Travis R Whitney

Redeemer Feed, LLC

Effects of particle size (PS) of cottonseed hulls (CSH) and bermudagrass hay (BGH) in females Rambouillet lambs (n = 40) feedlot diets on intake, sorting behavior, ruminal fluid parameters, serum urea nitrogen (SUN), and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) were evaluated. Lambs were individually fed a total mixed ration with 800 g/kg concentr...

Hi-A™ corn is a unique type of lines and hybrids that were developed by the Texas A&M AgriLife Corn Breeding Program and have high anthocyanin and antioxidants. A completely randomized design trial was used to evaluated effects of Hi-A and low-A (regular) corn cobs and bermudagrass hay (BGH) in feedlot diets fed to female Rambouillet lambs (n = 10/...

A randomized design trial was used to evaluated effects of cottonseed hulls (CSH) and bermudagrass hay (BGH) particle size in feedlot diets fed to female Rambouillet lambs (n = 10/treatment) on dry matter intake (DMI), physiological parameters, and growth performance. After 14 days of adaptation, lambs were individually fed 80% concentrate diets du...

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) is a seed-producing, environmental stress-resilient crop plant that originates in the Andean Plateau. Quinoa seeds exhibit high nutritional value as they have a high protein level, contain all the essential amino acids, are gluten-free and are also rich in bioactive compounds. Bolivia and Peru are the major producers of...

Ticks and tick-borne diseases are a significant economic hindrance for livestock production and a menace to public health. The expansion of tick populations into new areas, the occurrence of acaricide resistance to synthetic chemical treatments, the potentially toxic contamination of food supplies, and the difficulty of applying chemical control in...

In a randomized design study, lambs were individually fed with ad libitum access to 70.9% concentrate diets for 56-d in individual pens. The positive control diet (CNTL) contained cotton seed meal (CSM), sorghum grain, and cotton seed hulls, but no DDGS. Four treatment diets were similar to CNTL but did not contain CSM. Corn DDGS replaced 0% (0DDGS...

Two experiments were used to evaluate the effects of using cotton gin trash (CGT) treated with urea and exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE) on feed chemical composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility and gas production (Trial 1), and apparent in vivo digestibility, intake and growth performance of feedlot Santa Ines lambs (Trial 2). The Trial 1...

Encroaching plant species in West Texas continue to significantly reduce livestock production capacity and cause an imbalance between plant and livestock ecology. Juniperus ashei and J. pinchotii are encroaching species, mainly due to evolutionary measures, such as phytochemicals that deter herbivory. These plants contain large percentages of monot...

Carcass and sensory panel traits were evaluated in Dorper ram lambs (n = 46) fed feedlot diets where cottonseed meal (CSM) and sorghum grain were replaced with dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). In a randomized design study, lambs were individually fed ad libitum 70.9% concentrate diets for 61 d in individual pens. The positive control d...

Dorper ram lambs (n = 46) were fed diets replacing cottonseed meal (CSM) and sorghum grain with dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). Lambs were fed with ad libitum access to 70.9% concentrate diets for 61 d in individual pens. The positive control diet (CNTL) contained CSM, sorghum grain, and other concentrates, but no DDGS. The four treat...

The objective of this study was to determine if ruminal fermentation characteristics differed in goat lines selectively bred for high or low consumption of J. pinchotii foliage. Ten Boer × Spanish-composite bucks (age = 2 yr; initial body weight (BW) = 67.2 ± 4.3 kg) previously selected for high (High; n = 5) or low (LOW; n = 5) juniper consumption...

Effects of replacing cottonseed meal (CSM) and sorghum grain with dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) in Dorper ram lamb (n = 46) feedlot diets on growth performance and rumen fluid parameter were evaluated. In a randomized design study, lambs were individually fed ad libitum 70.9% concentrate diets for 56 d in individual pens. The positiv...

A completely randomized design study with two feeding periods was used to evaluate the effects of substituting hammermilled Juniperus spp. for chopped alfalfa in growing steer diets. Steers (n = 44; initial body weight, BW = 343 kg) were fed in a Calan gate system (4 feeders/pen; 11 pens) for 112 days. During Period 1 (days 0 to 69), steers were fe...

The majority of U.S. lambs are born during late winter or early spring, which can create downstream variability in carcass quality if commercial lamb harvest is to be relatively constant throughout the year. Flavor is an important quality determining characteristic of sheep meat and is influenced, in part, by animal age at harvest. However, managem...

The objective was to determine if rumen microbial characteristics differed in goats selectively bred for greater consumption of Juniperus pinchotii. Ten Boer × Spanish-composite bucks (age = 2 yr; initial BW = 67.2 ± 4.3 kg) previously selected for high (HIGH; n = 5) or low (LOW; n = 5) juniper-consumption, were subjected to three periods: Period 1...

he objective was to evaluate effects of a Juniperus spp.-based finishing diet (JUN) on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, fatty acid composition, and sensory panel traits of yearling Rambouillet wethers. Thirty wethers (16.8 ± 0.14 mo) were assigned to an 80% concentrate treatment: 20% ground oat hay fed 40 d (JUN0); 20% JUN fed 40 d (JU...

Nutritional characteristics of Juniperus species are now well known and suitability as an abundant, low-cost feedstuff for ruminant animal production is a possibility. Juniperus species produce plant secondary metabolites including condensed tannins (CT) and volatile oils. Maturity of Juniperus species has been shown to affect the concentration of...

Boer × Spanish kid goats (n = 48) were used to evaluate effects of using ground woody products in feedlot diets on growth performance and blood serum chemistry. A completely randomized study design was used with two feeding periods (Period 1 = 70% concentrate, d 0 to 26; Period 2 = 86% concentrate, d 27 to 64). Goats were individually fed 1 of 6 di...

Effects of using ground woody plants in Rambouillet wether lamb (n = 48) feedlot diets on carcass characteristics, adipose tissue fatty acid composition, and sensory panel traits were evaluated. In a randomized design study with 2 feeding periods (Period 1 = fed a 70% concentrate diet from d 0 to 27 d; Period 2 = fed an 86% concentrate diet from d...

This study evaluated effects of ground redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii) and urea in dried distillers grains with solubles-based supplements fed to Rambouillet ewe lambs (n = 48) on rumen physiological parameters and bacterial diversity. In a randomized study (40 d), individually-penned lambs were fed ad libitum ground sorghum-sudangrass hay a...

Effects of using ground woody plants in Rambouillet wether lamb feedlot diets on growth performance, blood serum, and rumen parameters were evaluated. A randomized design study was used with 2 feeding periods (70% concentrate diet from d 0 to 27 [Period 1] and 86% concentrate diet from d 28 to 57 [Period 2]); the concentrate portion of the diets ma...

The objective of this research was to evaluate effects of replacing sorghum × Sudangrass hay with ground juniper in gestating ewe supplements on pre- and postpartum growth performance, serum metabolites and hormonal concentrations, milk fatty acid composition, and progeny preweaning performance. In a completely randomized design, commercial Ramboui...

Effects of using ground woody plants in Rambouillet wether lamb feedlot diets on growth performance, blood serum, and rumen parameters were evaluated. A randomized design study was used with 2 feeding periods (70% concentrate diet from d 0 to 27 [Period 1] and 86% concentrate diet from d 28 to 57 [Period 2]); the concentrate portion of the diets ma...

Ground woody products and urea are low-cost roughage and N sources. Rambouillet ewe lambs (n = 48, 6 lambs/treatment; initial BW = 42 kg ± 3.8) were used to evaluate effects of using ground Juniperus pinchotii (juniper) and urea in supplements on feedlot lamb growth traits, blood serum parameters, and fecal characteristics. In a randomized complete...

The objective of this research was to evaluate effects of replacing sorghum × Sudangrass hay with ground juniper in gestating ewe supplements on pre- and postpartum growth performance, serum metabolites and hormonal concentrations, milk fatty acid composition, and progeny preweaning performance. In a completely randomized design, commercial Ramboui...

Determine what percentage of ground juniper that can economically be used in steer feedlot diets

Presentation related to the economic feasibility of harvesting, processing, and feeding ground woody products.

Ground redberry juniper and urea in DDGS-based supplements do not adversely affect ewe lamb rumen microbial communities. Link to video: https://videos.files.wordpress.com/B06295hN/ishaqetal_lamb_jam2016.mp4

Rising feed costs and recurring feed shortages necessitate the investigation into alternative and underutilized feed resources. Nutritional characteristics of species are either unknown or limited to leaves and ground material from small stems. Therefore, the objective was to quantify nutritional characteristics, 48-h true IVDMD (tIVDMD), microbial...

We hypothesized that ground juniper and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) fed to lambs would have no negative effects on end products. Lambs were individually fed diets containing mainly sorghum grain and oat hay (control) or DDGS-based diets consisting mainly of DDGS, sorghum grain, and oat hay (0JUN), or 33% (33JUN), 66% (66JUN), or 10...

Effects of using ground redberry juniper and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) in Rambouillet lamb (n = 45) feedlot diets on growth, blood serum, fecal, and wool characteristics were evaluated. In a randomized design study with 2 feeding periods (Period 1 = 64% concentrate diet, 35 d; Period 2 = 85% concentrate diet, 56 d), lambs were in...

Objectives of this study were to determine if a redberry juniper-based diet can reduce fecal egg counts (FEC) and increase ivermectin (IVM) efficacy in IVM-resistant Haemonchus contortus. Predominant genera present were Haemonchus (range 45-100%) and Trichostrongylus (range 0-47%). The FEC reduction for IVM in the ewe flock was 25% (95% confidence...

A modified larval migration inhibition assay was used to determine if redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii Sudw.) can reduce Haemonchus contortus in vitro motility and increase ivermectin (IVM) efficacy. Ruminal fluid was mixed with buffer solution and either no material (CNTL) or Tifton 85 Bermudagrass hay (T85), dried juniper (DRY), fresh junipe...

In an effort to identify a forage legume with condensed tannins (CT) that reduce gastro-intestinal nematodes (GIN) in small ruminants without negative effects on nutrition, this trial looked at the effects of two legumes containing CT on average daily gain (ADG) and fecal egg counts (FEC) in kid goats. Lespedeza cuneata (sericea lespedeza, SL) and...

Four mature, ruminally cannulated wether goats (Boer × Spanish) were arranged in a 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment and consecutively assigned to one of four complete isonitrogenous and isoenergetic pelleted treatment rations with 0, 6.6, 13.2, or 20% DDG. Alfalfa and cottonseed hulls (CSH) were incubated in situ for 0, 4, 8, 16, 24, 48 and 96...

Leaf secondary compounds were examined in browsed and non-browsed Juniperus ashei trees to identify selective browsing patterns by goats and deer. Analysis of volatile leaf oils (terpenoids) revealed that the browsed trees were lower in total oil than non-browsed trees (2.18 vs. 3.46%, DW basis). Extractable and fiber-bound condensed tannins (CT) w...

Effects of replacing cottonseed hulls with juniper leaves on end products were investigated in lambs. Lambs were individually fed diets containing cottonseed hulls (CSH), half of the CSH replaced by juniper (CSHJ), or all the CSH replaced by juniper (JUN). Lambs grew the same amount of wool when measured as greasy fleece (P>0.19), clean fleece (P>0...

The Penn State particle separator (PSPS) was used to determine if molasses can reduce sorting of ground juniper when juniper is used as a feed intake limiter for lambs. Rambouillet wether lambs (n=21) were fed ad libitum treatments in the morning that consisted of coarse-ground juniper material, dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), and eit...

Native warm-season grasses have the potential to provide summer grazing because of their adaptation and persistence. Little nutritive value information is available, however, on the effects of maturity and soil amendments for native North American warm-season grasses during establishment. Multi flower false rhodesgrass (Chloris pluriflora E. Fourn....

Redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii Sudw.) is a common invasive plant species in west-central Texas. Goats will consume redberry juniper, but intake is limited by monoterpenoids found in the plant. Previous research has shown that goats will increase juniper intake through 1) conditioning and 2) protein supplementation. This study compared intake...

Anthelmintic effects of plant secondary compounds may be occurring in the rumen, but in vitro larvae migration inhibition (LMI) methods using rumen fluid and forage material have not been widely used. Forage material added to an in vitro system can affect rumen pH, ammonia N, and volatile fatty acids, which may affect larvae viability (LV). Validat...

Effects of percentage of roughage on growth, serum urea N, NEFA, and IGF-1 concentrations and wool, carcass, and fatty acid (FA) characteristics were investigated in Rambouillet wether lambs (n = 33). Lambs were individually fed ad libitum pelleted diets for 98 d containing 40% dried distillers grains and other ingredients, with 10% (CSH10), 20% (C...

The invasive plant species, Spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa Lam.) and common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.), are altering native rangeland communities in western North Amer-ica (Tyser and Key, 1988; Jacobs, 2008). To increase our under-standing of why sheep consume these species to a certain extent and cattle avoid them, in vitro dry matter dige...

Effects of replacing cottonseed hulls with dry redberry juniper leaves on performance and serum NEFA, urea N, and IGF-1 were investigated in Rambouillet lambs (n = 24, initial BW = 28.6 +/- 4.94 kg). In a study with 2 feeding periods (period 1 = 65% concentrate ration, 28 d; period 2 = 85% concentrate ration, 49 d), lambs were individually fed ad l...

Effects of replacing cottonseed meal (CSM) with corn dis-tillers dried grains (DDG) on growth, wool, and serum NEFA, urea N (SUN), and IGF-1 concentrations were investigated in Rambouillet wether lambs. Lambs (n = 44) were individually fed ad libitum diets for 84 d containing DDG that replaced 0 percent (0DDG), 33 percent (33DDG), 66 percent (66DDG...

Mature Dorper and Rambouillet ewes were maintained together for 2 years in a range environment to evaluate their nutritional status before and during gestation. During Years 1 and 2, nutritional status of mature Dorper (n = 46 and 71, respectively) and Rambouillet (n = 33 and 81, respectively) ewes were evaluated during pre-(August), mid-(late Octo...

The spread of the invasive, Eurasian spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa Lam.) across the northwestern United States would be reduced if livestock regularly consumed it. We determined if white-face yearling ewes (n = 36) conditioned for 12 days to fresh-cut spotted knapweed, with or without molasses, would increase their use of it during a 5-day f...