Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing The Effects Of The Spring Hunting Season Start Date On Wild Turkey Seasonal Productivity And Hunter Behavior, Joseph Quehl

Masters Theses

Many states throughout the Southeast have documented declines in wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) harvest and estimates of recruitment in poult-per-hen ratios. Wild turkey populations are driven by seasonal productivity, so the decline in these parameters may indicate a decline in the overall population. One hypothesis as to why we are seeing a reduction in productivity and a potential population decline is that the spring hunting season is disrupting the reproductive cycle by harvesting too many males before they have had the opportunity to breed, or by harvesting dominant males and disrupting the social hierarchy of the flock. Our …

Evaluation Of Forage Nutritive Value And Dry Matter Yield Of Stockpiled Tall Fescue Across Plant Hardiness Zones 7 And 8, Malerie Elizabeth Fancher

Masters Theses

Pastures in Tennessee comprise mainly tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.], a cool-season perennial grass. Tennessee producers feed hay for an average of 143 days per year, there is interest in utilizing stockpiling to extend the grazing season. Although this practice has been proven to reduce hay needs (Freeman et al., 2019), it is vital to maintain up-to-date recommendations using data from across the southeastern US to inform nutritional management decisions. The objective of this study is to determine the nutritive value and dry matter yield of stockpiled tall fescue across plant hardiness zones 7 and 8. Fourteen farms …

Assessing The Impact Of The Tennessee Equine Industry, Olivia Watson

Masters Theses

The Tennessee equine industry is alive and prevalent across the entire state. However, due to the expansiveness of the industry, lack of consistent record keeping, and large discrepancies among reporting agencies, it has proven to be difficult to accurately account for the total impact of the industry in terms of population, demographics, and overall economic impact. The objective of this study was to 1) determine population demographics and economic impact of the equine industry in Tennessee and 2) determine the public perception on the addition of live equine racing within the state. An anonymous, online assessment was developed (March-August 2022; …

Management And Investment: Two Pillars Of Automatic Milking Systems Efficiency, Abby N. Mccalmon

Masters Theses

Fetch cows, dairy cattle that do not voluntarily enter automated milking systems (AMS), increase labor costs, and decrease efficiency. The objective of this study was to describe fetch cows based on fetch lists and herd-management software data. This study was conducted on a commercial dairy farm (n = 510 cows) using 8 AMS from October 1, 2021, to May 10, 2022. Data were collected via PCDART, DairyComp, and a proprietary interface. Two fetch categories by cow, EverFetch (EF) and NeverFetch (NF), and three status groups by cow by day, True Fetch (on fetch list …

Using Novel Phenotypes To Understand And Predict Fertility In Beef Cows, Cassidy Catrett

Masters Theses

Reproduction plays a major role in the production efficiency of livestock species. However, cow-centric reproductive traits are lowly heritable and are not expressed until later in an animal’s lifetime, making phenotypic selection ineffective at generating genetic gain. We can generate genetic progress by focusing selection on the genetic component of reproductive traits using Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs). We used the American Simmental Association’s performance and Total Herd Enrollment data, made up of 533,155 calving records from 303,158 females (132,403 cows and 170,755 heifers), 33,732 of which are genotyped, to develop two continuous and two discrete phenotypes focused on quantifying early …

Pregnancy Influences On The Rumen Environment Of Angus Heifers Differing In Feed Efficiency, Miranda Gabrielle Martin

Masters Theses

With an expected increase in population by 2050, the demand for more animal protein will increase. To improve the sustainability of US cattle production, producers and researchers have historically focused on improving the feed efficiency of steers, producing a more marketable beef product. However, without a successful pregnancy, there would be no marketable animal to feed. The objective of this study was to examine the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy and their impact on the rumen microbial communities and the correlation to feed efficiency status in Angus heifers. Utilizing 17 cannulated Angus heifers, feed efficiency data was previously collected …

Airborne Transmission Of Pathogens Emerging In The Poultry Industry, Xuan Dung Nguyen

Doctoral Dissertations

Poultry houses might have high levels of airborne pathogens, including Escherichia coli (E. coli) and avian influenza (AI), which may be transmitted through the air and pose risks of infection. The objective of the dissertation is to provide an insightful understanding the of airborne transmission of E. coli and AI which were attached to poultry dust particles.

Chapter I and VI summarized background, gap in knowledge, and discussed the limitations and implications of the study.

Chapter II compared the efficiency of Andersen six-stage impactor, all-glass impinger, and ACD-200 Bobcat, in collecting airborne E. coli carried by dust particles. The results …

Predicting Immunization Status At Arrival In Tennessee Stocker Calves, Claire E. Hunkler

Masters Theses

Bovine respiratory disease is a multifaceted disease with agent, host, and environmental factors. Stocker calves are at high risk of contracting the disease through many stressors like weaning, transportation, commingling, etc. The purpose of this project was to test if externally observed physical characteristics of calves on arrival at a stocker facility can be used to predict calfhood vaccination status determined based on antibody titer levels. Knowledge of highly correlated characteristics could allow stocker operators to reduce the occurrence of BRD through targeted management strategies, thus lowering morbidity, mortality, and treatment costs. Ear notches, blood, and visual characteristics were collected …

Staphylococcal Surface Proteins As Vaccine Candidates For The Control Of Staphylococcal Mastitis In Dairy Cows, Jessica Jean Vidlund

Masters Theses

Bovine mastitis, an inflammation of the mammary gland, is the single most costly disease of dairy cattle. Staphylococci, a major bacteria that cause bovine mastitis, are commonly divided into two major groups: Staphylococcus aureus and non-aureus staphylococci (NAS), previously known as coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species (CNS). Current mastitis control programs are not fully effective against staphylococcal mastitis and antibiotics are not sustainable due to limited success and the emergence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria. Non-antibiotic sustainable control tools, such as effective vaccines, are critically needed. Our lab developed and evaluated Staphylococcus aureus surface associated protein (SASP) and Staphylococcus chromogenes surface associated protein …

Rumen Biogeographical Regions And Their Impact On Microbial And Metabolome Variation, Macey P. Soltis

Masters Theses

The rumen microbiome is a complex microbial network critical to the health and nutrition of its host, due to their inherent ability to convert low-quality feedstuffs into energy. In rumen microbiome studies, the ventral sac is sampled from due to ease of access and repeatability. However, anatomical musculature demarcates the rumen into five sacs which may support distinct microbial communities. The distinction among the microbes may generate functional variation among the rumen microbiome, thus, specialized tasks within different sacs. The objective of this study was to determine the rumen liquid metabolome and epimural, planktonic, and fiber-adherent bacterial communities among each …

Corn (Zea Mays L.) Production In Living Mulch Systems, Grazing Potential, And Economic Viability, Marcia Peireira Quinby

Doctoral Dissertations

Living mulch (LM) is a practice in which forages are grown simultaneously with the main crop, serving as a living cover throughout the growing season. The LM systems were developed to alleviate concerns of soil depletion and finding ways to reduce tillage negative effects on soil productivity. In addition, when legumes are use can decrease the reliance on N fertilizer. The use of corn in LM have been previously studied due to the crop being a large commodity in the U.S.; In addition, the ability to graze the LM after corn production can increase the land use efficiency. To determine …

Optimal Stocker Production Strategies For Spring And Fall Calving Cow Herds, Cora Beth Key

Masters Theses

This thesis consists of two chapters discussing the economics of raising stocker beef cattle in the southeast United States. The objective of the first chapter is to estimate supplemental feed cost for spring-calving cows, spring-born stockers, cows calving in the fall, and fall-born stockers, while considering the seasonality of forage production and nutritional needs. The chapter explores ways producers can lower their feed costs and demonstrates the importance of managing hay expenses for cattle producers to control cost. The objective of chapter two is to determine the profit-maximizing stocker period in an integrated cow-calf and stocker operation with both fall- …

Efficacy Of Sequential Estrus Synchronization And Timed Artificial Insemination In Beef Cattle Beginning 19 Days After An Initial Timed Artificial Insemination, Courtnie Carter Bridges

Masters Theses

A breeding program utilizing single fixed-timed artificial insemination (AI) was compared to a resynchronization program for a second fixed-timed AI. Angus and Angus cross primiparous and multiparous cows were randomly assigned to one of two treatment regimens; either single TAI (CON; n=468) or two sequential TAI (RS; n=473). The main objectives were assessing pregnancy rates and analyzing fetal age to estimate calving distribution rates between the two treatment groups. The 7-day CO-synch + CIDR protocol was utilized in both treatment groups to synchronize estrus for TAI-1 at 60h - 66h post- Prostaglandin injection (PGf2α). Animals in the RS treatment groups …

Cerulean Warbler Full Annual Cycle Ecology: Filling In Critical Knowledge Gaps, Douglas W. Raybuck

Doctoral Dissertations

Cerulean Warblers (Setophaga cerulea) are a declining migratory bird species of conservation concern that breed in mature hardwood forests of eastern North America and spend the stationary non-breeding period in the tropical Andes of South America. To reverse their >50-year population decline, a full annual cycle conservation strategy is needed. However, several important knowledge gaps have limited our understanding of this species’ full annual cycle ecology, including migration ecology, response to forest management on the breeding grounds, and basic ecology during the stationary non-breeding period in Andean forests. From geolocator data, we found a moderate pattern of migratory …

Effects Of Protein Concentration And Beta-Adrenergic Agonists On Ruminal Microbial Communities In Finishing Beef Heifers, Alison P. Pfau

Masters Theses

To improve animal performance and modify growth by increasing lean tissue accretion, beef cattle production has relied on use of growth promoting technologies such as beta-adrenergic agonists. These synthetic catecholamines, combined with the variable inclusion of rumen degradable (RDP) and undegradable protein (RUP), may improve feed efficiency and rate of gain in finishing beef cattle. However, research about the impact of beta-adrenergic agonists and protein level and source on the ruminal microbiome is limited. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different protein concentrations and beta-adrenergic agonist (ractopamine hydrochloride; RAC usage) on ruminal bacterial communities in …

Microplastics Exposure In At-Risk Myotis Lucifugus Bats Of The Northeastern United States, Leah Crowley

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Locked Nucleic Acid Aptamer And 10 Nm Gold Nanoparticles Increases The Sensitivity Of A Prion Protein Detection Assay, Haley Channell

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Bovine Endometrial Cell Conditioned Media On In Vitro Produced Bovine Embryo Development And Gene Expression, Mary A. Oliver

Masters Theses

In vitro produced (IVP) bovine embryos provide enhanced genetic value and a means for studying early embryonic development. However, IVP embryos are developmentally compromised and are lower quality compared to in vivo derived (IVD) embryos. Consequently, after transfer pregnancy rates from IVP embryos are consistently lower, as they exhibit the highest amounts of pregnancy failure during the early embryonic phase (prior to day 28). Progesterone (P4) has been shown to influence bovine endometrial epithelial (EPI) and stromal fibroblast (SF) cells to secrete developmentally important molecules that promote early embryo development and conceptus elongation. However, IVP embryos are not exposed to …

Nutritional Effects On Scrotal Circumference, Motility And Morphology Of Spermatozoa And Cytokine Concentrations Within Seminal Plasma Of Beef Cattle, Taylor D. Harrison

Masters Theses

Sire fertility is impacted by a wide variety of environmental and management conditions, potentially causing critical losses within beef operations. Nutrition is a main influence on the ejaculate due to bulls undergoing multiple planes of nutrition yearly. By identifying the effects of nutritional planes on the ejaculate composition, reproductive efficiency could be maximized at pregnancy establishment. We hypothesized periods of differing nutritional planes and body condition score (BCS) would affect bull fertility and cytokine concentrations within the ejaculate of bulls. Mature Angus bulls (n = 11) were individually housed and randomly assigned to one of two treatments: 1) …

The Effects Of Urbanization On The Avian Gut Microbiome, Mae Berlow

Doctoral Dissertations

The gut microbiome influences and is influenced by the host, and can affect the host organism by contributing to health, development and immunity. Similarly, the host can influence this community; it’s makeup can vary with host species, locality, diet, social stressors, and environmental stressors. Some of these environmental stressors have arisen due to human-induced rapid environmental change, like urbanization. The physiology and behaviors of organisms that are able to persist in urban environments are often different from their non-urban congeners. Nutrition, development, and immunity—all of which are affected by the gut microbiome—are important factors that can determine survival in urban …

Life History, Diet And Habitat Of The Federally Endangered Laurel Dace (Chrosomus Saylori), Shawna M. Fix

Masters Theses

Laurel Dace (Chrosomus saylori) is a small, freshwater minnow that is endemic to headwater streams on Walden Ridge, Tennessee. The species was listed as federally endangered in 2011 and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Plan indicates a need for life history, diet and habitat studies. A literature review, samples of archived specimens, and a surrogate species, the Tennessee Dace (Chrosomus tennesseensis), were used to describe the life history and diet of the Laurel Dace. A total of 370 Tennessee Dace were collected from Laurel Ford Branch, a stream 8.6 km from the Laurel Dace …

Predicting Voluntary Forage Intake Of Supplemented Beef Cattle, Connor Biehler

Masters Theses

A major priority of beef cattle production is to meet animal nutrient requirements in order to achieve a desired level of productivity. Accurately predicting voluntary forage intake (VFI) is necessary to accurately predict the total nutrient intake of grazing or forage-fed beef cattle that are also supplemented with other sources of nutrients. Therefore, the objectives of this experiment were to utilize data from published literature to 1) identify factors that explain variation in VFI, and 2) develop and validate one or more mathematical models that predict VFI or total nutrient intake of grazing or forage-fed and supplemented beef cattle. A …

Summer Foraging Range And Diurnal Roost Selection Of Tri-Colored Bats, Perimyotis Subflavus., Dustin Bradley Thames

Masters Theses

Tri-colored bat populations are declining in eastern North America where the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans has been introduced. The pathogen causes disease and mortality in cave hibernating bats. Once considered a common species in Tennessee, tri-colored bats are now being considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act. There is a paucity of research examining the basic ecology of tri-colored bats. Research to fill these knowledge gaps is needed to inform conservation plans and to define critical habitat. The first objective of my research was to characterize the summer diurnal roosts of tri-colored bats and to examine roost selection at …

Forage Species Selection For Transitional Organic Production In The Southeastern United States, Jonathan Kubesch

Masters Theses

Despite the vast production markets for forage and organic products nationally, so far limited work has been done to develop organic forages specifically for Middle Tennessee or the mid-South in general. The present organic research field focuses on vegetable and grain production; however, forage production offers an easier transition for producers moving into certified organic agriculture. The present study seeks to evaluate several forage blends for optimizing forage production under low-input transitional organic conditions. Ideally a forage system could be tailored to the beef cattle operations of Middle Tennessee, the dominant forage consumption market in this region of the mid-South. …

Improving Body Composition In Broiler Chicks Through The Early Life Diet, Kamille Piacquadio

Masters Theses

The poultry industry relies heavily on the efficient growth performance of broilers to provide quality breast meat at a low cost to meet consumer demand. However, high efficiency of broilers is also related to the occurrence and severity of skeletal muscle abnormalities like wooden breast. This study investigated the efficacy of incorporating long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), into the diets of hens and their offspring on altering the causative features of wooden breast. Early exposure to these fatty acids in broilers has shown to reduce adiposity, and may address excess adipogenesis seen in …

Microbial And Metabolomic Biomarkers Of Feed Efficiency In Angus Cattle, Brooke Ashley Clemmons

Doctoral Dissertations

In Tennessee and the United States, cattle account for a significant proportion of the livestock agricultural sector. In the beef cattle industry, 40-70% of the total cost of production comes from feed costs, resulting in billions of dollars going towards feeding cattle. Thus, identifying methods for improving feed efficiency is imperative for reduced feed input costs and more effective use of environmental and economic resources. The rumen microbiome contributes a vast amount of nutrients for the host ruminant, including approximately 70% of energy precursors as well as vitamins, proteins, and other nutrients. These microbes produce metabolites that are then available …

Effects Of A Moderate And Aggressive Implant Strategy On The Rumen Microbial Community And Metabolome In Steers, Madison Henniger

Masters Theses

The effects of growth-promoting implants have been well-defined for their ability to impact growth in beef cattle. Production-relevant microbiomes in the rumen have also been associated with growth traits. However, the role of implant strategies on the rumen microbiome is not understood. The objective was to determine if varying doses of implant hormones cause gain-associated ruminal microbial community shifts. To assess this, a completely randomized design was used and 336 fall-born steers between 450-470 days of age from the germplasm evaluation population at the US Meat Animal Research Center (Clay Center, NE) were divided into two treatment groups: 1) a …

Developmental Regulation Of Sirtuin Genes In Broiler Chicks, Heather L. Winter

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Acoustic Monitoring Of American Woodcock, Evan J. Buck

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Observing The Effects Of Aspergillus Oryzae On Combating The Consequences Of Heat Stress In Lactating Dairy Cows, Abigail Lorraine Kesterson

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.