Animal Sciences Commons^™

Estimating Livestock Forage Demand: Defining The Animal Unit, Tonya L. Meyer

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

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of a beef animal’s physiological status on forage intake. The experiment was repeated over two years with six replications of three treatments per year: cow-calf pair (CC; BW = 629 kg), dry cow (DC; BW = 503 kg), and yearling steer (S; BW = 305 kg). The cow and calf were treated as one unit, with cow BW and calf BW comprising CC BW. Calves were approximately 42 d of age and weighing 73 kg at the start of each year. Animals were housed in individual pens and fed high …

The Effects Of Aerobic Exercise On Embryonic And Fetal Development In The Pregnant Mare, Jason Anton

All Theses

Horses are natural athletes and are commonly competed during early pregnancy. Because horses have singleton pregnancies and are conditioned to human interaction, they may prove to be a useful model in lending greater understanding of the numerous etiologies of intra-uterine growth restriction that is found in women and other mammals. Currently, there has been little research conducted to determine the effects that stress, in the form of aerobic exercise, has on early embryonic and fetal development in the horse. More research is needed to further understand the effects that stress has on early conceptus development in the mare.
The research …

Sex Ratio Of Embryos From Hyperstimluated Beef Cows, Sterling Davis

All Theses

Sex selection is economically and genetically advantageous in cattle production. The only commercially available reliable sex selection technique is sexed semen; however, the technology is expensive and inefficient. Maternal manipulation could be beneficial to sway sex ratio. Frequent ultrasound coupled with rectal palpation has been shown to sway sex ratio towards female. In the preliminary study, cows with a corpus luteum (CL) ≥ 18 mm were randomly assigned to Treatment or Control (n=4 / group). Follicles > 5 mm were destroyed using ultrasound-guided ablation, a CIDR was inserted, and PGF2α (25 mg IM) was administered. Ovarian hyperstimulation began 48 h post-ablation …

Forced Exercise Influences Embryo Quality And Blood Perfusion Of The Dominant Follicle In Mares, Rachael Smith

All Theses

Athletic mares are commonly utilized in an embryo transfer regimen during the breeding season, which allows owners to continue to train and compete with these animals. Evidence suggests exercising mares in a hot and humid environment detrimental to embryo recovery rates. However, the effects of exercise under milder temperatures and its influence on mare reproduction have not been thoroughly examined. Our goal was to compare embryo recovery rates and embryo quality scores of mares under mild environmental conditions of two differing exercise regimens versus a single Control group. Color Doppler ultrasonography was used to capture images of the blood flow …

Residual Feed Intake As A Selection Tool, Jessica Crozier, D. R. Zobell

All Current Publications

This publication explains how residual feed intake can be used as a helpful tool when deciding which sires and dams to utilize to obtain superior genetics.

Does The Manipulation Of Tail Position Facilitate Extinction Of Canine Phobic Behavior?, Rebecca A. Zarate

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The phobic behavior of interest is tail tucking which is indicative of submission. In this study the tail was physically manipulated by the use of a custom made harness to hold the tail up in a dominant position to ideally extinguish phobic behavior through reciprocal inhibition. The harness did not hold the tail up the entire duration of the interventions, although it still held the base of the tail up. The intervention did not appear to have an affect on the two of the five subjects. The three more phobic canines did display some behavioral changes, although the changes noticed …

Effects Of Corn Silage Hybrids And Dietary Nonforage Fiber Sources On Productive Performance In Early Lactating Dairy Cows Fed High Forage Diets, Michael Shane Holt

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of corn silage hybrids and nonforage fiber sources (NFFS) in high forage diets formulated with high dietary proportion of alfalfa hay (AH) and corn silage (CS) on ruminal fermentation and productive performance by early lactating dairy cows. Eight multiparous Holstein cows (4 ruminally fistulated) averaging 36 ± 6.2 d in milk were used in a duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Cows were fed 1 of 4 dietary treatments during each of the four 21-d periods. Treatments were: 1) conventional corn …

The Influence Of Landscape And Weather On Foraging By Olfactory Meso-Predators In Utah, Rebekah E. Dritz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Predation by olfactory meso-predators has a large impact on avian nest success, particularly for ground-nesting waterfowl. Olfactory predators rely on odors to locate their prey. Weather conditions (e.g. wind speed, humidity, and temperature), vegetation, and landscape features affect the dissipation rate of odors and could affect the foraging efficiency of olfactory predators. I conducted 2 studies to determine if weather and landscape impact predator foraging ability and behavior: a predator survey study and an artificial nest study. The objective of the predator survey was to investigate how landscape and weather conditions interact to influence the distribution of olfactory meso-predators [e.g. …

Development Of An Innovative Statewide Population Monitoring Program For Mule Deer, Heather H. Bernales

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Monitoring population trend and estimating vital demographic parameters are essential for effective management of a mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) population. Because of financial constraints, many wildlife agencies use computer models to obtain indirect indices of population size and trend as an alternative to annual field-based estimates of population size. These models are based primarily on herd composition counts and harvest rates from hunter-harvest surveys, and are rarely field validated. I developed an alternative method for monitoring population dynamics of wintering populations of mule deer. I designed a hybrid monitoring program that combined annual vital rate monitoring to track changes in …

Comparative Ecology Of Narrowly Sympatric Horned Lizards Under Variable Climatic Conditions, Kevin V. Young

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

We studied the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma mcallii, and the Sonoran Horned Lizard, P. goodei, in an area of narrow sympatry near Yuma, Arizona, and found they overlapped broadly in use of available food resources, body size, and growth rates. We compared diet (Chapter 2), growth and reproduction (Chapter 3), and survivorship (Chapter 4) of P. mcallii and P. goodei during two years of drought followed by a year of higher-than-average rainfall. We predicted that P. mcallii would be more tolerant of drought conditions than its congener, since P. mcalliiis found only in an extremely arid region while …

Identifying And Understanding The Spatial Distribution Of Bobcat And Coyote Behavior, Ryan Radford Wilson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A common observation in animal space use studies is that animals do not use space uniformly, but rather use some areas of their home ranges and territories with much higher intensity than others. Numerous methods have been developed to estimate these "core areas"; however, all of the current methods available are based on arbitrary rules. Additionally, most studies do not attempt to understand what behavioral processes lead to the observed patterns of non-uniform space use. This study has four main objectives: 1) to develop an objective and more precise method for estimating core areas, 2) to understand the processes leading …

Greater Sage-Grouse Response To Sagebrush Reduction Treatments In Rich County, Utah, Roger Blair Stringham

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Management of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the west has changed over the last several decades in response to environmental and anthropogenic causes. Many land and wildlife management agencies have begun manipulating sagebrush with herbicides, machinery, and fire. The intent of these manipulations (treatments) is to reduce sagebrush canopy cover and increase the density of grass and forb species, thus providing higher quality sage-grouse brood-rearing habitat. However, monitoring of sage-grouse response to such manipulations has often been lacking or non-existent. The objective of our study was to determine the response of sage-grouse to sagebrush reduction treatments that have …

Greater Sage-Grouse Seasonal Ecology And Responses To Habitat Manipulations In Northern, Utah, Eric T. Thacker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Declining greater sage-grouse populations (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) have led to increased concern regarding the long-term stability of the species. Previous research has identified factors contributing to the observed population declines. Habitat degradation and loss have been implicated as major factors in population declines. Although much is known about sage-grouse biology, more information is needed about population responses to specific management actions. This research was conducted to document sage-grouse responses to site-specific management actions. Additionally, I evaluated sage-grouse temporal and seasonal habitat-use and the comparability of techniques used by range and wildlife managers to measure vegetation responses of …

Survival Of Mycoplasma Species In Recycled Bedding Sand And Possible Implications For Disease Transmission To Ruminants, Anne E. Justice-Allen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Mycoplasmas are a group of bacteria which are small in size, lack a cell wall, and have small genomes in comparison to other bacteria. The members of the group that are pathogenic utilize several mechanisms to evade the host's immune system. These processes affect surveillance and control mechanisms such as serologic testing and vaccination. Many of these organisms cause diseases of livestock, which heavily impact production parameters such as weight gain, milk yield, and egg production. Mycoplasmas also cause disease in people.

Mycoplasma spp. can cause mastitis, metritis, pneumonia, and arthritis. The currently documented routes of transmission of Mycoplasma spp. …

Comparative Performance Of Fluorometry And High Performance Liquid Chromatography In The Detection Of Aflatoxin M1 In Two Commercial Cheeses, Gustavo Peña

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM₁) is frequently found in milk and dairy products. It is a metabolite formed in cows from aflatoxin B1 (AFB₁), contained in animal feeds. In cheese production AFM₁ distributes between curds and whey. In this study, cows were fed 64 µg/AFB₁/d for the high treatment, and 5 µg/AFB₁/d for the low treatment, to obtain milk contaminated with AFM1 over the 0.5 µg/L and under 0.05 µg/L restrictions, respectively. Cheese was manufactured with milk contaminated with AFM₁ at 0.8 and 0.03 ìg/kg by the higher and lower …

Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus Aeneus) Habitat Use And Differential Response To Playback Of Host Song, Mary Jennifer Gorton

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

During the breeding seasons of 2008 - 2009, 180 fixed-radius point-count surveys and broadcasts of host song were conducted in Santa Ana (SANWR) and Laguna Atascosa (LANWR, 2009 only) National Wildlife Refuges to identify Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus) habitat use and test the predictions of the host activity hypothesis. Surveys demonstrated that Bronzed Cowbirds were distributed across all habitat types in both refuges, although there were differences in abundance between the sexes for interior and edge habitats and between habitat types. Bronzed Cowbirds responded differentially to host species playbacks based on suitability and abundance of the host species. The results …

Ecology And Relationships Of Rhabdias Spp. (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) From North American Amphibians And Reptiles, Gabriel J. Langford

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

Lungworms of the cosmopolitan genus Rhabdias (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) are among the most common parasites of amphibians and squamate reptiles. The life cycles, life histories, host specificities, and evolutionary relationships of Rhabdias spp. were studied through examination of their free-living and parasitic stages in amphibians and reptiles. This study found free-living development of anuran lungworms was primarily limited to heterogonic reproduction, whereas snake lungworms primarily reproduced homogonically. Infective anuran lungworms penetrated the skin of frogs and toads; in contrast, snake lungworms penetrated snake esophageal tissue during per os infections. Our molecular phylogeny strongly supported separate clades for anuran and snake lungworms, …

Effects Of Variable Oceanographic Conditions On Forage Fish Lipid Content And Fatty Acid Composition In The Northern California Current, Marisa N. C. Litz, Richard D. Brodeur, Robert L. Emmett, Selina S. Heppell, Rosalee S. Hellberg, Linda O'Higgins, Matthew S. Morris

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Lipids and fatty acids (FA) were investigated in 4 species of forage fish: northern anchovy Engraulis mordax, Pacific sardine Sardinops sagax, Pacific herring Clupea pallasi, and whitebait smelt Allosmerus elongatus, for their ability to serve as biological indicators of ocean conditions in the California Current large marine ecosystem (CCLME). Samples were collected during the oceanographically contrasting years of 2005 and 2006. Upwelling was severely curtailed in the spring and early summer of 2005, leading to delayed biological productivity, whereas upwelling was relatively normal in spring 2006. Principal components analysis described 78% of the variance within the …

Growth, Larval Development And Metamorphosis In Small-Mouthed Salamanders (Ambystoma Texanum), Nicholas Timothy Zellmer

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The small-mouthed salamander (Ambystoma texanum), a common species in the midwestern United States, lays its eggs in temporary ponds during mid to late March once they have filled with water from the melting winter snow or early spring rains. For its relative abundance in the Midwest, there is little known about the life history of this species. My research followed the growth of small-mouthed salamander larvae in ponds between hatching, which occurred in early spring (mid-April), and metamorphosis, which occurred in midsummer (early June to mid-July). The research focused on the growth, larval development, and timing of metamorphosis with special …

Microsatellite Analysis Of Two Local Fox Squirrel (Sciurus Niger) Populations, Sajeena R. Horvath

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The objective of this study was to examine the genetic diversity of two geographically separated populations of Eastem fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) within the Indianapolis metropolitan area. One population was located on Butler University's campus and the other at Eagle Creek Park, located about 6.5 miles WNW from the Butler campus. DNA was extracted from tail hair samples collected by live trapping squirrels during the summers of 2007, 2008, and 2009. I used microsatellite analysis to examine the genetic variation between the two sites. Hair samples from 66 Butler squirrels and 30 Eagle Creek squirrels were analyzed using 4 microsatellite …

Effects Of Feeding Distillers' Grains On Beef Quality, Amilton S. De Mello Jr.

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

This research was conducted to understand the effects of feeding finishing diets containing distillers grains on beef quality. In the first and second studies, feeding wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) increased proportions of PUFA, omega 6, omega 6/omega3, and trans fatty acids when compared to corn (P ≤ 0.05). Lipid oxidation was higher in muscles from animals fed WDGS when compared to corn (P ≤ 0.05). The third study examined the effects of feeding levels up to 50% of modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) on fatty acid composition in beef. Linear increase (P ≤ 0.05) …

Influence Of Weaning Strategy On Animal Welfare In Beef Calves, Lindsey B. Krebs

Undergraduate Research Conference

Alternative strategies can affect the amount of stress that calves encounter at weaning. The strategies being evaluated in this study are fenceline, two-stage, and traditional abrupt. Fenceline weaning involves placing the calves in a pasture adjacent to their cows so they can have contact with each other through the fence. Two-stage weaning utilizes anti-suckling devices that clip into the calves noses and prevent them from suckling their cows. The calves remain with the cows for a short amount of time, then they are weaned and separated from their cows. This allows the stressors of weaning to be faced in two …

Diet Reconstruction Of Bighorn Sheep (Ovis Canadensis) Using Stable Isotopes, Joshua M. Whitaker

Theses and Dissertations

We determined the diet contributions of grasses, forbs and shrubs for three herds of bighorn sheep along the Wasatch Front, Utah using stable isotope techniques and determined the electivity values for different forage species for four herds. Forbs were generally the most common forage eaten across all herds while shrubs were the least used forage resource. The Provo Peak and Mount Nebo herds used grasses, forbs and shrubs at proportions similar to other bighorn sheep populations across the west, while the Antelope Island herd used forbs at higher levels than any other local herd. Additionally, the herd on Antelope Island …

Countermeasure Policy On The Samho Brother Benzene Ship Accident, Chin-Long Lin, Jian-Hwa Hu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

On October 10th, 2005, the chemical ship SAMHO BROTHER mishap occurred in the Taiwan Strait while transporting a cargo of benzene. Explosive approach was applied but failed, causing the ship wreck sank to a depth of 70 m. Oil spill was recovered in a small amount, leaving about 50 tons of the fuel remained. On the other hand, environmental monitoring at the site of the accident revealed that almost all of the great amount of 3140 m3 benzene remains stored in the nine tanks on the ship and further actions upon such a unique event in the history are urgent. …

Your Attention Please: Increasing Ambient Noise Levels Elicits A Change In Communication Behaviour In Humpback Whales (Megaptera Novaeangliae), Rebecca A. Dunlop, Douglas H. Cato, Michael J. Noad

Bioacoustics Collection

High background noise is an important obstacle in successful signal detection and perception of an intended acoustic signal. To overcome this problem, many animals modify their acoustic signal by increasing the repetition rate, duration, amplitude or frequency range of the signal. An alternative method to ensure successful signal reception, yet to be tested in animals, involves the use of two different types of signal, where one signal type may enhance the other in periods of high background noise. Humpback whale communication signals comprise two different types: vocal signals, and surface-generated signals such as ‘breaching’ or ‘pectoral slapping’. We found that …

T10c12 Conjugated Linoleic Acid Causes Delipidation In 3t3-L1 Adipocytes And Mice, Shan Jiang

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

T10c12 conjugated linoleic acid (t10c12 CLA) causes the reduction of triglyceride contents in adipocytes. T10c12 CLA’s delipidation effect is associated with decreased nutrient uptake, adipogenesis, lipogenesis, and increased energy expenditure, lipolysis, fatty acid oxidation in adipocytes. However, the molecular mechanisms of CLA’s delipidation effects are still unknown. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a central regulator of cellular energy levels, is activated by an increase in the cellular AMP:ATP ratio or various cellular stresses. We demonstrated that t10c12 CLA activated AMPK in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, leading to inhibition of anabolic biosynthesis and increase of energy expenditure. Strong activation of AMPK can induce an …

Perspectives On The Application Of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride In The United States Beef Industry, R. J. Delmore, J. M. Hodgen, B. J. Johnson

Animal Science

Zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) is a β-adrenergic agonist approved to be fed at a rate of 8.3 mg/kg (100% DM basis) during the final 20 to 40 d of the finishing period in beef cattle followed by a minimum 3-d withdrawal period antemortem. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved label claims of increased rate of BW gain, improved feed efficiency, and increased carcass leanness. Before the release of ZH for commercial use in 2007, approximately 10 independent research trials at various universities and commercial feedlots were initiated. Articles in recent issues of the Journal of Animal Science are a result of …

Perspectives On The Application Of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride In The United States Beef Industry, Robert J. Delmore, Jr., J. M. Hodgen, B. J. Johnson

Animal Science

Zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) is a β-adrenergic agonist approved to be fed at a rate of 8.3 mg/kg (100% DM basis) during the final 20 to 40 d of the finishing period in beef cattle followed by a minimum 3-d withdrawal period antemortem. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved label claims of increased rate of BW gain, improved feed efficiency, and increased carcass leanness. Before the release of ZH for commercial use in 2007, approximately 10 independent research trials at various universities and commercial feedlots were initiated. Articles in recent issues of the Journal of Animal Science are a result of …

The Loss Of Species: Mangrove Extinction Risk And Geographic Areas Of Global Concern, Beth A. Polidoro, Kent E. Carpenter, Lorna Collins, Norman C. Duke, Aaron M. Ellison, Joanna C. Ellison, Elizabeth J. Farnsworth, Edwino S. Fernando, Kandasamy Kathiresan, Nico E. Koedam, Suzanne R. Livingstone, Toyohiko Miyagi, Gregg E. Moore, Vien Ngoc Nam, Jin Eong Ong, Jurgenne H. Primavera, Serverino G. Salmo, Jonnell C. Sanciango, Sukristijono Sukardjo, Yamin Wang, Jean Wan Hong Yong

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Mangrove species are uniquely adapted to tropical and subtropical coasts, and although relatively low in number of species, mangrove forests provide at least US $1.6 billion each year in ecosystem services and support coastal livelihoods worldwide. Globally, mangrove areas are declining rapidly as they are cleared for coastal development and aquaculture and logged for timber and fuel production. Little is known about the effects of mangrove area loss on individual mangrove species and local or regional populations. To address this gap, species-specific information on global distribution, population status, life history traits, and major threats were compiled for each of the …

Multi-Host Model-Based Identification Of Armillifer Agkistrodontis (Pentastomida), A New Zoonotic Parasite From China, Shao-Hong Chen, Qin Liu, Yong-Nian Zhang, Jia-Xu Chen, Hao Li, Ying Chen, Peter Steinmann, Xiao-Nong Zhou

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

Background: Pentastomiasis is a rare parasitic infection of humans. Pentastomids are dioecious obligate parasites requiring multiple hosts to complete their life cycle. Despite their worm-like appearance, they are commonly placed into a separate sub-class of the subphylum Crustacea, phylum Arthropoda. However, their systematic position is not uncontested and historically, they have been considered as a separate phylum.

Methodology/Principal Findings: An appraisal of Armillifer agkistrodontis was performed in terms of morphology and genetic identification after its lifecycle had been established in a multi-host model, that is, mice and rats as intermediate hosts, and snakes (Agkistrodon acutus and Python molurus) …