About
47
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Introduction
Currently, my research program is centered on progressing and facilitating stakeholder adoption of livestock and forage management regimes in rangeland and cultivated production systems. My areas of focus are nutritional and health status of livestock, forage management practices, and strategic grazing to promote system health and productivity.
Current institution
Additional affiliations
February 2020 - June 2020
Education
August 2015 - August 2019
September 2013 - August 2015
September 2008 - May 2013
Publications
Publications (47)
This study evaluated how the backgrounding diet can affect water intake, animal performance and water and feed efficiency of steers fed finishing diets based on grains or forages. Twenty-four crossbred Angus steers (298 ±10.2 kg) were fed during backgrounding either a moderate (MP, n =12; triticale hay only, 9.1 %crude protein [CP], 1.07 Mcal/kg ne...
As perennial warm-season grasses mature in late summer, dry matter intake (DMI) of growing heifers may be limited due to low protein (7.2 ± 2.5 %) and increased NDF content (67.5 ± 2.7%), which may compromise growth potential. Cottonseed meal (CSM) supplementation may improve forage digestibility by increasing rumen degradable protein offered, but...
Sustainable livestock systems focus on mitigating natural resource use such as water. Dietary management strategies can significantly reduce the water footprint of livestock animals; however, animal health is of concern when animals reduce water intake due to subacute dehydration. To evaluate potential consequences of this nutritional management in...
Nutritive quality of perennial warm-season grasses during summer may limit the DMI of growing calves due to low protein and increased NDF content. Cottonseed meal (CSM) supplementation may improve forage utilization by increasing rumen degradable protein, but research in calves is limited. It was hypothesized that supplementation of CSM to heifers...
Summer stocker calves grazing perennial warm-season grasses may benefit from protein supplementation due to the low protein content typically observed in these forages. Cottonseed meal (CSM) is an excellent protein supplement that is readily available in the south and is competitively priced per unit of protein in early summer. However, research re...
The objective of this trial was to determine the influence of live yeast supplementation (LY), environmental condition (ENV), and their interaction (TRT) on energy partitioning, nitrogen metabolism, and ruminal fermentation dynamics of steers receiving a grower-type diet. The effects of LY and ENV were investigated using a 2 x 2 crossover design th...
The objectives of this multi-part study were: 1.) to assess the efficacy of sampling methods of methane concentration ([CH4]) of headspace gas produced during in vitro gas production (IVGP) fermentation, 2.) to verify if headspace [CH4] sampled from an exetainer has the same [CH4] as the headspace of IVGP bottles, 3.) to measure relative humidity (...
This study aimed to characterize the effects of dietary restriction and subsequent re-alimentation on body composition and hepatic gene expression of epigenetic markers of DNA methylation, RNA m6A methylation, and histone acetylation in the liver of postpubertal beef bulls. Twelve Angus × Hereford crossbred bulls (n = 6, 23±0.55 mo (young bulls), 5...
Aiming to characterize the effects of nutritional status on epigenetic markers, such as DNA 5-mC methylation and RNA m 6A methylation, of bovine sperm, twelve Angus × Hereford crossbred breeding bulls were submitted to nutritional changes for a period of 180 days: no change in BW (Phase 1 = 12 d); BW loss (Phase 2 = 78 d); and BW gain (Phase 3 = 90...
Rumen acidosis is a common metabolic disorder occurring when organic acid production exceeds clearance capacity, reducing ruminal pH. Acidosis occurrence has been directly correlated to the ratio of concentrate to forage in the diet. However, the rates of substrate fermentation and acid absorption vary at different locations in the rumen. The objec...
Plant secondary metabolites (PSM) and yeast supplemented in growing cattle have been reported as improving dry matter digestibility (DMD) and reducing enteric methane emissions. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of combined supplementation with condensed tannin (CT; Schinopsis balansae) extract and active dry yeast (ADY; Saccharomyces cerevis...
The objective of this trial was to determine the influence of live yeast supplementation (LY) and temperature exposure (TEMP) on the ruminal fermentation characteristics of steers receiving a grower diet. The effects of LY and TEMP were investigated using a 2 x 2 crossover design that spanned five periods. Eight Angus crossbred steers (365 ± 32 kg)...
Water footprint (WF) of livestock can be manipulated to improve water use efficiency. The dynamics of water use by Holstein nursing bull calves (HBC) is not very well stablished. The physiological and anatomical status of HBC permits for precise-diet manipulation aiming to decreasing voluntary water intake (WI); however, WI mitigation raises concer...
Beef cattle production has been argued to represent a massive player on water usage given the high-water footprint (WF) attributed to the livestock sector. From a water usage mitigation standpoint, at the animal level, manipulation of drinkable water is possible since major differences in water utilization are highly related to diet composition and...
Rumen acidosis is a common metabolic disorder occurring when organic acid production exceeds clearance capacity, reducing ruminal pH. The occurrence of acidosis has been directly correlated to the ratio of concentrate to forage in the diet. However, rates of substrate fermentation and acid absorption vary at different locations in the reticulo-rume...
Rumen acidosis is a common metabolic disorder occurring when organic acid production exceeds clearance capacity, reducing ruminal pH. The occurrence of acidosis has been directly correlated to the ratio of concentrate to forage in the diet. However, rates of substrate fermentation and acid absorption vary at different locations in the reticulo-rume...
Exploring alternative supplementation sources capable of maximizing feed and water efficiency in nursing Holstein calves is often ignored. The goals herein involve investigating the effects of two isoenergetic supplements on a non-medicated milk replacer diet on total water intake, milk water intake, fresh water intake, feed intake parameters, and...
This review provides an update of ecologically relevant phytochemicals for ruminant production, focusing on their contribution to advancing nutrition. Phytochemicals embody a broad spectrum of chemical components that influence resource competence and biological advantage in determining plant species' distribution and density in different ecosystem...
The addition of natural plant secondary compounds to ruminant feed has been extensively studied because of their ability to modify digestive and metabolic functions, resulting in a potential reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, among other benefits. Condensed tannin (CT) supplementation may alter ruminal fermentation and mitigate methane (CH4) em...
The objective of this trial was to identify the influence of live yeast supplementation (LY) and temperature exposure (TEMP) on greenhouse gas emissions and energy metabolism of steers receiving a grower diet. The effects of LY and TEMP were investigated using a 2 × 2 crossover design that spanned five periods. Eight Angus crossbred steers (365 ± 3...
This study was performed to evaluate the accuracy and precision of an automated water trough system (Intergado, Pro-Eficiencia Solucao para Agronegocios S.A., Betim, Minas Gerais, Brazil) for measuring water intake (WI) of beef cattle. The dataset was obtained from thirteen Angus x Hereford registered crossbred breeding bulls over a 90 d research t...
Water intake of dairy calves is often overlooked by most nutrition models which can be associated with the misconception that dairy calves meet their water requirements with milk or milk replacer (MR) alone. The goals herein were to investigate the effect of two isoenergetic supplements fed in a MR diet on total water intake (TWI) and fresh water i...
The objective of this study was to determine the influence of defatted hemp under three irrigation regimes (0, 100, and 200 mm: DF0, DF1, and DF2 respectively) on in vitro fermentation parameters relative to alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Fermentation kinetics was accessed through in vitro gas production technique. Two ruminally cannulated Angus steers...
The use of the in vitro gas production (IVGP) technique requires accurate determination of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) residue. However, the NDF determination using standard procedures are not always feasible for IVGP; thus requiring micro-NDF methods, which need autoclave (AC) and pressure cooker (PC) to boil the solution. A complete randomized...
The use of the in vitro gas production (IVGP) technique requires accurate determination of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) residue. However, the NDF determination using standard procedures are not always feasible for IVGP; thus requiring micro-NDF methods, which need autoclave (AC) and pressure cooker (PC) to boil the solution. A complete randomized...
Sampling methods of methane concentration (CH4) of gas produced from in vitro fermentation (IVGP) were evaluated to assess their determination efficacy. The original protocol recommends directly placing fermented bottles on ice (0°C) for 30 minutes to stop fermentation (D). An alternate protocol recommends placing the fermented bottles into the ref...
Anaerobic metabolism in a biological system, such as the rumen, depends largely on the reducing power of the bacterial population present. For that reason, it is crucial to understand the relationship between redox potential (Eh) and fermentative activity. The diverse microbial profile is characterized by enzyme systems capable of maintaining a con...
The utilization of natural plant secondary compounds as feed additives in animal nutrition has been extensively studied because of their ability to modify digestive and metabolic functions. Condensed tannin (CT) supplementation can potentially alter ruminal fermentation, and mitigate methane (CH4) emissions. The objective of this study was to deter...
Objective
This study evaluated the effects of 7 different encapsulations (treatments S1–S7) of salts of branched-chain VFA, using different combinations and material sources (dioxides, maltodextrin, and celluloses), on the in vitro gas production dynamics of Brachiaria brizantha ‘Marandu.’
Materials and Methods
Air-dried Brachiaria brizantha with...
Indigestible components, including indigestible dry matter (iDM) and indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF), play an integral role as internal markers for determining ruminal kinetics and digestibility estimations. However, the accuracy of internal markers is dependent upon the incubation technique utilized as bag type (BT) and incubation leng...
Naturally occurring gaseous by‐products of ruminant production—carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O)—can negatively affect the environment. Along with enteric fermentation, manure on pasture is among the most significant contributors to non‐CO2 emissions. Condensed tannins, a group of naturally occurring phenolic compounds, c...
Condensed tannins (CT) might improve animal and system-level efficiency due to enhanced protein efficiency and reduced CH4. This study evaluated the impact of quebracho tannin (QT) extract fed at 0, 1.5, 3, and 4.5% of DM, within a roughage-based diet on apparent digestibility of DM, OM, fibrous fractions, and N retention and energy partitioning of...
Our objective was to investigate how quebracho tannin (QT; Schinopsis balansae) fed at differing rates within a roughage-based diet affected manure gas emissions of growing steers. The utilization of ruminant species is required for efficient production of human-edible protein to meet global nutrient demands. However, gaseous byproducts from rumina...
Our objective was to evaluate the effects of bag type (BT) and incubation length (IL) when using in situ incubations for determination of indigestible components. Indigestible components play an integral role as an internal marker for rumen kinetics and digestibility estimations, as well as providing parameter estimates for nutritional models. Howe...
The objective was to determine the effect of quebracho tannin extract (QT; Schinopsis balansae) within a roughage-based diet upon dry matter and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (DMD and NDFD, respectively). The use of natural plant secondary compounds as a feed additive in animal nutrition has been studied due to their ability to modify diges...
Our objective was to evaluate how quebracho tannin (QT; Schinopsis balansae) within a roughage-based diet affected energy partitioning of growing beef steers. Ruminant production is essential to meeting the protein requirements of an increasing global population. However, gaseous byproducts from ruminant production, such as methane (CH4), not only...
Sustainable ruminant production is an important element in meeting the high-quality protein requirements of an increasing global population. Gaseous byproducts from ruminant production such as methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) can reduce energy efficiency and be detrimental to the environment. Condensed tannins (CT) are interesting alternatives...
Reliable assessments of indigestible dietary components are required when using internal markers to estimate diet digestibility and determine the potentially digestible portion of the fiber. The lack of a standardized methodology and understanding of how antinutritional factors influence indigestible residues can result in erroneous estimates with...
Our objective was to determine the effect of quebracho tannin extract (QT; Schinopsis balansae) within a high roughage diet upon digestibility and N balance. Use of natural compounds as rumen modulators has remained a critical area of research due to increased regulation upon feed additive use, environmental emissions, and consumer perception of th...
The objective of this trial was to determine the effects of supplementing active dried yeast (ADY) in the diets of finishing steers on energy and nitrogen metabolism and ruminal pH characteristics under thermoneutral (TN) or heat-stressed (HS) conditions. Eight British-cross steers received one of two treatment (TRT) (either a control finishing die...
As the agricultural sector faces the challenge of feeding the world, improved whole-system efficiency will foster sustainability. This task, however, is difficult due to increased regulation of feed additives, environmental emissions, and consumer perception regarding the livestock industry. Hence, a global interest in natural compounds as rumen mo...
Active dry Yeast (ADY) has been suggested to moderate ruminal acid load in growing beef cattle diets potentially enhancing feeding performance and carcass characteristics. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of adding ADY (1.5 g/d; 6 × 10¹⁰ CFU/d) to the diets of feedlot steers on ruminal pH, feeding performance, and carcass ch...
The objective with this trial was to evaluate the potential of ionophore (33 mg of monensin/kg DM) and condensed tannins (offered at 3% of DMI) to mitigate enteric methane production by beef steers fed corn dried distiller's grain (DDG) in finishing diets. Eight British-cross steers, 12 ± 2 mo old weighing 212 ± 11.7 kg, were assigned to two replic...
An active dry yeast (ADY) supplement (Vistacell, AB Vista, UK) was proposed to favorably influence ruminal parameters of heat loaded cattle. Eight British-cross steers (365 ± 27 kg) were fed a 90% concentrate diet (1.8% of BW intake, DM basis) and supplemented with either ADY (3.0 g/d; providing 6 × 10¹⁰CFU/d) or no yeast (0.0 g/d; CON) for 14 d. R...
Our objective was to determine if fermentation dynamics of 8 rhizoma peanut (RP; Arachis glabrata Benth.) cultivars differed among themselves and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Rhizoma peanut is a hardy subtropical legume of nutritive value comparable to alfalfa but produces polyphenol oxidase (PPO), which may potentially result in a protein sparing...
