SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF CHOICE BEHAVIOR IN RISKY SITUATIONS *

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73591/1/j.1749-6632.1961.tb20178.x.pd

Response of Gestating Beef Cows to Limit-Fed Diets Containing Rolled Barley

In the Northern Great Plains, barley grain may be a more economical source of energy than hay. An experiment was conducted at South Dakota State University Cottonwood Research Station to determine the efficacy of limit-fed, barley-based diets as an alternative to alfalfa hay for beef cows in late gestation. Ninety-six gestating, crossbred cows (age 3 to 11 years; average calving date of May 7) were stratified by age and weight and randomly assigned to one of 12 pens (8 cows/pen). Pens were randomly allotted to one of three winter feeding treatments (4 pens/treatment) from January 15 to April 10, 2003. Treatments were: 1) course-ground alfalfa hay (Hay; fed at approximately 1.6% of BW); 2) dry rolled barley replacing alfalfa hay at 29% of the diet dry matter (Low Barley; fed at approximately 1.4% of BW); and 3) dry rolled barley replacing alfalfa hay at 67% of the diet dry matter (High Barley; fed at approximately 1.2% of BW). All diets were formulated using the 1996 NRC computer model to provide for maintenance of body condition score. A supplement (0.5 lb/d) supplied adequate protein, minerals, vitamins, and 200 mg/hd/d of Rumensin. Rations changed monthly to account for changing cow requirements during late gestation. All diets were consumed within a two-hour period each day. Treatment means were separated using orthogonal contrasts (Hay vs. High and Low Barley; High Barley vs. Low Barley). Cows fed barley gained more weight than cows fed Hay (P \u3c 0.01; weight change of 79, 126, and 132 lb for Hay, Low Barley, and High Barley, respectively). Cows fed barley also gained more body condition than cows fed Hay (P \u3c 0.01; body condition score change of -0.10, 0.24, and 0.38 for Hay, Low Barley, and High Barley, respectively). There were no differences (P \u3e 0.10) in weight or body condition score change between Low and High Barley treatments. There were no differences between treatments in subsequent pregnancy rates (P \u3e 0.50). Rolled barley can be used to replace alfalfa hay in diets for gestating beef cows

Evaluation of Controlled Release Chromic Oxide Boluses and Alkaline Peroxide Lignin as Marker Methods to Determine Forage Intake of Grazing Ruminants

Twenty Hampshire ram lambs used in a digestibility trial were administered controlled release chromic oxide intraruminal boluses to evaluate chromic oxide and alkaline peroxide lignin in combination as potential markers for determining intake of ruminants grazing dormant winter range. Lambs were fed ad libitum mature prairie grass hay and provided .1 Ib crude protein from one of four supplements. The ability to predict fecal output using chromic oxide boluses and diet digestibility using alkaline peroxide lignin were not affected by supplemental treatments. Chromic oxide concentration in the feces was not affected by the time of sampling. The amount of chromium oxide excreted averaged 224 mg/day and was not affected by treatment. The amount of lignin consumed that was recovered in the feces was 97.8 + 11.6%. Predicted fecal output was closely related to actual values (R2 = 33, C.V. = 8.4%). Predicted digestibility and dry matter intake were similar to actual values (P = .77 and .90, respectively). Controlled release chromic oxide boluses and alkaline peroxide lignin procedures may be used to predict dry matter intake of ruminants grazing mature forages

Effects of Level of Concentration on Utilization of Mature Prairie Hay by Steers

A trial involving total tract digestibility and ruminal in situ disappearance was conducted to determine effects of level of concentrate supplement on utilization of mature prairie hay by beef steers. Supplemental treatments included CONTROL (no supplement) and combinations of corn and soybean meal to provide .66 1b of ruminally degradable protein from increasing amounts of concentrate supplement (LOW = 2.16 Ib/day, MEDIUM = 6.28 Ib/day, and HIGH = 10.38 Ib/day). Steers receiving higher levels of concentrate supplements (MEDIUM and HIGH) exhibited decreased intake (P\u3c.01) and digestibility (P\u3c.01) of mature prairie hay. Supplementation with the low level of high crude protein supplement (LOW) resulted in improved dry matter intake (P\u3c.01) and digestibility (P\u3c.02) of mature prairie hay. Apparent dry matter digestibility of the total diet increased (P\u3c.05) as level of concentrate supplement increased. Supplementation with the high level of concentrate supplement (HIGH) decreased disappearance of dry matter (P\u3c.05) and neutral detergent fiber (P\u3c.05) from the rumen and depressed ruminal pH (P\u3c.01) at 4, 8, and 12 hours post-supplementation. Results of this trial confirm the benefits of low levels of high crude protein, all natural supplements on utilization of mature forages and indicate that high levels of high starch supplements will depress utilization of mature prairie hay

Depressive symptoms in asymptomatic stage B heart failure with Type II diabetic mellitus.

BackgroundThe presence of concomitant Type II diabetic mellitus (T2DM) and depressive symptoms adversely affects individuals with symptomatic heart failure (HF).HypothesisIn presymptomatic stage B HF, this study hypothesized the presence of greater inflammation and depressive symptoms in T2DM as compared to non-T2DM Stage B patients.MethodsThis cross-sectional study examined clinical parameters, inflammatory biomarkers, and depressive symptoms in 349 T2DM and non-T2DM men with asymptomatic stage B HF (mean age 66.4 years ±10.1; range 30-91).ResultsFewer diabetic HF patients had left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction (P < .05) although more had LV diastolic dysfunction (P < .001). A higher percentage of T2DM HF patients were taking ACE-inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, statins, and diuretics (P values < .05). T2DM HF patients had higher circulating levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) (P < .01), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (P < .01), and soluble ST2 (sST2) (P < .01) and reported more somatic/affective depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory II) (P < .05) but not cognitive/affective depressive symptoms (P = .20). Among all patients, in a multiple regression analysis predicting presence of somatic/affective depressive symptoms, sST2 (P = .026), IL-6 (P = .010), B-type natriuretic peptide (P = .016), and sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [P < .001]) were significant predictors (overall model F = 15.39, P < .001, adjusted R2 = .207).ConclusionsSomatic/affective but not cognitive/affective depressive symptoms are elevated in asymptomatic HF patients with T2DM patients. Linkages with elevated inflammatory and cardiac relevant biomarkers suggest shared pathophysiological mechanisms among T2DM HF patients with somatic depression, and these conditions are responsive to routine interventions, including behavioral. Copyright © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Factors Affecting Profitability of the Cow-calf Enterprise in the Northern Great Plains

One hundred and forty eight privately owned and operated cow-calf enterprises were surveyed for their production and financial performance measures and the results analyzed for factors that affected profitability. The results of these analyzes indicate that for cow-calf enterprises in the Northern Great Plains, high levels of profit are a function of lower than average investment, above average reproductive performance, lower than average total expenses, and above average market prices for calves produced. Neither high nor low levels of other biological production, geographical region, size of operation, or year were factors that explained differences in profitability. Profitability measured as Return on Assets (ROA) in the High Profit group (18.16%) was higher (P\u3c0.01) than Medium or Low Profit groups and are very competitive with opportunities available in other sectors of the economy. The profit levels in the Medium and Low Profit groups (2.88% and -15.55%) are not competitive with other opportunities for investment in the economy. The long-term financial viability of the operations in these two groups would be difficult without other sources of income or investment

Exploring the Utility of Small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) Products in Remote Visual Stream Ecological Assessment

Many restoration projects’ success is not evaluated (Roni & Beechie 2013; Nilsson et al. 2016), despite available conventional ecological assessment methods. There is a need for more flexible, affordable, and efficient methods for evaluation, particularly those that take advantage of new remote sensing and geospatial technologies (Hubbart et al. 2017). This study explores the use of illustrative small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) products, made using a simple structure-from-motion photogrammetry workflow, coupled with a visual assessment protocol as a remote evaluation and ecological condition archive approach. Three streams were assessed in the field (“surface assessments”) using the Stream Visual Assessment Protocol Version 2 (SVAP2) and later illustrated in sUAS products. A survey of 10 stream experts was conducted to 1) assess the general utility of the sUAS products (high resolution video, orthomosaics, and 3D models), and 2) test whether the experts could interpret the products and apply the 16 SVAP2 elements remotely. The channel condition, bank condition, riparian area quantity, and canopy cover elements were deemed appropriate for remote assessment, while the riparian area quality, water appearance, fish habitat complexity, and aquatic invertebrate complexity elements were deemed appropriate for remote assessment but with some potential limitations due to the quality of the products and varying site conditions. In general, the survey participants agreed that the illustrative products would be useful in stream ecological assessment and restoration evaluation. Although not a replacement for more quantitative surface assessments when required, this remote visual approach is suitable when more general monitoring is satisfactory. Note: This is an Author’s Original Manuscript of an article to be published by Wiley in Restoration Ecology, the Accepted Manuscript is currently available online: https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.1322

Effects of Amino Acid and Branched-Chain Volatile Fatty Acid Additions on in Vitro Fermentation of Dormant Range Grasses

Two-stage in vitro fermentation was used to screen five amino acids and three branched-chain volatile fatty acids as potential additions to a grain urea supplement for cows grazing dormant winter range. Urea addition alone increased dry matter and fiber digestibility of dormant cool season grasses. Methionine addition improved fiber digestibility and rate of fermentation of cool season grasses over urea alone. Compared to urea addition, the branched-chain volatile fatty acids did not increase dry matter or fiber disappearance or improve rate of fermentation of dormant range grasses. None of the buffer additions tested or urea increased digestibility of the dormant warm season grasses. This preliminary laboratory study indicates that methionine offers the greatest potential for addition to a grain urea supplement to increase utilization of dormant range grasses

Effect of Methionine Addition to a Urea-Grain Based Supplement on Digestibility of Mature Prairie Grass Hay

A digestibility trial was conducted to determine the effect of methionine addition to a grain-urea based supplement on the digestibility of mature prairie hay. Ad libitum hay supplemented with .I Ib supplemental crude protein from either a (1) soybean meal, (2) methionine + urea-grain, (3) sulfur + urea-grain or (4) urea-grain supplement was fed to 20 Hampshire ram lambs. Dry matter, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber disappearances tended to be higher with methionine or sulfur-urea supplements over urea alone. Diet digestibilities between soybean meal, - methionine and sulfur treatments were similar. Methionine increased apparent nitrogen digestibility of the diet compared to other treatments. Dry matter intake, urinary nitrogen excretion and nitrogen retention were not affected by supplementation. It appears that methionine and sulfur enhance utilization of mature prairie grass hay when added to a urea-grain based supplement