Objectives of this study were to characterize residual feed intake (RFI) in growing calves and to examine relationships with growth, carcass composition, physiological indicators, energy metabolism and reproduction. To accomplish these objectives, multiple experiments were conducted. In all experiments, RFI was calculated as the difference between actual DMI and expected DMI from linear regression of DMI on mid-test metabolic BW and ADG. To examine the relationships between RFI and rate and composition of growth, and reproduction an experiment was conducted with postweaning Brangus heifers (N = 348). Measures of carcass composition (longissimus muscle area, LMA; and 12th rib fat thickness, BF) were obtained by ultrasound at the start and end of each experiment. To determine if serum IGF-I concentration is associated with RFI, two experiments were conducted with Angus bulls and heifers (N = 95) divergently selected for serum IGF-I concentration. To evaluate relationships with energy metabolism, calves with low and high RFI were selected for determination of heart rate as an indicator trait for energy expenditure (4 experiments) and liver mitochondrial function (3 experiments). Residual feed intake was not correlated with ADG, but was positively correlated with gain in BF such that the more efficient calves were leaner. Calves from the low IGF-I selection line had lower RFI suggesting that RFI and IGF-I are related and that IGF-I could be used as an indicator trait to aid in selection for improved RFI in Angus cattle. Calves with low RFI had lower energy expenditure and greater mitochondrial acceptor control ratios than calves with high RFI suggesting improved regulation of energy metabolism. A similar percentage of heifers with low RFI attained puberty as those with high RFI by the end of the experiment. Results from this study indicate that producers can utilize RFI to select for improved feed efficiency with minimal impact on growth, carcass composition and reproduction.

Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EC) contamination continues to be one of the major concerns for the microbiological safety of raw poultry and beef products. Application of more than one decontamination agent as a multi-hurdle intervention to carcasses in a processing line might produce greater reductions than one treatment alone due to different modes of action of individual antimicrobials. In this study, sequential spray applications of e-polylysine (EPL), lauric arginate and acidic calcium sulfate (ACS) solutions were evaluated against Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) and Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) on artificially inoculated broiler carcasses and against ST and EC on beef rounds and ground beef derived from the rounds. All possible 2-way combinations and individual applications of 20 % ACS (ACS20), 300 mg/liter EPL (EPL300) and 200 mg/liter LAE (LAE200) were evaluated using a sterile membrane filter model system. The combinations that provided higher Salmonella reductions were further evaluated on inoculated chicken carcasses using either response surface methodology (RSM) or in various concentrations applied in a sequential manner. Sequential spray applications of EPL300 - ACS 30 % (ACS30) or LAE200-ACS30 produced the highest Salmonella reductions on inoculated chicken carcasses. In a subsequent experiment, treatment of Salmonella inoculated carcasses with EPL300-ACS30 or LAE200-ACS30 combinations were found effective for reducing initial Salmonella counts by 1.5 and 1.8 log CFU/ml, respectively, immediately after treatment and by 1.2 and 1.8 log CFU/ml, respectively, following 6 days of storage at 4.4 °C. Evaluation of the resident microflora including aerobic plate counts (APC), E. coli, coliforms and psychrotrophs on uninoculated chicken carcasses after treatment with EPL300-ACS30 or LAE200-ACS30 and during storage indicated that these treatments have the potential to increase the shelf-life of poultry carcasses. Furthermore, application of warm (55 °C) EPL300-ACS30 or LAE200-ACS30 onto inoculated beef rounds reduced both ST and EC counts over 6 days of storage at 4.4 °C by 4.5 and 4.3 log CFU/cm2, respectively. Ground beef manufactured with EPL300-ACS30 or LAE200- ACS30 treated rounds had lower ST and EC counts initially and stayed lower over 4 days of storage at 4.4 °C when compared to control.

Objectives of this research were to characterize residual feed intake (RFI) in growing and finishing steers and examine phenotypic correlations between performance, feed efficiency, carcass, digestib ility, and physiological indicator traits. The research included two growing studies and one finishing study. Braunvieh-sired crossbred steers (n = 169) and Santa Gertrudis steers (n = 120) were individually fed a roughage-based diet for 77 d during the growing phase. Santa Gertrudis steers (n = 120) were individually fed a grain-based diet for 80 d during the finishing phase. Individual body weight (BW) and feed intake data were recorded. Residual feed intake was calculated as the difference between actual dry matter intake (DMI) and DMI predicted from linear regression of DMI on mid-test metabolic BW. During the growing phase, initial ultrasound measures of 12th rib fat thickness (FT) and final ultrasound measures of Longissimus muscle area (LMA), FT, and intramuscular fat (IMF) were obtained. During the finishing phase, initial and final LMA, FT, and IMF ultrasound measurements were obtained. Finishing steers were slaughtered at 1.0 cm of FT and carcass cooler traits measured. Blood samples were collected at the start and end of each feeding period and analyzed for physiological indicators. Temperament traits were also measured at the start and end of each feeding period. Growing and finishing steers with low RFI consumed 19-22% less feed than growing and finishing steers with high RFI, but did not differ in average daily gain (ADG). Consequently, steers with low RFI were also more efficient as measured by feed conversion ratio and partial efficiency of growth. Steers with low RFI had less FT compared to steers with high RFI. Initial serum IGF-I was correlated with RFI in growing steers indicating that IGF-I could be a potential indicator trait for RFI in growing cattle. Additionally, RFI was correlated with digestibility to indicate more efficient cattle had higher dry matter digestibility. Results indicate that RFI has potential to allow producers to select more efficient animals without increasing growth rate. Moreover, serum IGF-I may facilitate early detection and more accurate selection of animals that are superior for growing RFI.

Food safety is a critical issue for beef harvest operations. There are multiple interventions available for treating carcasses; however, this project was designed to evaluate an intervention capable of reducing bacterial counts on the hide prior to opening in order to minimize carcass contamination. In Trial I, fresh beef hides (n = 12) were cut into sections and assigned to serve as either clipped (hair trimmed) or non-clipped sections. Sections were inoculated with a bovine fecal slurry and sampled following a water wash. Treatments (distilled water, isopropyl alcohol, 3% hydrogen peroxide, 2% L-lactic acid, 1% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), and 10% Povidone-iodine) then were applied to each section and sampled for aerobic plate counts (APCs), coliform, and Escherichia coli counts. Within clipped samples, 1% CPC and 3% hydrogen peroxide caused the greatest reductions in aerobic plate counts, and 1% CPC, 2% L-lactic acid, and 3% hydrogen peroxide showed among the greatest reductions in coliform counts. In Trial II, beef carcasses with hides on were sampled initially and clipped, and then antimicrobials (2% L-lactic acid, 3% hydrogen peroxide, and 1% CPC) were applied before sampling again for APC, coliform, and E. coli counts. This procedure was replicated in Trial II utilizing a non-pathogenic E. coli Type I indicator strain transformed to produce a green fluorescing protein (GFP). In Trial II, though few differences existed between antimicrobial treatments, all three (1% CPC, 2% L-lactic acid, and 3% hydrogen peroxide) resulted in approximately a 2-log10 CFU/100-cm2GFP reduction when applied to clipped hide surfaces in the brisket region of the carcass. In Trial III, 1% CPC produced the greatest reduction on the hide surface for APCs. In Trial IV clipped beef hide sections were sampled initially and then antimicrobials (2% L-lactic acid, 3% hydrogen peroxide, and 1% CPC) were applied before sampling again to determine reduction. Trial IV also involved the use of the E. coli GFP indicator strain. In Trial IV, non-clipped samples had a mean reduction of 2.8 log10 CFU/100 cm2, and clipped samples had a mean reduction of 2.2 log10 CFU/100 cm2. Within the antimicrobials tested, 1% CPC and 3% hydrogen peroxide produced the greatest reductions.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-78). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Alberta, 2010. / Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on Feb. 8, 2010). A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Animal Science, [Department of] Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta. Includes bibliographical references.

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on March 10, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Thesis advisor: Dr. David J. Patterson. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-78). Also available on the Internet.

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