Genotype x environmental interaction for mature size and rate of maturing for Angus, Brahman, and reciprocal-cross cows grazing bermudagrass or endophyte infected fescue. (1/33)

Mature weight and rate of maturing were estimated in 177 Angus, Brahman, and reciprocal-cross cows grazing bermudagrass or endophyte-infected tall fescue over a 4-yr period to evaluate genotype x environment interactions. Data were collected every 28 d until cows were approximately 18 mo of age and then at prebreeding, postcalving, and weaning of calf. All cows with weight data to at least 42 mo of age were included in the analysis. Mature weight and rate of maturing were estimated using the three-parameter growth curve model described by Brody (1945). Data were pooled over year and analyzed by the general linear model procedure of SAS. Included in the models for mature weight and rate of maturing were the independent variables of genotype, environment, and genotype x environment interaction. There was a genotype x environment interaction (P < 0.01) for mature body weight (BW) but not for rate of maturing. Angus cows grazing fescue pastures had greater (P < 0.01) mean mature BW than Angus x Brahman cows grazing bermudagrass (611 +/- 17 vs 546 +/- 16 kg). Angus x Brahman cows grazing bermudagrass had lower (P < 0.05) mean mature BW than Brahman x Angus cows grazing bermudagrass or endophyte-infected fescue and Brahman cows grazing bermudagrass (546 +/- 16 vs 624 +/- 19, 614 +/- 22 and 598 +/- 20 kg, respectively). Brahman cows grazing endophyte-infected fescue had smaller (P < 0.05) mean mature BW than all genotype x forage combinations except for Angus x Brahman cows grazing bermudagrass. Angus cows had a smaller (P < 0.05) mean rate of maturing than Angus x Brahman and Brahman x Angus cows (0.039 +/- 0.002 vs 0.054 +/- 0.002 and 0.049 +/- 0.002%/mo, respectively), respectively, and Angus x Brahman cows had a larger (P < 0.05) mean rate of maturing than Brahman x Angus and Brahman cows (0.054 +/- 0.002 vs 0.049 +/- 0.002 and 0.041 +/- 0.002 %/mo, respectively). There was a direct breed x forage interaction (P < 0.05) for mature BW. These data suggest that the choice of breed type is important in maintaining a crossbreeding program, in that mature BW and rate of maturing are critical to the matching of animal requirements to available production resources.  (+info)

Binding affinity and capacities for ytterbium(3+) and hafinum(4+) by chemical entities of plant tissue fragments. (2/33)

The binding affinity of ytterbium (Yb3+) and hafinum (Hf4+) to ligands of chemical entities of fragments of bermudagrass tissues and their resistance to exchanging Yb with other ligands and to displacement by protons were investigated. Chemical entities of acid resistant NDF (ARNDF), 0.1 N acid detergent fiber (0.1 N ADF), and permanganate cellulose (CELL) were prepared from fragments of bermudagrass hay (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.) obtained by grinding to pass a 2-mm sieve. 175Ytterbium and Yb, as YbCl3, were initially bound to each preparation by soaking for 12 h in pH 5.5 borate buffer to obtain Yb bound onto ligands having affinity constants for Yb equal to or greater than that for the weakly stable borate ligand, Yb > or = borate. The fraction of Yb > or = borate was measured and fragments then sequentially exposed to acetate, citrate, nitrotriacetate (NTA), and EDTA ions to allow exchange of Yb from Yb > or = borate with ligands having affinity constants for Yb equal to or greater than acetate (Yb > or = acetate), citrate (Yb > or = citrate), NTA (Yb > or = NTA), and EDTA (Yb > or = EDTA) ions. Binding of Yb > or = borate indicated the existence of two species of ligands: strong ligands binding essentially 100% of added Yb at levels of 1 to 1,300 ppm (0.1 N ADF) and at 1 to 7,000 ppm (ARNDF); and weaker ligands binding 4 and 8% of the Yb, respectively, at levels of added Yb greater than 1,300 ppm and 7,000 ppm. Ytterbium > or = acetate of ARNDF, but not 0.1 N ADF, was as resistant to exchange as Yb > or = citrate. Ytterbium > or = borate was exchanged extensively (85% or greater) with soluble ligands having affinity constants > or = NTA. Ytterbium resistance to proton displacement at pH of 1.5 increased with Yb > or = EDTA > Yb > or = NTA > Yb > or = citrate > Yb > or = acetate. Very efficient binding of Yb to CELL suggested that such chemical preparations are not representative of native cellulose. Hafnium (4+) was strongly bound to plant tissues rendering both Hf and Hf-bound DM insoluble at a pH of 1.5 and insoluble in a modified NDF solvent without EDTA. It is concluded that Yb specifically applied as Yb > or = acetate and Hf4+ are indelible markers for estimating sojourn time of undigested plant tissues at the normal pH of the rumen. Because of its resistance to proton displacement, Hf4+ would be an indelible marker for estimating sojourn time in more acidic postgastric segments of the gastrointestinal tract.  (+info)

Effect of copper source and level on performance and copper status of cattle consuming molasses-based supplements. (3/33)

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the availability of dietary Cu offered to growing beef cattle consuming molasses-based supplements. In Exp. 1, 24 Braford heifers were assigned randomly to bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) pastures (two heifers/pasture). Heifers were provided 1.5 kg of TDN and 0.3 kg of supplemental CP/heifer daily using a molasses-cottonseed meal slurry. Three treatments were randomly assigned to pastures (four pastures/treatment), providing 100 mg of supplemental Cu daily in the form of either CuSO4 (inorganic Cu) or organic-Cu. A third treatment offered no supplemental Cu (negative control). Heifer BW was collected at the start and end of the study. Jugular blood and liver samples were collected on d 0, 29, 56, and 84. In Exp. 2, 24 Brahman-crossbred steers were fed the same molasses-cottonseed meal supplement at the same rates used in Exp. 1. Steers were housed in individual pens (15 m2) with free-choice access to stargrass (Cynodon spp.) hay. Four Cu treatments were assigned to individual steers (six pens/treatment) providing 1) 10 ppm of Cu from an organic source; 2) 10 ppm Cu from Tri-basic Cu chloride (TBCC); 3) 30 ppm of Cu from TBCC; or 4) 30 ppm of Cu, a 50:50 ratio of TBCC and organic Cu. Body weights and jugular blood and liver samples were collected on d 0, 24, 48, and 72. In Exp. 1, liver Cu concentrations did not differ between heifers supplemented with inorganic and organic Cu. Each source resulted in increased (P < 0.05) liver Cu concentrations compared with the unsupplemented control. Plasma ceruloplasmin concentrations were higher (P < 0.05) for Cu-supplemented heifers, independent of Cu source. Heifer ADG tended (P = 0.11) to increase with Cu supplementation compared with the unsupplemented control. In Exp. 2, liver Cu was greater (P < 0.05) on d 24, 48, and 72 for steers consuming 30 vs. 10 ppm of Cu. Steers supplemented with organic Cu had lower DMI than steers supplemented with 10 or 30 ppm of TBCC. These data suggest that the inorganic and organic Cu sources evaluated in these studies were of similar availability when offered in molasses supplements. A dietary Cu concentration greater than 10 ppm might be necessary to ensure absorption in beef cattle fed molasses-based supplements.  (+info)

Mass spectrometric analysis of electrophoretically separated allergens and proteases in grass pollen diffusates. (4/33)

BACKGROUND: Pollens are important triggers for allergic asthma and seasonal rhinitis, and proteases released by major allergenic pollens can injure airway epithelial cells in vitro. Disruption of mucosal epithelial integrity by proteases released by inhaled pollens could promote allergic sensitisation. METHODS: Pollen diffusates from Kentucky blue grass (Poa pratensis), rye grass (Lolium perenne) and Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) were assessed for peptidase activity using a fluorogenic substrate, as well as by gelatin zymography. Following one- or two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, Coomassie-stained individual bands/spots were excised, subjected to tryptic digestion and analysed by mass spectrometry, either MALDI reflectron TOF or microcapillary liquid chromatography MS-MS. Database searches were used to identify allergens and other plant proteins in pollen diffusates. RESULTS: All pollen diffusates tested exhibited peptidase activity. Gelatin zymography revealed high Mr proteolytic activity at approximately 95,000 in all diffusates and additional proteolytic bands in rye and Bermuda grass diffusates, which appeared to be serine proteases on the basis of inhibition studies. A proteolytic band at Mr approximately 35,000 in Bermuda grass diffusate, which corresponded to an intense band detected by Western blotting using a monoclonal antibody to the timothy grass (Phleum pratense) group 1 allergen Phl p 1, was identified by mass spectrometric analysis as the group 1 allergen Cyn d 1. Two-dimensional analysis similarly demonstrated proteolytic activity corresponding to protein spots identified as Cyn d 1. CONCLUSION: One- and two-dimensional electrophoretic separation, combined with analysis by mass spectrometry, is useful for rapid determination of the identities of pollen proteins. A component of the proteolytic activity in Bermuda grass diffusate is likely to be related to the allergen Cyn d 1.  (+info)

Flow paths of plant tissue residues and digesta through gastrointestinal segments in Spanish goats and methodological considerations. (5/33)

A sequence of eight twice-daily meals, each marked with different rare earth elements, was fed to 24 Spanish goats (BW = 20.6 +/- 1.94 kg) to produce meal-based profiles of rare earth markers within segments of the gastrointestinal digesta on subsequent slaughter. Accumulative mean residence time and time delay of rare earths and segmental and accumulative mean residence times of indigestible NDF (IDF) were estimated for each sampled segment. Diets consisted of ad libitum access to bermudagrass hay with a limit feeding of one of four supplements: 1) minerals (basal, B); 2) B + energy (E); 3) B + CP (CP); or 4) B + E + CP for 84 d. Mean daily intake (g/kg of BW) during the 5 d before slaughter differed (P < 0.05) via diet for DM but not for IDF (8.0 +/- 0.35 g/kg of BW). Larger estimates of cumulative mean residence time for IDF vs. rare earths were suggested to be the consequence of a meal-induced bias in the single measurement of IDF pool size by anatomical site. The rare earth compartment method was considered more reliable than the IDF pool dilution method because it yielded flow estimates based on the flux of eight meal-dosed rare earth markers over 4 d and was independent of anatomical definitions of pool size. Statistically indistinguishable estimates for gastrointestinal mean residence times for IDF and rare earths conform to assumed indelibility for the specifically applied rare earths and indigestibility of IDF. The potentially digestible NDF (PDF):IDF ratio of dietary fragments (0.8) progressively decreased in the following order: caudodorsal reticulorumen (0.390) > crainodorsal reticulorumen (0.357) approximately reticulum (0.354) > mid-dorsal reticulorumen (0.291) approximately ventral reticulorumen (0.286), to that within the omasal folds and in the abomasum (0.259). Such a gradient of progressively aging mixture of plant tissue fragments is consistent with age-dependent flow paths established in the reticulorumen and flowing to the omasum and abomasum. Such heterogeneity of fragment ages within the reticulorumen is also indicated by the superior fit of marker dose site double dagger marker sampling site model assumptions. Additionally, cyclic meal- and rumination-induced variations in escape rate occur. Estimates of mean escape rates over days, needed for the practice of ruminant nutrition, must consider the complex interactions among plant tissues and the dynamics of their ruminal digestion of PDF.  (+info)

'Candidatus Phytoplasma cynodontis', the phytoplasma associated with Bermuda grass white leaf disease. (6/33)

Bermuda grass white leaf (BGWL) is a destructive, phytoplasmal disease of Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon). The causal pathogen, the BGWL agent, differs from other phytoplasmas that cluster in the same major branch of the phytoplasma phylogenetic clade in <2.5% of 16S rDNA nucleotide positions, the threshold for assigning species rank to phytoplasmas under the provisional status 'Candidatus'. Thus, the objective of this work was to examine homogeneity of BGWL isolates and to determine whether there are, in addition to 16S rDNA, other markers that support delineation of the BGWL agent at the putative species level. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the 16S rDNA sequences of BGWL strains were identical or nearly identical. Clear differences that support separation of the BGWL agent from related phytoplasmas were observed within the 16S-23S rDNA spacer sequence, by serological comparisons, in vector transmission and in host-range specificity. From these results, it can be concluded that the BGWL phytoplasma is a discrete taxon at the putative species level, for which the name 'Candidatus Phytoplasma cynodontis' is proposed. Strain BGWL-C1 was selected as the reference strain. Phytoplasmas that are associated with brachiaria white leaf, carpet grass white leaf and diseases of date palms showed 16S rDNA and/or 16S-23S rDNA spacer sequences that were identical or nearly identical to those of the BGWL phytoplasmas. However, the data available do not seem to be sufficient for a proper taxonomic assignment of these phytoplasmas.  (+info)

Ruminal in situ disappearance kinetics of dry matter and fiber in growing steers for common crabgrass forages sampled on seven dates in northern Arkansas. (7/33)

Southern crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris [Retz.] Koel.) is often viewed as an undesirable weed, largely because it encroaches upon field and forage crops, gardens, and lawns. However, visual observations of livestock grazing mixed-species pastures suggest that cattle seem to prefer crabgrass to many other summer forages. The objectives of this study were to assess the nutritive value of crabgrass sampled weekly between July 11, and August 22, 2001, and then to determine ruminal in situ disappearance kinetics of DM and NDF for these crabgrass forages. A secondary objective was to compare these kinetic estimates with those of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.), and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) control hays. All forages were evaluated in situ using five (383 +/- 22.7 kg) ruminally cannulated crossbred (Gelbvieh x Angus x Brangus) steers. Whole-plant crabgrass exhibited more rapid (P < or = 0.002) ruminal disappearance rates of DM (overall range = 0.069 to 0.084 h(-1)) than did bermudagrass (0.054 h(-1)) and orchardgrass (0.060 h(-1)) hays, but disappearance rates were slower (P < 0.001) for crabgrass than for alfalfa hay (0.143 h(-1)). Effective ruminal disappearance of DM was greater (P < 0.001) for crabgrass (overall range = 69.3 to 75.4%) than for all the control hays. Similarly, disappearance rates of NDF for crabgrass (overall range = 0.069 to 0.086 h(-1)) were more rapid (P < 0.001) than observed for bermudagrass and orchardgrass hays; however, NDF in alfalfa disappeared at a faster (P < 0.001) rate (0.107 h(-1)) than crabgrass. These results indicate that crabgrass offers greater effective ruminal degradability of DM and NDF than orchardgrass or alfalfa of moderate quality. More importantly, it potentially offers faster and more extensive ruminal disappearance than perennial warm-season grasses typically found throughout the southeastern United States, and it should likely support improved performance by ruminant livestock in this region.  (+info)

Models for estimating parameters of neutral detergent fiber digestion by ruminal microorganisms. (8/33)

Model assumptions included number of concurrently degrading entities (or pools) and expected distributions of undegraded NDF. Degradation processes modeled included a single pool with ruminal age-constant rates (exponential distribution), a single pool with a ruminal age-dependent rate, two pools with age-constant rates, two pools with age-dependent and age-constant rates, and a continuum of pools with a gamma distribution of age-constant rates. Various sizes of ingestively masticated fragments of bermudagrass hay or corn silage were obtained via wet sieving of esophageal masticate and incubated in vitro with ruminal fluid for 0 h, every 6 h up to 48 h, and every 12 h up to 168 h. Models assuming a single pool of age-constant or age-dependent rates had larger mean residual mean squares (P < 0.05) than did the gamma mixture model or the two-pool models. Degradation rates estimated by the gamma mixture model indicated distribution of rates ranging from near exponential, age-constant distribution to a near normal bell-shaped distribution of age-constant rates for different datasets. Superior fit by the two-pool models in most datasets (83%) indicated that having two resolvable entities of potentially degradable NDF with different degradation rates was causal of a biphasic distribution of lifetimes. Increasing order of age-dependency modeled in the two-pool model improved fit and precision of estimation (standard error of estimate) for the limit parameters of time delay and indigestible NDF. Both the gamma mixture continuum of age-constant rate model and the two-pool, age-dependent models with a discrete time delay provided similar fit to data and flexibility for fitting data with lifetime distributions ranging from simple exponential to sigmodial. The two-pool, age-dependent and gamma-distributed, age-constant models were better in fitting the dominant biphasic lifetime distributions that occurred when the two pools of degrading entities were of similar size and in estimating the discrete time delay when strategic, quality data were available. Having fewer parameters (four), the gamma-distributed, age-constant model was superior when data quality was limited.  (+info)

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5