Summer and winter experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with vitamin E and vitamin C of sows in hot environments on reproductive performance, placenta transfer, piglet tissue vitamin E content and some indicators of immune status of sows and their litters. In summer, sows were given the following treatment diets: control, vitamin C 1g/day, vitamin C 10g/day, vitamin E 200 mg/kg feed, vitamin E 400 mg/kg fed, and combined vitamins (vitamin E 200 mg/kg feed + vitamin C 1 g/day). In winter, sows were given the following treatment diets: control, vitamin C 10g/day, vitamin E 500 mg/kg feed, combined vitamins (vitamin E 500 mg/kg/feed + vitamin C 10g/day). Data show that vitamin E had an effect on growth, but not on reproductive performance. Placental vitamin E concentrations were low but increased with dietary vitamin E supplementation. Vitamin E supplementation resulted in an increase in vitamin E content of sow plasma, piglet serum, colostrum and milk and piglet tissues. Supplementation with vitamin E and vitamin C had no consistent effect on parvovirus titer in sows. The relationship between sow plasma vitamin C and vitamin E concentrations and lymphocyte proliferation was not clear. Total Igs and IgG concentrations in piglet serum at weaning were significantly increased by the combined vitamin treatments. However, vitamins supplementation did not appear to have any effect in IgG colostrum. IgA concentration in milk was increased by the high level of vitamin E supplemented in the summer but not in the winter experiment.

Work was undertaken to determine the efficiency of growing lambs offered a fixed amount of roughage and concentrate as; 1) a mixed diet (M), containing 500 g/kg DM roughage and 500 g/kg DM concentrate, 2) split feeds (S), roughage alone followed by concentrate alone, 3) a mixture changing from roughage to concentrate (R-C), or concentrate to roughage (C-R), or 4) half the animals offered roughage and half concentrate (R/C). Lamb growth was predicted from computer models based on current feeding standards. In experiment (1), lambs were offered 50 kg roughage DM and 50 kg concentrate DM by strategies M and S. Lambs on strategy S took longer to consume their food and maintained a higher EBW ^0.75 than those on strategy M. However, the final EBW and EB composition of the two groups was similar. This contrasted with predicted results. The higher overall efficiency of lambs on strategy S was explained partly by associative effects reducing the energy available to lambs on strategy M, and partly by a higher efficiency of energy utilisation and/or a lower maintainance requirement of lambs on strategy S. In experiment (2), the influence of associative effects on strategies R-C and C-R was investigated. The prediction of dry matter digestibility (DMD, Y) from concentrate proportion (CONCP, X1) and dry matter intake (X2) showed no curvilinearity. DMD was linearly related to CONCP. The equations derived for each strategy were similar. In experiment (3), lambs were offered 52.5 kg roughage DM and 52.5 kg concentrate DM by strategies M, R-C, C-R and R/C. Lambs on strategies R-C, C-R and R/C took a similar time to consume their food and achieved a similar final EBW and EB composition. Their energy retention (ER) was similar to that predicted. Lambs on strategy M consumed their food faster than those on all other strategies and achieved a higher (NS) EBW, which contained more (NS) fat. Their ER was higher than predicted. The higher overall efficiency of lambs on strategy M was explained by differences in the ratio of protein: fat deposited and maintained by lambs on each strategy. The EB composition of all slaughtered lambs was within the limits for published data. Non-carcass composition could be used to predict EB composition. The results highlight the importance of the factors mentioned in determining the efficiency of lambs on each strategy.

No description available.

The use of resources by otters (<I>Lutra lutra</I> L.) living along coasts and streams in Southwest Portugal was described, and related to their spatial and temporal patterns of availability. The use of freshwater along coasts was inferred from the spatial distribution of spraints, and from radio-tracking. Spraints were mostly concentrated at the mouth of streams that provided freshwater throughout the dry season, and where rest-sites were found within dense thickets of brambles. Rest-sites were considered a scarce resource, because they seemed to be associated with the few permanent sources of freshwater. Along the coast prey availability was highest in winter and lowest in later summer and autumn. The corkwing wrasse was the dominant prey, and the seasonal variation in diet was primarily related to fluctuations in its abundance: wrasse were consumed when they were most abundant, other prey being taken to compensate for lows in their availability. In streams there were large year-to-year fluctuations in fish abundance, and these were related to the severity of summer droughts. Spring was probably the period of maximum prey abundance. Eels and crayfish were the dominant prey, but cyprinids, toads and frogs were also important seasonally. Prey were consumed relative to availability, except eels, which were consumed less than expected during the peak abundance of crayfish. Crayfish and eels were more associated in spraints that expected by chance. The introduction of the American crayfish to Iberia contributed to increase food abundance from spring to early autumn. Breeding of otters occurred seasonally, but births were earlier on the coast (October-December) than inland (January-March), most probably as a consequence of the seasonal patterns of food availability. Litter sizes inland were larger than on the coast. Differences between otter habitats in Southwest Portugal and elsewhere were discussed. A conservation strategy for otters in this region was developed.

No description available.

No description available.

The purposes of this project were to assess nutrition knowledge and dietary behavior of adolescents, and to determine what relationship, if any, exists between nutrition knowledge and dietary behavior. A newly-developed 25-question nutrition knowledge survey was used to measure general nutrition knowledge among 287 seventh grade students in Newburgh, Indiana. Dietary behavior scores were determined by rating choices purchased in the school cafeteria over one week as to whether or not they met the Indiana S.B. 0111's definition of a "better choice" food. Results indicated low levels of nutrition knowledge (mean score 48.5%). Girls score significantly higher on the nutrition knowledge survey than did boys (51% versus 48%). The average dietary behavior score of seventh grade students was 73.8% (an average of 7.8 `better choice' foods out of every 11.4 total foods purchased over one week period). No significant relationship was found between the score on the nutrition knowledge test and the dietary behavior score (r = .06, NS). When a linear regression analysis was performed, nutrition knowledge was a more important predictor of dietary behavior than either gender or race. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

The environment in which Propithecus verreauxi (common name: Verreaux’s sifaka) is found is highly seasonal, arid and frequently undergoes periods of drought. P. verreauxi compounds these challenges by giving birth during the dry season when resources are scarce. Considering lactation is the most energetically expensive reproductive stage, understanding how P. verreauxi females meet energetic requirements during periods of low resource availability is important. This study examines the behavior and diet of adult male and lactating female P. verreauxi to identify intersex differences. Continuous focal observations were completed at Berenty Private Reserve, Madagascar, over six weeks early in the birth season. The number of bites an individual consumed of an item was recorded along with the plant part and species. Intersex differences were largely nonexistent. Males and females did not differ significantly in regards to intake rate, the amount of total food consumed, and water intake. Females devoted a greater portion of time to feeding than did males but both sexes allocated similar amounts of time to resting. There were also no essential differences in amount of feeding time allocated to specific plant species and food types. Findings may suggest that P. verreauxi is a capital breeder, storing energy year-round. / Graduate / 0472 / 0329 / 0327

No description available.

No description available.