Browsing by Author "Thompson, Alex J."
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Item Antimicrobial supplementation alters digestibility and ruminal fermentation in a continuous culture model(2021) Thompson, Alex J.; Smith, Zachary K.; Sarturi, Jhones O.; Johnson, Bradley J.A dual-flow continuous culture system was used to evaluate the effects of laidlomycin propionate and bacitracin zinc on fermentation, nutrient digestibility, and microbial efficiency. Factors were laidlomycin propionate (LP; 2 mg/L of culture volume) and bacitracin zinc (BAC; 1.4 mg/L), and treatments were as follows: (1) no BAC or LP (CON), (2) LP without BAC (LP), (3) BAC without LP (BAC), and (4) LP and BAC (LP/BAC). A fifth treatment was supplemented with monensin sodium (MON; 6 mg/L) to act as a positive control. Both LP and LP/BAC had significantly greater pH than MON (P < 0.05). Antibiotic treatment did not affect NH 3-N concentration (P = 0.62), but did influence total VFA production (P = 0.02). Monensin fermenters had a greater proportion of total VFA than did LP fermenters (P < 0.05), and improved VFA production by 7.2% compared to CON. Laidlomycin suppressed the production of both acetate (P < 0.01) and butyrate (P = 0.05), and acetate was further reduced when LP was fed in combination with BAC (P = 0.01). Laidlomycin numerically reduced the acetate:propionate ratio (P = 0.12). These results suggest that bacitracin may produce ionophore-like effects on pH and VFA production in vitro.Item Bovine Somatotropin Alters Myosin Heavy Chains and Beta Receptors in Skeletal Muscle of Feedlot Heifers with Little Impact on Live or Carcass Performance(2021) Hergenreder, Jerilyn E.; Baggerman, Jessica O.; Harris, Tyler L.; Thompson, Alex J.; Spivey, Kari S.; Broadway, P. Rand; Vogel, Gary J.; Smith, Zachary K.; Johnson, Bradley J.The objective was to determine whether recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) enhanced live performance,skeletal muscle biological activity, and beta-adrenergic receptor expression of feedlot heifers during the finishing phase. Heifers (n = 16; initial body weight = 457 ± 3 kg) were randomly assigned to pens (4 pens/treatment; 2 heads/pen) and treatment: (1) no rbST (Control); (2) 500 mg/hd of sometribove zinc at day 0 and 14 (rbST; Posilac®; Elanco AnimalHealth, Greenfield, IN). Longissimus muscle biopsies for muscle chemistry were collected on day 0, 14, 28, 42, and 56. The rbST heifers had increased expression of AMP-activated protein kinase alpha and beta 3 adrenergic receptor (P < 0.05). Day of the study affected the expression of myosin heavy chain-IIA (MHC-IIA), MHC-IIX, beta 2 adrenergic receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (P < 0.05). Day had a significant effect on muscle fiber cross-sectional area and proportion (P < 0.05). As days on feed increased, the area of MHC-I fibers decreased whereas MHC-IIA and IIX area increased (P < 0.05). The rbST heifers had decreased proportions of MHC-I fibers and increased proportions of MHC-IIX fibers (P < 0.05). The greatest density of Paired Box 7-positive cells was on day 0, 28, and 42 (P < 0.05), and the greatest density of Myogenic factor 5-positive cells was on day 42 and 56 (P < 0.05). Also, the greatest density of cells positive for Paired Box 7:Myogenic factor 5 was measured on day 28 (P < 0.05). These data indicate that, as days on feed increase, the effects of skeletal muscle biological activity are not dependent on rbST administration but may be more due to physiological changes occurring as the animal reaches physio-logical maturity.Item Chromium propionate supplementation alters animal growth performance, carcass characteristics, and skeletal muscle properties in feedlot steers(2020) Baggerman, Jessica O.; Smith, Zachary K.; Thompson, Alex J.; Kim, Jongkyoo; Hergenreder, Jerilyn E.; Rounds, Whitney; Johnson, Bradley J.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing concentrations of Cr propionate (CrP) on feedlot performance, blood parameters, carcass characteristics, and skeletal muscle fiber properties in feedlot steers. Crossbred steers (n = 32; 367 ± 2.5 kg; 16 pens; 2 hd/pen) were blocked by body weight (BW), and treatment was randomly assigned to pen: (1) 0 mg added Cr/kg diet dry matter (DM) (control), (2) 0.15 mg added Cr/kg diet DM (CrP; KemTRACE Chromium 0.04%, Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA), (3) 0.30 mg added Cr/kg diet DM, and (4) 0.45 mg added Cr/kg diet DM. Steers were fed ad libitum, and the treatment was top-dressed at the time of feeding. Body weights, blood samples, and longissimus biopsies were collected before feeding on days 0, 28, 56, 91, 119, and 147. Blood sera were harvested for analysis of glucose, insulin, sera urea nitrogen, and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations. Longissimus biopsies were collected for gene expression, protein expression, and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis. Pen was the experimental unit for live and carcass data, and steer was the experimental unit with day as a repeated measure for sera and IHC analyses. For the entire duration of the trial, a linear increase in average daily gain (ADG) (P = 0.01) and improvement in G:F was observed (P = 0.01) with no change in DMI (P = 0.11) with increasing CrP. A linear increase in hot carcass weight (HCW) (P ≤ 0.01) with no other changes in carcass composition were noted (P ≥ 0.38) as the level of dietary CrP increased. There was no effect of treatment on any sera parameters measured (P ≥ 0.10). No difference was detected for gene or protein expression of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) due to CrP supplementation (P ≥ 0.10). For skeletal muscle fiber distribution and cross-sectional area, there was no effect of treatment (P ≥ 0.10). Density of total GLUT4 did not change due to CrP (P ≥ 0.10). Internalization of GLUT4 was increased in the 0.30 and 0.45 mg/kg treatments (P < 0.01). For total nuclei density and myonuclei density, there were treatment × day interaction tendencies (P ≤ 0.08). Supplementation of CrP did not alter density of satellite cells (P ≥ 0.10). The number of transporters located in the sarcolemma of skeletal muscle fibers did decrease, implying fewer proteins were needed to transport extracellular glucose into the muscle fiber. Therefore, CrP may augment cellular function and growth via increased efficiency of GLUT4 function. These results indicated CrP increases BW, ADG, and HCW, without changes in circulating sera parameters or total GLUT4 expression.Item Effects of Encapsulated Methionine on Skeletal Muscle Growth and Development and Subsequent Feedlot Performance and Carcass Characteristics in Beef Steers(2021) Baggerman, Jessica O.; Thompson, Alex J.; Jennings, Michael A.; Hergenreder, Jerilyn E.; Rounds, Whitney; Smith, Zachary K.; Johnson, Bradley J.Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of encapsulated methionine on live performance, carcass characteristics, and skeletal muscle development in feedlot steers. In Experiment 1, 128 crossbred steers (body weight [BW] = 341 ± 36.7 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design and supplemented with 0, 4, 8, or 12 g/(head day [d]) of ruminally protected methionine (0MET, 4MET, 8MET, and 12MET, respectively) for 111 d or 139 d. In Exp. 2, 20 steers (BW = 457 ± 58 kg) were stratified by BW and randomly assigned to either the 0MET or 8MET treatment; longissimus muscle (LM) biopsies were collected on d 0, 14, 28, 42, and 56, and analyzed for mRNA and protein expression. Additionally, immunohistochemical analysis was performed to measure fiber type area and distribution as well as the density of muscle nuclei and satellite cells (Myf5, Pax7, and Myf5/Pax7). In Experiment 1, no significant differences were observed for live performance (p ≥ 0.09). There was, however, a linear relationship between LM area and methionine supplementation (p = 0.04), with a 9% increase in the area when steers were supplemented with 12MET compared to 0MET. In Exp. 2, There were no treatment × day interactions (p ≥ 0.10) for expression of mRNA or protein abundance. Although mRNA expression and protein abundance of all genes were influenced by day (p ≤ 0.04), methionine supplementation did not have a significant effect (p ≥ 0.08). There was a significant treatment × day interaction for distribution of MHC-I fibers (p = 0.03), where 8MET supplemented cattle had a greater proportion of MHC-I fibers after 56 d of supplementation than did 0MET steers. Cross-sectional area was increased over time regardless of fiber type (p < 0.01) but was unaffected by treatment (p ≥ 0.36). While nuclei density was not impacted by treatment (p = 0.55), the density of myonuclei increased nearly 55% in 8MET supplemented cattle (p = 0.05). The density of Myf5 positive satellite cells tended to decrease with methionine supplementation (p = 0.10), while the density of Pax7 expressing cells tended to increase (p = 0.09). These results indicate that encapsulated methionine supplementation may influence markers of skeletal muscle growth, and potential improvements in the LM area may exist.Item Evaluation of coated steroidal implants containing trenbolone acetate and estradiol-17β on live performance, carcass traits, and sera metabolites in finishing steers(2018) Smith, Zachary K.; Thompson, Alex J.; Hutcheson, John P.; Nichols, Wade T.; Johnson, Bradley J.Crossbred beef steers (n = 240; 12 pens/treatment; initial BW = 305 ± 17.7 kg) were used in a randomized block design feedlot study to evaluate the influence of coated trenbolone acetate (TBA) and estradiol-17β (E2) implants (Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ) on gain performance, carcass traits, and sera metabolites. The five treatments were no implant (NI), Revalor-XR on d 0 [200 mg TBA + 20 mg E2 (coated); XR], Revalor-XS on d 0 [200 mg TBA + 40 mg E2 (total): 80 mg TBA + 16 mg E2 (noncoated) and 120 mg TBA + 24 mg E2 (coated); XS], Revalor-200 on d 0 [200 mg TBA + 20 mg E2 (noncoated); E200], or Revalor-200 on d 70 (D200). Interim BW and blood were collected on d 0, 14, 35, 70, 105, 140, and 175 prior to feeding and on d 213 prior to shipping. Following a 24 h clot at 4 °C, sera was harvested to quantify circulating E2, IGF-I, NEFA, serum urea-N (SUN), and 17β-trenbolone (17β-TbOH). Implanted steers had greater (P ≤ 0.05) ADG, G:F, and final BW than NI controls. Implants increased (P < 0.05) HCW by 8%, 366 vs. 391, 414, 380, and 396 ± 6.4 kg, for NI vs. XR, XS, E200, and D200, respectively. The greatest (P ≤ 0.05) dressing percentage, yield grade, and calculated empty body fat occurred in XS, which had greater (P < 0.05) rib fat than NI, XR, and D200. Marbling scores in NI were greater (P < 0.05) than E200 and D200; steers in XR and XS were intermediate (P > 0.10), not differing from NI, E200, or D200. An implant × day interaction (P ≤ 0.01) was noted for circulating E2, IGF-I, SUN, and 17β-TbOH. Implanted steers had elevated (P ≤ 0.05) sera E2, IGF-I, and 17β-TbOH, and decreased (P < 0.05) SUN following implantation compared to NI controls. Serum NEFA differed (P < 0.01) over time, but did not differ (P > 0.10) due to implant treatment. These data indicated that the polymer coating applied to the XR implant delayed release of steroidal hormones congruently to D200, with no negative impact on marbling. The greatest dose of E2, contained in XS, provided improvements in gain and carcass weight without detriment to marbling scores compared to NI.