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Effect Of Varying Rumen Degradable And Undegradable Protein On Milk Production And Nitrogen Efficiency In Lactating Dairy Cows Under Summer Conditions, Jeffrey D. Kaufman

Masters Theses

The objective is to determine the effect of reducing nitrogen input through feeding low rumen degradable protein (RDP) and rumen undegradable protein (RUP) proportions on milk production, nitrogen efficiency and metabolism in heat-stressed cows. Forty-eight mid-lactating, Holstein cows were assigned to treatments using a randomized block design in a 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments (n = 12/treatment). Treatments included two levels of RDP (10 and 8%) and two levels of RUP (8 and 6%). From d 1 to 21, a common diet (10% RDP-8% RUP) was fed to cows followed with their respective treatment diets fed from d 22 to …

Reasons Youth Choose Or Do Not Choose To Be Involved In 4-H Livestock Projects In Tennessee, Leigh Erin Fuson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to find reasons youth choose or do not choose to be involved in 4-H livestock projects. Livestock projects are an important part of 4-H youth development because they teach life skills like responsibility and hard work. However, many youth are unable to participate or do not have the interest. This study sought to discover what motivates some youth to become involved in a livestock project and why others do not.

Focus groups were used as the data collection tool. Two groups of youth livestock participants and two groups of non-livestock participants were utilized. Themes …

Assessing Tennessee Livestock Producers' Awareness, Attitudes And Perceptions Of Right-Of-Way Hay Harvesting, Sarah Joy Maccaro

Masters Theses

In the state of Tennessee, statute 54-5-134, cutting hay along controlled access highway right-of-way, gives Tennessee agriculturalists the right to harvest hay along interstate medians and shoulders. Current maintenance is contracted out to private mowing companies and paid for by Tennessee taxpayers. Relatively few studies have been published on the topic of right-of-way hay harvesting, so this study was preliminary in nature. Through a questionnaire, this study sought to assess Hickman, Dickson, Williamson, Wilson and Rutherford county livestock producers’ current awareness, attitudes, and barriers concerning right-of-way hay harvesting as well as to conduct economic impact analyses to determine producers’ willingness …

Switchgrass Extractives Have Potential As A Value-Added Antimicrobial Against Plant Pathogens And Foodborne Pathogens, Alexander Ian Bruce

Masters Theses

Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), a perennial grass native to North America, is a leading biomass feedstock candidate for the manufacture of cellulosic ethanol. Switchgrass is considered a viable option for biofuel production due to its cheap production cost and ability to grow on marginal land. Biofuel derived from switchgrass has been shown to be very energy efficient, producing 540% more renewable energy versus nonrenewable energy expended. Switchgrass-derived biofuel is also estimated to have greenhouse gas emissions that are 94% lower than emissions from gasoline (Schmer et al 2008). Biofuels are created through biochemical processes that utilize various enzymes and microorganisms for …

Influence Of Application Technology On Foliar Fungicide Efficacy On Cercospora Sojina Infected Soybean, Shawn Alan Butler

Masters Theses

Due to the constant concern with off-target contamination and application technology requirements associated with future herbicide-tolerant crops, the use of drift-reduction nozzle technology (DRT) may increase. The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of coarse droplets generated by drift-reduction nozzles on foliar fungicide efficacy and residual in soybean infected by frogeye leaf spot caused by Cercospora sojina. No differences in disease control, soybean yield, spray retention, and residual when applying Quadris Top SB, a premix of azoxystrobin and difenoconazole, using nozzles that produce either a medium or ultra coarse droplet spectrum were determined.

Due to …

Retained Ownership Profitability Of Beef Cattle Originating In Tennessee, Minfeng Tang

Masters Theses

Retained ownership is a marketing strategy that can be used by cow-calf operators to benefit from the potential increase in fed cattle prices. We analyze the profitability of retained cattle ownership from 2005 to 2015 for cow-calf producers in Tennessee. We also determine the impact of steer/heifer characteristics (e.g., average daily gain, feed conversion) and producer choice decisions (e.g., placement weight, placement season, days on feed) on retained ownership profitability. Data on 2,953 head of cattle originating in Tennessee and finished in Iowa using a retained ownership strategy were collected. A mixed regression model explaining profitability was estimated with fixed …

Regional Dynamic Price Relationships Of Distillers Dried Grains In U.S. Feed Markets, Matthew Fulton Johnson

Masters Theses

Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is now a mainstream substitute in U.S. animal feed rations. DDGS is rich in fat and protein content and serves as a competitive feed source in livestock markets. The objective of this study is to identify dynamic price relationships among DDGS, corn, soybean meal, and livestock outputs in context of specific livestock sectors and their geographic location. Four locations associated with a predominant livestock sector are selected for analysis by measuring density and relative proportion of a livestock sector’s grain consumption at the county level. A vector error correction model is applied to post-mandate …

Soil-Water Transport Of A Seed Coated Neonicotinoid Pesticide In Soybean/Maize Cultivation Systems, Geoffrey Nathaniel Duesterbeck

Masters Theses

The current decline of the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) and other beneficial pollinator species is well documented. Several causes have been cited in this decline including: pathogens, pests, nutrition, and pesticide exposure. Since the advent of the neonicotinoid family of pesticides in the 1990’s an increase in honey bee colony loss has been observed. Neonicotinoid pesticides are commonly applied as a seed treatment to cotton, soybean and maize row crops. As the seed germinates, it absorbs the pesticide from the coating then spreads systemically throughout the entire plant. However, a large portion of the seed coating may stay …

Tennessee Consumers’ Willingness To Pay For Tennessee Wine, Connie Nichols Everett

Masters Theses

With a large and growing market, grape production and wineries are emerging in areas of the United States that have not been previously recognized as wine producing states. Tennessee is an example of such a state that has a history of limited wine grape production, but has recently seen a growing interest in state produced wines by consumers. However, there is no information regarding whether a Tennessee produced and labeled wine would impact consumers’ purchases and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for wine. The objective of this research is to determine the factors influencing consumers’ purchases of Tennessee labeled wine and to estimate …

Opportunities In Sustainability: Maize Seeders For The Developing World And Alternative Fertilizers In The United States, Rebecca Mattingly Harman

Masters Theses

Sustainable agricultural systems are needed for both large and small-scale farmers the world over. Central to the sustainability of these systems is the availability of cheap and effective seeders for smallholder farmers and effective utilization of less energy intensive nitrogen sources. In the first two chapters, this thesis considers maize seeders for smallholder use in a Conservation Agriculture system. To sustain the smallholder sector, soil fertility and soil erosion must be addressed and a Conservation Agriculture model seeks to improve soil conditions in agriculture. The technologies available to smallholder farmers, though, need to be tested in a no-till system before …

Evaluation Of Fungicide Efficacy Against Cercospora Sojina And Selection For Qoi-Fungicide Resistance In Soybean, Alicia Mercedes Cochran

Masters Theses

Frogeye leaf spot (FLS) of soybean is caused by Cercospora sojina. In 2010, resistance to the quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides was reported. Since then, evaluating FLS for QoI-resistance has been of particular interest in Tennessee and other soybean-producing states. In order to determine alternative fungicide options, fungicides with solo and combination mode of action were tested in 2013-2014. The objectives were,1) to evaluate fungicide efficacy for disease control and yield protection, and 2) evaluate selection pressure for QoI-resistance. Treatments included the following fungicide groups: QoI, DMI, MBC, Chlorothalonil, QoI+DMI, SDHI+QoI, SDHI+QoI+DMI, and DMI+MBC. QoI and Chlorothalonil treatments failed …

Evaluation Of Agronomic, Seed Quality Traits, And Transcript Abundance In Conventional High Oleic Soybeans With Mutant Fad2-1a And Fad2-1b Genes, Lauren Kathryn Richardson

Masters Theses

Two soybean omega-6 fatty acid desaturase genes [FAD2-1A and FAD2- 1B] are responsible for converting oleic acid into linoleic acid (Okuley et al., 1994). Plant introductions [PI] 603452 and 283327 have naturally occurring mutations in FAD2-1A and FAD2-1B, respectively, which hinder the conversion of oleic acid to polyunsaturated fatty acids. The end result is more functional soybean oil with exceptionally high levels of oleic acid. The homozygous alleles of FAD2-1A and FAD2-1B were combined in a BC₃F_2:4 [backcross three, second filial generation selected, advanced to the fourth filial generation] population of forty-eight lines and were evaluated in …

Impacts Of Biofumigation And Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation On Strawberry Production, Jennifer Renee’ Wheeler

Masters Theses

Due to the phase-out of methyl bromide, there is a need for alternative, nonchemical fumigation treatments in strawberry production. Anaerobic soil disinfestation and biofumigation are two non-chemical methods for controlling soilborne plant pathogens of strawberry. This study was designed to observe strawberry fruit nutrition and soil volatiles of a strawberry field being treated with biofumigation treatments, anaerobic soil disinfestation treatments, and a combination of the two alternative methods. A trial was conducted with 11 pre-plant soil-incorporated treatments arranged in a randomized complete block design with 6 rows (blocks). Biofumigation treatments consisted of deactivated mustard meal, deoiled mustard meal, mustard pellets, …