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Animal Science News (January 28, 2025), Department Of Animal Science

Animal Science Newsletters

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Immuno-Bioinformatics Study Of Secondary Metabolites From Watercress Nasturtium Officinale As Immunostimulant In Whiteleg Shrimp Litopenaeus Vannamei By Targeting Peroxinectin And Scavenger Receptor Class B, Qurrota A’Yunin, Muhaimin Rifa’I, Maftuch Maftuch, Yoga Dwi Jatmiko, Muhammad Hermawan Widyananda, Triyanto Triyanto, Muhammad Tegar Handrianto

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

The viral disease affects the whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and causes losses. Immunostimulants are recognized as a more environmentally friendly approach to disease management and antimicrobial properties of aquatic organisms. Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is an aquatic plant species that contains antioxidant properties that can protect the organism from disease and boost the immune system. Shrimp rely heavily on innate immunity to combat infectious agents due to their absence of adaptive immunity. Peroxinectin and scavenger receptor class B (SRB) play essential roles in the shrimp defense system. This research employs a bioinformatic to assess the immunostimulatory potential …

Influence Of High Eimeria Tenella Immunization Dosages On Total Oocyst Output And Specific Antibodies Recognition Response In Hybrid Pullets (Gallus Gallus)-A Pilot Study, Marco A. Juarez-Estrada, Guillermo Tellez-Isaias, Victor M. Petrone-Garcia, Amanda Gayosso-Vazquez, Xochitl Hernandez-Velasco, Rogelio A. Alonso-Morales

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Two high primary-immunization doses of a wild-type E. tenella strain were assessed in healthy pullets (5K versus 10K sporulated oocysts/bird) to understand the effects of coccidia infection. Methods: Acquired immunity was evaluated following primary immunization and two booster doses with the homologous strain. Total oocyst shedding, clinical signs, and viability of every bird/group after each immunization/booster were recorded. Indirect ELISA measured the time course of humoral responses from each immunization group against sporozoite and second-generation merozoite of E. tenella. Antigen pattern recognition on these two asexual zoite stages of E. tenella was analyzed using Western blotting with antibodies from …

The Economics And Productivity Of Us Cow-Calf Production, Richard Nehring, Hannah Shear, Kelvin L. Leibold, Andrew Swanson

Journal of Applied Farm Economics

We explore US beef cow-calf production in 2018 and estimate net returns, returns to scale, and technical efficiency associated with backgrounding versus nonbackgrounding by size and production system. We determine the relative profitability of cow-calf operations by type, region, and size. Results, using both stochastic production frontier analysis and data envelopment analysis, indicate that larger operations tend to be more scale and technically efficient than smaller operations. While larger operations may be more scale and technically efficient and have lower variable costs per cow, off-farm income helps smaller operations become competitive. The availability of detailed cost of production information in …

Halogeton And Greasewood Poisoning In Cattle And Sheep In Utah, E. Jane Kelly, Stephen T. Lee, Ammon Brown, Daniel Cook

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) is a fast-growing annual plant while greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) is a perennial shrub of the Western States. Oxalates are the toxic principle in halogeton and greasewood. Most losses occur when hungry animals are allowed to graze in heavy stands of halogeton and greasewood. Halogeton and greasewood are always dangerous and become more toxic as the growing season progresses. Here we report on two clinical cases of halogeton and greasewood poisoning in cattle and sheep. Histologically, oxalate crystals were observed in the kidneys of the cow and sheep consistent with oxalate poisoning. Oxalate was …

ʽAmqa: Faunal Remains From The Late Fatimid–Early Crusader Periods, Nimrod Marom

Qadum: Journal of Excavation Reports from Israel

This report analyzes faunal remains found in a building complex at ‘Amqa, primarily from the late Fatimid–early Crusader periods (eleventh–twelfth centuries CE). The assemblage consists mainly of cattle, sheep and goats, with a smaller number of camel, wild boar, equid, chicken and tortoise remains. Cattle bones, particularly from young individuals, are most prevalent, suggesting a focus on cattle rearing. Butchery marks indicate the use of tools for carcass processing, and bone fragmentation patterns suggest both intentional breakage and natural weathering. Comparisons with other sites from the same period highlight the unique predominance of cattle in ‘Amqa, possibly due to the …

А Review Of Scorpiofauna Of China: Nomenclatural Notes And Updated Faunistic Catalogue (Arachnida: Scorpiones), Victoria Tang

Euscorpius

Two genera associated with the Chinese scorpiofauna are reviewed, Razianus Farzanpay, 1987 and Reddyanus Vachon, 1972. Holotype female of Razianus xinjianganus Lourenço et al., 2010 is presumed to be lost, as well as all type material of other Chinese scorpions described before 2020. Comments are given on the species composition of genus Reddyanus with a new synonym: Isometrus (Reddyanus) tibetanus Lourenço & Zhu, 2008 = Reddyanus assamensis (Oates, 1888) syn. n. Reddyanus kanak Lourenço, 2023 is tentatively considered as a nomen dubium. An updated catalogue of Chinese scorpiofauna is provided, including their type locality and type depository, protonym, synonym(s), …

The Eastern Oyster Behavioral Response To Low Salinity And Hypoxia In Controlled And Natural Settings, Siyah Yongue

LSU Master's Theses

Oyster aquaculture is expanding in the northern Gulf of Mexico, but climate change may challenge the sustainability of this industry. Projected increases in the frequency and intensity of low salinity and low dissolved oxygen (DO) periods could impact the behavior, metabolism, growth, and survival of oysters. Characterizing how oyster behavior links to environmental stressors could help better identify thresholds in their tolerance and inform predictive tools for aquaculture professionals. In this research, the effect of separate and concomitant exposures to low salinity and DO on the behavioral response of oysters was examined in the lab. The impact of other environmental …

The Use Of Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Encapsulated In Organic Nanoparticles Within Boar Semen Extenders To Control Bacterial Growth And Preserve Sperm Quality During Short-Term Storage Without Antibiotics, Congbang Ngo, Naiyaphat Nittayasut, Teerapong Yata, Junpen Suwimonteerabutr, Nuvee Prapasarakul, Jane M. Morrell, Padet Tummaruk

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of adding ethyl lauroyl arginate (ELA), encapsulated in organic nanoparticles, to a semen extender without antibiotics on sperm quality and bacterial load during short-term storage. Three ejaculates from Duroc boars were divided into four equal portions and diluted with Beltsville Thawing Solution to produce semen doses containing 3 billion spermatozoa in 80 ml. The extended semen did not include antibiotics but instead incorporated different concentrations of ELA nanoparticles into the extenders: 0 ppm, 5 ppm, 10 ppm, and 15 ppm. The semen doses were stored for 4 days, with …

Species Differences In The Biotransformation Of Aflatoxin B1: Primary Determinants Of Relative Carcinogenic Potency In Different Animal Species, David L. Eaton, David E. Williams, Roger A. Coulombe

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

It has been known since the early days of the discovery of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) that there were large species differences in susceptibility to AFB1. It was also evident early on that AFB1 itself was not toxic but required bioactivation to a reactive form. Over the past 60 years there have been thousands of studies to delineate the role of ~10 specific biotransformation pathways of AFB1, both phase I (oxidation, reduction) and phase II (hydrolysis, conjugation, secondary oxidations, and reductions of phase I metabolites). This review provides a historical context and substantive analysis of each of these pathways as contributors …

The Sow Vaginal And Gut Microbiota Associated With Longevity And Reproductive Performance, Ziyu Liu, Tsungcheng Tsai, Samantha Howe, Jason E. Farrar, Christopher E. Randolph, Charles V. Maxwell, Jiangchao Zhao

Animal Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

BackgroundSow longevity and reproductivity are essential in the modern swine industry. Although many studies have focused on the genetic and genomic factors for selection, little is known about the associations between the microbiome and sows with longevity in reproduction.ResultsIn this study, we collected and sequenced rectal and vaginal swabs from 48 sows, nine of which completed up to four parities (U4P group), exhibiting reproductive longevity. We first identified predictors of sow longevity in the rectum (e.g., Akkermansia) and vagina (e.g., Lactobacillus) of the U4P group using RandomForest in the early breeding stage of the first parity. Interestingly, these bacteria in …

Key Virulence Factors Responsible For Differences In Pathogenicity Between Clinically Proven Live-Attenuated Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine Sa14-14-2 And Its Pre-Attenuated Highly Virulent Parent Sa14, Byung-Hak Song, Sang-Im Yun, Joseph L. Goldhardt, Jiyoun Kim, Young-Min Lee

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Student Research

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a neuroinvasive and neurovirulent orthoflavivirus, can be prevented in humans with the SA₁₄-14-2 vaccine, a live-attenuated version derived from the wild-type SA₁₄ strain. To determine the viral factors responsible for the differences in pathogenicity between SA₁₄ and SA₁₄-14-2, we initially established a reverse genetics system that includes a pair of full-length infectious cDNAs for both strains. Using this cDNA pair, we then systematically exchanged genomic regions between SA14 and SA₁₄-14-2 to generate 20 chimeric viruses and evaluated their replication capability in cell culture and their pathogenic potential in …

The Manipulation Of Odor Availability Of Training Aids Used In Detection Canine Training, Katylynn B. Sloan, Michele N. Maughan, Caitlin E. Sharpes, Robin R. Greubel, Shawna F. Gallegos, Aleksandr E. Miklos, Lindsay D. Waldrop

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Detection canines can identify numerous substances for which they have been trained. Historically, and a point of ongoing contention, detection canine threshold (i.e., sensitivity or limit of detection) training has primarily focused on changing the weight of the training aid substance used. There has been minimal focus on other principles, such as surface area, confinement, and temperature, which can be manipulated to affect odor availability. That said, trainers have been manipulating odor availability for years without necessarily understanding the governing scientific principles. The aim of this review is to highlight the principles that control odor availability of a substance and …

Monitoring And Assessment Of Population, Reproductive, And Health Effects In Colonial Waterbirds Breeding At Contaminated Great Lakes Sites In Michigan, Keith A. Grasman, Mandy Annis, Carly Eakin, Jeremy Moore, Lisa L. Williams

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Immunological, reproductive, and population endpoints were assessed in fish-eating birds during 2010–2019 in the Saginaw River and Bay and River Raisin Areas of Concern (AOCs) and Grand Traverse Bay, which are ecosystems historically contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, dibenzo-p-dioxins, and dibenzofurans. Reference sites were in the lower St. Marys River (herring gulls and Caspian terns), eastern Lake Superior (terns), and eastern Lake Huron (black-crowned night herons). Relative risk ratios for embryonic nonviability (from both infertility and mortality) in gull embryos were 2–3-fold higher than the reference site in both AOCs and Grand Traverse Bay. Twelve of 13 deformed embryos and chicks …

Effect Of Feeding Fenugreek Extract And Encapsulated Lecithin On Finishing Cattle Performance, Carcass Characteristics, And Liver Abscesses, Sofia Suarez Lorences, Rebecca L. Mcdermott, Joshua R. Benton, Robert Bondurant, Willard Lemaster, James C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

A feedlot study was conducted to evaluate the effects of adding fenugreek extract and encapsulated lecithin (Furst-McNess Company, Rockford, Illinois, United States) on finishing cattle performance, carcass characteristics, and liver abscesses. Treatments were applied as a 2×2 factorial that included a control diet with no additive; a diet containing fenugreek extract; a diet containing encapsulated lecithin; and a diet containing both fenugreek extract and encapsulated lecithin. Tylosin was not included in any diets to test natural occurrence of liver abscesses. No interactions were observed between fenugreek extract and encapsulated lecithin treatments but neither feed additive impacted intakes, …

Effects Of Allocation Frequency On Cattle Performance And Forage Utilization When Swath Grazing A Sorghum-Sudangrass Hybrid In Eastern Nebraska, Thomas E. Aquino, Mary E. Drewnoski, Pedro Henrique J. Fernandes

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

A sorghum-sudangrass hybrid was swath grazed by growing steers (529 ± 18 lb) from November 2023 to January 2024. Treatments were offering new forage once (1X) or twice (2X) per week to determine the effect of allocation frequency on animal performance and forage utilization. Average daily gain was not impacted by treatment (1X = 0.45 ± 0.1 lb/day, 2X = 0.45 ± 0.1 lb/day). Pre-and post-graze biomass samples were collected to estimate forage utilization, which was not different between treatments (1X = 57.1 ± 3.6%, 2X = 61.1 ± 3.6%). However, there was a difference in carrying …

Identifying Personality In Reptiles And Assessing Welfare Implications For Their Roles As Ambassador Animals In An Educational Setting, Valery Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined behavioral variability and personality in 13 reptiles used as ambassador animals at the American Museum of Natural History. Observations across seasons and novel object tests revealed individual differences, behavioral components, and correlations. Findings emphasize reptilian complexity, highlighting welfare implications while underscoring the need for further research.

Pathogen And Host Associations Of Soft Ticks Collected In South Texas, Sarah E. Mays Maestas, Lauren P. Maestas, Phillip E. Kaufman

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Soft ticks (Family: Argasidae) are vectors of relapsing fever Borrelia in the United States and are potential vectors of African swine fever virus, a pathogen that could have a devastating effect on the U.S. swine industry if introduced to the U.S. mainland. Much of the tick-borne disease research in the U.S. focuses on hard ticks, and less is known about the ecology of soft ticks. Some soft tick species found in the southern U.S. have a wide host range and may feed on cattle, swine, native and exotic ungulates, small mammals, reptiles, and humans. Because the feeding habit of …

A Study Of The Dormant Period Of Thaumetopoea Pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) In Bulgaria, Gergana Zaeмdzhikova, Md Habibur Rahman Salman

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The pine processionary moth (PPM), Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis et Schiffermuller), is a significant pest affecting conifer forests in the Mediterranean region. This study investigated the diapause mechanisms and survival strategies of PPM in summer and winter feeding populations in Bulgaria. The research was conducted from February to April 2021 at five pine plantation sites known for T. pityocampa activity in southwest Bulgaria. Herein, 1224 specimens were collected across different developmental stages. The sampled populations included those exhibiting typical winter feeding as well as atypical summer feeding. Morphological assessments and monitoring of the development of the individuals were conducted under controlled …

Testing And Optimizing Methodologies For Microplastic Extractions From Owl Pellets, Merve Seyfe, Meli̇ke Seyfe, Tolga Kankiliç, Ülkü Ni̇han Tavşanoğlu

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Microplastic pollution is a pressing global environmental concern, potentially threatening ecosystems and entering the food chain. Owls, as nocturnal carnivorous birds, are at significant risk of ingesting microplastics due to their diverse foraging habits. This study aimed to identify the most suitable procedure for extracting microplastics from owl pellets, focusing on efficiency, functionality, and cost and ensuring the extraction of both prey and microplastics without damage. Experiments were conducted on pellets from long-eared owl (Asio otus) collected from three different habitats in Ankara, Türkiye. The extraction of microplastics was then tested using various treatments (n = 25), involving different durations, …

The Effects Of Active Substances Of Clinically Important Drugs On The Survival, Development, And Some Adult Traits Of Drosophila Melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae), Gökçe Üstündağ, Kemal Büyükgüzel, Ender Büyükgüzel

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae) was used as a model organism and fed on an artificial diet with different clinically important drugs under laboratory conditions. The effects of fluconazole, acyclovir, and piperazine on the survivorship, development, adult longevity, fecundity, and hatching rate of the insect were investigated. The results showed that the highest concentration of fluconazole (1250 mg/L) significantly decreased both the rate of larvae reaching the 3rd instar and the rate of pupation from 93.00 ± 2.95% to 11.00 ± 2.59% (χ2 = 134.696; df = 1; p = 0.0001). The highest concentration of acyclovir (200 mg/L) significantly reduced …

Differentiation Of Mullus Barbatus And Mullus Surmuletus (Perciformes, Mullidae) From Turkish Waters Of The Mediterranean Sea Using Otolith Shape Analyses, Semra Saygin

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Red mullet (Mullus barbatus) and surmullet (Mullus surmuletus) are valuable components of the commercial fishery industry in the Mediterranean Sea in Türkiye. To date, morphological and genetic characteristics have been used to distinguish these species. This study aimed to determine whether it was possible to distinguish between the two species using the morphometric features of their sagittal otoliths. Sagittal otoliths were subjected to elliptic Fourier analysis, wavelet analysis, and analysis of otolith shape indices for 117 specimens from the Mediterranean Sea coast of Türkiye (Mullus barbatus: 53 individuals; Mullus surmuletus: 64 individuals). Overall, canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) demonstrated strong discrimination …

Impact Of Nature-Based Tourism On Bird Vocalization Rate In The Bajo Del Tigre Reserve, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Abby K. Bressette, Adriana Arias Aguilar

Environmental Studies Publications

Nature-based tourism benefits economies, communities, and conservation initiatives, but it can also have unintended negative effects on wildlife. For birds, vocal communication is essential, yet it can be disrupted by anthropogenic noise. In this study, I used passive recording to examine how human visitation impacts the rate of bird vocalizations in the Bajo del Tigre Reserve in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Overall, bird vocalization rate was not affected by visitation (p > 0.05), but species-specific differences were found. Vocalizations of the lesser greenlet showed no significant change with visitation (p > 0.05). In contrast, the orange-billed nightingale-thrush exhibited a decrease in vocalization rates …

Growing South Dakota (Winter 2025), College Of Agriculture, Food And Environmental Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

[Page] 2 Native Plant Initiative on a mission
[Page] 4 Gees give back
[Page] 7 Christensen named assistant dean
[Page] 8 Fennell honored in plant biology
[Page] 9 New ag communication faculty
[Page] 10 SDSU Extension awards
[Page] 12 Veterinary medicine class welcomed
[Page] 13 Coulter honored
[Page] 14 National beef award winners
[Page] 15 Department celebrates 100 years
[Page] 16 Southeast Research Farm growing
[Page] 18 Saving the flock
[Page] 22 Energize conference inspires
[Page] 24 BeefSD helping producers
[Page] 25 SDSU Extension retirements
[Page] 26 New food safety testing service
[Page] 27 Bringing back bison
[Page] 28 Jackrabbits …

Investigating The Impact Of Roundup® Exposure On Hearing In Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus), Joshua W. Adams, Daniel E. Holt

CSU Tower Day

Tower Day 2025 Undergraduate Poster 3rd place Winner

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) such as Roundup® are used extensively worldwide, yet their potential to disrupt fish sensory physiology has remained relatively unexplored. Previous studies have established that glyphosate exposure can induce various neurotoxic effects in fish and other vertebrates—ranging from oxidative stress to altered neurotransmitter systems and anxiogenic-like responses. Despite these documented impacts, no published research has directly assessed whether glyphosate compromises auditory function in fish.

Here, we address this knowledge gap by examining the hearing sensitivity of farm- raised Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) following a 96-hour exposure to Roundup® (3 mg/L …

Kinetics Of Protein And Amino Acids, S. Y. Liu, M. Toghyani, S. P. Macelline, P. H. Selle

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

Protein and amino acid nutrition is key to poultry growth and sustainability, with synchrony between glucose and amino acid availability being critical for efficient feed conversion. While non-bound amino acids (NBAA) are rapidly absorbed and increasingly used to reduce crude protein levels, their fast uptake may disrupt amino acid balance and reduce nutrient utilization compared to protein-bound amino acids. Future research should redefine amino acid requirements in low-CP diets, explore the metabolic fate of NBAA, and investigate how protein sources affect gut microbiota and host metabolism.

Perspectives On Using Fats And Oils In Poultry Production, Brian J. Kerr

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

These proceedings describe lipid composition of fats and oils and outline fatty acid quality measurements. In addition, fat and oil energy composition and digestibility are presented. Finally, these proceedings describe ways to enhance lipid digestibility with emulsifiers and preventing lipid peroxidation with antioxidants.

Sustainable And Profitable Broiler Nutrition, Sergio R. Fernandez

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

These proceedings accompany a presentation on optimizing protein nutrition of broilers while minimizing environmental impacts of nitrogen excretion. The continual advancement of muscle development in modern broilers requires constant alignment of amino acid needs. These proceedings outline the importance and progression of feed grade amino acid supplementation in broiler nutrition.

Net Energy: The Precision Path To Sustainability, P. Srichana, A. C. Tay-Zar, M. Wongphatcharachai, C. Chanseyha

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

Adaptation of the net energy system in broiler diets will increase least cost formulation flexibility. These proceedings outline a net energy system developed and implemented in practice. In addition to lower carbon and nitrogen inputs in dietary formulation, the net energy system reduced feed costs.

Ms Environmental Biology Capstone Project, Emily A. Patton

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

This is a masters Thesis for MS in Environmental Biology containing four chapters including a literature review, grant proposal, journal manuscript, and stakeholders report on a current environmental issue. (1) Noise Pollution and Avian Communication in Urban Ecosystems: When the Natural World Struggles to Hear Itself. Urban noise masks essential bird vocalizations, which harms avian fitness. Most species are displaced, and those few urban birds which counteract this noise with song adaptations likely experience trade-offs. America's noise policy remains undeveloped, threatening the health of both humans and avian wildlife (2) Application of Noise Barrier Technology for the Restoration of Urban …