Professional Animal Scientists Research Articles

A survey of United States dairy cattle nutritionists’ practices and perceptions of reducing crude protein in lactating dairy cow diets

The objective was to assess if US dairy nutritionists’ approaches toward balancing CP in lactating cow diets are influenced by demographic information, feelings toward environmental nitrogen (N) excretion, and dietary CP cost. An electronic survey was sent to 886 US certified dairy nutritionists through the database of the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) via email. For survey data analysis, a nonparametric statistic was used to check whether the responses to each question were independent. Relationships among demographic data and responses to other questions were performed using Spearman’s correlation. Poisson regression and least squares means were used to identify statistically meaningful differences between response counts within each respective question. A total of 77 nutritionists representing 1,065 herds from 28 states with a total of 521,000 total lactating dairy cows responded to the questionnaire. Eighty-nine percent of nutritionists balanced diets based on one or more individual AA requirements of dairy cows. Most respondents (72%) reported that they are currently formulating diets with lower dietary CP than they were 3 to 5 yr ago. The primary concern with formulating lower CP diets was the cost per unit of MP, likely due to the high and fluctuating cost of high-RUP feedstuffs. Currently, the impetus to reduce dietary CP in lactating cow diets is primarily financially, rather than environmentally, driven. Nutrition models that accurately predict individual AA requirements of dairy cows will allow nutritionists to develop even lower CP diets than is presently possible. Monitoring income over feed cost of low-CP diets supplemented with AA is critical to support the sustainability of the dairy industry.

Beta-Carotene concentration in blood serum of cows from herds with impaired fertility

Beta-Carotene concentration in blood serum of cows from herds with impaired fertility

Textured vs pelletted feed impact on dairy heifers pre-weaning

Textured vs pelletted feed impact on dairy heifers pre-weaning

A glance at achievements of SASAS and animal scientists in southern Africa over more than 50 years

With the congress theme of ‘Golden Innovations for Sustainable Animal Agriculture’, it would be opportune to look not only at innovations with present and future potential, but at those ‘golden innovations’ that have been achieved and established over more than five decades. Many of these innovations still form the basis of many aspects of present-day sustainable animal agriculture in southern Africa. This brief review covers three areas, namely the history of the South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS), achievements of animal scientists, mainly in the earlier years of the Society, and the coming of age of professionalism in the animal science profession. The South African Society of Animal Production (SASAP) was founded on 28 April 1961 in Pretoria. The name was later changed to the South African Society for Animal Science. The theme of the first congress of SASAP was ‘Efficiency in Production’, a theme that is still relevant. In 1971 the South African Journal of Animal Science (SAJAS) was initiated, and by 2017 the 47th volume has been published. A large amount of knowledge that is applicable to local conditions has accumulated and should be drawn upon to avoid ‘reinventing the wheel’. In the 1950s to 1970s, Professor Jan Bonsma developed the concept of functional efficiency of cattle and principles that focused on adaptability and sustainability. Extensive research was conducted on the feeding of urea and phosphorus to grazing livestock, leading to the practice of urea-containing rumen-stimulating winter supplementation of ruminants. South Africa was considered a world leader in the field of supplementary feeding practices. South Africa has a proud history in the discipline of animal genetics and the practical application of breeding principles to enhance livestock productivity, and is in the forefront with studies on the genomics of livestock in southern Africa. SASAS was instrumental in establishing the professional status of animal scientists in South Africa. The vision is that an animal scientist should be identified as the expert in his/her field and the best qualified person to advise on matters such as animal breeding, nutrition and general management of livestock. SASAS council also acts as a mouthpiece for and custodian of animal scientists. The society protects the interests of animal scientists, is pro-active in promoting animal science, and acts as a watchdog over the professional activities of members. Keywords: Animal production, history, professional animal scientist

Auditing and Assessing Nutrient Management for Water Quality on Animal Feeding Operations

Concentrated animal feeding operations (AFO) and many AFO are required to comply with state and federal environmental regulations specifically related to the protection of water quality. Most regulations are based on the need to account for and control nutrient flow on-farm to minimize buildup, leaching, and runoff of nutrients that may pose a risk to surface and ground water quality. Attempts to encourage the control of nutrient flow include the requirements for comprehensive nutrient management plans (CNMP), conservation practice plans, storm water pollution prevention plans, animal mortality management, and emergency action plans. The overall goal of the CNMP on a livestock and poultry farm is to sustain a whole farm nutrient mass balance. An extensive auditing and assessment program evaluates the status of nutrient management on-farm and develops an action plan to minimize water pollution. An annual audit and review checks the performance of the concentrated AFO and AFO on environmental stewardship and identifies areas needing improvement. Critical control points that need to be audited and assessed are 1) nutrients imported on-farm, 2) nutrients exported off-farm, 3) nutrient status of soils and water, 4) manure handling and storage facilities, 5) conservation practices, 6) runoff waste water control, 7) land application practices, 8) animal mortality practices, 9) record keeping system, 10) operation and maintenance plan, and 11) alternative treatment systems, if applicable. Professional animal scientists can contribute significantly to livestock and poultry producers by providing assessments and audits of nutrient management along with other qualified professionals in the development of CNMP.

Author Index: The Professional Animal Scientist

Author Index: The Professional Animal Scientist

Author Index: The Professional Animal Scientist

Author Index: The Professional Animal Scientist

Certification of Nutrition Professionals: Findings of the ARPAS Working Group

<h3>ABSTRACT</h3> The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has proposed that a certification program for nutrition professionals be investigated. The American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) was asked to provide input to AAFCO on this important industry issue. An ARPAS working group developed a position statement that strongly supported a competency-based system. A specific college or professional degree would not be a base requirement. It is also suggested that no exemptions be provided based on either experience or possession of a college or professional degree. This position statement has been presented to AAFCO. At this time, it is not clear if the AAFCO group will move ahead with this proposal. It is important to remember that certification does not provide or imply a guarantee of performance. A certification program only indicates that an individual has a specified level of technical or subject matter expertise. The mechanisms for developing and implementing a certification program still need to be defined.

Strengthening and Promoting Excellence for the Professional Animal Scientist Through Certification

Strengthening and Promoting Excellence for the Professional Animal Scientist Through Certification

Sources of animal science research information: usefulness and reliability.

Fifty-two animal scientists (8 private consultants, 22 feed industry representatives, 22 university personnel) were surveyed regarding frequency of use and reliability of information from 27 different publications and information sources. Among the information sources, these scientists (6 dairy specialists, 25 beef cattle specialists, 17 swine specialists, 4 dealing with multiple species) most frequently scanned Feedstuffs, the Journal of Animal Science, National Research Council (NRC) species bulletins, abstracts from regional and national meetings of either ASAS or ADSA, annual reports from experiment stations, and proceedings from state nutrition conferences. Differences among species specialties were detected: dairy specialists read the Journal of Dairy Science, abstracts from ADSA meetings, Dairy Herd Management, Hoard's Dairyman quite extensively; beef specialists read Beef and National Cattleman frequently; and swine specialists used the Pfizer Conference, National Hog Farmer, and Pork 95. Frequency of use rankings of publications were surprisingly similar for feed industry and university specialists; however, private consultants tended to use certain publications (Professional Animal Scientist, Feed Management, Beef Today) to a greater degree. For reliability, Journal of Animal Science, Journal of Dairy Science, NRC bulletins, the Professional Animal Scientist, Pfizer Report, and reports from ASAS and ADSA meetings received the highest rankings, and university workers ranked reliability of NRC publications and Animal Feed Science and Technology higher than feed industry personnel. Regarding timeliness of information, Feedstuffs, National Hog Farmer, Pork 95, and reports from state nutrition conferences ranked best, and NRC bulletins, Journal of Animal Science, and Journal of Dairy Science ranked lowest. Applicability of information was correlated with frequency of use (r = .38**) and presumed reliability (r = .59**). Asked whether some formal appraisal of articles appearing in the popular press by a panel of specialists would be desirable, 88% of the scientists, especially private consultants and university personnel, favored or were neutral toward pre- or postpublication appraisal. Mechanisms to institute such an appraisal system are outlined and ethical responsibilities of researchers, reviewers, administrators, and societies related to research information are discussed.

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists Annual Business Meeting

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists Annual Business Meeting

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists Governing Council Meeting

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists Governing Council Meeting

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists Annual Business Meeting VPI and SU, Blacksburg, VA August 7, 1990

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists Annual Business Meeting VPI and SU, Blacksburg, VA August 7, 1990

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists 1990-91 Officers and Committee Appointements

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists 1990-91 Officers and Committee Appointements

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists Governing Council Meeting August 7, 1990 Marriott Hotel, Blacksburg, VA

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists Governing Council Meeting August 7, 1990 Marriott Hotel, Blacksburg, VA

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists 1989-90 Officers and Committee Appointments

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists 1989-90 Officers and Committee Appointments

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists Business Meeting August 1, 1989, Hyatt-Regency Hotel, Lexington, Kentucky

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists Business Meeting August 1, 1989, Hyatt-Regency Hotel, Lexington, Kentucky

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists Governing Council Meeting April 26-27, 1989

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists Governing Council Meeting April 26-27, 1989

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists Governing Council Meeting December 6, 1989

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists Governing Council Meeting December 6, 1989

American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists Charter and Bylaws

Carcass data were collected for 352 range lambs from six western Colorado producers. Information recorded for each carcass included fat thickness, kidney and pelvic fat, leg conformation score, hot carcass weight, quality grade, overall conformation score, lean quality, and final yield grade. Lambs were slaughtered at the Monfort of Colorado Greeley lamb facility after removal from native range forages. Carcass data were collected after a 24-h chill2. Overall averages for carcass traits measured were: fat thickness, .22 in.; kidney and pelvic fat, 2.83%; leg conformation score, 11.78; hot carcass weight, 59.6 lb; quality grade, 11.74; overall conformation, 11.79; lean quality, 11.90; and final yield grade, 3.34. Carcasses that qualified under the current American Lamb Council “Certified Lean Lamb” program as described by fat thickness .10 to .25 in., kidney and pelvic fat <4.5%, leg conformation score >11 and yield grade of <3.9 ranged from 32 to 90% among producers. Carcasses that averaged <11 (average Choice) leg conformation score between producers ranged from 0 to 21%. Fat thickness was the limiting factor preventing additional carcasses from qualifying under the American Sheep Industry Association’s Certified Lean Lamb specifications.