Supplementation of Degossypolized Cottonseed Meal in Rations for Growing and Fattening Swine

Introduction: Cotton is one of the major sources of income in southern agriculture. Cotton is the highest income crop in Tennessee and is a leading crop in several other southern states. Because of large scale production of cotton in the South, cottonseed meal, a by-product of the industry, has usually been the cheapest and most plentiful of the protein supplements available for livestock feeding in this area. In the past the use of cottonseed meal in livestock rations has been limited mainly to the feeding of ruminants. Swine and poultry show the effects of gossypol toxicity when fed large quantities of ground cottonseed or most of the commercially available cottonseed meals. Recently, improved meals, produced at lower temperatures and with a very low free gossypol content, have been made available. Boatner et al. (1948), Milligand and Bird (1951), Altschul et al. (1954) and others have shown that these new type cottonseed meals can be fed to chicks at relatively high levels with no visible harmful effects. Unpublished data from the University of Tennessee Nutritional Experimental laboratory (obtained in conducting feeding trials for Animal Husbandry 532) indicate that similar results have been obtained with very young albino rats. The quantities which may be used in swine rations have been re-evaluated during the past few years. For example, Stephenson (1952) of Arkansas has demonstrated that cottonseed meal can be used in a swine ration to make up all or a large portion of the protein supplement. Cottonseed meal has been used successfully in complete pre-mixed rations for swine where its exact percentage in the ration can be controlled. In view of the fact that most of the work using these new meals is swine rations was with pre-mixed rations containing cottonseed meal at a fixed level, it was decided to determine the extent to which one of the new meals could be used as part or all of a self-fed supplement to be fed with shelled corn to growing-fattening swine on pasture. Rate of gain, feed consumption, and palatability were problems concerning which additional information was needed to determine whether these meals could be recommended for self-feeding in swine rations

Binary Relation Database BIRD: Issues of Representation and Implementation

This thesis presents a study of two issues, integrity and homogeneity of information representation, within the area of databases. Treatments of these issues were studied within the standard and semantic database models, leading to the proposal of a new model, the Binary Relation Database, BIRD. The BIRD model uses the binary relationship as the basis for the representation of all database data and meta-data. The inadequacy of integrity definition faculties within current database technology areelaborated in this thesis and were taken into account in the BIRD system. The effects of inhomogeneity of database data and meta-data in current databases are described and the benefits of the homogeneity of information representation in BIRD demonstrated. BIRD was implemented as a prototype database system; using Modula-2, - the implementation and subsequent evaluation of the system are included in this thesis. A simple user menu driven user interface to BIRD was constructed, - the user may manipulate information at any conceptual level in the system in a homogeneous manner. The user is free to manipulate information from any conceptual level at anytime; - BIRD ensures that the database is returned to a consistent state before the next operation may take place. The new model proposed in this thesis fulfilled its objectives, - suggestions for further and implementation oriented work are presented at the end of the thesis

Resource Partitioning in Seven Species of Sympatric Intertidal Chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora)

Space (intertidal height and location/exposure on the rock surface), and food {gut contents) were partitioned among 7 species of sympatric intertidal chitons: Mopaliidae - Mopalia hindsii, M. ciliata, ~· lignosa, M. muscosa, and Katharina tunicata; and Ischnochitonidae - Tonicella lineata and Cyanoplax dentiens. Species distribution relative to intertidal height (-0.3m to +0.9m) showed significant differences. M. hindsii, ~· ciliata, M. lignosa, and T. lineata preferred slopes or undersides of rocks while ~· muscosa, K. tunicata, and c. dentiens occurred on the top horizontal surfaces or in more exposed habitats. Chitons differed significantly in their associations with Lithothamnion, macrophytic algae, Ulva, encrusting red algae {Petrocelis and Hildenbrandia), and invertebrates. Considerable overlap in food types occurred, however, significant differences in utilization of Ulva and diatoms and near significant differences in utilization of invertebrates, filamentous red algae, and Lithotharnnion suggest food resource partitioning. Certain species appeared to select diatoms, Ulva, and invertebrates from eight food types available in the microhabitat. Movement rates, activity, and behavior differed significantly in one tank experiment and may further ecologically separate the chiton species. However, field studies did not find significant differences among chiton species in distance moved, range of movement, and movement patterns

Recognising the potential of large animals for modelling neuromuscular junction physiology and disease

The aetiology and pathophysiology of many diseases of the motor unit remain poorly understood and the role of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in this group of disorders is particularly overlooked, especially in humans, when these diseases are comparatively rare. However, elucidating the development, function and degeneration of the NMJ is essential to uncover its contribution to neuromuscular disorders, and to explore potential therapeutic avenues to treat these devastating diseases. Until now, an understanding of the role of the NMJ in disease pathogenesis has been hindered by inherent differences between rodent and human NMJs: stark contrasts in body size and corresponding differences in associated axon length underpin some of the translational issues in animal models of neuromuscular disease. Comparative studies in large mammalian models, including examination of naturally occurring, highly prevalent animal diseases and evaluation of their treatment, might provide more relevant insights into the pathogenesis and therapy of equivalent human diseases. This review argues that large animal models offer great potential to enhance our understanding of the neuromuscular system in health and disease, and in particular, when dealing with diseases for which nerve length dependency might underly the pathogenesis

How Farmers Learn: Implications for Agricultural Educations

In this participatory action research, guided by a steering committee of farmers and agricultural educators, we examined how farmers learn and identified implications for agricultural educators. Since most educators teach the way they prefer to learn, this research could shape agricultural educators’ practice with farmers. Focus group interviews and surveys with 115 farmers and agricultural educators helped us understand how and why farmers learn and the role of agricultural educators, especially Extension educators, in farmer learning. Farmers articulated a learning process that relies mostly on first-hand experiences motivated by saving time and money, learning about cutting edge research, and engaging in the social aspects of education. We also discovered that: a) differences exist in agricultural education needs among types of farmer groups, b) farmers enjoy peer teaching, c) farmers find value in participatory research, d) farmers desire more comprehensive educational programs, and e) farmers want educators to embrace the changing nature of agriculture. Implications of the findings for practice and research are suggested

Consistency and Change in Participatory Action Research: Reflections on a Focus Group Study about How Farmers Learn

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on our efforts to balance consistency in our multi-year participatory action research study with the need to adapt our research protocol to what we are learning along the way. While both are important, we share several examples of how our flexibility and openness to adapt our protocol to our research findings has lead to methodological refinements and serendipitous learnings. We discuss implications for both agricultural education and research

How Farmers Learn: Implications for Agricultural Educators

In this participatory action research, guided by a steering committee of farmers and agricultural educators, we examined how farmers learn and identified implications for agricultural educators. Since most educators teach the way they prefer to learn, this research could shape agricultural educators’ practice with farmers. Focus group interviews and surveys with 115 farmers and agricultural educators helped us understand how and why farmers learn and the role of agricultural educators, especially Extension educators, in farmer learning. Farmers articulated a learning process that relies mostly on first-hand experiences motivated by saving time and money, learning about cutting edge research, and engaging in the social aspects of education. We also discovered that: a) differences exist in agricultural education needs among types of farmer groups, b) farmers enjoy peer teaching, c) farmers find value in participatory research, d) farmers desire more comprehensive educational programs, and e) farmers want educators to embrace the changing nature of agriculture. Implications of the findings for practice and research are suggested

Farmer, Agent, and Specialist Perspectives on Preferences for Learning Among Today\u27s Farmers

Few studies have examined the types of educational delivery methods preferred by farmers (Eckert & Bell, 2005; Eckert & Bell, 2006). The research project reported here explored the preferred learning methods of farmers in Louisiana, Tennessee, and Virginia. Data on learning methods collected directly from farmers were compared with preferred teaching methods of Extension agents and specialists. The findings should shape agent and specialist perspectives on appropriate educational delivery methods when educating farmers and working towards farmer adoption of new practices

Consistency and Change in Participatory Action Research: Reflections on a Focus Group Study about How Farmers Learn

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on our efforts to balance consistency in our multi-year participatory action research study with the need to adapt our research protocol to what we are learning along the way. While both are important, we share several examples of how our flexibility and openness to adapt our protocol to our research findings has lead to methodological refinements and serendipitous learnings. We discuss implications for both agricultural education and research