Life Sciences Commons^™

Influence Of Vegetative Diversity During The Stocker Phase On Carcass Characteristics And Economic Returns Of Beef Steers, Sydni Borders, Jameson Brennan, Christina Bakker, Keith Underwood, Kyle Grubbs, John Jaeger, Ken Olson, Amanda Blair

Animal Science Research Report 2024

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Finishing Systems On Carcass Characteristics, Composition, And Fatty Acid Profile Of Bison Bulls, Clay J. Newton, Lydia M. O'Sullivan, Keith R. Underwood, Judson K. Grubbs, Christina E. Bakker, Kristi M. Cammack, Thu Dinh, Carter Kruse, Amanda D. Blair

Animal Science Research Report 2024

No abstract provided.

Utilization Of Camera Grading Technology For Bison Carcass Characteristics, Christina Bakker, Jessica Sparks, Keith Underwood, Kyle Grubbs, Amanda D. Blair

Animal Science Research Report 2024

The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of beef camera grading technology to assess characteristics of bison carcasses.

Comparative Accumulation And Effects Of Microplastics And Microplastic-Associated Pcb-153 In The White Hard Clam (Meretrix Lyrata) And Giant River Prawn (Macrobrachium Rosenbergii) Following Chronic Exposure, Bao-Son Trinh, Lien Thi Le, Loc Minh Tran, Gunther Rosen, Robert C. Hale

VIMS Articles

Global environmental abundance of microplastics (MPs) is increasing. MPs may sorb hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs), accumulate in and cause deleterious effects on exposed organisms. This study investigated and compared the accumulation and effects of MPs and MP-associated PCB in the two indigenous aquatic organisms in Viet Nam, the white hard clams, Meretrix lyrata, and the giant river prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii. The test organisms were exposed to either polyethylene microbeads (PEMBs), waterborne polychlorinated biphenyl 153 (PCB-153), or PEMB-associated PCB-153 (PEMB-PCB) over 28 days. Organismal MP accumulation, survival, and weight gain were examined at various sampling intervals. In general, MP …

Comparing The Effectiveness Of Different Forms Of Vitamin E Supplementation (Liquid Vs. Powder) On Serum Alpha-Tocopherol Concentrations In Developing Horses, Emilia Fong-Gallagher

Honors Scholar Theses

Vitamin E is an essential antioxidant in equines that has a significant role in the nutritional requirements of horses to keep bodily systems functioning at optimal levels. Vitamin E deficiency is often associated with serious incurable neuromuscular diseases such as equine motor neuron disease and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. Many horses stabled in urban areas are often deficient due to the lack of adequate grazing time as their natural source of vitamin E is from grass, and therefore should receive supplementation. This study evaluated the effectiveness of different forms of Elevate vitamin E supplement on the serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations in fourteen …

West Coast Rock Lobster Resource Harvest Strategy, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries management papers

Harvest strategies for Western Australia’s (WA) aquatic resources are formal documents developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD, the Department) to support decision-making processes that ensure the outcomes are consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD; Fletcher 2002a) and Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM; Fletcher et al. 2012). Harvest strategies are a key component of all contemporary fishery management systems and a requirement for certification under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The objectives of ESD are reflected in the objectives of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA) and the Aquatic Resources Management Act …

Estimation Of Juvenile Striped Bass Relative Abundance In The Virginia Portion Of Chesapeake Bay Annual Progress Report: 2023 - 2024, Jack R. Buchanan, Mary C. Fabrizio, Troy D. Tuckey

Reports

The 2023 juvenile Striped Bass abundance index was 4.26 and was significantly lower than the reference mean of 7.77 for the period 1980 to 2009. Abundance indices were below average in the James and Rappahannock rivers and average in the York River in 2023 compared with the river-specific reference means (1980-2009). Relatively low catches of young‐of‐the‐year Striped Bass from sites upriver and downriver of core nursery areas suggest juvenile Striped Bass largely remained within core nursery areas in 2023.

Indices of abundance were calculated for three additional economically and recreationally important fishes in Virginia waters. Juvenile White Perch abundance indices …

Virginia Game Fish Tagging Program: 2023 Annual Report, Susanna Musick, Lewis Gillingham

Reports

Through 2023, the Virginia Game Fish Tagging Program (VGFTP) has maintained a 28-year database of records for tagged and recaptured fish. The program is a cooperative project of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament (VSFT) under the Virginia Marine Resources Commission-(VMRC) and the Virginia InsƟtute of Marine Science (VIMS) of William & Mary (under the VIMS Marine Advisory Program).

The main goal of the program is to train and maintain an experienced group of anglers who volunteer their Ɵme to properly tag and release fishes. Data on tagged and recaptured fish are summarized in annual re- ports and are accessible on …

Conservation Targeting: Models And Policy For Climate Resilience Of Coastal Habitat And Heritage Resources In Virginia’S Coastal Zone, Pamela Mason, Robert Isdell, Christine Tombleson, Rob Evans, David N. Bucklin, Anne C. Chazal, Dan Hannon, Jason F. Bulluck, Joseph T. Weber, Elizabeth Andrews, Gray Montrose

Reports

In response to accelerating sea level rise and its anticipated impacts on coastal habitats and species, we developed spatial models and maps of shoreline habitat distributions in Coastal Virginia to the year 2100. This report is a culmination of a three-year effort to develop and serve geospatial data to inform land use decision making within the context of projected habitat and current elemental occurrences to promote habitat and species persistence and resilience. The project was a collaboration of the Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, …

Feeding Dried Distillers Grains With Solubles To Lactating Dairy Cattle: Whole Animal Energy Utilization And Manure Biogas Production, Grant Michael Fincham

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

When DDGS are fed to lactating dairy cattle, the observed response in energy supply, milk production, and methane production varies among studies. One potential reason for these observed discrepancies is the nature of the diet formulation itself. Furthermore, little research has been conducted to examine how dietary changes can affect dairy cattle manure composition and methane production in an anaerobic manure digester. In order to gain a better understanding of these topics, we conducted two experiments. The first experiment was conducted to test how the manipulation of lactating dairy cattle diets affects energy utilization, milk production, methane production, and manure …

Winging It Through Unprecedented Times: A Study Of Avian Admissions To Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers In The Eastern United States Amidst The Covid-19 Pandemic, Thea Tengstrom

Honors College

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has brought new research that examines the many ways in which humans impact wildlife. Wildlife rehabilitation is a tool that attempts to mitigate some negative effects of anthropogenic activity (domestic cats, window strikes), through specialized care to aid injured and orphaned animals. This study sought to investigate if the ‘Anthropause’, which saw a massive change in human behavior, demonstrated an influence on wild bird admissions to wildlife rehabilitation centers. Twelve centers were selected including both urban and non-urban centers throughout the eastern United States. Bird admission data between 2018 and 2021 were …

Evaluating The Effects Of Parasite Infections On Reproductive Ability In Maine Moose, Isabella Costa

Honors College

Despite conservation efforts, moose have experienced increasing mortality rates. Winter ticks are known to cause anemia and lower reproductive potential in moose. Moreover, a genus of bacteria, Anaplasma spp., is known to cause a reduction in reproductive efforts in other animals, such as cattle. Because both winter ticks and Anaplasma spp. may affect female reproductive ability, the overall goal of this research was to determine if Anaplasma bacterial infections could be impacting female moose reproduction within the state of Maine. To address this, samples and biological data from moose were collected during hunter harvest, in collaboration with hunters and the …

Ecological, Molecular, And Electron Microscopical Investigations Of The Distribution Of Shell-Boring Polychaetes Along The Coast Of Maine, Emma Tomasetti

Honors College

Blister worms are polychaete worms that live in various calcareous materials such as dead shells, red algae, limestone, and cinder blocks, along with cultured shellfish, such as oysters or sea scallops. These worms can be considered a pest due to their nature to burrow into their host’s substrate and create blisters that then fill with mud and detritus. In chapter 1, I worked closely with an oyster farm looking at the reproductive status of one species of blister worm, P. websteri, and the efficacy of cold storage as a method of ridding oysters of P. websteri. For chapter 2, I …

Design Of Small-Scale Milk Processing Facility, Luke Bond, Robert Stenzel, Ry Steffen, John Van Nieuwenhuyse, Rossana Villa-Rojas, Terry Howell Jr., Tami M. Brown-Brandl, Forrest Kievit

Department of Biological Systems Engineering: Masters Project Reports

This project was intended to investigate the feasibility of a proposed modular dairy processing facility collocated with a small dairy on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Innovation Campus. Priority was placed upon cost savings for equipment to be used in processing. Process flow diagrams, floor plans, production schedules, risk assessments, and plans for wastewater treatment were all developed to address the needs of the plant should it be built. A Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to evaluate the timeline for breaking even financially, resulting in the potential for a payback period of 4.5 years. The 4.5-year payback period was based on …

Does Urbanization Surrounding Stopping Sites Affect Migratory Behavior In American Woodcock (Scolopax Minor)?, Zoe Pavlik

Honors College

Urban landscapes may influence bird species in complex ways, with some species exploiting urban environments, others adapting to them, and others avoiding them. Migratory birds encounter urbanization not just during breeding and overwintering, but also at stopping sites during migration. Migration routes of American Woodcock (Scolopax minor), a bird species experiencing long term population declines, follow the east coast of the United States, including the major urbanized areas of the eastern seaboard. I explored the effects of urbanization around stopping sites on Woodcock migratory behavior using the percentage of impervious surfaces within a buffer surrounding the site as a measure …

Temperature And Energy Interactions In Small Tropical Mammals, Abe Grunwald

Honors College

The study of mammalian energetics focuses on the complex connections between metabolic rate, body temperature, thermoregulation, and much more. Knowledge of mammalian energetics is skewed towards temperate endotherms, making assumptions about energetics biased towards the more studied temperate species. However, tropical endotherms live in environments that are quite different from temperate endotherms, resulting in differences in heat exchange between the endotherm and the environment. To understand how the different dynamic created between ambient temperature and thermoregulation impacts energetics in the tropics, I compare two species of tropical mammals, one with nighttime activity, the western tarsier (Cephalopachus bancanus), and one with …

The Impact Of A Pgym Variant On Myophosphorylase Deficiency In Red Angus Composite Cattle And Changes In The Skeletal Muscle Transcriptome Due To The Intramuscular Administration Of Lidocaine In Wether Lambs, Mackenzie Christin Batt

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

Project 1 focused on eight calves in a Nebraska herd (composite Simmental, Red Angus, Gelbvieh) that displayed exercise intolerance during forced activity. Available sire pedigrees contained a paternal ancestor within 2-4 generations in all affected calves. Pedigrees of the calves’ dams were unavailable, however, the cows were ranch-raised and retained from prior breeding seasons, where bulls used for breeding occasionally had a common ancestor. Therefore, it was hypothesized that a de novo autosomal recessive variant was causative of exercise intolerance in these calves. A genome-wide association analysis followed by whole-genome sequencing led to the identification of a variant in the …

Phenotypic Plasticity In Pigmentation: Investigating Coloration Patterns In Anablepsoides Hartii Population Responses To Environmental Variation, Jasdeep Kaur

2024 Spring Honors Capstone Projects

In this study, we investigated the color-changing capabilities of Trinidadian killifish, Anablepsoides hartii, through exposure to varied color conditions over defined periods of time. Our experiment aims to understand adaptive responses when killifish are subjected to different color backgrounds, exploring their mechanisms to change color. By subjecting the species to different environmental color variations, we sought to discern color change patterns, which could indicate adaptive responses related to camouflage, stress, behavior clues, and physiological adjustments. Carefully controlling environmental factors, we monitored and documented the fishes’ color changes, aiming to provide insights into the interplay between fish’s developmental plasticity and its …

Artificial Insemination And Fetal Programming In Beef Production Systems, Dempster Christenson

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

Pregnancy to artificial insemination and late gestation fetal programming of the next calf crop are central to genetic development, reproductive longevity, calf crop productivity, and efficiency of cow/calf ranching. The purposes of this research are to find methods to improve pregnancy rate to artificial insemination, the growth and reproductive health of pregnant heifers, and the productivity of their offspring. In the first of four studies we found that extending the period of progesterone administration in an estrus synchronization protocol did not significantly hasten estrus response or increase pregnancy rate to artificial insemination, but timing of estrus within the melengestrol acetate …

Impact Of Strategic Postweaning Supplementation On March- And May-Born Yearling Range Heifer And Calf Growth And Performance In The Nebraska Sandhills, Josie Nicole Crouch

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

Three experiments were conducted at the Gudmundsen Sandhills laboratory near Whitman, NE. Experiment 1, a retrospective regression analysis, evaluated the impact of heifer percentage of mature body weight (BW) at breeding on heifer performance, subsequent pregnancy rates, and calf production. Overall pregnancy rates were greater (P < 0.01) for heifers at 60 to 70% of mature BW than 50 to 55%, with no differences in pregnancy rates (P ³ 0.15) after 2-years of age. Heifers at 50 to 60% of mature BW had a greater (P =0.05) proportion give birth in the first 21-d. A higher percentage of mature BW at breeding resulted in greater (P < 0.01) BW at birth and weaning for offspring.

Experiments 2 and 3 were 3-year studies that evaluated the impact of …

Sheep And Goat Industry Funding Scheme Annual Report 2022/2023, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

The Sheep and Goat Industry Funding Scheme (IFS) has been operating since 2010 to address biosecurity threats relevant to the Western Australian (WA) sheep and goat industry. The Scheme was established by regulation under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 to enable sheep and goat producers to identify pest and disease priorities at a whole-of-industry level and raise funds for activities to address these priorities.

There are currently three Industry Funding Schemes in operation. In addition to the Sheep and Goat IFS, there is a Cattle IFS and a Grains, Seeds and Hay IFS. The three IFSs operate in …

Cradle Explorer: Casfer Interactive Platform For Data And Model Visualization, Olatunde D. Akanbi, Vibha S. Mandayam, Haiping Ai, Arafath Nihar, Erika I. Barcelos, Laura S. Bruckman, Jeffrey Yarus, Yinghui Wu, Huichun (Judy) Zhang, Roger H. French

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of The Eastern Nebraska And Western Iowa Flash Flood Event Of 6-7 August 1999, Catherine M. Zapotocny

NOAA Technical Reports and Related Materials

Flash flooding occurs each summer in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. While 10-inch rains are extraordinary, it is not uncommon to have at least one excessive rain event during the annual convective season. A significant flash flood occurred in east central Nebraska and western Iowa the night of August 6, 1999 into the morning of August 7, 1999. Antecedent hydrologic conditions limited the loss of life, however considerable property damage resulted as the heavy rain fell over the urbanized areas in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

Several flash flood ingredients came together over the area. These meteorological factors are typical …

An Autosomal Recessive Variant In Pygm Causes Myophosphorylase Deficiency In Red Angus Composite Cattle, Mackenzie Batt, Leila G. Venzor, Keri Gardner, Rachel R. Reith, Kelsey A. Roberts, Nicolas J. Herrera, Anna M. Fuller, Gary Sullivan, J. Travis Mulliniks, Matthew L. Spangler, Stephanie J. Valberg, David J. Steffen, Jessica Lynn Petersen

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Background Between 2020 and 2022, eight calves in a Nebraska herd (composite Simmental, Red Angus, Gelbvieh) displayed exercise intolerance during forced activity. In some cases, the calves collapsed and did not recover. Available sire pedigrees contained a paternal ancestor within 2–4 generations in all affected calves. Pedigrees of the calves’ dams were unavailable, however, the cows were ranch-raised and retained from prior breeding seasons, where bulls used for breeding occasionally had a common ancestor. Therefore, it was hypothesized that a de novo autosomal recessive variant was causative of exercise intolerance in these calves.

Results A genome-wide association analysis utilizing SNP …

Genetic Diversity Of United States Rambouillet, Katahdin And Dorper Sheep, Gabrielle M. Becker, Jacob W. Thorne, Joan M. Burke, Ronald M. Lewis, David R. Notter, James L. M. Morgan, Christopher S. Schauer, Whit C. Stewart, R. R. Redden, Brenda M. Murdoch

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Background Managing genetic diversity is critically important for maintaining species fitness. Excessive homozygosity caused by the loss of genetic diversity can have detrimental effects on the reproduction and production performance of a breed. Analysis of genetic diversity can facilitate the identification of signatures of selection which may contribute to the specific characteristics regarding the health, production and physical appearance of a breed or population. In this study, breeds with well-characterized traits such as fine wool production (Rambouillet, N = 745), parasite resistance (Katahdin, N = 581) and environmental hardiness (Dorper, N = 265) were evaluated for inbreeding, effective population size …

Cocoa Polyphenols Modulate The Fecal Microbiome In A Mouse Model Of Colitis, Independent Of Basal Diet And Colon Inflammation, Abby D. Benninghoff

Browse all Datasets

Chronic inflammation increases the risk of developing multiple chronic diseases, including cancer. The risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) specifically is increased in individuals who suffer from colitis, a characteristic of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Diet is another risk factor for developing CRC, particularly an inflammation-promoting Western-type diet. Thus, supplementing a Western diet with functional foods containing anti-inflammatory polyphenols is a potential approach to decreasing CRC risk by reducing gut inflammation and altering gut microbiome profile. This study aimed to determine the effects of cocoa polyphenol (CP) supplementation on inflammation status and microbiome profile before, during, and after colitis when …

Grazing On The Arizona Strip: Catchment History And Repair, Melanie Heaton

All Current Publications

Water, not forage, is the limiting factor for wildlife and livestock grazing the Arizona Strip, a nearly 3-million-acre piece of land located north of the Grand Canyon and south of the Utah border. Since springs and groundwater are rare or absent, harvesting of natural precipitation is the main source of water for animals. Catchment systems, which capture precipitation on a sloped rubber apron and contain it in a large tank or lined pond, are used by government agencies and grazing permittees to efficiently provide water for wildlife and livestock. As catchments reach the end of their useful lives, tank replacement …

First-Time Market Goat, Ashley Longmore, Cheyenne Reid

All Current Publications

This fact sheet is 4-H youth who are thinking about or have recently purchased their first 4-H goat. This fact sheet is a simple outline that provides information on selection, feeding, housing, basic care, and grooming.

First-Time Market Lamb, Ashley Longmore, Cheyenne Reid

All Current Publications

This fact sheet is 4-H youth who are thinking about or have recently purchased their first 4-H lamb. This fact sheet is a simple outline providing more information on selection, feeding, housing, basic care, and grooming.

First-Time Market Steer, Ashley T. Longmore, Cheyenne A. Reid

All Current Publications

The target audience for this fact sheet is 4-H youth who are thinking about or have recently purchased their first 4-H steer. This fact sheet is a simple outline that will give them more information on selection, feeding, housing, basic care, and grooming.