Factors affecting velvet antler weights in free-ranging reindeer in Alaska

Free-ranging reindeer on the Seward Peninsula in western Alaska are rounded up from late May to early July and antlers are removed. We used data collected from 1987 to 1997 to determine how velvet antler weights of males and females varied with age, year, reproductive status, Julian date, and body weight. Male antler weights increased with age up to age five years, and were lower in castrates than in bulls. There was a significant positive relationship between body weight and antler weight in both sexes. Female antler weights increased with age until at least age nine. Lactating females had lower antler weights than non-lactating females, but this effect is better explained by differences in body weight. Antler weight of individual reindeer at age two years was better predicted by their antler weights as yearlings than their body weight as yearlings

Grazing Systems Utilizing Forage Combinations

Grazing bromegrass throughout the summer provides weight gains of up to two pounds a day during early and late summer. However, during July and August bromegrass growth and quality is low and weight gains of cattle grazing bromegrass are reduced. Grazing combinations of warm and cool season forages allows for optimizing forage quality by rotating to warm season grasses during July and August. Another alternative may be to interseed red clover in bromegrass to optimize forage quality. Inter-seeding red clover would provide a higher quality forage when bromegrass growth and quality is low and, in addition, provide a source of nitrogen for the bromegrass. thus reducing nitrogen fertilization costs. Grazing these forages during the summer when quality is high, and following a winter and spring period of limited animal growth. should produce excellent animal weight gains while reducing cost of gain. Objectives of the research were to evaluate the influence of different forage combinations on summer and fall grazing gains and to evaluate the effect of each of these combinations on the economics of the entire growing/finishing system

Roughage Source and Particle Size in Finishing Diets

When compared to an all concentrate diet, roughage addition (5 to 15% of diet DM) stimulates intake, chewing, rumination and possibly particulate and liquid outflow from the rumen. Roughage addition. therefore. reduces acidosis by diluting concentrate intake and/ or increasing salivation and buffering capacity of the rumen. Alfalfa hay is a commonly fed roughage source. If the use of the fiber fraction within alfalfa roughage is to simply dilute concentrate intake and help prevent acidosis, then any fiber source fed at a similar NDF level should respond similarly to alfalfa hay. Particle size plays a major role in determining ruminal retention time. The smaller the particle size the faster the passage rate from the rumen. If roughage added to a finishing diet consists of small particles, then the dilution effect desired from roughage addition to finishing diets may be negligible. However, if roughage particle size is too large, total intake and energy consumed may decrease due to an increase in ruminal retention. Objectives of our research were to evaluate the effect of alfalfa hay and wheat straw with differing particle sizes on performance of steers fed a high-concentrate finishing diet

Grazing Systems Utilizing Forage Combinations

Grazing bromegrass throughout the summer provides weight gains of up to two pounds a day during early and late summer. However, during July and August bromegrass growth and quality is low and weight gains of cattle grazing bromegrass are reduced. Grazing combinations of warm and cool season forages allows for optimizing forage quality by rotating to warm season grasses during July and August. Another alternative may be to interseed red clover in bromegrass to optimize forage quality. Inter-seeding red clover would provide a higher quality forage when bromegrass growth and quality is low and, in addition, provide a source of nitrogen for the bromegrass. thus reducing nitrogen fertilization costs. Grazing these forages during the summer when quality is high, and following a winter and spring period of limited animal growth. should produce excellent animal weight gains while reducing cost of gain. Objectives of the research were to evaluate the influence of different forage combinations on summer and fall grazing gains and to evaluate the effect of each of these combinations on the economics of the entire growing/finishing system

Lactation in yearling Alaskan reindeer: Implications for growth, reproduction, and survival

Unlike most Rangifer herds, free-ranging female reindeer {Rangifer tarandus) on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska frequently give birth as yearlings (12 months). In other reindeer herds this early reproduction has led to negative effects such as decreased future weight gain and reproduction. We analyzed reindeer data collected on the Seward Peninsula between 1987 and 1997 to determine what effect lactating as yearlings had on future weight gain, reproductive rates, and survival. Reindeer were rounded up during June and early July. Individual ear tag numbers were recorded, females were visually inspected for the presence of a distended udder, and some animals were weighed. Females with distended udders as yearlings had subsequent recapture rates, survival rates, weight gain, and future reproductive success comparable to females that did not have distended udders as yearlings. These findings suggest that the beneficial effects of increased calf weight gain outweigh potential negative effects of early reproduction in these reindeer. This may be due to high quality range leading to heavy calves and the ability of females to maintain body reserves during lactation

'You were quiet - I did all the marching': Research processes involved in hearing the voices of South Asian girls

This article is available open access through the publisher’s website at the link below. Copyright @ 2011 A B Academic Publishers.This article provides insights into the outcomes of reflection following two interview approaches used to explore narratives of the lived, individual experiences of South-Asian girls living in West London. In attempting to illuminate and re-present the cultural experiences as told by these girls, the choice of interview approach became critical in allowing the voices to be effectively heard (Rogers, 2005). This article therefore considers how a semi-structured interview approach offered valuable insights into the girls' experiences but became constraining for both researcher and participant in unveiling the complexity and depth of their lives. These constraints emerged through reflection by both participants and researcher. As a result of reflexivity during the research process, the researcher moved towards the use of research conversations during the second phase of the study. Ultimately the study revealed how the girls felt empowered by the opportunity to narrate their individual experiences and tell of their lives. In narrating their reflections on being part of the research, there was a clear recognition that the process facilitated the articulation of new voices and ‘multi-voicedness’ (Moen, 2006

Degradable intake protein level and forage source and forage particle size in finishing beef cattle diets

Two finishing trials and a metabolism trial were conducted to evaluate level of ruminally degradable N in finishing diets on animal performance, carcass characteristics and ruminal metabolism. Supplementing steers with either.88, 1.34, or 1.96% urea resulted in no difference in dry matter intake, daily gain, or feed efficiency. Steers fed diets supplemented with urea were 5.4% more efficient and gained 6.6% faster than steers receiving no supplemental urea. Metabolizable protein supplied in all diets exceeded the steer\u27s requirements. However, diets containing no urea were deficient in ruminally degradable N. In the metabolism trial, N intake and ruminal ammonia N concentration increased linearly with level of urea supplementation. Diets containing no urea were deficient in ruminal ammonia N. Results from this study indicate dry-rolled corn finishing diets are deficient in ruminally degradable N. Supplementing these diets with an inexpensive source of ruminally degradable N improved animal performance. However, supplementation with urea above.88% was not beneficial. In addition, two finishing trials and a metabolism trial were conducted to evaluate the effect of forage source and forage particle size in finishing diets on animal performance, carcass characteristics and ruminal metabolism. In finishing Trial 1, steers fed diets containing forage had greater DMI than steers fed all-concentrate diets. Steers fed alfalfa diets gained faster with a greater concentrate efficiency (ingredients minus forage) compared with steers fed either all-concentrate diets or diets containing wheat straw. In finishing Trial 2, altering alfalfa particle size had no effect on any performance or carcass measurement. In the metabolism trial, steers fed straw diets spent more time chewing and tended to have higher ruminal pH, lower total VFA concentration, and higher acetate to propionate ratios compared with other treatments. In conclusion, altering alfalfa hay or wheat straw particle size had no effect on finishing cattle performance or ruminal metabolism. However, daily gain and feed efficiency in steers fed diets containing either alfalfa hay or wheat straw was not similar

Implant and Slaughter Time for Finishing Cattle

The use of growth promoting implants with finishing cattle is common feedlot practice to increase weight gain. However, the payout of hormone from the implants decreases with time. As the concentration of hormone(s) in the blood decreases, it is not completely clear how the growth response of the cattle is affected. Trenbolone acetate (TBA, a synthetic product of the male hormone testosterone) combined with estrogen may increase mature body size by increasing lean tissue growth. However. there is limited information available to determine if TBA/estrogen continues to stimulate weight gain throughout a four-month feeding period. Therefore. the objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of TBA/estrogen implants during the final 30 days of the finishing period on performance. carcass characteristics. and the economics of finishing yearling steers

Wet Corn Gluten Feed as a Source of Rumen Degradable Protein for Finishing Steers

Rumen degradable protein supplied by alfalfa, wet corn gluten feed, or corn steep liquor increased efficiency

Evaluation of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Organic Matter Balance in the Feedlot as Affected by Nutrition

A steer finishing trial was conducted to evaluate level and source of dietary fiber on nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter excretion. One-hundred twenty steers were fed one of the following treatments: wet corn gluten feed (41.5% of diet DM), 7.5% roughage diet, and all concentrate diet. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter intake of steers fed wet corn gluten feed were greater than the other two treatments. Fecal nitrogen output was greatest with the wet corn gluten feed diet. All treatments lost about 50% of excreted nitrogen through volatilization. The all concentrate treatment had the highest percentage of phosphorus and organic matter in runoff compared to the other two treatments. All treatments had 65 to 78% of excreted phosphorus and 35 to 55% of excreted organic matter incorporated into the top three inches of the soil. The wet corn gluten feed treatment had the greatest percentage of excreted nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter removed from the pens when compared with the other treatments. Different diets can affect the amount of nutrients excreted and subsequently the retention or loss of nutrients from the waste