Digital Commons Network^™

Response Of Broiler Chickens In The Starter And Finisher Phases To 3 Sources Of Microbial Phytase, O. O. Babatunde, J. A. Jendza, P. Ader, P. Xue, Sunday A. Adedokun, O. Adeola

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

A broiler chicken study was conducted for 42 D to evaluate their responses to 3 commercially available microbial phytases. Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and bone mineralization at days 21 and 42 posthatching were used as parameters of evaluation. The study was a randomized complete block design with 12 treatments, 8 replicate pens, and 25 birds per pen. Treatments included a positive control (PC), a negative control (NC) with crude protein (CP), nonphytate phosphorus (P), and calcium (Ca) reduced by 18, 1.5, and 1.8 g/kg, respectively; the NC + 4 levels of phytase A (250, 500, 750, 1,000 FTU/kg), 3 levels …

Next-Generation Sequencing In Equine Genomics, Jessica L. Petersen, Stephen J. Coleman

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

• Next-generation sequencing of both DNA and RNA represents a second revolution in equine genetics following publication of the equine genome sequence.

• Technological advancements have resulted in a wide selection of next-generation sequencing platforms capable of completing small targeted experiments or resequencing complete genomes.

• DNA and RNA sequencing have applications in clinical and research environments.

• Standards for the validation and sharing of next-generation sequencing data are critical for the widespread application of the technology and applications discussed herein.

• As researchers and clinicians develop a better understanding of how genetic variation and phenotypic variation are linked, next-generation sequencing could help pave the …

Data For "Consistent Differences In A Virtual World Model Of Ape Societies", Bart J. Wilson, Sarah F. Brosnan, Elizabeth V. Lonsdorf, Crickette M. Sanz

Business and Economics Faculty Data Sets

The zip file contains the data for the paper entitled "Consistent Differences in a Virtual World Model of Ape Societies" which appears in Scientific Reports.

Gear Specific Catch Rates And Population Dynamics Of Channel Catfish In The Mississippi River, Colby Gainer

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Perpetual anthropogenic alterations have imposed deleterious effects on aquatic ecosystems. In the Mississippi River, channelization, dams, and loss of floodplain connectivity have all been reputed as detrimental. Dynamic rate functions (i.e., recruitment, growth, and mortality) are the driving forces behind fish populations. Understanding population dynamics is important for guiding management decisions. Knowledge of vital rates can provide pivotal information that will determine spatiotemporal population-level changes within the system. In the Mississippi River, Channel Catfish are a commercially and recreationally important species. However, limited population demographic information currently exists in the Upper Mississippi River. We sought to determine the most effective …

A Histopathological Review Of Immune Response In Largemouth Bass To Parasitic Infections Of Soft Tissues, James D. Stephenson

Theses and Dissertations

The immune response can serve as a key indicator of a fish’s overall health and the effect stressors have on the health of the fish. Anthropogenic factors can stress a fish’s immune system and inhibit immune responses. This study investigated the response of eosinophilic cells and macrophage aggregates to parasites in the livers, spleens, and gonads of Largemouth Bass, Micropterus salmoides. Largemouth Bass were sampled from three bodies of water in the Chattahoochee Valley of varying levels of urbanization. Histopathology of the aforementioned organs was conducted to observe both the parasite density and immune response. Eosinophilic cells were shown …

The "Challenge" Of Depletion: Why The Oyster Fishery Is Not Self-Regulating, Eric N. Powell, John M. Klinck, Leanne M. Poussard

Faculty Publications

© 2020 National Shellfisheries Association. All rights reserved. The possibility that the economics of the oyster fishery impose a self-limitation on overharvesting has been proffered on occasion. The inefficiency of harvesting by the fishery has been evaluated and estimates of the exploitation rate permissible under conditions of maximum sustainable yield have been obtained in previous studies. The question becomes to what extent does the inefficiency of harvest interact with the economics of the fishery to compromise ready detection of overfishing? This study explores the possibility that the constraint of economics on the fishery occurs at oyster exploitation rates that are …

Prevalence Of Anticoagulant Rodenticides In Ferruginous Hawk Nestlings And Evaluation Of A Novel Method To Rapidly Assess Exposure, Ariana Joyce Dickson

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are compounds commonly used to control rodent pests by inhibiting an enzyme critical for synthesis of clotting factors in their blood. Secondary and tertiary poisoning of non-target species frequently occur, especially of predators that consume rodents, including many species of raptors. Although raptor exposure to ARs has been documented on at least three continents, patterns, pathways and the sub-lethal effects of exposure are not well studied. This has created a substantial need to monitor the effects of ARs in free-living populations. I evaluated the prevalence of secondary, non-target exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides experienced by a predatory raptor, …

Feral Swine, Michael P. Glow, Nathan P. Snow, Kurt C. Vercauteren

Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series

Feral swine (Sus scrofa; Figure 1), also known as feral hogs, feral pigs, wild pigs, wild boar, or other similar derivations, are a non-native species considered to be one of the most destructive invasive terrestrial vertebrates in North America. While feral swine populations remained relatively small and confined in the continental United States following initial introductions by European explorers during the 15th century, substantial range expansion has occurred across every geographical region of the United States (Figure 2). This expansion has primarily been attributed to human-mediated movements, predominately for the purpose of establishing populations for recreational hunting, and facilitated by …

Life Cycle Assessment Of The Us Beef Processing Through Integrated Hybrid Approach, Shaobin Li, Yuwei Qin, Jeyamkondan Subbiah, Bruce Dvorak

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Hybrid life cycle assessment (LCA) incorporating process-based and economic input-output (EIO)–based inventory data has been applied in various industries (e.g., wind energy, biofuel). Few hybrid LCA studies have been found in the food industry. This work analyzes the life cycle environmental impacts of the US beef processing industry using process-based and integrated hybrid LCA. The process-based inventory includes all resource inputs and waste outputs associated with a beef processing plant. The EIO-based inventory includes key activities missing in the process-based inventory, such as technical and management service, wood and paper, and industrial equipment. Ten environmental impact categories from TRACI v2.1 …

Interrelationships Among Monorchiid Trematodes With Special Emphasis On Some Northwestern Atlantic Genera, Apryle Panyi

Master's Theses

The Monorchiidae Odhner, 1911 is a cosmopolitan family of flukes (Trematoda: Digenea) comprising species that parasitize the digestive tract of estuarine and marine fishes as adults. Compared with other oceans, recent morphological or molecular taxonomic work conducted on monorchiid species from the northwestern Atlantic Ocean has been sparse (Manter, 1931; Overstreet, 1969; Andres et al., 2018; Wee et al., 2018, 2019, 2020). Therefore, the present work investigated the interrelationships of some monorchiids from the northwestern Atlantic Ocean with emphasis on several genera and investigated if Lasiotocus minutus (Manter, 1931) Thomas, 1959 constitutes a complex of cryptic species. New morphological and …

One In The Hand Worth Two In The Bush? Reproductive Effort Of Young Males Is Not Affected By The Presence Of Adult Males, Kevin L. Monteith, Kyle B. Monteith, Jonathan A. Jenks, Rhiannon P. Jakopak

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

Reproduction is a costly endeavor, and most large, long-lived, and iteroparous mammals exhibit conservative life-history tactics wherein an individual may forego or abandon a reproduction event for the sake of survival. Nevertheless, risks and benefits associated with reproduction are not equal across males and females, nor across their life. Whereas expenditure for females is associated with rearing young (e.g., lactation), expenditure for males occurs with securing mating opportunities. Young males may be more successful when dominant males are lacking, but it is less clear whether—and at what cost—young males will expend effort when those opportunities arise. We designed an experiment …

Causal Explanations For The Evolution Of ‘Low Gear’ Locomotion In Insular Ruminants, Roberto Rozzi, Sara Varela, Pere Bover, Jeff Martin

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

Aim: Mammals on islands often undergo remarkable evolutionary changes. The acquisition of ‘low gear’ locomotion, namely short and robust limb elements, has been typically associated with the island syndrome in large mammals and, especially, ruminants. Here we provide an investigative framework to examine biotic and abiotic selective factors hypothesized to influence evolution of this peculiar type of gait. Location: Islands worldwide.
Taxon: Bovidae.
Methods: We calculated response variables associated with ‘low gear’ locomotion in 21 extinct and extant insular bovids. We assembled data on the physiography of 11 islands and on life history and ecological traits of the focal taxa. …

Not The Latest Science: National Recommended Water Quality Criteria For Aquatic Life Under The Clean Water Act, Sam B. Duggan, Christopher J. Kotalik

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

Artificial Night Lighting And Anthropogenic Noise Alter Animal Activity, Body Condition, Species Richness, And Community Structure, Joshua Willems

Master's Theses

Sensory pollution from artificial night-lighting and anthropogenic noise have increased at a dramatic rate over the last several decades. Alterations to the sensory environment have been found to affect wildlife in a wide variety of ways including behavioral changes, physiological responses, changes in species interactions, and altered community structure. Increased levels of light and noise pollution can originate from many sources including roads, energy development and infrastructure, and urbanization. Even remote or protected areas are not immune to the effects of increased sensory disturbances with 63 percent of protected areas within the United States found to have been exposed to …

Lipid Quantification And Cryopreservation Of In Vitro Produced Jersey Cattle Embryos, Katherine A. Rhodes-Long

Master's Theses

Cryopreservation of in vivo derived Jersey bovine embryos have resulted in a 10% lower pregnancy rate compared to other dairy breeds. Poor embryo survival after cryopreservation has been partially attributed to the high lipid content of Jersey embryos. In vitro-produced (IVP) bovine embryos have darker cytoplasm than their in vivo-derived counterparts because of higher lipid accumulation. High lipid accumulation is associated with impaired embryo quality. Forskolin is an adenylate cyclase activator that regulates cAMP levels in cells and has been shown to induce lipolysis in IVP embryos. L-carnitine is required for transport of fatty acids from the intermembrane space of …

Metagenomic, Viral And Host Genetic Analyses Of Congenital Tremor In Pigs, Kylee Marie Sutton

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The Pestivirus genus contains several viral species having a major impact on the livestock species. While there were only four major pestiviral species for a time, recent metagenomic sequencing approaches identified additional species, such as atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV). Congenital tremor was first identified almost a hundred years ago and since still has an impact on swine health. There are two main types of congenital tremor, type A and B, with type A congenital tremor further subcategorized based on causative agent. Until recently, type A-II congenital tremor did not have a known cause. Recent viral sequencing of affected samples, including …

Population Status, Threats, And Conservation Of Preuss's Red Colobus (Piliocolobus Preussi) And Other Diurnal Primates In The Ndokbou Forest, Littoral Region, Cameroon, Ruth Bowers-Sword

Masters Theses, 2020-current

The Ebo-Makombe-Ndokbou forest block in southwest Cameroon lies within the Gulf of Guinea biodiversity hotspot, characterized by extremely high levels of species richness and endemism, including those of primates. These forests may contain one of the last populations of the Critically Endangered Preuss’s red colobus monkey (Piliocolobus preussi; PRC), which is found only in southeastern Nigeria and western Cameroon. Gun hunting for bushmeat and habitat loss and degradation from logging and agriculture are the main threats to PRC. The conservation status of PRC and other primates in the Ndokbou forest are largely unknown, with most regional research efforts occurring in …

Embryonic Exposure To The Synthetic-Progesterone Levonorgestrel (Lng) Results In Hyperactive Behavior In Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), Austin D. Fuentes

Theses and Dissertations

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals has been associated with an increased risk of anxiety-like behavior at various life stages. Levonorgestrel (LNG), a synthetic contraceptive, could potentially alter steroidal regulated brain development based on the findings of this thesis. In-silico measurements were used for comparing LNG, which had been found in surface water, to chemical databases to predict the bioavailability, half-life, and estrogen binding potential. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) for illuminating the effects of LNG exposure during early zebrafish embryonic development, similar to fetal development, on behavior was investigated. Our data suggests exposure in a dose-dependent manner of LNG can potentially …

Influence Of Landscape Factors On Wildlife Presence And Road Mitigation Structure Performance, Taylor M. Hopkins

Theses and Dissertations

There are roughly 80 ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) remaining in the United States, with the entire population constrained to south Texas, with roadkill being a predominant source of mortality. To prevent additional roadkill and maintain wildlife movement, Texas Department of Transportation constructed 11.9 kilometers of wildlife exclusion fencing, 5 wildlife crossing structures (WCS), and 18 wildlife guards on State Highway 100. This thesis focused on determining the effort required for a control-impact monitoring study, the influence of biotic and abiotic factors around the roadway on wildlife presence, and the performance of mitigation structures and the road mitigation corridor. This …

Characterization Of Protein And Fat In Dairy Feeds And Implications On Digestibility And Milk Composition, Kassidy Kate Buse

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A variety of feedstuffs are used to comprise dairy rations, each with their own nutritional contributions. In order to best utilize these feedstuffs to maximize production, characterization of their chemical composition is needed. Through the use of both in vitro and in situ methods, not only can the composition of the feed be determined, but also its digestibility. Also, because of the important role they play in human health, omega 3 fatty acids have received increasing attention. Most individuals consuming Western diets do not meet the recommended requirement for omega 3 fatty acids, and one way to improve that is …

Advancing The Science Of Dry-Aged Beef, Felipe Azevedo Ribeiro

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In order to tightly control dry aging environmental conditions, we designed and built a computerized dry aging system that is capable of measuring and precisely controlling relative humidity (RH; ± 1%), temperature (± 0.5 °C), air flow (± 0.015m³/min), and mass loss (± 5 g). This dissertation addressed the effects of RH and ultimate pH on meat quality and sensory attributes of dry-aged beef. In study one, we learned that wet-aged steaks had higher L* (P = 0.01), a* (P = 0.03), and b* values (P < 0.001), lower discoloration scores (P < 0.05), and lower TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance) values (P = 0.03) than dry-aged treatments. Under prolonged …

Influence Of Strategic Supplementation And Genetic Potential For Milk Yield On Forage Digestibility, Amino Acid Utilization, And Livestock Production, Tasha M. King

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

When consuming low-quality forages or at times when nutrient demands are high, ruminants may be unable to meet these requirements resulting in a state of negative energy balance. With feed costs contributing a large portion of production costs, providing dietary nutrients to maintain energy balance must be done so strategically. Additionally, producers must ensure consistent reproductive performance and offspring weaned to maintain a successful livestock enterprise. The objective of these studies was to evaluate the effect of glucogenic precursor supplementation and milk yield on forage digestibility, amino acid utilization, and livestock production. In experiment 1, a metabolism study was conducted …

Analyzing The Management Practices Of East Texas Beef Cattle Producers, Hiliary Cheyenne Swor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A survey of East Texas beef cattle producers was designed to evaluate the management practices that were prevalent in the area. Demographic and cattle operation data from 103 respondents were analyzed using SPSS (Version 25; Chicago, IL). This electronic-based survey was distributed through Qualtrics. Respondents were located in Angelina, Nacogdoches, or Cherokee county. Most producers (38.8%) had a Bachelor’s degree. A negative correlation was established between castration method and weaning weight (p = - 0.204). Calves were weaned 50 pounds heavier when band or surgically castrated. Females were less likely to castrate their calves or utilize a mineral program. Approximately, …

The Effects Of Different Organic Pastures On Dairy Heifer Growth And Development, Jacob A. Hadfield

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Raising dairy heifers in a certified organic setting can be difficult for producers. Conventionally, heifers are raised in a confined setting, and fed a total mixed ration (TMR) that is balanced daily to contain all the needed nutrients for developing heifers. Organic producers can use a TMR in their operations, but due to high organic feed costs, many choose to raise their heifers in pasture-based systems. While pasture-based systems may lower costs, heifers on pasture commonly have lower rates of gain, which can be financially burdensome to producers. Grass-legume pastures may help improve rates of gain in heifers on pasture-based …

New World Mammarenaviral Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Determinants Of Infection And Disease, Brady T. Hickerson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Several New World mammarenaviruses (NWM) are able to cause life-threatening hemorrhagic disease in humans. These agents use human transferrin receptor 1 (hTfR1), the main protein involved in cellular uptake of iron, to infect cells. Furthermore, use of hTfR1 correlates with the ability of these viruses to cause severe disease in humans. The most prevalent pathogenic NWM is Jun√≠n virus (JUNV), which is the etiological agent of Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF).The pathogenesis of AHF is poorly understood. A cardinal feature of severe cases of AHF is a prolonged increase of serum interferon-a (IFN-a) concentration. This increase is hypothesized to play a …

Influence Of Forage Diversity And Condensed Tannins On Livestock Foraging Behavior, Production And Environmental Impact, Sebastian P. Lagrange

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Eating a combination of forages with different chemistries (i.e., nutrients, beneficial compounds such as tannins) may enhance ruminant nutrition and reduce environmental impacts relative to eating single forages. I explored the influence of offering sheep and cattle all possible combinations of tanniferous (i.e., plants with tannins; birdsfoot trefoil, sainfoin) and non-tanniferous legumes (i.e., plants without tannins; alfalfa) or their monocultures on animal performance, behavior, and methane and nitrogen (N) emissions. Offering choices among these legumes to penned sheep improved intake and diet digestibility relative to feeding monocultures. Mixtures selected by sheep were better digested than mixtures containing equal parts of …

The Effects Of Gene Therapy In An Ovine Osteoarthritis Model, Crystal Collier

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Humans rely on the health of their joints for stability and mobility in daily life. In a normal, healthy functioning joint, complex processes maintain joint tissues, including remodeling, lubrication, and immune function among many other tasks. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder in the U.S. It becomes most prevalent in adults 60+ years of age and causes decreased mobility, discomfort, and in some cases, excruciating pain. In the biological processes of osteoarthritis, the metalloproteinase enzymes responsible for the degeneration of cartilage are upregulated. The inhibitors of metalloproteinase activity are known as Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases (TIMPs), which keep …

Comparative Analysis Of Small Non-Coding Rna And Messenger Rna Expression In Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer And In Vitro-Fertilized Bovine Embryos During Early Development Through The Maternal-To-Embryonic Transition, Jocelyn Marie Cuthbert

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Cloning animals using somatic cell nuclear transfer (scNT) was first successfully demonstrated with the birth of Dolly the sheep, but the process of cloning remains highly inefficient. By improving our understanding of the errors that may occur during cloned cattle embryo development, we could obtain a greater understanding of how specific molecular events contribute to successful development. The central dogma of biology refers to the process of DNA being transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) and the translation of mRNA into proteins, which ultimately carry out the functions encoded by genes. The epigenetic code is defined as the array of chemical …

Enhancing The Production And Sustainability Of Pasture-Fed Beef Using Non-Traditional Legume Forages, Andrea I. Bolletta

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Despite the increasing worldwide demand for beef as a protein source, consumers are concerned about the sustainability of ruminant production systems. Their main concerns are animal welfare for feedlot-fed animals, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, global warming and worker safety. Traditional feedlot-based beef production systems have been associated with locally greater levels of soil, water and air contamination, as well as the overuse of antibiotics and growth hormones. The use of legume pastures such as cicer milkvetch (CMV) and birdsfoot trefoil (BFT), which fix their own nitrogen (N) and often contain beneficial secondary compounds such as tannins and provide for rapid …

Tropical Forage Technologies Can Deliver Multiple Benefits In Sub-Saharan Africa. A Meta-Analysis, Birthe K. Paul, Jessica Koge, Brigitte L. Maass, An Notenbaert, Michael Peters, Jeroen C.J. Groot, Pablo Tittonell

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Scarcity of quantity and quality feed has been a key constraint to productivity of smallholder crop-livestock systems. Tropical forages include a variety of annual and perennial grasses, herbaceous and dual-purpose legumes, and multipurpose trees and shrubs. They have been promoted in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for increasing livestock productivity and household income through higher quantity and quality of herbage, while contributing to soil improvement and higher food crop yields. For the first time, we quantitatively reviewed 72 experimental studies from across SSA to take stock of geographical distribution and forage technology focus of past research; quantify magnitudes of multidimensional impacts of …