period. All potential participants will be screened using B-type natriuretic peptide and echocardiography, and all those enrolled will be extensively characterized in terms of their HF status, comorbidity, and PC needs. Quantitative assessment of PC needs will include evaluation of general and disease-specific quality of life, mood, symptom burden, caregiver burden, and end of life care. Inpatient assessments will be performed and after discharge outpatient assessments will be carried out every 4 months for up to 2.5 years. Participants will be followed up for a minimum of 1 year for hospital admissions, and place and cause of death. Methods for identifying patients with HF with PC needs will be evaluated, and estimates of healthcare utilisation performed. Conclusion By assessing the prevalence of these needs, describing how these needs change over time, and evaluating how best PC needs can be identified, we will provide the foundation for designing an RCT of a PC intervention in HF