Digital Commons Network^™

Increasing Maternity Leave And Decreasing Attrition Rates Of U.S. Active Duty Women In The Prenatal And Immediate Postpartum Period, Minette S.R. Herrick, Weiwen Chai

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Introduction:The USA currently does not have a national parental leave policy. In 2016, the Secretary of Defense increased the allotted maternity leave for active duty U.S. military members from 6 to 12 weeks. The purpose of this study was to understand the potential impact of this change on attrition rates of active duty women in the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines from their initial prenatal visit through the first year postpartum.

Methods: All active duty women who had a confirmed pregnancy in the electronic health record from 2011 to 2019 were included for consideration in the study. …

High Throughput Phenotyping: Field Based Triticale Breeding And Educational Resource Impact, Catherine Kay Mick

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Triticale (Triticosecale) is a multifunctional hybrid cereal crop that adopted the hardiness of rye and wheat's high-yielding and nutritional qualities. Plant breeding programs work to improve the quality and number of varieties available to producers through multiple rounds of evaluation and selection. However, traditional phenotyping methods are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and destructive, creating a phenotyping bottleneck. Remote sensing using unmanned aerial systems has the potential to alleviate this issue and change the evaluation of phenotypes in a breeding. Demand for educational resources to advance public awareness and prepare the workforce has increased with the utilization of more technology in …

Unraveling The Tapestry Of Indigenous Maize In North America: A Case Study Of Pawnee Ancestral Maize, Kahheetah Barnoskie

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Studies on Indigenous ancestral landrace maize in North America has significant historical and scientific importance. Indigenous peoples, such as the Pawnee people, have been cultivating maize for thousands of years, resulting in diverse varieties adapted to their local environments. This study aims to deepen the knowledge of Indigenous maize by examining specific varieties from the Pawnee, including a comparative analysis of the genetic makeup through DNA sequencing. This study used Genotyping by Target Sequencing (GBTS) method to examine the genetic variation and characteristics among the multiple varieties the Pawnee people once grew historically, providing valuable information about the evolutionary history …

Development Of An Intact Mass Spectrometry Method For The Detection And Differentiation Of Major Bovine Milk Proteins, Emily F. Harley-Dowell

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The authentication of products with claims regarding protein sources or compositions is a challenge for traditional analytical methods, which generally lack the required specificity whole protein analysis can provide. For example, the establishment of milk as “A2” is achieved through genetic testing of cows before milk production, with no methods to authenticate milk products themselves. Establishment of A2 milk is completed through genetic testing of the cows before milk production, but with no methods to authenticate the milk products themselves. Intact protein mass spectrometry (MS) has the potential to directly authenticate protein products, including specific proteoform claims. The development of …

Assessing The Morphological And Physiological Traits Of Smooth Brome Pastures Under Long Term Grazing And Nutrient Enrichment In Eastern Nebraska, Hassan Shehab

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Climate change together with the increase in demands for food, feed, fuel, and fiber are becoming a threat to sustainability and resilience of agriculture and pasture lands. Bromus inermis (smooth bromegrass) dominates pastures for cattle grazing in Eastern Nebraska, US, where it is planted in monocultures, and is considered high quality forage because of its palatability and high nutritional value for cattle, especially under intensive management practices. Sustainable management of these pastures is key to long-term resilience. This study aims to assess the performance of smooth bromegrass pastures to the combined effects of long-term management practices (since 2005) of fertilization …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Well-Being Of People Incarcerated In United States Prisons, Kimberly Rivera

Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the population as a whole. However, the incarcerated population (which also experiences a variety of health disparities) has been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Due to overcrowding, poor ventilation, and lack of resources, the incarcerated population already is at a heightened risk for negative health outcomes, made worse by the recent pandemic. To adapt to the rapidly changing conditions during the pandemic in 2020 and into 2022, new safety measures were implemented, but the unintended consequences associated with the implementation of these procedures have yet to be examined empirically. I conducted a qualitative content …

Feed Value And Utilization Of Corn Residue: Implications For Cow Performance And Grazing Strategies, Kaylee E. Wheeler

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

Two experiments were conducted to determine the correlation of corn residue feed value and utilization on cow performance and potential grazing strategies. A qualitative observation of corn residue grazing by 13 cattle herds across Nebraska was conducted over two years. Based on producer reported grain yields and stocking rates, it was found that these producers were generally not as aggressive as the recommended 1.2 animal unit months (AUM) for each 6,280 kg/ha (100 U.S. bushels/acre) of harvested grain. They stocked 17 to 101% of the recommendation and on average used 63% of the carrying capacity. Across herds, average body condition …

Predicting Body Weight Of Cattle And Nutrient Digestion Of Individual Sweet Bran Components To Improve Beef Cattle Production Efficiency, Dalton J. Anderson

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

Efficiency is of high importance to beef cattle producers to ensure that beef cattle are being raised without unnecessary resource use. Two separate experiments were conducted to evaluate potential strategies to improve efficiency in beef cattle production. A metabolism study was conducted to evaluate digestion parameters of individual Sweet Bran components. The objective was to determine the effects of diet components on nutrient digestion and rumen fermentation parameters. The individual components of Sweet Bran (Corn bran, solvent-extracted germ meal, and corn steep liquor) were included at 40% diet dry matter (DM) in a steam-flaked corn (SFC) based diet. A SFC-based …

The Evaluation Of Feed Additives On Reducing Enteric Methane Production From Cattle, Reba L. Colin

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

Environmental sustainability can be positively impacted by the inclusion of feed additives to reduce enteric methane production from cattle. Methane production can be affected by feed additives that either alter the rumen environment or act as methanogenesis inhibitors. A reduction in methane from cattle can contribute to meeting carbon neutrality.

A metabolism study was conducted to evaluate Alga 1.0, a product containing bromoform, fed to cattle to evaluate the effects on gas emissions. Treatments were (0, 69, or 103 g/d Alga 1.0) fed in a corn-based diet. Headbox-style indirect calorimeters were used to measure gas emissions. Feeding Alga 1.0 linearly …

The Impact Of Silage Inclusion In Diets With Different Corn Processing And The Effect Of Natural And Conventional Feeding Programs On Finishing Cattle Performance, Jessica L. Miller

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

A finishing experiment was conducted to determine the effects of natural and conventional feeding programs on finishing performance of steers and heifers. Factors were conventional and natural feeding programs in steers and heifers. Cattle assigned to the conventional program were fed diets that contained Rumensin (Elanco Animal Health), Tylan (Elanco Animal Health), MGA (Zoetis), and received growth promoting implants whereas cattle in the natural program received neither. Compared to natural fed cattle, G:F was improved by 15.5% when heifers were fed in a conventional program (P < 0.01) and 23.8% when steers were fed in a conventional program (P < 0.01). The incorporation of implants and feed additives within the finishing period increased …

Forages And Technology Management In Growing And Finishing Beef Cattle Systems, Kelton Cole Adair

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

A systems study evaluated the effects of an implant [25.7 mg estradiol (Compudose; Elanco Animal Health)] at two rates of gain (LOW: 0.45 kg/d and HIGH: 0.9 kg/d) applied during the winter backgrounding phase in drylot and winter grazing systems and its effects on subsequent phases of production. HIGH supplementation with an implant during the winter backgrounding phase in the drylot system yielded the greatest ending body weight (EBW) during the summer backgrounding phase (P = 0.04). LOW supplementation, without an implant, improved summer backgrounding average daily gain (ADG; P = 0.05) while achieving similar carcass adjusted final body …

Factors Affecting Forage Quality And The Subsequent Response In Production And Energy Metabolism In Lactating Jersey Cows, Kassidy Kate Buse

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

Forage quality is the potential of a forage to produce a production response in animals. Because of how essential they are in dairy cattle rations, forages can have major influence on the behavior and production of dairy cattle. In experiment 1, the effect of forage fragility on the rumen environment and digestibility was evaluated. Increasing the inclusion of a less fragile forage led to greater rumen retention time, which resulted in lower rumen pH and greater NDF digestibility. Experiment 2 evaluated the effects of diets high in either corn silage or alfalfa haylage supplemented with either corn- or soybased protein …

Early-Life Supplementation Of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Improved Growth And Skeletal Muscle Glucose Metabolism In The Heat Stress-Induced Iugr Neonatal Lamb, Melanie Ryann White

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

Our 1^st study determined whether metabolic deficits of IUGR-born neonatal lambs can be improved by ameliorating elevated inflammatory tone. Supplementation with ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA) improved hindlimb insulin-stimulated glucose oxidation rates and basal lactate secretion. Ex vivo skeletal muscle-specific glucose oxidation rates were improved when heightened inflammatory tone was moderated. Pancreatic β cell function in response to hyperglycemia was improved by ω-3 PUFA supplementation. Tempered inflammatory tone also partially recovered skeletal muscle glycogen stores. Thus, we found that targeting heightened inflammatory tone inherent in IUGR-born neonatal lambs moderately improved glucose metabolism and pancreatic β cell …

A Global Faostat Reference Database Of Cropland Nutrient Budgets And Nutrient Use Efficiency (1961–2020): Nitrogen, Phosphorus And Potassium, Cameron I. Ludemann, Nathan Wanner, Pauline Chivenge, Achim Dobermann, Rasmus Einarsson, Patricio Grassini, Armelle Gruere, Kevin Jackson, Luis Lassaletta, Federico Maggi, Griffiths Obli-Laryea, Martin K. Van Ittersum, Srishti Vishwakarma, Xin Zhang, Francesco N. Tubiello

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Nutrient budgets help to identify the excess or insufficient use of fertilizers and other nutrient sources in agriculture. They allow for the calculation of indicators, such as the nutrient balance (surplus if positive or deficit if negative) and nutrient use efficiency, that help to monitor agricultural productivity and sustainability across the world. We present a global database of country-level budget estimates for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) on cropland. The database, disseminated in FAOSTAT, is meant to provide a global reference, synthesizing and continuously updating the state of the art on this topic. The database covers 205 countries …

Do Organic Farming Practices Improve Soil Physical Properties?, Humberto Blanco-Canqui, Sabrina J. Ruis, Charles A. Francis

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Organic farming (OF) is a reemerging system that could address food security and adverse environmental footprints of conventional farming (CF). However, how OF affects the soil physical environment, an essential pillar for soil ecosystem service delivery, is not well understood. This paper (1) reviews published global literature up to 13 July 2023 regarding the impacts of OF on soil physical properties compared with CF and (2) underlines research needs. Literature indicates OF improves some soil physical properties relative to CF although studies on some properties were few. Specifically, OF increased wet aggregate stability, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and plant available water …

Disruption Of Semiochemical-Mediated Movement By The Immature Trogoderma Variabile Baillon And Trogoderma Inclusum Le Conte (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) After Exposure To Long-Lasting Insecticide-Incorporated Netting, Sabita Ranabhat, Michael J. Domingue, Luke Lebar, Georgina Bingham, Kun Yan Zhu, William R. Morrison Iii

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Highly mobile stored product insects may be able to readily orient in response to food cues and pheromones to attack durable commodities at each link of the postharvest supply chain. A 0.4% deltamethrin-incorporated long-lasting insecticide-incorporated netting (LLIN) is a successful novel preventative integrated pest management (IPM) tactic to intercept dispersing insects after harvest. However, it is unknown whether exposure to LLIN may affect olfaction and orientation to important semiochemicals by immature stored product dermestids, therefore the aim of this study was to assess whether exposure to LLIN disrupts the normal olfactory and chemotactic behavior of warehouse beetle, Trogoderma variabile …

Radiofrequency Inactivation Of Salmonella In Black Pepper And Dried Basil Leaves Using In-Package Steaming, Surabhi Wason, Rossana Villa-Rojas, Jeyamkondan Subbiah

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Radiofrequency (RF) heating has been extensively studied for pasteurizing low‐moisture foods. Currently, bulk foods are treated with radiofrequency; potential cross‐contamination may occur during packaging of pasteurized products. As an alternative, in‐package RF processing was evaluated for Salmonella inactivation on black peppercorns and dried basil leaves and prevention of cross‐contamination during storage postprocessing. Inpackage steaming refers to the process in which the samples were heated in a steam vent package to generate and retain steam during the treatment. This treatment achieved good heating uniformity which could be because of the circulation of steam within the package. One‐way steam vent allowed the …

University Of Nebraska-Lincoln Agricultural Research Division 121st Annual Report. July 1, 2006 To June 30, 2007., Institute Of Agriculture And Natural Resources

Agricultural Research Division: News and Annual Reports

Our Mission..... 4

Foreword..... 5

Research Highlights..... 6

Faculty Awards and Recognitions....14

Graduate Student Awards and Recognitions...17

Undergraduate Honors Student Research Program...22

Variety and Germplasm Releases....23

Patents.....24

Administration.....25

Administrative Personnel....25

Organizational Chart....26

Administrative Units....27

IANR Research Facilities....28

Faculty.....29

Agricultural/Natural Resources Units....30

Education and Human Sciences Departments...39

Off-Campus Research Centers....40

Interdisciplinary Activities....41

Visiting Scientists/Research Associates....42

Research Projects.....47

Agricultural/Natural Resources Units....47

Education and Human Sciences Departments...52

Off-Campus Research Centers....52

Interdisciplinary Activities....53

Publications.....55

Agricultural/Natural Resources Units....60

Education and Human Sciences Departments...82

Off-Campus Research Centers....85

Research Expenditures....88

Factors Affecting Forage Quality And The Subsequent Response In Production And Energy Metabolism In Lactating Jersey Cows, Kassidy Kate Buse

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Forage quality is the potential of a forage to produce a production response in animals. Because of how essential they are in dairy cattle rations, forages can have major influence on the behavior and production of dairy cattle. In experiment 1, the effect of forage fragility on the rumen environment and digestibility was evaluated. Increasing the inclusion of a less fragile forage led to greater rumen retention time, which resulted in lower rumen pH and greater NDF digestibility. Experiment 2 evaluated the effects of diets high in either corn silage or alfalfa haylage supplemented with either corn- or soy-based protein …

Covid‑19‑Related Risk, Resilience, And Mental Health Among Mexican American Mothers Across The First Year Of The Pandemic, Amy L. Non, Elizabeth S. Clausing, Sandraluz Lara‑Cinisomo, Kimberly L. D’Anna Hernandez

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Background Latina mothers have been especially affected by the pandemic and historically exhibit high rates of depression and anxiety. However, few longitudinal studies have assessed the effect of the pandemic on this vulnerable population. We hypothesized that COVID-19-related stressors would associate with psychological distress among Latina mothers across the first year of the pandemic.

Methods We investigated COVID-19-related impact, stigma, and fears across two critical time points and changes in these measures in relation to changes in maternal anxiety and depression among mothers of Mexican descent living in Southern California (n=152). Surveys were administered within 5–16 weeks of …

A Bio-Economic Modeling Analysis Of Livestock Grazing On Rangelands Utilizing A Supplementary Grazing Resource, Jessica L. Windh

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation is a compilation of 5 chapters culminating in a bioeconomic model of the interactions between an integrated crop-livestock system and native rangeland grazing system. The model is developed using data from the eastern Sandhills of Nebraska, a location where cropping systems of Eastern Nebraska border one of the last intact grasslands remaining in North America.

The first chapter introduces the reader to the systems that will be modeled in the dissertation. In Chapter 2 we used a linear regression to model grassland biomass production as a function of climatic variables; we were unsuccessful in modeling season-long production in …

A Multi-Organ Maize Metabolic Model Connects Temperature Stress With Energy Production And Reducing Power Generation, Niaz Bahar Chowdhury, Margaret Simons- Senftle, Berengere Decouard, Isabelle Quillere, Martine Rigault, Karuna Anna Sajeevan, Bibek Acharya, Ratul Chowdhury, Bertrand Hirel, Alia Dellagi, Costas Maranas, Rajib Saha

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

Climate change has adversely affected maize productivity. Thereby, a holistic understanding of metabolic crosstalk among its organs is important to address this issue. Thus, we reconstructed the first multi-organ maize metabolicmodel, iZMA6517, and contextualized itwith heat and cold stress transcriptomics data using expression distributed reaction flux measurement (EXTREAM) algorithm. Furthermore, implementing metabolic bottleneck analysis on contextualized models revealed differences between these stresses. While both stresses had reducing power bottlenecks, heat stress had additional energy generation bottlenecks.We also performed thermodynamic driving force analysis, revealing thermodynamics-reducing power-energy generation axis dictating the nature of temperature stress responses. Thus, a temperaturetolerant maize ideotype can …

Characterization Of Adipocyte Mechanical Properties And Stretch Control Of Mechanosignaling In Adipocytes, Tasneem Bouzid

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Obesity has reached global epidemic levels in recent decades and is the leading risk factor for type-2 diabetes (T2D). Adipose tissue behaves as a link between obesity and T2D, with dysfunctional extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, adipokine secretion and lipid metabolism leading to insulin resistance. The extracellular mechanophysical milieus is understood to regulate adipocyte differentiation and function through activation of mechanosensory machinery and related pathways. Therefore, exploring the adipocytic response to mechanical loading can provide great pathophysiological insight into obesity and T2D.

Adipose tissue is exposed to various compound forces due to weight-bearing and movement, and adipocyte stiffness influences stress distribution …

Attitudes Towards Public Basic Needs Programs: An Analysis Of Question Order Effect, Period And Cohort Changes, And Differences Across Religious Traditions, Jamy Rentschler

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation examines public opinions towards public basic needs programs (PBNPs), focusing specifically on differences in attitudes towards spending on assistance to the poor (ATP) and welfare. To do this, I use two different approaches, one focusing on survey methodology and the other looking at social change across time and religious tradition. The first research question addresses potential survey question order effects based upon which question came first, ATP or welfare, and examines how other federal spending priorities may impact opinions towards welfare. I do find question order effects, some of which vary based on the respondent’s race, but the …

Tame The Flame: Inflammation Is A Targetable Physiological Mechanism Underlying Poor Outcomes Of Heat Stress In Finishing Sheep, Pablo C. Grijalva

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This research focused on health management through the identification of suitable interventions in stressed livestock. For this investigation, we conducted two experiments. First, we determined whether administration of dexamethasone or fish oil to heat-stressed livestock to reduce systemic inflammation would mitigate metabolic deficits, enhance nutrient utilization, and improve health. We found that these interventions helped to reduce circulating inflammatory cytokines and improve respiration, muscle glucose metabolism, lipid homeostasis, cardiovascular function, and organ pathology in lambs exposed to 30 days of heat stress. In our second experiment, we performed transcriptomic analyses to identify the underlying mechanisms affecting young offspring following prenatal …

Characterization And Evaluation Of Bioactivity Of Dry Edible Bean And Bean Derived Small Peptides, Bikram Prasad Upadhyaya

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Obesity, diabetes, and their metabolic complications continue to be one of the major global public health concerns with a few effective treatment options. Although regular exercise and a well-balanced diet that includes calories from pulses can be recommended, much remains to be elucidated about the health effects of the various bioactive compounds including peptides and polyphenols present in pulses. Most of the previous studies have focused on individual dietary compounds and only a few investigated the synergistic effect of active compounds in modulating human health. Hence this dissertation aimed first, to provide a comparative evaluation of the overall therapeutic value …

Improving Yield And Profit In Smallholder Oil Palm Fields Through Better Agronomy, Hendra Sugianto

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Oil palm accounts for 40% of global vegetable oil production and Indonesia contributed 59% of the total production, with total planted area nearly 15 M ha in 2020. About 40% of the planted area is managed and owned by smallholders, and two thirds of them are independent, they are not bounded to a large plantation. Current efforts to increase yield of independent smallholder (ISH) fields focus on replanting programs promoting use of certified planting material, with little attention to improve management practices, in particular, plant nutrition. Here we investigated the degree to which poor nutrition can explain large yield gaps …

Development And Psychometric Validation Of The Pandemic-Related Traumatic Stress Scale For Children And Adults, Courtney K. Blackwell, Phillip Sherlock, Kathryn L. Jackson, Julie A. Hofheimer, David Cella, Molly A. Algermissen, Akram N. Alshawabkeh, Lyndsay A. Avalos, Tracy Bastain, Clancy Blair, Michelle Bosquet Enlow, Patricia A. Brennan, Carrie Breton, Nicole R. Bush, Aruna Chandran, Shaina Collazo, Elisabeth Conradt, Sheila E. Crowell, Sean Deoni, Amy J. Elliott, Jean A. Frazier, Jody M. Ganiban, Diane R. Gold, Julie B. Herbstman, Christine Joseph, Margaret R. Karagas, Barry Lester, Jessica A. Lasky-Su, Leslie D. Leve, Kaja Z. Lewinn, W. Alex Mason, Elisabeth C. Mcgowan, Kimberly S. Mckee, Rachel L. Miller, Jenae M. Neiderhiser, Thomas G. O’Connor, Emily Oken, T. Michael O’Shea, David Pagliaccio, Rebecca J. Schmidt, Anne Marie Singh, Joseph B. Stanford, Leonardo Trasande, Rosalind J. Wright, Cristiane S. Duarte, Amy E. Margolis

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

To assess the public health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, investigators from the National Institutes of Health Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) research program developed the Pandemic-Related Traumatic Stress Scale (PTSS). Based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) acute stress disorder symptom criteria, the PTSS is designed for adolescent (13–21 years) and adult self-report and caregiver-report on 3–12-year-olds. To evaluate psychometric properties, we used PTSS data collected between April 2020 and August 2021 from non-pregnant adult caregivers (n = 11,483), pregnant/postpartum individuals (n = 1,656), …

A Text Analytics Model For Agricultural Knowledge Discovery And Sustainable Food Production: A Case Study From Oklahoma Panhandle, Ali Bagheri, Saleh Taghvaeian, Dursun Delen

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

With recent increases in the use of social media in agricultural communities, many farmers are showing more and more interest in participating in social media and sharing different aspects of their profession with peers and policymakers. However, researchers have not explored this valuable data source well enough to help improve agribusiness decision-making. This study aims to investigate the potential capability and richness of social media for agricultural knowledge discovery, which can help monitor, detect, and predict critical agricultural events and activities and develop more sustainable food production and agricultural economy. This research utilizes text-mining tools and techniques to collect, process, …

Statistical And Machine Learning Approaches To Describe Factors Affecting Preweaning Mortality Of Piglets, Md Towfiqur Rahman, Tami M. Brown-Brandl, Gary A. Rohrer, Sudhendu R. Sharma, Vamsi Manthena, Yeyin Shi

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

High preweaning mortality (PWM) rates for piglets are a significant concern for the worldwide pork industries, causing economic loss and well-being issues. This study focused on identifying the factors affecting PWM, overlays, and predicting PWM using historical production data with statistical and machine learning models. Data were collected from 1,982 litters from the United States Meat Animal Research Center, Nebraska, over the years 2016 to 2021. Sows were housed in a farrowing building with three rooms, each with 20 farrowing crates, and taken care of by well-trained animal caretakers. A generalized linear model was used to analyze the various sow, …