Dairy Science Commons^™

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

The Role Of T-Cell Lymphoma Invasion And Metastasis 2 (Tiam2) In The Barrier Function Of Mammary Epithelial Cells Following Streptococcus Uberis Inoculation, Catherine E. Donnell

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Single Vs. Pair Housing Holstein Calves On Specific Antibody Concentrations To Klh, Chaney K. Morgan

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Nightly Mixing Versus Separation Of Dams And Calves On Behavior, Production, And Calf Growth, Ashley Danielle Campeaux

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Clinical And Subclinical Mastitis Causing Pathogens In Tennessee Dairy Cattle, Michelle Marie Untch

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

Milk quality impacts the producers and consumers. Higher milk quality leads to a longer shelf life, improved cheese making ability, and improved taste. Milk quality can be severely impacted by intramammary infections which can result in mastitis. Identifying the common mastitis causing pathogens in milk samples collected from subclinical and clinical mastitis cases can assist the producer in managing mastitis. This can lead to improved milk quality, improved cow health, and reduced need for antibiotics to treat mastitis. This study investigates the prevalence of bacteria causing intramammary infection in dairy cattle of Tennessee. Milk samples were collected from 9 farms …

Relationship Of Observed Parlor Practices And Producer Attitudes With Bulk Tank Somatic Cell Counts In The Southeast Usa, Chandler Lauren Moats Blakely

Masters Theses

Inflammation of the mammary gland is indicated by a rise in somatic cell count (SCC) and impacts milk quality. The Southeast (SE) USA has a higher proportion of herds with elevated SCC compared to other USA regions. The SE also has the least information available about parlor procedures. The goals of this thesis are to explore the level of implementation of parlor procedures, determine which practices promote low SCC in Southeast USA dairy herds and investigate the association of attitude towards parlor management methods with BTSCC.

In chapter I, researchers performed on-farm assessments in Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia. The …

Identifying Genome Associations With Unique Mastitis Phenotypes In Response To Intramammary Streptococcus Uberis Challenge, Lydia Jean Siebert

Doctoral Dissertations

Mastitis, the inflammation of the mammary gland, dramatically decreases dairy industry revenues and milk quality, making improved control and prevention methods a goal of the industry. Prior research has observed variation in response to experimental challenge with regards to inflammation indicators, S. uberis concentrations, and the need for antibiotics. To determine possible causes of the observed variation following experimental S. uberis intramammary challenge, we performed genome association analyses (N = 34 – 36 Holstein dairy cows), a linkage analysis, and S. uberis milk inoculation (N = 21 Holstein dairy cows) trials. Association analyses were done using Illumina’s BovineSNP50 BeadChip and …

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 …

Alternative Approaches To Improving The Welfare Of Transition Dairy Cows And Their Calves: Use Of Exercise, Randi Alyson Black

Doctoral Dissertations

Transition cows are the cows most susceptible to disease and prevalence has not changed over the past decade. However, increased physical activity during late gestation may represent a management option to improve transition. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the effect of exercise, pasture turnout, or total confinement on 1.) physical fitness and cortisol concentrations during the dry period, 2.) neutrophil function and behavior during the dry period, 3.) horn growth and wear and sole thickness during the dry period 4.) calving behavior and cortisol concentrations at parturition, and 5.) calf performance, behavior, and cortisol concentrations at …

The Effect Of Heat Stress And Essential Amino Acids On Production And Metabolism Of Lactating Dairy Cattle, Kimberly Rose Kassube

Masters Theses

Heat stress (HS) causes decreases in production of lactating cattle that is only partially explained by decreases in intake. Evidence suggests that changes in energy and protein metabolism occur to cope with the impact of HS. The objective of this thesis was to determine if the effect of jugular infusion of essential amino acids (AA) ameliorated the negative effects of HS in milk production and metabolism. Twelve multiparous lactating Holstein cows were used in a crossover design to evaluate the effect of thermoneutral (THN) and HS environments along with the absence (CTL) …

Identifying Genetic Factors In Streptococcus Uberis That Enable Evasion Of The Host Immune Response, Alexis Christine Burnham

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Design Of A Mobile Shade And Cooling Structure For Grazing Dairy Herds, William Barbour, Ellen Moore, Jay Mcmillan

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

The U.S. organic dairy industry has experienced significant growth in recent years: over 10% growth annually since 2009 and 14.5% from 2010 to 2011; total market share is approximately 5% in the United States. The USDA places certain requirements on diary products that are certified organic, some of which are aimed at grazing practices. One challenge farmers must overcome to comply is keeping the cows in optimum conditions in a free-range grazing scenario; poor conditions such as excessive heat can decrease milk production and pose an economic burden on the dairy. The proposed system intends to control environmental conditions for …

Effects Of Bedding With Recycled Sand On Lying Behaviors, Udder Hygiene, And Preferences Of Lactating Holstein Dairy Cows, Heather Deanna Ingle

Masters Theses

Effects of bedding with recycled sand and season on lying behaviors, stress, hygiene, and preferences of late-lactation Holstein cows were studied. Cows (n=64) were divided into 4 groups (n=8 per group) per season. In summer (Aug-Sept), cows were balanced by days in milk (268.1±11.9 d) and parity (2.0±0.2). In winter (Jan-Feb), mean DIM was 265.5±34.1 d. Cows were assigned to one of two treatments (trt) using a crossover design with each trt lasting 7-d (no-choice phase): bedding with recycled sand (RS; n=32) or control (CO; clean sand; n=32). Stocking density was maintained at 100%. Choice phase allowed a cow to …

Efficacy Of Extending The Voluntary Waiting Period In Lactating Dairy Cows To Improve Fertility Of Sex-Sorted Semen, Sarah E. Orr

Masters Theses

The objective of this study was to compare fertility of sex-sorted semen in lactating cows using a voluntary waiting period (VWP) of approximately 55 days (VWP55) or 85 days (VWP85). At 21 days in milk (DIM), cows were randomly assigned to begin estrus synchronization at 55 or 85 DIM. Only cows confirmed cyclic by 55 DIM were synchronized. At 55 or 85 DIM, cows [VWP55 (n=44); VWP85 (n=45)] having a corpus luteum (CL) were administered PGF_2α [two alpha]. Estrus was monitored continuously by the HeatWatch® [registered sign] system ( …

Evaluation Of Reproductive Efficiency In Lactating Dairy Cows Through Physiologic Evaluation And Synchronization Modification, Charles Dexter Young

Doctoral Dissertations

Reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows has decreased as milk production has increased as a result of genetic selection. Milk production alone is not the reason for decreased reproductive performance, as fertility issues are multifactorial and collaborative. Research chapters contained within have taken an applied approach focusing in two different areas of fertility. One approach was development of an evaluation system to identify lactating cows with decreased fertility prior to breeding; while another approach was to modify an ovulation synchronization protocol during periods of heat stress in order to improve fertility. The first focus was development and evaluation of a …

Absorption And Utilization Of Choline And Vitamin B12 In Lactating Dairy Cows Using Different Delivery Methods, Virginia Maria Artegoitia Etcheverry

Doctoral Dissertations

Choline and vitamin B12 are essential nutrients for growth and performances of production animals. However, both nutrients are extensively degraded during digestion in the rumen. This thesis comprised three experiments. First, four cows equipped with a rumen cannula and catheters in the portal vein and a mesenteric artery received a post-ruminal bolus of: 1) cyanocobalamin (CN-CBL) alone (0.1 g) [gram], 2) CN-CBL (0.1 g) + casein (10 g) or 3) CN-CBL (0.1 g) + whey proteins (10 g). After the bolus, blood samples were taken until 24 h [hour] post-bolus. The intestinal absorption of CN-CBL was greater when the vitamin …

Casein Micelles And Their Properties: Polydispersity, Association With Vitamin A And Effect Of Ultra-High Pressure Homogenization, Maneesha Sheenu Mohan

Doctoral Dissertations

The internal structure of casein micelles is not fully understood. In the present work, we explore some of the basic questions about casein micelles in bovine milk including its size distribution, native binding properties and effect of ultra-high pressure homogenization (ultra-HPH) on technological properties of casein micelles. The size distribution of casein micelles was studied by cryo-TEM using skim milk from four cows. The degree of variation in casein micelle sizes (polydispersity) ranged between 0.39 and 0.47 for a size distribution ranging from 10 to 693 nm. These results indicated high polydispersity of casein micelles in milk from single cows. …

Impact Of Matrix Metallopeptidase-9 Supplementation During In Vitro Maturation Of Bovine Oocytes, Megan Rene Goodwin

Masters Theses

Heat-induced decreases in bovine blastocyst development have been related to reductions in latent matrix metallopeptidase-9 (proMMP9) production from maturing cumulus-oocyte complexes. Elevated intrafollicular proMMP9 levels at the time of oocyte retrieval have been positively related to pregnancy following human IVF. Thus, we hypothesized that heat-induced reductions in proMMP9 levels during oocyte maturation may be responsible for decreased blastocyst development. As a first step towards testing this hypothesis, bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes were matured at 38.5°C for 24 h with 0 or 300 ng/mL recombinant human proMMP9 (rhMMP9) added at 0 h of in vitro maturation (hIVM). No differences were found in …

Genetic Resistance To Staphylococcus Aureus Mastitis Associated With Bovine Cxcr1, Olivia Jean Crisp

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Bedding Surface And Muscid Fly Populations On The Welfare Of Pre Weaned Holstein And Jersey Calves, Christa Anne Kurman

Masters Theses

The first objective of this study was to determine the effect of bedding on the welfare of Holstein and Jersey calves housed using individual hutches bedded with gravel, rubber mats, or sand. A second objective was to determine the effects of stable and house fly populations on calf welfare. Bedding quality and fly management are aspects of improving animal welfare on dairy farms. It was hypothesized that sand or mat would increase lying time and decrease lying bouts, but not affect BW gain or feed intake in calves indicating that these bedding surfaces increased calf welfare. It was hypothesized that …

The Spread And Potential Control Of Disease Across The Domestic Cattle-Wildlife Interface, Rachel Jackson

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Hydrogeology Of The Little River Animal Agriculture Environmental Research Unit And Impacts Of Dairy Operations On Groundwater, Robert Wesley Hunter

Masters Theses

This thesis describes the development of an integrated hydrogeologic/hydrologic site assessment and groundwater/surface water quality monitoring program at the University of Tennessee – Little River Dairy Farm, located near Townsend, TN. Hydrologic/hydrogeologic investigations of streams and groundwater at the site have been underway for more than 5 years, and these are expected to provide background data for assessing impacts of dairy wastes. The lower half of the ~180 ha site consists of low-relief fields used for row crops, which are underlain by 4 – 9 m of alluvial deposits on top of black shale or limestone that include sinkhole features. …

Bovine Mammary Interleukin-8 Receptor Expression And Genetic Association With Streptococcus Uberis Based Mastitis., Lydia Jean Siebert

Masters Theses

Mastitis is an economically distressing disease in the dairy industry. Bacterial pathogens enter the gland and encounter cell types that release immune mediators including interleukin (IL)-8. IL-8 has two membrane bound receptors: CXCR1 and CXCR2. CXCR1 and CXCR2 are expressed on neutrophils and other cell types in other species but their expression is unknown in the bovine mammary gland. To test this, mammary tissue samples from six Holstein dairy cows were subject to dual immunofluorescence with bovine specific CXCR1 and CXCR2 antibodies and cell type markers. CXCR1 was expressed on alveolar epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and leukocytes. CXCR2 expression was identified …

Isolation, Antibiotic Resistance, And Molecular Characterization Of Campylobacter From Poultry, Swine And Dairy Cows, Willie James Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations

This study was conducted to determine presence, antibiotic resistance, and genetic relatedness of Campylobacter on diverse farm types. Cloacal fecal samples from poultry (broilers, layers, and turkey breeders), and fecal rectal samples from non-poultry animals (farrowing sows, finisher pigs, and lactating dairy cows) were tested for Campylobacter using BAM protocols. Agar disk diffusion method was used to determine antibiotic resistance, and PFGE analysis to determine genetic relatedness of isolates recovered within the different farm types. Campylobacter was detected in 34.8% (range of 6.7 to 62.0%, P < 0.001) of cloacal samples from poultry, in 61.4% (range of 55.0 to 69.0%, P < 0.05), and 26.0% (range of 19.0 to 34.0%, P < 0.05) of rectal samples from pigs, and dairy cows, respectively. Antibiotic resistance was detected in 30.2% (range of 0 to 82.4%, P …

Assessing Mitochondrial Activity In Embryos From Heat-Stressed Ova, Kimberly Ann Nagle

Masters Theses

Elevated ambient temperatures negatively impacts pregnancy rates in agriculturally important females. An oocyte undergoing meiotic maturation exposed to a physiologically-relevant heat stress results in alterations of developmentally important processes and reportedly decreases subsequent developmental potential after fertilization. To address problems of reduced competence after exposure to heat stress for the first 12 h of meiotic maturation (hIVM), Payton (2009) assessed the transcriptome profiles of oocytes and associated cumulus cells by microarray analysis and reported heat-induced perturbations at the molecular level in the oocyte. Specifically, 20 transcripts involved in mitochondrial function exhibited alterations in relative abundance of heat-stressed oocytes …

W184 Quick Guide To Mastitis Culturing Programs, Kristy H. Campbell

Animals/Livestock

Tennessee Quality Milk Initiative

Version 1.0