Digital Commons Network^™

Estimation Of Breed-Specific Heterosis Effects For Birth, Weaning And Yearling Weight In Cattle, Lauren N. Schiermiester

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

Genetic selection decisions are important components of improved beef production efficiency. Exploiting heterosis and breed complementarity can improve economically relevant traits and system efficiency. The objective of the current study was to estimate breed-specific heterosis for the seven largest beef breeds (according to registrations) for birth, weaning and yearling weight.

Birth, weaning and yearling weights were recorded for steers, heifers and bulls (n= 6,834) from Cycle VII and advanced generations of the Germ Plasm Evaluation project of the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center. Breeds represented in these data included: Angus, Hereford, Red Angus, Charolais, Gelbvieh, Simmental, Limousin and composite MARC …

Diet Alters Delayed Selfing, Inbreeding Depression, And Reproductive Senescence In A Freshwater Snail, Josh R. Auld, John F. Henkel

Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Growing South Dakota (Summer 2014), College Of Agriculture &. Biological Sciences

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

[Page] 2 Extending Knowledge, Changing Lives: SDSU Extension Marks 100-Year Milestone
[Page] 5 Preparing for SDSU Extension’s Future
[Page] 5 SDSU College of Agriculture & Biological Sciences Administrative Team [Page] 6 Summer College News
[Page] 7 Profiles In Leadership: Joseph Cassady; Local Leadership Important For Ag’s Future
[Page] 8 Advancing Agriculture: SDSU Precision Ag Program Evolves, Expands [Page] 9 On The Front Line: ADRDL Leads Important Effort For Animal Health Diagnostics
[Page] 10 4-H Philanthropy: Supporters Continue Campaign For New 4-H Exhibit Hall [Page] 11 Growing Global Citizens: AgBio Courses Offer International Learning Opportunities
[Page] 12 Guidance For Gardeners: Several …

The Foraging Behaviors And Decision-Making Strategies Of Overwintering Red-Tailed Hawks (Buteo Jamaicensis) And American Kestrels (Falco Sparverius) In Relation To Prey Density And Patch-Site Characteristics In Northeastern Arkansas, Melissa Marie Bobowski

Student Theses and Dissertations

I observed the wintering foraging behaviors of Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) and American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) to determine the efficiency of their foraging strategies in relation to prey density and patch-site characteristics. The three cover-types (i.e., short rice stubble, soybean stubble, and fallow areas and roadsides) differed in densities of small mammals and vegetation cover. Cover-type was the most important predictor for the probability of making an attempt at prey for both species with the greatest probability at attempting was in fallow roadsides. Perch-type only influenced the probability of being successful at capturing a prey item for Red-tailed hawks with …

News Of The Department Of Animal Science, Department Of Animal Science

Animal Science Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Patch-Burn Grazing Effects On Cattle Performance: Research Conducted In A Working Landscape, Stephen L. Winter, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf, Mark Goes

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

• Patch-burn grazing is a range management strategy that might be able to simultaneously optimize livestock production objectives and wildlife habitat objectives.

• We compared patch-burn grazing to a traditional range management strategy in multiple pastures, representing a variety of land ownership and management histories, dispersed across a relatively large geographic area. Our results likely represent what land managers could expect if they adopted patch-burn grazing in similar situations.

• We found that cattle performance in pastures managed with patch-burn grazing did not differ from that found in pastures managed with a traditional range management strategy. This suggests that land …

2013 Annual Report, Various Authors

Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

Behaviors That Predict Personality Components In Adult Free-Ranging Tibetan Macaques (Macaca Thibetana), Alexander J. Pritchard, Lori K. Sheeran, Kara I. Gabriel, Jin-Hua Li, Ronald S. Wagner

Anthropology and Museum Studies Faculty Scholarship

To further the potential for applied personality studies, we present a methodology for assessing personality in nonhuman animals without a priori assumptions, using behavioral measures to discriminate personality survey results. Our study group consisted of 12 free-ranging, provisioned, adult Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at the Valley of the Wild Monkeys, China. We asked familiar Chinese park guards and scientists to rate each of the 12 macaques using 27-item personality surveys. We also recorded behavioral observations (> 100 hrs) from August–September, 2012. The personality surveys showed reliability in 22 of the items that were then utilized in a principal component analysis …

Beef Cattle Lesson Plans: For Use In The Education Of School-Age Children In The Beef Cattle Industry, Katherine M. Halloran, Cheyenne H. Love

Animal Science

This project was initially created for use at Fort Hope in Arroyo Grande, California. It designs lesson plans created to teach children about the beef cattle industry. The project consists of lesson plans for three age groups: 7-9, 10-12, and 13-15. Each age group will learn various aspects about beef cattle, and lessons will increase in complexity as the children advance age groups. The groups will spend six days in lecture completing worksheets and activities, and on the seventh day, after completion of a review game, the children receive certificates. While the project was created specifically for the Fort Hope …

Detection Of Pahs In Commercial And Wild Caught Fish Oil Using Scanning Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Edwin Antonio Pena

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The DeepWater Horizon (DWH) oil spill contaminated a large area in the Gulf of Mexico in summer 2010. It is likely that many aquatic species in the Gulf were affected by the spill. Crude oil contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs). Some PAHs are carcinogenic to fish and humans. The purpose of this project was to develop menhaden fish oil as a biomonitoring tool for crude oil contaminants such as PAHs using scanning fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS). Menhaden (Genus Brevoortia) is one of the most ecologically and economically important marine fish species along the Atlantic and Gulf coast; however, it is …

Harvest Incentives: A Tool For Managing Aquatic Invasive Species, Bob Wiltshire, Nathan Stone, Marshall Meyers, Bill Hyatt, Lori Williams, Jason Goldberg, Susan Pasko, Leah Elwell

National Invasive Species Council

Conclusion

The success of any harvest incentive program to address aquatic invasive species will depend upon numerous biological, socioeconomic, and legal considerations. Programs that encourage harvest may be a successful management tool in targeting small, distinct populations; in high priority areas within a larger invasion; or they may play a supplementary role within larger control programs. Their use, however, will require careful review, planning, and monitoring to ensure success and that they do not unintentionally lead to further spread of invasive species, cause additional harm to native species, or waste valuable resources.

Comparison Of Wet Or Dry Distillers Grains Plus Solubles To Corn As An Energy Source In Forage Based Diets And In Vitro Forage Standard Development Based On In Vivo Digestibilities Utilizing Brome Hay, Prairie Hay And Meadow Hay, Nerissa Ann Ahern

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

Four growing experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of dry rolled corn (DRC) and either dry (DDGS) or wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) as energy sources in high forage diets. In Exp. 1, steers were fed a blend of sorghum silage and alfalfa hay and supplemented 1 of 4 inclusions of WDGS, DDGS or a MIX (67% WDGS: 33% Straw). In Exp. 2, Exp. 3 and Exp. 4, steers were fed diets including WDGS, DDGS or DRC at different inclusions, replacing sorghum silage and grass hay. In Exp. 1, WDGS, DDGS and MIX produced greater ending BW, ADG …

Determining Forage Intake Of Nursing Calves Grazing Native Sandhills Rangeland, Jennifer A. Walker

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

Effective management of grazing lands is important for longevity and productivity. Accurate calculations of stocking rates per animal unit will aid in long term sustainability. Calculating stocking rates for cattle can prove challenging for cows and nursing calves. Limited research has been conducted to determine forage intake of the nursing calf pre-weaning. The objective of Trial 1 was to determine nursing calf forage intake over time until weaning. Trial 1 used 8 crossbred cow-calf pairs in experiment 1 and 12 pairs in experiment 2. Pairs were separated into two groups rotating between grazing upland range or housed in individual pens …

A Comparison Of The Standard 5-Day Co-Synch With Cidr Protocol And A 14-Day Co-Synch With Cidr Protocol In Primiparous And Multiparous Beef Cattle, Taylor Anne Dericco

Animal Science

No abstract provided.

Level Of Uv-B Radiation Influences The Effects Of Glyphosate-Based Herbicide On Fitness Of The Spotted Salamander, Nicholas A. Levis

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Numerous causes have been implicated in contributing to amphibian population declines since the 1980's, with habitat modification, ultraviolet radiation (UV-B) and environmental contaminants (such as glyphosate-based herbicide) being among the most common. This study identifies the effects of a generic glyphosate-based herbicide (GLY- 4 Plus) on mortality, immune function, body condition, and morphological plasticity of larvae of the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) under conditions that reflect open and closed canopy light regimes. Larval salamander responses to glyphosate-based herbicide varied depending on UV-B conditions. In general, it appears that an open canopy (i.e. greater UV-B exposure) may confer fitness benefits. In …

Juvenile Domestic Pigs (Sus Scrofa Domestica) Use Human-Given Cues In An Object Choice Task, Christian Nawroth, Mirjam Ebersbach, Eberhard Von Borell

Social Cognition Collection

Research on the comprehension of human-given cues by domesticated as well as non-domesticated species has received considerable attention over the last decade. While several species seem to be capable of utilizing these cues, former work with domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) has shown inconclusive results. In this study, we investigated the use of human-given cues in an object choice task by young domestic pigs (N = 17; seven weeks of age) who had very limited human contact prior to the experiments. Subjects had to choose between two bowls of which only one was baited with a reward. Over the course …

Zutrition: Analyzing And Evaluating Diets Fed To Captive Mammals At Capron Park Zoo, Briell M. Dzierga

Senior Honors Projects

Zoos provide both experiential and educational opportunities for the general public to learn about animals found in a variety of habitats around the world. A successful zoo must provide a safe and enjoyable environment for the visitors, in addition to the species living within the enclosures. Animal husbandry and welfare are crucial aspects to which close attention must be paid, and zoos have a responsibility to attempt to approximate the captive species’ natural habitats and life histories. An essential part of maintaining a captive zoo animal’s health and wellbeing is providing the animal with an appropriate diet. In addition to …

Palatability Of Teff Grass By Horses, Rachel R. Cummins

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Most forages commonly used to feed horses have potential detriments including blister beetles or excessive fiber concentrations. Teff grass (T), a warm-season annual forage, has the potential to be a good alternative for horses because of its lack of observed disorders. Our objective was to compare preference by horses for T harvested under different conditions with that of bermudagrass (B) harvested at two maturities. Six different forages were evaluated: T harvested at the late vegetative stage (TLV), at late bloom but that incurred 33 mm of rainfall between mowing and baling (TLBR), with caryopsis visible (TES), or at soft dough …

Avs Corner, May 2014, Kathy Still, Johanna Johnson, Allison Millican, Megan Kelley, Michelle Brauneis, Tina Rowland

AVS Corner

No abstract provided.

Social Learning And The Development Of Social Foraging Behavior In Golden Lion Tamarins (Leontopithecus Rosalia), Carly Slack

All Theses

Golden lion tamarins are highly social, group-living primates and are cooperative breeders. As such they are an ideal species in which to study social learning. Observations of six groups of wild golden lion tamarins were used to examine the development of social foraging and related behaviors in juveniles. Rates at which juveniles approached adults that were foraging for plant foods tended to decline with age (F=3.34, p=.0531), and the rates at which they begged (F=4.71, p=.0193), and foraged at the same site (i.e., co-foraged; F=3.44, p=.0495) decreased significantly. For prey foraging, rates at which adults vacated a site to allow …

Isoflupredone Acetate As Ancillary Therapy For Bovine Respiratory Disease In High-Risk Stocker Calves, Claire E. Crews

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the leading cause of illness and death in U.S. feedlot cattle. This study evaluated the use of isoflupredone acetate in the treatment of BRD. Crossbred male beef calves (n = 192; BW = 221 ± 3.9 kg) were acquired in two blocks from regional auction markets and transported to the University of Arkansas Stocker and Receiving Cattle Unit. Calves were observed daily for signs of respiratory illness. Antibiotic treatment was administered if calves displayed signs of respiratory illness and rectal temperature was ≥ 40 °C. Calves (n = 72) requiring antibiotic treatment were assigned randomly …

Effects Of Distillers Grains Plus Solubles And Monensin Supplementation On Yearlings Grazing Smooth Bromegrass, Tyler L. Hasenauer

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

Supplementing cattle on grass is an effective way of increasing animal efficiency and grass utilization. Distiller grains plus solubles (DGS) supplementation has been repeatedly proven as an effective supplement by providing ruminally undegradable protein (RUP), fat, and highly digestible fiber. The effects of monensin supplementation on grazing cattle are variable. Although some research has shown a decrease in forage organic matter intake (FOMI), the popular belief is monensin increases ADG while maintaining DMI in a grazing situation. Two experiments were designed to observe the effects of DGS and monensin supplementation on cattle grazing smooth bromegrass. In the first study, ADG …

Genomic Predictions For Age At Puberty And Reproductive Longevity In Sows Using Bayesian Methods, Katherine Lindsay Lucot

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

Including marker-assisted selection in breeding programs is potentially more efficient than traditional selection for improving traits that are expensive or difficult to measure. One of the challenges of genomics is the lack of robustness of marker effects across populations and over time (generations) and the cost to commercial producers of high-density arrays. The objective of this study was to analyze differences in the proportion of phenotypic variation explained by different fractions of major 1 Mb windows and SNPs. Using a population of Nebraska Index Line and commercial Large White x Landrace females (n = 1,234) generated in 11 batches, …

Reproduction And Nesting In Teleost Fish, With A Focus On Reproduction In Centrarchids And Specific Analysis Of Nesting In Lepomis Megalotis, Rebecca Irene Allee

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Fish represent the most diverse and oldest living class of vertebrates, making up approximately 48% of all known members of the subphylum Vertebrata (Bolis, et al. 2001). They are able to live in a wide variety of habitats, from salt water to fresh water and from cold polar seas to areas of intense pressure in the depths of the ocean (Moyle and Cech 1996). Because of this overwhelming diversity, the evolution and ecology of fishes has been a dynamic field of study (Moyle and Cech 1996). Researchers have generally divided fish into three distinct groups: jawless fishes (Class Agnatha), …

Use Of Distiller Grains In Alternative Beef Heifer Systems, Jared M. Mracek

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

Every year, producers select replacement heifers with the intention that these heifers are the future of their cow herd. Producers normally select replacement heifers at weaning based on weight and structure. When selecting heifers at weaning, producers risk not selecting heifers that would be productive cows based on their criteria. By delaying the selection of replacements, it will allow producers to increase the opportunity to thoroughly evaluate replacement prospects. The corn dry-milling industry produces byproducts that can be economical supplements to growing cattle on forage. An experiment evaluated an alternative heifer system utilizing distiller grains as an energy source to …

The Effects Of Feed Additives, Housing Systems, And Stress On Salmonella Shedding In Single Comb White And Brown Laying Hens, Dana L. Hahn

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

A series of studies were conducted examining feed additives, housing systems and stress on Salmonella shedding. Alternative feed additives such as prebiotics, probiotics and essential oils have been shown to reduce pathogenic bacteria colonization. Furthermore, stressors such as movement have been shown to increase Salmonella shedding. The goal of the studies was to examine if alternative ingredients reduce Salmonella shedding in alternative housing systems and through movement stress. Study 1 examined cage and cage-free housing with mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) supplementation. Treatments were arranged in a 2x2 factorial design: cage or cage free; MOS (0% or 0.08%). There was no effect …

Improving Lamb Performance With Sericea Lespedeza And Molybdenum, Mohan Acharya

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to find the effect of prolonged feeding of sericea lespedeza (SL) supplemented with sodium molybdate on changes in body weight, serum and liver concentration of trace minerals (TM), hematology, serum biochemistry, and gastrointestinal parasites. Thirty ram lambs (Katahdin and ¾ Katahdin × ¼ Romanov) were weaned; blood, liver, and fecal samples were collected and signs of internal parasitic infection on lambs were recorded. Lambs were supplemented with 900 g of alfalfa (n = 10; CON) or SL (n = 20) based supplement for 103 d. Within the SL group, half of the lambs were …

Carbon And Nitrogen Analysis To Determine Competitive Outcome For Three Species Of Container Mosquitoes, John Lloyd Martin

Honors Theses

It is well documented that intense larval competition exists between species of container mosquitoes. Two of the main genera of mosquitoes found to inhabit containers are Aedes and Culex. This study sought to determine the effects that different detritus treatments and larva ratios would have on carbon and nitrogen content, mass, and survival of larvae of various species. The species used in this experiment were Aedes albopictus, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. I hypothesized that Ae. albopictus would be more efficient in acquiring nitrogen then the competitor species Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. Thus, I expected Ae. albopictus to …

Poultry Performance And Food Safety Impacts Of Selected Organic Acids And Probiotics, Anita Menconi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Improving production parameters and controlling foodborne pathogens have been challenges to the poultry industry. Salmonella has been the most common bacterial pathogen in laboratory confirmed foodborne illness cases, and contaminated poultry and poultry products have been identified as the most important source of transmission of Salmonella to humans. Therefore, research on effective interventions to reduce Salmonella transmission at the poultry production level has gained attention. Initially, a series of studies was conducted to evaluate the use of selected organic acids in controlling foodborne pathogens and improving poultry performance. Then, the characterization and application of lactic acid bacteria and Bacillus spp. …

Pronghorn (Antilocapra Americana) Offspring Recruitment On The Carrizo Plain National Monument: Evaluating The Effects Of Low Population Density And Marginal Habitat Quality., Diego Ramirez Johnson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Demographic fluctuation among ungulate populations is strongly linked to variability in recruitment. Rates of recruitment are subject to various forms of density-dependent and density-independent regulation. For species which benefit from the presence of conspecifics, reduced population density can decrease rates of recruitment and trigger a decline in per capita growth. Termed the Allee effect, this scenario can cause demographic collapse and population extinction. For many ungulate species, predation on juveniles is reduced when the timing and distribution of births is synchronized within a local population. Because birth synchrony is density-dependent, it may act as a mechanism for the Allee effect …