Langston University

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) is a nutrient-rich multipurpose crop. Its grains are used as a cereal, green leaves as a vegetable for humans, and the whole green plant as an alternate forage for livestock. Recently, whole-plant quinoa forage has been evaluated in several countries in Asia and Europe for its potential use as an alternative forage for livestock; however, this has not been performed in the United States. We investigated forage yield and related agronomic traits, nutritional composition, and feed quality-related traits in 60-day-old quinoa whole plants of four quinoa lines over a two-year period. The goal was to evaluate the feasibility of quinoa forage production in Missouri, a drought-prone midwestern state of the USA. Morphological traits (height and fresh and dry weight per plant), chemical composition (fiber contents), and nutritive quality (digestible nutrient contents) of forages were affected by quinoa genotype and year of planting. The crude protein content of quinoa forage averaged 16.23% and fiber 22.08%, which was similar to the values reported in Asia and Europe, but was slightly lower than that of alfalfa. Calcium (1.26%) and phosphorus (0.47% dry weight) were significantly higher than those reported in published quinoa forage results and are comparable to those in published alfalfa minerals. Lysine (0.98%) and methionine (0.25%) were higher than the published results for quinoa and alfalfa. Neutral detergent fiber (34.10%) and acid detergent fiber (25.01%) were lower than those of alfalfa, indicating better digestibility of the quinoa forage. The calculated digestible dry matter (69.40%), dry matter intake (3.56%), relative food value (192%), and total digestible nutrient (70.33%) were higher than those of alfalfa and comparable with published results for quinoa forage. Our preliminary results indicate that the quinoa lines evaluated in this study have excellent potential to be used as a non-traditional alternative forage, especially in environmentally stressed areas where the production of other forage crops is limited. Further research should explore the full multipurpose benefits of quinoa, including its use as grains, leafy green, and whole-plant forage.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of chemically and green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the shelf life and sensory quality of fish meat. In this study, ZnO-NPs were synthesized by employing the colloidal chemistry (CZnO-NPs) and green synthesis (GZnO-NPs) methods, and they were also characterized to assess their morphology. The synthesized ZnO-NPs, ZnO, and zinc acetate (ZnA) were used for the preservation and fortification of fish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) meat at 20 mg/kg of Zn. In a six-day storage study at 4 °C, the fish samples were evaluated for their sensory attributes (color and odor), physicochemical quality (pH and total volatile base nitrogen), oxidative changes (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and peroxide value), and microbial loads at 0, 3, and 6 days of storage. The fortification of raw fish with the synthesized CZnO-NPs produced better sensory attributes (color and odor) and maintained a pH non-conducive to microbial growth throughout the entire storage period compared with the control, ZnO, and ZnA-fortified samples. The GZnO-NPs largely did not provide any added advantage over CZnO-NPs but sometimes responded better than the control, ZnO, and ZnA samples. Oxidative status and total volatile base nitrogen were lower for CZnO-NPs in refrigerated fish compared with the other treatments. The ZnO-NP-fortified fish had the lowest counts of total viable bacteria, coliforms, Staphylococcus spp., and Vibrio spp. Hence, the fortification of fish with synthesized CZnO-NPs is promising as a food additive to reduce microbial spoilage and lipid peroxidation of fish in storage.

This study evaluated the effect of free and nanoencapsulated rosemary essential oil (REO) as an antibiotic alternative in broiler diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass traits, meat quality and gene expression. Four hundred twenty day-old commercial broiler chicks (VENCOBB) were randomly allocated to seven dietary treatments, each having four replicates of fifteen chicks. The dietary treatments comprised control (CON) fed a basal diet only, AB (basal diet + 10 mg enramycin/kg), CS (basal diet + 150 mg chitosan nanoparticles/kg), REOF100 and REOF200 (basal diet + 100 mg and 200 mg free REO/kg, respectively), and REON100 and REON200 (basal diet + 100 mg and 200 mg nanoencapsulated REO/kg, respectively). Overall (7-42 d), REON200 showed the highest (p < 0.001) body weight gain (1899 g/bird) and CON had the lowest gain (1742 g/bird), while the CS, REOF100 and REOF200 groups had a similar gain, but lower than that of the AB and REON100 groups. Feed intake was not affected by dietary treatments. Overall, the feed efficiency increased (p = 0.001) by 8.47% in the REON200 group and 6.21% in the AB and REON100 groups compared with the CON. Supplementation of REO improved (p < 0.05) dry matter and crude protein digestibility, with the highest values in REON100 and REON200. Ether extract, crude fiber, calcium and phosphorus digestibility values showed no difference among the groups. The dressing, breast, thigh % increased (p < 0.05) and abdominal fat % decreased (p < 0.001) more in the REON200 group than with other treatments and CON. In breast meat quality, water holding capacity and extract reserve volume increased (p < 0.05) while drip loss and cholesterol content decreased (p < 0.05) in REON100 and REON200. No change was observed in the breast meat color among dietary treatments and CON. The REON100 and REON200 groups had reduced (p < 0.05) meat lipid peroxidation as depicted by the decreased levels of TBARS, free fatty acids and peroxide value compared to other treatments and CON. The expression of the Mucin 2, PepT1 and IL-10 genes was upregulated (p < 0.001) and TNF-α downregulated (p < 0.001) by dietary addition of REO particularly in the nanoencapsulated form compared with the CON. In conclusion, nanoencapsulated REO, especially at 200 mg/kg diet, showed promising results as an antibiotic alternative in improving the performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass traits, meat quality and upregulation of growth and anti-inflammatory genes.

In higher education, while there's an emphasis on training students in diverse research methods and offering hands-on experimental research experience, traditional textbooks often miss real-world intricacies, especially with human subjects. Recently, gamified techniques using interactive narratives have emerged as a popular teaching tool, allowing students to design experiments within a storyline and gather real-world data. Despite their promise, challenges persist in conveying complex terminology, biases, and methods, and in seamlessly integrating research questions into these narratives. Additionally, ensuring aesthetic coherence and tracking variable manipulations add layers of complexity. With the advent of AI tools like feedback providers, question generators, and chatbots in classrooms, this paper, based on workshops and instructor interviews, seeks to outline the potential of AI in enhancing the teaching and learning experience of experimental research using interactive narratives.

Abstract Obejctive: Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) associated with hydrops is rare. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of this combination of anomalies and the postnatal outcomes from a large database for CDH. Study design: Data from the multicenter, multinational database on infants with prenatally diagnosed CDH (CDHSG Registry) born from 2015 to 2021 were analyzed. Results: A total of 3985 patients were entered in the registry during the study period, 3156 were prenatally diagnosed and 88 were reported to have associated fluid in at least 1 compartment, representing 2.8 % of all prenatally diagnosed CDH cases in the registry. The overall survival to discharge for CDH patients with hydrops was 43%. The hydropic CDH group had lower birth weight and gestational age at birth, and increased incidence of right sided CDH (55%) and rate of non-repair (45%). However, the survival rate for hydropic infants with CDH undergoing surgical repair was 80%. Other associated anomalies were more common in hydropic CDH (50% vs 37%, p=0.001). Conclusion: Hydropic CDH is rare, only 2.8% of all prenatally diagnosed cases, and more commonly occurring in right sided CDH. Survival rates are low, with higher rates of non-repair. However, early decision-making regarding goals of care and an aggressive surgical approach may result in survival rates comparable to non-hydropic cases.

Abstract A high prevalence of diseases and parasites is one of the major constraints in the small-ruminant industry in the Southeast because of its warm and humid climate, and poor management practices. Drug resistance developing in pathogens, and the lack of access of producers to and affordability for veterinarians practicing in small ruminants warranted us to look for integrated preventive approaches. To promote integrated approaches for preventing diseases and parasites in small ruminants, a team of scientists and professionals from five institutions (Tuskegee University, Fort Valley State University, USDA-ARS Booneville, University of Arkansas, and the University of Maryland Eastern-Shore) worked together with an objective to develop curricula (training handbook) and train the trainers (educators) and small-ruminant producers in the Southeast. The Training Handbook consisted of nine chapters authored by project collaborators and invited experts. Relevant aspects of keeping small ruminants healthy and preventing possible diseases and parasites, including basic facilities and health care, suitable sites, grazing systems and management, biosecurity, selection and breeding, nutrition, and economics have been presented and discussed in the Handbook. After the handbook was developed, a 3-day train-the-trainers training was conducted at Tuskegee University. County agents, specialists, and technical-service providers working at various land-grant universities and other institutions working with small-ruminant producers or their educators were invited to participate in the training. Additionally, selected lead producers raising small ruminants from Alabama and graduate students working on small-ruminant research and outreach were invited to the training. Twelve professionals from four different states (Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and North Carolina) six farmers, and four graduate students attended the training. Training included indoor sessions with presentations, discussions, and question-answer sessions. Outdoor sessions included demonstrations, hands-on activities, and tours of the small-ruminant production sites and facilities. Evaluations by participants were conducted before adjournment on the same day or at the beginning on the next day. Most participants expressed that presented topics, hands-on activities, demonstration, and tours were extremely useful (71-85%) or very useful (13-23%). They stated that they were extremely likely (73-89%) or very likely (11-23%) to apply what was learned from the training. Similarly, most participants reported that the ultimate condition of small-ruminant health would be improved if the learned knowledge and skills are applied on the farms (producers) or on education endeavors (professionals) with most improvements (64-83%) or reasonable improvements (15-21%). Evaluations by participants showed that the training handbook and the overall training could be very useful to improve health of small ruminants significantly.

Learning the extent of price volatility is critical to ensure the producer and consumer’s economic welfare. Hence, we have envisioned assessing the price transmission relationship over time among the farmgate, wholesale, and retail markets for the four major aquaculture products, namely Rui, Catla, Tilapia and Pangas in Bangladesh. The Granger causality test examined the causal relationships among the farmgate, wholesale and retail fish prices. The Houck/Ward and error correction approach was also applied to study their price transmission pattern. Results indicate that the retail price leads the wholesale and farmgate price. In most cases, the coefficient of variation decreases as the fish handover from the farmgate to retail levels. Out of 15 pairs of farmgate, wholesale, and retail price-series analyzed, 14 pairs are co-integrated (p < 0.01). Current results also suggest that the price transmission pattern is symmetric in the short run but could be a mixture of symmetric and asymmetric in the long run. This asymmetric price behavior indicates that changes in retail prices do not get reflected fully at both farmgate and wholesale prices, and the transmitted prices may vary according to the retail prices based on their rising or falling pattern.

Abstract The focus of this research was to investigate how tannin extract from black tea influenced the hematological and histopathological evaluations of male rabbits fed a mycotoxin-contaminated feed, including 17 ppb aflatoxin, 5 ppb ochratoxin and 2 ppb fumonisin. A total of 28 local male rabbits were allocated into four groups, the first of which was a control group. The second was fed a Mycotoxin-contaminated meal. The third was given a Mycotoxin feeding with tannin extracts (125mg/mL per head) administered orally, while the fourth was fed a Mycotoxin contaminated diet with tannin extracts (250 mg/mL per head) given orally. The findings revealed that tannin extracts seemed to have a significant positive impact on haematological results, particularly RBCs and WBCs, throughout the period; however, the 250 mg/mL dose showed no significant differences in Hb levels. Nonetheless, as compared to the Mycotoxin group, the histopathological sections of tannin extract demonstrated a reduction in the toxicity of the Mycotoxin diet on the liver and kidney tissues; conversely, the tissue sections of the control animals showed no abnormalities. In male rabbits fed contaminated Mycotoxin diets, tannin extract from black tea was found to have a favourable impact on hematological activities and vital organs such as the liver and kidney.

Simple SummarySmall ruminants in arid and semiarid regions of the world frequently face water deprivation, which may be intensified with future climatic change. Therefore, it would be beneficial to identify sheep and goat breeds resilient to limited drinking water availability. Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix are the most important hair sheep breeds in the USA. In this study, these 3 breeds of sheep derived from different climatic regions of the USA were assessed for alterations in blood variables (e.g., osmotic pressure, oxygen, urea nitrogen, creatinine, cortisol, and aldosterone) due to water deprivation (sequential restriction of up to 50% of ad libitum consumption for 5 wk). All sheep breeds displayed abilities to minimize changes in blood characteristics and constituent concentrations due to limited drinking water availability, without large differences among breeds or regions.Different hair sheep breeds originated from diverse climatic regions of the USA may show varying adaptability to water deprivation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the effects of restricted availability of drinking water on blood characteristics and constituent concentrations in different breeds of hair sheep from various regions the USA. For this study, 45 Dorper (initial age = 3.7 ± 0.34 yr), 45 Katahdin (3.9 ± 0.36 yr), and 44 St. Croix (2.7 ± 0.29 yr) sheep from 45 farms in 4 regions of the USA (Midwest, Northwest, Southeast, and central Texas) were used. Ad libitum water intake was determined during wk 2 of period one, with 75% of ad libitum water intake offered during wk 2 of period two, and 50% of ad libitum water intake offered for 5 wk (i.e., wk 5–9) in period three. Water was offered at 07:00 or 07:30 h, with blood samples collected at 08:00 and(or) 14:00 h in wk 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 9 for variables such as hemoglobin and oxygen saturation and wk 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9 for concentrations of glucose and other constituents. The blood oxygen concentration at 08:00 h was 4.86, 4.93, and 5.25 mmol/L in period one and 4.89, 4.81, and 5.74 mmol/L in period three for Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix, respectively (SEM = 0.160; p = 0.001). Blood oxygen at 14:00 h was 4.37, 4.61, and 4.74 mmol/L in period one and 4.66, 4.81, and 5.46 mmol/L in period three for Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix, respectively (SEM = 0.154; p = 0.003). St. Croix were able to maintain a higher (p < 0.001) blood oxygen concentration than Dorper and Katahdin regardless of water availability. The pattern of change in blood concentrations with advancing time varied considerably among constituents. However, concentrations of glucose (55.3 and 56.2 mg/dL; SEM = 0.84), lactate (24.1 and 22.5 mg/dL; SEM = 0.79), total protein (7.08 and 7.17 g/dL; SEM = 0.0781), and albumin (2.59 and 2.65 g/dL in wk 2 and 9, respectively; SEM = 0.029) were similar (p > 0.05) between periods one and three. Conversely, concentrations of cholesterol (56.2 and 69.3 mg/dL; SEM = 1.33) and triglycerides (28.6 and 34.5 mg/dL in wk 2 and 9, respectively; SEM = 0.98) were greater (p < 0.05) in period three vs. 1. In conclusion, water restriction altered almost all the blood variables depending upon severity and duration of restriction, but the hair sheep breeds used from different regions of the USA, especially St. Croix, displayed considerable capacity to adapt to limited drinking water availability.

Abstract Angora, Boer, and Spanish doelings and Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix ewe lambs (six per type; initial age=9.7±0.07 mo) consumed water varying in mineral levels of a natural brackish source (BR) and NaCl (SL) to determine effects on digestion and ruminal methane emission. There were six simultaneous 6×6 Latin squares with 3-wk periods, analyzed by a mixed effects model and repeated measure of period. Water treatments (WT) were fresh (FR), BR alone (100-BR), similar total dissolved salt (TDS) level as 100-BR via NaCl addition to FR (100-SL), BR with concentrations of all minerals increased by approximately 50% (150-BR), similar TDS level as 150-BR by NaCl addition to FR (150-SL), and similar 150 TDS level by adding a 1:1 mixture of BR minerals and NaCl to 100-BR (150-BR/SL). Concentrations (mg/kg) in BR were 4,928 TDS, 85.9 bicarbonate, 225 calcium, 1,175 chloride, 60.5 magnesium, 4.59 potassium, 1,387 sodium, and 1,962 sulfate, and TDS was 453, 5,684, 7,508, 8,222, and 7,319 for FR, 100-SL, 150-BR, 150-SL, and 150-BR/SL, respectively. Wheat hay (10.0% crude protein and 66.8% neutral detergent fiber) was consumed ad libitum. There were no effects of WT or AT×WT interactions for these variables. Dry matter intake in wk 3 was least among AT (P&amp;lt; 0.05) for Angora (2.16, 2.71, 2.82, 2.78, 3.20, and 3.13% body weight; SEM=0.161) and there were AT differences (P&amp;lt; 0.05) in digestion of organic matter (62.0, 65.4, 65.2, 67.1, 69.1, and 65.3%; SEM=1.29) and neutral detergent fiber (62.6, 67.4, 66.7, 68.3, 70.3, and 66.9%; SEM=1.35) but not nitrogen (61.6, 63.2, 63.7, 63.3, 65.7, and 60.3%; SEM=1.51) or ruminal methane emission (10.9, 12.8, 11.3, 11.1, 10.7, and 12.2% digestible energy for Angora, Boer, Spanish, Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix, respectively; SEM=0.97). In conclusion, all AT seemed resilient to WT regardless of mineral source and levels with TDS less than 10,000 mg/kg, although there were numerous differences among AT.