scholarly journals Evaluation of a commercial genetic test for fescue toxicosis in pregnant Angus beef cattle1

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine M Galliou ◽  
Piush Khanal ◽  
Kyle Mayberry ◽  
Matt H Poore ◽  
Daniel H Poole ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Genetic Test ◽  
The United States ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Fescue Toxicosis ◽  
Phenotypic Trait

Abstract Most tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh] in the Southeastern United States contains an endophyte that causes fescue toxicosis (FT) in grazing animals, a serious disease that causes approximately $1 billion in economic losses to the animal industries in the United States. Recently, a genetic test called T-Snip (AgBotanica, LCC, Columbia, MO), was developed with the objective of identifying animals with genetic variation for FT tolerance. The aim of this study was to validate the use of this genetic test in mature, pregnant cows. Over 13 wk, weekly phenotypic data, including body weight, rectal temperatures, hair coat scores, hair shedding scores, and body condition scores, were collected on 148 pregnant purebred Angus cows at 2 locations in NC where infected fescue was the primary source of feed. Birth weights (cBW) and 205-d adjusted weaning weights (adjWW) from these cow’s calves were recorded. All cows were genotyped for T-Snip. At the end of the trial, each phenotypic trait was calculated as the slope of the linear regression of performance on weeks. The effect of T-Snip rating genotypes (4 levels) on slope traits was tested using a linear model also including the fixed-effects of location, parity, and the initial measurement for each trait (covariate). For cBW and adjWW, the model also included the sex of the calf and the month of birth as categorical effects. Associations of T-Snip genotypes were observed for body weight gain (aBWd) of pregnant cows (P = 0.15; interaction with location), change in body condition score (aBCSd; P = 0.13), and adjWW (P = 0.06; interaction with location). For aBWd and adjWW, associations were found just within one location (P = 0.017 and 0.047, respectively), which was the location with higher endophyte infection rate. For all associations, the direction of the T-Snip genotypes was the same and as expected: the greater the genotype score, the better performance. No associations were found for the other traits (P > 0.10). These results indicate that the T-Snip test may be predictive of cow performance (aBWd, aBCSd, and adjWW) in an endophyte-infected tall fescue environment.

100 Management Strategies to Optimize Health and Performance of Pre-weaned Calves

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 53-53
Author(s):  
Vinicius Machado ◽  
Michael Ballou
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Optimal Growth ◽  
The United States ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Individual Factors ◽  
Milk Replacer ◽  
Causes Of Mortality ◽  
And Performance

Abstract In the United States, 1 in each 10 dairy replacement heifers were raised in a calf raising facility, and that at least half of farms with 500 or more lactating animals raised some of their calves in a specialized calf ranch. Approximately 80% of calves are individually housed, but the type of housing (e.g., outside hutch, inside a barn) varies based on location of calf-raising operations. Generally, the benchmark for optimal growth of calves is to double their birth weight by weaning. Such benchmark can only be achieved with consistent management and nutrition. Hence, it is not surprising that in large operations, up to 90% of facilities receive regular visits of both veterinarians and nutritionists. Milk-replacer is fed in more than 80% of operations, while milk (sealable or non-sealable) is fed in approximately 30% of calf raising facilities. Health challenges such as scours, and bovine respiratory disease (BRD) can hinder the performance of calves and are major causes of mortality in calf ranches. In addition to optimal colostrum management, vaccination and early diagnosis/ treatment can prevent major economic losses caused by these diseases. Compared to calves raised in their original dairies, calves raised in off-site operations are exposed to additional stressors that can lead to impairment of their immune system and weaken their resistance against pathogens. For instance, transportation at a very young age and comingling with animals from other dairies can increase the risk of diseases. Current research efforts are focusing in determining individual factors such as body weight at arrival or biomarkers of inflammation and stress that can be predictive of disease morbidity, mortality, and performance of calves. Such information could be used in the future to optimize management and to develop targeted preventative strategies to reduce incidence of diseases and mortality during the pre-weaned period.

scholarly journals The Economic Effects of COVID-19 on the Producers of Ethanol, Corn, Gasoline, and Oil

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Schmitz ◽  
Charles B. Moss ◽  
Troy G. Schmitz
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
The United States ◽  
Welfare Economic ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Corn Ethanol ◽  
Empirical Estimation ◽  
Total Oil

AbstractThe COVID-19 crisis created large economic losses for corn, ethanol, gasoline, and oil producers and refineries both in the United States and worldwide. We extend the theory used by Schmitz, A., C. B. Moss, and T. G. Schmitz. 2007. “Ethanol: No Free Lunch.” Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization 5 (2): 1–28 as a basis for empirical estimation of the effect of COVID-19. We estimate, within a welfare economic cost-benefit framework that, at a minimum, the producer cost in the United States for these four sectors totals $176.8 billion for 2020. For U.S. oil producers alone, the cost was $151 billion. When world oil is added, the costs are much higher, at $1055.8 billion. The total oil producer cost is $1.03 trillion, which is roughly 40 times the effect on U.S. corn, ethanol, and gasoline producers, and refineries. If the assumed unemployment effects from COVID-19 are taken into account, the total effect, including both producers and unemployed workers, is $212.2 billion, bringing the world total to $1266.9 billion.

The Physiology of Body Weight Regulation: Relevance to the Etiology of Obesity in Children

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 101 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 525-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Rosenbaum ◽  
Rudolph L. Leibel
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Genetic Changes ◽  
Adult Body ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity ◽  
Obesity In Children

The prevalence of obesity in children and adults in the United States has increased by more than 30% over the past decade. Recent studies of the physiology and molecular genetics of obesity in humans have provided evidence that body weight (fat) is regulated. Some of the genes encoding the molecular components of this regulatory system have been isolated from rodents. The increasing prevalence of obesity in the United States apparently represents the interaction of these genes with an environment that encourages a sedentary lifestyle and consumption of calories. The rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity emphasizes the role of environmental factors, because genetic changes could not occur at this rate. Thus, understanding of the relevant genes and how their effects are mediated by environment and development should lead to more effective prophylaxis and therapy of obesity. Although no clear environmental factors have been identified as causative of obesity, the rapid increases in the prevalence of obesity and the seeming voluntary immutability of adult body fatness can be taken as tacit evidence that the pediatric environment can be altered in a way that affects adult body weight.

105 Effect of a Hydrolyzed Yeast Product on Body Weight, Body Condition Score, and Hair Coat Score in Cows Grazing Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue.

2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 52-53
Author(s):  
P L Harrelson ◽  
C B Rogers ◽  
R A Martin ◽  
B N Bosley ◽  
F M Kilgallin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Hair Coat ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Yeast Product

Net energy efficiencies of Holstein, Jersey and Holstein-Jersey F1-crosses

2001 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Schwager-Suter ◽  
C. Stricker ◽  
D. Erdin ◽  
N. Künzi
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Repeated Measurements ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Body Tissue ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Tissue Change

Abstract Net energy efficiencies were calculated from data of an experimental herd with respect to type of cow, lactation number, stage of lactation and diet. The trial consisted of 71 Holstein-Friesians, 71 Jerseys and 71 Holstein-Jersey F1-crosses in 1st, 2nd and > 2nd lactation. Data were collected during 210 days of lactation, from calving to week 30 and included total dry matter intake, energy content of foods, milk yield, milk solids, body weight, body condition scores and several body measurements. The cows were divided into four feeding groups : high and low energy content of roughage as well as high and low proportion of concentrates. Net energy efficiency was calculated as the ratio of milk energy to total net energy intake after subtracting energy utilized for maintenance and body tissue change. Body tissue change was calculated either via body-weight changes or body condition-score changes. Due to the distribution of the efficiencies being skewed, efficiencies were transformed applying a Box-Cox transformation. Transformed net energy efficiencies were analysed using a repeated measurements design considering the sequential nature of the observations. Mixed models with a compound symmetry structure for the variance components were applied. Final models contained the fixed effects of type, lactation number, feeding group and the covariates week of lactation and its square. Holstein-Jersey crosses were more efficient than purebreds, second lactation cows were least efficient, cows given low energy roughage and a lower proportion of concentrates were more efficient than cows on the other diets. Least efficient were the cows belonging to the high energy roughage and higher proportion of concentrates group. The coefficients of determination of the final models were between 0·357 and 0·492.

scholarly journals First Report of Impatiens Downy Mildew Outbreaks Caused by Plasmopara obducens Throughout the Hawai'ian Islands

Plant Disease ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 696-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Crouch ◽  
M. P. Ko ◽  
J. M. McKemy
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Downy Mildew ◽  
The United States ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Voucher Specimen ◽  
First Report ◽  
Plastic Bags ◽  
Leaf Surfaces ◽  
Impatiens Walleriana

Downy mildew of impatiens (Impatiens walleriana Hook.f.) was first reported from the continental United States in 2004. In 2011 to 2012, severe and widespread outbreaks were documented across the United States mainland, resulting in considerable economic losses. On May 5, 2013, downy mildew disease symptoms were observed from I. walleriana ‘Super Elfin’ at a retail nursery in Mililani, on the Hawai'ian island of Oahu. Throughout May and June 2013, additional sightings of the disease were documented from the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and Hawai'i from nurseries, home gardens, and botanical park and landscape plantings. Symptoms of infected plants initially showed downward leaf curl, followed by a stippled chlorotic appearance on the adaxial leaf surfaces. Abaxial leaf surfaces were covered with a layer of white mycelia. Affected plants exhibited defoliation, flower drop, and stem rot as the disease progressed. Based on morphological and molecular data, the organism was identified as Plasmopara obducens (J. Schröt.) J. Schröt. Microscopic observation disclosed coenocytic mycelium and hyaline, thin-walled, tree-like (monopodial branches), straight, 94.0 to 300.0 × 3.2 to 10.8 μm sporangiophores. Ovoid, hyaline sporangia measuring 11.0 to 14.6 × 12.2 to 16.2 (average 13.2 × 14.7) μm were borne on sterigma tips of rigid branchlets (8.0 to 15.0 μm) at right angle to the main axis of the sporangiophores (1,3). Molecular identification of the pathogen was conducted by removing hyphae from the surface of three heavily infected leaves using sterile tweezers, then extracting DNA using the QIAGEN Plant DNA kit (QIAGEN, Gaithersburg, MD). The nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer was sequenced from each of the three samples bidirectionally from Illustra EXOStar (GE Healthcare, Piscataway, NJ) purified amplicon generated from primers ITS1-O and LR-0R (4). Resultant sequences (GenBank KF366378 to 80) shared 99 to 100% nucleotide identity with P. obducens accession DQ665666 (4). A voucher specimen (BPI892676) was deposited in the U.S. National Fungus Collections, Beltsville, MD. Pathogenicity tests were performed by spraying 6-week-old impatiens plants (I. walleriana var. Super Elfin) grown singly in 4-inch pots with a suspension of 1 × 104 P. obducens sporangia/ml until runoff using a handheld atomizer. Control plants were sprayed with distilled water. The plants were kept in high humidity by covering with black plastic bags for 48 h at 20°C, and then maintained in the greenhouse (night/day temperature of 20/24°C). The first symptoms (downward curling and chlorotic stippling of leaves) and sporulation of the pathogen on under-leaf surfaces of the inoculated plants appeared at 10 days and 21 days after inoculation, respectively. Control plants remained healthy. Morphological features and measurements matched those of the original inoculum, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of downy mildew on I. walleriana in Hawai'i (2). The disease appears to be widespread throughout the islands and is likely to cause considerable losses in Hawai'ian landscapes and production settings. References: (1) O. Constantinescu. Mycologia 83:473, 1991. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. Retrieved from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ July 16, 2013. (3) P. A. Saccardo. Syllogue Fungorum 7:242, 1888. (4) M. Thines. Fungal Genet Biol 44:199, 2007.

scholarly journals First Report of Okra yellow mosaic Mexico virus in Okra in the United States

Plant Disease ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 924-924 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Hernandez-Zepeda ◽  
T. Isakeit ◽  
A. Scott ◽  
J. K. Brown
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Bipartite Begomoviruses ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
First Report ◽  
Total Dna ◽  
Hidalgo County ◽  
Whitefly Vector

During the okra growing season from August to November of 2009, symptoms reminiscent of geminivirus infection were observed on 75% of ‘Green Emerald’ Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench, plants in a 0.2-km2 field in Hidalgo County, TX. Visible symptoms consisted of irregular yellow patches on leaves, distinctive yellow borders on leaf edges, and chlorosis of subsequently developing leaves. The whitefly vector of begomoviruses, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.), infested okra plants in the early growth stages during late July 2009. Total DNA was isolated from the leaves of three symptomatic okra plant samples (1) and used as the PCR template to amplify a 575-bp fragment of the coat protein gene (CP) using the universal begomovirus primers AV494 and AC1048 (2). PCR products of the expected size were cloned into the pGEM-T Easy (Promega, Madison, WI) and sequenced using the universal M13F and M13 R primers. ClustalV alignment indicated 99 to 100% shared nucleotide (nt) identity, and BLAST analysis revealed that the closest relative was Okra yellow mosaic Mexico virus - Tetekalitla (OkYMMV) (GenBank Accession No. EF591631) at 98%. To amplify the full-length DNA-A and a possible cognate DNA-B component, one plant that was positive by CP-PCR and DNA sequencing was selected for further analysis. Total DNA from this plant was used as template for a second detection method that consisted of rolling circle amplification (RCA) using the TempliPhi 100 Amplification System (GE Healthcare). RCA is a non-sequence-specific approach that permits amplification of circular DNA. The RCA products were linearized to release unit length ~2.6 kb DNA-A and DNA-B components using BamHI, and EcoRI, respectively. These products were cloned into pGEM3zf+ (Promega) and sequenced using M13F and M13 R primers and then by primer walking (>300 base overlap). Full-length DNA-A and DNA-B components were obtained, respectively, at 2,613 bp (GenBank Accession No. HM035059) and 2,594 bp (GenBank Accession No HM035060). Alignment of the DNA-A component using ClustalV (MegAlign, DNASTAR, Madison, WI) with begomoviral sequences available in GenBank indicated that it was 99% identical to OkYMMV DNA-A (GenBank Accession No. DQ022611). The closest relative to the DNA-B component (ClustalV) was Sida golden mosaic virus (SiGMV) (GenBank Accession No. AJ250731) at 73%. The nt identity of the 172-nt ‘common region’ present in the DNA-A and DNA-B components was 99%, and the iterons (predicted Rep binding motif) were identical for the two components, indicating that they are a cognate pair. The genome organization was typical of other New World bipartite begomoviruses. The economic losses due to infection by this virus could not be determined because an early freeze killed the plants. Hidalgo County is adjacent to Tamaulipas, Mexico, where ~50 km2 of okra are grown and the whitefly vector is also present. The identification of OkYMMV based on two independent detection methods, and the presence of begomovirus-like symptoms together with the whitefly vector, provide robust evidence for the association of OkYMMV-TX with diseased okra plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report of OkYMMV-TX infecting okra crops in Texas and in the continental United States. References: (1) J. J. Doyle and J. L. Doyle. Focus 12:13, 1990. (2) S. Wyatt and J. K. Brown. Phytopathology 86:1288, 1996.

scholarly journals Body weight gain and voluntary feed intake in meat goat does fed endophyte-infected and endophyte-free tall fescue seed

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 427-429
Author(s):  
R. Browning ◽  
J.R. Author ◽  
B. Donnelly ◽  
T. Payton ◽  
P. Pandya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Voluntary Feed Intake ◽  
Endophyte Infection ◽  
States Data ◽  
Meat Goat

Tall fescue is the primary pasture forage offered to goats in the southeastern United States. Data on how tall fescue endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum) affects meat goat performance are lacking. In three summers, yearling does were fed diets containing tall fescue seed to assess the effect of endophyte infection on goat growth and feed intake. In 2004 and 2005, does were fed endophyte-infected (EI) or endophyte-free (EF) tall fescue seeds added to the diets for 10 wk. Feed refusals were weighed daily. The EI diet reduced (P

Intrauterine Infections (Ciba Foundation Symposium 10, new series). Amsterdam/London/New York: Associated Scientific Publishers, 1973, 219 pp., $10.50

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 132-134
Author(s):  
Alex J. Steigman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
Great Britain ◽  
The United States ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Ciba Foundation Symposium ◽  
European Continent ◽  
Intrauterine Infections ◽  
Scientific Publishers

This interesting volume is the result of a proper symposium rather than a collection of submitted reports. The authoritative findings are sprinkled generously with a free flowing discussion which brings sharply into focus what remains to be learned and how to go about it. The 22 well-qualified participants include 17 from Great Britain, 4 from the European continent, and 1 from the United States. Wisely included are the observations of a veterinarian-scientist; lessons learned from studies made primarily to prevent economic losses in animals may become useful to clinicians.

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