Determining graduation rate of students who initially enrolled as animal science majors at the University of Missouri during a consecutive four-year period.

Data obtained primarily from the Student Information System of the University of Missouri were used to determine the graduation rate of freshmen and transfer students who initially enrolled as animal science majors during the fall semester of a consecutive 4-yr period. The primary objective of this study was to determine the percentage of students who completed a bachelor of science (BS) degree in animal science. This study also investigated the predictability of graduation rate and academic performance [cumulative grade point average (GPA)] and attempted to ascertain why students changed their major or failed to complete a baccalaureate degree.

Effects of individual vs group penning on the performance of weanling pigs.

Two experiments (five trials) were conducted to determine the effects of individual vs group penning on the performance of 4-wk-old crossbred barrows and gilts. In each experiment, half the pigs were tested in a group pen (four pigs) for two 7-d periods and individually for one 7-d period and the other pigs were fed individually for two periods and as a group for one period. In Exp.

The effects of diets formulated on an ideal protein basis on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and thermal balance of finishing gilts housed in a hot, diurnal environment.

Forty-eight finishing gilts (initial BW = 70.6 +/- .95 kg) were randomly assigned to one of eight experimental treatments in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with main effects including dietary lysine (.

Performance, carcass composition, and blood hormones and metabolites of finishing pigs treated with porcine somatotropin in hot and cold environments.

Two experiments were conducted to assess the ability for recombinant porcine somatotropin (rpST)-treated pigs to perform and cope with the demands of hot and cold environments. In the first experiment, finishing pigs were exposed to either a thermoneutral (TN; 18 to 21 degrees C) or a hot environment (H; 27 to 35 degrees C) for 35 d. In the second experiment, pigs were exposed to a TN or cold environment (C; 5 to 15 degrees C).

Effect of a hot environment on performance, carcass characteristics, and blood hormones and metabolites of pigs treated with porcine somatotropin.

A study was conducted to compare the effects of a single 100-mg recombinant porcine somatotropin (rpST) implant on performance, carcass characteristics, and blood hormones and metabolites of 40 finishing pigs exposed to either a thermoneutral (TN; 18 to 21 degrees C) or hot environment (H; 27 to 35 degrees C) for 28 or 35 d. Pigs in H gained at a slower rate (P less than .01) than pigs in TN.

Effects of temperature on the performance of finishing swine: II. Effects of a cold, diurnal temperature on average daily gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency.

Forty-eight crossbred barrows and gilts weighing 84.5 +/- .33 kg were used during two 21-d trials to investigate the effects of a cold, diurnal temperature (CD; -5.

Effects of temperature on the performance of finishing swine: I. Effects of a hot, diurnal temperature on average daily gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency.

Ninety-six crossbred barrows and gilts weighing 90 +/- .67 kg were used during a 21-d study to determine the effects of a hot, diurnal temperature (H; 22.5 to 35 degrees C) compared with a constant, thermoneutral temperature (TN; 20 degrees C) and the effects of sex (barrows vs gilts) on performance.

Effect of marketing treatments and transportation on feeder pig performance.

During four 6-wk trials, 376 university-raised, crossbred feeder pigs were used to determine the effects of fasting (no feed or water) vs providing feed plus water or water alone at the simulated market and a 563-km transport on shrinkage and subsequent health and performance. Providing feed and water or water alone during a 12-h market simulation for Trials 1, 2 and 4 or a 24-h period for Trial 3 did not affect subsequent rate of gain (ADG) or feed efficiency (F/G) compared with pigs fasted during the market stay. However, overall shrinkage (market phase plus transportation) of pigs provided feed and water at the market was less (P less than .

Serum chemical profile of feeder pigs, as influenced by market stress and feeding regimen.

Two hundred eighty-eight crossbred feeder pigs were used in 2 trials to determine the effects of feed and/or water deprivation at an auction market, and the effects of restricting the intake of the receiving diet on their serum chemical profile. The study also was designed to assess the value of the serum chemical profile as a diagnostic data base for stress disorders in feeder pigs. Performance data indicated that feeder pigs provided water only at the auction facilities lost significantly more weight than did those provided feed and water.

Effects of feed or water restriction, antibiotic injection and receiving diet management on commingled feeder pig performance.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of 1) long-acting oxytetracycline injection at market arrival, 2) feed or water access at the auction market and 3) receiving diet management on commingled feeder pig performance. A total of 288 commingled feeder pigs transported over 1,000 km after market management treatments were used in two trials. Pigs given access to feed and water (FW) at the market weighed more (P less than .

Effect of fasting and transportation on various physiological parameters and meat quality of slaughter hogs.

Forty-nine slaughter hogs were transported and fasted or fasted with no transport for 0 (no transport), 24, 48 and 72 h. Blood samples were taken before treatments were imposed and again prior to slaughter. Soft tissues of the ham were chemically analyzed and loin samples were evaluated by a sensory panel.

Effect of supplemental potassium in the receiving diet and form of antibiotic on feeder pig performance.

In five separate trials 901 feeder pigs (769 purchased and 132 university-raised) were used to determine the effect of level of dietary K (.64 vs 1.00 vs 1.

Effects of feed and water restriction and receiving diet crude protein on feeder pig performance.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feed and water restriction and receiving diet crude protein level on feeder pig performance. In Exp. 1, a total of 239 commingled feeder pigs transported over 1,000 km were used in two trials.

The effect of duration of boar exposure on the frequency of gilts reaching first estrus.

One-hundred crossbred gilts were used in an experiment that was designed to examine the effects of duration of boar exposure on the proportion of gilts reaching first estrus. Two replicates (summer and fall) of 50 gilts each were randomly assigned, within litter, to one of the following treatments: 1) 30 min of daily boar exposure, 2) 15 min of daily boar exposure, 3) 5 min of daily boar exposure, 4) continuous fence-line boar exposure, plus walked to a neutral pen and exposed to a different boar for 10 to 15 min daily, or 5) continuous fence-line boar exposure. Boar exposure lasted for 30 d.

The effect of confinement on days to puberty in gilts.

In the late fall and winter of 1982 to 1983, 112 crossbred gilts were used in a factorially arranged experiment to determine the effect of confinement on the age at which a gilt reaches first estrus (puberty). Two environments (confinement and non-confinement) and three ages at movement to non-confinement (100, 140, and 180 d) were studied. No differences were detected (P greater than .

Influence of market stress and protein level on feeder pig hematologic and blood chemical values.

One hundred twenty crossbred feeder pigs were used in 2 trials to determine the effects of food and water deprivation at the auction market and the effects of protein levels of receiving diet on blood chemical values. Food- and water-deprived animals had significantly higher packed-cell volume, colloid osmotic pressure, and cortisol values than did nondeprived animals. Total osmolality and plasma triiodothyronine values were significantly lower in deprived animals.

Correlation of noninvasive surface temperature measurement with rectal temperature in swine.

Skin and rectal temperature measurements were taken on 15 crossbred sows and gilts (225 kg) during the last 5 days of prepartum period and compared with those recorded in the first 8 days after parturition. The correlation of skin and rectal temperature values was not good during either period, although an increased correlation was noted in the postparturient period. The rectal temperature significantly (P less than 0.