Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

August 09, 2010 Bost Conference Center, Mississippi State University. Agenda Part I 0800 - Meeting was convened by Dr. Jeremiah Davis (MSU); chair and host. Following the official welcome and greetings, Dr. Colin Kaltenbach, commented on the necessary steps for the rewrite of the project. Two committees were formed: a) Objective Committee - Drs. Kifle Gebremedhin, Ted Friend, Tami Brown-Brandl and Angela Green; b) Rewrite Committee - Drs. Bob Collier, Terry Engle, and Bob Godfrey. Part II The annual meeting began with station presentations followed by discussion for the morning session. The poster presentation filled up afternoon period. The group met for dinner at the MAFES Conference Center followed by smaller sub-groups held discussion on future collaborations. August 10, 2010 Part III 0800 - The business meeting was conducted following a brief tour of the Mississippi agriculture research station and the cheese making facility. Business Meeting Minutes 1. CN Lee will host 2011 conference in Hawai'i on July 27th-28th, Waimea, Big Island CN Lee and Jeff Carroll will Co-Chair the Meeting. 2. John Arthington will be Secretary for the coming year. 3. Rewrite of project is due December 15th, each station is to submit to Bob Collier their plans and collaboration by Oct. 1. 4. Objectives Committee drafted new objectives; Title: Impacts of Stress Factors on Performance, Health, and Well-Being of Farm Animals. Objectives will be: 1. Identify measures of animal stress and well-being and characterize factors affecting the biology of stress and immune responses 2. Identify and assess genetic components of animal stress and well-being 3. Development of management strategies and/or tools to enhance farm animal sustainability under conditions of climatic change or other stressful environments. 5. Writing Committee will draft a new project with the above objectives. Members are to submit their plans to the committee by October 1st. 6. Meeting adjourned, 1230.

Objective 1: Identify appropriate measures of animal stress and well-being and characterize factors affecting the biology of the stress response. Arizona conducted a Discover Conference on: Effect of the Thermal Environment on Nutrient and Management Requirements of Cattle. The ADSA Discover Conference series was chosen as the suggested format for the meeting because its primary goal as stated in its Charter is to foster creativity, emphasize interaction and open discussion and focus on thrusts that will synergize the development and use of science for the benefit of food animal industries and society (http://www.adsa.org/discover/Charter.pdf) . Efforts have been directed toward a book titled, "New Concepts on Improving Animal Performance in Adverse Environments." The text will summarize information published in journals on environmental impacts on livestock performance and health in one location. Colorado conducted studies on steers to evaluated the effects of molybdenum (Mo) and copper (Cu) on the concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (HS) in the rumen gas cap. Data suggest that 100 mg/kg Mo from sodium molybdate in diet reduced the HS without adversely affecting performance. Study 2 evaluated the genes involved in Cu regulation for pulmonary arterial tissue and liver tissue across species: Angus crossbred steers, Nubian goats and Landrace pigs. The data indicates that genes involved in Cu homeostasis regulation in the arterial and liver tissue are different for species. The effects of restraining methods (snarl vs sorting boards) on blood lactate concentration (LAC) was studied in pigs (Kansas). Data showed the LAC were higher in groups restrained by snarling versus sorting board. In both treatments, LAC increased with increasing duration of restrain. Sorting board would probably be the restraining choice for short duration with minimum effect on LAC. Hawaii, Arizona and New York collaborated on a study to evaluate the effect of hot-dry vs. hot-humid conditions on sweating rates for high producing Holstein cows in the presence and absence of solar radiation at (550W/m2). The data suggest that sweating occurs in cyclic fashion(3-5min. depend the initiation and/or duration of solar exposure. Holstein has maximum sweating capability of around 600g/m2 and skin temperature drives the evaporative event. Illinois studied the use of low cost GPS collar system for cattle coupled with handling and animal training (grooming and positive reinforcement with corn feeding). After two weeks of training and grooming, there was stark reduction in equipment damage and ease of handling of animals as demonstrated the ease of approaching and working with the GPS system in 80% of the animals when they were in the field. Primiparous sows were used in a study to evaluate reliable predictors of thermal stress. Results across all periods (3 weeks of gestation, farrowing, lactation and post-weaning) showed that skin temperatures at trunk (shoulder and rump) and at the extremities (ears and tails) were significant predictors of respiration rates and rectal temperatures(Missouri). A second study on the consumption of 40µg erogvaline/kg/day endopyte infected tall fescue effects on rumen temperature in Angus steers was evaluated under thermal neutral environment and heat stress environment. Endopyte consumption resulted in higher respiration rates and higher rectal temperatures but no significant differences in rumen temperature were detected. In a subsequent study it was determined that cattle with tolerance for fescue toxicosis did not showed body temperature differences related to site of origin (OK Angus vs. MO Angus). Heat stress conditions and endopyte consumption greatly affected feed intake of both groups with greater reduction for the OK Angus. Region of origin did not affect the ability to acquire toxicosis tolerance. A fourth study examined the impact of ergopeptide alkaloids on vascular contractility using Angus of OK origin fed diets: control or 30µg ergovaline/kg BW/d in thermal neutral vs. heat stress conditions. The results affirmed the reduction of feed intake during heat stress and that animals fed ergovaline had lower feed intake. There were no differences in skin temperature during heat exposure but ergovaline treatment resulted in lower skin temperatures (ear and upper tail) in thermal neutral environment supporting that vasocontrictor properties of ergopeptide alkaloids. The fifth study focus on the physiological responses of Angus (Missouri and Oklahoma origin) and heat tolerant Romosinouano in grazing conditions under mid-Missouri summer. There were no differences in respiration rates and ruminal temperature between Angus of different origin but there was a breed difference between Angus and Romosinouano for both parameters. Both breeds shared similar pattern of adaptation from early to late summer periods. Studies with sows with different parities (1-9) showed the emotional state of sows change with gestation stages. Sows in late gestation demonstrated more fearful behavior versus those in early gestation and there was no difference between parity(Minnesota). In a second study to determine housing (group versus individual pens) and parity on pre-weaning mortality, it was discovered that parity 1 sows had lower piglet mortality and weaned larger litters compared to multi-parity sows in straw-bedded farrowing system. Intrauterine infections in the bovine can have detrimental effects on reproductive performance, and Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a primary causative pathogen( Mississippi). Our objectives were to characterize the photonic properties of E. coli-Xen14 (a stably transformed E. coli containing the lux operon), and conduct photonic imaging of E. coli-Xen14 from within the excised bovine uterus. Our results demonstrated that E. coli-Xen14 remained stable with respect to the percentage of photonic emitters with or without antibiotic presence (kanamycin; used to selectively culture E. coli-Xen14), however antibiotic presence suppressed photonic activity. In addition, imaging of E. coli-Xen14 was feasible through the bovine uterine horns ex vivo. Previous work in our lab has shown a high correlation among rectal, vaginal and eye temperature (RT, VT and ET, respectively) using digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) in hair sheep ewes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship among VT, RT and ET and muzzle temperature (MT) in hair sheep and cattle. Our results indicated that DITI can be used to measure eye and muzzle temperatures in sheep as an indicator of body temperature in both the normothermic and febrile state. In cattle the relationship between muzzle temperature and rectal temperature was not apparent in the normothermic state, but eye temperature was correlated to rectal temperature. This study shows that DITI can be used as a non-invasive method of measuring body temperature in livestock. Nebraska developed a model to understanding thermal hysteresis during heat stress. Heat stress studies of farm animals suggest that above a certain threshold body temperature (Tb) is driven by ambient temperature (Ta). When hysteresis is present, there are two values for Tb depending on whether Ta is increasing or decreasing. A theoretical delay-relay model is proposed to illustrate the hysteretic dynamics of the Tb-Ta relationship when Ta is cyclic. Essentially, the animal requires more energy to dissipate heat than to absorb it. A statistical procedure to estimate ellipse for characterizing thermal hysteresis in body temperature of heat stressed Herefords was developed. To find out how much energy is accumulated by an animal during HS, it is necessary to find the area of the thermal hysteresis loop. Pen-day effects on body temperature when handling Feedlot Heifers during Heat Stress was analyzed. In this study, data was taken from heifers in pens located at different distances from the heifer work station on four separate summer days under hot conditions and mixed additive bilogistic models with and without treatment effects using a nested random structure or a crossed random structure were compared. The mixed additive bilogistic model using a diagonal nested random structure with treatments was preferred. This bilogistic model has seven biological parameters: initial body temperature, heat challenge rate constant, upper asymptote body temperature, challenge inflection point, baseline body temperature for recovery, recovery rate constant, and recovery inflection point. Treatment factors were significant for all parameters except the recovery inflection point. Significant pen and day interactions were found for the other six parameters. Oregon determined that plasma concentrations of cortisol, acute-phase proteins and pro-inflammatory cytokines in halter-trained beef steers (Angus, 163+7.0 kg) following i.v. (0.1µg/kg BW) corticotrophin-releasing hormone infusion increased. In a separate study the relationship of temperament, an altered physiological state, and reproductive parameters in Bos taurus (Anugs-Hereford cows) was evaluated. While no differences were detected in body condition score, haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin, excitable temperament led to lower pregnancy rates (89% vs. 94.0%). The effects of environment conditions on shade utilization and pen distribution for dairy cows was studied using 186 cows over a 72h observation period (Texas). The results showed that cows tend to spend more time at the feed-bunk when the THI was low and during periods of cloud cover and high wind speed. Shade utilization increased with decreasing cloud cover and independent of THI. Soil temperatures under the shade was consistently cooler than open lots and the cows chose to lay down where it was cooler even in the night. A collaborative effort by LIRU and Texas Tech University developed an indwelling rectal temperature probe that could be used in cattle that were group housed or individually penned. Use of this automated rectal temperature monitoring device in cattle research will enable more frequent sampling of rectal temperature, while also decreasing labor requirements; and will also decrease error introduced by human handling of cattle to obtain measurements. A collaborative study was conducted LIRU, the USDA-ARS SubTropical Agricultural Research Station, the University of Missouri, the University of Florida, and Texas Tech University to elucidate the bovine acute phase response following an intravenous challenge with an endotoxin. Specifically, the objective was to identify the changes that occur in immune and physiological parameters in beef cattle following an immunological challenge with an E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Our results demonstrated that the bacterial endotoxin induced a pronounced acute-phase response in beef steers. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha peaked rapidly after endotoxin challenge, followed by interferon-gamma, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, and the acute phase protein, serum amyloid A. The data clearly demonstrated that cattle are sensitive to endotoxin and, therefore, high doses (e 2.0 microgram/kilogram of body weight) may not be required to elicit an experimentally useful response. Our results also indicate that body weight, body fat content, immune system maturity, and/or health history might be factors that result in variation among cattle given an LPS challenge A collaborative study was conducted by LIRU, Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center-Overton, Texas AgriLife Research-College Station and Mississippi State University to elucidate the stress hormone profiles in cattle with various temperaments in response to being transported. This study was designed to determine the influence of temperament on rectal temperature recorded without human presence and secretion of cortisol and epinephrine in bulls in response to transportation. Results indicate that maximum and minimum rectal temperature were positively correlated to the temperament of the animal, and that epinephrine tended to be positively correlated with maximum rectal temperature. Additionally, both stress hormones, cortisol and epinephrine, were positively correlated with the temperament of the cattle. Collectively, these data demonstrated that temperamental bulls had greater concentrations of cortisol and epinephrine and also had elevated rectal temperature compared to the calm bulls. Additionally, these data elucidate dynamic changes in rectal temperature to various stimuli including transportation and handling. Heat tolerance for 4 breeds (Angus, Charolais, MARC I and MARC III) of heifers with different hair coat color was evaluated (USDA-MARC). One group had accessed to shade while the other had no shade structure. It was determined that shade lowered the stress levels for all breeds with greater impact on the darker hair coat animals. The absence of shade had no effect on performance. Objective 2. Assess genetic components, including genomics and proteomics, of animal stress and well-being. A single gene has been identified for expression of a phenotype in cattle characterized by a short, sleek hair coat and increased heat tolerance as measured by lower rectal temperatures and respiration rates (Virgin Islands). Introduction of this gene into populations could be used to mitigate heat stress in livestock in areas of high heat and humidity. This gene has been found in Senepol cattle and it has been determined that it has a simple dominance mode of inheritance. The objective of this trial was to compare the hair coat characteristics and body temperature measurements of the two genotypes. Hair samples were collected from the shoulder, over the ribs and rump in a 40.6 cm2 area using electric clippers. Surface temperature (ST) of a non-clipped area over the ribs was measured using an infrared thermometer. Rectal temperature (RT) was collected using a digital veterinary thermometer. Respiration rate (RR) was measured by counting breaths for 15 s and adjusting to breaths per minute (bpm). Individual hair weight was estimated by dividing the sample weight by number of hairs. There was no difference among locations on hair density or weight (P > 0.10) so data were pooled. There was no difference (P > 0.10) in RT or ST between NH and HH cows (38.6 ± 0.06 vs 38.6 ± 0.06 °C and 34.8 ± 0.2 vs 34.4 ± 0.2 °C, respectively). The NH cows had a higher (P < 0.0004) RR than HH cows (52.0 ± 1.5 vs 43.2 ± 1.5 bpm, respectively). There was no difference (P > 0.10) in hair density between NH and HH cows (484.6 ± 41.9 vs 420.5 ± 41.9 hairs/cm2 and 8.0 ± 0.8 vs 6.0 ± 0.8 g/cm2, respectively). Individual hair weight was higher (P < 0.02) for NH cows than for HH cows (16.3 ± 0.8 vs 13.4 ± 0.8 µg, respectively). Objective 3: Evaluate management strategies that minimize the detrimental effects of animal stress. A replicated design with 24 multiparous high producing dairy cows (40 ±1.4 kg/d) was utilized to evaluate a dose range of dietary NI (0, 4, 8, or 12 g/d) in winter acclimated lactating dairy cows on body temperature indices, sweating rate, feed intake, water intake, production parameters and blood niacin concentrations under thermoneutral (TN) and heat stress (HS) conditions (Arizona). The HS environment increased skin, rectal and vaginal temperatures, respiration rate, sweating rate and water intake and decreased feed intake (4 kg/d, P<0.01), milk yield (3.4 kg/d, P<0.01), milk protein (0.18g/100ml, P<0.01). Sweating rate increased in HS (13 g/m2 h, P<0.01) compared to TN, but this increase in response to HS was 10 fold lower than reported in summer acclimated cattle. We did not detect evidence of an increase in sweating rate with supplemental NI. Dry matter intake, milk yield and composition were not affected by NI. Dietary NI increased blood (P<0.07) and milk (P<0.02) niacin concentrations in a linear manner. Heat stress reduced blood (7.82 vs 6.63 ug/ml, P<0.01) but not milk niacin concentration. Reduced blood niacin concentration was partially corrected by dietary NI. Dietary NI increased water intake in a linear manner (P<0.02) in both environments but the increase was greater during HS conditions (P<0.03). Dietary NI also increased skin temperature in both environments (P<0.01) in both shaved and unshaved skin in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01) but the increase was greatest in shaved skin (P<0.04). This suggests that skin blood flow was enhanced with increasing NI dose. Results indicate that HS increases niacin requirements in lactating dairy cows and that NI supplementation partially restores blood niacin concentration during HS. Dietary NI increased water intake during HS and increased skin temperature. There may be seasonal differences in sweating rate responses to HS and NI. Hawaii, New York and USDA-MARC evaluated the behavioral activities of four breeds of feedlot heifers: Angus, Charolais, MARC 1 and MARC III with distinct differences in hair coat, in shade and no shade pens. It was found that Angus (black) hair coat absorbed 98% of the solar load, MARC III with dark red hair absorbed 92% of solar load while Charolais only absorbed 37% of the solar load. Dark hair coat animals spend more time in shade vs. white hair coat and the core body temperature of the Angus animals increased at a rate 2x faster than other breeds when lying in the sun. Studies conducted in laying hens facilities showed that different housing systems and different sites within a housing system (air, manure belts, water source, etc) yielded distinct microbial assemblages (Illinois). Detection of zoonotic pathogens also varied between housing and site of sampling suggesting that environmental factors as a consequences of housing types may influence pathogenic organism. The impact of evaporative pads (EP) on core body temperature, duration of lying and lying bouts for Holsteins housed in cross-ventilation freestall housing was studied (Kansas). Lying times and lying bouts were similar for control (without EP) and treatment. However, EP reduced core body temperature significantly (38.90C vs 39.20C). A study to determine the effect of previous housing on aggression at the time of growing pig mixing showed that pigs with previous exposure to large groups were more tolerant to unfamiliar pigs (Minnesota). The less stressful conditions subsequently led better growth performance. Mississippi conducted a study to determine the potential of omega-3 fatty acid fortified supplements as an energy supplement to provide decreased mobilization of intramuscular fat deposition associated with cattle grazing forages and to enhance fatty acid content in meat tissue throughout the feedlot feeding period. Angus crossbred steers maintained on ryegrass-bermudagrass pastures were assigned to either a control (CON; natural 15 molasses tub) or a omega-3 fatty acid fortified tub (FLAX; flaxseed molasses tub). Our data suggests that the energy supplement provided to the steers did decrease mobilization of intramuscular fat while grazing pastures. A study was conducted to develop a Comprehensive Climate Index (CCI) that has application under a wide range of environmental conditions and provides an adjustment to Ta for RH, WS, and RAD (Nebraska). Environmental data were compiled from nine separate summer periods in which heat stress events occurred and from six different winter periods to develop and validate the CCI. The RH adjustment is derived from an exponential relationship between temperature and RH with temperature being adjusted up or down from an RH value of 30%. At 35 ºC, the temperature adjustment for increasing RH from 30 to 100% equals approximately 10 ºC, while at -35 ºC temperature adjustments due to increasing RH from 30 to 100% average -2.0 ºC, with high RH values contributing to a lower apparent temperature under cold conditions. The relationship between WS and temperature adjustments were also determined to be exponential with a logarithmic adjustment to define appropriate declines in apparent temperature as WS increases. With this index, low WS results in the greatest change in apparent temperature per unit of WS regardless of whether hot or cold conditions exist. As WS increases, the change in apparent temperature per unit of WS becomes less. Based on existing wind chill and heat indices, the effect of WS on apparent temperature are sufficiently similar to allow one equation to be utilized under hot and cold conditions. The RAD component was separated into direct solar radiation and ground surface radiation. Both of these were found to have a linear relationship with Ta. Evaluated effects of feeding additional potassium and sodium on performance and tympanic temperature of heat stressed steers. Angus crossbred yearling steers (n = 168) were used to evaluate effects of feeding additional potassium and sodium on performance and tympanic temperature (TT) to steers exposed to excessive heat load (maximum daily ambient temperature exceeded 32 ºC for three consecutive days) during seasonal summer conditions. Steers were assigned 1 of 4 treatments: 1) control; 2) potassium supplemented (diet containing 2.10% KHCO3); 3) sodium supplemented (diet containing 1.10% NaCl); or 4) potassium and sodium supplemented (diet containing 2.10% KHCO3 and 1.10% NaCl). Overall, additional KHCO3 at the 2% level or NaCl at the 1% level did not improve performance or heat stress tolerance with these diet formulations. However, the addition of KHCO3 did enhance water intake. Independent of treatment effects, TT of cattle displaying high, moderate, or low levels of stress suggest that cattle that do not adequately cool down at night are prone to achieving greater body temperatures during a subsequent hot day. Cattle that are prone to get hot but can cool at night can keep average tympanic temperatures at or near those of cattle that tend to consistently maintain lower peak and mean body temperatures. In addition, during cooler and moderately hot periods, cattle change TT in a stair-step or incremental pattern, while under hot conditions, average TT of group-fed cattle moves in conjunction with ambient conditions, indicating that thermoregulatory mechanisms are at or near maximum physiological capacity. North Dakota examined the effects of exercise on resting blood oxygen levels and maternal behavior during pregnancy in Yorkshire gilts. Gilts were assigned to remain in gestation stalls or to undergo an exercise treatment. Treatment did not affect blood oxygen saturation, though a day effect was shown with saturation fluctating every 2 wks. Exercise did not affect lying duration, but exercised gilts sat less and stood more. The control gilts tended to be more restless. Effect of supplementation of polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA) in Angus steers 30 days prior to shipping to feedlot on average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake and acute-phase response proteins studied. Not differences were observed in ADG in the pre-conditioning phase but the subsequent performance in feedlot, PUFA treatment resulted in greater ADG (Oregon). Gastrointestinal nematode infections cause substantial economic losses in pasture-based sheep farming worldwide. Rhode Island evaluated the effect of vitamin E supplementation on naturally acquired parasite infection in lambs. Twenty-seven spring lambs were sequentially assigned to receive injections of vitamin E (15 or 30 IU d-a-tocopherol/kg body weight (BW) or placebo, every two weeks, from birth to 28 weeks of age. Blood was collected at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28 to determine serum a-tocopherol concentration. Once the youngest animal reached 15 weeks of age all lambs were dewormed and grazed together on a pasture known to be contaminated with trichostrongylid larvae. Lambs were euthanized when they reached 28 weeks of age for determination of parasite worm burdens. Vitamin E supplementation at 30 IU/kg BW increased serum a-tocopherol over that of placebo (P < 0.001) however, there was no effect of vitamin E supplementation on liver (P = 0.804) or muscle (P = 0.16) a-tocopherol content. There was no effect of vitamin E supplementation on fecal egg counts, packed cell volume, worm burden or nematode species distribution. These results indicate that biweekly injections of vitamin E at 15 and 30 IU d-a-tocopherol/kg BW, had no effect on parasitological parameters used in the study to assess gastrointestinal nematode infection. A second study was run to determine the effect of vitamin E supplementation, using the newly revised recommendations of the National Research Council, on lymphocyte proliferation and immunoglobulin production in lambs (in progress). Twenty spring lambs (Dorset and Dorset/Hampshire cross) were assigned to one of two treatment groups receiving either vitamin E (VE, 70 IU d-± tocopherol/kg body weight, n=10) or placebo (P, emulsified base, n=10). Serum samples were taken every other week for vitamin E and immunoglobluin analysis. Lambs were immunized against Clostridium tetani, Clostridium perfringens C and D, and a novel antigen, Brucella abortus strain 19, and the immune response was measured. Total IgG and anti-tetanus IgG were measured by ELISA after vaccination. At weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 the lymphocyte proliferative response to the mitogens concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and pokeweed mitogen was measured. There was an increase in production of IgG and anti-tetanus IgG in response to vaccination (p < 0.05). There was no effect of vitamin E supplementation on total IgG or anti-tetanus IgG production. Lambs supplemented with vitamin E showed a stronger, more rapid, and longer-lived response to B. abortus vaccination. At four weeks post vaccination 70% of vitamin E animals showed a positive reaction to vaccination compared to 30% in the placebo group. Similarly, at 8 weeks post vaccination 90% of animals were positive in the vitamin E group compared to 60% placebo. There was no effect of vitamin E supplementation on lymphocyte proliferation for all of the mitogens tested. Texas determined the effects of transportation on plasma cortisol, corticosterone or dehyroepiandrostene (DHEA) in horses with no prior transport experience. All horses exhibited a pattern of elevation in cortisol and corticosterone during hauling but the levels returned to basal concentrations by 2h after transport. There were no differences between horses transported in individual stalls vs. loose group. Horses who were accustomed to being haltered and tied adapted well to transportation. The DHEA levels did not appear to be useful in characterization of isolation or transportation stress in horses. A second study on the impact of housing, the utilization of shades and feeding regimens under heat stress environment was performed with dairy calves of age 1-3 days for 7 weeks period. Feeding regimen had no effect on shade utilization and calf activities. Activity (steps taken) were impacted negatively with high THI vs. low THI. Calves house outdoors were less active compared to calves housed indoors. It was observed that at 2 weeks of age, calves had learned to seek shade prior to lying down. Calf activity increased with age. USDA-LIRU and Iowa State University conducted a study to determine the accuracy in the time spent at the waterer and the number of visits to the waterer by individually housed nursery pigs between human observers scoring video files using Observer software (OBS) and an automatic water meter Hobo (WMHOBO, control) affixed onto the waterline. In addition, the amount of water consumed and wasted by individual pigs provided with ad libitum access to a nipple waterer was recorded. Collectively, the data from this study indicated that the use of the traditional OBS method for quantifying drinking behavior in pigs can be misleading and that quantifying drinking behavior, and perhaps other behavioral events, via the OBS method must be more accurately validated in future research studies. Perhaps a definition of drinking behavior using actual water ingestion and the notion of bout would lead to a better accuracy with OBS, though we suggest that drinking behavior should not be recorded by human observers but by automatic recording devices. A collaborative study LIRU, the USDA-ARS SubTropical Agricultural Research Station, and the University of Florida, to elucidate the bovine acute phase response following an intravenous challenge with an endotoxin in early weaned and normal weaned beef calves. Specifically, the objective of the current study was to determine if the innate immune response of early weaned calves (weaned at 80 days of age) differed from normal weaned calves (weaned at 250 days of age) in response to an i.v. endotoxin challenge. Results clearly reveal that the age of calf weaning significantly influences the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6) into the blood following i.v. endotoxin challenge. Based upon these data, the innate immune system of early weaned calves appears to be less naïve than that of normal weaned calves. Additionally, the differential IFN-gamma responses indicate that the immune system of early weaned calves may be more effective at recognizing and eliminating endotoxin. Collectively, these data suggest that an altered innate immune system may be responsible for the improved feedlot performance and reduced stress associated with transport previously reported in early weaned calves. A collaborative effort by LIRU and Texas Tech University to evaluate selenium, an integral constituent of glutathione peroxidase, as a vital antioxidant during periods of stress. Given the multiple potential stressors that young calves may encounter in various stages of the production cycle, providing additional selenium as an antioxidant could prove to be beneficial. This portion of the study focused on the performance, intake and overall health of Holstein and beef calves supplemented with 2 different sources of selenium for a period of thirty-five days prior to being exposed to with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV). Our results indicated that supplementing basal diets that contained adequate selenium with additional selenium had minimal effects on body weight changes, dry matter intake, rectal temperature, and blood cell types in Holstein steers in an IBRV challenge model and on performance and morbidity in newly received heifers in a feedlot setting. A collaborative study by LIRU, Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, North Carolina State University and Dodram B&F in Seoul, Korea determined the impact of dietary supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids with or without high protein levels during late gestation and throughout lactation on the performance of sows and their litters during the first parity and the effects of O3FA on the subsequent parity. Dietary treatments were: 1) control; 2) high protein; 3) control + 0.2% omega-3 fatty acids; and 4) high protein + 0.2% omega-3 fatty acids For control and omega-3 fatty acids groups, crude protein contents were 12.3% for late gestation and 17.9% for lactation and were 18.4% for late gestation and 19.5% for lactation for high protein and high protein plus omega-3 fatty acids. The results of this study indicate that dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids alone during lactation improved growth of nursing piglets regardless of parity. However, omega-3 fatty acids supplemented with or without high protein did not affect first-parity gestation performance, although omega-3 fatty acids alone may improve subsequent piglet birth weight. A collaborative study by LIRU, the Food and Feed Safety Research Unit in College Station, and the University of Florida to evaluate the effects of feeding citrus pulp to weaned pigs infected with Escherichia coli F18. This experiment evaluated the effects of citrus pulp on the immune and cortisol responses to Escherichia coli F18 inoculation and subsequent Escherichia coli F18 recovery in newly weaned pigs. Collectively, the results from this study demonstrate that the potentially therapeutic effects of citrus pulp are primarily the result of direct microbial modulation independent of an immune response. Therefore, supplementation of citrus pulp could potentially be used to enhance growth in weaned pigs by suppressing chronic and acute pathogenic challenges; thus allowing more of the ingested nutrients to be diverted towards growth rather than the immune system. A collaborative study by LIRU, Texas Tech University, and Lallemand Animal Nutrition to determine the effects of dry yeast on the immune/cortisol response and subsequent death in infected newly weaned piglets (26.1 + 3.4 d of age). In yeast-treated piglets, growth increased and toxin-induced piglet death was reduced. Immune cells were increased (P < 0.05) in yeast-treated animals prior to toxin dosing compared to piglets not receiving yeast. Suppression of stress-related cortisol concentrations was observed in yeast-treated piglets from before and immediately after toxin dosing compared to control animals. The production of immune agents was unique to each treatment. These results highlight the previously unidentified effects of yeast administration on immune and cortisol responses and the subsequent impact on growth and toxin-induced death in weaned piglets.

Peer Reviewed Publications: Bass, P. D., T. E. Engle, K. E. Belk, P. L. Chapman, S. L. Archibeque, G. C. Smith, and J. D. Tatum. 2010. Effects of sex and short-term magnesium supplementation on stress responses and LM quality characteristics of crossbred cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 88: 349-360. Bingham, G.M., T. H. Friend, P. A. Lancaster, and G. E. Carstens. 2009. Relationship between feeding behavior and residual feed intake in growing Brangus heifers. J. Anim. Sci. 87:26852689. Doi:10.2527/jas.2009-1851. Brown Brandl, T.M., Berry, E.D., Wells, J., Arthur, T.M., Nienaber, J.A. 2009. Impacts of Individual Animal Response to Heat and Handling Stresses on Escherichia coli and E. coli O157:H7 Fecal Shedding by Feedlot Cattle. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease 6(7):855-864. Bryant, T. C., J. J. Wagner, J. D. Tatum, M. L. Galyean, R. V. Anthony, and T. E. Engle. 2009. Effect of dietary vitamin A concentration on performance, carcass merit, serum metabolites, and lipogeneic enzyme activity in yearling beef steers. J. Anim. Sci. 88: 1463-1478. Burdick, N. C., J. A. Carroll, L. E. Hulbert, J. W. Dailey, M. Ballou, R. D. Randel, S. T. Willard, R. C. Vann, T. H. Welsh, Jr. 2010. Temperament influences endotoxin-induced changes in rectal temperature, sickness behavior and plasma epinephrine concentrations in bulls. Innate Immunity (The online version of this article can be found at: DOI: 10.1177/1753425910379144; published online 3 August 2010). Burdick, N.C., J.A. Carroll, L.E. Hulbert, J.W. Dailey, S.T. Willard, R.C. Vann, T.H. Welsh, Jr., and R.D. Randel. 2010. Relationships between temperament and transportation with rectal temperature and serum concentrations of cortisol and epinephrine in bulls. Livestock Science 129:166-172. Calabrese, R, and T. H. Friend. 2009. Effects of density and rest stops on movement rates of unrestrained horses during transport. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 29:782-785. Doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2009.10.005. Carroll, J.A., R.R. Reuter, C.C. Chase, Jr., S.W. Coleman, D.G. Riley, D.E. Spiers, J.D. Arthington, and M.L. Galyean. 2009. Profiling of the bovine acute phase response following an intravenous lipopolysaccharide challenge. Innate Immunity 15:81-89. Carroll, J.A., J.D. Arthington, and C.C. Chase, Jr. 2009. Early weaning alters the acute phase response to an endotoxin challenge in beef calves. J. Anim. Sci. 87:4167-4172. Chau, G., C.T. Collier, T.H. Welsh, Jr., J.A. Carroll and J.C. Laurenz. 2009. Beta-1-3-glucan effect on sow antibody production and passive immunization of progeny. Food Agri. Immun. 20(3):185-193. Collier, R.J., T. R. Bilby, M. E. Rhoads, L.H. Baumgard and R. P. Rhoads. 2009. Effects of Climate Change on Dairy Cattle Production. Annals of Arid Zone. 47(3 & 4): 1-12. Collier,R. J., D Romagnolo and L.H. Baumgard. 2010. Lactation (f) Galactopoiesis/Seasonal Effects. In: Encyclopedia of Dairy Sciences. (revised) H. Roginski, J. W. Fuquay and P. F. Fox, Ed. Academic Press, NY. pp 35-46. Correa-Calderón,A, G. Des Santos, L. Avendaño, F. Rivera, D. Alverez, F. Ardon, R. Diaz and R. Collier. 2009. Cooling and conception rate in Holstein heifers with heat stress. Archivos de Zootecnia 58:231-239 Covey, T.L. N.E. Elam, J.A. Carroll, D.B. Wester, and M.L. Galyean. 2010. Effects of supplemental selenium source in Holstein steers given an intranasal challenge of bovine infectious rhinotracheitis virus and in newly received beef heifers: Performance, morbidity, antibody titers, and blood cell counts. The Professional Animal Scientist 26:82-92. Covey, T.L. N.E. Elam, J.A. Carroll, D.B. Wester, M.A. Ballou, D.M. Hallford and M.L. Galyean. 2010. Effects of supplemental selenium source in Holstein steers given an intranasal challenge of bovine infectious rhinotracheitis virus: Blood metabolites, hormones, and cytokines. The Professional Animal Scientist 26:93-102. Curbelo, J., K. Moulton and S. Willard. 2010. Photonic characteristics and ex vivo imaging of Escherichia coli-Xen14 within the bovine reproductive tract. Theriogenology 73: 48-55. (doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.07.020) Davis, J.D., J.L. Purswell, E.P. Columbus, and A.S. Kiess. 2010. Evaluation of Chopped Switchgrass as a Litter Material. Int. J. of Poult. Sci., 9(1): 39-42. Edrington, T. S., B. H. Carter, T. H. Friend, G. R. Hagevoort, T. L. Poole, T. R. Callaway, R. C. Anderson and D. J. Nisbet. 2009. Influence of sprinklers, used to alleviate heat stress, on fecal shedding and antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogenic bacteria in lactating dairy cattle. Letters in Appl. Micro. 48:738-743. Doi: 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2009.02603. Edwards, L.N., T. Grandin, T.E. Engle, M.J. Ritter, A. Sosnicki, S.P. Porter and D. B. Anderson. 2010. Use of exsanguination blood lactate to assess the quality of pre-slaughter pig handling. Meat Science. 86 (2): 384-390. Edwards, L.N., T.E. Engle, T. Grandin, J.A. Correa and D.B. Anderson. 2010.The relationship between exsanguination blood lactate concentration and carcass quality in slaughter pigs. Meat Science. 85(3): 435-40. Eigenberg, R.A., Brown Brandl, T.M., Nienaber, J.A. 2009. Shade Material Evaluation Using a Cattle Response Model and Meteorological Instrumentation. International Journal of Biometeorology 53:501-507. Gaughan, J. B., T. L. Mader, S. M. Holt, M. L. Sullivan, and G. L. Hahn. 2009. Assessing the heat tolerance of 17 beef cattle genotypes. Int J Biometeorol. DOI 10.1007/s00484-009-0233-4. Gebremedhin, K.G., C.N. Lee, P.E. Hillman and RJ. Collier.2010. Physiological responses of dairy cows during extended solar exposure. Trans ASABE 53:239-247. The Bovine Genome Sequencing and Analysis Consortium (R. A. Gibbs, &J.A. Carroll&F.Q. Zhao), C.G. Elsik, R.L. Tellam and K.C. Worley. 2009. The genome seqeunce of taurine cattle: A window to ruminant biology and evolution. Science 324:522-528. Green, A.R., H Xin. 2009. Effects of Stocking Density and Group Size on Heat and Moisture Production of Laying Hens Under Thermoneutral and Heat Challenging Conditions. Trans ASABE 52(6):2027-2032. Green, A.R., H Xin. 2009. Effects of Stocking Density and Group Size on Thermoregulatory Responses of Laying Hens Under Heat Challenging Conditions. Trans. ASABE 52(6):2033-2038. Green, A.R., I Wesley, DW Trampel, H Xin. 2009. Air quality and hen health status in three types of commercial laying hen houses. J Appl Poult Res. 18(3):605621. Gruber, S. L., J. D. Tatum, T. E. Engle, P. L. Chapman, K. E. Belk, and G. C. Smith. 2009. Relationships of behavioral and physiological symptoms of pre-slaughter stress to beef LM tenderness. J. Anim. Sci. 2010 88: 1148-1159. Haan, M.M., J.R. Russell, J.D. Davis, D.G. Morrical. 2010. Grazing management and microclimate effects on cattle distribution related to a cool season pasture system. Rangeland Ecology and Management. In Publication. Han, H., S. L. Archibeque, and T. E. Engle. 2009. Characterization and identification of hepatic mRNA related to copper metabolism and homeostasis in cattle. J. Biological Trace Element Res. 129: 130-136. Holl, J.W., Rohrer, G.A., Brown Brandl, T.M. 2010. Estimates of Genetic Parameters among Scale Activity Scores, Growth, and Fatness in Pigs. Journal of Animal Science. 88:455-459. Jenkins, S.J., T.A. Cooper, M.P. Roberts, A.G. Mathew, J.A. Carroll, H.G. Kattesh, and C.J. Kojima. 2009. Effects of Syndyphalin-33 on immune function during a Salmonella challenge in recently weaned pigs. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 8(12):2562-2567. Kojima, C.J., S.J. Jenkins, T.A. Cooper, M.P. Roberts, J.A. Carroll and H.G. Kattesh. 2009. Effects of syndyphalin-33 on feed intake and circulating measures of growth hormone, cortisol, and immune cell populations in the recently-weaned pig. J. Anim. Sci. 87:3218-3225. Li, Y. Z., L.J. Johnston, and A. M. Hilbrands. 2010. Pre-weaning mortality of piglets in a bedded, goup-farrowing system. A Case Report. J. Swine Health Prod. Vol. 18 (2): 75-80. Mader, T. L., L. J. Johnson, and J. B. Gaughan, 2010. A comprehensive index for assessing environmental stress in animals. J. Anim. Sci, 2010: 2153-2165. Mader, T. L., J. B. Gaughan, L. J. Johnson, and G. L. Hahn. 2009. Tympanic temperature in confined beef cattle exposed to excessive heat load. Int J Biometeorol. DOI 10.1007/s00484-009-0229-0. MacAuley, A.L., A.J. Weis and R.W. Godfrey. 2010. Hair coat traits and body temperature of Senepol cows based on phenotype and genotype for the slick hair gene. J. Anim. Sci. 88(Suppl. 1):21. Mateo, R.D., J.A. Carroll, Y. Hyun, S. Smith and S.W. Kim. 2009. Effect of dietary supplementation of n-3 fatty acids and elevated concentrations of dietary protein on performance of sows. Journal of Animal Science 87:948-959. Meiszberg, A., A.K. Johnson, L. Sadler, J.A. Carroll, J.W. Dailey and N. Krebs. 2009. Drinking behavior in the nursery pig: Determining the accuracy between an automatic water meter versus human observers. J. Anim. Sci. 87:4173-4180. Moulton K, Ryan P, Lay Jr. D, Willard S. 2009. Photonic plasmid stability of transformed Salmonella typhimurium: a comparison of three unique plasmids. BMC Microbiology 9: 152-159. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2180/9/152 Nevill, C. H., T. H. Friend and A. G. Windom. 2010. An evaluation of exercise pen usage by circus tigers (Panthera tigris tigris). J. Applied Anim. Welfare Sci. 13:164-173. Doi: 10.1080/10888700903583459. Parkhurst, A.M.,2010. Model for understanding thermal hysteresis during heat stress: A matter of direction. International Journal of Biometeorology. Springer. Published online: http://www.springerlink.com/content/gp2x266nx7879503/ Reuter, R.R., J.A. Carroll, L.E. Hulbert, J.W. Dailey, and M.L. Galyean. 2010. Development of a self-contained, indwelling rectal temperature probe for cattle research. J. Anim. Sci. jas.2010-3093v1-20103093. Rhoads, M.L., J.W. Kim, R.J. Collier, B.A. Crooker, Y. R. Boisclair, L.H. Baumgard and R.P. Rhoads.2010. Effects of heat stress and nutrition on lactating Holstein Cows: II. Aspects of hepatic growth hormone responsiveness. J. Dairy Sci. 93:170-179. Ryan, P.L., D.L. Christiansen, R.M. Hopper, F.K. Walters, A.J. Cooley, K. Moulton and S.T. Willard. 2010. Use of bioluminescence imaging technology and lux-modified bacteria to determine pathogen progression during uterine infections in the pregnant mare and rate of clearance post partum. Animal Reproduction Science (Accepted). Ryan PL, Christiansen DL, Hopper RM, Walters FK, Cooley AJ, Moulton K, Willard ST. 2010. Use of bioluminescence imaging technology and lux-modified bacteria to determine pathogen progression during uterine infections in the pregnant mare and rate of clearance post partum. Animal Reproduction Science 121(S):S341S342. doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.04.051 Ryan PL, Christiansen DL., Hopper RM, Walters FK, Moulton K, Curbelo J, Willard ST. 2010. Monitoring pathogen progression during uterine infection in the mare using biophotonic imaging technology and lux-modified bacteria. J Anim Sci 88 (Suppl 2):857 (Abstr #1095). Scharf, B., J.A. Carroll, D.G. Riley, C.C. Chase, Jr., S.W. Coleman, D.H. Keisler, R.L. Weaber, and D.E. Spiers. 2010. Evaluation of physiological and blood serum differences in heat tolerant (Romosinuano) and heat susceptible (Angus) Bos taurus cattle during controlled heat challenge. J. Anim. Sci. 1910. doi:10.2527/jas.2009-2551. Scharf, B., M.J. Leonard, R. L. Weaber, T. Mader, L. Hahn, and D.E. Spiers. 2010. Determinants of bovine thermal response to heat and solar radiation exposures in a field environment. Int. J. Biometeorology. (In Press). Scharf, B., J.A. Carroll, D.G. Riley, C.C. Chase Jr., S.W. Coleman, D.H. Keisler, R.L. Weaber and D.E. Spiers. 2010. Evaluation of physiological and blood serum differences in heat tolerant (Romosinuano) and heat susceptible (Angus) Bos Taurus cattle during controlled heat challenge. J. Anim. Sci. 88:2321-2336. Settivari, R.S., T.J. Evans, L.P. Yarru, P.A. Eichen, P. Sutovsky, G.E. Rottinghaus, E. Antoniou, and D.E. Spiers. 2009. Effects of short-term heat stress on endophytic ergot alkaloid-induced alterations in rat hepatic gene expression. J. Anim. Sci. 87: 3142-3155. Sexson, J. L., J. J. Wagner, T. E. Engle, and J. W. Spears. 2010. Effects of water quality and dietary potassium on performance and carcass characteristics of yearling steers. J. Anim. Sci. 88: 296-305. Wagner, J. J., T. E. Engle, and T. C. Bryant. 2009. The effect of rumen degradable and rumen un-degradable intake protein on feedlot performance and carcass merit in heavy-yearling steers. J. Anim. Sci. 88: 1073-1081 Williams, P.N., J.A. Carroll, T.H. Welsh, Jr., C.T. Collier and J.C. Laurenz. 2009. Temporal pattern and gender effect on lipopolysaccharide-induced stress hormone and cytokine response in pigs. Dom. Anim. Endo. 37(3):139-147. Zimbelman, R.B., L.H. Baumgard, and R.J. Collier.2010. Effects of Encapsulated Niacin on Evaporative Heat Loss and Body Temperature in Moderately Heat-Stressed Lactating Holstein Cows. J. Dairy Science. Chapters in Books: Friend, T. H. 2009. Transportation of Horses. In: N. E. Robinson. Current Therapy in Equine Medicine. 6th edition. Saunders, New York. P 119-123.