An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of substituting modified corn distillers grains with solubles (DGS) or crude soy glycerin (CG) for steam–flaked corn (SFC) in finishing diets on growth performance and carcass characteristics. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial with DGS (0% or 40%) and CG (0% or 10%) replacing dietary SFC in a basal diet. Growth performance and carcass traits were measured on 48 individually fed crossbred yearling cattle (21 steers and 27 heifers; 380 ± 37 kg). Cattle were randomly allotted to 48 Calan gate bunks. After the first 28 days, nine animals were removed from the study for health reasons or observed confirmation of consumption of feed from unassigned Calan gate bunk (n = 39). After the feeding period, cattle were harvested in two groups on day-124 and day-173. No DGS × CG interactions were observed (P > 0.10) for any dependent growth performance or carcass characteristic variable tested. Cattle-fed DGS as 40% of diet dry matter (DM) had greater (P< 0.01) dry matter intake (DMI), while CG inclusion at 10% of diet DM did not affect DMI (P = 0.16). Carcass–adjusted average daily gain (ADG) was not affected by DGS (P = 0.73) or CG (P = 0.28). Decreased (P = 0.03) carcass–adjusted gain-to-feed (G:F) was observed as the main effect of DGS. Greater DMI resulting from feeding DGS as 40% of diet DM appears to have driven the tendency for reduced G:F. Hot carcass weight, longissimus muscle area, 12th rib fat depth, yield grade, and marbling score were not (P> 0.10) influenced by DGS or CG. However, kidney, pelvic, fat (KPH) was increased (P = 0.01) when cattle were fed DGS as 40% of diet DM. Based on the findings presented, it is concluded that CG can substitute up to 10% of SFC in the diet without negatively affecting cattle growth performance or carcass characteristics, regardless of DGS inclusion as 40% of the diet DM.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of feeding bio-fuel co-products on ruminal fermentation characteristics and composition of omasal digesta flow. Four ruminally cannulated Holstein steers (371 ± 5 kg) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin Square design. Omasal sample collection and triple marker technique was used to quantify fatty acid omasal flow. Treatments were applied as a 2 × 2 factorial where a steam flaked corn (SFC) basal diet (DGS-N CG-N) was replaced with 40% of diet DM as corn distillers grains (DGS; DGS-Y CG-N) or 10% of diet DM as crude glycerin (DGS-N CG-Y) or 40% of diet DM distillers grains and 10% of diet DM as crude glycerin (DGS-Y CG-Y). No effects were observed for the interaction of DGS and glycerin on measured rumen characteristics. Dietary inclusion of glycerin decreased (P = 0.05) ruminal content 4-h post feeding on a DM basis but did not influence DMI (P = 0.64). Feeding DGS had no effect (P = 0.34) on particulate passage to the omasum (kg/d) in spite of greater (P = 0.04) DMI. Feeding DGS reduced flow rate (% of rumen volume/h) (P = 0.05) but did not affect total VFA concentration (P = 0.46) or average ruminal pH (P = 0.72). No differences (P > 0.05) were observed in ruminal parameters when feeding glycerin, besides ruminal particulate content (kg) on DM basis (P = 0.05). An interaction of DGS and glycerin affected intake of stearic (P < 0.01), linoleic (P < 0.01), and linolenic acid (P < 0.01). An interaction of DGS and glycerin did not affect individual fatty acid flow with respect to intake for stearic (P = 0.17), linoleic (P = 0.18), or linolenic acid (P = 0.66). Dietary inclusion of glycerin had no impact on g of linolenic (P = 0.16) or linoleic (P = 0.32) acid transformed. A trend was identified for cattle fed diets with glycerin to have increased (P = 0.07) grams of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; C18:2 cis-9, trans-11) per gram of linoleic acid intake, with no impact on the percent of saturated fat (P = 0.44) or unsaturated fat (P = 0.43) in omasal flow. For cattle fed diets with DGS, fewer grams of linoleic (P < 0.01) and linolenic (P < 0.01) were present in digesta flow per gram of intake. Inclusion of DGS in the treatment diets also increased (P < 0.01) stearic acid flow (g) and CLA flow (g) per gram of stearic and linoleic acid intake, respectively. Observed differences in CLA proportion post fermentation may indicate interrupted biohydrogenation when glycerin is fed.

Seven years of data collection and industry collaboration identified a longstanding need from the animal health corridor for educational offerings focused on regulatory affairs for animal health products. The animal health corridor, anchored by Manhattan, Kansas and Columbia, Missouri, is home to more than 300 animal health companies, representing the largest concentration in the world. When surveying industry needs, Kansas State University received 446 responses from individuals in this area and found 40% indicated interest in “policy and regulations,” with 64% of interested respondents showing strong interest with programming at the graduate level. Meetings with industry representatives further confirmed results of the survey by highlighting a need for educational programming focused on animal health product license requirements with USDA, FDA, and EPA. At a roundtable with 22 Animal Health organizations, 64% of attendees had strong interest in a program focused on “regulatory aspects of drug and vaccine development in animal health.” In response to these findings, a graduate certificate was launched in 2019 encompassing regulatory development and management of animal health products. Curriculum was crafted in close collaboration with an industry advisory panel, because comparable academic models were not available. Interests to maintain industry contacts within the courses have led to integration of notable engagement techniques as the course format moves toward asynchronous delivery. Curriculum encompasses regulatory development of animal pharmaceuticals, pesticides, biologics, and diagnostics from pre- to post- licensure. The presentation will explain objectives of the certificate, data gathered regarding industry need, process of certificate design and curriculum co-creation with industry partners, and resulting curriculum. Additionally, since the new courses in the regulatory affairs certificate have been offered since spring 2020, the presentation will examine strategies for working with subject matter experts in the online classroom, plans for assessment of student learning, and educational background of enrolled students.