Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and perennial peanut (Arachis glabrata) are frequently utilized by equine producers in the Southeast. However, challenges related to their production have producers searching for alternative legume options. In 2019 and 2020, five soybean cultivars, “Tower of Leaves,” “Stonewall,” “Laredo,” “AG79X9,” and “AG64X8,” were evaluated for yield and nutritive value. Soybeans were grown at two row spacings (36 and 71 cm), two locations (Central and South Alabama), and harvested at three heights (10, 15, and 20 cm; HH). Forages were harvested using a plot harvester, dried at 55°C, and ground to 1 mm. Forage quality was determined using a NIRS, with verification by wet chemistry analyses. The study was a randomized, complete block design (n = 4) and statistical analysis was carried out using PROC Glimmix of SAS version 9.4 (SAS Inst., - Cary, NC). Forage yields were greatest in “Stonewall” and “Tower of Leaves,” and lowest in “Laredo” (2,074, 1,978, and 1,348 kg/ha, respectively). Across years, HH and forage cultivar had a significant effect on yield (P < 0.0001). As expected, yield increased as HH decreased (P < 0.0001). In 2019, crude protein (CP) was affected by HH (P < 0.0001), with 10 cm having lower CP than 15 and 20 cm (14 vs 16%, respectively; P < 0.0001). Neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were affected (P < 0.01) by HH and variety. “Stonewall” had the lowest NDF (30.84%) and ADF (29.27%; P < 0.01). “Stonewall” and “AG79X9” had the greatest TDN (74 and 73%, respectively; P < 0.01). The cultivar “Stonewall” shows promise as a forage, with greater yields and moderate forage nutritive value compared with the other cultivars tested. Further research is needed to evaluate “Stonewall” in mixtures with other warm-season annual forages.
In vitro digestibility (IVTD) is a useful tool for determining nutritive value of forages. The majority of equine forage digestion occurs in the cecum; however, many studies use fecal inoculum. The current study aimed to determine the optimal buffer:cecal fluid for batch culture fermentation and compare this method with fecal IVTD. Three horses were sourced from the Auburn University Veterinary School. Fecal material was collected via a rectal grab sample, placed in a plastic bag, and into a 39°C water bath. The cecal contents were collected using an abdominal incision within 5 min of termination. Contents were placed in a pre-warmed (39°C) thermos. Cecal fluid was strained and proportioned into 3 treatments (100:0, 75:25, and 50:50 cecal fluid:buffer). Fecal material was weighed and mixed with buffer to achieve a 10:90 by weight. Three samples of alfalfa, bermudagrass, and perennial peanut hay were randomly assigned to a fluid treatment and placed in the respective jar, digested for 48h, then underwent neutral detergent fiber analysis. The experiment was designed as a 4 × 3 factorial with horse considered random (n = 9). Statistical analysis was conducted using Proc Mixed (SAS Inst, Cary, NC) with α = 0.05. There was no effect of fluid treatment on IVTD (P = 0.12). However, a forage effect was observed (P < 0.001). Alfalfa and perennial peanut IVTD were not different (75.6%; P = 0.40), but greater (P < 0.001) than bermudagrass (48.1%). This study showed that no difference in cecal fluid and fecal material occurred when used as microbial inoculant sources for a Daisy-II batch fermentation for determination of equine IVTD.
Objective: To propose two modified variations of a corner horizontal mattress stitch to secure V-pattern lacerations with large epidermal corners that does not compromise flap blood supply. Methods:The flap criteria for utilization of this technique included a large superficial epidermal corner and physician judgment that a dermal stitch placed using the classic horizontal mattress corner stitch method would be ineffective in securing the flap corner. The modified corner horizontal mattress stitch suturing technique was developed and applied in practice to a patient presenting with a V-laceration requiring repair. The corner flap generated by the laceration contained an epidermal area too large to secure with an adjacent dermal stitch alone. Further studies using cadaveric non-human skin were used to validate the effectiveness of this and a similar technique in securing V-laceration simulations. Result:The modified corner horizontal mattress stitch technique was applied to secure a V-laceration corner using a dermal stitch and overlying skin tension sutures. There was no evidence of flap ischemia on follow-up at 14 days and acceptable cosmesis was achieved per patient report. No complications resulted from this technique. Further studies in non-human models demonstrated the effectiveness of this and a similar technique in repairing V lacerations with large epidermal corners. Conclusion:We present two modified corner horizontal mattress stitches that are effective in securing V-lacerations with large epidermal corners and a tenuous blood supply.
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