Use of expected progeny differences for marbling in beef: II. Carcass and palatability traits

A 2-yr study was conducted to determine the effect of EPD for marbling on marbling score, palatability traits, and carcass fatness in beef. Steer (n = 122) and heifer (n = 123) carcasses were obtained by mating Angus bulls having a high ( > .4) or low ( < -.16) EPD for marbling to MARC II cows (1/4 Angus, 1/4 Hereford, 1/4 Simmental, and 1/4 Gelbvieh). Carcass traits, composition of primals, quarters, and sides, palatability, and shear force data were obtained and adjusted to the mean number of days on feed, equal marbling score (Small50), fat thickness (1.0 cm), and carcass weight (318 kg) end points. Steer carcasses from the high marbling EPD group, adjusted to the mean number of days on feed, had significantly more marbling (P < .01) and less subcutaneous fat in the side and the hindquarter (P < .10) than their low marbling EPD counterparts. Adjusting steers to Small50 marbling produced smaller longissimus muscle area (by 5 cm2), less fat thickness (1.15 vs 1.28 cm), and lighter side weights (306 vs 333 kg) for high marbling vs low marbling EPD groups, indicating a faster rate of marbling deposition. Similar relationships of a greater magnitude were found for heifers, perhaps because the heifers were older than the steers at slaughter. No differences in taste panel ratings or shear force values were noted among steer carcasses. Heifer carcasses from the high marbling EPD group had better (P < .05) ratings for juiciness, muscle fiber tenderness, and overall tenderness than the low marbling EPD group heifers. These results indicate that it is possible, using existing genetic resources, to maintain marbling score and decrease fat in other depots of the carcass without compromising palatability.     

Improvement of beef tenderness and quality traits with calcium chloride injection in beef loins 48 hours postmortem

Boneless strip loin subprimals (n = 24) were fabricated from 12 USDA Standard yield grade 2 carcasses at a commercial beef processing facility and processed 48 h postmortem to determine the effect of injection of 200 or 250 mM calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution at 5% (wt/wt) on beef quality traits. One-third of the subprimal served as the control; the remaining portion was injected with either 200 or 250 mM CaCl2 at 5% (wt/wt). The CaCl2 concentration treatment was randomly assigned to strip loins fabricated from either the right or left side of the carcass. After 7 or 14 d of postmortem storage at 2 degrees C, 2.5-cm-thick steaks were cut from each control and treated portion of the subprimals and evaluated for Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS) force, retail display characteristics, Minolta colorimeter L*, a*, and b* values, and trained sensory panel ratings. Treatment of the muscle with 250 mM CaCl2 increased (P < .05) trained sensory panel tenderness and beef flavor scores, and both CaCl2 concentrations decreased WBS force values, when compared with the control. Scores for color, uniformity, and browning in the retail display case did not differ (P > .05) for the 200-mM treatment compared with the control. Scores for discoloration in the retail display decreased (P < .05) for all three-way interactions of CaCl2 concentration, aging time, and display time after d 2 (except 7-d control, which remained the same [P > .05] d 1 through 5). The L* values did not differ (P < .05) for interactions of CaCl2 concentration, x aging time, and retail display.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The response of broiler chickens and turkey poults to steam-pelleted diets supplemented with fat or carbohydrates

The responses of growth and feed efficiency to pelleted feed was investigated in 4- to 7-wk-old broiler chickens, and in 8- to 12- and 16- to 20-wk-old turkeys. In all cases, the growth and feed efficiency responses were linear within the ranges of dietary energy tested. When energy was added by carbohydrate supplementation, weight gain and feed efficiency responses were parallel for both mash and pellets, but due to the growth response to pellets, the elevation was higher for pellets than for mash. When energy was added by fat, the growth response to pellets also resulted in an increase in function elevation but the slope of the response was lower than in mash feeding, possibly due to a decline in pellet quality as dietary fat increased. Grinding of pellets completely abolished the growth and feed efficiency responses observed when the physical form was preserved. In chickens, comparisons of ground pellets to mash suggested some decline in nutritional quality due to the process of pelleting when either carbohydrates or fat were increased in the diets. In both chickens and turkeys, the feeding of pelleted diets resulted in an increase in abdominal fat.     

Simulation of the electric field in an electrolytic cell with a liquid metal anode

The influence of the temperature and the level of liquid metal electrodes on the direct current distribution over the surface of the liquid metal anode and the electrolyte KCl-PbCl₂ volume in a cylindrical electrolytic cell is studied by simulating the electric field.     

Powder sintering with application of an electric current and periodic mechanical pulses

Electric-discharge sintering of metal powders and powder composites is accompanied by anomalously high rates for compaction, and alloy and phase formation. Application of low-frequency pressure pulses on powders and powder mixtures during the concluding stage of electric-discharge sintering leads to even greater intensification of compaction and alloy formation. Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, Nos. 3/4(412), pp. 105–109, March–April, 2000.     

Modeling of electric and thermal fields in an electrolyzer with liquid-metal electrodes

The influence of the molten electrolyte composition and geometric configuration of the electrolyzer with liquid-metal lead electrodes on the spatial distribution of dc and temperature in an apparatus of the “crucible-in-crucible” type, which is considered a prototype of the device to process spent nuclear fuel, is studied by mathematical modeling. It is shown that the calculated model parameters are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Study of a blast-furnace smelting technology which involves the injection of pulverized-coal fuel, natural gas, and an oxygen-enriched blast into the hearth

Studies were made of features of a blast-furnace smelting technology that involves the injection of natural gas (NG), oxygen (O₂) and pulverized-coal fuel (PCF) into the hearth. The technology has been implemented in the compensation and overcompensation regimes, which has made it possible to maintain or improve the gasdynamics of the furnace, the conditions for the reduction of iron oxides, the heating of the charge, and PCF combustion in the tuyere zone as PCF consumption is increased and coke use is decreased. Under the given conditions, with the blast having an oxygen content of 25.64–25.7%, the hearth injection of 131–138 kg PCF and 65–69 m³ NG for each ton of pig iron has made it possible to reduce coke consumption by 171–185 kg/ton pig (30.2–32.7%), reduce the consumption of comparison fuel by 36–37 kg/ton (5.2–5.3%), and lower the production cost of the pig iron by 43–49 hryvnas/ton (3.7–6.4%). Here, furnace productivity has increased 3.8–6.5%, while the quality of the conversion pig iron remains the same as before. Measures are being implemented to further increase the level and efficiency of PCF use. __________ Translated from Metallurg, No. 5, pp. 41–44, May, 2006.     

Immunoglobulin G concentration and neonatal survival of goat kids delivered in a pen or on open range

To determine whether kids born on open range (subjected to stress due to management practices) had lower IgG concentrations and a higher mortality risk than kids born in a pen, serum IgG concentrations in 63 one-day-old kids were determined. Median Serum IgG concentrations one day after birth tended to be lower (p = 0.09) in surviving kids born in the open than that of surviving kids delivered in pen (115 vs. 1119 mg dl-1). However, survival risk (71 and 82% for kids born on the open range and pen, respectively; n = 79) were not significantly affected by site of kidding. Median IgG concentration of surviving kids born on a pen was not significantly different (p = 0.13) compared to non-surviving kids (1118 vs. 115 mg dl-1). No differences were detected in either median serum IgG levels or death rates between male and female kids. Kids with IgG concentrations < 800 mg dl-1 showed lower survival risks than those with higher concentrations. We concluded that typical management practices of kids delivered on open range at a goat operation under extensive conditions in northern Mexico tended to reduced colostrally acquired serum immunoglobulin levels, but had no effect directly on mortality.     

The effect of a single or repeated period of high stocking density on the behavior and response to stimuli in broiler chickens

Broiler chickens are normally housed at a fixed number per unit area throughout their life, which reduces their opportunity for movement during the later stages of rearing. An experiment is described that exposed broilers to a high stocking density either once or twice in the rearing period, and investigated the effects on the birds' behavior, and the response to other birds and humans after the second exposure to high or low stocking density. The stocking density was increased from a low level (1.7 kg/m2) to a high level (14 kg/m2) for the 2nd and/or 4th wk of rearing, or left unchanged at the low level. When stocked at the low rate, the birds spent more time walking and sitting and less time dozing and sleeping. They pecked more at inanimate objects and interacted more with other birds, but this did not include aggressive interaction. The effects of stocking density on behavior were greater in Week 4 than in Week 2, but there was no evidence that exposure to a high stocking density in Week 2 influenced the birds' behavioral response to a high stocking density in Week 4. Where stocking density did affect behavior in both Weeks 2 and 4, there was evidence of the response being cumulative. The activity of birds in the presence of another bird restrained in an open field arena was greatest when they had been stocked at the low density throughout the experiment. When a familiar person was in the arena, the birds that had been stocked at the high density in Week 2 were most active, but these birds showed the longest tonic immobility when inverted in a cradle. It is concluded that a high stocking density reduces activity in broiler chickens, and that birds stocked at a high density early in the rearing period are most active in the presence of people and show the longest tonic immobility in response to a fearful stimulus.     

[Review of Absences and employee attitudes in an electric power company; The supervisor's concern with costs in an electric power company: and Appraisals of supervisors and attitudes of their employees in an electric power company].

Reviews three booklets: Absences and employee attitudes in an electric power company, by Floyd Mann and Howard Baumgartel (see record 1955-06375-000); The supervisor's concern with costs in an electric power company, by the same authors (see record 1955-06376-000); and Appraisals of supervisors and attitudes of their employees in an electric power company, by Mann and James Dent (see record 2006-09526-000). According to the reviewer, these booklets were written for business executives, not for psychologists. They illustrate how reports should not be written. They badly miss their mark. The writing suffers from what this reviewer interprets as a misguided attempt to be modern or popular. The authors go beyond evidence on hand in inferring causal relationships. Clumsy structure sometimes results in sentences which are meaningless if interpreted literally. Some statements are vague or ambiguous. Carelessness in word choice has resulted in incorrect statements. Executives are not professionally trained psychologists. However, reports to top management need not assume lack of intelligence, lack of general information, or lack of interest. Many executives arc studious, and they do have common sense. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavior of admixtures in a weakly conducting porous medium with fluids under pulsed pressure excited by an electric discharge

The behaviour of admixtures in a porous medium with fluids under pulsed pressure excited by an electric discharge in surfactant solutions is studied theoretically. A mechanism is revealed for the effect of high-voltage discharges and the mechanical waves excited by them on the behaviour of composite objects (rocks having pores filled with hydrocarbon fluids, i.e. oil and surfactant solution; hard organomineral deposits). A relationship is established for filtration processes in porous materials and oil quality on treatment energy. Features established for the behaviour of composite objects may be effective in creating methods of electric discharge treatment of heterogeneous objects (articles, semifinished products of composite materials) where instead of the deposits of asphalts, resins, paraffins, there may be other admixtures, and instead of the oil and aqueous electrolyte with surfactant there may be other liquids. The results obtained may be used in developing scientific bases for managing the filtration properties of porous materials of different origin (including man-made).     

The effect of dietary supplementation with copper sulfate or tribasic copper chloride on broiler performance, relative copper bioavailability, and dietary prooxidant activity

A new classification has been proposed for prophylactic antiradiation drugs, which are divided into three groups: radioprotectors, stimulators of radioresistance and the means of protection from internal irradiation. Depending on organs (systems) for the protection of which they are designed, radioprotectors in their turn are subdivided into myelo-, entero- and cerebroprotectors; stimulators of radioresistance (depending on the optimal regimens of their use to develop a higher resistance of the organism) are subdivided into drugs that are effective in single and repeated (course) use; the means of protection from internal irradiation are subdivided into the drugs that prevent incorporation of radioiodine by the thyroid gland, and into the drugs preventing absorption of radionuclides in the digestive tract. The main features that distinguish radioprotectors from stimulators of radioresistance are presented. The former are characterized by such properties as exhibiting the effect exquisitely when prophylactically administered in doses close to those of maximal tolerance, greatest effect against shortterm (pulse) irradiation, rapid development and short duration of the radioprotective action period, reduction in the effect in repeated use, etc. Stimulators of radioresistance rank below radioprotectors in their effect against short-term irradiation, however, unlike the latter, they exhibit their protective effect against a long-term (low dose rate) exposure as well under the conditions of both prophylactic and therapeutic use; their radioprotective action is more prolonged, they are distinguished for their low toxicity and lower the risk of delayed sequelae of irradiation, etc. Examples of the most typical members of each group of prophylactic antiradiation drugs are cited, data are presented which characterize their radioprotective activity, the role and place in the system of antiradiation protection of troops and population.     

Intake and digestion by Holstein steers consuming diets based on litter harvested after different numbers of broiler growing periods or with molasses addition before deep-stacking

We determined the effects on feed intake and digestibility by Holstein steers of 1) the number of broiler growing periods before litter harvest and dietary level of broiler litter and 2) level of molasses added to broiler litter before deep-stacking. In Exp. 1, eight steers (179+/-7.4 kg average BW) were used in two simultaneous 4 x 4 Latin squares (2 x 4 factorial) with 21-d periods. Broiler litter harvested after one, three, or six 6-wk growing periods (1P, 3P, and 6P, respectively) mixed with .5 or 1.5% BW of ground corn (.5C and 1.5C, respectively) was consumed ad libitum. Bermudagrass hay was fed to 1P, 3P, and 6P steers at .5% BW and was ingested ad libitum by Control steers, along with feeding of .5 or 1.5% BW of corn (DM basis). Broiler litter was 63, 43, and 35% NDF, 2.2, 3.5, and 4.1% N, and 18, 30, and 27% ash for 1P, 3P, and 6P, respectively. Total tract digestibility of NDF was 53.7, 29.4, 50.4, 58.1, 31.3, 30.8, 34.1, and 49.5% (SE 3.50), and digestible OM intake was 2.21, 1.70, 2.27, 2.39, 2.26, 3.18, 2.93, and 3.34 kg/d (SE .160) for .5C-Control, .5C-1P, .5C-3P, .5C-6P, 1.5C-Control, 1.5C-1P, 1.5C-3P, and 1.5C-6P, respectively. In Exp. 2, five steers (228+/-6.0 kg average BW) were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square with 21-d periods. Offered diets were 15% bermudagrass hay and 60% broiler litter (6P of Exp. 1; DM). Molasses was offered at 0, 3.2, or 6.7% of total DM, with the balance of the diet composed of corn. Molasses for two treatments was mixed with litter at meals, whereas for two other treatments molasses and litter were mixed before deep-stacking. Only a few minor treatment effects on intakes and digestibilities occurred. In conclusion, digestible OM intake by growing steers was less for litter harvested after one broiler growing period than after three or six when fed with only .5% BW of corn, although the effect of the number of periods was negligible with corn given at 1.5% BW. Molasses addition before deep-stacking or at meals did not enhance feeding value of litter harvested after six broiler growing periods.