The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) on neonatal fatty acid metabolism. In this study, layer hens (n = 40) were divided into four equal groups and subjected to the following treatments. Group A served as the control group, Group B received 1 g CLA every other day, Group C received 1 g CLA every 4th d, and Group D was sham-supplemented with 1 g safflower oil every other day. After 4 mo of feeding, Group B hens exhibited an increase in BW and egg size; however, there were no differences noted in feed consumption among the various treatment groups. At the same time, hens were inseminated with a constant dose of pooled rooster semen to evaluate changes in chick liver and yolk fatty acid metabolism during neonatal growth. At hatch and through 6 d of age, there were no significant differences in breakout data (fertility and numbers of early-, mid-, or late-dead chicks) or chick BW, respectively. However, Group B chicks exhibited an increase in liver 18:3n3 and 22:1n9 and a decrease in 20:3n6 and 22:5n3 fatty acids when compared with chicks from Groups A and D. Also noted for Group B chicks, yolk 18:0 fatty acid was higher than that for Group A and D chicks. These results suggest that CLA alters lipid metabolism in growing chicks.

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on yolk usage and circulating very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) during incubation (Day 15) and through 6 d post-hatch. Eggs enriched with CLA were obtained from hens subjected to the following treatments. Group A hens served as the control group, Group B hens received 1 g CLA every other day, Group C hens received 1 g CLA every 4th d, and Group D hens were sham-supplemented with 1 g safflower oil every other day. Enrichment with CLA did not effect fertility, hatch of fertile, BW, or yolk-free BW of embryos or chicks. However, there were significant changes in relative yolk sac weight (RYW) and composition of circulating VLDL particles. Across all dietary treatments (Groups B, C, and D), 15-d embryos had smaller RYW compared with Group A embryos; this difference remained through 2 d posthatch. During that period (15 d of incubation through 2 d posthatch), however, embryos and chicks from Group B hens exhibited a unique absorption pattern such that little to no yolk was utilized between hatch and 2 d posthatch, a period normally characterized by high yolk lipid utilization. Similar to the RYW effects, VLDL particles were also altered by hen-induced treatment. Specifically, at hatch, chicks from Group A hens had the highest percentage of triglycerides (TG) within their VLDL particles compared with chicks from hens under all other treatments. This trend in VLDL particles was continued at 4 d posthatch. The present study demonstrates that CLA enrichment of eggs alters relative yolk sac absorption and the composition of circulating VLDL particles.

The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of agricultural literacy materials designed for the Incubators in the Classroom program used in Indiana fourth grade classrooms. This article reports on the study objectives: determine the impact of the educational materials on fourth grade students' and teachers' knowledge level of agricultural professions and identify fourth grade students' perceptions and opinions of agricultural careers and their possible career plans. Effectiveness of the educational materials was measured through a pretest-posttest research design on Indiana fourth grade school children (n=736) and their respective teachers (n=39). The sample of students and teachers was divided into treatment and control groups. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires. The findings indicated the educational materials developed and assessed for this study were effective in increasing knowledge of agricultural professions among both the treatment group students and teachers. The treatment group students were significantly more likely to see agricultural careers as interesting and exciting.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of agricultural literacy materials designed for the Incubators in the Classroom program used in Indiana fourth grade classrooms. The objectives were to determine the impact of these materials on the agriculture-related science concepts knowledge level of fourth grade students and the impact of these materials on the agriculture-related science concepts knowledge level of fourth grade teachers. Effectiveness of the educational materials was measured using a pretest-posttest research design with Indiana fourth grade school children (n=736) and their respective teachers (n=39). The sample of students and teachers was divided into experimental and control groups, then stratified based on community population size (less than 5,000, between 5,000-15,000, greater than 15,000). Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires. The data indicated the educational materials developed and assessed for this study were effective in increasing knowledge about agriculture-related science concepts among both the experimental students and teachers.

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