Orally dosing steers with Lactipro (Megasphaera elsdenii) decreases the quantity of roughages fed during finishing

The cost of roughages is relatively high in comparison to their contribution of nutrients to feedlot diets. Widespread drought has affected roughage supplies in the cattle-feeding regions of the United States, further increasing the cost of roughages for feedlots. Despite their relatively high cost, roughages are incorporated into finishing diets to maintain rumen function and to manage ruminal acidosis. The greatest proportion of roughage is utilized early in the feeding period when cattle are being transitioned from forage-based diets to concentrate-based diets, allowing ruminal microbes to adapt gradually to higher levels of starch and sugars. If cattle are not properly adapted to concentrate-based diets, undesirable lactic acid-producing microorganisms, such as Streptococcus bovis, can rapidly proliferate and produce large excesses of lactic acid in the rumen. This condition can precipitate feedlot acidosis, which can have serious consequences for health and performance of cattle. Lactipro (MS Biotec, Wamego, KS) is a probiotic drench containing Megasphaera elsdenii, which is a lactate-utilizing bacterium that prevents lactic acid accumulations in the rumen of grain-fed cattle. Lactipro has been used successfully to accelerate the adaptation of cattle from roughage-based diets to concentrate-based diets. The objective of this study was to determine if Lactipro could be utilized to eliminate the step-up period for feedlot cattle, and in so doing decrease the amount of roughage required during the finishing period

Hydrated lime matrix decreases ruminal biohydrogenation of flaxseed fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients for humans, but dietary intake of these nutrients by many Americans is inadequate due to low consumption of omega-3-rich foods such as fish, walnuts, and flaxseed. In contrast, per capita consumption of red meat is relatively high, but these products normally contain only small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Feeding cattle diets that contain omega-3 fatty acids has consistently increased the proportion of the desirable fats that accumulate in beef. Unfortunately, the proportion of dietary omega-3 fats that are deposited into beef tissues is relatively low, because microorganisms within the rumen biohydrogenate the unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids extensively to produce the saturated fats that are characteristic of beef fat. Encapsulation of fats has been proposed as a method for improving efficiency of transfer of omega-3 fats into beef. Encapsulation processes apply a protective barrier on the surface of fats or fat-containing feeds, which theoretically decreases fats’ susceptibility to microbial biohydrogenation. Protective coatings must remain intact to retain their functionality, and physical damage to the coatings that occurs with normal handling can result in poor efficacy because the core material is exposed to microorganisms in the rumen. Embedding feed particles within a homogeneous protective matrix constitutes a potentially useful alternative to protective surface barriers. The matrix is created by mixing feed particles that are to be protected with a suitable matrix material that is resistant to microbial digestion and subsequently forming the mixture into pills. In cases where physical damage occurs, exposure of the core material is confined to the broken surface, and the remainder of the matrix retains its ruminal stability. The objective of this study was to determine if embedding flaxseed within a matrix of hydrated dolomitic lime could be used as a method to decrease biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, thus improving efficiency of omega-3 fatty acids absorption into the bloodstream

Effects of Optaflexx alone or in combination with BoVantage on the performance and carcass merit of finishing heifers

Beta agonists, including Optaflexx (Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN), are now routinely fed to finishing cattle as a means of increasing carcass weight and efficiency of carcass weight gain during the final 20 to 42 days on feed. BoVantage, a product recently introduced by Kent Nutrition Group (Muscatine, IA) for use in feedlot cattle, has been observed to improve efficiency of gain late in the finishing phase. This study was conducted to determine if the actions of BoVantage and Optaflexx are synergistic

Effects of yeast combined with chromium propionate on growth performance and carcass quality of finishing steers

Citation: Vanbibber-Krueger, C. L., Axman, J. E., Gonzalez, J. M., Vahl, C. I., & Drouillard, J. S. (2016). Effects of yeast combined with chromium propionate on growth performance and carcass quality of finishing steers. Journal of Animal Science, 94(7), 3003-3011. doi:10.2527/jas2016-0454A combination of yeast and chromium propionate (Y+Cr) was added to the diets of crossbred finishing steers (n = 504; 402 kg ± 5.76 initial BW) to evaluate impact on feedlot performance and carcass traits. We hypothesized supplementation of Y+Cr would increase growth of feedlot steers. Steers with initial plasma glucose concentrations ?6.0 mM were stratified by initial BW and randomly allocated, within strata, to receive 0 (control) or 3.3 g/d Y+Cr. Steers were further divided into heavy and light weight blocks with 6 pens/diet within each weight block. Cattle were housed in dirt-surfaced pens with 21 steers/pen and had ad libitum access to feed. Body weights were measured at 21-d intervals. Blood samples were collected on d 49 and 94 from a subset of steers (5/pen) for analyses of plasma glucose and lactate concentrations. At the end of the finishing phase, animals were weighed and transported 450 km to an abattoir in Holcomb, KS. Severity of liver abscesses and HCW were collected the day of harvest, and after 36 h of refrigeration, USDA yield and quality grades, LM area, and 12th rib subcutaneous fat thickness were determined. There were no treatment × time × weight block interactions (P > 0.05) and no treatment × block interaction for ADG, DMI, or final BW (P ? 0.06), but a treatment × block interaction (P = 0.03) was observed for G:F, in which control, light cattle had poorer efficiency compared with other groups. Treatment × weight group interactions were observed for overall yield grade and carcasses that graded yield grade 1 (P ? 0.04). Light steers supplemented with Y+Cr had decreased overall yield grade and increased percentage of carcasses grading yield grade 1 compared with their control counterparts, with no differences observed for heavy steers. Regardless of weight group, a greater percentage of carcasses from steers supplemented with Y+Cr graded yield grade 2 (P = 0.03) and fewer carcasses from steers supplemented Y+Cr graded yield grade 3 (P 0.10). Overall, yeast in combination with chromium propionate may improve feed efficiency and decrease yield grade of light cattle but had no effect on remaining carcass traits and blood constituents. © 2016 American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved

Insights into Gene Modulation by Therapeutic TNF and IFNγ Antibodies: TNF Regulates IFNγ Production by T Cells and TNF-Regulated Genes Linked to Psoriasis Transcriptome

Therapeutic antibodies against tumor necrosis factor (TNF) (infliximab) and IFNγ (fontolizumab) have been developed to treat autoimmune diseases. While the primary targets of these antibodies are clearly defined, the set of inflammatory molecules, which is altered by use of these inhibitors, is poorly understood. We elucidate the target genes of these antibodies in activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers. While genes suppressed by fontolizumab overlap with known IFNγ-induced genes, majority of genes suppressed by infliximab have previously not been traced to TNF signaling. With this approach we were able to extrapolate new TNF-associated genes to be upregulated in psoriasis vulgaris, an “autoimmune” disease effectively treated with TNF antagonists. These genes represent potential therapeutic targets of TNF antagonists in psoriasis. Furthermore, these data establish an unexpected effect of TNF blockade on IFNγ synthesis by T cells. Synthesis of IFNγ, a cytokine of Th1-polarized T cells, is suppressed by 8.1-fold (P<0.01) at the mRNA level, while synthesis of IFNγ is eliminated in >60% of individual T cells. These data suggest that TNF blockade with infliximab can suppress a major pathway of the adaptive immune response and this observation provides a key rationale for targeting TNF in “Type-1” T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases

Effects of crystalline menthol on blood metabolites in Holstein steers and in vitro volatile fatty acid and gas production

Citation: Van Bibber-Krueger, C. L., Miller, K. A., Aperce, C. C., Alvarado-Gilis, C. A., Higgins, J. J., & Drouillard, J. S. (2016). Effects of crystalline menthol on blood metabolites in Holstein steers and in vitro volatile fatty acid and gas production. Journal of Animal Science, 94(3), 1170-1178. doi:10.2527/jas2015-8779Fifty-two Holstein steers (573 +/- 9.92 kg BW) were used to determine if oral administration of crystalline menthol would induce changes in endogenous secretions of IGF-1 and circulating concentrations of glucose, lactate, and plasma urea nitrogen (PUN). Steers were blocked by BW and assigned within block to treatment. Treatments consisted of 0, 0.003, 0.03, or 0.3% crystalline menthol (DM basis) added to the diet. Animals were housed in individual, partially covered pens equipped with feed bunks and automatic water fountains. On d 1 of the experiment, blood samples were obtained via jugular venipuncture at 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h after feeding. Treatment administration commenced on d 2, and blood samples were again drawn at 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h after feeding. This blood-sampling schedule was repeated on d 9, 16, 23, and 30. Plasma was analyzed for PUN, glucose, and lactate concentrations. Serum was used to analyze IGF-1 concentration. Body weights were measured on d 1, 9, 16, 23, and 30. To accompany the live animal phase, in vitro fermentations were performed using ruminal fluid cultures. Measurements included VFA concentrations and fermentative gas production for cultures containing crystalline menthol at 0, 0.003, 0.03, or 0.3% of substrate DM. Addition of menthol to the diet of steers resulted in a treatment x day interaction (P 0.21). In conclusion, menthol supplementation minimally affected blood parameters associated with growth or ruminal fermentative activity

Effects of flaxseed encapsulation on biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids by ruminal microorganisms: feedlot performance, carcass quality, and tissue fatty acid composition

Citation: Alvarado-Gilis, C. A., Aperce, C. C., Miller, K. A., Van Bibber-Krueger, C. L., Klamfoth, D., & Drouillard, J. S. (2015). Effects of flaxseed encapsulation on biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids by ruminal microorganisms: feedlot performance, carcass quality, and tissue fatty acid composition. Journal of Animal Science, 93(9), 4368-4376. doi:10.2527/jas2015-9171The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of protecting PUFA within ground flaxseed against ruminal biohydrogenation by encapsulating them in a matrix consisting of a 1:1 blend of ground flaxseed and dolomitic lime hydrate (L-Flaxseed). Crossbreed heifers (n = 462, 346 +/- 19 kg) were blocked by weight and randomly assigned to pens. Pens were assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. Treatment 1 consisted of a combination of 54.6% steam-flaked corn (SFC), 30.0% wet corn gluten feed, 8.0% roughage, and supplement (0% flaxseed). In treatments 2 and 3, a proportion of SFC was replaced with 3 and 6% flaxseed, respectively; in treatments 4, 5, and 6, SFC was replaced with 2, 4, or 6% L-Flaxseed, respectively. Cattle were fed for 140 or 168 d and then harvested in a commercial abattoir where carcass data were collected. Approximately 24 h after harvest, carcasses were evaluated for 12th-rib fat thickness, KPH, LM area, marbling score, and USDA yield and quality grades. Samples of LM were also obtained for determination of long-chain fatty acid profiles. Cattle that were fed diets with 4 and 6% L-Flaxseed consumed less feed than other treatments (P 0.05). Supplementation with flaxseed increased (P 99%; increases for Flaxseed and L-Flaxseed of 0.095 and 0.140 mg of ALA/g of tissue for each percentage of flaxseed added). This study indicates that a matrix consisting of dolomitic lime hydrate is an effective barrier to ruminal biohydrogenation of PUFA; however, adverse effects on DMI limit the amounts that can be fed

Effect of extended postmortem aging and steak location on myofibrillar protein degradation and Warner-Bratzler shear force of beef M. semitendinosus steaks

Citation: Phelps, K. J., Drouillard, J. S., Silva, M. B., Miranda, L. D. F., Ebarb, S. M., Van Bibber-Krueger, C. L., . . . Gonzalez, J. M. (2016). Effect of extended postmortem aging and steak location on myofibrillar protein degradation and Warner-Bratzler shear force of beef M. semitendinosus steaks. Journal of Animal Science, 94(1), 412-423. doi:10.2527/jas2015-9862The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of steak location and postmortem aging on cooked meat tenderness and myofibrillar protein degradation of steaks from M. semitendinosus (ST). Following harvest and a 6 d chill period, the left ST was removed from carcasses of crossbred feedlot steers (n = 60, average hot carcass weight 427 +/- 24 kg). Each ST was fabricated into ten 2.54-cm thick steaks originating from the proximal to distal end of the muscle. Steaks cut adjacent to each other were paired, vacuum packaged, and randomly assigned to 7, 14, 21, 42, or 70 d of aging at 2 +/- 1 degrees C. After aging, within each steak pair, steaks were randomly assigned to Warner-Bratzler shear force or myofibrillar proteolysis analysis (calpain activity and desmin and troponin-T degradation). Muscle fiber type and size were also determined at the 2 ends of the muscle. There was no location x d of aging interaction (P = 0.25) for ST steak WBSF. Steak location affected (quadratic, P 0.13). Type I, IIA, and IIX muscle fibers were larger at the proximal end of the muscle than the distal end (P < 0.01). Increasing d of aging improved WBSF (quadratic, P < 0.01) for the duration of the 70 d postmortem period. As d of aging increased, intact calpain-1 activity decreased (quadratic, P < 0.01) with activity detected through 42 d. Day of aging affected autolyzed calpain-1 (linear, P < 0.01) and calpain-2 activity (quadratic, P < 0.01). Through d 70 of aging, the intensity of intact 55 kDa desmin band decreased (linear, P < 0.01), while there was an increase (linear, P < 0.01) in the degraded 38 kDa band. Similarly, d of aging increased troponin-T proteolysis, indicated by a decrease (quadratic, P < 0.01) in intensity of the intact 40 kDa band and an increase (linear, P < 0.01) in the 30 kDa degraded band. Intramuscular WBSF differences are not due to proteolytic activity or myofibrillar degradation and seem related to muscle fiber size. The improvement of ST steak WBSF through 70 d of aging is partly due to continued degradation of desmin and troponin-T. Calpain proteolytic analysis indicates that autolyzed calpain-1 and calpain-2 may be involved in extended postmortem myofibrillar protein proteolysis

1,2-Bis{bis­[4-(trifluoro­meth­yl)phen­yl]phosphino}ethane

Crystals of the title compound, C30H20F12P2 or R 2PCH2CH2PR 2 (R = 4-C6H4CF3), were inadvertently prepared while attempting to recrystallize a crude sample of trans-Re(Cl)(N2)(R 2PCH2CH2PR 2)2 from diethyl ether. The molecule lies on a center of inversion. One of the rings lies approximately in the P—C—C—P plane; the dihedral angle is 174.53°.The other ring is not quite perpendicular; the dihedral angle is 71.1°. The compound is isostructural with the R = Ph, 4-C6H4CH3 and 4-C6H4CH2CH3 analogues. It is well known that the basicity of phosphines and diphosphines can be altered by changing the electron-donating ability of R; however, the structural parameters for the title compound do not significantly differ from those of the aforementioned substituted-phenyl compounds