Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of tannic acid extract (TAE) formulations on the performance and intestinal health of male Cobb × Cobb 500 broilers exposed to coccidiosis. In the first experiment, 320 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 5 treatments with 8 replicates. Treatments included non-medicated, uninfected (NC); non-medicated, infected (PC); salinomycin (SAL, 66 mg/kg); tannic acid (TA, 0.5 g/kg) and TAE (TAE, 0.5 g/kg). On d 14, all groups (except NC) were orally inoculated with Eimeria acervulina, E. maxima and E. tenella oocysts. Intestinal lesion scores, fecal oocyst counts (OPG) and performance were evaluated on d 20. The PC had greater lesions and higher FCR than infected, supplemented groups. Only TAE reduced OPG compared to PC (P < 0.05). In the second experiment, 3,000 broiler chicks were vaccinated on day of hatch with live coccidial oocysts, then randomly assigned to 5 treatments with 15 replicates. Treatments included non-medicated (CNT); salinomycin (SAL, 66 mg/kg); robenidine (ROB, 33 mg/kg); TAE (0.5 g/kg) and TAE with Bacillus coagulans (TAE+BC, 0.5 g/kg). On d 29, a subset of pens (n = 20) were challenged with a mixed Eimeria spp. oral inoculum; performance, lesions and OPG were evaluated on d 35. An immune challenge was created in half the pens by issuing broilers feed without supplementation materials during the challenge. For the non-challenged pens (n = 55), performance was measured up to d 49. Performance of non-challenged, vaccinated-CNT birds was improved with all treatments at d 21 and d 49. Among the challenged birds, withdrawal of SAL or ROB resulted in FCR similar to the challenged CNT group (P > 0.05), whereas withdrawal of TAE or TAE+BC maintained improved FCR compared to challenged-CNT birds (P < 0.05). These findings indicate supplementation of TAE and TAE+BC with coccidiosis vaccination can be considered as a potential alternative strategy to address coccidiosis in broiler chickens.

No abstract

Fed cattle profitability is determined by complicated dynamic processes of body growth, carcass development, and seasonal prices. A structural model is constructed to contend with all these dynamic processes to predict optimal market timing. Informed simulations are conducted and compared to those observed in the data, as well as to a previous model ignoring the evolution of carcass value. The results indicate that significant improvements to profitability are attainable with the new method. The results also indicate the opportunity cost of not accounting for carcass value, even with error, is more severe than when these dynamics are ignored.

No abstract

A study was conducted evaluating the effects of propionic acid plus copper carbonate (KemTRACE Cu ® , Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA), encapsulated butyric acid (Buti-PEARL, Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA) and a novel encapsulated butyric acid plus copper carbonate (ButiPearl C, Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA) on the growth performance of weanling pigs. A total of 350 pigs (PIC 280 × 1050; initial BW = 5.54kg) with 10 pigs/pen and 7 replicate pens/ treatment were used in a 42 d study. Pigs were allocated in a randomized, complete block design based on initial BW. Diets were pelleted, corn-soybean meal based and similar within phase except for the additional copper and encapsulated butyric acid. All nutrient concentrations met or exceeded NRC (2012) estimates. Treatments were Control (N), 500 mg/kg ButiPEARL (B), 65 mg/kg Cu from KemTRACE Cu ® (C), 500 mg/kg ButiPEARL + 65 mg/kg C from KemTRACE Cu ® (BC); 500 mg/kg ButiPEARL C (BPC). Treatment differences were determined by LSMEANS comparisons. During d 0 to 7, no differences were observed for initial BW, ADG; ADFI (P > 0.10). Gain:feed was greatest for BC and BPC (P < 0.05). From d 7 to 21, ADG was greatest for BPC and BC (P < 0.05). Day 7 to 21 Gain:feed for C, BC; BPC was higher than N (P < 0.05). Day 21 to 42 ADG was greatest for BC (P < 0.05). Day 21 to 42 ADFI was greatest for BC and BPC (P < 0.05); gain:feed was greatest for BC (P < 0.05). From d 0 to 42, overall ADG and ADFI were greatest for BC and BPC, while N and B were lowest (P < 0.05). Overall gain:feed was greatest for BC (P < 0.05). Final BW was greatest for BC and BPC (P < 0.05). Adding BC or BPC showed the greatest growth performance improvement for pigs from d 0 to 42 after weaning.