Animal Sciences Commons^™

Carbamate Toxicosis In Carnaby’S Cockatoos (Zanda Latirostris) In A Drying Climate, A Le Souef, Z M. Kissane, David Forshaw, K J. Riley, K Payne, T Hawkins, J Coggins, J M. Shephard, R Vaughn-Higgins, K S. Warren

Climate Science Research Articles

Pesticide exposure poses a growing threat to the health of wild avian populations worldwide. This report documents the first detections of agricultural chemicals in the tissues of wild Carnaby’s cockatoos (Zanda latirostris) in Western Australia. The events, characterised by morbidity and mortality, occurred in a national park near Perth, following periods of elevated summer temperatures over two seasons. Toxicological analysis of liver and digestive tract contents identified multiple pesticides and an herbicide, including methomyl, a highly toxic carbamate insecticide. Hot weather conditions preceding the events potentially increased the cockatoos’ use of alternative water sources for drinking, such as those in …

Growing South Dakota (Fall 2026), College Of Agriculture, Food And, Environmental Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

[Page] 2 Support from donors helping set SDSU dairy graduates above the rest
[Page] 4 A decade of impact: Celebrating 10 years of cow-calf, swine education and research facilitates
[Page] 8 98-year-old donor keeps decades-long scholarship going in honor of late husband
[Page] 11 Looking back at Michele Dudash's tenure in academia
[Page] 12Giving students opportunities, experience to build their futures
[Page] 16 A Jackrabbit's journey in growing agricultural leadership
[Page] 18 Building South Dakota's next generation of rural veterinarians
[Page] 19 Conservation: A family affair
[Page] 20 South Dakota Water Resources Institute finds solutions to South Dakota's water challenges …

Bathurst Burr And Its Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Bathurst burr (Xanthium spinosum) is a declared pest in Western Australia (WA). This factsheet describes the nature of the plant, requirements land owners/occupiers must adhere to, control methods, and how to search, detect, and report it.

Bathurst burr is a summer growing annual shrubby plant originating in South America. In south west Australia, some mature plants survive well into winter, with the result that burrs may be found for most of the year. The weed spreads entirely by burrs, which are usually carried by people or animals, attached to clothes, fur, or other fibre by their hooked spines. They may …

Noogoora Burr And Its Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Noogoora burr, also known as cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium), is a declared pest in Western Australia (WA). This factsheet describes the nature of the plant with links to requirements that land owners/occupiers must adhere to and control methods.

Native to western United States of America. Locally abundant in parts of the Kimberley, especially near water courses. Occasionally found in the South West region of WA.

Performance Of Dual-Form Terminalia Catappa Organic Fertilizers On Sweet Corn Yield And Economic Viability In Tropical Highlands, Stefina Liana Sari, Eso Solihin, Rahmat Budiarto

Jurnal Kultivasi

Recycling underutilized plant biomass into organic fertilizers underpins low-input cropping strategies, but liquid and solid formulations derived from a common feedstock have seldom been evaluated side by side under field conditions. This study aimed to (i) characterize the physicochemical properties and safety profile of a liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) and a crumb-type organic fertilizer (COF) co-produced from Terminalia catappa leaf compost, (ii) compare their effects on sweet corn growth and yield, (iii) determine relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE), and (iv) evaluate economic feasibility of the most promising organic–inorganic combinations. We produced LOF and COF through aerobic composting of Terminalia catappa leaves …

Bridging The Gap In Science Research: Preparing Students For College- Level Research In The Sciences, Victoria Helwig, Yaoguang Li

UConn Library Presentations

Many first-year students enter college unprepared to fully engage with scientific literature and academic library resources. Drawing on experiences from academic librarians working with STEM students, this session explores common gaps in science research skills, including navigating databases, identifying scholarly sources, and understanding the structure of scientific literature. Participants will be introduced to practical strategies and classroom-ready activities to better prepare students for college-level research. Discussion questions: What science research skills do students struggle with most when entering college? How can high school instruction better support these skills? Where can librarians and educators collaborate to support student success?

Nitrogen-Use Efficiency Of Irrigated Rhodes Grass In Northern Wa, Carla Milazzo, Christopher Ham, Geoff Moore

Grain and other field crops research reports

Cultivation of irrigated fodder and forage crops to intensify northern beef production in the west Kimberley and Pilbara has seen significant private investment over the past decade. To support this growing investment, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) carried out replicated, randomised trials on irrigated Rhodes grass near Broome.

High nitrogen (N) inputs are required for subtropical grasses to achieve annual growth rates of up to 40 t DM/ha and there is growing scrutiny of these systems to prevent nutrient losses to groundwater and downstream ecosystems. The research aimed to establish N (urea) response curves to five …

Sorghum Grain Secondary Metabolites And Underlying Genetics To Reduce Foodborne Pathogens In Poultry, Maria A. Conti

All Dissertations

The rise in antibiotic-resistant pathogens poses a threat to the poultry industry's ability to maintain animal health, prompting growing interest in alternatives to synthetic antibiotics. The use of non-tannin sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] in poultry rations offers a valuable alternative, as this cereal grain has a high bioactive profile that can provide health benefits, including antimicrobial (AM) activity. The scope of this study was to examine the AM potential of non-tannin sorghum grain against Clostridium perfringens, a major foodborne pathogen that negatively impacts poultry health and production. To that end, the inhibitory effects of a non-tannin sorghum …

Detection Of Lupine Alkaloids In Earwax Of Sheep, Clinton A. Stonecipher, Stephen T. Lee, Benedict T. Green, Daniel Cook

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Lupines (Lupinus spp.) are a common plant species located on western U.S. rangelands. Most livestock death losses due to lupine toxicosis occur in sheep. Cattle are often affected due to the teratogenic nature of lupines in which crooked calf syndrome can occur. Earwax has been used to detect lupine alkaloids in cattle, but it is unknown if the alkaloids in lupine can be detected in the earwax of sheep. The objective of this study was to evaluate earwax as a noninvasive specimen to determine sheep exposure to lupine. Fifteen sheep (45 ± 3.8 kg body weight) were group housed …

Life Line Spring 2026, Jonathan Atwood

Life Line - The Biology Department Newsletter

In This Issue:

Greetings and Farewell: Part Deux; Signs for Trees; Passing of Dr. Mary Gahbauer: a Beloved Friend and Colleague; Dr. Lisa Marr Retires; The Department Welcomes Dr. Ann Feke; Dr. Kevin Svitana Retires; Ms. Donna Rhodeback Retires; Tucker Adds Swan Specimen to Otterbein's Collection; An UnbeLEAFable Year for the Otterbein Chapter of Botanical Society of America; Field Geology Course Visits Death Valley and Beyond; Agar Art: An Unexpected Canvas; Dr. Kevin Svitana Wins the Anderson Award for Outstanding Contribution to Groundwater Research; Introducing Opi: A New Face for Zoo and Conservation Ambassador Work; Michael Hoggarth, Professor Emeritus, Wins …

Perceived Barriers To Integrated Crop–Livestock Systems: Evidence From A Nebraska Producer Survey, Omid Tarashtwal

Department of Agricultural Economics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Integrated crop-livestock systems offer agronomic, economic, and environmental benefits, yet reintegration has been slow across the Northern Great Plains despite sustained interest. Existing research has documented barriers to transition conceptually, but quantitative evidence on which barriers producers perceive as most important and which producer and operation characteristics are associated with stronger barrier perceptions remains limited. This thesis addresses that gap using data from the 2023 Nebraska Agriculture Operator Survey.

The analysis focuses on 241 Nebraska producers, including 179 crop-only and 62 livestock-only operations. Seven models are estimated, combining ordered logit estimation for single-item barriers with linear regression for averaged barrier …

Growing South Dakota (Spring 2026), College Of Agriculture, Food, And Environmental Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

[Page] 2 National heritage, statewide research, local impact
[Page] 7 About the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Stations
[Page] 14 Managing the mooo-ment: How SDSU researchers are looking to improve cow health during the Transition Period
[Page] 18 Discovering strength in science: How education through undergraduate research prepares students for the future
[Page] 20 From India to Brookings: One grad student’s path to make a world of difference in virology
[Page] 22 Solving a billion-dollar problem: Identifying disease-resistent wheat genes
[Page] 24 Unlocking manure’s potential: SDSU leads multistate study on the power of swine manure in growing better crops
[Page] 28 …

Assessment Of Precision Rangeland Management Tools In The Nebraska Sandhills, Hannah K. Allen

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

The objective of this thesis is to evaluate tools and management strategies that contribute to rangeland monitoring and livestock distribution in heterogeneous grassland systems of the Nebraska Sandhills. Chapter one reviews relevant literature related to precision livestock management, the Nebraska Sandhills, biomass estimation, and pyric herbivory. The second chapter evaluates the use of fractional green canopy cover (FGCC) derived from the Canopeo mobile application as a rapid method for estimating aboveground biomass in Sandhills rangelands. Biomass samples were collected across topographic positions in both early and late growing season, and relationships between FGCC and clipped biomass were assessed using generalized …

Fire Scarring Does Not Significantly Impact Conifer Growth Response To Forest Fires In Utah, Connor B. Biser, Russell Torgersen, Otto Degroff, Steve Petersen

Student Works

BYU Wildfire Symposium 2026 - First Place Research Application, People's Choice Award

Wildfires are an increasingly prevalent disturbance in forests in the western United States, and play an essential role in ecosystem function. Micro-variations in fire dynamics and intensity can leave individual trees with varying levels of damage. We hypothesized that trees with fire-scars would suffer a growth depression directly following the disturbance. Core samples were taken for dendrochronological analysis from 185 conifers at 29 points, representing 11 fires from 6 years. Our findings showed a growth depression in the first year following the fire, with no significant difference between …

Spatiotemporal Patterns Of Occupancy By Pygmy Rabbits (Sylvilagus Idahoensis), Kevin A. Royal, Brock R. Mcmillan, Kimberly A. Hersey, Steven L. Petersen, Randy T. Larsen

Student Works

The pygmy rabbit (Sylvilagus idahoensis) is a species of conservation concern that has declined due to fragmentation and loss of essential habitat, primarily sagebrush-steppe. Pygmy rabbits are currently under review for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) and consequently require a clearer understanding of current distribution and patterns of occurrence in big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) habitats. From 2024 to 2025, we surveyed for pygmy rabbits using remote cameras at several historically occupied sites in Utah, USA, to understand patterns of activity and occupancy. We also compared current estimates of occupancy to historical data collected approximately 20 years ago. …

Habitat And Conditions Of Poisoning Of Toxic Plants In North America, Michael H. Ralphs

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

This paper presents a list of important poisonous plants in North America that are toxic to both livestock and humans. The aim of this paper is to present information to help reduce the risk of poisoning. The paper emphasizes the particular plant communities in which these plants grow. Some of these plants are endemic, growing on specific soils or specific ecological sites. Others are distributed more broadly throughout a vegetation type. A few of the plants are widespread, ranging over several broad ecosystems. In diagnosing poisoning, it is important to know what plants are expected to grow in the communities …

A Case Study Of Suspected Sheep Losses Due To Chokecherry Not Death Camas, Kevin D. Welch, Clint A. Stonecipher, Stephen T. Lee, Daniel Cook, Benedict T. Green

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Death camas (Zigadenus paniculatus) is a toxic plant often associated with poisoning cases in livestock, especially in sheep, in the spring on mountain foothills. Consequently, when sheep are found dead in mountain foothills, and death camas is present, it is often implicated as the potential cause of death. However, this may be over simplistic as there may be other plants that may also contribute to, or are the cause of, death in sheep. In this study, we present a case of approximately 200 sheep out of a band of 400 that died within 24 hours of beginning to …

To Hold Or Sell Breeding Cattle In The Rangelands, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock factsheets

In a dry season where feed, water and finances are limited, removing less productive animals as soon as possible is a good option. This will free up feed for more productive animals and help preserve ground cover.

This page provides some of the information and a process for making decisions about holding or selling breeding cattle.

Rate Response Of Curlyleaf Pondweed And Native Plants To Flumioxazin In Minnesota Lakes, Pearl J. Jensen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus L.) is an invasive aquatic plant present across the United States that causes significant recreational issues, outcompetes native plant species, and depletes water quality. Before senescing in mid-summer, curlyleaf pondweed forms a large number of turions that can lay dormant in the sediment for several years. Typical herbicide management of this species occurs in early spring to target the plant before turion production occurs and while native plants are dormant. Flumioxazin has shown potential in curlyleaf pondweed management in small scale studies, but its effects have not been assessed in operational management. In this study, treatments …

Ovipositional Behavior Of The Twig Girdler (Cerambycidae: Oncideres Cingulata) On Stems Of Mockernut Hickory (Carya Tomentosa) In Arkansas, R. Tumlison, L. Serviss

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The Twig Girdler (Cerambycidae: Oncideres cingulata) is a long-horned beetle that girdles stems of certain species of trees to prepare a habitat for its offspring. The stems eventually die, break, and fall from the tree, but the beetle usually had already laid its eggs within the stems. Eggs are laid singly, almost always at growth rings or leaf bases. Because the space for the young to develop is finite, laying too many eggs could cause reproductive failure and too few eggs would be suboptimal. We hypothesized that the female laying eggs should be able to evaluate the stem and …

Does Diverse Seeding Adoption Reduce Production Costs? The Case Of Diverse Forage Seeding Strategies In West Virginia., Ivan Andres Wong

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Feed and harvested forage represent a major share of production costs in Appalachian cow-calf systems, where a pronounced summer forage gap forces producers to rely on purchased hay. This thesis evaluates whether adopting diverse forage seeding strategies reduces production costs relative to the existing pasture management practice, accounting for the spatial heterogeneity of West Virginia’s production environments. The analysis proceeds in two steps. First, an unsupervised K-means clustering of 14 farms enrolled in the NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant field trial groups the farms into two agroclimatic clusters, Highland-Cool and LowlandWarm, using elevation, growing-season Growing Degree Days, growing-season precipitation, and soil …

Challenging And Diagnosing Structured Population Models By Testing Predictions From Stochastic Demography, Stephen P. Ellner, Robin E. Snyder, Daniel T. Blumstein, Dylan Z. Childs, Joshua C. Fowler, Christina M. Hernández, Julien G. A. Martin, María Paniw, Yngvild Vindenes

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

1. Structured population models are parameterized to accurately project expected population sizes, stage/state distributions and population growth rates, but they also predict the variation in outcomes among individuals, such as the variance and skewness of lifetime reproductive output (LRO) and lifespan, the probability of never reproducing, and many other life-history metrics.

2. Testing such predictions about individual outcomes can be very useful model 'stress tests', because they depend on how components of the model (e.g. submodels for survival and fecundity) interact over multiple time steps, not just on the accuracy of the submodels. Because data on among-individual variation is rarely …

Discovery: The Student Journal Of Dale Bumpers College Of Agricultural, Food And Life Sciences - Volume 27 2026, Several Authors

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

No abstract provided.

Letter From The Faculty Editor, Beth Kegley

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

No abstract provided.

Featured Faculty Mentor/Student Team, Lauren Rogers, Danielle Reeves

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

No abstract provided.

Growing South Dakota (Winter 2026), College Of Agriculture, Food And Environmental Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

[Page] 2 International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists: South Dakota rangelands take center stage
[Page] 4 The professor and the soil
[Page] 8 Range ready: Helping students bridge the gap between conservation and agriculture
[Page] 9 Resilient rangelands: Native Plant Initiative’s role in reviving South Dakota’s prairies
[Page] 10 Jackrabbits lead the charge in bison research and education
[Page] 12 Agricultural and biosystems engineering celebrates century of education
[Page] 16 SDSU Quarter Scale Tractor Club: An impact beyond awards
[Page] 18 Building a legacy of opportunity: Karen D. Stuck Endowment strengthens agricultural communication program at South Dakota State University
[Page] …

Cross-Domain Antimicrobial Resistance In Poultry Farming: A One Health Assessment Of Antimicrobial Use And Multidrug Resistance In Kiambu County, Kenya, Ann Kangai Munene, Peter Muiruri Mwangi, Lilly Caroline Bebora, Christine Minoo Mbindyo, John Muthini Maingi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background and Aim: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a major One Health threat driven by inappropriate antimicrobial use (AMU) in humans, animals, and the environment. Poultry production is recognized as a key reservoir of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, yet few studies in Kenya examine AMU and AMR across interconnected human–animal–environment domains. This study assessed AMU patterns among poultry farmers in Kiambu County and characterized phenotypic resistance in Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. isolated from humans, chickens, and chicken environments. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to September 2024, involving 102 poultry farms. Farm demographics and AMU data …

Contents, Discovery Editors

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

No abstract provided.

Letter From The Dean, Jeff Edwards

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

No abstract provided.

Factors Affecting Diet Selection In Sheep Fed Endophyte-Infected Toxic Fescue, Jordan Thomas, Ronelson Stinfil, Kenneth P. Coffey, Christine C. Nieman, Derico Setyabrata, Shawna Weimer

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

Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) S.J. Darbyshire) infected with toxin‑producing fungi can induce fescue toxicosis in grazing ruminants, reducing performance and altering forage intake. Chemical compounds in red clover (Trifolium pratense), such as biochanin A, have been proposed to mitigate these effects by improving palatability and blood vessel relaxation. This study examined whether the inclusion of ground red clover (GRC), either alone or in combination with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), affected voluntary diet selection in lambs offered toxic fescue. Thirty‑three lambs were housed individually and assigned randomly to one of four diets: (1) toxic …