Life Sciences Commons^™

Determinants Of Food Insecurity Among Vulnerable White And Latino Households: Contextualizing The Impact Of Sociodemographic And Household-Level Factors, Alexandra Lund

Master's Theses

Household-level characteristics have been shown to be associated with food insecurity but studies among vulnerable populations are sparse. A food security assessment was developed to determine food security and collect sociodemographic and household level data across San Luis Obispo County. The assessments were administered to vulnerable groups through interviews at multiple sites across the County. Three household characteristics (marital status, number of children in the household and number of workers in the household) were examined in this analysis. A total of 808 surveys were collected, 69% in English and 31% in Spanish. Through ethnicity-stratified sequentially adjusted logistic regression models, the …

Keller's Broken Heart Ranch Internship: March-June 2012, Lia C. Swanson

Animal Science

No abstract provided.

Pink And Dude Chefs: A Nutrition And Culinary Intervention For Middle School Students, Tianna R. Sheehan

Master's Theses

Pink and Dude Chefs: A nutrition and culinary intervention for middle school students

Tianna Sheehan

The prevalence of obesity in US adolescents has more than tripled in the past 35 years, and the greatest impact has been among low-income and minority racial/ethnic populations. Adolescents report inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, an overconsumption of sweetened beverages, and a high reliance on fast food locations for meals or snacks; increasing the risk of adolescent obesity. Building knowledge and skills through culinary interventions may empower middle school students to create and also choose healthful foods.

Pink and Dude Chefs, a six-week nutrition and …

Achieving The Triple Bottom Line In The Face Of Inherent Trade-Offs Among Social Equity, Economic Return, And Conservation, Benjamin S. Halpern, Carissa J. Klein, Christopher J. Brown, Maria Beger, Hedley S. Grantham, Sangeeta Mangubhai, Mary Ruckelshaus, Vivitskaia J. Tulloch, Matt Watts, Crow White, Hough P. Possingham

Biological Sciences

Triple–bottom-line outcomes from resource management and conservation, where conservation goals and equity in social outcomes are maximized while overall costs are minimized, remain a highly sought-after ideal. However, despite widespread recognition of the importance that equitable distribution of benefits or costs across society can play in conservation success, little formal theory exists for how to explicitly incorporate equity into conservation planning and prioritization. Here, we develop that theory and implement it for three very different case studies in California (United States), Raja Ampat (Indonesia), and the wider Coral Triangle region (Southeast Asia). We show that equity tends to trade off …

Effects Of Addition Of Somatic Cells To Caprine Milk On Cheese Quality, D. Sánchez-Macías, A. Morales-Delanuez, A. Torres, L. E. Hernández-Castellano, R. Jiménez-Flores, N Castro, A. Argüello

Dairy Science

Milk quality criteria and limits for somatic cell count (SCC) established in many countries make it difficult to maintain SCC of bulk tank goat milk below the threshold, due to non-infection factors linked to goat physiology. The aim of this study was to objectively verify the effects of SCC on fresh caprine milk cheese. Somatic cells were recovered from pooled healthy goat milk, and added to low SCC raw or pasteurised goat milk. Miniature cheeses were made and evaluated after 1 and 7 d. Somatic cells had a major effect on lipolysis, increasing free fatty acids regardless of whether milk …

Vineyard Layout And Design For A Pinot Noir Vineyard In The Santa Rita Hills Ava, Joseph G. Pollock

Horticulture and Crop Science

The Sta. Rita Hills AVA is an important area for California pinot noir. To develop a pinot noir vineyard requires a substantial amount of research to be done before any planting occurs in the soil. The purpose of this project was to study the facets of planting a vineyard from a fallow field and then construct a design for the finished vineyard. The site is located on an unused portion of a ranch property in roughly the middle of the AVA. Climatological data places the potential site within acceptable parameters for growing pinot noir. The soil on site is Arnold …

Judging Market Goats, Matthew M. Marshall

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project was to develop a judging guide for FFA members who participate in Livestock Judging Contests. One of the classes to be judged is Boer goat market wethers. Resources from breeders, industry judges, and handouts were utilized. The PowerPoint that was created can be used as a tool for students to learn the basics of market goat judging. This can also be a useful guide for students who are interested in selecting market goats as a supervised agricultural experience project.

Rna Sequencing To Study Gene Expression And Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Variation Associated With Citrate Content In Cow Milk, A. Cánovas, G. Rincón, A. Islas-Trejo, R. Jiménez-Flores, A. Laubscher, J. F. Medrano

Dairy Science

The technological properties of milk have significant importance for the dairy industry. Citrate, a normal constituent of milk, forms one of the main buffer systems that regulate the equilibrium between Ca2+ and H+ ions. Higher-than-normal citrate content is associated with poor coagulation properties of milk. To identify the genes responsible for the variation of citrate content in milk in dairy cattle, the metabolic steps involved in citrate and fatty acid synthesis pathways in ruminant mammary tissue using RNA sequencing were studied. Genetic markers that could influence milk citrate content in Holstein cows were used in a marker-trait association study to …

Editorial: The Nutrition Transition- The Same, But Different, Aydin Nazmi, C. Monteiro

Food Science and Nutrition

No abstract provided.

Cal Poly Goat Program, Lauren Christensen

Animal Science

The Cal Poly Goat Program was established in the Summer of 2012 to provide vegetation management services on the Cal Poly campus and to allow students to gain hands on experience with goats. Student interest in adding goats as an additional species in the Animal Science Department spurred the realization and development of the program. The department also experienced demand for goats to use for vegetation management at the animal units and around various facilities on campus. The Goat Program integrates Cal Poly’s hands-on, ‘Learn by Doing’ philosophy with sustainable management practices to serve the needs of students as well …

A Multispecies Avian Abundance Analysis In Riparian And Oak Woodland Habitats On The California Central Coast, Jacy Hyde

Biological Sciences

I investigated the abundance and diversity of riparian and oak woodland birds in a section of the Los Padres National Forest in Coastal Central California. Point counts were conducted in Oak Woodland and Riparian habitats during the summer of 2012. Point counts were replicated in time (2x) and space (25 replicates). The data were analyzed using Program Distance to correct for differing detection probabilities between species and habitat types. The two habitat types showed no significant difference in species richness. For most species, there was no difference in density between riparian and oak woodland habitats. However, the two species with …

A Comparison Of Relative Ear Length Between Two Neighboring Populations Of Peromyscus Maniculatus, Joshua S. Willems

Biological Sciences

This study attempts to determine if a significant difference in relative ear length exists between two neighboring populations of Peromyscus maniculatus on the central coast of California. Data was collected from individuals trapped at two plots in the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge and two plots near Black Lake, under the supervision of Francis X. Villablanca, Ph. D. of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. A total of 98 individuals were captured over the course of three nights of trapping. A regression analysis was performed comparing the ear lengths of each population relative to body size. The analysis of …

Sire Evaluation For Milking Duration, James Macedo

Dairy Science

The objective of this study was to utilize electronically recorded data from on-farm milk recording systems and herd management software to determine if a sire has a genetic influence on his daughter’s milking duration. Measurements of milking duration from three dairy facilities were taken between January 27, 2013 and January 31, 2013. These measurements supplied 25,070 observations, corresponding to 9,418 cows and 895 sires. These data were evaluated with a SAS alongside a herd-mate comparison. The statistical analysis demonstrated that a sire does have a genetic influence on the milking duration of his progeny. The Van Beek Brothers and Dairyland …

Gas Emissions And Olfactometry For Dairy Heifers, Rebecca Gary

Dairy Science

The objective of this study was to determine any trends in odor evaluations and gas emissions of manure samples in heifers fed high/low concentrate and high/low forage diets. Heifers (n = 8) were enrolled randomly in a split plot design with diet type (high concentrate vs. low concentrate) as the whole plot and forage quality (4 different levels of corn stover within each diet type) as sub-plots in a 4-period (21d) 4X4 Latin square design. Total collection of urine and feces was performed on days 18-21 of each period. The feces to urine ratio (F:U) was determined on days 18 …

Development Of A Training Program For The Cal Poly Creamery, Rachel Souerbry

Dairy Science

No abstract provided.

Pasteurization And Freezing Effect On Colostrum Characteristics, Morbidity, Igg Absorption, And Growth Rates Of Holstein Heifer Calves, Rob Diepersloot

Dairy Science

The objective of this study was to determine if fresh frozen, pasteurized frozen, or fresh refrigerated colostrum impacted morbidity, growth rates, and the overall serum immunoglobulins (IgGs) in newborn calves. The second objective was to compare the effects that pasteurization and freezing had on colostrum IgG concentration and total bacteria counts compared to raw refrigerated colostrum. A controlled trial was completed on a 6,000-cow dairy in California where colostrum was harvested twice daily, pooled, and then divided into three different treatment groups and processed accordingly. One treatment was pasteurized at 60^oC for 60 min and then frozen, the …

Detecting Errors In Generating A Certificate Of Analysis, Breanne Harlan

Dairy Science

Many companies rely on a Certificate of Analysis (COA) to accompany the delivery of their product or material. The COA, required by law, prevents customers from questioning whether a product is safe and ensures manufacturers confirm every product tested passes the Food and Drug Administration’s required specifications. Previous to this project, Kraft Foods Springfield copied their test results for each product from their data warehouse software, called Systems, Applications, and Products onto a Word document to create a COA. This was a systematic approach to detect the possible occurrences of error and reduce the time spent on generating a COA. …

Milking Protocols At The Cal Poly Dairy Farm, Kevin Mohan

Dairy Science

Milking parlors are the center of a dairy operation and directly responsible for its profits, yet dairy training is frequently neglected and often lackluster. The Cal Poly dairy farm, despite having a milker pool that is comparatively inexperienced with farm labor has no written manual for training of milkers. This results in a workplace that in the event of an accident or point of confusion leaves workers nowhere to turn to for clarification save contacting a supervisor directly. It also may also result in a lack of established guidelines, and a frequent need for clarification due to misunderstood expectations and …

A Review Of The History And Motivations Of Animal Identification And The Different Methods Of Animal Identification Focusing On Radiofrequency Identification And How It Works For The Development Of A Radiofrequency Identification Based Herd Management System On The Cal Poly Dairy, Manuel Silveira

Dairy Science

My objective for this senior project was to perform an extensive review of literature on the history of animal identification and common motivations for identifying livestock, the different types and methods of identifying animals, with a special focus on radiofrequency identification technology (RFID) and how it works. A secondary objective was creating an instructional booklet for the implementation of a RFID based management system on the Cal Poly dairy. The identification of livestock for management or disease traceability has been a practice in one form or another for centuries (Blancou, 2001). Today, animal identification is of great importance to herd …

The Analysis And Comparison Of Organic Dairy Operations And Conventional Dairy Operations In Terms Of Milk Quality, Animal Health, Nutrition, Market Aspects And Economic Benefits, Lianne Michele Nunes

Dairy Science

The dairy industry in California has two very vital sectors that make up the production and marketing landscape: Organic and Conventional dairy production systems. The objective of this review of literature is to explore the differences and contrasting views of milk quality, reproduction, animal health, nutrition, market aspects and pricing systems within each industry and determine how each industry has the potential for tremendous success among its producers. It is important to understand the aspects of each industry because of the advantages and disadvantages each industry imposes on different producers located all around the state. Organic production systems have very …

Effect Of Post Manufacture Thermal Dip Treatment On Proteolysis Of Commercial String Cheese During Storage, Melissa Karen Hsu

Master's Theses

String cheese, a Mozzarella cheese, has the unique ability to string in fibrous strands when pulled apart. Graders judge string cheese by its stringy texture; samples with copious amounts of string are awarded high ratings. But just as the texture of natural cheeses softens with time, the stringy texture of string cheese can diminish with age too.

Age related softening in cheese is due primarily to an important biochemical event known as proteolysis, which is attributed to inherent milk proteinases, residual coagulant activity, and enzymes from the lysis of starter culture microorganisms. It is hypothesized that a post manufacture heat …

Revision Of The Agricultural Education And Communication Department Senior Project Manual, Cassie Burrows

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project was to develop an up-to-date senior project manual for students of the Agricultural Education and Communication Department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The previous manual was revised to include the most current information regarding the requirements of the senior project in the department, as most of the information had become outdated and no longer reflected the expectations of the department. The new design and format was created specifically to assist students in writing their senior project manuscript as well as in properly presenting their project within the manuscript. As a result of …

Evaluating Tradeoffs Among Ecosystem Services To Inform Marine Spatial Planning, Sarah E. Lester, Christopher Costello, Benjamin S. Halpern, Steven D. Gaines, Crow White, John A. Barth

Biological Sciences

A central challenge for natural resource management is developing rigorous yet practical approaches for balancing the costs and benefits of diverse human uses of ecosystems. Economic theory has a long history of evaluating tradeoffs in returns from different assets to identify optimal investment strategies. There has been recent progress applying this framework to the delivery of ecosystem services in land use planning. However, despite growing national and international interest in marine spatial planning, there is a lack of parallel frameworks in the marine realm. This paper reviews an ecosystem service tradeoff analysis framework and provides a more comprehensive synthesis for …

Consumer Perception Of Organic Milk, Christina Puetz

Dairy Science

The objective of this study was to determine the potential factors, reasons and beliefs that contribute to college aged consumers’ choice to purchase organic milk. The data were from survey of students using questions that were modeled after consumer issues and concerns over conventional milk as discussed in the literature review. This study was particularly interested in exploring differences between students in agriculture classes and non-agriculture classes. The literature referenced came from a variety of sources, including scientific journals, online articles, milk advisory boards, and governmental agencies. According to the literature review, consumer concerns and reasons for purchase of organic …

Survey Of Suitable Plants For Cal Poly's Green Wall, Katrina Burritt

Horticulture and Crop Science

Green wall technology is a growing industry in the United States and has been very successful for a several years throughout Europe. The objective of this survey was to study the success of several different species of plants on a vertical wall facing south at Cal Poly’s Horticultural Department Unit. At first the focus was aimed at using California native species, because it was thought that natives would be better acclimated to the exposure in this specific location. It became apparent that plants should not be selected for the wall based just on the fact that they are California natives. …

A Closer Look At The Breeding Season Of The Kangaroo Rat Dipodomys Heermanni, Brianna R. Lavelle

Biological Sciences

The breeding season of kangaroo rats has not been a widely studied topic, and therefore is not very well known. Dipodomys heermanni is the species of interest for this study and is thought to breed from February to October (Kelt, 1988). The purpose of this study is to take this broad time period and narrow it down to prime breeding activity months. I hypothesized the prime breeding season of Dipodomys heermanni arenae to be between March and June. Mark-recapture methods were applied to the kangaroo rats at our study site in the Guadalupe Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge during the …

Marine Protected Areas And Resilience To Sedimentation In The Solomon Islands, B. S. Halpern, K. A. Selkoe, Crow White, S. Albert, S. Aswani, M. Lauer

Biological Sciences

The ability of marine protected areas (MPAs) to provide protection from indirect stressors, via increased resilience afforded by decreased impact from direct stressors, remains an important and unresolved question about the role MPAs can play in broader conservation and resource management goals. Over a five-year period, we evaluated coral and fish community responses inside and outside three MPAs within the Roviana Lagoon system in Solomon Islands, where sedimentation pressure from upland logging is substantial. We found little evidence that MPAs decrease impact or improve conditions and instead found some potential declines in fish abundance. We also documented modest to high …

A Comparison Of The Efficiency And Profitability Of Holsteins And Jerseys, Kelli Ann Carstensen

Dairy Science

The efficiency and profitability of Holstein and Jersey cows has been scrutinized, compared, and debated for many years. In response, this study was conducted with the objective of incorporating reviews and results collected from numerous studies relating to Holstein and Jersey efficiency and profitability to determine if a breed advantage existed in any or all related areas. Articles reviewed were obtained from the Journal of Dairy Science, the New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, and the Journal of Dairy Research. Jerseys were found to demonstrate breed advantages in pasture systems, longevity, stayability, productive life, calving ease, reproduction, heat stress under …

Reproductive Analysis Of 100% Delayed 1st Service Ovsynch Breeding During Summer Months At A Large Central Valley Dairy, Micah John Degroot

Dairy Science

As the Dairy industry evolves year by year it is becoming ever more important to be reproductively efficient. The implementation of various timed artificial insemination (TAI) programs has become very common in order to maintain reproductive stability throughout the herd. This can be harder than ever with the increase of herd sizes and hot summer temperature in the central valley. The objective of this study compares two ovsynch breeding programs during summer months on a large central valley dairy. The change in protocol was a delayed 100% timed artificial insemination at approximately 70 dim for the 5-month period from June …

A Business Plan For A Custom Dry Cow Transition Facility And A Calf Ranch, Landon Joseph Fernandes

Dairy Science

In recent economic times the dairy industry has witnessed historic lows in milk price and historic highs in feed prices. As a result many dairies have been forced out of business or have found other ways to diversify in order to offset the accumulated debt from dairying. One possible way a dairy can minimize debt is by sending its transition cows to custom transition cow management facility from dry-off through freshening. This management facility would give optimal care and attention to these cows to ensure metabolic and post calving health issues are minimal and that cows are returned to the …