The rapid growth rate in feedlot cattle is likely to promote joint abnormalities like osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) and osteoarthritis (OA) with subsequent lameness. We have identified a small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycan (SLRP) biomarker at cleavage site 262GLGHNQIRM (BGN262) arising from the fragmentation of biglycan (BGN) in subchondral bone associated with OA. With a validated custom-made ELISA, BGN262 has been quantified in serum from cattle. The concentration of BGN262 in serum from cattle raised in the conventional and all-natural production systems increased at harvest compared to the starting period. The limitation of the study is the small sample size. However, the promising results encourage a further evaluation of BGN262 and its potential as a biomarker for subchondral bone pathology in cattle.

ABSTRACT : Ethyl carbamate (EC) is a fermentation byproduct in foods and beverages and classified as a Group 2A probable human carcinogen. Each year greater than 40 million metric tons of fermentation co-products from the U.S. ethanol industry are fed to food animals. A GC-MS assay was developed to analyze EC extracted from various distillers grains co-products with a limit of detection at 0.7 ng/g. EC was detected in all the distillers grains co-products surveyed in this study. Corn condensed distillers solubles contained the highest level of EC ranging from 1618 to 2956 ng/g. The levels of EC in the semi-solid co-products varied from 17 to 917 ng/g. Cattle fed on these fermentation co-products were found to contain 2-3 ng/mL of EC in blood plasma. No EC was detected in control animal blood plasma. The presence of EC in animal feeds and subsequently in animals may pose an animal health risk.