2008 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) For growing meat animals, identify physiological responses to stress that contribute to production loss and disease susceptibility; develop environmental and animal-specific risk assessments of stress as management guides to alert producers and improve animal well-being; develop precision animal management strategies to ameliorate heat stress effects; and develop ventilation design standards for contemporary swine production systems. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) This project incorporates components of two former research projects on management of livestock stress and genetic factors related to disease susceptibility. Stress response evaluation utilizes physiological (respiration rate, health status, etc.), physical (body temperature, coat color, etc.), and behavioral (temperament, eating, etc.) measurements to characterize the impact of stress (particularly environmental) on feedlot cattle. These measurements will be refined to provide dynamic response evaluations in a feedlot setting, both for data collection and as potential management tools. The results will provide risk assessment models to assist producers in identification of animals that would most benefit from changes in management (shade, sprinklers, etc.). In addition, weather data will be utilized to provide advanced warnings to producers of impending environmentally stressful conditions to cattle. Genetic diversity for stress traits among several breeds will be characterized to identify breed differences and suggest management alternatives based on genotype. Also, criteria of ventilation requirements for swine production will be updated for modern lean high growth rate animals and ration formulations. Livestock will be observed in production feedlot settings or in controlled environment chambers to provide suitable environmental and management control. The feedlot includes modern animal handling facilities to individually manage cattle or provide group penning of cattle with or without shade. Environmental chambers provide precision control of environmental factors (temperature, humidity, and light) in close proximity of calorimeter equipment to measure energy expenditure of livestock. The availability of a wide range of cattle breeds, extensive animal handling and technical expertise, and animal health practitioners provides the necessary resources for conducting basic and applied research. 3.Progress Report Objective 1. Identify stress response. Sub Objective 1A. Respiration rate is a proven valuable stress measurement. However, the previous automated systems required animals to be penned individually. A new respiration belt is under development. The units are working well in the lab; however, packaging the units to protect them from the elements and the cattle has proven difficult. The current design is undergoing rigorous testing. The final design will be incorporated into sensors for use in subsequent heat stress studies. Sub Objective 1B. Identify genetic differences among breed types for stress. Project has been terminated due to a resignation and subsequent position termination. Objective 2. Develop risk assessments of stress. Sub-Objective 2A. Heat index for feedlot cattle A heat stress prediction model, including four weather parameters was previously developed. Using this model, a feedlot cattle heat stress website was developed through a collaborative project with NOAA. The website contains a seven-day graphical forecast, in addition to impacts of heat stress, cattle and environmental risk factors, recognizing heat stress, and actions to minimize heat stress. Objective 2B. Cattle heat stress risk Assessment Model Cattle heat stress is difficult to model due to a number of factors and the complex nature of the system. A comprehensive literature review was completed, which provided a basis for the model development. A knowledge based hierarchical fuzzy inference system was used. Currently the model is being tested. A study was conducted this year using a group of diverse feedlot heifers; stress and performance data from this study will provide data for validation. Objective 3. Precision animal management strategies. Sub-Objective 3A. Assessment of different shade materials There are a multitude of different shading materials available on the market ranging in price and effectiveness. Initial testing of shade materials was completed, using instrumentation to record solar radiation and black globe temperature beneath each structure. A single weather station in the open was used to record temperature, humidity, wind speed, solar radiation, and black globe. Thermal conditions under each separate material and in the open were evaluated by estimated respiration rate using the equation previously developed. The data has been summarized and will be presented at an International symposium. Objective 4. Swine heat and moisture production standards Sub-Objective 4A. Swine heat production standards The current heat and moisture standards were developed in the late 1950s. These standards are used to design ventilation systems. Incorrect ventilation can lead to poor air quality, incorrect temperatures and shortened building life. The experimental plan was developed and approved, and the first of these studies was completed. Subsequent studies are currently being planned. Addresses NP101 Action Plan, Component 2 "Enhancing Animal Adaptation, Well-Being and Efficiency in Diverse Production Systems: Problem Statement 2A, "Enhance Animal Well-Being and Reduce Stress in Livestock Production Systems". 4.Accomplishments 1. A literature review for cattle heat stress was completed and published. This literature review provided valuable information for several on-going projects, including modeling cattle heat stress and the heat stress website. Website Development: The development of the heat stress forecast website was completed. The website, while not the final, is a vehicle for technology transfer, offering not only a seven day heat-stress forecast, but also cattle and weather risk factors, and actions to take prior to and during an extreme event. The website offers links to the unit’s peer-reviewed publications so visitors can access more information if they are interested. Addresses NP 101, Component 2 “Enhancing Animal Adaptation, Well-Being and Efficiency in Diverse Production Systems: Problem Statement 2A, “Enhance Animal Well-Being and Reduce Stress in Livestock Production Systems”. 5.Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations None 6.Technology Transfer Number of New Germplasm Releases 1 Number of New Commercial Licenses Executed 3 Number of Web Sites Managed 2 Review Publications Eigenberg, R.A., Brown Brandl, T.M., Nienaber, J.A. 2007. Development of a livestock weather safety monitor for feedlot cattle. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, Sept. 2007, Vol. 23(5): 657-660. Nienaber, J.A., Hahn, G.L. 2007. Livestock production system management responses to thermal challenges. International Journal of Biometeorology 52:149-157(2007), doi 10.1007/s00484-007-0103-x. Freetly, H.C., Nienaber, J.A., Brown Brandl, T.M. 2008. Partitioning of energy in pregnant beef cows during nutritionally induced weight fluctuation. Journal of Animal Science. 86(2):370-377. Brown Brandl, T.M. 2008. Heat stress in feedlot cattle. CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources. Vol. 3, No. 16. Available: www.cababstractsplus.org/cabreviews/reviews.asp or doi:10.1079/PAVSNNR20083016. Eigenberg, R.A., Brown Brandl, T.M., Nienaber, J.A. 2008. Sensors for dynamic physiological measurements. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 62:41-47.