Feed Delivery Research Articles

Relationship between General and Spinal Anesthesia and Its Impact upon Breast Feeding: Comparative Study


 
 
 
 
 Objective: To identified the relationship between general and spinal Anesthesia upon breastfeeding and (demographic &reproductive) : Comparative Study. Methodology: The present study employs a descriptive comparative design held at the labor and delivery room , operational room for cesarean section and maternity word in maternity department at Al Emamain Al Kadhamain Medical City in Baghdad city. Data collection was initiated on 2nd January to end of March /2014. Purposive sample consisted of (150) mother and her neonate, The study sample divided into three groups:(50) under general anesthesia , (50) under spinal anesthesia ,(50) normal vaginal delivery and considered control group. An assessment tool was constructed for the purpose of the study, it was comprised of socio-demographic data, mother reproductive history, information about neonate age, weight, Apgar score, anesthesia effect on neonate after delivery and assessment of breast feeding immediately after birth and anesthesia effect on bonding. Results : The main results of the study shows that the highest percentage of neonate age at ( 1 & 2) hours after delivery, , Neonate weight 3000 gm., general group had illustrated low Apgar scoring scale comparing with others groups. Mother choice of anesthesia, odds ratio indicator showed that choice of general anesthesia twice times of choice spinal anesthesia .Regarding mother practice of breast feeding, mother in general anesthesia started breastfeeding after two attempts or more ,while in N.V.D. started from first attempt, for the reasons of inability to achieve breast feeding, all items in general reported failure assessment, also in and spinal groups all items reported failure except in Feeling severe pain after the operation", " The mother in recovery room immediately after the operation", and "Lack of milk flow as a result of anesthesia" which reported pass assessment. Finally, N.V.D. has reported pass assessment in light of preceding part. Reasons related to child", general and spinal groups are reported failure assessments in light of "A child needs to transfer to the intensive care unit, and Baby feeling tired and not being able to breast feeding" items, and the leftover items are reported pass assessments. While, N.V.D. has reported pass assessment in all items. Effectiveness of anesthesia on breastfeeding shows failure assessment in general and spinal group in mother practice , reasons related to mother and newborn, while pass in N.V.D. group. Regarding mother-neonate bonding ,results of effectiveness shows failure assessment in general and pass in spinal and N.V.D. group.. Recommendations: Early mother-neonate bonding appears to offer some clinical benefit, particularly for breastfeeding. Supportive policies are needed in hospitals and birthing centers to help implement this intervention, which might be regarded as "natural".
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Systematic Epidemiological Investigations of Cases of Senecavirus A in US Swine Breeding Herds.

Epidemiological investigations were conducted on a case series of six Senecavirus A (SVA)-affected breeding herds in the United States to determine potential routes of introduction and enhance the swine industry's knowledge of SVA's clinical presentation and spread. Each SVA-affected herd was evaluated using a standard form to ensure that all relevant data were collected. The form was used to guide a detailed discussion about the clinical presentation of SVA and risk events that occurred in the 4weeks prior to the first observation of clinical signs with the herd veterinarian and farm personnel. Each event was then subjectively assigned a risk level of low, medium or high likelihood for SVA introduction by the investigation team. The clinical presentation of SVA varied by case. All SVA-affected herds (six of six) reported increases in pre-weaning mortality and sow anorexia. Vesicular lesions were observed in four of six herds, and mild-to-moderate neonatal diarrhoea was observed in three of six herds. No gross anatomic or histologic lesions were observed in neonatal pigs that tested positive for SVA via PCR. Multiple potential routes of introduction were identified. Events subjectively rated as high risk for SVA introduction were on-farm employee entry (six of six), carcass disposal (four of six), cull sow removal (three of six) and breeding replacement entry (two of six). Non-swine domestic animals, rodents, other visitors, repairs outside swine barns, feed delivery, weaned pig removal and semen entry were assigned a high risk level in one of six herds. Cases occurred in breeding herds of all sizes with variable biosecurity in both swine dense and swine sparse areas.

Synchronization of Dairy Cows Does Not Limit the Behavioral Response to Treatment in Mixed Treatment Experimental Designs.

In many research studies, animals assigned to different treatments are housed adjacently or together in a group. One critique of these designs has been the potential role of behavioral facilitation and synchronization between animals on different treatments in mixed treatment groups (heterogeneous groups). To evaluate this, we compared the synchrony of feeding behavior between dairy cows housed in heterogeneous groups to cows exposed to the same treatment simultaneously (homogenous groups). Twenty-four cows were exposed to each of the two treatments over 21 days in a replicated cross-over design. Treatments were two different schedules of timing of feed delivery: (A) feeding at milking time and (B) feeding halfway between milking times. For the last 7 days of each treatment period, feeding behavior was recorded electronically. Kappa coefficients were calculated for each animal within each group, as an estimate of agreement that any two cows within a group (i.e., each individual and each other cow in her group) would both be engaged in feeding activity for any hour of the day. The level of synchrony was similar for cows within homogenous groups (kappa = 0.31 ± 0.030) compared with cows on the same treatment within heterogeneous groups (kappa = 0.32 ± 0.037). Within heterogeneous groups, cows on the same treatment were nearly 50% more synchronized with each other than with those on the other treatment (kappa = 0.22 ± 0.029). These results suggest that synchronization of feeding behavior does not restrict our ability to impose different treatments on individual cows within a group.

Effect of social feeding environment on the feeding behaviour of dairy cows and their willingness to consume a novel feed

Dairy cows are often exposed to novel situations and may show a strong behavioural response to novel feeds. To test the impact of social contact while feeding and the reaction of mature cows towards a novel feed we compared: 1) animals fed individually and 2) cows fed socially (in pairs). It was hypothesized that animals feeding together would show similar behavioural patterns and a greater willingness to consume a novel feed product. Twelve Holstein cows (parity=3.3±1.3; mean±SD) were assigned to 4 groups of 3 animals (each with 1 fed alone: Single cow and 2 fed socially: Pair 1 and Pair 2 cows). Two feed types were offered separately: a familiar food: total mixed ration (TMR) and, 5kg of carrots topped with 6kg of TMR (as-fed). Each group was observed for 10 d, each consisting of 3 periods: 1) 4 d of adaptation (only TMR); 2) d 5–7 the carrots were introduced to the Single cow and to 1 of the 2 cows fed socially (Pair 1 cow); and 3) from d 8–10 all 3 cows were fed carrots and TMR. Dry matter intake (DMI), feeding behaviour, rumination time, and sorting activity were monitored for each animal. Cow behaviour was observed for an hour after each feed delivery. No differences in DMI of TMR (27.1kg/d) or carrots (0.09kg/d) and feeding time (193.9min/d) were found between any animal eating as a Single or in Pairs. However, the DMI of carrots increased from period 2 to period 3 (0.04–0.12kg/d; P=0.03). In period 2, Pair 2 (subordinate) animals ate faster than the other cows (0.19 vs 0.13 and 0.12kg/min; P=0.05). In period 2, Pair 2 cows tended to select more for medium particles (106 vs 102%; P=0.08) and sorted to a greater extent against short (97 vs 99%; P=0.02) and fine fractions (89 vs 97 and 96%; P=0.05). Overall, the intake of carrots was very low in all treatments, however, animals consumed more carrots in the third period. These results suggest that the acceptance of novel food might increase with the length of exposure. It is also concluded that animals showed similar feeding behavioural patterns regardless of feeding situation.

1622 Evaluation of in vitro and in situ starch digestibility assays

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate commercial in vitro and in situ starch digestibility assays to estimate ruminal starch digestibility (RSD) and rate of ruminal starch degradation (kd). Twelve commercial dairy herds located in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Missouri were used (4 free-stall and 8 tie-stall housing). Fecal samples were collected from 5 high- and 5 low-producing cows from each herd, and samples of total mixed rations (TMR) were collected after feed delivery from each pen (n = 8) or directly in front of each cow (n = 80). Corn silage (CS; n = 13) and corn (dry, n = 9, and high-moisture, n = 7) samples were also collected from each farm. Feed samples were thoroughly mixed and split for analysis. Fecal and TMR samples were sent to Rock River lab for starch analysis. Total tract starch digestibility (TTSD) was calculated from TMR and fecal starch content. The following equation was used to estimate RSD from TTSD: y = 82.224 + (0.185 × ruminal), in which y = TTSD (Ferraretto et al., 2013). Samples of TMR, corn, and CS were sent to Rock River for 7-h in situ starch digestibility and to Dairyland lab for analysis of nutrient composition and 7-h in vitro starch digestibility. All herds tested milk through Dairy Herd Improvement Association and individual milk yield, milk fat, and milk protein content data were collected from test day closest to day of sample collection. The REG procedure of SAS was used to determine the relationship between in situ, in vitro, and in vivo RSD. In situ starch digestibility was related to in vivo RSD (R2 = 0.19, P < 0.002). There was no relationship between in vitro and in vivo RSD (R2 = 0.01, P = 0.45). The Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) uses ruminal starch kd to predict microbial protein production. Actual milk yield was related to model-predicted milk yield using model default kd for RSD (R2 = 0.69, P < 0.0001). Ruminal starch kd was calculated for CS and corn using in situ data and entered into the CNCPS model (version 6.5; AMTS, LLC). This relationship was improved when measured in situ starch kd was entered for corn and CS (R2 = 0.76, P < 0.0001). In conclusion, in situ starch digestibility at 7 h is a good approach for estimating RSD in vivo and using kd from this method improves milk yield predictions from the CNCPS model.

0094 Mitigation of variability in feeding patterns between competitively-fed dairy cows through increased feed delivery frequency

Journal Article 0094 Mitigation of variability in feeding patterns between competitively-fed dairy cows through increased feed delivery frequency Get access Journal of Animal Science, Volume 94, Issue suppl_5, October 2016, Page 44, https://doi.org/10.2527/jam2016-0094 Published: 01 October 2016

0742 Mitigation of variability in feeding patterns between competitively fed dairy cows through increased feed delivery frequency

0742 Mitigation of variability in feeding patterns between competitively fed dairy cows through increased feed delivery frequency

The microbiota in pediatric rheumatic disease: epiphenomenon or therapeutic target?

There has been increasing interest in the contents and function of the microbiota, as it relates to pediatric inflammatory diseases. Here, we discuss the factors underlying the development of the microbiota, its role in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and prospects for therapeutic interventions in the microbiota. The human microbiota undergoes a succession of changes, until it reaches a mature form. A variety of early-life exposures, including mode of delivery and form of feeding, can affect the contents of the microbiota and possibly impact upon long-term risk of developing autoimmune diseases. The microbiota is altered in children with JIA, including elevated Bacteroides genus in JIA as a whole and decreased Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in pediatric spondyloarthritis. Although there are limited data so far indicating that microbiota-based therapies can result in therapeutic improvement of arthritis, most of the data are on adults and thus may not be applicable to children. Perturbations of the microbiota during childhood may result in the development of a microbiota associated with increased risk of pediatric rheumatic illness. Whether the microbiota can be targeted is a focus of ongoing research.

Effect of winter feeding systems on farm greenhouse gas emissions

Overwintering beef cows is a major cost in Canadian cow-calf production systems and swath grazing is a potential alternative to reduce winter feeding cost relative to the traditional drylot feeding systems. The objective was to estimate and compare greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from winter feeding systems: i) swath grazing on triticale, ii) swath grazing on corn, and iii) conventional drylot feeding systems (control). Data were obtained from a study conducted over three production cycles (2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2010/2011) at the Lacombe Research Center in western Canada. Greenhouse gas emissions were estimated by calculating methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from different sources using Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 2 approach. Methane emissions were estimated from enteric fermentation and manure, N2O emissions from fertilization and manure, and CO2 emissions from energy use for farm activities related to feed production and processing, feed and bedding delivery and manure removal. Total emission expressed per kg of feed produced and fed were significantly (P<0.001) lower for both the swath grazing treatments relative to the control treatment. Emissions per cow varied among treatments (P<0.001), higher for control (12.3kg CO2e cow-d−1) than corn (9.4kg CO2e cow-d−1), with triticale (11.0kg CO2e cow-d−1) intermediate. In all the treatments, the largest fraction of emissions was enteric CH4 (69–76%), followed by N2O (14–24%). The contribution of energy-derived CO2 emissions for total GHG emissions was lower in swath grazing treatments (5–7%) compared to a traditional feeding system (11%) due to their minimal energy use. Farm activity related energy use was 9.4, 11.5 and 21.4MJ cow-d−1 for triticale, corn and conventional drylot feeding, respectively. This study indicated that swath grazing on triticale or corn can be an effective alternative winter feeding systems to reduce GHG emissions and increase energy use efficiency of Canadian beef cattle industry.

Evaluation of the likelihood of detection of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus or porcine delta coronavirus ribonucleic acid in areas within feed mills

Objective: To compare areas within feed mills to determine the likelihood of presence of either porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) or porcine delta coronavirus (PDCoV). Materials and methods: Twenty-four feed mills from various regions in the United States were evaluated. Swab samples (foot pedals of feed delivery trucks, bulk ingredient unloading pits, inside the mixer or pellet coolers, mill office floors, inside feed compartments on feed trucks and incoming bagged-ingredient trucks) were collected daily at each feed mill for up to 5 days. The samples were submitted for polymerase chain reaction testing for PEDV and PDCoV. Results: Of the feed mills tested, 75% were supplying feed to known PEDV-positive herds, and 21% were supplying feed to known PDCoV-positive herds. No samples at any mill tested positive for PEDV ribonucleic acid (RNA), although 5% of the truck foot pedals and 1% of the bulk-ingredient pits tested suspect. Porcine delta coronavirus RNA was found on 3.4% of the foot pedals of the trucks, and 2.2% of the office floors tested suspect. Implications: Porcine delta coronavirus RNA can be detected at different locations around feed mills. Feed mill biosecurity protocols need to be evaluated and maintained to minimize the probability of PEDV and PDCoV RNA presence.

Early-Life Events, Including Mode of Delivery and Type of Feeding, Siblings and Gender, Shape the Developing Gut Microbiota.

Colonization of the infant gut is believed to be critically important for a healthy growth as it influences gut maturation, metabolic, immune and brain development in early life. Understanding factors that influence this process is important, since an altered colonization has been associated with a higher risk of diseases later in life. Fecal samples were collected from 108 healthy neonates in the first half year of life. The composition and functionality of the microbiota was characterized by measuring 33 different bacterial taxa by qPCR/RT qPCR, and 8 bacterial metabolites. Information regarding gender, place and mode of birth, presence of siblings or pets; feeding pattern and antibiotic use was collected by using questionnaires. Regression analysis techniques were used to study associations between microbiota parameters and confounding factors over time. Bacterial DNA was detected in most meconium samples, suggesting bacterial exposure occurs in utero. After birth, colonization by species of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Bacteroides was influenced by mode of delivery, type of feeding and presence of siblings, with differences found at species level and over time. Interestingly, infant-type bifidobacterial species such as B. breve or B. longum subsp infantis were confirmed as early colonizers apparently independent of the factors studied here, while B. animalis subsp. lactis presence was found to be dependent solely on the type of feeding, indicating that it might not be a common infant gut inhabitant. One interesting and rather unexpected confounding factor was gender. This study contributes to our understanding of the composition of the microbiota in early life and the succession process and the evolution of the microbial community as a function of time and events occurring during the first 6 months of life. Our results provide new insights that could be taken into consideration when selecting nutritional supplementation strategies to support the developing infant gut microbiome.

Protein separation in carousel multicolumn setup. Performance analysis and experimental validation

To overcome limitations of periodic separations of proteins in batch chromatographic columns Carousel Multi-Column Setup (CMS) has been recently suggested and theoretically analyzed in a previous study (R. Bochenek, W. Marek, W. Piątkowski, D. Antos, J. Chromatogr. A, 1301 (2013) 60–72). In this system, feed and mobile phase streams are subsequently delivered through parallel columns to mimic their countercurrent movement with respect to the fluid flow. All fluxes in the system are synchronized to ensure continuous feed delivery, which however causes reduction in the size of the operating window compared to batchwise-operating systems.In this study to improve the performance of CMS, additional process variables have been considered, such as the flow rate gradient and feed concentration. Though altering both variables allowed improving the separation selectivity and extending the operating window, the feed concentration appeared to be the most influential parameter affecting the process performance. Moreover, a procedure for practical realization of protein separations in CMS has been developed, including hints about the process design, configuration of columns and detectors, and use of pumps. As the case study, the separation of a ternary mixture of proteins, i.e., cytochrome C, lysozyme and immunoglobulin G, on hydrophobic interaction columns was used. A target product was a protein with intermediate adsorption strength that was isolated out of a more and less strongly adsorbed compound.

Short communication: Short-term changes in stocking density did not alter meal characteristics of lactating Holstein dairy cattle

The study objectives were to determine the effect of short-term increases in stocking density and milking on meal duration, meal frequency, and time between meals and to determine the bioequivalence of different meal criterions in a competitive environment. Forty-eight Holstein dairy cows were allotted to 1 of 4 groups (n=12 per group). Stocking density treatments of 100 (one cow per freestall and headlock), 113, 131, and 142% were assigned to groups using a 4×4 Latin square with treatments imposed for 14-d periods. On d 11 of each period, feeding time was recorded for 24h using 10-min scan samples from direct observation. Meals were defined as repeated observations of eating with a maximum of 20, 30, or 40min of not eating between observations constituting the same meal. A new meal was established when a cow was observed feeding and then not feeding for greater than 2 (20min), 3 (30min), or 4 (40min) observations. To evaluate diurnal effects, the 24-h period of data was divided into 8-h intervals (based on milking time); morning (0400–1200h), afternoon (1200–2000h), and night (2000–0400h). Feed delivery occurred daily at 0430h, with feed pushed up throughout the day. A mixed linear model was used to determine the effect of stocking density and time of day on meals per day, meals per hour, meal duration, time between meals, and meal duration 2h before and after milking. Regardless of stocking density, meal duration, meal frequency, meals per hour, and time between meals did not differ. Regardless of stocking density, mean meal duration was longer during the morning and afternoon compared with night. Meal duration was also greater after milking compared with before milking, regardless of stocking density. These results suggest meal length decreased throughout the day, relative to feed delivery, with periodic increases in length due to return from milking. Meals per hour, meal duration before and after milking, and meal frequency established bioequivalence for the 20-, 30-, and 40-min meal criteria. Bioequivalence was not met for meal duration when the meal criterion was increased from 20 to 40min. Short-term increases in stocking density of 14-d duration did not affect the feeding pattern of lactating dairy cows, indicating that mid-lactation dairy cows can compensate for reduced feed bunk access during short-term overstocking. When calculating feeding behaviors, including meal frequency and time between meals, using a meal criterion of 20, 30, or 40min resulted in similar outcomes when using 10-min scan samples. Future studies should investigate changes in other behaviors, such as resting, which may be altered to compensate for reduced access to the feed bunk.

Antenatal care strengthening for improved health behaviours in Jimma, Ethiopia, 2009–2011: An effectiveness study

Introductionhealth systems in low-income settings are not sufficiently reaching the poor, and global disparities in reproductive health persist. The frequency and quality of health education during antenatal care is often low. Further studies are needed on how to improve the performance of health systems in low income settings to improve maternal and child health. Objectivesto assess the effectiveness of a participatory antenatal care intervention on health behaviours and to illuminate how the different socioeconomic groups responded to the intervention in Jimma, Ethiopia. Setting, intervention and measurementsan intervention was designed participatorily and comprised trainings, supervisions, equipment, health education material, and adaption of guidelines. It was implemented at public facilities. Household surveys, before (2008) and after (2010) intervention, were conducted amongst all women who had given birth within the previous 12 months. The effect of the intervention was assessed by comparing the change in health behaviours (number of antenatal visits, health facility delivery, breast feeding, preventive infant health check, and infant immunisation) from before to after the intervention period at intervention sites, relative to control sites, using logistic mixed effect regression. Resultson the basis of 1357 women included before and 2262 after the intervention, there were positive effects of the intervention on breast feeding practices (OR 3.0, 95% CI: 1.4; 3.6) and preventive infant health check (OR 2.4, 95% CI: 1.5; 3.5). There was no effect on infant immunisation coverage and negative effect on number of antenatal visits. The effect on various outcomes was modified by maternal education, and results indicate increased health facility delivery (OR 2.4, 95% CI: 0.8; 6.9) and breast feeding practices (OR 18.2, 95% CI: 5.2;63.6) among women with no education. Key conclusions and implications for practicethe facility based intervention improved some, but not all health behaviours. The improvements indicated amongst the most disadvantaged antenatal care attendants in breast feeding and health facility delivery are encouraging and underline the need to scale up priority of antenatal care in the effort to reduce maternal and child health inequity.

Drinking activity and microparticle size selection in early post-hatching axenic European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) larvae

Marine fish larvae are known to drink water and to feed selectively. We studied water and microparticle ingestion of axenic sea bass larvae at the early post-hatching stage. Knowledge on these physiological processes is crucial for designing effective feeding, particle delivery schemes for marine fish larvae and for the understanding of the interaction and/or association between larval fish and smaller microparticles such as bacteria in aquaculture systems. We found that the fluorescence intensity of accumulated FITC-labelled dextran in the gut of laboratory-reared axenic European sea bass larvae (Dicentrarchus labrax), at day after hatching 7 (DAH7), correlated to a drinking rate of 4.1±0.1nLh−1 larva−1. Additionally, by providing microparticles of 2, 10 or 45μm, each time in combination with reference microparticles of 20μm at an equal particle volume, feed size selection was examined. Feeding bigger particles (a combination of 45 and 20μm) resulted in a statistically higher mean ingested volume (105±104μm3 larva−1) than feeding particle combinations of 2 and 20μm or 10 and 20μm, (104±103μm3 larva−1). Based on Jacobs' selectivity index (D-values), fish larvae always selected for the bigger particles. In addition, larvae showed significantly positive selection towards 45μm particles after 12h of feeding. We conclude that axenic European sea bass larvae at DAH7 fed selectively on larger microparticles and unintentionally ingested small microparticles through drinking. Thus, both active and unintentional uptake of microparticles can be useful for microparticle delivery in early post-hatching marine fish larviculture. These results produce insight into the possibility of feeding with an appropriate particle size for future studies using early post-hatching axenic European sea bass larvae as model animal. Statement of relevanceAxenic European sea bass larvae exhibited drinking activity at DAH7 and our data from the particle size selection are relevant for the use in developing of an effective feeding and microparticles delivery schemes in sea bass larviculture. In addition, unintentional uptake of small sized particles could be useful in the application of beneficial probiotic bacteria through suspension feeding.

Untersuchungen zum Verhalten von Milchkühen bei automatischer Fütterung in einem AMS-Betrieb

Increased labour requirements in dairy farming, associated with expanding herds and a greater necessity for performance-related feeding, result in increased expansion of automatic feeding systems (AFS). Additionally, farmers seek to achieve uniform usage of automatic milking systems (AMS) by offering freshly mixed feed rations several times per day. The aim of the investigations reported here is to record the influence of six times per day feed delivery compared to twice daily, both via AFS, on the behaviour of automatically milked dairy cows. With 4.07 h/(cow × day) compared to 2.65 h/(cow × day), the cows with six times daily feeding were in total present at the feed table over a significantly longer time. When feed was offered twice daily, a larger proportion of animals were observed standing in the feed alley and not feeding. When feed was offered more often per day the milking frequency of the cows in the AMS increased significantly.

Feed handling of lactating crossbred cows maintained in a semi-arid region during the hot season: physiological parameters, ingestive behavior and performance.

The effects of time of feed delivery (14.00 hours; 14.00 and 20.00 hours; 16.00 and 18.00 hours) on the physiological parameters, ingestive behavior, nutrient intake and production of lactating cows maintained in a semi-arid region during the hot season were evaluated. Regardless of treatment, all animals received the first feeding supply at 06.00 hours. Eight cows with an average body weight of 600 kg, average milk yield of 20 kg/day and 80 days in milk were utilized. The rectal temperature, respiratory rate and sweating rate were not affected (P > 0.05), with average values of 38.5°C, 53.8 movements/min and 104 g/m2 /h respectively. There was no effect (P > 0.05) on the eating time (314 min/day), ruminating time (564 min/day), drinking time (61 min/day) and idle time (502 min/day). Similarly, the intake of nutrients and performance of lactating cows were not affected (P > 0.05), with average dry matter intake of 19.8 kg/day, 4% fat-corrected milk of 20.6 kg/day and milk fat concentration of 4.03 g/100 g. Since the behavior and performance have not altered, any times of feed delivery evaluated could be used to crossbred Holstein × Zebu cows maintained on a feedlot in semi-arid regions during the hot season.

Effect of fence-line or drylot weaning on the health and performance of beef calves during weaning, receiving, and finishing

ABSTRACT Angus × Hereford beef heifers and steers (n = 460; initial BW = 225 ± 35 kg) were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 ranch-of-origin weaning methods 28 d in duration: drylot weaning + dam separation (D), pasture weaning + fence-line contact with dams (PF), and pasture weaning + fence-line contact with dams + supplemental feed delivered in a bunk (PF+S). Calves assigned to D were fed a diet formulated to promote an ADG of 1 kg at a DMI of 2.5% of BW (17.7% CP and 0.93 Mcal of NE g /kg). The PF calves had access to native forage, and PF+S calves had access to native forage and received the diet fed to D at a rate of 1% of BW 3× weekly. After the 28-d weaning period, calves were transported 4 h to a feedlot, penned according to treatment (n = 6 pens per treatment), and fed a receiving diet (14.9% CP and 0.93 Mcal of NE g /kg) ad libitum for 60 d before transition to a finishing diet. During the first 6 d of receiving, the proportion of calves in each pen that approached the bunk and ate immediately following feed delivery at 0700 h was recorded by 2 trained observers. Weaning-phase ADG was greater ( P P = 0.08) in D than in PF or PF+S. Receiving ADG of D was greater ( P = 0.01) than of PF and PF+S. Fewer PF calves were observed at the bunk during the first 5 d of receiving (treatment × day; P P = 0.64) among treatments on d 6. Consequently, receiving DMI and G:F were greater ( P ≤ 0.01) for D than for PF calves. Steers assigned to D were heavier ( P P P ≤ 0.14) in days on feed or finishing period DMI; therefore, finishing G:F was greater ( P P ≥ 0.36) among treatments. Under the conditions of the current experiment, acclimating pasture-weaned calves to feed bunks during preconditioning had no effects on feedlot health and performance.

ACG Clinical Guideline: Nutrition Therapy in the Adult Hospitalized Patient.

The value of nutrition therapy for the adult hospitalized patient is derived from the outcome benefits achieved by the delivery of early enteral feeding. Nutritional assessment should identify those patients at high nutritional risk, determined by both disease severity and nutritional status. For such patients if they are unable to maintain volitional intake, enteral access should be attained and enteral nutrition (EN) initiated within 24-48 h of admission. Orogastric or nasogastric feeding is most appropriate when starting EN, switching to post-pyloric or deep jejunal feeding only in those patients who are intolerant of gastric feeds or at high risk for aspiration. Percutaneous access should be used for those patients anticipated to require EN for >4 weeks. Patients receiving EN should be monitored for risk of aspiration, tolerance, and adequacy of feeding (determined by percent of goal calories and protein delivered). Intentional permissive underfeeding (and even trophic feeding) is appropriate temporarily for certain subsets of hospitalized patients. Although a standard polymeric formula should be used routinely in most patients, an immune-modulating formula (with arginine and fish oil) should be reserved for patients who have had major surgery in a surgical ICU setting. Adequacy of nutrition therapy is enhanced by establishing nurse-driven enteral feeding protocols, increasing delivery by volume-based or top-down feeding strategies, minimizing interruptions, and eliminating the practice of gastric residual volumes. Parenteral nutrition should be used in patients at high nutritional risk when EN is not feasible or after the first week of hospitalization if EN is not sufficient. Because of their knowledge base and skill set, the gastroenterologist endoscopist is an asset to the Nutrition Support Team and should participate in providing optimal nutrition therapy to the hospitalized adult patient.

Effects of crystalline menthol on blood metabolites in Holstein steers and in vitro volatile fatty acid and gas production.

Fifty-two Holstein steers (573 ± 9.92 kg BW) were used to determine if oral administration of crystalline menthol would induce changes in endogenous secretions of IGF-1 and circulating concentrations of glucose, lactate, and plasma urea nitrogen (PUN). Steers were blocked by BW and assigned within block to treatment. Treatments consisted of 0, 0.003, 0.03, or 0.3% crystalline menthol (DM basis) added to the diet. Animals were housed in individual, partially covered pens equipped with feed bunks and automatic water fountains. On d 1 of the experiment, blood samples were obtained via jugular venipuncture at 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h after feeding. Treatment administration commenced on d 2, and blood samples were again drawn at 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h after feeding. This blood-sampling schedule was repeated on d 9, 16, 23, and 30. Plasma was analyzed for PUN, glucose, and lactate concentrations. Serum was used to analyze IGF-1 concentration. Body weights were measured on d 1, 9, 16, 23, and 30. To accompany the live animal phase, in vitro fermentations were performed using ruminal fluid cultures. Measurements included VFA concentrations and fermentative gas production for cultures containing crystalline menthol at 0, 0.003, 0.03, or 0.3% of substrate DM. Addition of menthol to the diet of steers resulted in a treatment × day interaction ( < 0.01) for concentrations of IGF-1, PUN, and plasma glucose. Cattle fed 0 and 0.003% menthol had greater serum IGF-1 concentrations on d 2 compared with steers fed 0.03% menthol. Steers fed 0% menthol had greater serum IGF-1 concentrations on d 9 compared with steers fed 0.03 and 0.3% menthol, whereas no differences were observed on d 23 or 30. Plasma glucose was similar among treatments until d 23, when steers supplemented with 0.03% menthol had lower glucose concentrations. Plasma urea nitrogen concentrations were not different among treatments; however, PUN concentrations varied by day. A linear response was detected for BW ( = 0.03), with steers consuming 0% menthol having the greatest BW and steers that consumed 0.3% menthol having the lightest BW until d 30. A menthol × day interaction was observed for daily feed deliveries ( < 0.01): cattle fed 0.3% menthol consumed less feed from d 5 through 12. Furthermore, in vitro gas production and VFA concentrations were unaffected by addition of menthol ( > 0.21). In conclusion, menthol supplementation minimally affected blood parameters associated with growth or ruminal fermentative activity.