COVID-19 effects on horses in-transition: A survey analysis of United States equine industry perspectives.

The welfare of unwanted horses presents a significant concern for the equine industry. However, there is a lack of research on how unwanted horses are affected by major crises. The drastic changes that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic presented ample opportunity to investigate how unwanted horses are impacted by challenging circumstances. Study objectives were to evaluate the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the unwanted horse population and determine the current perceptions of horses in-transition. A 23-question online survey designed using QualtricsTM was administered electronically to adults living in the United States. Questions pertained to effects on equine ownership, equine management, event participation, and perceptions of unwanted horses. Frequency analysis combined with Chi-squared analyses and analyses of variance identified the impacts of COVID-19 on horse owners, non-horse owners, and equine professionals. From survey results, equine ownership, management practices, and time spent with horses proved to be unaffected (P < 0.001) by the coronavirus pandemic. A decreased ability to participate in equine events was evident across all groups (P ≤ 0.03). Financial hardship, unmanageable behavior, and injury were cited as leading causes for horses becoming "in-transition." Euthanasia was the transitioning method perceived as most accessible, while donation to an equine program was least accessible. Based on results, the COVID-19 pandemic had negligible impact on the number of unwanted horses in the United States. Long-term effects of COVID-19 on equine ownership and management decisions should be considered to provide a deeper base of knowledge for how major crises affect the horse in-transition population.

Impact of feeding various amounts of wet and dry distillers grains to yearling steers on palatability, fatty acid profile, and retail case life of longissimus muscle.

Due to increased production of ethanol, abundance of distillers grains (DG) is increasing. Steers (n = 176) were assigned to 1 of 5 treatment groups: steam-flaked corn (SFC), 10% dry DG (DDG), 10% wet DG (WDG), 20% WDG, or 30% WDG. The objectives were to determine the effects of feeding greater amounts of WDG, or DDG on meat quality. Steaks, 2.54 cm, were cut from strip loins and identified for simulated retail display, Warner-Bratzler shear force analysis, palatability, and fatty acid composition. Steaks from cattle fed 10% WDG and 30% WDG had smaller (P < 0.05) Warner-Bratzler shear force values than steaks from cattle fed 20% WDG. Trained sensory panelists found no differences (P > 0.05) in overall tenderness and off-flavors. No differences were found in total SFA and MUFA composition among treatments; however, 20% and 30% WDG had a greater proportion of PUFA and n-6 fatty acids than 10% WDG. No differences were found during simulated retail display between various amounts of WDG. Further research needs to be conducted to evaluate methods that aid in increasing shelf life of steaks from cattle fed greater rates of WDG.

Effects of zilpaterol hydrochloride and zilpaterol hydrochloride withdrawal time on beef carcass cutability, composition, and tenderness.

The impact of zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) on carcass yield, composition, and tenderness was evaluated using 384 beef steers in a randomized complete block design. Main effects were the addition of 0 or 8.3 mg/kg of ZH for the final 20 d of feeding and each inclusion level was paired with withdrawal periods of 3, 10, 17, or 24 d. The 2 animals with BW closest to the pen average were selected for carcass fabrication to determine carcass yield, composition, and tenderness. The carcasses from animals fed ZH had greater (P = 0.008) individual side weights. Carcass fat determinations were unchanged (P = 0.70) by ZH. Weights of the strip loin (P = 0.01), peeled tenderloin (P = 0.02), and top sirloin butt (P < 0.001) were all improved with ZH. When expressed as a proportion of carcass weight, ZH increased percentage of carcass in the top sirloin butt (P = 0.006), bottom sirloin tri-tip (P = 0.02), top inside round (P = 0.002), bottom round flat (P = 0.001), and flank steak (P = 0.02). A longer withdrawal time (WT) increased (P < 0.001) carcass weights. Shoulder clod weights were greatest (P < 0.001) with 17-d WT from ZH, whereas chuck roll weights were greatest (P = 0.02) at 17 and 24 d of WT. Peeled tenderloins, top sirloin butts, and eye of rounds responded to WT, with increased (P < 0.001) weights seen at 10 d of WT as compared with all other WT. Shear force values were greater at each of the 3 aging times, 7 d (P < 0.001), 14 d (P < 0.001), and 21 d (P = 0.003), in steaks from ZH-fed steers compared with control steers. Protein percentages were greater in ZH steaks (P = 0.03) and ZH ground beef trim (P < 0.001). Percent moisture was increased (P < 0.001) in strip loin steaks at 3 and 10 d WT. Ground beef trim had an increase (P = 0.04) in percent moisture and a decrease (P = 0.01) in percent fat at 10 d WT. Carcass weights and yields were improved with ZH feeding and may continue to improve even up to 10 d after withdrawal of the supplement. Tenderness was slightly reduced with ZH supplementation but was unaffected by WT. Zilpaterol hydrochloride can be a valuable supplement to finishing beef steers to improve carcass lean yields and composition.

Comparison of the Biobullet versus traditional pharmaceutical injection techniques on injection-site tissue damage and tenderness in beef subprimals.

The incidence and severity of injection-site lesions has decreased since the development of the Beef Quality Assurance program. The objective was to evaluate the route of administration and the pharmaceutical product on the impact on tenderness, collagen concentration, and lesion occurrence in muscles of chucks and rounds. A total of 144 yearling steers (initial BW = 383 +/- 29.4 kg) were selected and transported to Oklahoma State University. Steers were blocked into 2 groups of 72 based on initial BW and were randomly allocated, within block, into pens of 6 head per pen (12 pens per block). Each pen was randomly assigned an injection protocol. On May 19, 2006 (d 0), steers were administered one of the following treatment injections: a standard Biobullet containing 100 mg of ceftiofur sodium (Naxel, Pfizer Inc., New York, NY); a traditional needle and syringe dose of ceftiofur sodium; a standard Biobullet containing BallistiVac infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR; Titanium 5, SolidTech Animal Health, Newcastle, OK); a traditional needle and syringe dose of IBR; a traditional needle and syringe dose of Vira Shield 5 (Grand Laboratories Inc., Freeman, SD); a standard placebo Biobullet; or a traditional needle and syringe dose of sterile water. Percentage of samples with an identifiable lesion did not differ by drug administered or injection method. Warner-Bratzler shear force values of lesion center cores in chucks tended to be different (P = 0.07) from cores from the control steaks and at 2.54 and 5.08 cm away from the lesion center. Lesion centers from the Biobullet-BallistiVac IBR had a Warner-Bratzler shear force value of 7.01 kg, which was greater (P < 0.05) than values for lesion centers from chucks injected with a Biobullet-placebo (6.27 kg) or needle-ceftiofur sodium (5.08 kg). No significant differences (P > 0.10) were observed in the total collagenous connective tissue in samples extracted from the chuck or round. The comparison of lesion site and control (nonlesion site) samples for lipid concentration showed no significant difference (P > 0.10) among treatments in the round. It was concluded the Biobullet did not create a greater occurrence of lesions in the muscles of the chuck and round. The Biobullet is not an appropriate injection method for the round of beef cattle because it caused tissue damage similar to a needle injection. However, the Biobullet can be used effectively in neck (chuck) applications without additional negative effects on tenderness.