Digital Commons Network^™

Registration Of ‘Newell’ Smooth Bromegrass, K P. Vogel, R B. Mitchell, B L. Waldron, M R. Haferkamp, J D. Berdahl, D D. Baltensperger, Galen Erickson, T J. Klopfenstein

Green Canyon Environmental Research Area, Logan Utah

No abstract provided.

Efficient Gene Targeting In Golden Syrian Hamsters By The Crispr/Cas9 System, Zhiqiang Fan, Wei Li, Sang R. Lee, Qinggang Meng, Tom D. Bunch, Kenneth L. White, Zhongde Wang, Il-Keun Kong

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

The golden Syrian hamster is the model of choice or the only rodent model for studying many human diseases. However, the lack of gene targeting tools in hamsters severely limits their use in biomedical research. Here, we report the first successful application of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to efficiently conduct gene targeting in hamsters. We designed five synthetic single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs)—three for targeting the coding sequences for different functional domains of the hamster STAT2 protein, one for KCNQ1, and one for PPP1R12C—and demonstrated that the CRISPR/Cas9 system is highly efficient in introducing site-specific mutations in hamster somatic cells. We …

Warming, Competition, And Bromus Tectorum Population Growth Across An Elevation Gradient, Aldo Compagnoni, Peter B. Adler

Green Canyon Environmental Research Area, Logan Utah

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is one of the most problematic invasive plant species in North America and climate change threatens to exacerbate its impacts. We conducted a two‐year field experiment to test the effect of warming, competition, and seed source on cheatgrass performance across an elevation gradient in northern Utah. We hypothesized that warming would increase cheatgrass performance, but that warming effects would be limited by competing vegetation and by local adaptation of cheatgrass seed sources. The warming treatment relied on open top chambers, we removed vegetation to assess the effect of competition from neighboring vegetation, and we reciprocally …

Schooling Increases Risk Exposure For Fish Navigating Past Artificial Barriers, Bertrand H. Lemasson, James W. Haefner, Mark D. Bowen

Biology Faculty Publications

Artificial barriers have become ubiquitous features in freshwater ecosystems and they can significantly impact a region's biodiversity. Assessing the risk faced by fish forced to navigate their way around artificial barriers is largely based on assays of individual swimming behavior. However, social interactions can significantly influence fish movement patterns and alter their risk exposure. Using an experimental flume, we assessed the effects of social interactions on the amount of time required for juvenile palmetto bass (Morone chrysops × M. saxatilis) to navigate downstream past an artificial barrier. Fish were released either individually or in groups into the flume …

How To Use Anti-Mullerian Hormone Testing To Diagnose Granulosa Cell Tumors In Mares, Dirk K. Vanderwall, Kerry A. Rood

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes how to use Anti-Mullerian hormone testing to diagnose granulosa cell tumors in mares.

2013 Annual Report, Various Authors

Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

Physiological Impacts And Lactational Performance Of Dairy Cows Fed Brown Midrib Corn Silage During Dry Period Through Early To Midlactation, Alexandra Windley Kelley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Developing solutions to the metabolic stress experienced by cows during the transition period is very important because it can negatively influence lactational performance. The objectives were to: 1) compare physiological changes through body weight (BW) and concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) and 2) evaluate feed intake, milk production, and energy balance (EB) of cows fed brown midrib corn silage (BMRCS)-based diets when compared with conventional corn silage (CCS)-based diets during the transition. At 4 wk prior to parturition, 40 dry multiparous Holstein cows …

Ghrelin Concentrations In Milk And Plasma Of Dairy Cows During Early Lactation, Sameer M. Alhojaily

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Ghrelin is a hormone produced mainly by the cells lining the gastric mucosa. Ghrelin was first extracted from human and rat stomachs, and identified as an endogenous stimulator of growth hormone release. Ghrelin is synthesized and produced in several tissues, but the gastric mucosa remains the major source of circulating ghrelin. Besides growth hormone release, ghrelin stimulates appetite and plays some major roles in different organs. In several studies, ghrelin was described as a hormone with multiple functions and diverse biological actions. Ghrelin exists in two major forms, active ghrelin and inactive ghrelin, and only the active from binds to …

Producing An Ovine Model Of Cystic Fibrosis, Kira Perry Morgado

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease that significantly affects quality of life and lifespan. There are currently no effective animal models of CF that mimic the human disease state. This prevents the development of pharmaceutical treatments for patients. Sheep have been considered for a useful animal model because of their size, life expectancy, and similarities in their anatomy and physiology. In order to generate a sheep transgenic model to study CF we have produced two Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene targeting DNA vectors containing large regions of homology to the CFTR gene in sheep. One of …

Nutrient Utilization, Lactational Performance, And Profitability Of Dairy Cows By Feeding Protein Supplements In High-Forage Lactation Diets, Kathryn Neal

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Due to the increasing cost of soybean meal and concerns of excess N being excreted into the environment, new protein supplements have been developed. Two products that have shown potential in increasing N utilization efficiency are slow release urea (SRU; Optigen) and ruminal escape protein derived from yeast (YMP; DEMP). The objective of this study was to assess the effects of feeding these 2 supplements in high-forage [(54% of total dietary dry matter (DM)] dairy diets on nutrient utilization, feed efficiency, lactational performance of dairy cows, and their impacts on income-over feed costs. Twelve …

Assessing The Impact Of Supplements, Food Aversions, And Silica On Medusahead Use By Sheep, Tyler Hamilton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Ranchers, farmers, land managers, and resource management agencies have been plagued with various types of invasive weeds for decades, ultimately affecting millions of acres of viable wildlife habitat, grazing, and recreational opportunities. Invasive weeds often have nutritional contexts that negatively affect animals in some way, increasing the incentive to avoid consuming it by various animal species and domestic livestock. With the current amount of land infested with this weed, and the limited knowledge of the reason for avoidance, the underlying causes of livestock avoidance require in-depth and fundamental understanding.

In my MS program, I sought to explore the relationship of …

Ambient Temperature, Calf Intakes, And Weight Gains On Preweaned Dairy Calves, Sheldon D. Holt

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

There has been little research conducted on the physiological response of calves to temperatures outside thermal neutrality and its effects on intake and weight gain. The effects of ambient temperature on Holstein dairy calves intakes and weight gain were evaluated over a 12-month period at the Utah State University Caine Dairy.

Ambient temperature was monitored using a weather station located 1.3 kilometers from the dairy. Calf health was monitored daily using the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine scoring criteria. Calves were fed whole milk and free choice calf starter. Weight gain, wither and hip height, starter intake, and …

American Bison Ecology And Bison-Cattle Interactions In An Isolated Montane Environment, Dustin H. Ranglack

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

As bison are considered to be ecologically extinct, and negative interactions between bison and cattle are perceived to limit bison restoration and cattle production, I designed a series of studies to test for potential competition between bison (Bison bison) and cattle (Bos taurus) for forage on the Henry Mountains in southern Utah. These studies provide insight into key information gaps previously identified by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), Bureau of Land Management, and the local grazing association. The results indicate that bison and cattle are not strong competitors for forage on the Henry Mountains. …

Effects Of Condensed Tannins On The Toxicity Of Fireweed (Senecio Madagascariensis) To Cattle, Carolyn L. Wong

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) is a noxious and invasive weed affecting pastures in Hawaii, Australia, and South America. Fireweed contains compounds called pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are toxic to most grazing mammals. Toxic effects to cattle include irreversible damage to liver cells, hardening of the liver, and loss of liver function, which may lead to jaundice, swelling, and the accumulation of fluids in the stomach and other physiological malfunctions. External effects include rough appearance, diarrhea, low energy and dullness, photosensitization, and abnormal behavior, many of which can lead to death. Fireweed also can reduce pasture productivity by as much as …

Halogeton (H. Glomeratus) Poisoning In Cattle: Case Report, Kerry A. Rood, Kip E. Panter, Dale R. Gardner, Bryan L. Stegelmeier, Jeffery O. Hall

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Historically, the most significant losses from halogeton poisoning have been reported in sheep, with multiple catastrophic deaths documented. While recorded death losses in cattle from halogeton poisoning are less common than in sheep, recent cases, including 2 reported here, and anecdotal reports from other ranchers suggest that the impact of halogeton losses in cattle herds in the western United States is much more widespread than originally thought. Halogeton may accumulate up to 30% oxalates; a small amount of the plant (300 g) is enough to cause death in sheep. Oxalates precipitate calcium from the blood, resulting in hypocalcemia, formation of …

Triple Immunoglobulin Gene Knockout Transchromosomic (Tc) Cattle: Bovine Lambda Cluster Deletion And Its Effect On Fully Human Polyclonal Antibody Production, H. Matsushita, A. Sano, H. Wu, J. Jiao, P. Kasinathan, E. J. Sullivan, Zhongde Wang, K. Kuroiwa

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Towards the goal of producing fully human polyclonal antibodies (hpAbs or hIgGs) in transchromosomic (Tc) cattle, we previously reported that Tc cattle carrying a human artificial chromosome (HAC) comprising the entire unrearranged human immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy-chain (hIGH), kappa-chain (hIGK), and lambda-chain (hIGL) germline loci produced physiological levels of hIgGs when both of the bovine immunoglobulin mu heavy-chains, bIGHM and bIGHML1, were homozygously inactivated (bIGHM-/-, bIGHML1-/-; double knockouts or DKO). However, because endogenous bovine immunoglobulin light chain loci are still intact, the light chains are produced both from the hIGK and hIGL genomic loci on the HAC and from the endogenous …

Warming, Soil Moisture, And Loss Of Snow Increase Bromus Tectorum’S Population Growth Rate, Aldo Compagnoni, Peter B. Adler

Green Canyon Environmental Research Area, Logan Utah

Climate change threatens to exacerbate the impacts of invasive species. In temperate ecosystems, direct effects of warming may be compounded by dramatic reductions in winter snow cover. Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is arguably the most destructive biological invader in basins of the North American Intermountain West, and warming could increase its performance through direct effects on demographic rates or through indirect effects mediated by loss of snow. We conducted a two-year experimental manipulation of temperature and snow pack to test whether 1) warming increases cheatgrass population growth rate and 2) reduced snow cover contributes to cheatgrass’ positive response to …

Morbidity And Mortality In Reptiles Presented To A Wildlife Care Facility In Central Illinois, Anne E. Rivas, Matthew C. Allender, Mark Mitchell, Julia K. Whittington

Human–Wildlife Interactions

We examined morbidity and mortality of 200 reptiles, representing 13 different species that were presented to the University of Illinois Wildlife Medical Clinic (WMC) from 2003 to 2010. Snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentine; n = 46), box turtles (Terrapene sp.; n = 43), painted turtles (Chrysemys picta; n = 37), and red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans; n = 33) were the most frequently seen species. Turtles were significantly more likely to be presented to the WMC following collision with a motor vehicle (n = 73) than any other reason, including idiopathic trauma (i.e., …

An Evaluation Of Two Traps And Sets For Trapping The Plains Pocket Gopher, Stephen M. Vantassel, Andrew J. Tyre, Scott E. Hygnstrom

Human–Wildlife Interactions

We investigated the efficiency of DK-1 and Macabee® pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius) traps placed in lateral tunnels in both open and closed tunnel sets in rangeland and nonirrigated alfalfa fields in Nebraska. We observed no statistical difference between the traps in capture efficiency when used in open, versus closed, tunnel sets. Trapping of pocket gophers was more effective in rangeland (probability of capture in a single tunnel system using 3 traps; 63%) than nonirrigated alfalfa fields (26%). We did not determine whether this variance was due to behavioral differences between Geomys bursarius and Geomys lutescens. We found …

Determination Of Residue Levels Of Alpha-Chloralose In Duck Tissues, David A. Goldade, Randal S. Stahl, John. J. Johnston

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Alpha-chloralose (AC) is used to capture nuisance waterfowl so that they can be relocated. Concerns for food safety limit its use prior to or during the waterfowl hunting season. To determine its half-life in tissue, we administered AC to adult male (n = 7) and female (n = 5) mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) via oral gavage. A gel capsule containing 100 μCi of radioactive AC (14C-AC) and sufficient nonlabeled AC to produce a dose of approximately 30 mg/kg was given to each duck.The ducks were euthanized at 2, 6, 10, and 18 hours postdosing …

Comment On Dieter Et Al. (2014), Leonard R. Askham, Michael E. R. Godfrey

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Johne's Disease, Mycoplasma And Bvd In Utah - Bulk Tank Milk Testing And Comparison To Previous Regional Prevalence And Individual Herd Results Over Time, David J. Wilson, Kerry A. Rood, J. Bunnell, C. Whitehouse, G. M. Goodell, T. M. Byrem

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Dairy herd-level prevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), causative agent of Johne’s disease (JD), Mycoplasma spp., and Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) virus were estimated in Utah and surrounding states and compared to previous surveillance results. Milk was collected at 3-4 day intervals on 5 dates (duplicate samples) from each bulk tank on participating farms, samples analyzed separately. One frozen sample was shipped to a laboratory for JD/MAP testing with ELISA and real-time PCR, the other paired sample was shipped to another laboratory for mycoplasma and BVD testing. Mycoplasma was cultured on modified Hayflick medium, standard methods; BVD testing was …

Activating The Expression Of Human K-Rasg12d Stimulates Oncogenic Transformation In Transgenic Goat Fetal Fibroblast Cells, J. Gong, Zhongde Wang, I. Polejaeva, R. Salgia, C. Kao, T. Chen, L. Chen

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Humane use of preclinical large animal cancer models plays a critical role in understanding cancer biology and developing therapeutic treatments. Among the large animal candidates, goats have great potentials as sustainable sources for large animal cancer model development. Goats are easier to handle and cheaper to raise. The genome of the goats has been sequenced recently. It has been known that goats develop skin, adrenal cortex, breast and other types of cancers. Technically, goats are subject to somatic cell nuclear transfer more efficiently and exhibit better viability through the cloning process. Towards the development of a goat cancer model, we …

Examining Patterns Of Animal–Vehicle Collisions In Alabama, Usa, Xiongwen Chen, Shuhong Wu

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Animal–vehicle collisions (AVCs) cause animal death, human injury, and vehicle damage. Uncovering the general patterns and related ecological processes of AVCs is useful for developing mitigation strategies. We examined some previous patterns about AVCs from records in Alabama during 2001 to 2011. The results confirm that: (1) there was a seasonal pattern, with >50% of AVCs occurring in winter; (2) AVCs occurred most frequently at dawn and dusk in the diurnal pattern; and (3) most AVCs occurred on county highways. However, interstate and federal highways had higher numbers of AVCs per km of road. Counties within metropolitan areas had more …

A Device For Refilling Practice Bear Spray Canisters, John Gookin, Tom S. Smith, Alison Williams

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

In Defense Of Field Experiments: Response To Askham And Godfrey (2014), Charles D. Dieter, Cody S. Warner, Curiong Ren

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Wildlife In Airport Environments: Preventing Animal–Aircraft Collisions Through Science-Based Management, Joe N. Caudell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

In The News, Robert J. Lewis, Joe N. Caudell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Testing Systems Of Avian Perch Deterrents On Electric Power Distribution Poles In Sage-Brush Habitat, James F. Dwyer, Kerrin W. Doloughan

Human–Wildlife Interactions

In Lincoln County, Washington, USA, greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) are managed as reintroduced and augmented populations, respectively. Predation by raptors and corvids is a concern, particularly where utility poles may provide hunting perches near leks (i.e., breeding areas). Perch deterrents may offer a mitigating strategy if deterrents reduce the frequency or duration of perching. To investigate the effects of various perch deterrents, we deployed deterrents on 5 power poles retained for use in this study when 33 poles were removed from occupied grouse habitat. We rotated deterrents among poles every 15 to 28 …

Evaluation Of Foliar Sprays To Reduce Crop Damage By Canada Geese, Charles D. Dieter, Cody S. Warner, Curiong Ren

Human–Wildlife Interactions

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks annually spends >$500,000 managing crop damage caused by grazing Canada geese (Branta canadensis). Foliar applications of a chemical feeding deterrent could provide an effective alternative to the methods currently being used to reduce damage. In 2011 and 2012, we evaluated Rejex-It Migrate Turfguard®, Bird Shield®, Avian Control®, and Avipel® as grazing deterrents. We used a ground sprayer to apply the treatments every 7 days to plots in soybean fields in Day County, South Dakota. We monitored activity in the plots using time-lapse photography. We began treating the plots after geese …