Animal Sciences Commons^™

Variance Components And Breeding Values For Growth Traits From Different Statistical Models, G. B. Ferreira, M. D. Macneil, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Estimates of genetic parameters resulting from various analytical models for birth weight (BWT, n = 4,155), 205-d weight (WWT, n = 3,884), and 365-d weight (YWT, n = 3,476) were compared. Data consisted of records for Line 1 Hereford cattle selected for postweaning growth from 1934 to 1989 at ARSUSDA, Miles City, MT. Twelve models were compared. Model 1 included fixed effects of year, sex, age of dam; covariates for birth day and inbreeding coefficients of animal and of dam; and random animal genetic and residual effects. Model 2 was the same as Model 1 but ignored inbreeding coefficients. Model …

This Cat's Meow: Individual Variation Among Domestic Cats In Maternal Response To An Unrelated Kitten, Theressa Joanne Silver

Dissertations and Theses

Non-offspring nursing and adoption are puzzling behaviors seen in a number of mammalian species (Riedman, 1982; Packer et al., 1992). Although domestic cats show a proclivity for adopting strange kittens, there is a great deal of individual variation in the behavior. The goal of this project was to determine the feasibility of using behavioral observations and other measures of a mother cat's personality to predict her reaction to a strange kitten. Twelve female domestic cats with litters of kittens were tested. Three behavioral tests were done with each cat: New Person Test (NPT), Familiar Person Test (FPT), and Novel Box …

Action Of Retinoids On Embryonic And Early Postnatal Testis Development, Andrea S. Cupp, Jannette M. Dufour, Grace Kim, Michael K. Skinner, Kwan Hee Kim

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The current study investigates the hypothesis that retinoids have a role in embryonic testis development. The action of retinoids on testis development and the expression of retinoic acid receptors (RARα, RARβ, RARγ) were examined. In embryonic day 13 (E13; plug date 5 E0) testis organ cultures an RAR-selective agonist and alltrans retinoic acid completely inhibited seminiferous cord formation. In contrast, an RARα-selective antagonist had no effect. RT-PCR demonstrated that RARα messenger RNA (mRNA) was expressed at all developmental time points evaluated, which included embryonic day 14 (E14) through postnatal day 30 (P30). Expression of RARβ mRNA was present at E15 …

Observations And Possible Function Of The Striking Anterior Coloration Pattern Of Galathea Intermedia (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura), J. M. Hall-Spencer, P. G. Moore, L. U. Sneddon

Veterinary Science and Medicine Collection

Galathea intermedia is common, but cryptic, on Clyde maerl deposits where it lives in small groups of mixed sex and age, sharing shelters (typically dead Dosinia shells) to avoid predation. Its appearance is marked by six iridescent blue spots which may play an important role in intra- or interspecific interactions.

Implications Of Cloning For Breed Improvement Strategies: Are Traditional Methods Of Animal Improvement Obsolete?, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Can the optimum animal be defined? Will that definition change over time, by location, by market demand? First, assume what may be impossible, that the perfect animal can be defined or that only a limited number of definitions of “perfect” are needed. Then, can the “perfect” animal to match a definition be found? Suppose such an animal is found. Then the question to be answered before trying to clone as a method of genetic improvement becomes “Is the animal perfect because of phenotype or genotype?” In other words, the P = G + E problem exists, which requires traditional methods …

Intermediate Rings Between A Local Domain And Its Completion, William Heinzer, Christel Rotthaus, Sylvia Wiegand

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

We consider the structure of certain intermediate domains between a local Noetherian domain Rand an ideal-adic completion R* of R that arise as the intersection of R* with a field containing R. In the case where the intersection domain A can be expressed as a directed union of localized polynomial extension rings of R, the computation of A is easier. We examine conditions for this to happen. We also present examples to motivate and illustrate the concepts considered.

Conservation Status Of The Southern Appalachian Herpetofauna, Joseph C. Mitchell, Thomas K. Pauley, David I. Withers, Steven M. Roble, Brian T. Miller, Alvin L. Braswell, Paul V. Cupp Jr., Christopher S. Hobson

Virginia Journal of Science

Seventy one species of amphibians (55 salamanders, 16 anurans) and 46 species of reptiles (15 turtles, 8 lizards, 23 snakes) inhabit a five state area (Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia) in the southern Appalachian region bordered by the Potomac River, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the western margin of the Appalachian Plateau. Of these, 47.9 % of the amphibian fauna and 52.2 % of the reptilian fauna are listed as being of conservation concern by federal, state, and Natural Heritage programs in all or a portion of their ranges of this region. The Shenandoah salamander (Plethodon Shenandoah …

Arkansas Animal Science Department Report 1998, Stacey Gunter

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

No abstract provided.

Genotypic Expression At Different Ages: Ii. Wool Traits Of Sheep, H. Okut, C. M. Bromley, L. Dale Van Vleck, G. D. Snowder

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Genetic parameters for wool traits for Columbia, Polypay, Rambouillet, and Targhee breeds of sheep were estimated with single- and multiple-trait analyses using REML with animal models. Traits considered were fleece grade, fleece weight, and staple length. Total number of observations ranged from 11,673 to 34,746 for fleece grade and fleece weight and from 3,500 to 11,641 for staple length for the four breeds. For single-trait analyses, data were divided by age of ewe: young ages (age of 1 yr), middle ages (ages of 2 and 3 yr), and older ages (age greater than 3 yr). Heritability estimates averaged over breeds …

Genotypic Expression At Different Ages: I. Prolificacy Traits Of Sheep, H. Okut, C. M. Bromley, L. Dale Van Vleck, G. D. Snowder

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Genetic parameters for prolificacy traits for Columbia (COLU), Polypay (POLY), Rambouillet (RAMB), and Targhee (TARG) breeds of sheep were estimated with REML using animal models. Traits were number of live births (LAB), litter size at birth (LSB) and weaning (LSW), and litter weight weaned (LWW). Numbers of observations ranged from 5,140 to 7,095 for prolificacy traits and from 5,101 to 8,973 for litter weight weaned for the four breeds. For single-trait analyses, ewes were classified as young (1 yr old), middle-aged (2 and 3 yr old), or older (> 3 yr old). After single-trait analyses, three-trait analyses were done for …

Genotypic Expression With Different Ages Of Dams: Iii. Weight Traits Of Sheep, H. Okut, C. M. Bromley, L. Dale Van Vleck, G. D. Snowder

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Correlations between genetic expression in lambs when dams were young (1 yr), middle-aged (2 and 3 yr), or older (older than 3 yr) were estimated with three-trait analyses for weight traits. Weights at birth ( BWT) and weaning ( WWT) and ADG from birth to weaning were used. Numbers of observations were 7,731, 9,518, 9,512, and 9,201 for Columbia ( COLU) , Polypay ( POLY) , Rambouillet ( RAMB) , and Targhee ( TARG) breeds of sheep, respectively. When averaged, relative estimates for WWT and ADG were similar across breeds. Estimates were variable across breeds. On average, direct heritability was …

Variance Caused By Cytoplasmic Line And Sire By Herd Interaction Effects For Milk Yield Considering Estimation Bias, P. R. N. Rorato, Jeffrey F. Keown, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

A total of 138,869 lactation milk yields (305 d, milked twice daily, mature equivalent) from the first three parities of 68,063 New York Holstein cows were used to estimate variance components that were due to additive direct genetic effects, cow permanent environmental effects (cow within sire for sire model), sire by herd interaction effects, and cytoplasmic line effects. The original data were assigned to 10 random samples, which were each analyzed using an animal model and a sire model. From each sample of original data, 20 other samples were analyzed with levels assigned randomly to cytoplasmic and interaction effects (data …

Response Of Channel Catfish, Ictaluri Punctatus, T-Lymphocytes To Outer Membrane Proteins Of Edwardsiella Ictaluri, Marlin Ann Lawson

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Biology by Marlin Ann Lawson on February 29, 1999.

Modifications Of Phosphocaseinate Solutions Treated By Selective Adsorption, Nathalie Martin, Rafael Jiménez-Flores, Phillip S. Tong, Yves Pouliot, Michel Britten

Dairy Science

The treatment of phosphocaseinate by adsorption with diatomaceous earths has been studied. The results suggest that magnesium and calcium silicates have a specific affinity for milk proteins. As a result, the ratio of individual casein types in phosphocaseinate solution can be manipulated.

Fisheries Research Report No. 113 - Catch, Effort And The Conversion From Gill Nets To Traps In The Peel-Harvey And Cockburn Sound Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus Pelagicus) Fisheries, Roy Melville-Smith, Mark Cliff, Sonia M. Anderton

Fisheries Research Reports

Over the last few years, there has been considerable interest on the part of commercial fishers to move away from using gill nets, the traditional method for fishing for blue swimmer crabs in Western Australia (WA), to fishing with traps. Blue swimmer crab fisheries in WA are regulated by effort controls and most gill net fishers are restricted to hauling 1,000 metres (1,200 metres in the case of Cockburn Sound) of gill net per day.

The fieldwork in this study was initiated in March 1994 in Cockburn Sound and in January 1996 in the Peel-Harvey Estuary. It was aimed at …

Fish & Wildlife News: March/April 1999

Fish and Wildlife News

Contents:

Key Positions Filled 2
Refuges Hit the Big Screen 5
Record Service Budget Proposed 6
All About Alligator Gar 7
Commercial Fishers Lend a Hand 8
Clark Commends Report Team 10
Federal Aid on the Information Superhighway 11
Floods Spur Conservation Initiative 13
Special: International Migratory Bird Day ‘99 15
Partners in Conservation Success 17
U.S., Japan Have Historic Meeting 20
Ambassadors of the Winged Variety 24
Birds Equal Bucks 25
Exploring Our Past: The History Pages 28
Fish and Wildlife...In Brief 31

The Age Of Birds In Nebraska, Paul A. Johnsgard

Papers in Ornithology

If each mile of highway I-80 in Nebraska represented a million years of natural history, then the 450 miles from the 60th St. on-ramp in Omaha to the westernmost exit at the Wyoming border would represent the 450 million years that encompass the time that evidence of life has been found on earth. The earth itself is more than four billion years old, or ten times older than the time scale of life described here.
The 450 million years of life on earth are correlated to the distance from Omaha to the Wyoming border, and the flora and fauna of …

Table Of Contents And Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (March 1999) 67(1)

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal, and is sent to members not in arrears of dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $14.00 in the United States; $18.00 for all foreign countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $4.00 each, postpaid, in the United States, and $5.00 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Mary Prichard, NOU Librarian, University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, NE 68588-0514.

Memberships in NOU (on a calendar year basis only): Active, $15.00; Sustaining, $25.00; Student, $10.00; Family Active, $20.00; Family Sustaining, $30.00; …

Cooperative Whooping Crane Tracking Project (August 1998-January 1999)

Nebraska Bird Review

Between 1977 and 1988, 132 juvenile whooping cranes were color-marked on the breeding grounds; of these 37 were accounted for during the winter of 1998-99. Five color-marked cranes were observed during the fall migration. All sightings of color-marked cranes during migration are maintained at the Grand Island office.

One hundred eighty-one cranes began the 1998 spring migration. Forty-nine nests were confirmed on the breeding grounds. Forty-seven chicks were located during June surveys, and the surveys during August determined that at least 24 chicks were surviving. Under optimum conditions about 2,054 birds were expected to arrive at Aransas last fall. The …

Responses In Ovulation Rate, Embryonal Survival, And Litter Traits In Swine To 14 Generations Of Selection To Increase Litter Size, Rodger K. Johnson, Merlyn K. Nielsen, David S. Casey

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Eleven generations of selection for increased index of ovulation rate and embryonal survival rate, followed by three generations of selection for litter size, were practiced. Laparotomy was used to count corpora lutea and fetuses at 50 d of gestation. High-indexing gilts, approximately 30%, were farrowed. Sons of dams in the upper 10% of the distribution were selected. Selection from Generations 12 to 14 was for increased number of fully formed pigs; replacements were from the largest 25% of the litters. A randomly selected control line was maintained. Responses at Generation 11 were approximately 7.4 ova and 3.8 fetuses at 50 …

Nebraska Bird Review (March 1999) 67(1), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Winter Field Report, December 1998–February 1999 ... 2

Species Accounts ... 4

Two Winter Records of Pacific Loons at Lake McConaughy ... 16

The 1998–99 Nebraska Christmas Bird Count Summary ... 17

Common Crane in Central Platte Valley, Nebraska, March 1999, and a Discussion of Prior North American Records ... 28

Cooperative Whooping Crane Tracking Project (August 1998–January 1999) ... 30

Two Poems by William Kloefkorn ... 35

The Age of Birds in Nebraska by Paul A. Johnsgard ... 37

Common Crane In Central Platte Valley, Nebraska, March 1999, And A Discussion Of Prior North American Records, W. Ross Silcock, Stephen J. Dinsmore

Nebraska Bird Review

On 5 March 1999, a report appeared on the listserver of a Common Crane sighted at 2:30 p.m. that day by Tammy VerCauteren (fide Paul Tebbel) about 2 miles east of Lowell Road in southeastern Buffalo County. The next morning, WRS drove to the location. After about 2 hours of searching, he refound the Common Crane at 8:57 a.m. among Sandhill Cranes about 50 meters south of Elm Island Road at a spot 2 miles east of Lowell Road. It was refound by SJD at 11:00 a.m. on March 9 northeast of the junction of roads X and 41 in …

Two Winter Records Of Pacific Loons At Lake Mcconaughy, Stephen J. Dinsmore

Nebraska Bird Review

Pacific Loons are rare migrants in Nebraska, with most of the recent records coming from the western half of the state. Many of the recent records are from Lake McConaughy in Keith County and from Lake Minatare in Scotts Bluff County. Most records are from fall in the short period between 20 October and 20 November. There is a single spring record from April, 5 summer records in the period June to August (all but one from western Nebraska), and a few fall records outside the peak period. The latest fall record from Nebraska is 9 December. In this note, …

The Age Of Birds In Nebraska, Paul A. Johnsgard

Nebraska Bird Review

Let each mile of highway I-80 represent a million years. That way, 1/2 mile represents 500,000 years, 1/10 mile = 100,000 years, 1/100 mile (52 feet) = 10,000 years; 1/1000 mile (5.2 feet) = 1,000 years, and 6 inches = 100 years. A decade (ten years) equals about a half-inch. It is 450 miles from the 60th St. on-ramp to I-80 in Omaha to the westernmost exit at the Wyoming border. These 450 million years encompass most of the time that evidence of life has been found on earth, but the earth itself is more than four billion years old, …

The 1998-99 Nebraska Christmas Bird Count Summary, Stephen J. Dinsmore

Nebraska Bird Review

The 1998-99 Christmas Bird Count (CBC) period included eight counts in Nebraska. Counts were scattered statewide, but most effort was in the eastern half of the state. I know of at least one additional count (Branched Oak Lake) that was run this year, but not submitted.

In the following discussion, I have attempted to discuss what I believe are the more important aspects of this year's CBC period. This includes my general impressions about some of the commoner species, mention of rarities, notable misses, and other topics.

Winter Field Report, Dec 1998-Feb 1999, W. Ross Silcock, Joel G. Jorgensen

Nebraska Bird Review

First we want to correct a rather obvious error in the Summer Field Report. We reported 3 pairs of Cordilleran Flycatchers at Neale Woods at the eastern edge of the state, which would be a remarkable range expansion. These birds were actually in Monroe Canyon, Sioux Co, where they were supposed to be. Another error involved 5 Brewer's Sparrows we said were in Sioux Co; these were actually Brewer's Blackbirds.

Several contributors now report to us by email. We urge observers to forward their email addresses; if we have questions on their reports, communication would be easy! Reports and comments …

Two Poems, William Kloefkorn

Nebraska Bird Review

Counting the Cows

Geese

Genetic Parameters For Growth Traits For A Composite Terminal Sire Breed Of Sheep, E. Mousa, L. Dale Van Vleck, K. E. Leymaster

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Records of 9,055 lambs from a composite population originating from crossing Columbia rams to Hampshire ´ Suffolk ewes at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center were used to estimate genetic parameters among growth traits. Traits analyzed were weights at birth (BWT), weaning (7 wk, WWT), 19 mo (W19), and 31 mo (W31) and postweaning ADG from 9 to 18 or 19 wk of age. The ADG was also divided into daily gain of males (DGM) and daily gain of females (DGF). These two traits were analyzed with W19 and with W31 in three-trait analyses. (Co)variance components were estimated with REML …

Chemical Communication Of Estrous Cycle Status And Change In Social Behaviors With Reproductive State In Captive Female Asian Elephants, Elephas Maximus, Barbara Elaine Slade

Dissertations and Theses

Elephants use several well-developed sensory systems for communicating within and between social groups. Female elephants sniff, touch and flehmen to the urine and genitals of herdmembers. In addition, communication through social behaviors is prevalent. Female elephants frequently communicate through affiliate tactile and aggressive behaviors. Furthermore, although female elephants are not known to display behavioral signs of estrus, these females exhibit a tail slapping behavior that may be an implement for dispersing chemical signals to conspecifics or nearby male elephants.

The present study addresses two areas of research. The purpose of part one was first, to determine if female Asian elephants …

Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 75, No. 1), Kentucky Library Research Collections

The Kentucky Warbler

No abstract provided.