Outreach Center Research Articles

Spatial distribution and fixed-precision sequential sampling plans for Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) adults in primocane raspberry: influence of foliar insecticides.

The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), an invasive species from northern Japan, was first detected in Minnesota in 1968. According to fruit growers and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, population size and feeding damage has been an increasing concern since 2010. Based on trap-catch data, populations have recently exceeded 4,000 beetles/trap/week during July-August near raspberry fields, and can increase by an order of magnitude within 7-10 days. The primary goals of this study were to assess the spatial distribution of P. japonica adults in raspberry, and to develop and validate a practical fixed-precision sequential sampling plan for grower use. Taylor's Power Law (TPL) regression was used to characterize the beetle's spatial pattern in research plots and commercial fields, either with or without insecticide applications. We then used Green's plan to develop an enumerative sequential sampling plan to estimate P. japonica density in primocane raspberry. Beetle population data were collected at two locations in southern Minnesota, including the Rosemount Research and Outreach Center, and a commercial field near Forest Lake. The TPL results, via slope comparisons, indicated no significant differences in P. japonica spatial pattern between insecticide treated plots versus untreated plots, or among 4 different insecticides (P>0.05). Utilizing all spatial pattern data, we characterized the distribution of P. japonica beetles to be highly aggregated in raspberry, with TPL slopes ranging from b = 1.38 to 1.55; all slopes were found to be >1.0. Although the slopes were not significantly different, we accounted for variability in spatial pattern by using 33 independent data sets, and the Resampling for Validation of Sampling Plans (RVSP) model to validate a sampling plan with a final average precision level of 0.25 (SEM/mean), recommended for integrated pest management (IPM) purposes. The final sampling plan required an average sample number of only 15, 1-m-row samples, while providing high relative net precision (RNP), and thus a cost-effective, efficient sample plan for growers.

PSXI-25 Re-characterizing beef cattle water intake

Abstract In the face of a changing climate and growing population, sustainable use of freshwater resources is paramount. Animal agriculture is often viewed as an antagonistic force working against freshwater resource preservation. However, assumptions of water use in beef cattle have cause to be reevaluated. The current published standards for beef cattle water intake were developed from data collected in 1956. Rapid genetic advancement in performance and increasing pressure on animal agriculture to reduce water usage demand that the water intake profiles of cattle be recharacterized. Recently, advancements in water monitoring technologies have granted researchers access to highly informative water intake data. In 2019, we installed RFID-enabled front-end weighing positions equipped with custom metered waterers at our West Virginia University (WVU) Reymann Memorial Research, Outreach, and Education Center (REOC) in Wardensville, WV. In 2022, we installed the same system at the WVU Animal Sciences REOC in Morgantown, WV. These systems allowed us to collect daily body weight (BW) and water intake data on individual animals. From 2019-07-08 to 2024-02-16, 2,020 animals have been evaluated for individual daily BW, feed intake, and water intake at our research locations. Data were collected on animals consigned to the Wardensville Young Sire Performance test by regional beef cattle producers or sourced for research. In total, 1,055 d of data were collected, with data collected during every month, resulting in 149,292 unique daily water intake measurements. Eleven breeds (Angus, Limousin, Angus cross bred, Charolais, SimAngus, Hereford, Simmental, Charolais cross bred, Black Hereford, Akaushi, and Red Angus) were evaluated. The maximum, minimum, and mean age for all animals was 753, 162, and 343 d, respectively. In total, water intake data from 1,255 bulls, 434 steers, and 331 heifers were collected (Table). Our large, highly granular database of individual animal daily water intake has allowed us to generate profiles of water intake for large segments of beef cattle. These findings will aid in the re-standardization of expected water intakes and the improvement of beef cattle sustainability.

188 Prediction of individual grazing beef cattle dry matter intake

Abstract Estimation of individual dry matter intake (DMI) of pastured beef cattle is critical to grassland management, genetic improvement of efficiency, and increasing the sustainability of animal agriculture. Currently, the only way to measure individual DMI of grazing cattle is through expensive, labor intensive, and spatially demanding research protocol. Very few options for assessment of individual DMI of grazing animals exist for cattle producers. We have developed a machine learning approach to predicting individual DMI of pastured beef cattle that requires only body weight (BW), water intake, and open-source climate variables. Training data were collected in Wardensville, WV at the West Virginia University Research, Outreach, and Education Center. Crossbred steers (n = 32) were phenotyped for Residual Feed Intake (RFI) in the barn. Animals were split into four groups of two low RFI and two high RFI. After a grazing acclimation period, animal groups were rotationally grazed concurrently through 0.05 ha plots for 7 d. Daily BW and water intake data were collected throughout the experiment using an RFID-equipped front-end scale and metered waterers. Beginning on d 2, animals were provided a bolus of Cr2O3 (10 g) at 0700 and 1900 h. Beginning on d 5, fecal samples were collected from each animal at 0700 and 1900 h. Samples were analyzed for Cr2O3 content and used in conjunction with forage digestibility from paired clipped samples to generate individual intakes. These data were used as ground truth data to assess model performance. We used our Repeated Measures Random Forest (RMRF) model to predict individual DMI of animals using daily BW, water intake, and climate variables. Intakes estimated by RMRF were compared with intakes estimated by NASEM equations. Our model outperformed NASEM predictions by 70%, indicating that our method achieves better results than the current most efficient approach. Though iterative model improvements will be made (collection of more training data, collection of more diverse training data, and use of first-differenced, moving average, and seasonally adjusted variables), our work demonstrates a novel, efficient method for researchers and producers to more accurately estimate DMI of individual pastured beef cattle.

The LTAR Cropland Common Experiment at Upper Mississippi River Basin-St. Paul.

The Soil and Water Management Research Unit of the USDA-Agricultural Research Service is located in St. Paul, MN, and conducts long-term research at the University of Minnesota Research and Outreach Center located at Rosemount, MN. As part of USDA's Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network, the croplands common experiment (CCE) at this location is focused on integration of a kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.) living mulch (KCLM) system into the prevailing 2-year rotation of corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) that is typical of the midwestern Corn Belt. The LTAR-CCE conducted at Rosemount, MN, aims to compare the long-term environmental and agronomic performance of KCLM while identifying challenges and developing management strategies for this alternative practice. The use of a living mulch for this region is advantageous because, once established, it does not require additional time for fall field operations typically associated with winter cover crops. Results from LTAR-CCE studies at this site show that KCLM results in a substantial increase in soil field-saturated hydraulic conductivity and decreases in leaching of nitrate-nitrogen (NO3 --N). Disadvantages of the KCLM system include potential for increased emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and reduced crop yields, particularly during drought. Also, the optimal approach for crop row establishment in the spring remains uncertain. Ongoing LTAR-CCE research with KCLM aims to better understand and quantify both benefits and risks across conditions of interannual weather variability and changing climate to develop guidance for suitable adoption and management of this alternative practice.

Regev, a New Hybrid Fungicide for Control of Cercospora Leaf Spot on Sugar Beet

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) is one of the most yield-limiting foliar disease of sugar beet in the United States. Standard practices to control this disease include selection of tolerant varieties, crop rotations, and reliance on fungicides. However, genetic resistance still requires some fungicides for acceptable control under high disease pressure, and there are only a limited number of fungicides registered for control of this disease. Regev® is a newly registered hybrid fungicide for sugar beet disease control that contains eight biological active ingredients from tea tree oil (TTO) and one active ingredient from the synthetic fungicide, difenoconazole. Tea tree oil provides a new and unique mode of activity against both fungal and bacterial plant pathogens, and it has a low resistance risk. Eight trials were conducted to evaluate Regev for efficacy against Cercospora leafspot, and sugar beet yield and quality benefits in Minnesota and Michigan. Five of the trials had slightly different treatments with the primary goal of allowing trialists to conduct trials with treatments that were appropriate for their locations. However, one of the trials at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center (NWROC) of the University of Minnesota in Crookston, Minnesota, was conducted three times over the years 2021, 2022, and 2023. Across the eight trials, spray programs that included Regev provided control of Cercospora leaf spot equal to standard fungicide programs.

Reasons for disposal and cull cow value of Holstein cows compared with Holstein, Jersey, Montbéliarde, Normande, and Viking Red crossbred cows

Cull cows from dairy farms in the United States account for 10% of the beef market; however, few studies have evaluated the effects of crossbreeding on reasons for disposal and cull value of dairy cows. The objective of the study was to compare reasons for disposal and cull cow value of Holstein and crossbred cows (n = 1,292) in an experimental dairy herd at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center (Morris, MN). Cows were Holstein (n = 272), 1964 genetic control Holstein (n = 161), 3-breed crossbred cows (n = 538) composed of the Montbéliarde, Viking Red, and Holstein (MVH) breeds, and 3-breed crossbred cows (n = 321) composed of the Normande, Jersey, and Viking Red (NJV) breeds. The 1964 genetic control Holstein cows originated from a design initiated at the University of Minnesota for comparison of the 1964 Holstein and contemporary Holstein cows selected for production across time. Records spanned from January 2010 to December 2023. Reasons for disposal were recorded in PCDart Herd Management Software, and cull value and body weight were obtained from receipts from livestock cull markets. For all cows, the primary reasons for disposal were as follows: reproduction (44.4%), mastitis (18%), other reasons (14.6%), death (10.3%), dairy purposes (8.4%), and low production (4.3%). Independent variables for statistical analysis of cull value were the fixed effects of body weight at time of culling, DIM at culling (0-49 DIM, 50-99 DIM, 100-149 DIM, 150-199 DIM, 200-249 DIM, 250-299 DIM, 300-350 DIM, and >350 DIM), year (2010-2023), season (spring, summer, autumn, winter), parity (1, 2, 3, 4, 5+), primary reason for culling, breed group, and sire breed group nested within breed group. Least squares means for body weight at culling was 558 kg for Holsteins, 543 kg for 1964 Holsteins, 551 kg for MVH crossbred cows, and 499 kg for NJV crossbred cows. For the analysis across time, 2014 had the highest cull value ($1,126.98), and 2020 had the lowest gross cull value ($515.21). Cows culled at greater than 300 DIM had the highest cull value and cows culled at less than 50 DIM had the lowest cull value. Cows culled during the spring and summer had higher cull value compared with cows culled during the autumn and winter. The Holstein cows ($730.04) had lower gross value compared with 1964 Holsteins ($804.38) cows and MVH ($767.39) cows. The NJV ($771.39) cows were not different from crossbreds sired by Montbéliarde, Viking Red, and Holstein bulls. Results for comparisons of breed group are from one experimental herd, so inferences to the wider dairy cow population should be undertaken with caution. In summary, dairy producers may receive greater cull value from crossbred cows compared with Holstein cows.

Impacts of feeding milk replacer supplemented with increasing concentrations of choline on feed intake, growth, and scouring incidence for 7 weeks preweaning and 1-week postweaning.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of increasing choline supplementation on the intake of milk replacer (MR) and calf starter (CS), growth performance, and fecal scores of calves over 8 weeks. One hundred calves from commercial herds were transported to the University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center (SROC) calf facility randomized to one of 4 treatments differing in choline supplementation within MR including: 0 (C0; n = 24), 700 (C700; n = 26), 1400 (C1400; n = 25), and 2100 mg/kg choline (C2100; n = 25). MR contained a basal concentration of 1650 mg/kg MR resulting in total choline concentrations in the MR of 1650 mg/kg for C0 was, 2350 mg/kg for C700 was, 3050 mg/kg for C1400, and 3750 mg/kg for C2100. Calves were weaned at 49 d, and the trial ended at 56 d. Body weight (BW) was measured at d 0, 14, 28, 42, 49 and 56. Fecal scores were measured weekly. Feed intake was measured daily and calculated bi-weekly. All feeding, body weight measurements, and fecal scoring were conducted by the research staff at the University of Minnesota SROC. Growth, feed intake, and gain to feed ratio were analyzed using a linear mixed effects model with choline concentration as a fixed effect and source herd and room as random effects. Initial body weight was included as a covariate for average daily gain. Fecal scores were analyzed as a chi-squared test of significance. Feeding 700 mg/kg supplemental choline increased MR intake throughout the preweaning period and increased ADG in both the preweaning and postweaning periods compared with the other treatments. No differences were observed for fecal scores across treatments. Results suggest that calf performance can be improved with MR containing 2350 mg/kg choline, contrasting with current NASEM (2021) requirements of 1000 mg/kg.

The Defensive Behaviors and Milk Production of Pastured Dairy Cattle in Response to Stable Flies, Horn Flies, and Face Flies.

Thirty-four crossbred dairy cows were observed on pasture six times per week from June to August 2014 at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center grazing dairy in Morris, MN, for defensive behaviors in response to three species of muscid flies. Counts of stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans (L.)), horn flies (Haematobia irritans (L.)), and face flies (Musca autumnalis DeGeer) were recorded before and after pasture observation. Individual cows were monitored for 5 min intervals to observe the frequencies of five different defensive behaviors: front and back leg stomps, head tosses, skin twitches, and tail swishes. Fly numbers averaged 5 stable flies per leg, 37 horn flies per side, and 1 face fly per face during the study. The fly counts and behavior frequencies increased with ambient temperature. The results showed a very strong relationship between the numbers of flies and numbers of defensive behaviors, though correlations between specific flies and behaviors were low. Younger cows had fewer stable flies and horn flies than older cows. The thresholds of flies to lower production for pastured organic dairy cows may be greater than 5 for stable flies, 37 for horn flies, and 1 for face flies.

Cost Analysis of Physical Therapy Clinic In Thailand: The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak

Objective: The aim of the study was to identify the financial burden and compare the unit costs that Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) imposed on a physical therapy clinic that are one of the primary forms of healthcare facilities in Thailand.Design and Setting: The study was a retrospective study conducted at the physical therapy clinic, Khon Kaen University Community Outreach Center (KKUCOMOC) in Thailand. To assess the impact of the outbreak, the service unit was divided into two units: physical therapy (PT) and Thai massage (TM), and the annual report for the 2019-2021 fiscal year was analyzed as representative of before and during an outbreak. The study tool was the Handbook of Unit Cost Analysis from the Office of the Permanent Secretary. Revenue, expenses, and the number of patient visits were all gathered. The data was then analyzed and summarized using Microsoft Excel programs, and descriptive statistics were presented. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic not only reduced the number of patient visits but also the revenue. During the pandemic, the percentage of expense to the facility’s revenue increased in both units. Labor, material, and capital costs were the major cost components, with labor costs accounting for the majority of direct costs. The first emerged in the 2020 fiscal year, resulting in an increase in PT's and TM's unit costs of 26.66% ($US10.24 to $US12.97) and 22.69% ($US6.92 to $US8.49), respectively. Following that, it continued to rise in both units throughout the subsequent fiscal year. As a result, at the end of the study, the unit costs of PT and TM were $US13.95 and $US9.22 respectively. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic reduced the number of patient visits and revenue. Furthermore, it raised the unit cost of PT and TM to $US13.95 and $US9.22 respectively.

First Real-World Experience Administering Etranacogene Dezaparvovec Gene Therapy for People with Hemophilia B

Research in gene therapy for hemophilia B has been ongoing for decades. Etranacogene dezaparvovec-drlb (CSL Behring) is the first gene therapy for hemophilia B to be approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (2022) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) (2023). The gene therapy treatment journey is a multistep process and requires coordination between multiple stakeholders within a hemophilia treatment center (HTC). The first 2 patients to receive etranacogene dezaparvovec-drlb since approval were successfully infused at the Hemophilia Outreach Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Here we describe the process by which the Hemophilia Outreach Center prepared their center and patients for the administration of etranacogene dezaparvovec-drlb. Early education, both for HTC stakeholders and patients, was critical in addressing key steps in the treatment journey, including patient eligibility, preparation, administration, and post administration monitoring and management. The education was iterative, involved multiple stakeholders (physician, pharmacist, nurse, social worker, and patient) and required an open channel of communication among the HTC stakeholders, the patients, and manufacturer when appropriate. Although no certification process was required, the manufacturer provided education to the HTC stakeholders in the format of ongoing trainings and a detailed handbook describing the gene therapy process as it relates to etranacogene dezaparvovec-drlb. This education provided a foundation for the HTC stakeholders to develop their own center-specific protocols, checklists, and worksheets. These protocols provided clear guidance on how to manage every step of the process in addition to providing a contingency plan for different scenarios (e.g., infusion reactions and transaminitis), ensuring the center's preparedness for administration. By implementing early and iterative education and developing center-specific protocols, the Hemophilia Outreach Center was able to successfully administer etranacogene dezaparvovec-drlb. These elements are crucial to ensure smooth execution and optimal patient outcomes.

Implementation strategies in the Exploration and Preparation phases of a colorectal cancer screening intervention in community health centers

BackgroundAdoption of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening has lagged in community health center (CHC) populations in the USA. To address this implementation gap, we developed a multilevel intervention to improve screening in CHCs in our region. We used the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework to guide this effort. Here, we describe the use of implementation strategies outlined in the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) compilation in both the Exploration and Preparation phases of this project. During these two EPIS phases, we aimed to answer three primary questions: (1) What factors in the inner and outer contexts may support or hinder colorectal cancer screening in North Carolina CHCs?; (2) What evidence-based practices (EBPs) best fit the needs of North Carolina CHCs?; and (3) How can we best integrate the selected EBPs into North Carolina CHC systems?MethodsDuring the Exploration phase, we conducted local needs assessments, built a coalition, and conducted local consensus discussions. In the Preparation phase, we formed workgroups corresponding to the intervention’s core functional components. Workgroups used cyclical small tests of change and process mapping to identify implementation barriers and facilitators and to adapt intervention components to fit inner and outer contexts.ResultsExploration activities yielded a coalition of stakeholders, including two rural CHCs, who identified barriers and facilitators and reached consensus on two EBPs: mailed FIT and navigation to colonoscopy. Stakeholders further agreed that the delivery of those two EBPs should be centralized to an outreach center. During Preparation, workgroups developed and refined protocols for the following centrally-delivered intervention components: a registry to identify and track eligible patients, a centralized system for mailing at-home stool tests, and a process to navigate patients to colonoscopy after an abnormal stool test.ConclusionsThis description may be useful both to implementation scientists, who can draw lessons from applied implementation studies such as this to refine their implementation strategy typologies and frameworks, as well as to implementation practitioners seeking exemplars for operationalizing strategies in early phases of implementation in healthcare.

First report of halo blight on hop (Humulus lupulus) caused by Diaporthe humulicola in Minnesota.

Halo blight, caused by Diaporthe humulicola, is an emerging issue in hop production in the Upper Midwestern and Eastern North America. Reports of halo blight thus far have included Connecticut, Michigan, New York, and Quebec (Allan-Perkins et al.; Hatlen et al. 2022; Higgins et al. 2021; Sharma et al. 2022). In August 2020, brownish-gray necrotic foliar lesions and damaged cones were observed in an experimental hopyard consisting of a breeding population of hop plants grown at the University of Minnesota - Southern Research and Outreach Center in Waseca, MN. The foliar lesions consisted of necrotic concentric circles with some possessing chlorotic halos. Damage to the cones often appeared as reddish brown as bands around cone midsections, scattered on bracts and bracteoles, and in severe cases near entire cones. Disease incidence within the experimental hopyard was observed on >50% of hop plants. No pycnidia were observed on leaves or cones following collection of samples. A total of eleven samples were obtained from diseased leaves or cones. Symptomatic plant tissue was surface-sterilized and sections excised from the leading edge of lesions were plated onto potato dextrose agar (PDA). Fungal growth was hyphal tipped and incubated at 22° C under a 12-h photoperiod for a period of 21 days (Hatlen et al 2022). Culture characteristics on PDA included raised white to light gray mycelium with irregular pycnidia distribution over the surface. DNA was extracted from mycelia using the MagMAX Plant DNA Isolation Kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA). A representative isolate (M4N) was selected for DNA amplification and bi-directional Sanger sequencing using the following primers ITS1/ITS4 (ITS) for the internal transcribed spacer, CYLH3F/H3-1b for histone 3 (HIS), and Ef1728f/EF1-986R for translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF) (Carbone and Kohn 1999; Glass and Donaldson 1995; White et al. 1990). Following amplification and sequencing, reads were trimmed and assembled using Geneious Prime (Biomatters, New Zealand). BLASTn analysis revealed that the ITS (GenBank Accession OQ144379), HIS (GenBank Accession OQ256246), and TEF (GenBank Accession OQ256245) were 99 - 100% identical to D. humulicola sequences (MN152927, MN180213, MN180207) infecting hop in other US regions (Allan-Perkins et al. 2019; Hatlen et al. 2022). To complete Koch's postulates, two sets each of six 3-month old plants of the hop cv. 'Chinook' were inoculated with either 50 mL of conidial suspension (6 x 105 conidia/mL) derived from pycnidia harvested from 28-day old cultures or with water as a negative control. Following inoculation, plants were then grown in a greenhouse at 100% relative humidity at 22°C with a 14-h photoperiod. Light brown lesions with concentric circles appeared on the adaxial side of the leaf after 3 weeks but were not observed on mock-inoculated plants. We subsequently re-isolated D. humulicola from 100% of infected leaves which was identified based upon colony and conidial morphology using descriptions from Higgins et al. (2021). alpha-conidia (n = 20) averaged 10.96 µm ± 1.12 in length and 5.11 µm ± 0.67 in width, were unicellular and hyaline. No beta-conidia were observed, consistent with previous reports of this pathogen. No disease symptoms appeared on mock-inoculated plants, and D. humulicola was not recovered from mock-inoculated plants. There is significant concern regarding the increasing prevalence of D. humulicola as an emerging pathogen affecting hop production across the Midwestern and Great Lakes region of North America. Future research is needed to determine differences in hop varietal susceptibility and fungicide efficacy for management of this disease.

Evaluation of a Forefront Weight Scale from an Automated Calf Milk Feeder for Holstein and Crossbred Dairy and Dairy-Beef Calves.

Recording of body weights of dairy calves may assist producers in monitoring the health status of calves and making feed-related management decisions. Traditional methods of weighing calves can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. The objective of this study was to evaluate a forefront weight scale on stalls attached to an automated calf milk feeder system to determine the accuracy for measuring the calf body weights of Holstein and crossbred dairy calves. The study was conducted at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, MN, dairy. Eighty-eight Holstein and crossbred calves were fed either 8 L/d or ad libitum milk from September 2019 to February 2020 and March 2020 to July 2020. Crossbred calves were Grazecross crossbreds composted of Jersey, Viking Red, and Normande, ProCross crossbreds composed of Holstein, Montbéliarde, and Viking Red, Limousin-sired crossbred dairy × beef bull calves, and Limousin-sired crossbred dairy × beef heifer calves. The Limousin-sired calves were from Holstein or crossbred dams. Calves were introduced to the Holm & Laue Calf Expert and Hygiene Station automatic calf feeder (Holm & Laue GmbH & Co. KG, Westerrönfeld, Germany) at 5 days of age and were weaned at 56 d. Forefront weight scales were attached to four hygiene station feeding stalls on the automated calf milk feeder, and calves were required to place both front hooves on the scale to access milk. The calf weights from the automated milk feeder were compared to the gold standard calibrated electronic scale (Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Fairmont, MN scale). Calves were weighed once per week using the electronic scale, and those weights were compared to the most recent weight recorded by the forefront scale. The associations of the weights from the automated milk feeder scale and the electronic scale were determined with Pearson correlations (PROC CORR of SAS) and Bland-Altman plots (PROC SGPLOT of SAS). Furthermore, PROC GLM of SAS was used to regress the electronic scale body weight on the forefront weight scale body weight for each calf. A total of 600 weight observations were used for statistical analysis. The Pearson correlation of the electronic scale compared to the forefront weight scale was high (0.991), and the concordance correlation coefficient was high (0.987). Correlations for individual calves ranged from 0.852 to 0.999 and were classified as high. Correlations of the electronic scale and forefront weight scale for breed groups ranged from 0.990 to 0.994. The slope of the regression line was 0.9153, and the 95% confidence interval was between 0.906 and 0.925. A mean bias of 0.529 kg was observed from the Bland-Altman plots. The results suggest that there is potential for the forefront weight scale to be used on automated calf milk feeders to accurately record the body weights of calves and support management decision-making, identify sick calves, and help producers determine the proper dosage of medications for calves based on body weight.

Response to ad libitum milk allowance by crossbred dairy and dairy-beef calves in an automated feeding system.

The objective of this study was to compare three-breed rotational crossbred calves sired by Holstein, Jersey, Montbéliarde, Normande, Viking Red, and Limousin bulls with Holstein's calves fed a high milk allowance for growth, milk consumption, health scores, and profitability in an automated group feeding system. Breed groups were Holstein (n = 16), crossbreds of Montbéliarde, Viking Red, and Holstein (n = 24), crossbreds of Jersey, Normande, and Viking Red (n = 6), and Limousin crossbred beef × dairy (n = 45) calves. Calves were randomly assigned within the breed to one of two treatments from September 2019 to June 2020 at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris, MN. The five breed groups were balanced across the two treatment groups. Treatment groups were fed 8 L/d (8 L) or ad libitum (AL) milk allowance, and calves were introduced to the automated feeder at day 5 and were weaned at 56 d. Milk feeding behaviors (drinking speeds) were collected from the automatic feeding system and analyzed by feeding and breed groups. Body weights were recorded at birth and weekly through weaning. The health scores of calves were recorded twice per week. Variables included in the statistical model for analyses were fixed effects of birthweight, the season of birth, breed group, and treatment group. Calves fed AL had a greater weaning weight (P = 0.001; 106.4 kg vs. 91.4 kg) and greater (P = 0.001) average daily gain (ADG; 1.11 kg/d vs. 0.87 kg/d) than calves fed 8 L, respectively. The calves fed AL (1,064 mL/min) had a slower drinking speed (P = 0.01) than calves fed 8 L (1,467 mL/min). Most breed groups were not different for weaning weight or ADG across the 56 d. Daily milk consumption per calf was lower (P = 0.009) for Limousin crossbred calves compared with Holstein and crossbred dairy calves. As expected, AL calves had higher (P = 0.001) milk cost ($189.52) than the 8 L calves ($140.71). The average cost per kilogram of gain was similar for calves fed 8 L ($2.89/kg) compared to AL ($3.00/kg) calves. Overall, the Limousin crossbred calves had the least milk cost ($152.75) compared with Holstein ($175.67) calves and Montbéliarde, Viking Red, and Holstein crossbred calves ($177.13). The results from this study found that although feeding calves AL resulted in greater milk consumption and higher cost than 8 L calves, there may be an economic advantage with costs per kilogram of gain to feeding calves ad libitum if increased growth rates are realized.

Evaluating Levels of Community Participation in a University-Community Partnership: The Jackson Heart Study.

Objective: This research was designed to evaluate the perceptions of the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) community relating to their levels of involvement in JHS activities that were developed to address health disparities and promote health education and health promotion. Methods: The participants for this study comprised 128 community members, who included JHS participants, as well as family members and other friends of the JHS who resided in the JHS community of Hinds, Madison, and Rankin Counties in Mississippi and attended the JHS Annual Celebration of Life. We used the Chi-Square test to analyze the participants’ responses to the survey questions developed to address the six areas of focus: (1) ways to increase participation in community outreach activities; (2) reasons for participating in community outreach activities; (3) interest in research participation; (4) factors influencing engagement; (5) Participants’ preferences for communicating; (6) Chronic disease prevalence. Results: Participants residing in rural counties perceived television and radio as a medium to increase participation; More female respondents cited trust working with the JSU JHS Community Outreach Center (CORC) as a reason for remaining engaged in the community outreach activities; younger participants under 66 years of age recommended social media as a way to increase participation; participants residing in the rural areas saw their participation in the community outreach activities as a way to address community health problems. Conclusions: The knowledge gained from the details provided by the JHS community members can be used to refine research studies in existence, while promoting their sustainability.

DEVELOPING STUDENTS WHO LEAD IN THEIR COMMUNITIES: A Mixed Methods Case Study of Three Municipal-Based Leadership Programs in the United States

While many studies investigate student leadership development in educational contexts or curriculum-based programs, little is known about the efficacy of leadership development programs that emerge in municipalities. This mixed methods case study explored the leadership development of participants in three nine-month youth leadership programs at a municipal-based prevention, treatment, and outreach center in the United States. Qualitative focus groups and quantitative surveys using the Student Leadership Practices Inventory (SLPI) were used to collect data at the beginning and end of the three programs along with a post-program evaluative survey. Findings from the qualitative and quantitative analyses are first presented individually and then expressed using a joint display table to visually represent the integrated results. Findings showed that the programs positively influenced participants’ perceptions, characteristics, and behaviors as youth leaders in their communities. Participants not only indicated improvements in their leadership practices according to the SLPI from pre- to post-program, but also demonstrated more complex understandings of leadership and what it means to be a leader in one’s community. These findings are useful for individuals and organizations planning student leadership development programs and should inform future research in the field.

189 Swine Production and Greenhouse Gases

Abstract Like much of agriculture, the swine industry is being asked to improve the sustainability of their production systems. In an integrated project, swine researchers, agronomists, and renewable energy scientists collected data to analyze the greenhouse gas and fossil energy footprints from Minnesota commercial swine production facilities as well as cropping and swine production data from the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center. These environmental impacts were assessed using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology in a cradle to farm gate study that examined the impacts on a per unit of liveweight pork produced basis. In the average commercial system, the GHG emissions were 2.41 kg CO2 equiv. per kg hog LW, with 75% emitted during the grow-finish phase, 6% in farrowing, 9% in the nursery phase, 7% in gestation, and 2% in gilt development. GHG emissions for direct operation of swine facilities were 0.15 kg CO2 equiv. per kg and accounted for 6% of emissions in the average commercial scenario. The majority of GHG emissions were in the production of crops and the breakdown of manure during storage. This talk will explore the methods, data, and results from this study and other similar environmental impact studies for swine production. It will also discuss how producers can measure impacts at their farms and implement changes to improve their environmental impacts. An important consideration in the discussion is the ability of producers to directly reduce fossil energy and its carbon footprint, because fossil energy consumption impacts both the environmental and economic aspects of swine production.

Growth, health, and economics of dairy calves fed organic milk replacer or organic whole milk in an automated feeding system

The objective of the study was to investigate the growth, health, behavior, and economics of dairy calves fed organic milk replacer (n = 41) or organic whole milk (n = 40) in an automatic feeding system. Calves were fed either organic milk replacer or whole milk (assigned to treatment in birth order) during 2 seasons from March to July 2018 and from September to December 2018 at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris, Minnesota. The treatment groups were (1) pasteurized whole milk fed at 13% total solids of organic milk (WM), or (2) milk replacer fed at 150.98 g of dry replacer powder per liter of water (MR). Milk replacer was fed at 14.65% total solids based on the manufacturer's recommendation. Calves were introduced to the automated feeder at 5 d and allowed to drink up to 8 L/d at the maximum allowance. At 50 d, the allowance was reduced by 0.2 L/d and calves were weaned at 56 d. Milk feeding behavior (feeding station visit behaviors and drinking speeds) were collected from the automatic feeding system and analyzed by feeding group. Body weights were recorded at birth and then weekly until weaning (56 d). Health scores of calves were recorded twice a week. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED (SAS Institute Inc.). Independent variables for analyses were the fixed effects of breed group, season of birth, and treatment group, and the interaction of season and treatment group along with pen as a random effect. No differences were found between treatment groups for average daily gain, weaning weight, hip height, or heart girth. Milk feeding behavior varied between the 2 feeding treatment groups. The WM calves had shorter visits to the feeding station (2.44 vs. 3.01 min, respectively) compared with MR calves. Overall drinking speeds of the WM calves were higher (1,301 mL/min) than those of the MR calves (581 mL/min). The MR calves had higher fecal scores than WM calves. The average cost per kilogram of gain was lower for WM calves ($6.35/kg) compared with MR calves ($8.82/kg). The results of this study indicate health and economic advantages to feeding organic dairy heifer calves whole milk during the preweaning period.

A Nurse-Run Public Health Clinic for Individuals Utilizing a Community Outreach Center

ABSTRACT This article describes a nurse-run clinic for low-income individuals or individuals experiencing homelessness. We conducted a quality improvement project using data from 111 individuals over 194 visits. Thirty-seven percent of patients had difficulty managing their health and 22% reported being in an active health crisis. The visits resulted in patients leaving with their visit goal being met (86%), and 96% of nonemergent cases being diverted from the emergency room. The nurse-run clinic provided access to care and served as a safety net for a vulnerable population, providing support for this clinic model with this population.

76 Growth and Health of Limousin Crossbred Dairy-beef Calves in an Automated Feeding System

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine growth and health of Limousin crossbred dairy-beef calves fed alternative milk allowances in an automated group feeding system. The study was conducted at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center’s, Morris, MN dairy. Forty-eight Limousin-sired crossbred calves were assigned to feeding groups by birth order during two calving seasons from September to December 2019 and March to July 2020. Calves were introduced to the Holm & Laue HL100 Programmable Calf Feeder (Holm & Laue GmbH & Co KG, Westerronfeld, Germany) at 5 d and were randomly assigned to one of two treatments. Treatments for calves were 8 L/d (8L) or ad libitum (AL) milk allowance. Calves were weaned from the automated feeder at 56 d. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS. Independent variables for analyses were the fixed effects of season of birth, sex of calf (M or F), treatment group and sex of calf nested within season of birth was a random effect. No differences (P > 0.05) were found between 8L or AL groups for birth weight. The AL calves (109.4 kg) had higher (P < 0.01) weaning weight than 8L calves (95.3 kg). Furthermore, the AL calves had higher (P < 0.01) hip height (95.6 cm) and greater (P < 0.01) heart girth (110.2) compared with 8L calves (93.8 cm and 104.8 cm, respectively). The AL calves (1.14 kg/d) had higher average daily gain at weaning compared to 8L calves (0.91 kg/d). Males calves were not different (P = 0.39) for average daily gain compared to female calves (1.07 kg/d versus 0.98 kg/d). Drinking speeds of AL calves were lesser (P < 0.05; 1,222 mL/min) than the 8L calves (1,453 mL/min). The AL calves and 8L calves were not different for hygiene scores or health scores. The results from this study indicate advantages to feeding dairy-beef calves ad libitum whole milk during the pre-weaning period.