56 research outputs found
Dakota Gold®-brand dried distiller’s grains with solubles: effects on finishing performance and carcass characteristics
A 153-day trial was conducted using
345 heifers to determine optimal level of
Dakota Gold dried distiller’s grains with
solubles (DDGS) in finishing diets based
on steam-flaked corn. Diets contained six
levels of DDGS: 0%, 15%, 30%, 45%,
60%, and 75%. DDGS affected average
daily gain, final weight and hot carcass
weight, all of which increased with 15%
DDGS and then decreased as additional
DDGS was added. Growth performance of
heifers fed 30% DDGS was similar to those
fed no DDGS. In general, heifers were
overfinished, with 61% being Yield Grade
3 or greater and 83% grading Choice or
Prime. Backfat tended to decrease with
addition of DDGS, and kidney, pelvic, and
heart fat and marbling scores tended to be
greatest for intermediate levels of DDGS.
Percentage of carcasses grading Choice or
Prime tended to be lower for heifers fed 60
or 75% DDGS
Nonlinear Effects in the Amplitude of Cosmological Density Fluctuations
The amplitude of cosmological density fluctuations, sigma_8, has been studied
and estimated by analysing many cosmological observations. The values of the
estimates vary considerably between the various probes. However, different
estimators probe the value of sigma_8 in different cosmological scales and do
not take into account the nonlinear evolution of the parameter at late times.
We show that estimates of the amplitude of cosmological density fluctuations
derived from cosmic flows are systematically higher than those inferred at
early epochs from the CMB because of nonlinear evolution at later times. We
discuss the past and future evolution of linear and nonlinear perturbations,
derive corrections to the value of sigma_8 and compare amplitudes after
accounting for these differences.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in JCA
The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex
INTRODUCTION
The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities. Variations in human cortical surface area and thickness are associated with neurological, psychological, and behavioral traits and can be measured in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Studies in model organisms have identified genes that influence cortical structure, but little is known about common genetic variants that affect human cortical structure.
RATIONALE
To identify genetic variants associated with human cortical structure at both global and regional levels, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain MRI data from 51,665 individuals across 60 cohorts. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 cortical regions with known functional specializations.
RESULTS
We identified 306 nominally genome-wide significant loci (P < 5 × 10−8) associated with cortical structure in a discovery sample of 33,992 participants of European ancestry. Of the 299 loci for which replication data were available, 241 loci influencing surface area and 14 influencing thickness remained significant after replication, with 199 loci passing multiple testing correction (P < 8.3 × 10−10; 187 influencing surface area and 12 influencing thickness).
Common genetic variants explained 34% (SE = 3%) of the variation in total surface area and 26% (SE = 2%) in average thickness; surface area and thickness showed a negative genetic correlation (rG = −0.32, SE = 0.05, P = 6.5 × 10−12), which suggests that genetic influences have opposing effects on surface area and thickness. Bioinformatic analyses showed that total surface area is influenced by genetic variants that alter gene regulatory activity in neural progenitor cells during fetal development. By contrast, average thickness is influenced by active regulatory elements in adult brain samples, which may reflect processes that occur after mid-fetal development, such as myelination, branching, or pruning. When considered together, these results support the radial unit hypothesis that different developmental mechanisms promote surface area expansion and increases in thickness.
To identify specific genetic influences on individual cortical regions, we controlled for global measures (total surface area or average thickness) in the regional analyses. After multiple testing correction, we identified 175 loci that influence regional surface area and 10 that influence regional thickness. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes involved in the Wnt signaling pathway, which is known to influence areal identity.
We observed significant positive genetic correlations and evidence of bidirectional causation of total surface area with both general cognitive functioning and educational attainment. We found additional positive genetic correlations between total surface area and Parkinson’s disease but did not find evidence of causation. Negative genetic correlations were evident between total surface area and insomnia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depressive symptoms, major depressive disorder, and neuroticism.
CONCLUSION
This large-scale collaborative work enhances our understanding of the genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex and its regional patterning. The highly polygenic architecture of the cortex suggests that distinct genes are involved in the development of specific cortical areas. Moreover, we find evidence that brain structure is a key phenotype along the causal pathway that leads from genetic variation to differences in general cognitive function
Effects of grain processing and lipid addition to finishing diets on cattle performance and blood constituents
Experiments were conducted to evaluate effects of grain processing and lipid source on finishing cattle performance, carcass characteristics, and plasma concentrations of glucose, urea, and α-amino nitrogen (amino acids). Eighty yearling Hereford x Angus steers (847 lb) were fed diets containing either steam-flaked corn or dry-rolled corn, both fed with and without 4% added tallow. In a fifth diet, ground flaxseed (equivalent to 4% lipids) replaced a portion of steam-flaked corn. Diets were fed once daily for 85 days. As expected, cattle fed steam-flaked corn were more efficient than steers fed dry-rolled corn. Adding tallow had little effect on performance. Including flaxseed resulted in performance similar to that with tallow addition. Plasma glucose concentrations measured 2 hours after feeding were higher for steers fed steam-flaked corn than for steers fed dry-rolled corn, and were higher for cattle fed tallow than for those fed no supplemental fat. Steers fed the flax/steam-flaked corn combination had lower plasma glucose concentrations 2 hours after feeding than those fed steam flaked corn with added
tallow (P<0.05). Steam flaking corn increased performance and elevated glucose
concentrations compared to dry rolling,
suggesting that increasing the ruminal
degradable starch allowed for a greater supply of substrates for gluconeogenesis. Adding flaxseed resulted in lower levels of plasma glucose after feeding, compared to tallow
Relationship of blood glucose concentration at arrival to performance and carcass characteristics of beef heifers
Crossbred yearling heifers (n = 394) were
used to compare the effect of high or low
blood glucose measured at arrival on feedlot
performance and carcass characteristics. A
blood sample was collected when heifers arrived at the Beef Cattle Research Center, and heifers were sorted into two groups: high or low blood glucose. The mean blood glucose concentration of the heifers was 57 ± 2 mg/dL in the low group and 78 ± 2 mg/dL in the high group. Heifers that had low blood glucose at arrival consumed more feed (P=0.02), tended to have increased final bodyweight and rate of gain (P<0.10), had increased backfat thickness (P<0.05), and tended to have heavier hot carcass weights and fewer standard carcasses (P<0.10) compared with heifers that had high blood glucose at arrival
Effects of MGA in receiving diets on health, performance, and carcass characteristics
A trial was conducted using 723 crossbred
heifers (468 lb initially) to evaluate the effects of including melengestrol acetate (MGA) in receiving diets on growth performance, morbidity, mortality, and carcass characteristics. Treatments were: 1) MGA included in the receiving diet at a rate of 0.5 mg per heifer daily or 2) no MGA in the receiving diet. Diets were fed once daily and contained 42% steam-flaked corn, 45% alfalfa hay, 6% steep liquor, and 2% tallow; monensin and tylosin were included. Receiving diets were fed for 35 days. After 35 days MGA was fed to all heifers, and cattle were stepped up to common finishing diets. Cattle exhibiting clinical signs
of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) were
treated with Excenel (1 ml/100 lb body
weight) for 3 days. Animals requiring followup treatment received the same therapy. Cattle pulled a third time received oxytetracycline (4.5 ml/100 lb body weight) and Predef (5 ml/heifer). Initial respiratory pulls (73.9% for MGA and 77.3% for no MGA), re-treatments, and death loss were not different (P>0.40) during the first 35 days. The number of heifers requiring a third antibiotic treatment tended (P=0.09) to be higher for heifers not receiving MGA. Average daily gain (deads out) for the first 35 days tended to be higher for heifers fed MGA (P=0.06), but dry matter intake and feed efficiency were not different between treatments (P>0.17). Gain throughout
the 220-day feeding period was 2.6%
higher for cattle fed MGA during the receiving phase (P=0.05). Overall, feed intake and feed efficiency were not different (P>0.50) between treatments, but heifers fed MGA during the initial receiving period tended to have heavier carcass weights (P=0.13). No differences were detected in quality grade, yield grade, or marbling (P>0.23). Feeding MGA during the initial 35 days after arrival may improve
gain and carcass weights
Comparison of concentrated separator byproduct and cane molasses for finishing heifers
We compared concentrated separator byproduct
(CSB) to cane molasses on feedlot
performance and carcass merit of 394 crossbred yearling beef heifers fed for 148 days. Sugar beet molasses undergoes a process in which approximately half of the sugar is removed, concentrating protein and mineral in CSB. Compared with cane molasses, CSB has more crude protein, ash, and moisture. Two diets based on steam-flaked corn containing either CSB or cane molasses at 5% (dry matter basis) of the diet were fed. Feedlot performance was similar between heifers fed the two diets (P>0.23). Apparent dietary concentrations of net energy for gain (NEg), calculated from performance, were similar (P=0.21) for the CSB and cane molasses diets. The apparent NEg for cane molasses and CSB were not statistically different (P=0.20); the NEg concentrations
of cane molasses and CSB were 0.21 and 0.50 ± 0.15 Mcal/lb, respectively. Carcass characteristics were similar between diets. Based on our data, CSB and cane molasses
have a similar feeding value and energy
content in beef finishing diets that are based on steam-flaked corn
Comparison of dried full-fat corn germ and tallow in finishing feedlot diets for heifers
A trial was conducted using 588 finishing
beef heifers (705 lb initially) to compare tallow and dried full-fat corn germ as supplemental energy sources. Pens of 20 to 50 heifers were fed finishing diets containing 1) tallow or 2) corn germ. The tallow diet contained (dry basis) 46% steam-flaked corn, 35% wet corn gluten feed, 3% alfalfa hay, 1.5% soybean meal, and 4% tallow. The corn germ diet contained 41% steam-flaked corn, 35% wet corn gluten feed, 3% alfalfa hay, and 10% corn germ. Diets provided 300 mg monensin, 90 mg tylosin, and 0.5 mg MGA per heifer daily and were fed ad libitum once daily for 110 days. Gains of 2.99 lb/day for tallow and 2.95 lb/day for corn germ were not different (P>0.30), but dry matter intake tended to be greater for cattle fed corn germ than for those fed tallow (P=0.10; 16.7 vs 16.4 lb/day, respectively). Consequently, cattle fed germ
were 3.4% less efficient than cattle fed tallow (P0.40) between treatments. Cattle fed corn germ had more carcasses grading prime (P=0.03), more carcasses grading average choice or higher (P<0.05), and tended to have more marbling (P=0.08) than cattle fed tallow. Incidence of liver abscesses was higher (P<0.02) for cattle fed corn germ than for those fed tallow (4.8% vs 1.8%, respectively). These results indicate that corn germ is a suitable substitute for tallow in finishing rations
Alfalfa hay and wet corn gluten feed levels in steam-flaked corn finishing diets
A 153-day finishing experiment was
conducted using 631 heifers to determine
optimum alfalfa hay and wet corn gluten
feed (WCGF) combinations in steam-flaked,
corn-based diets. Diets contained either 2 or
6% alfalfa hay and 25, 35, or 45% WCGF
(dry basis). Performance was similar
(P>0.16) for cattle fed 2 or 6% alfalfa hay.
Gain efficiencies (P<0.05) and fat thickness
(P<0.10) declined linearly with increasing
amounts of WCGF. For heifers fed 2%
alfalfa hay, ribeye area increased with increasing
dietary WCGF. However for heifers
fed 6% alfalfa hay, ribeye area decreased
with increasing dietary WCGF. Liver abscesses
were lowest for heifers fed 35%
WCGF. Alfalfa hay fed at 2% of diet dry
matter is sufficient for steam-flaked corn
diets containing 25, 35 or 45% WCGF
Steam-flaked corn diets containing combinations of wet corn gluten feed and alfalfa hay: effects on diet digestibility and ruminal characteristics
Twelve ruminally cannulated Jersey steers were used to measure digestibility and ruminal characteristics of steam-flaked
corn based diets containing combinations
of wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) and
alfalfa hay (AH). Starch intake was lower
(P<0.05), but neutral detergent fiber intake
was higher (P<0.05) as AH and WCGF
increased in the diet. Ruminal pH was
increased by AH (linear, P<0.05) and
tended (P<0.07) to increase with WCGF.
Feeding higher levels of WCGF tended to
increase passage rate (P=0.17) and
decreased (P<0.05) total tract organic
matter digestibility. Flaked corn diets
containing at least 25% WCGF may
contribute enough roughage to allow
reduction of alfalfa hay levels
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