Digital Commons Network^™

Feeding Increasing Levels Of Reduced-Oil Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles From Two Ethanol Fermentation Methods Impacts Finishing Pig Growth Performance And Belly Quality, Austin Egolf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Reduced-oil distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) are an affordable source of energy in finishing pig diets, but differences in DDGS fermentation method on finishing pig growth performance and belly quality is relatively unknown. The objectives of this study were: 1) determine the influence of increasing dietary inclusion rate of hot fermentation (HF) and cold fermentation (CF) DDGS on growth performance, carcass characteristics and belly quality, and 2) compare the effect of HF and CF DDGS on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, and belly quality. Crossbred pigs (n = 200) were used in a randomized complete block design and …

Evaluation Of Processing Variables To Increase The Solids Of Milk Protein Concentrates Prior To Drying, Achyut Mishra

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is a common practice in dairy industries to nanofilter milk protein concentrate (MPC) to increase the solids and further drying efficiency. Increasing protein and solids in MPC increases viscosity and resist feed-flow in membrane filtration. Previous research proved that increased temperature and hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) have significantly reduced the viscosity of MPC which can potentially increase the level of solids by reducing concentration polarization during nanofiltration (NF). We utilized plate and frame filtration (PF) as an alternate method to reduce the viscosity of MPC. In first objective, we studied the application of HC or elevated temperature (50˚C) or both …

Bedding Application And Increasing Dosage Of Trenbolone Acetate And Estradiol In Implants For Beef Steers: Influence On Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, And Circulating Metabolite Responses, Dathan T. Smerchek

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Three randomized complete block design feedlot experiments were conducted over the course of two years. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of bedding use in confined beef steers. The third experiment evaluated the effects of implants containing increasing doses of trenbolone acetate (TBA) and estradiol benzoate (EB) in confined beef steers. Experiment 1 used Simmental × Angus steers (n = 240; initial body weight (BW) = 365 ± 22.5 kg). Experiment 2 used newly weaned Charolais × Red Angus steers (n = 162; initial BW = 278 ± 13.4 kg). Steers were allotted to 1 of 2 treatments: …

The Parmesan Cheese Model System: Alleviation Of Browning Defect In Parmesan Cheese, Megan Huegli Aubrey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In cold temperature storage, Parmesan cheese can develop an undesirable browning defect. Certain pyrazine compounds converted from methylglyoxal have been identified and associated with the brown pigmentations in Parmesan cheese samples. This study focused on creating a cheese model system to study variables that caused browning and variables that helped reduce or alleviate browning. The cheese making steps for the cheese model system were monitored by measuring pH and TA and the final composition for % fat, % moisture, % salt and pH. Additionally, the cooling curve was studied to ensure all wheels of cheese made were cooled similarly. Cheese …

Effect Of Soy Lecithin Concentration On Formulating Dairy Emulsions Through Ultrasound Treatment, Collette Kernyuy Nyuydze

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The ability of high intensity ultrasound to produce stable emulsions without the addition of surfactant was evaluated in a dairy-based formulation. The formulation consisted of protein (4.33 ± 0.05%, whey protein concentrates (WPC80), carbohydrates (21.52 ± 0.75%, sucrose and maltodextrin), oil (2.90 ± 0.05%, soybean oil), and surfactant (0-.05%). Pre-emulsions formulated with either 0, 0.025, and 0.05% of soy lecithin were treated for 5 min at an acoustic intensity of either 42.58 ± 2.98, 56.83 ± 3.01, or 70.48 ± 2.97 W cm^-2. The stability of the emulsions was evaluated through particle size, dynamic rheology, gel electrophoresis, and …

Valorization Studies On Ice-Cream Wastewater And Whey Permeate, Maryam Enteshari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ever growing demand for dairy products in many countries has led to advancements in the manufacture of such products. Nowadays, revolutionary trends for high-protein dairy foods and drinks products have brought about new challenges from processing requirements and manufacturing aspects. Using different membrane processing has enabled dairy manufacturers to produce different fraction of milk proteins such as micellar caseins, ultra-filtered (UF) milk proteins, whey proteins concentrate (WPC), and micellar casein concentrate (MCC) to meet the nutritional needs with variety of milk product options. However, the installation of new processing lines and establishing further manufacturing steps requires more consumption of water …

Epidemiological Investigations Of Bighorn Sheep Respiratory Disease And Implications For Management, Brandi L. Felts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Infectious respiratory disease has long been identified as the cause of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) historical declines and extirpations, and Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (Movi) is the primary pathogen inducing disease and mortality. Population-level effects of pneumonia events range from mild to extirpation. Variable individual response to pathogen exposure emerges from dynamic interactions between competing evolutionary processes within the host and pathogen. Understanding impacts of this evolutionary warfare is essential to assessing long-term impacts of pathogen invasion and developing appropriate countermeasures to protect population health. Freeranging populations are faced with spillover infections from domestic sheep and goats as well as …

Applications Of Hydrodynamic Cavitation In Dairy Manufacturing: Process Development And Standardization, Jae Young Sim

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The phenomenon of hydrodynamic cavitation involves the formation, growth, and subsequent collapse of bubbles when a given liquid experienced a reduction of pressure below its vapor pressure. The presence of cavitation limits the performance and the safe operation of many machinery and pumps. However, innovation in the design of the hydrodynamic cavitation devices has offered promising applications in the food and dairy industry. Upon collapse of the cavities, the fluid experiences significant mechanical effects (shear and turbulence) as well as instantaneously elevation of the fluid temperature. All these effects can be put to work for mixing, dispersion, particle size reduction, …

Effect Of Different Fat Sources And Vitamin E Isoforms/ Levels On Carcass Characteristics, Meat Quality, And Belly/Bacon Characteristics Of Pigs Grown To Heavy Slaughter Weights (>150kg), Marlee Kelley

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Two separate studies were conducted to evaluate the potential interaction of fat sources and vitamin E (VE) on heavy slaughter weights. In Study 1, a total of 64 individually-fed pigs (28.41 ± 0.83 kg) were randomly assigned to 8 dietary treatments in a 4×2 factorial arrangement. Fat treatments included cornstarch (CS), tallow (TW), corn oil (CO), and coconut-oil (CN). VE treatments were dietary alpha-tocopheryl-acetate (ATA) at 11 and 200 ppm. In Study 2, a total of 72 individually fed pigs (28.55 ± 1.16 kg) were randomly assigned to 12 dietary treatments in a 2 × 6 factorial arrangement. Fat treatments …

Impact Of Ergot Alkaloid And Estradiol 17b On Whole-Body Protein Turnover And Expression Of Mtor Pathway Proteins In Muscle Of Cattle, Taylor Dawn Ferguson

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Beef cattle consuming endophyte infected tall fescue typically exhibit reduced performance in terms of both decreased dry matter intake (DMI) and growth rates. It has been suggested that lower concentrations of circulating IGF-1 (an important stimulator of the mTOR pathway and ultimately protein synthesis), as observed with consumption of ergot alkaloids, contribute to reduced growth rates. The objective of the current study was to determine if fescue-derived alkaloids decrease muscle protein synthesis though inhibitory action on the mTOR pathway via a direct effect on signal proteins, and if these negative effects can be alleviated by implantation with anabolic agents. Thirty-two …

Daily Energy Expenditure Of Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma Coerulescens) In Suburban And Wildland Landscapes, Hugh I. Ellis, Reed Bowman

Biology: Faculty Scholarship

Urbanization alters ecological systems, disturbance regimes, food webs, and a variety of other processes that can influence local flora and fauna. In birds, most studies have focused on behavioral or demographic responses to altered conditions; however, the physiological mechanisms associated with these responses have been understudied. We have previously documented shifts in foraging behavior because of the availability of human-provided food; we sought to see if this was driven by or associated with a change in field metabolic rates. We measured field metabolic rates (FMR), a measure of daily energy expenditure (DEE), of Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) in 2 habitats …

Estimates Of Red Drum Mortality Via Acoustic Telemetry, T. Reid Nelson, Sean P. Powers

University Faculty and Staff Publications

Subadult (age < 3) Red Drum Sciaenops ocellatus support a valuable recreational fishery, and mortality estimates for young Red Drum are needed for proper management. To obtain these estimates, age-1 and age-2 Red Drum were implanted with acoustic transmitters and external Floy tags in two coastal Alabama rivers (Fowl and Dog rivers). Fates of tagged fish were inferred from stationary receiver detections and active relocations over 1 year. These fates were used in a Bayesian multistate model to estimate instantaneous monthly and annual mortality and emigration rates for each river and overall from both rivers. Instantaneous monthly fishing mortality (F) ranged from 0.001 to 0.112 (annual F = 0.414) in Dog River, from 0.001 to 0.126 in Fowl River (annual F = 0.309), and was 0.001–0.054 (annual F = 0.337) overall. Instantaneous monthly natural mortality (M) ranged from 0.001 to 0.002 (annual M= 0.069) in Dog River, from 0.001 to 0.036 (annual M= 0.178) in Fowl River, and from 0.001 to 0.017 (annual M= 0.090) overall. The overall annual estimate of instantaneous total mortality (Z) was 0.435. The median escapement percentage was estimated at 36.3% (95% posterior credible interval = 19.5–56.0%) using M and Z from the overall model. Unfortunately, the error on this estimate was large and inconclusive as to whether the 30% escapement goal for juvenile Red Drum to the adult population from Dog and Fowl rivers is being met. Monthly residency estimates were typically greater than 0.90, and overall annual residency was estimated at 0.716. Fishing mortality estimates from the current study are higher than recent catch curve estimates that did not include young Red Drum. These results demonstrate that young Red Drum need to be accounted for when generating mortality estimates and provide needed data for the Red Drum recreational fishery.

Habitat Associations And Co-Occurrence Patterns Of Two Estuarine-Dependent Predatory Fishes, Mariah C. Livernois, Sean P. Powers, Mark A. Albins, John F. Mareska

University Faculty and Staff Publications

Estuarine-dependent fishes experience a wide range of environmental conditions, and most species exhibit distinct associations with particular habitats. However, similar species or multiple conspecifics often overlap spatiotemporally, which can result in ecological interactions that have consequences for behaviors that can shape the structure and function of ecosystems. We used a long-term gill-net data set (2001–2015) to investigate the habitat associations and cooccurrence patterns of two estuarine-dependent predatory fishes, Red Drum Sciaenops ocellatus and Spotted Seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus, in coastal Alabama, USA. Both species were associated with similar environmental conditions, primarily low dissolved oxygen and low salinity, especially when temperature was …

Preparation And Optimization Of Rapid And Sensitive Coagglutination Test For Detection Ofinfectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus (Ipnv), Kemal Pekmez, Gülnur Kalayci, Sai̇me İsmet Gürhan, Eli̇f Esi̇n Tuna

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of this study is the development of a coagglutination test for rapid diagnosis of infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) virus which causes an acute infectious viral disease with high mortality in young salmonid fish. Serotypes Sp, Ab, WB of the IPNV were cultivated in BF-2 cells and purified by linear sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Hyperimmune sera against purified IPNV serotypes were collected from immunized guinea pigs. Coagglutination test conjugates were prepared by using sensitized S. aureus and hyperimmune sera. Cell culture derived salmonid pathogens such as infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) and epizootic hematopoietic …

Granulosa Cell Proliferation Is Inhibited By Pge2 In The Primate Ovulatory Follicle, Patric S. Lundberg, Gil J. Moskowitz, Carmel Bellacose, Esra Demirel, Heidi A. Trau, Diane M. Duffy

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a key paracrine mediator of ovulation. Few specific PGE2-regulated gene products have been identified, so we hypothesized that PGE2 may regulate the expression and/or activity of a network of proteins to promote ovulation. To test this concept, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was used to predict PGE2-regulated functionalities in the primate ovulatory follicle. Cynomolgus macaques underwent ovarian stimulation. Follicular granulosa cells were obtained before (0 h) or 36 h after an ovulatory dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), with ovulation anticipated 37-40 h after hCG. Granulosa cells were obtained from additional monkeys 36 h after treatment with …

Mitogenome Of Northern Long-Eared Bat, Sarah Gaughan, Kevin L. Pope, Jeremy A. White, Cliff Lemen, Patricia Freeman

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

The complete mitogenome of the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) was determined to be 17,362 bp and contained 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes and one control region. The whole genome base composition was 33.8% GC. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that M. septentrionalis be positioned next to M. auriculus in the Nearctic subclade of the Myotis genus. This complete mitochondrial genome provides essential molecular markers for resolving phylogeny and future conservation efforts.

Exit Here: Strategies For Dealing With Aging Dams And Reservoirs, Henry H. Hansen, Emily Forzono, Alisha Grams, Lindsay Ohlman, Christine Ruskamp, Mark A. Pegg, Kevin L. Pope

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

Aging infrastructure is prevalent throughout the world, but water control management structures, specifically dams, are of growing concern. Dams and their corresponding reservoirs have inherent, but separate, lifespans. The proportion of dams around the world that continue operation beyond their intended lifespans is growing at an alarming rate. Society will not only have to navigate the tradeoffs associated with the deterioration of services provided by reservoirs and dams, but also impending structural failures. Society is nearing a critical pinch point where we will have to decide how to deal with dams and reservoirs at scales that range from a single …

Sharp‐Tailed Grouse In The Nebraska Sandhills Select Residual Cover Patches For Nest Sites, William L. Vodehnal, Gregory L. Schenbeck, Daniel W, Uresk

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Staff Research Publications

We evaluated selection and availability of residual cover (dead standing herbage) by sharptailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) at time of nest‐site selection in an intact and annually grazed grassland. We used radiotelemetry in 1988–1990 to locate 147 nests in the sandhills of Nebraska, USA, and classified 121 as initial nests and 26 as renests. We used visual obstruction readings (VOR) to measure the height and density of residual cover at nests and 373 landscape‐scale transects around leks (trap sites). We excluded 77 nests from vegetation analysis because green herbage or early livestock grazing compromised residual cover measurements. Most females …

Obituary: Thomas Henry Kunz (1938–2020), Allen Kurta, Winifred F. Frick, M. Brock Fenton, Polly Campbell, Gary F. Mccracken, Robert M. Timm, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Dr. Thomas Henry Kunz, an internationally recognized expert on the ecology and behavior of bats and Professor at Boston University, passed away on April 13, 2020 in Dedham, Massachusetts, at the age of 81 as the result of complications from COVID-19. “Tom,” to his many friends and colleagues, was born on June 11, 1938 in Independence, Missouri, to William H. and Edna F. (Dornfeld) Kunz. He married Margaret Louise Brown on December 27, 1962 in Faucett, Missouri, Margaret’s hometown. Two children were born to Margaret and Tom—Pamela Kunz (Jeffrey Kwan) and David Kunz (Nicole, née D’Angelo), and five grandchildren.

As …

Population And Harvest Dynamics Of Midcontinent Sandhill Cranes, Aaron T. Pearse, Glen A. Sargeant, Gary L. Krapu, David A. Brandt

United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: Publications

Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) inhabiting the midcontinent of North America have been hunted since the 1960s under management goals of maintaining abundance, retaining geographic distribution, and maximizing sustainable harvest. Some biologists have raised concerns regarding harvest sustainability because sandhill cranes have lower reproductive rates than other game birds. We summarized demographic information in an age‐structured matrix model to better understand population dynamics and harvest. Population indices and recovered harvest since the early 1980s suggest midcontinent sandhill cranes have experienced an average long‐term annual growth of 0.9%; meanwhile, harvest has increased 1.8% annually. Adult survival and recruitment rates estimated from field …

Winter Patch Grazing, Patch Burn Grazing, And Bird Communities In Western South Dakota, Jennifer Lutze

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ground nesting bird species are on a considerable decline and research efforts are being made to increase these populations throughout the Great Plains. Ground nesting bird communities found in the Northern Great Plains are driven greatly by varying amounts of cover and area size. Past research implemented patch-burn grazing to increase structural heterogeneity and to increase grassland bird habitat in the tallgrass prairie. While bird populations were very responsive to this management in the Northern Great Plains fire management is viewed negatively, especially for Midwest cattle ranchers. We implemented research to determine if winter-patch grazing on mixed grass prairie could …

Optimization Of Conditions For Heat Pretreatment And Enzymatic Predigestion Of Ddgs For Pigs, Kevin Jerez-Bogota

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The high fiber content of corn dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) can limit its utilization in swine diets. Pretreatment with heat and enzymatic predigestion of whole stillage (WS; slurry material that is dried into DDGS) can alleviate negative effects of dietary fiber and can improve digestive and fermentation characteristics of the feedstuff. However, optimal time and temperature of the heat pretreatment of WS, and best enzymes for predigestion of WS have not been identified. Experiments were conducted to identify optimal conditions for heat pretreatment and multienzyme predigestion of WS for pigs. First experiment was conducted to identify optimal temperature …

Intraspecific Aggression Towards Common Bottlenose Dolphin Calves, Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Errol Ronje, Sarah Piwetz, Heidi Whitehead, Keith D. Mullin

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Infanticide has been widely documented throughout the animal kingdom, and has generally been viewed as an evolved, or adaptive behavior for the perpetrators. Infanticide motivated by increased sexual access to females with calves, or the elimination of potential genetic competition in the form of calf-directed aggression or infanticide, has been proposed for delphinids including killer whales, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, Guiana dolphins, and bottlenose dolphins. However, reports of intraspecific aggression towards bottlenose dolphin calves are relatively infrequent, and accounts of confirmed infanticide are rarer still. Reporting instances of intraspecific calf-directed aggression aids researchers to better understand the socio-behavioral context of these …

Decomposition In Pasture Soil Receiving Excreta From Ruminants Fed Alfalfa Forage Diet Supplemented With Increasing Proportions Of Sericea Lespedeza Legume, Yang Kai Tang, Mary C. Savin, Dirk Philipp, Ken Coffey, Jiangchao Zhao

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Healthy soil is fundamental to a productive pasture system as it will decompose labile organic matter and promote retention of carbon to build a stable, resistant pool of organic matter. An easy, standardized approach to measure decomposition and litter stabilization that is gaining popularity in both citizen science and research studies is the use of the Tea Bag Index. The Tea Bag Index is a relatively new method evaluating the loss of organic material in two different kinds of commercial tea bags (green tea and Rooibos tea) after burial in the soil for 90 days. The objective of this experiment …

Review Of Recreational Fishing Surveys In Western Australia, Alissa Tate, K. L. Ryan, Claire B. Smallwood, Cameron J. Desfosses, S.M Taylor, E.K. Lai, Stuart Blight

Fisheries Research Reports

Recreational fishing has been a popular activity in Western Australia for many years, with an estimated 25% of the population participating in this activity in 2017/18. Recreational fishing surveys have been implemented by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (formally Department of Fisheries) since 1976.

Survival Of Enterococcus FaeciumIn Turkey Litter Under Different Temperature And Moisture Combinations, Steven G. Mcbride, Benjamin Holland, Pradeep Vasudevan, Joanna B. Mott

Virginia Journal of Science

Untreated poultry litter introduces a substantial load of fecal pathogens to the environment, impacting agriculture, public health and ecosystem function. There is substantial evidence that temperature and moisture are the primary drivers of fecal bacteria survival across ecosystems. However, both temperature and moisture effects have been shown to be modulated by the matrix in which the fecal bacteria are living. This context dependence highlights the importance of understanding fecal bacteria survival in a variety of matrices in order to implement effective waste management plans. In this study, we determined the survival patterns of Enterococcus faecium in post-use turkey litter under …

An Assessment Of Convergence In The Feeding Morphology Of Xiphactinus Audax And Megalops Atlanticus Using Landmark-Based Geometric Morphometrics, Edward Chase Shelburne

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Convergence is an evolutionary phenomenon wherein distantly related organisms independently develop features or functional adaptations to overcome similar environmental constraints. Historically, convergence among organisms has been speculated or asserted with little rigorous or quantitative investigation. More recent advancements in systematics has allowed for the detection and study of convergence in a phylogenetic context, but this does little to elucidate convergent anatomical features in extinct taxa with poorly understood evolutionary histories. The purpose of this study is to investigate one potentially convergent system—the feeding structure of Xiphactinus audax (Teleostei: Ichthyodectiformes) and Megalops atlanticus (Teleostei: Elopiformes)—using a comparative anatomical approach to assess …

The Effects Of Prescribed Burning And Microhabitat Type On Ant (Formicidae) Functional Groups And A Survey Of Ants In The Dr. Howard Reynolds Nature Area (A Mixed Grass Prairie), Ashley N. Durr

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

This project sought to understand how prescribed burning and microhabitat type impacts Kansas ant functional groups and also whether prescribed burning in different microhabitat types altered the burn’s impact on those functional groups. The Dr. Howard Reynolds Nature Trail, located in Hays, Kansas, was burned in the spring of 2019. The area consists of 2 distinct habitat types: a dry, mixed-grass dominated uphill area and a moist, densely vegetated downhill area. Pitfall trapping was conducted during the summers of the year prior to the burn (2018) and the year following the burn (2019). 15 pitfall traps were spread across each …

The Role Of Feed Additives In Mitigating The Effect Of Stressors On Growth, Digestibility, Intestinal Morphology, Permeability, And Immune Response In Poultry, Yemi Olojede Burden

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the interactive effects of dietary supplements in birds exposed to different stressors, on growth performance, nutrient, and energy digestibility, antioxidant status, intestinal permeability, and immune status. The first study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a commercially available algae-based antioxidant, containing Selenium yeast (EconomasE™, EcoE) and two inorganic sodium sources (NaCl and NaCl+NaHCO3) on growth performance, nutrient and energy digestibility and utilization, antioxidant, and immune status of broilers challenged with oral gavage of dexamethasone (DEX). The inclusion of either of the sodium sources did not affect plasma corticosterone and antioxidant status levels, growth …

Life History Metrics Of Wahoo (Acanthocybium Solandri) From The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Erik T. Lang, Chris A. Levron, Cijii D. Marshall, Brett J. Falterman

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) are highly sought in recreational and commercial fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), yet the harvest of Wahoo is currently unmanaged in the GOM region outside of Florida waters. Life history metrics are critical to stock assessments and science-based management. Between 2014-2017, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) biologists collected Wahoo otoliths and ovaries (n=198) from the northern GOM Wahoo recreational fishery based in Venice, LA to estimate life history metrics of age, growth, and maturity. A protocol was developed to section and age the small, fragile otoliths. A 2-parameter Von Bertalanffy growth …