Animal Sciences Commons^™

Letter From The Dean, Jeff Edwards

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

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Traditional Versus Fenceline Weaning On Lamb Stress, Emma N. Sutton, Kenneth P. Coffey, Eva Wray, Derico Setyabrata, Bryan Kutz, Shawna Weimer

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

Stress in sheep can negatively affect productivity and increase their susceptibility to illness and parasites. The traditional method of weaning lambs is the abrupt separation of lambs from their dams. An alternative method of weaning, fenceline weaning, where offspring are separated from their dams by a single fence but retain visual and auditory contact, has been found to reduce stress in cattle and may also reduce stress in sheep. The objectives of this study were to evaluate body weights, fecal egg counts, and behavior to determine if traditional or fenceline weaning has lower stress associated with weaning in lambs. The …

Fisheries Research Report No. 345: Metropolitan Monitoring Program 2024, Alissa C. Tate, Claire B. Smallwood, Karina L. Ryan

Fisheries Research Reports

Ongoing monitoring of recreational fisheries in the Metropolitan zone is essential to ensure the sustainable use of fisheries resources. Surveys of shore- and boat-based recreational fishers within the Metropolitan zone of the West Coast bioregion provide information on human dimensions and catch-per-fisher as well as mean length and weight of key recreationally caught species. For shore-based fishers, estimates of fishing effort, catch and harvest are also presented for key nearshore species. Information in this report is used to support ongoing assessments for key nearshore species and inform the development and evaluation of harvest strategies and other management actions, such as …

Crisis In The Current: A Proposed Study On The Impact Of Columbia River Basin Water Quality On Juvenile Chinook Salmon Survival, Olivia Buist-Thuillier

Pitzer Senior Theses

Salmon occupy a vital role in the ecosystem, economy, and indigenous culture of the Pacific Northwest of the United States, specifically within the Columbia River Basin. Of the five species of Pacific Salmon that live in the basin, Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) are the most widely commercially fished and are the largest. In recent years, Chinook Salmon populations have heavily declined from human influence. Rising temperatures from anthropogenic climate change, habitat destruction (dams, human presence), runoff from agricultural practices, and overfishing have all contributed to this decline. Because of their role as a keystone species and their cultural significance, there …

Programming Carcass Composition Through Gestational Nutrition, Sydni Elise Borders

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of maternal nutrient restriction during mid-gestation on the performance of the dam, feeding performance, carcass composition, and genetic expression in the offspring. Cows (n = 46) were randomly assigned to one of two treatments based on global nutrient intake: 1) fed to achieve and/or maintain a BCS of 5 or 6 (Positive Energy Status [PES]; n = 24) or 2) fed to lose one BCS during 99 days of mid-gestation (Negative Energy Status [NES]; n = 22). Cows in NES had greater decreases (P < 0.05) in body fat stores and muscle mass, elevated NEFA concentrations, and displayed decreased (P < 0.05) DMI, HP, and GHG emissions. There were no differences in milk components or volume produced between treatments (P > 0.05). There were no differences in …

Featured Faculty Mentor/Student Team, Kelly Loftin, Eva Berryhill

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

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Prevalence Of Ehrlichia Spp. In Ticks Associated With Canids In Arkansas, Eva Berryhill, Kelly Loftin

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

Canine ehrlichiosis is a common disease seen in dogs. The southeastern United States has been identified as an area of high prevalence, including Arkansas. Changes in climate, household income, and tick population are factors contributing to high prevalence. Canine ehrlichiosis is caused by three Ehrlichia spp., which are E. canis, E. ewingii, and E. chaffeensis. Ticks transmit the pathogen, specifically Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Dermacentor variabilis, and Amblyomma americanum. For this study, the goal was to determine the prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. in Arkansas that causes canine ehrlichiosis. Ticks were collected from host canines and environmental …

Instructions For Authors, Discovery Editors

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

No abstract provided.

Gene Expression In Relation To Bone Fractures In Throughbred Racehorses, Anna M. Rauber-Ramos

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Evidence that fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses are outcomes of chronic bone microdamage has led to extensive research into identifying horses at increased risk of fracture. This includes the use of biomarkers and messenger RNA (mRNA) as a measure of bone turnover. Previous research has found expression differences in horses with fractures compared to controls. Utilizing pre-race whole blood samples collected over an 18-month period from Thoroughbred racehorses in Southern California, RNA-sequencing was conducted on horses with bone fractures and race-matched controls to identify differences in gene expression. Focusing on third metacarpal (MC3) and proximal sesamoid bone (PSB) fractures, differentially expressed …

Avian Response To Legacy Coal Mine Reforestation In The Cumberland Plateau, Kentucky, Madoline J. Varias

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Surface coal mining and reclamation processes alter the ecological characteristics of landscapes, which affects the presence and distribution of native wildlife. The Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) is a coal mine reclamation method that aims to establish native forests on surface mines and has been widely implemented across the Central Appalachian region. Avian response the FRA, in particular, is unknown in Kentucky and limited throughout Appalachia. Thus, the goal of this project was to assess the effects of the FRA on avian community occupancy, species richness, and abundance in the Cumberland Plateau of Kentucky. Point count surveys were conducted across three …

‘Who’S Your Daddy?’: Ddradseq Parentage In Broodstock-Offspring Pairs Of Diadema Antillarum In A Population Restoration Initiative, Bianca R. Rosendahl

Undergraduate Scholarship and Creative Works

In the early 1980s Diadema antillarum, or the long-spined urchin, was hit by a catastrophic mass mortality event across the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, inclusive of the Florida Keys. The cause of this die-off event was likely triggered by a pathogen or environmental stressor that decimated native populations by up to 98%. The species has not yet fully recovered and is struggling with recruitment success which is why it may benefit from an ex-situ recovery program. In this study, I used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to identify genetic variation and analyze parentage in a captive population of …

Exploring Mating Patterns: The Interplay Of Genes, Environment, And Their Evolutionary Outcomes, Sanduni Talagala

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

There is great variation in the reproductive tactics exhibited both between and within different species, which is reflected in how individuals engage in mate assessment, mate choice and offspring production. It is therefore important to understand general mating patterns of populations, the factors that influence these mating patterns, and the consequences they carry, in order to get a more holistic understanding of mating systems. This doctoral research represents a multi-pronged investigation of the factors shaping mating patterns and their consequences, how environmental factors influence mating patterns, and how both genotypes and the environment interact to influence mate choice decisions and …

Marine And Freshwater Habitats Used By Sympatric Anadromous Arctic Char (Salvelinus Alpinus) And Dolly Varden (S. Malma Malma) In The Central Canadian Arctic, Simon W. Depasquale Mr.

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Two closely related but distinct species of char, Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) and Dolly Varden (S. malma), are critically important to the food security and culture of Indigenous peoples in northern North America. Subsistence Inuit fishers in Kugluktuk, NU, Canada, have noticed changes in the timing and locations of their catches of char in the past ~ 10 years. In response, an ongoing partnered research program between the Kugluktuk Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO) and scientists was formed to study Arctic Char and northern form Dolly Varden (S. malma malma). Char research near Kugluktuk presents a unique opportunity to further …

Evaluation Of High-Moisture Ear Corn As A Roughage Source In Finishing Diets Fed To Beef Steers, Riley J. Leeson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feedlot performance, rumination activity, and carcass characteristics of high moisture ear corn (HMEC) as a roughage source in finishing diets fed to beef steers. Backgrounded steers (n = 191; initial shrunk weight [4% BW] = 449 kg  23.9 kg) were assigned randomly to 1 of 24 pens (8 steers/pen) with pens randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments (6 pens/treatment): control diet with hay fed at 10% roughage equivalency (RE; HAY10), or HMEC at either 14% (EAR14), 10% (EAR10), or 6% (EAR6) RE. High-moisture ear corn was assumed to …

Impact Of Natural Feed Additives And Monensin Sodium On Growth Performance In Feedlot Cattle, Thiago Lauro Maia Ribeiro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation was to investigate how phytogenic feed additives and a pulse feeding monensin sodium strategy would affect growth performance in the receiving and finishing feedlot phases. Three randomized complete block design feedlot experiments and one pooled analysis were conducted to determine the effects of the feed additives and management strategies used in newly weaned and finishing beef cattle. The objective of these experiments were 1) determine if a blend of capsicum oleoresin, clove essential oil, and garlic essential oil (CCG) influences cattle performance, sera metabolites or health outcomes during the feedlot receiving phase; 2) determine if …

Finishing Location And Forage Diversity Influences Carcass Characteristics, Meat Quality Attributes, Terroir, And Color Stability Of Grass-Finished Bison Bulls, Garrett Tyler Weldy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The overall objective of this thesis is to determine the influence of finishing location and forage diversity on carcass characteristics, meat quality, terroir, and color stability of grass-finished bison bulls. The specific objectives were 1) Determine the effect of finishing location on carcass characteristics, meat quality attributes, and terroir of grass-finished bison bulls, 2) Investigate the effect of forage diversity on the carcass characteristics, meat quality attributes, and terroir of grass-finished bison bulls, and 3) Determine the effect of finishing location on the meat color stability of grass-finished bison bulls. Overall, results indicate that finishing location influenced carcass characteristics, objective …

Impacts Of Early/Mid-Gestation Shearing On Umbilical Blood Flow And Lamb Birth Weight, Mara Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Studies outside the USA have reported that shearing pregnant ewes during mid to late gestation increases lamb birth weight. Our hypothesis was that shearing pregnant ewes on day 50 of gestation would increase umbilical blood flow (UBF), fetal size, lambing and placental weights. Twenty-eight Polypay ewes were randomly assigned to two treatments: shorn (S) and sham-shorn (Control, CON) and divided in singleton (S: n=4; CON: n=4), twins (S: n=5; CON: n=5) and triplets (S: n=5; CON: n=5). Umbilical BF and fetal and placental measurements were obtained via ultrasonography every 10 days from day 50 to 110 of gestation. Lamb birth …

Soybean Meal And Soybean Hulls Inclusion In Swine Diets And The Effects On Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Nutrient Digestibility, Manure Nutrient Output, And Economic Impact, Joseph G. Halbur

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The increasing demand for soybean production in the Midwest, driven by new soybean crushing plants, may reduce the cost of soybean meal (SBM), making it a more accessible and economically viable feed ingredient in swine diets. Replacing dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) with SBM and soy hulls at different inclusion rates may influence growth performance, carcass traits, nutrient digestibility, manure nutrient output, pelleting energy use, and economic returns in wean-to-finish pigs. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate these effects. In the first, 566 pigs (PIC × Terminal Duroc, 8.45 and 7.25 kg, 6 weeks of age) were housed in …

Behavioral Response Of House Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) To 3 Bittering Agents, Panchalie B. Gunathunga, Bethia H. King, Christopher J. Geden

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

House flies, Musca domestica L., are pests at livestock facilities. House fly numbers are controlled mainly by manure management and chemical controls, like use of toxic baits. Some toxic baits contain denatonium benzoate as a bittering agent, to avoid poisoning of children. House fly behavioral response to denatonium benzoate was examined, using 2 different diluents, sucrose solution or orange juice. Response of flies to quinine and sucrose octaacetate, 2 other bittering agents, was also examined in sucrose. Sucrose is the sweetener in commercially available toxic house fly baits. The proboscis extension response of both male and female flies was significantly …

Mercury Concentrations, Health, And Marine Food Consumption Across Four Eastern Caribbean Populations: Insights From A Novel Community-Based Study, Russell Fielding, Catherine Brown, Jessica Dutton, Martin S. Forde, Heather Harewood, Lisa Hunt, Catherine Macdonald, Cameron Mewhirter, Vincent Reid, Madison Smith, Holly Taylor, Katelyn Zimmerman

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Mercury (Hg), as an environmental pollutant, can have harmful effects on human health. A common way that people are exposed to Hg is through seafood consumption. This project was designed to investigate Hg exposure through seafood consumption and its health effects among adults in 4 Caribbean countries: Barbados (n = 117), Grenada (n = 90), St. Lucia (n = 126), and St. Vincent & the Grenadines (n = 77). We applied a novel, community—based method, which involved recruiting and paying local barbers and hairstylists to collect hair samples from their clients who consented to join the project as participants. Participants …

Long-Term Ichthyoplankton Monitoring Of The Moon River (Savannah, Ga) With A Focus On Climate Change, Bradley Cayson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The presence of healthy fish populations is a cornerstone of many important ecological mechanisms. These populations are supported by the recruitment of ichthyoplankton, or the egg and larval stages of fishes, as the primary determinant of population growth. Increases in average global water temperatures can alter the composition of fish communities and thus the offspring found in planktonic stages. I compared a large data set of ichthyoplankton surveys completed from 2009-2011 to a replicated six-month sampling period from May – November of 2024. Collection was conducted weekly to biweekly during night flood tides using a fixed suspension ichthyoplankton net (1mm …

Diverged Populations Admixture Bolsters Genetic Diversity Of A New Island Dibbler (Parantechinus Apicalis) Population, But Does Not Prevent Subsequent Loss Of Genetic Variation, Rujiporn Thavornkanlapachai, Harriet R. Mills, Kym Ottewell, Cathy Lambert, J. Anthony Friend, Daniel J. White, Zahra Aisya, W. Jason Kennington

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Translocating individuals from multiple source populations is one way to bolster genetic variation and avoid inbreeding in newly established populations. However, mixing isolated populations, especially from islands, can potentially lead to outbreeding depression and/or assortative mating, which may limit interbreeding between source populations. Here, we investigated genetic consequences of mixing individuals from two island populations of the dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) in an island translocation. Despite a high level of genetic divergence between the source populations (FST ranges 0.33–0.64), and significant differences in body size, individuals with different ancestries were able to successfully interbreed in captivity and in the wild. However, …

Volumetric Comparison Of Overall Brain And Neuropil Size Between Social And Non-Social Spiders: Exploring The Social Brain Hypothesis, Vanessa Penna-Gonçalves, Donald James Mclean, Nikolas J. Willmott, Michael B.J. Kelly, Jay R. Black, Elizabeth C. Lowe, Marie E. Herberstein

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The social brain hypothesis predicts that the relative size of specific brain regions is driven by the cognitive capacity required to manage complex (social) situations. Spiders are intriguing models to test this hypothesis, as sociality is rare in this usually solitary and aggressive group. Here, we used microCT to compare the central nervous system and brain volumes between social and solitary females of the species in two taxonomic groups, huntsman and crab spiders. Overall, we found no difference in relative CNS and brain volume between social and solitary species. However, social huntsman spiders Delena cancerides had larger arcuate and mushroom …

Predation Of A Sperm Whale (Physeter Macrocephalus) By Killer Whales (Orcinus Orca) In Guanaja, Honduras, Gaby M. Ochoa, Eric Angel Ramos, Daniel Gonzalez-Socoloske

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Forage Allocation On Steer Performance When Grazing Cereal Rye, Shelby L. Davies-Jenkins, Abigail M. Sartin, Daren D. Redfearn, Mary E. Drewnoski

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

Cereal rye is the most common cover crop planted today. With its good winter tolerance and rapid spring growth during a gap in perennial pasture productivity, it is an attractive forage source in early spring. Unfortunately, optimum stocking rates and how they are related to forage biomass availability are unknown. The study objective was to understand the effect of forage allowance on steer performance when rotationally grazing fall-planted cereal rye in spring. Stocking rate was negatively correlated with pounds of forage offered. Surprisingly, amount of forage offered related to average daily gain. Growing steers grazing cereal rye …

Strategies Affecting Performance And Profitability Of May-Born Steers, Dempster M. Christenson, Jacki A. Musgrave, Richard N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

This study compared the performance and economic outcomes of differing backgrounding and feedlot systems in May-born yearling steers. We hypothesized reduced supplementation with adequate forage availability while backgrounding weaned steers will yield a similar carcass with greater profitability. It was hypothesized yearling steers backgrounded on pasture before finishing in feedlot would have a more valuable carcass that is more profitable than steers that enter the feedlot immediately. Weaned steer calves were backgrounded with ad libitum hay and 4 lb/d supplement in drylot or on pasture with 1 lb/d supplement. As yearlings, half of each backgrounding group immediately …

Impact Of Feeding Distillers Grains Compared To New Fractionated Distillers Grains (Solbran) On Feedlot Cattle Performance And Enteric Methane, Debora G. Sousa, Rebecca L. Mcdermott, Mitchell M. Norman, James C. Macdonald, Rick Stock, Ryan A. Mass, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

This study evaluated feeding wet or dry traditional distillers grains with wet and dry fractionated distillers (Solbran) fed at 40% of diet DM compared to a corn control diet on enteric methane emissions and performance. Compared to the control, there was no difference in carbon dioxide production, but there was an increase in methane production in the steers fed fractionated distillers compared to conventional distillers. Feeding steers traditional or fractionated distillers grains increased consumption, increased gain, but improved conversions only for steers fed WDGS, while steers fed the other distillers grains had worse or the same feed …

Advancing Natural Resource Management Through Artificial Intelligence, Jonathan Fisk

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Natural aquatic systems are characterized by complex ecological processes and interactions occurring across multiple scales, and quantifying them is essential for proper management. However, managers often face decreasing budgets, increasing responsibilities, and limited staffing, resulting in challenges related to data prioritization, digitization, and management. While modern analytical technologies offer powerful tools, their effectiveness relies heavily on timely and accurate data input from diverse sources, including written, audio, and visual formats. Traditional data management practices are time-consuming, particularly due to the need for manual data verification. To address these challenges, innovative technologies leveraging artificial intelligence (AI)—including deep learning, machine learning, and …

Successful Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea Virginica) Recruitment On Intertidal Artificial Substrates In Virginia, Usa, Rochelle D. Seitz, Kathleen E. Knick, Emily Suchonic, Amanda Pysher

OES Faculty Publications

Declines of eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) populations and scarcity of natural oyster shell necessitate quantifying the effectiveness of artificial oyster reef substrates over varying environmental conditions. Oyster castles are often used in intertidal areas with moderate wave energy; however, new concrete, natural-looking substrates, GROW Reef Tiles, are now available. Eastern oyster recruitment and size on oyster castles (OC) and GROW Reef Tiles (GT), with 27% higher surface area on OC, were assessed three times over 25 months in locations with varying salinity. Four sites in the Chesapeake Bay region were examined: Cherrystone Inlet, Mockhorn Bay, Elizabeth River, and …

Molecular Mechanisms And Comparative Transcriptomics Of Diapause In Two Corn Rootworm Species (Diabrotica Spp.), Melise C. Lecheta, Chad Nielson, B. Wade French, Emily Nadeau, Nicholas M. Teets

Entomology Faculty Publications

Diapause is a programmed developmental arrest that can occur at any developmental stage depending on species, but the mechanisms that underscore embryonic diapause are poorly understood. Here, we identified molecular mechanisms underscoring distinct phases of diapause in the Diabrotica spp. complex. This species complex in- cludes economically significant agricultural pests, notably the western corn rootworm (WCR) and northern corn rootworm (NCR), which cause major losses in maize production. Rootworms undergo an obligate embryonic diapause to synchronize their life cycles with host plants, and we sequenced transcriptomes from both species at five time points (pre-diapause, diapause initiation, diapause maintenance, diapause termination, …