Animal Sciences Commons^™

Managing Roof Rats In Citrus Orchards: Initial Efforts Toward Building An Integrated Pest Management Program, Roger A. Baldwin, Justine A. Smith, Ryan Meinerz, Aaron B. Shiels

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Roof rats cause extensive damage in orchards throughout the world. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems are the best option for managing rodents, yet few management systems have been developed and tested to control roof rats in agricultural settings. We initiated a study in 2020 to provide the foundation for an IPM program to manage roof rats in California citrus orchards. Our initial efforts centered on developing effective monitoring strategies for roof rats to determine when management actions are needed, assessing rat movement patterns to determine proper placement of management tools, and conducting initial tests of Goodnature A24 self-resetting traps and …

Development Of A Novel Vertebrate Pesticide For The Invasive Small Indian Mongoose, Carmen Antaky, Steven C. Hess, Israel Leinbach, Robert T. T. Sugihara, Emily W. Ruell, Shane Siers

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Small Indian mongooses are detrimental introduced predators in the United States, where they depredate native species, serve as vector of disease, and threaten public safety. Due to the risk of accidental introduction to mongoose-free islands, high cost and limitations to trapping, and no national (Section 3) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered toxicants for mongoose control, there is a need for an efficacious toxic bait for mongooses for use in conservation areas and at points of entry in the United States. Over the last five years, the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) worked to develop a toxic bait for mongooses for registration …

Abert’S Squirrel Management In Support Of Endangered Mount Graham Red Squirrel Recovery In Arizona, Aaron R. Morehead, Christopher Carillo, Holly Hicks, Wade Sanders, David L. Bergman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Recovery of the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel (MGRS) will likely be long and challenging. Its limited habitat, isolation to Pinaleño Mountain range, and demographic characteristics restrict its ability to rebound quickly from threats that impact both the squirrel and its habitat. Currently, threats to the MGRS include habitat degradation and loss through high-severity wildfire, fire suppression activities, insect outbreaks, climate change, and human development, and predation, as well as competition with Abert’s squirrels. The most recent wildfire in 2017 impacted over 48,000 acres of already reduced habitat. A critical first step is to protect and manage the remaining population …

Migratory Movements And Home Ranges Of Geographically Distinct Wintering Populations Of A Soaring Bird, Ryo Ogawa, J. Brian Davis, D. Tommy King, L. Wes Burger, Bronson K. Strickland, Marsha A. Sovada, Guiming Wang, Fred L. Cunningham

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Migratory soaring birds exhibit spatiotemporal variation in their circannual movements. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain how different winter environments affect the circannual movement patterns of migratory soaring birds. Here, we investigated annual movement strategies of American white pelicans Pelecanus erythrorhynchos (hereafter, pelican) from two geographically distinct wintering grounds in the Southern and Northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM).We hypothesized that hourly movement distance and home range size of a soaring bird would differ between different geographic regions because of different thermals and wind conditions and resource availability. We calculated average and maximum hourly movement distances and seasonal home ranges of GPS-tracking pelicans. …

Susceptibility Of Wild Canids To Sars-Cov-2, Stephanie M. Porter, Aim E. Hartwig, Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Angela M. Bosco-Lauth, J. Jeffrey Root

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We assessed 2 wild canid species, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and coyotes (Canis latrans), for susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. After experimental inoculation, red foxes became infected and shed infectious virus. Conversely, experimentally challenged coyotes did not become infected; therefore, coyotes are unlikely to be competent hosts for SARS-CoV-2.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple instances of natural infections with SARS-CoV-2 have been reported in pet dogs, likely after exposure to an infected human (1–3). Domestic dogs appear to be minimally susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, as indicated by experimental inoculations resulting in reverse transcription PCR–positive samples and low titer antibody responses but no clinical …

Exploring The Value Of A Global Gene Drive Project Registry, Riley I. Taitingfong, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Cinnamon S. Bloss, Et Al.

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Recent calls to establish a global project registry before releasing any gene-drive-modified organisms (GDOs) have suggested a registry could be valuable to coordinate research, collect data to monitor and evaluate potential ecological impacts, and facilitate transparent communication with community stakeholders and the general public. Here, we report the results of a multidisciplinary expert workshop on GDO registries convened on 8–9 December 2020 involving 70 participants from 14 countries. Participants had expertise in gene drive design, conservation and population modeling, social science, stakeholder engagement, governance and regulation, international policy, and vector control; they represented 45 organizations, spanning national and local governmental …

Review Of Loon Lessons: Uncommon Encounters With The Great Northern Diver, By James D. Paruk, Kristin Bianchini

The Prairie Naturalist

Gavia immer Brunnich (Common Loon) is a bird that has captivated bird watchers, wildlife enthusiasts, campers, cottagers, and others interested in the natural world for centuries. The loon also features prominently in Native American mythology. For many, the loon symbolizes the wildness of the north, and it is often used as a sentinel of lake health. Indeed, the Common Loon has inspired a wealth of literature, both scientific and popular, describing this species’ ecology, behavior, and fitness in the face of environmental changes. To this literature, Loon Lessons: Uncommon Encounters with the Great Northern Diver adds a complete and accurate …

Effects Of Covid-19 Mandates On Student Engagement And Management Of Collegiate Equestrian Teams, Travis Fortune

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Events like a global pandemic can negatively impact how organizations and groups function. From a collegiate perspective, this could include limiting or eliminating participation in co-curricular activities that have positive impacts on student experiences. Students use these events to make new friends, socialize and generate a sense of belonging, and gain interactions outside the classroom. In March 2020, a number of mandated restrictions were put into place in the United States in response to COVID-19, and collegiate equestrian teams' ability to practice and show were negatively impacted. Even though some restrictions were beginning to ease as of Fall 2021, many …

Effects Of Cannabinoid Supplementation On Weaning And Transportation Stress In Beef Calves, Savannah Kaitlyn Austin

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Transportation stress is a major factor increasing the risk of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in young calves. Bovine respiratory disease is currently the most economically important disease affecting the cattle industry, costing producers millions of dollars annually. Cannabidiol (CBD) has shown therapeutic benefits in other species, making it a potential tool to use as a supplement to reduce transportation and weaning stress in calves. However, little information is available on cannabinoid bioavailability and disposition of bioactive residue in livestock tissues. The objectives of these studies were to evaluate effective dosage rates of a cannabinoid gel on beef cattle and to …

How Do They Do It? Using Omics Approaches To Explore Metabolic Responses Associated With Hypoxia And Exercise Tolerance In The Deepest Diving Pinniped, Elizabeth R. Piotrowski

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Marine mammals such as northern elephant seals (NES) routinely experience hypoxemia and ischemia-reperfusion events to many tissues during deep dives with no apparent adverse effects. Adaptations to diving include increased antioxidants and elevated oxygen storage capacity associated with high hemoprotein content in blood and muscle. Despite experiencing decreased oxygen tensions during diving, NES likely rely on the mobilization of large lipids stores and catabolism of fatty acids to provide energy to exercising muscle while diving. To identify potential regulatory mechanisms that may underly hypoxia and exercise tolerance in diving mammals, this study used system-wide approaches to characterize changes in genes …

Fertility Control Options For Management Of Free-Roaming Horse Populations, Ursula S. Bechert, John W. Turner Jr., Dan L. Baker, Douglas C. Eckery, Jason E. Bruemmer, Candace C. Lyman, Tulio M. Prado, Sarah R. B. King, Mark A. Fraker

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The management of free-roaming horses (Equus ferus) and burros (E. asinus) in the United States has been referred to as a “wicked problem” because, although there are population control options, societal values will ultimately determine what is acceptable and what is not. In the United States, free-roaming equids are managed by different types of organizations and agencies, and the landscapes that these animals inhabit vary widely in terms of access, size, topography, climate, natural resources, flora, and fauna. This landscape diversity, coupled with contemporary socioeconomic and political environments, means that adaptive management practices are needed to …

Partnerships Create Success For The Devil’S Garden Wild Horses, Laura K. Snell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Many wild horse (Equus ferus caballus) populations that inhabit designated federal land in the United States currently exceed management objectives. Overabundant wild horse populations can adversely impact the ecosystem, native wildlife, and other land uses. Unfortunately, there is not a universal solution, as each impacted area may differ ecologically, economically, socially, and politically. Wild horse management is not just a 1-time project but a long-term program where buy-in is needed from the federal and state agencies, local governments, and private partners. Local county governments and private partners can have important insights and significant influence on the development and …

Wyoming’S Wild Horse Ranch: History And Description Of A Socio-Ecological Experiment, Alex Sas-Jaworsky, John Derek Scasta

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The growing population of free-roaming horses (Equus ferus caballus) on western public rangelands has necessitated that federal agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service, develop novel approaches to curb growth including reproduction management. However, bureaucracy has hindered effective research and application of horse management on public lands and examples on private lands may present new solutions. Here we present the history and current population management strategy for the Wild Horse Ranch (WHR) located in southeastern Wyoming, USA, as an example of an ongoing private entity managing horses. Prior to 1985, this ~6,000-ha …

Industrial Hemp As A Resource For Birds In Agroecosystems: Human–Wildlife Conflict Or Conservation Opportunity?, Emily A. Kotten, Iona Hennessy, Bryan M. Kluever, Zachary T. Brym, Bradley F. Blackwell, Lee A. Humberg, Page E. Klug

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.; hemp) is an emerging crop in the United States with little known about bird use or the potential for birds to become an agricultural pest. We identified birds associated with hemp fields, using repeated visits to oilseed plots in North Dakota, USA (n = 6) and cannabinoid (CBD) plots in Florida, USA (n = 4) from August to November 2020. We did not control for plot area or density; our observations were descriptive only. We observed 10 species in hemp, 12 species flying over hemp, and 11 species both foraging in and …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Wildlife Strike Rates In The United States, Dan Parsons, Michael Malouf, Wayne Martin

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic impacted air traffic, industry bodies warned of the potential increase in wildlife strike risk. Prior to the pandemic, wildlife strikes were already a concern to the industry. We sought to evaluate industry warnings using interrupted time series analysis of wildlife strike trends in the United States. Using pre-pandemic wildlife strike trends, we compared a forecast of the expected monthly strike rates through the COVID-19 impact period (March 2020 to December 2020) to the actual wildlife strike rates for the same period. Our results showed an increase in wildlife strike rates in 5 out of the …

Trico: A Novel Repellent For Preventing Deer Damage To Ornamental Shrubs, Paul D. Curtis, Brian C. Eshenaur

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Homeowners whose landscape plants are repeatedly browsed by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; deer) desire repellent products that are effective and long-lasting. We conducted a 12-week trial from January 6 through April 5, 2021 to test the duration and efficacy of a novel deer repellent (Trico®) relative to Plantskydd®, a commonly used deer repellent, and untreated plants. We placed treated and control Japanese yew shrubs (Taxus media ‘Hicksii’) at 4 homeowner sites (Birch Hills Drive, Fairview Crescent, Pinegrove Ave., and St. Paul Blvd.) near Rochester, New York, USA, where we detected deer presence. Yews are frequently eaten …

Production Of Calcium Reduced Micellar Casein Concentrate Powders And Their Use In Process Cheese Products, Anil Kommineni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Protein is an essential dietary component, and sufficient intake is vital in a healthy and balanced diet. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of and knowledgeable about the role of protein in the diet. Two of the next-generation dairy protein ingredients isolated from milk are micellar casein (MCC) and milk-derived whey protein, isolated from skim milk using microfiltration (MF). Membrane filtration has been used extensively by the dairy industry to produce a variety of dairy ingredients from milk. MCC manufactured from freshly pasteurized milk can be directly consumed or as a supplement to fortify and enhance nutritional qualities in processed food …

Impact Of Natural Cheese Composition On Proteolysis And Its Effects On Process Cheese Functionality, Natasha Scherber

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cheddar cheese is a commodity and a top-selling cheese in the United States. Enhanced flavors of cheddar cheese requires aging, which will allow proteolysis increase. Proteolysis is the most complex process that happens in cheese manufacturing and can be difficult to control because of environmental factors and compositional characteristics. The ripening process, which is the most timely and costly procedure in cheese manufacturing, can also be unpredictable when aspects, such as cheese composition, are changed. The coagulant is responsible for the first stage in proteolysis, which will produce large peptides. Small peptides are subsequentially produced during the second stage by …

A Post-Pneumonia Epizootic Evaluation Of The Rapid City, South Dakota Bighorn Sheep Herd, Amanda N. Ensrud

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pneumonia is a major factor affecting populations of free-ranging bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) across western North America. Pneumonia can occur in large-scale epizootics, during which greater than half of the population typically dies. After these epizootics, surviving ewes continue to conceive and bear lambs. However, lamb recruitment may remain low due to periodic or annual pneumonia outbreaks causing high lamb mortality rates, sometimes greater than 90%. Our study focused on the Rapid City, South Dakota bighorn sheep (BHS) herd that has recorded pneumonia-induced population decline since 2009. The first objective was to improve lamb health and survival by identifying and …

Post-Fledging Habitat Selection And Movements Of Juvenile Mallards In The Prairie Pothole Region, Cynthia E. Anchor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North America provides critical habitat for waterfowl across life stages, but anthropogenic changes to the landscape have negatively impacted habitat quality for waterfowl. The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is abundant and socioeconomically valuable in the PPR, as it is a preferred target species of waterfowl hunters. Extensive research has evaluated breeding ecology of mallards in the PPR, but the period between juvenile mallards fledging and migrating has rarely been studied. The post-fledging ecology of juvenile mallards is a vital consideration for comprehensive waterfowl management. Further, juvenile mallards are a significant portion of hunter harvest at …

Interaction Effects Of Age And Body Weight Losses During Moulting On The Performance Ofcommercial Laying Hens, Mian Mubashar Saleem, Jibran Hussain, Usman Elahi, Ehsaan Ullah Khan, Muhammad Usman, Syed Ghulam Mohayudin Hashmi, Sohail Ahmad

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study evaluated the interaction effects of different age groups and body weight losses during moulting on the productive performance, egg quality, and immune response of commercial laying hens. In total 324 Lohmann Selected Leghorn Lite laying hens of 80 and 108 weeks old were studied. A completely randomized experimental design in factorial arrangement, with 6 treatments of 6 replicates with 9 hens each, was applied. Treatments consisted of 2 production cycles (80 and 108 weeks) and three body weight losses during moulting (20%, 25%, and 30%). Productive performance (body weight, feed intake, egg weight, production percent, egg mass, feed …

Molecular Characterization Of Bacillus Anthracis Isolates Recovered From Nomic Andnonnomic Hosts, Doğan Akça, Fati̇h Büyük, Emre Karakaya, Mustafa Reha Coşkun, Eli̇f Çeli̇k, Mi̇tat Şahi̇n, Özgür Çelebi̇, Sali̇h Otlu, Ali̇ye Gülmez Sağlam, Eray Büyük, Seda Durhan, İzzet Burçi̇n Saticioğlu, Seçi̇l Abay, Tuba Kayman, Fuat Aydin

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Anthrax, which is primarily a disease of herbivores, is known to infect many animal species. In order to break the cycle of anthrax infection, it is important to identify the potential hosts or reservoirs of its causative agent. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize Bacillus anthracis isolates recovered from a variety of hosts and environments during anthrax sporadic in the Kars and Kayseri regions of Turkey. For this purpose, a total of 23 B. anthracis field isolates obtained from human, cattle, sheep, dog, horse, puma, soil, and fodder were used. In addition, the Sterne vaccine strain was included. All B. …

Determination Of Plant-Specific Retrotransposons In Chicken, Levent Mercan, Ci̇hat Erdem Bülbül, Fati̇h Bi̇lgi̇, Sevgi̇ Marakli

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Mobile genetic elements are also known as transposons, comprising a significant proportion of plant and animal genomes. Retrotransposons, a class of transposons, move copy and paste mechanism and, therefore, cause genome obesity. Moreover, the transferability of retrotransposons within and between different kingdoms has provided valuable information for evolutionary relationships in addition to detailed knowledge about genomes. We identified barley-specific retrotransposons (Nikita and Sukkula) and determined polymorphism ratios of these retrotransposons in a chicken genome for the first time to gain new insights for retrotransposons found in different genomes. Transposon sequences belonging to chicken and barley genomes were also investigated to …

Epidemiological Investigation Of Bovine Tuberculosis Infection Dynamics In Turkey, Şahi̇n Çakir, Murat Yildirim, Kadi̇r Serdar Di̇ker, Fevzi̇ye İpek Keski̇n, Selcen Yüksel, Burak Deveci̇, Erhan Akçay

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

A national epidemiological research project was carried out to define the dynamics affecting the epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) infection in Turkey and to identify the risk factors. Official veterinarian (OV) and breeder original questionnaires were produced separately as part of this study to collect thorough data regarding the disease from the field. The number of questionnaires that needed to be filled out was decided by 95% confidence interval (CI) and 5% margin of error. The findings of 371 OV and 317 breeder questionnaires completed online across the country were analyzed. In addition, 28 outbreaks determined by random method were …

Estimation Of The Factors Affecting Lactation Milk Yield Of Holstein Cattle By The Adaptiveneuro-Fuzzy Inference System, Aycan Mutlu Yağanoğlu

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of this study is to estimate lactation milk yield of Holstein cattle using first calving age, lactation period, and service period with (ANFIS) adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system. The input variables for the system in the study were first calving age, lactation period, and service period. The output variable from the system was lactation milk yield. Predicted values obtained from the ANFIS were compared with the observed values. Twenty-seven rule functions are used to obtain the best model and 1000 epochs are used to estimate the accuracy of the training and testing error. The relations between the output and …

The Effects Of Rations Containing Ad Libitum Limestone Grit With Whole Flaxseed On Quails?Performance, Egg Quality, And Blood Parameters, Kadi̇r Emre Buğdayci, Fatma Karakaş Oğuz, Mustafa Numan Oğuz, Cafer Mercan

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The purpose of this research is to determine the effects of consuming feed rations containing ad libitum limestone grit with whole or ground flaxseed (10%) on quails? performance, egg quality (shape index, albumen index, yolk index, and Haugh unit), and some blood parameters (hematocrit, cholesterol, and triglyceride) during a period of 8 weeks. Five weeks old quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica; 140 in total) were divided into control and 4 trial groups. The rations of the first (W) and second (G) trial groups consisted of whole or ground flaxseeds (10%), respectively. The composition of the rations of the third (Wg) and …

Development Of Two Novel Sybr Green-Based Quantitative Pcr Assays For Detection Andquantification Of Mycoplasma Gallisepticum And Mycoplasma Synoviae, Mohsen Bashashati, Fereshteh Sabouri

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) are considered the most pathogenic and economically devastating avian mycoplasmas. A definite MG and MS diagnosis depends on three main approaches, including isolation and identification, demonstration of specific antibodies, and detection of genetic materials. A fast and precise diagnosis technique is an indispensable prerequisite to prevent and control avian pathogens more effectively. This study aimed to develop and validate convenient SYBR green-based quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays using genome specific primers to rapidly detect and quantify MG and MS. Two sets of primers were designed based on the highly conserved regions of mgc2 and …

The Effects Of Upgrading And Intersecting Cross-Breeding Strategies On The Geese Economic Traits, Yujian Sui, Qiong Liu, Chenguang Xu, Wei Yang

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Routine, upgrading, and intersecting cross-breeding strategies are three methods frequently used in poultry breeding. But, till now, comparative assessment of the effects on the improvement of geese economic traits with these strategies is largely unknown. Here, using Carlos goose and Zi goose, these three strategies were employed and compared. The main economic traits, including egg production capability, egg quality, growth performance, meat production capability, and down feather production capability were all measured systematically. For egg production capability and egg quality, the upgrading group had the highest egg-laying rate, and the intersecting group had the biggest egg size compared with the …

Effects Of Dietary Calcium, Phosphorus And Microbial Phytase On Intestinal Morphologyin Laying Hens, Sabi̇re Güler, Ender Deni̇z Asmaz, Nuray Varol Kayapunar, İhsan İşbi̇li̇r, Şeri̇fe Şule Cengi̇z, Derya Yeşi̇lbağ, Ahmet Batuhan Şanli, Eyüp Eren Gültepe

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Different challenges are being applied in the poultry industry in order to protect animal health and to increase immunity and production. The supplementation of microbial phytase is essential in terms of both reducing the inorganic phytase rate and contributing to the absorption of other minerals. In this study, a newly isolated microbial phytase was added at different concentrations to the diet together with calcium (Ca$^{2+}$) and available phosphorus (AP), and the effects of this supplementation on intestinal absorption capacity and Ca$^{2+}$ binding capacity were investigated via morphological measurements and immunohistochemical examination of the duodenum and ileum. For this purpose, 90 …

Anatomical And Histological Structures Of Eye And Lacrimal Gland In Norduz Andmorkaraman Sheep, Semi̇ne Dalga, Serap İlhan Aksu, Kadi̇r Aslan, Turgay Deprem, Reşi̇t Uğran

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The current study was conducted to determine the morphological, morphometric, and histological characteristics of bulbus oculi and lacrimal gland in sheep. For this purpose, 28 pairs (n = 7 males and n = 7 females) of bulbus oculi from Morkaraman and (n = 7 males and n = 7 females) Norduz sheep were analyzed. The bulbus oculi in the skulls were dissected from the orbit and removed. The morphometric data such as distance between endpoints of the dissected bulbus oculi in temporal, nasal, and dorsal directions, the length between endpoints of the pupil in dorsal and ventral directions, and as …