Nutritional strategies to reduce methane emissions from cattle: Effects on meat eating quality and retail shelf life of loin steaks.

Increasing the lipid concentration and/or inclusion of nitrate in the diet of ruminant livestock have been proposed as effective strategies to reduce the contribution of methane from the agricultural sector to greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, the effects of increased lipid or added nitrate on beef eating quality were investigated in two experiments. In experiment 1, lipid and nitrate were fed alone with two different and contrasting basal diets to finishing beef cattle.

N-Alkyl-α-amino acids in Nature and their biocatalytic preparation.

N-Alkylated-α-amino acids are useful building blocks for the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries. Enantioselective methods of N-alkylated-α-amino acid synthesis are therefore highly valuable and widely investigated. While there are a variety of chemical methods for their synthesis, they often employ stoichiometric quantities of hazardous reagents such as pyrophoric metal hydrides or genotoxic alkylating agents, whereas biocatalytic routes can provide a greener and cleaner alternative to existing methods.

Biocatalytic Synthesis of Chiral N-Functionalized Amino Acids.

N-Functionalized amino acids are important building blocks for the preparation of diverse bioactive molecules, including peptides. The development of sustainable manufacturing routes to chiral N-alkylated amino acids remains a significant challenge in the pharmaceutical and fine-chemical industries. Herein we report the discovery of a structurally diverse panel of biocatalysts which catalyze the asymmetric synthesis of N-alkyl amino acids through the reductive coupling of ketones and amines.

Analysis of human ES cell differentiation establishes that the dominant isoforms of the lncRNAs RMST and FIRRE are circular.

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are predominantly derived from protein coding genes, and some can act as microRNA sponges or transcriptional regulators. Changes in circRNA levels have been identified during human development which may be functionally important, but lineage-specific analyses are currently lacking. To address this, we performed RNAseq analysis of human embryonic stem (ES) cells differentiated for 90 days towards 3D laminated retina.

Effects of structure on the performance of latex nanoparticles as a pseudostationary phase in electrokinetic chromatography.

The fundamental relationships between the structure and chemistry of latex nanoparticles synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) controlled living polymerization and their subsequent performance as pseudostationary phases (PSP) are reported in this paper. RAFT enables the rational optimization of latex nanoparticle pseudostationary phases and control of the behavior of the PSP. Nanoparticles comprised of amphiphilic diblock copolymers of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid-derived ionic/hydrophilic blocks and butyl- ethyl- or methyl-acrylate-derived hydrophobic blocks were synthesized in two sizes.

The effect of dietary addition of nitrate or increase in lipid concentrations, alone or in combination, on performance and methane emissions of beef cattle.

Adding nitrate to or increasing the concentration of lipid in the diet are established strategies for reducing enteric methane (CH4) emissions, but their effectiveness when used in combination has been largely unexplored. This study investigated the effect of dietary nitrate and increased lipid included alone or together on CH4 emissions and performance traits of finishing beef cattle. The experiment was a 2×4 factorial design comprising two breeds (cross-bred Aberdeen Angus (AAx) and cross-bred Limousin (LIMx) steers) and four dietary treatments (each based on 550 g forage : 450 g concentrate/kg dry matter (DM)).

The impact of divergent breed types and diets on methane emissions, rumen characteristics and performance of finishing beef cattle.

This study was undertaken to further develop our understanding of the links between breed, diet and the rumen microbial community and determine their effect on production characteristics and methane (CH4) emissions from beef cattle. The experiment was of a 2×2 factorial design, comprising two breeds (crossbred Charolais (CHX); purebred Luing (LU)) and two diets (concentrate-straw or silage-based). In total, 80 steers were used and balanced for sire within each breed, farm of origin and BW across diets.

Bovine Host Genetic Variation Influences Rumen Microbial Methane Production with Best Selection Criterion for Low Methane Emitting and Efficiently Feed Converting Hosts Based on Metagenomic Gene Abundance.

Methane produced by methanogenic archaea in ruminants contributes significantly to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The host genetic link controlling microbial methane production is unknown and appropriate genetic selection strategies are not developed. We used sire progeny group differences to estimate the host genetic influence on rumen microbial methane production in a factorial experiment consisting of crossbred breed types and diets.

Impact of adding nitrate or increasing the lipid content of two contrasting diets on blood methaemoglobin and performance of two breeds of finishing beef steers.

Adding nitrate to the diet or increasing the concentration of dietary lipid are effective strategies for reducing enteric methane emissions. This study investigated their effect on health and performance of finishing beef cattle. The experiment was a two×two×three factorial design comprising two breeds (CHX, crossbred Charolais; LU, Luing); two basal diets consisting of (g/kg dry matter (DM), forage to concentrate ratios) 520 : 480 (Mixed) or 84 : 916 (Concentrate); and three treatments: (i) control with rapeseed meal as the main protein source replaced with either (ii) calcium nitrate (18 g nitrate/kg diet DM) or (iii) rapeseed cake (RSC, increasing acid hydrolysed ether extract from 25 to 48 g/kg diet DM).

The effects on cow performance and calf birth and weaning weight of replacing grass silage with brewers grains in a barley straw diet offered to pregnant beef cows of two different breeds.

The effects on cow and calf performance of replacing grass silage with brewers grains in diets based on barley straw and fed to pregnant beef cows are reported. Using a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of breed and diet, cows pregnant by artificial insemination (n = 34) of two breeds (cross-bred Limousin, n = 19 and pure-bred Luing, n = 15) were fed diets ad libitum which consisted of either (g/kg dry matter) barley straw (664) and grass silage (325; GS) or barley straw (783) and brewers grains (206, BG) and offered as total mixed rations. From gestation day (GD) 168 until 266, individual daily feed intakes were recorded and cow body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) measured weekly.

The rumen microbial metagenome associated with high methane production in cattle.

Background: Methane represents 16 % of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. It has been estimated that ruminant livestock produce ca. 29 % of this methane.

Methane emissions from two breeds of beef cows offered diets containing barley straw with either grass silage or brewers' grains.

Increasing the concentration of dietary lipid is a promising strategy for reducing methane (CH4) emissions from ruminants. This study investigated the effect of replacing grass silage with brewers' grains on CH4 emissions of pregnant, non-lactating beef cows of two breeds. The experiment was a two×two factorial design comprising two breeds (LIMx, crossbred Limousin; and LUI, purebred Luing) and two diets consisting of (g/kg diet dry matter (DM)) barley straw (687) and grass silage (301, GS), or barley straw (763) and brewers' grains (226, BG), which were offered ad libitum.

Synthesis and characterization of [Zn(acetate)(amine)] compounds (x = 1 or 2) and their use as precursors to ZnO.

As an obvious candidate for a p-type dopant in ZnO, nitrogen remains elusive in this role. Nitrogen containing precursors are a potential means to incorporate nitrogen during MOCVD growth. One class of nitrogen-containing precursors are zinc acetate amines, yet, they have received little attention.

Effectiveness of nitrate addition and increased oil content as methane mitigation strategies for beef cattle fed two contrasting basal diets.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of (1) the addition of nitrate and (2) an increase in dietary oil on methane (CH4) and hydrogen (H2) emissions from 2 breeds (cross-bred Charolais and purebred Luing) of finishing beef cattle receiving 2 contrasting basal diets consisting (grams per kilogram DM) of 500:500 (Mixed) and 80:920 (Concentrate) forage to concentrate ratios. Within each basal diet there were 3 treatments: (i) control treatments (mixed-CTL and concentrate-CTL) contained rapeseed meal as the protein source, which was replaced with either (ii) calcium nitrate (mixed-NIT and concentrate-NIT) supplying 21.5 g nitrate/kg DM, or (iii) rapeseed cake (mixed-RSC and concentrate-RSC) to increase dietary oil from 27 (CTL) to 53 g/kg DM (RSC).

Evaluation of the laser methane detector to estimate methane emissions from ewes and steers.

The laser methane detector (LMD) has been proposed as a method to characterize enteric methane (CH4) emissions from animals in a natural environment. To validate LMD use, its CH4 outputs (LMD-CH4), were compared against CH4 measured with respiration chambers (chamber-CH4). The LMD was used to measure CH4 concentration (µL/L) in the exhaled air of 24 lactating ewes and 72 finishing steers.

Archaeal abundance in post-mortem ruminal digesta may help predict methane emissions from beef cattle.

Methane produced from 35 Aberdeen-Angus and 33 Limousin cross steers was measured in respiration chambers. Each group was split to receive either a medium- or high-concentrate diet. Ruminal digesta samples were subsequently removed to investigate correlations between methane emissions and the rumen microbial community, as measured by qPCR of 16S or 18S rRNA genes.

Fluoxetine-induced pancreatic beta cell dysfunction: New insight into the benefits of folic acid in the treatment of depression.

Background: Major depressive disorder is a common psychiatric illness with reported prevalence rates of 12-16% in persons aged 12 and over. Depression is also associated with a high risk of new onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D). This relationship between depression and diabetes may be related to depression itself and/or drugs prescribed.

Hydrogen and methane emissions from beef cattle and their rumen microbial community vary with diet, time after feeding and genotype.

The aims of the present study were to quantify hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4) emissions from beef cattle under different dietary conditions and to assess how cattle genotype and rumen microbial community affected these emissions. A total of thirty-six Aberdeen Angus-sired (AAx) and thirty-six Limousin-sired (LIMx) steers were fed two diets with forage:concentrate ratios (DM basis) of either 8:92 (concentrate) or 52:48 (mixed). Each diet was fed to eighteen animals of each genotype.

RAFT polymerized nanoparticles: influences of shell and core chemistries on performance for electrokinetic chromatography.

The performance and solvation characteristics of two novel latex nanoparticle (NP) pseudo-stationary phases (PSPs) for EKC are determined and compared to those of previously reported micellar, polymeric, and NP materials. The new NPs have shells composed of strongly acidic poly(AMPS) as opposed to the poly(acrylic acid) shell of the prior NP, and have varied hydrophobic core chemistry of either poly(butyl acrylate) or poly(ethyl acrylate). The NPs poly(AMPS) shell shows only minor changes in mobility and selectivity between pH 4.

Short-term temperament tests in beef cattle relate to long-term measures of behavior recorded in the home pen.

Handling temperament tests for beef cattle have been related to production traits, with calmer temperaments having greater growth rates. In most tests of temperament or personality, observation of the animal takes place over a short period of time, sometimes completed in a matter of minutes. This study investigated whether behavior observed in a temperament test was reflective of the steer's behavior in the home pen.

Postnatal metabolic and reproductive consequences of fetal and neonatal exposure to the smoking cessation drug bupropion.

Introduction: In all, 10% to 20% of all pregnant women smoke despite intentions to quit. Smoking cessation drugs such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and bupropion are recommended for pregnant women. Our observation that developmental exposure to nicotine adversely affects metabolic and reproductive outcomes in rats has raised concerns about NRT's safety during pregnancy.

Grassland systems of red meat production: integration between biodiversity, plant nutrient utilisation, greenhouse gas emissions and meat nutritional quality.

Government policies relating to red meat production take account of the carbon footprint, environmental impact, and contributions to human health and nutrition, biodiversity and food security. This paper reviews the impact of grazing on these parameters and their interactions, identifying those practices that best meet governments' strategic goals. The recent focus of research on livestock grazing and biodiversity has been on reducing grazing intensity on hill and upland areas.

Associations between response to handling and growth and meat quality in frequently handled Bos taurus beef cattle.

Fearful behavioral responses to handling (temperament) are undesirably associated with ADG and meat quality in infrequently handled Bos indicus cattle. It has never been assessed whether these relationships exist in calmer Bos taurus breeds in systems where handling is more frequent. Such systems predominate in some countries where beef production is a major agricultural activity.

Online prediction of fatty acid profiles in crossbred Limousin and Aberdeen Angus beef cattle using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy.

The objective of this study was to examine the online use of near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy to estimate the concentration of individual and groups of fatty acids (FA) as well as intramuscular fat (IMF) in crossbred Aberdeen Angus (AA×) and Limousin (LIM×) cattle. This was achieved by direct application of a fibre-optic probe to the muscle immediately after exposing the meat surface in the abattoir at 48 h post mortem. Samples of M.

Predicting beef carcass composition using tissue weights of a primal cut assessed by computed tomography.

The potential of the composition of the forerib measured by X-ray computed tomography (CT) as a predictor of carcass composition was evaluated using data recorded on 30 Aberdeen Angus and 43 Limousin crossbred heifers and steers. The left sides of the carcasses were split into 20 cuts, which were CT scanned and fully dissected into fat, muscle and bone. Carcass and forerib tissue weights were assessed by dissection and CT.