PURPOSE:This study evaluated eye movements (i.e., regressions, fixations, and saccades) in a variety of reading contexts in school-age children with and without reading disorders (RDs). METHOD:This study used an experimental design with two groups: peers with RDs and typically developing (TD) peers. A Tobii Pro Spectrum system was used to capture eye movement data for all participants during the reading tasks under the following conditions: (a) single words without cognitive demand, (b) single-word reading with cognitive demand, and (c) grade-level paragraph reading text. RESULTS:The results indicated significant differences between the groups in the duration of fixation and number of regressions. In addition, participants in the RD group exhibited significantly more saccades while reading than their TD counterparts. CONCLUSIONS:Although reading is a language-based skill involving five areas of language (morphology, phonology, syntax, pragmatics, and semantics), this study offers a unique perspective and objective measurement while highlighting the role of eye movements in reading. The results of this study showed distinctive eye responses in school-age children with RDs. These findings underscore the value of eye tracking as a diagnostic and research tool, offering an objective window into the complex interplay among visual, linguistic, and cognitive processes that underlie reading.

The purpose of this narrative review was to examine the linguistic and classroom strategies used by young adults with dyslexia. Studies investigating evidence about university students' use of strategies were compiled from four databases, including Academic Search Complete, APA PyscINFO, Education Research Complete, and Medline. Among the 117 articles identified, 15 studies were ultimately reviewed. The articles were summarized concerning the participant demographics, sample size, design of the study, methods, and the primary outcomes. The findings suggest that adults acquire strategies to help cope with their reading challenges to improve overall academic performance. Building a compensatory reading system using intact language abilities allows adults with dyslexia to perform at the same level as skilled readers. The importance of recognizing the emotional characteristics that may accompany a lifelong condition like dyslexia is emphasized, suggesting collaboration with healthcare professionals for comprehensive guidance.

Abstract Transportation losses are concerns as they relate to swine welfare and economics. Different vehicle styles are used globally, and vehicle choices are based on the number of animals to be transported, regional weather conditions, facilities, laws and professional judgement. Transportation for the majority of pigs is novel or unfamiliar, which can be stressful. Transportation stress can be affected by events even before actual transportation starts or after the trip has ended; these include the swine-human interaction quality, rearing environment, enrichment access and the loading and unloading processes. Appropriate handling-tool selection can ease loading and unloading in terms of pig welfare, efficiency and handler safety. Pig and handler stress can be minimized when ramps are built with pig behaviour at the forefront and elevators (lifts) are used during loading and unloading. On the trailer, space per pig, group size, bedding levels and quality, boarding, sprinkling, distance transported and other on-board facilities such as feed and water can have impacts on pig welfare, transportation losses and overall economics.

Abstract Several studies have suggested there is a critical relationship between piglet birth weight and preweaning mortality. Thus, the objective of the current work was to identify a birth weight threshold value for preweaning mortality. Birth weight and survival data from two studies involving a combined total of 4,068 piglets from 394 litters on four commercial farms (three European, one U.S.) were compiled for a pooled, multistudy analysis. Overall preweaning mortality across the two studies was 12.2%. Key variables used in the analysis were piglet birth weight (measured within 24 h of birth) and corresponding survival outcome (dead or live) by weaning at 3–4 wk of age. A mixed effects logistic regression model was fit to estimate the relationship between preweaning mortality and birth weight. A random effect of study was included to account for overall differences in mortality between the two studies. A piecewise linear predictor was selected to best represent the drastic decrease in preweaning mortality found as birth weight increased in the range of 0.5–1.0 kg and the less extreme change in weight above 1.0 kg. The change point of the birth weight and preweaning mortality model was determined by comparing model fit based on maximizing the likelihood over the interval ranging from 0.5 to 2.3 kg birth weight. Results from the analysis showed a curvilinear relationship between birth weight and preweaning mortality where the birth weight change point value or threshold value was 1.11 kg. In the combined data set, 15.2% of pigs had birth weights ≤1.11 kg. This subpopulation of pigs had a 34.4% preweaning mortality rate and represented 43% of total preweaning mortalities. These findings imply interventions targeted at reducing the incidence of piglets with birth weights ≤1.11 kg have potential to improve piglet survivability. Additional research is needed to validate 1.11 kg as the birth weight threshold for increased risk of preweaning mortality.

Feedlot cattle ( = 128; BW = 549 ± 60 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) on growth performance, physiological response to handling, and mobility during shipment for slaughter in a study utilizing a split-plot design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: 1) diet (CON [no β-adrenergic agonist] vs. RAC [400 mg·animal·d ractopamine hydrochloride for 28 d]) and 2) handling intensity (HI; low-stress handling [LSH; cattle moved at a walking pace with no electric prod use] vs. high-stress handling [HSH; cattle moved at a minimum of a trot and an electric prod applied while in the alley for posthandling restraint and during loading for shipment to the abattoir]). Cattle fed RAC tended to have greater ADG and G:F ( = 0.06), and had greater HCW and LM area ( = 0.04). The HI treatments were applied on the day after the 28-d growth performance period. Blood samples were collected before HI treatment (baseline), after HI treatments (POSTHAND), after transport to the abattoir (POSTTRANS), and during exsanguination at slaughter. A diet × HI interaction ( = 0.01) was observed in the change in cortisol from baseline to POSTTRANS, and there tended ( ≤ 0.07) to be diet × HI interactions for the change in epinephrine from baseline to POSTHAND and for the change in creatine kinase (CK) from baseline to POSTTRANS. Feeding RAC and HSH both increased the change from baseline to POSTHAND in norepinephrine and pH ( ≤ 0.05). The HSH cattle also had greater changes from baseline to POSTHAND in blood HCO, base excess, partial pressure of CO, lactate, cortisol, and glucose ( ≤ 0.01). Ractopamine and HSH both produced greater increases in CK concentrations from baseline to slaughter ( < 0.01). Mobility was not affected by RAC at the feedlot or following an average 6-h lairage ( ≥ 0.43). This study confirms RAC improves growth performance and suggests metabolic acidosis, a precursor to fatigued cattle syndrome, develops in cattle allowed to trot without the use of a lead rider regardless of RAC administration. Cattle fed RAC displayed altered hormonal responses to handling and transport stress, and the overall proportion of cattle with compromised mobility appears to increase later in the marketing channel. These findings warrant additional research aimed at better understanding the physiological response to stress and protect the welfare of cattle during shipment for slaughter.

Abstract This review summarizes the effects of ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) dose (5, 7.5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) on market weight pig welfare indicators. Ractopamine hydrochloride (trade name Paylean) is a β-adrenergic agonist that was initially approved in the U.S. in 1999 at doses of 5 to 20 mg/kg to improve feed efficiency and carcass leanness. However, anecdotal reports suggested that RAC increased the rate of non-ambulatory (fatigued and injured) pigs at U.S. packing plants. This led to the addition of a caution statement to the Paylean label, and a series of research studies investigating the effects of RAC on pig welfare. Early research indicated that: (1) regardless of RAC administration, fatigued (non-ambulatory, non-injured) pigs are in a state of metabolic acidosis; (2) aggressive handling increases stress responsiveness at 20 mg/kg RAC, while 5 mg/kg reduces stress responsiveness to aggressive handling. Given this information, dosage range for Paylean was changed in 2006 to 5 to 10 mg/kg in market weight pigs. Subsequent research on RAC demonstrated that: (1) RAC has minimal effects on mortality, lameness, and home pen behavior; (2) RAC fed pigs demonstrated inconsistent prevalence and intensity of aggressive behaviors; (3) RAC fed pigs may be more difficult to handle at doses above 5 mg/kg; and (4) RAC fed pigs may have increased stress responsiveness and higher rates of non-ambulatory pigs when subjected to aggressive handling, especially when 20 mg/kg of RAC is fed.

The effects of handling intensity on the physiological response and carcass characteristics of feedlot cattle fed ractopamine hydrochloride were evaluated at the time of transport to slaughter. Eighty steers (BW = 668 ± 36 kg) representing 10 lots of similar breed, frame size, and degree of finish were blocked by lot, stratified by weight, and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 handling intensities (HI) over a 1,600 m dirt alley course: 1) low-stress handling (LSH) or 2) high-stress handling (HSH). For the LSH treatment, 4 penmates were kept at a walk with the use of a lead rider. For the HSH treatment, 4 penmates were kept at a minimum of a trot and received 2 applications of an electric prod (approximately 1 s per impulse) at 2 separate instances: first in the alley before post-handling sampling, and again during loading for transportation to the abattoir. Behavioral observations and physical indicators of stress were recorded a minimum of 1 h before handling (baseline), immediately after handling (POSTHAND), and while in lairage after a 200 km transport to the abattoir. Vital parameters were recorded at baseline and POSTHAND. Venous blood samples were collected via jugular venipuncture at baseline and POSTHAND, and mixed arterial and venous blood samples were collected during exsanguination at slaughter. Muscle tremors tended to be more prevalent in HSH cattle at POSTHAND ( = 0.10). The HSH cattle tended to have greater POSTHAND heart rate ( = 0.08); however, there was no effect of HI on POSTHAND respiration rate or rectal temperature ( 0.34). The HSH cattle had greater lactate, epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, and glucose concentrations at POSTHAND ( ≤ 0.02). Additionally, HSH cattle had lower POSTHAND blood pH, bicarbonate, base excess, and partial pressure carbon dioxide ( < 0.0001). Bicarbonate concentrations were greater in HSH cattle at slaughter ( = 0.05); however, there were no differences between HI treatments for the remaining blood variables ( 0.11). Concentrations of stress hormones and CK were significantly greater at slaughter relative to baseline and POSTHAND for both LSH and HSH cattle ( < 0.001). These findings suggest cattle trotted without a lead rider develop metabolic acidosis, and illustrate the importance of low-stress handling at the time of transport for slaughter. Further research is warranted to develop strategies to mitigate stress at the time of transport and ensure the welfare of beef cattle presented to abattoirs.

Journal Article 320 Effect of hot temperature and drinker type on growth performance of and water disappearance by growing-finishing pigs Get access K. Vande Pol, K. Vande Pol 1University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar N. S. Grohmann, N. S. Grohmann 1University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar T. E. Weber, T. E. Weber 2Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar M. J. Ritter, M. J. Ritter 2Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar M. Ellis M. Ellis 1University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Animal Science, Volume 94, Issue suppl_2, April 2016, Pages 150–151, https://doi.org/10.2527/msasas2016-320 Published: 01 April 2016

Thermal imaging can be used to monitor the thermal comfort of pigs. The objective was to establish the effect of room temperature on skin surface temperatures using thermal imaging of pigs kept under conditions similar to commercial practice. The study was performed as a RCBD; with 2 room temperature treatments: 1) Thermoneutral (TN constant 18°C); and 2) Hot (30°C from 0800–1900; 20°C from 2000–0700). There were 4 rooms of finishing pigs (2 on each temperature treatment). Rooms had fully-slatted concrete floors and there were 8 pens of 10 pigs in each room; floor space was 0.67 m2/pig. Images were taken on 20 randomly selected pigs from each room every 2 wk over an 8-wk period during which mean BW increased from 83.8 ± 11.21 to 129.1 ± 11.42 kg. Images were taken of the ear using 2 cameras (FLIR E6 and IRISYS IRI4010; sensitivity of 0.06°C and 0.15°C, respectively; resolution of 160 × 120 pixels). Emissivity on all images was set at 0.98. Images from each camera were processed with the respective program (FLIR Tools, IRISYS 4000 Series Imager) Surface temperature was measured at 5 points along the centerline of the ear: where the ear joins the head, near the tip of the ear, and 3 points equidistant between these 2 points. All observations for both cameras across the study period were averaged by temperature treatment for each point and an unpaired t test was used to compare the effects of room temperature. The average ear temperature across all 5 points for the Hot and TN treatments was 26.5 ± 3.3°C, and 23.0 ± 5.6°C, respectively (P = 0.11). Ear temperature was greater (P < 0.05) for the Hot than TN treatment the tip of the ear (23.96°C and 18.52°C, respectively) but not at the other measurement points (P > 0.05). The difference in ear temperature between the point closest to the head and the tip of the ear was greater for the TN than the Hot treatment (4.12 and 8.11°C, respectively; P < 0.0001). These results suggest that high environmental temperatures increase the surface temperature at the extremity of the ear due to increased vasodilation, and that the difference in temperature from the base to the tip of the ear may be the most appropriate measurement to assess the thermal comfort of the animal.

The impact of feeding ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) on growth performance and responses to handling and transport in heavy BW pigs was evaluated in a study performed as a split-plot design with a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments: 1) RAC level (0 vs. 5 vs. 7.5 mg/kg of feed) and 2) handling intensity (HI; gentle vs. moderate vs. aggressive); RAC level was the main plot and HI was the subplot. A total of 288 pigs housed in groups of 8 were used to evaluate growth performance over a 28-d RAC feeding period (98.5 ± 4.58 to 131.5 ± 7.45 kg BW). On d 29 of the study, the HI treatment was applied to 216 pigs (6/pen; 2/pen on each HI). This was followed by transportation for 1 h on a livestock trailer at the end of which pigs were subjected to a final handling procedure. Blood samples (to measure acid-base, cortisol, and catecholamine levels) were collected and rectal temperature was measured 2 h before the HI treatment (baseline) and after the final handling procedure (final). Feeding RAC (5 and 7.5 mg/kg) improved ( < 0.01) ADG (9.9 and 9.0% for 5 and 7.5 mg/kg RAC, respectively) and G:F (8.8 and 11.8%, respectively) compared to controls, with no differences ( > 0.05) between the 2 RAC levels. Increasing the intensity of handling decreased ( < 0.001) final blood pH, bicarbonate, and base excess and increased ( < 0.001) final blood lactate and plasma cortisol and norepinephrine levels. Aggressive compared to gentle handling increased ( < 0.05) the incidence of pigs exhibiting open-mouth breathing and skin discoloration after the final handling procedure but had no effect ( > 0.05) on the incidence on nonambulatory, noninjured pigs. There was no effect ( > 0.05) of feeding RAC on final rectal temperature or blood acid-base measurements. Feeding 7.5, but not 5, compared to 0 mg/kg RAC increased ( < 0.05) final plasma epinephrine levels and the incidence of nonambulatory, noninjured pigs. This study confirms the improved growth performance of pigs fed RAC and the negative effects of aggressive handling on physical, metabolic, and physiological responses of pigs. It also suggests that pigs fed 5 compared to 0 mg/kg RAC showed similar responses to transport and handling. However, pigs fed 7.5 mg/kg of RAC had a greater incidence of nonambulatory, noninjured pigs when subjected to the handling/transport model and this warrants further investigation.

The effect of feeding ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) on growth performance, carcass and pork quality, and blood acid-base and catecholamine responses to handling and transport in finishing pigs was evaluated using a randomized complete block design to compare 2 RAC levels (0 vs. 10 mg/kg). Crossbred pigs ( = 144) were housed in single-sex pens (barrow or gilt) of 3 with 24 pens/RAC level. The study was carried out for a 28-d period from 104.0 ± 5.99 to 136.7 ± 6.44 kg BW. At the end of the growth study, pigs were subjected to handling and transport procedures that involved an initial aggressive handling procedure (pigs moved 50 m with 8 shocks from an electric prod) followed by a 30-min transport on a standard livestock trailer at a floor space of 0.46 m/pig followed by a final gentle handling procedure (pigs moved 100 m using sort boards and slap paddles). A blood sample was taken and rectal temperature was measured 2 h before (baseline) and immediately after the final handling procedure (final). Barrows ( = 72) were harvested and carcass and pork quality were measured. Feeding RAC increased ( ≤ 0.05) ADG (19.6%), ADFI (4.2%), and G:F (14.8%). The increase in plasma epinephrine levels from baseline to final was greater ( ≤ 0.05) for pigs fed RAC; there was a trend ( ≤ 0.10) for pigs fed RAC to have greater final blood lactate and to show a greater change from baseline to final in blood bicarbonate, partial pressure of and total carbon dioxide, and oxygen saturation levels. However, there were no differences between treatments for changes from baseline to final in rectal temperature, blood pH and lactate, and plasma norepinephrine levels. The incidence of physical indicators of stress and of nonambulatory, noninjured pigs during the handling and transport procedures was similar for the 0 and 10 mg/kg RAC levels. Final farm BW was 4.1 kg heavier, carcass yield was 1.4 percentage units greater, and LM area was 5.18 cm greater for pigs fed RAC compared to the control ( ≤ 0.05). Minolta a* and b* values were lower ( ≤ 0.05) and ultimate pH (0.05 units) and Warner-Bratzler shear force (0.43 kg) were greater ( ≤ 0.05) for pigs fed 10 compared to 0 mg/kg RAC. These results confirm the substantial improvement from feeding 10 mg/kg RAC in growth performance and carcass yield and suggest relatively limited effects on pork quality and on responses to the handling and transport procedures used in this study.

The objectives were to determine the effects of ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) in a 3-phase marketing strategy. One thousand seven hundred forty pigs were used in 80 single-sex pens in 2 blocks. Each pen housed approximately 22 pigs. Sixteen percent of the total population of pigs was sold during the first marketing period, 18% was sold during the second marketing period, and the remaining 66% was sold during the third marketing period. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design of 2 treatments. Pigs in the second marketing group had greater growth performance indicators than pigs in the first marketing group. Over the entire feeding period, pigs fed RAC were 2.73 kg heavier (P < 0.0001), had 0.11 kg/d greater (P < 0.0001) ADG, and had 0.04 greater (P < 0.0001) G: F than pigs not fed RAC. Hot carcass weights were 3.3% greater (P < 0.0001), carcass yields were 0.68 (% units) greater (P < 0.0001), fat depth was 7.2% less (P < 0.0001), loin depth was 5.6% greater (P < 0.0001), and estimated carcass lean was 0.97% units greater (P < 0.0001) in RAC-fed pigs when compared with pigs not fed RAC. By the end of the first marketing period carcasses from pigs fed RAC (89.73 kg) were 2.1% heavier (P = 0.04) and gained 0.19 kg/d more (P = 0.03) carcass weight than carcasses from pigs not fed RAC (87.89 kg). By the end of the second marketing period carcasses from pigs fed RAC (99.00 kg) were 3.1% heavier (P < 0.001) and gained 0.14 kg/d more (P < 0.001) carcass weight than carcasses from pigs not fed RAC (96.02 kg). By the end of the third marketing period carcasses from pigs fed RAC (102.75 kg) were 3.7% heavier (P < 0.0001) and gained 0.10 kg/d more (P < 0.0001) carcass weight than carcasses from pigs not fed RAC (99.06 kg). Although carcass gain per day decreased with extended RAC feeding duration, HCW advantages continued to increase as feeding duration was increased from 7 d to 35 d. Growth benefits were evident during the initial marketing period, but as duration increased differences diminished. Therefore, RAC can provide the expected growth performance benefits when included in the diet for up to 21 d, but HCW advantages continue to increase throughout the entire 35 d feeding period. Even though carcass benefits were not as evident in pigs sold during the first marketing period, advantages (particularly HCW) continued to increase with each marketing period.

This exploratory study examined the effects of Interactive Metronome (IM) when integrated with a traditional language and reading intervention on reading achievement. Forty-nine school-age children with language and reading impairments were assigned randomly to either an experimental group who received the IM treatment or to a control group who did not. Both groups received language and reading intervention, and the experimental group received an additional four hours of IM treatment during a four-week period. Although both groups made gains in reading rate/fluency and comprehension, the extent of the gains was much larger in the IM group. IM training may be useful for promoting the reading rate/fluency and comprehension of children with language and reading impairments.

The investigators measured 7 literacy skills in a group of 21 school-age children with mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss (MSNH group), and compared the scores to those of 2 age-matched groups: children with dyslexia (DYS group) and, as a control, typically developing hearing children (CA group). The MSNH group performed consistently below the CA group but better than the DYS group, an indication that differences in the groups’ phonological processing profiles might be an important discriminating feature. Interestingly, the MSNH group showed a selective impairment in word reading accuracy only, whereas their reading rate was relatively unaffected. Children with MSNH who show weak phonological awareness skills seem to compensate by relying on orthographic recognition associated with rapid naming ability. To determine which children with MSNH are at high risk for depressed reading achievement, testing across a wide range of literacy skills should be considered.

An experiment was performed to evaluate effects of dietary ractopamine, CLA, and corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) on growth and carcass and fat quality of finishing pigs. This study was conducted as a split-split plot arrangement in a generalized randomized block design. In total 1,102 crossbred barrows and gilts (initial BW = 100.4 kg, SD = 3.7 kg; pic 337 × c22) were randomly assigned to 1 of 8 dietary treatments that consisted of 2 diet sources [corn-soybean meal (corn-soy) and corn-soy + 20% DDGS], 2 levels of ractopamine (0 and 7.4 mg/kg), and 2 levels of CLA (0% and 0.6%). The pen was the experimental unit, with 6 replications per treatment for a total of 48 pens with 23 pigs per pen. Pigs had ad libitum access to water and feed during the 27-d experimental period. Ractopamine addition improved (p < 0.05) ADG and G:F over the control group. Furthermore, carcass weight, carcass yield, loin depth, and lean percentage were increased and back fat depth was decreased (p < 0.05) by feeding ractopamine. Feeding CLA resulted in improved (p < 0.05) ADG and G:F and increased lean percentage but reduced carcass yield (p < 0.05). The inclusion of DDGS did not affect ADG, adfi, or g:f but reduced (p < 0.05) carcass dressing percent. An increase (p < 0.05) in the concentration of pufa was observed with inclusion of DDGS, ractopamine, and CLA. Iodine value (iv) increased (p < 0.001) in both belly and jowl samples by feeding DDGS and ractopamine, whereas a decrease (p < 0.01) was observed when CLA was included in the diets. The fatty acid profiles of belly and jowl fat samples were affected (p < 0.05) by diet source × ractopamine, indicating that effects of dietary ractopamine depend on the fatty acid profile of the diet. These results indicate that feeding ractopamine and CLA could improve growth and carcass measures and that CLA was effective in diminishing some of the negative effects, especially on IV, caused by DDGS.

The objective was to evaluate pig performance, feed efficiency, and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs fed ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) in a single-phase (7.4 mg/kg for 31 d) or step-up (5.0/10 mg/kg) feeding program when compared with a NRC control diet. Barrows and gilts were divided into pens of approximately 22 pigs per pen and fed one of 3 dietary programs when pigs reached approximately 103.5 kg of BW. The 5 heaviest pigs per pen were marketed on d 17 of the trial (before the step-up initiation), and on d 31 the remaining 17 pigs per pen were marketed. Pigs fed RAC and marketed after 17 d (1.195 kg/d) of feeding had a 14.5% improvement (P < 0.0001) in ADG and a 13.2% improvement (P < 0.0001) in efficiency (0.385) compared with controls (1.04 kg/d; 0.34). On average, RAC-fed pigs had 0.43 percentage units greater (P = 0.02) carcass yield. During the entire 31-d feeding trial, RAC-fed pigs (1.20 kg/d) gained 12% more (P < 0.0001) weight per day and were 14% more (P < 0.0001) efficient (0.365) at feed conversion than were controls (1.07 kg/d; 0.32). Ractopamine-fed pigs also had greater (P < 0.0001) carcass yields, larger (P < 0.0001) loin depths, and greater (P < 0.0001) estimated carcass lean values than did pigs not fed RAC. Ractopamine can be fed in a step-up feeding program even in marketing strategies when pigs are marketed relatively soon after the RAC initiation with the same performance and carcass results normally observed in continuous-dose feeding programs.

The objective was to summarize previous literature, using a meta-analysis approach, on the effects of ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) when fed at doses of 5 to 10 mg/kg for up to 35 d before harvest on carcass cutability and belly quality of finishing pigs. The meta-analysis provided an opportunity to determine the consensus of previously published literature. Ten studies were evaluated to determine cutting yields and 8 studies were used to determine belly quality in this review. Pooled dietary RAC concentrations (5 mg/kg, 7.4 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and step-up feeding programs) and pooled feeding durations (up to 35 d before harvest) were compared with pigs not fed RAC (controls) and were analyzed as a meta-analysis using the mixed procedure of SAS. Ractopamine inclusion was the fixed effect in the model and the individual study was considered a random variable. The only difference between RAC and control pigs for whole primals as a percentage of side weight was the whole ham (P < 0.01). No other differences were detected for whole primals as a percentage of side weight. Yet, differences were detected in the standardized trimmed primal yields. A difference (P < 0.05) in percentages of the side weight was detected for the Boston butt, trimmed loin, and trimmed ham. This translated into RAC pigs having a carcass cutting yield (74.70% vs. 73.69%, respectively; P = 0.02; SED = 0.33) advantage of 1.01% units and a bone in lean cutting yield (61.43% vs. 60.33%, respectively; P = 0.03; SED = 0.40) advantage of 1.10% units when compared with control pigs. The advantage in bone-in cutability was a result of increased boneless sub primal yields in each of the lean cuts (shoulder, loin, and ham). When further evaluated, RAC pigs had a boneless shoulder (Boston butt + picnic) yield advantage of 0.32% units (P < 0.01; SED = 0.11), a 0.43% unit (P = 0.01; SED = 0.13) yield advantage in the boneless loin (Canadian back + tenderloin + sirloin), and a 0.51% unit (P < 0.001; SED = 0.11) advantage in the boneless ham (inside + outside + knuckle). A boneless yield was calculated using a summation of the percentage of side weight from the boneless shoulder, boneless loin, and boneless ham, which resulted in a 1.08% unit (36.28% vs. 35.20%, respectively; P = 0.002; SED = 0.25) advantage of RAC pigs when compared with control pigs. There were no subprimal yield differences (P = 0.93) in the trimmed belly between RAC pigs (12.18%) and control pigs (12.18%). However, RAC pigs (15.27 cm; 73.42) had narrower flop distances (P = 0.02; SED = 0.62) and greater iodine values (P = 0.01; SED = 0.33), respectively, when compared with control pigs (17.08 cm; 71.48).

The objective of this paper is to review the scientific literature to identify on-farm factors that contribute to market weight pig transportation losses. Transportation of market weight pigs is an essential element to the multisite pork production model used in the United States. In 2011 alone, approximately 111 million market weight pigs were transported from the finishing site to the abattoir. For pigs, the marketing process can present a combination of potentially novel, physical, and/or unfamiliar experiences that can be stressful. If the pig cannot cope with these sequential and additive stressors, then an increased rate of transportation losses could occur with a detrimental effect on pork carcass value. Current yearly estimates for transport losses are 1 million pigs (1%). A variety of market weight pig and farm factors have been reported to detrimentally affect transportation losses. By understanding how pigs interact with their environment during marketing, researchers, producers, and personnel at the abattoir may begin to identify, prioritize, and attempt to minimize or eliminate these stressors. This process will ultimately decrease transportation losses, improve pork quality, and increase profitability.

This study was conducted utilizing a quasi-experimental pre- and postgroup design to examine the effects of a phonologically based intervention aimed to improve phonological awareness (PA) and reading abilities in school-age children with language impairment (LI) in Grades 1 through 3. The intervention included instruction in PA and sound-symbol correspondence. Sixty-four school-age children with LI (Grades 1-3) were assigned to either an experimental (n = 34) or a control group (n = 30). Eleven kindergarten-age children with LI were then included as a comparison grade group to investigate whether the magnitude of treatment effect changed across grade level in the experimental group (K-3). Participants in the experimental group (Grades 1-3) made significantly greater gains in PA and reading (e.g., decoding and text comprehension) than the control group. Similar gains were observed across the varying grade levels (K-3). These results suggest that, despite being at risk of reading failure, school-age children with LI in Grades 1 through 3 have the potential to make accelerated gains in their reading development and in the PA skills that are essential to successful literacy acquisition.

Porcine circovirus type 2 associated disease (PCVAD) is a costly disease to the commercial pig industry. Clinically significant PCVAD decreases growth rate and increases mortality in growing pigs. Porcine circovirus type 2 can costs the US swine industry 3 to 4 dollars per pig and in extreme cases as much as $20 per pig because of increased mortality rates and reduced growth performance of infected pigs relative to pigs of higher health. A total of 1,635 barrows and gilts with a known history of PCVAD were used in a randomized complete block design with a 5×2 factorial arrangement of the following treatments: no ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC), 5.0mg/kg of RAC for 21 d, 7.4mg/kg of RAC for 21 d, 5.0/7.4mg/kg step-up, or 5.0/10.0mg/kg step-up feeding program in barrows and gilts. Pigs assigned to the step-up program were fed the initial dose of 5mg/kg of RAC for the first 14 d of the trial and then stepped-up to the increased dose of 7.4 or 10.0mg/kg for the final 7 d of the feeding period. Growth performance traits were measured weekly during the 21-d test period, and carcass traits were measured on d 21 at the slaughter facility. Growth advantages of RAC-fed pigs over controls were observed as early as 7 d on trial and persisted throughout the entire live phase of the experiment. Pigs fed RAC gained 18.6% more weight per day than did control-fed pigs (1.02 vs. 0.86kg/d, P<0.0001) during the feeding period and were almost 21% more (P<0.0001) efficient (G:F) than were control-fed pigs. Loin depths of RAC-fed pigs were 0.31cm greater (P<0.0001) and estimated carcass lean percentages were 0.62 percentage units greater (P<0.0001) than those of controls. Collectively, these data suggest that RAC supplementation is an effective means of improving growth performance and carcass composition in finishing pigs with a clinical history of PCVAD early in the grow-finish period.