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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Estimating Cattle Density Using Wildlife Cameras, Emily Bonebrake
Estimating Cattle Density Using Wildlife Cameras, Emily Bonebrake
Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects
Quantifying the abundance and distribution of animal populations is critical for effective wildlife research and management. Due to their cost-effectiveness, wildlife cameras have become an increasingly popular tool for estimating population densities. Previously, this technique relied on ‘capture-recapture’ models that utilized re-sightings of individually marked animals, but in recent years methods have been developed to estimate the population densities of unmarked animals. One such method is the random encounter and staying time (REST) technique, which does this by assuming that the cumulative time animals stay within the view of the camera scales linearly with the number of individuals. This allows …
Managing Dietary Protein In Cattle As A Means Of Reducing Ammonia Emissions To Improve Air Quality, Ashley Houston
Managing Dietary Protein In Cattle As A Means Of Reducing Ammonia Emissions To Improve Air Quality, Ashley Houston
Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects
Particulate matter pollution has become a subject of great concern across the globe. Emissions data has revealed that the agricultural sector is making large contributions to particulate matter through ammonia emissions. Beef and dairy cattle are responsible for producing nearly 50% of annual ammonia emissions in the United States. These animals are often fed amounts of dietary protein that exceed recommendations, resulting in increased excretion of urea and ammonia. These compounds combine with nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere to form PM2.5: particulate matter measuring less than 2.5 microns in diameter. Research has shown that through proper dietary management …
Utilizing Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Analysis In Determining Parentage Of Cattle, Nicole M. Elbert
Utilizing Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Analysis In Determining Parentage Of Cattle, Nicole M. Elbert
Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects
Parentage identification within cattle herds is an important aspect of record keeping. It is essential for accurate registration within a purebred association and decision making for production purposes, such as replacement heifer and sire selection. Methods used to identify parentage have evolved from utilizing blood protein antigens, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and microsatellites to the current technology of analyzing DNA profiles for differing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In this preliminary study we analyzed genotype data from 1,066 samples obtained from various cattle breeds. These breeds included Holstein, Angus, Hereford, Irish Black, Jersey, Red Angus, Limousine, Charolais, Brown Swiss and …
Analysis Of An Inkjet Printed Strip Assay For Pregnancy Test In Cattle, Alexandra Windley Kelley
Analysis Of An Inkjet Printed Strip Assay For Pregnancy Test In Cattle, Alexandra Windley Kelley
Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects
Using commercially available antibodies, we created a modified ELISA strip assay to determine pregnancy in cattle. The anti‐progesterone antibody was printed on small membrane strips via an Inkjet printer. The strips were subsequently analyzed using varying concentrations of progesterone. The objective of this study was to assess this novel antibody printing process and to determine the binding activity of the anti‐progesterone antibody. The long‐term objective is to develop a pen-side pregnancy test that would cost less than $1.00. In this specific study, it was determined that the anti‐progesterone antibody used did not provide adequate sensitivity for visualization required for pen‐side …
A Report On A Pilot Study On Cattle Grazed Patches In Herbaceous Vegetation, Victor Povilaitis
A Report On A Pilot Study On Cattle Grazed Patches In Herbaceous Vegetation, Victor Povilaitis
Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects
Since the late 1960's, the term station (Goddard 1968), feeding station (Novellie 1978, Underwood 1982), and feeding site (Underwood 1983) have been used to describe the area in front of a foraging animal in which it can access forage without moving its front legs. The area is a hypothecial semicircle in front of the grazing animal, but the vegetation actually impacted by defoliation may be considered a "grazed patch," which may be the sum of several feeding stations. As animals graze the vegetation in an area, grazed patches are created. Presently, it is undocumented if such patches influence the behavior …