Animal Sciences Commons^™

Impact Of Planning Horizon Length On Breeding Objectives And Resulting Selection Decisions, Hunter F. Valasek, Bruce L. Golden, Matthew L. Spangler

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The weighting of traits in a selection index depends on varying circumstances that can difer among beef producers (e.g. economic factors, breeding systems). The determination of planning horizon is an additional variable that can differ among producers that represents the impact of genetic selection decisions over a gradient of time. A web-based economic index construction platform (iGENDEC) was used in the current study to investigate the implications of planning horizon on relative emphasis values of traits within the breeding goal and potential differences in sire selection decisions. General-purpose indexes were created for three breeding systems under six different …

An Analysis Of Department Of The Air Force Bird Strikes And Precipitation, Jason Powell Mas, Cfmei, Atp

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This study explored the relationship between precipitation, the amount of time between precipitation events, bird strike risk, and the agricultural zone related to Department of the Air Force (DAF) aircraft operations. Certain bird species demonstrated a relationship between agricultural zones, precipitation, and length of time after a precipitation event and when an aircraft strike occurred. The types and frequency of bird strikes depend highly on the region and species struck. The Poisson regression revealed Cathartiformes as significantly struck by the DAF aircraft more often and can be predicted based on agricultural zone and precipitation. A binary regression did not demonstrate …

Utilizing Precision Technologies To Validate A Real-Time Location System For Dairy Cattle And Monitor Calf Behaviors During Heat Stress, Emily Rice

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

With the increase in on-farm precision dairy technologies (PDT) utilization, large quantities of information are readily available to producers. A more recently available technology for use in livestock species is the real-time location system. These technologies offer dairy producers the opportunity to monitor and track real-time locations of cows, track locomotion patterns, and summarize specific area usage. However, the usefulness of these insights is heavily dependent on the performance of the technology. Therefore, the first objective of this dissertation was to assess the positioning recording performance and the usefulness of the data recorded of a real-time location system (Smartbow GmbH; …

Effects Of Biosynthesized Bromoform On Enteric Methane Production, Animal Performance And Tissue Residues In Cattle, Sydney Davis

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been implicated in global warming and extreme climate change conditions. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified agriculture, more specifically cattle production, as a major contributor to global GHG production. When expressed as liters of gas, CO2 is considered the primary GHG produced, however, in terms of global warming potential (GWP), CH4 has 25-times greater potential than that of CO2. Due to the elevated GWP of CH4, we have constructed a series of experiments to investigate the use of a halogenated CH4 analogue derived from kelp (i.e., bromoform) as an inhibitor of enteric CH4 production …

Bibliography, Bruce A. Schulte

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Bibliography of publications by Bruce Schulte.

Evaluating Benthic Macroinvertebrate Populations In Response To Scouring Events In The Trinity River, Ca, Liam Hay, Michael W. O'Neil, Chloe Pieper-Wasem

Environmental Science & Management Senior Capstones

River systems across California have been impacted by appurtenant structures such as dams and diversions. These structures have had an adverse impact on Benthic invertebrate (BMI) communities by regulating river systems and changing the natural hydraulic pulses that follow seasonal precipitation. Benthic invertebrates are a critical food resource for salmonids and serve as an indicator of ecosystem health. Our study was interested in seeing the effects of scouring events on BMI in the Trinity River of Trinity County, C.A. Following a large precipitation event that occurred in the region in December 2022, an influx of water entered the river through …

Artificial Light At Night Disrupts Male Dominance Relationships And Reproductive Success In A Model Fish Species, Lauren E. Closs, Muhammad Rahmad Rayan, Amin Sayyari, Ian Mayer, Finn-Arne Weltzien, Dianne M. Baker, Romain Fontaine

Biological Sciences Research

Environmental light is perceived and anticipated by organisms to synchronize their biological cycles. Therefore, artificial light at night (ALAN) disrupts both diurnal and seasonal biological rhythms. Reproduction is a complex physiological process involving integration of environmental signals by the brain, and release of endocrine signals by the pituitary that regulate gametogenesis and spawning. In addition, males from many species form a dominance hierarchy that, through a combination of aggressive and protective behavior, influences their reproductive success. In this study, we investigated the effect of ALAN and continuous daylight on the behavior and fitness of male fish within a dominance hierarchy …

Estimation Of Breeding Values Using Different Densities Of Snp To Inform Kinship In Broiler Chickens, Mayara Salvian, Gabriel Costa Monteiro Moreira, Ândrea Plotzki Reis, Brayan Dias Dauria, Fabrício Pilonetto, Izally Carvalho Gervásio, Mônica Corrêa Ledur, Luiz Lehmann Coutinho, Matthew L. Spangler, Gerson Barreto Mourao

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Background: Traditionally, breeding values are estimated based on phenotypic and pedigree information using the numerator relationship (A) matrix. With the availability of genomic information, genome-wide markers can be included in the estimation of breeding values through genomic kinship. However, the density of genomic information used can impact the cost of implementation. The aim of this study was to compare the rank, accuracy, and bias of estimated breeding values (EBV) for organs [heart (HRT), liver (LIV), gizzard (GIZ), lungs (LUN)] and carcass [breast (BRST), drumstick (DRM) and thigh (THG)] weight traits in a broiler population using pedigree-based BLUP (PBLUP) and …

Effect Of Increasing Corn Silage Inclusion In Finishing Diets Cattle With Or Without Tylosin On Performance And Liver Abscesses, Hannah C. Wilson, Levi J. Mcphillips, Bradley M. Boyd, Andrea K. Watson, Jim C. Macdonald, Galen E. Erickson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

A pooled analysis was performed to evaluate whether corn silage fed at 15% or 45% of diet DM impacted liver abscesses prevalence at slaughter in five previous experiments. Cattle fed 15% corn silage had 7.8% abscessed livers compared to 4.1% for cattle fed 45% corn silage when all diets contained tylosin. While improved due to increased corn silage inclusion, the objective of the current finishing study was to determine the impact of silage inclusion in finishing diets with and without tylosin on performance and incidence of abscessed livers in beef cattle. A total of 640 (BW = 334 ± 25 …

Prostaglandin F2Α Regulates Mitochondrial Dynamics And Mitophagy In The Bovine Corpus Luteum, Michele R. Plewes, Emilia Przygrodzka, Corrine F. Monaco, Alexandria P. Snider, Jessica A. Keane, Patrick D. Burns, Jennifer Wood, Andrea Cupp, John S. Davis

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Prostaglandins are arachidonic acid-derived lipid mediators involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes. PGF2α analogues are therapeutically used for regulating mammalian reproductive cycles and blood pressure, inducing term labor, and treating ocular disorders. PGF2α exerts effects via activation of calcium and PKC signaling, however, little is known about the cellular events imposed by PGF2α signaling. Here, we explored the early effects of PGF2α on mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy in the bovine corpus luteum employing relevant and well characterized in vivo and in vitro approaches. We identified PKC/ERK and AMPK as critical protein kinases essential for activation of mitochondrial fission proteins, …

Differential Diagnosis Of Dna Viruses Related To Reproductive Disorder On Sows By Multiplex-Pcr Technique, T N. Nguyen, H T T Le, H L X Vu, P X. Dinh

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

The newly emerged diseases caused by ASFV and PCV3 and their confirmed prevelance in Vietnam whereas most of available common commercial methods such as ELISA or realtime PCR designed for detecting single pathogen per reaction, highlighted a necessity for another diagnostic method to simultaneously detect and differentiate DNA viruses that are related to reproductive failures in sow herds including PCV2, PCV3, PPV, ASFV. In this communication, a diagnostic multiplex-PCR (mPCR) was established with pathogen-specific primers selected from previous studies and another set of primers designed for COX1 gene serving as an internal amplification control (IAC). The predicted products of PCV2, …

Wpa News 122 (2023), World Pheasant Association

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Newsletters

WPA News (Winter 2023), number 122

Published by the World Pheasant Association

Interspecific Oral Rabies Vaccine Bait Competition In The Southeast United States, Wesley C. Dixon, Jacob E. Hill, Richard Chipman, Amy J. Davis, Amy Gilbert, James C. Beasley, Olin E. Rhodes Jr., Guha Dharmarajan

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The United States Department of Agriculture’s National Rabies Management Program (NRMP) has coordinated the use of oral rabies vaccination (ORV) to control the spread of raccoon rabies virus variant west of the Appalachian Mountains since 1997. Working with state and local partners, the NRMP deploys ORV baits containing a rabies vaccine, primarily targeting raccoon populations (Procyon lotor). Bait competition between raccoons and non-target species may limit the effectiveness of ORV programs, but the extent of bait competition remains poorly quantified, particularly in the southeastern United States. We placed placebo ORV baits in bottomland hardwood (n = 637 baits) and upland …

Livestock Management In 2023 - 2024, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock published reports

Parts of WA have experienced below average rainfall resulting in feed limitations, with below average rainfall also predicted for the coming months. The feed shortage has been further compounded by limited slaughter space and reduced market prices for sheep.

Sheep industry economist, John Young, of Farming Systems Analysis Service was commissioned to look at the economics of some key decisions this season, taking into account current seasonal and market conditions.

WA sheep producers need to have plans in place early to monitor stock condition and make decisions about which classes of stock to keep. This will also include the feed …

How Do I Grow Tedera?, Daniel Real

Animal production and livestock published reports

The issue:

Livestock producers are faced with climate variability challenges and rising input costs while trying to maximise livestock productivity and profitability.

The impact:

Traditional or older pasture systems can limit production due to poor performance in dry periods or shorter production windows.

The opportunity:

Tedera is a resilient legume pasture that can fill feed gaps at a lower cost while offering livestock productivity gains.

Tedera: A Guide To Growing And Utilising This Perennial Pasture Legume, Daniel Real

Animal production and livestock published reports

The commercial release of a new pasture species is a rare and, potentially, important event. In the case of tedera (Bituminaria bituminosa var. albomarginata) we have a novel perennial pasture legume with characteristics which set it apart from anything currently available to growers in Australia or internationally.

Specifically, it is a drought-tolerant, highly productive perennial pasture with the capacity to provide nutritious forage, especially when other feed sources are scarce. Its reaction to drought is in contrast with the few successful perennial legumes available for Mediterranean climatic zones, such as lucerne, as it retains green leaves when water stressed, allowing …

The Effects Of Dexamethasone Administration On Physiological, Behavioral, And Production Parameters In Dairy Cows After A Difficult Calving, Turner H. Swartz, Dana Bryant, Hollie Schramm, Allison Duncan, Robin White, Cynthia Wood, Christina Petersson-Wolfe

Dairy Science and Food Science Faculty Publications: 2022 to Present

Dairy cows are predisposed to diseases during the postpartum period. Dystocia has been associated with increased risk for disease, which is likely the result of increased tissue trauma and stress during the prolonged parturition. To attenuate the inflammatory response seen in dystocic animals and improve well-being, we assessed the effects of a glucocorticoid, dexamethasone administered within 12 h after calving. Dystocia was defined as a difficult birth resulting in a prolonged calving (≥70 min after the amniotic sac appears) and was monitored through 3 video cameras in the close-up dry-cow pen. Cows meeting the dystocia definition were randomly …

Evaluation Of Reticuloruminal Temperature For The Prediction Of Clinical Mastitis In Dairy Cows Challenged With Streptococcus Uberis, Zelmer Rodriguez, Quinn K. Kolar, Kirby C. Krogstad, Turner H. Swartz, Llkyu Yoon, Barry J. Bradford, Pamela L. Ruegg

Dairy Science and Food Science Faculty Publications: 2022 to Present

Automated monitoring devices have become increasingly utilized in the dairy industry, especially for monitoring or predicting disease status. While multiple automated monitoring devices have been developed for the prediction of clinical mastitis (CM), limitations in performance or applicability remain. The aims of this study were to (1) detect variations in reticuloruminal temperature (RRT) relative to an experimental intramammary challenge with Streptococcus uberis and (2) evaluate alerts generated automatically based on variation in RRT to predict initial signs of CM in the challenged cows based on severity of clinical signs and the concentration of bacteria (cfu/mL) in the infected quarter separately. …

Surveillance And Monitoring Of Amphibian Pathogens And Evaluating The Impacts Of An Associated Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (Cure), Jennifer Perez

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Amphibians are a highly diverse class of vertebrates and crucial for natural ecosystems, inhabiting both aquatic and terrestrial environments at different life stages. However, amphibians are facing devastating declines largely due to the disease chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal). This disease can lead to population declines, biodiversity loss, and species extinction. However, resources to study and mitigate this disease are limited and an opportunity to assist in these efforts has been created in the form of a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE). Chapter 1 of my thesis used Roger's Diffusion of Innovations …

Evaluating Efficacy Of Anti-Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis Probiotic Treatment On Pacific Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris Regilla) At Current And Modeled Climate Change Temperatures, Autumn N. Holley

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Amphibian populations are declining due to a variety of threats, including the chytrid fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), the causative agent of the disease chytridiomycosis. Climate change and other stressors can have complicated interactions with amphibian disease. Some amphibian populations are less susceptible to chytridiomycosis due to factors such as symbiotic skin microbes that may inhibit Bd through secondary metabolites. There have been several attempts to develop probiotics from these symbiotic, antifungal bacteria to provide protection against Bd infection, but these studies have had mixed success. Our study evaluated anti-Bd bacteria isolated from the skin of Pacific chorus frogs (Pseudacris …

Fairy Shrimp (Anostraca) In The Vernal Pools Of Eastern Washington, Megan Garvey

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Vernal pools are ephemeral wetlands that retain water annually from winter and spring precipitation and snowmelt but are dry the rest of the year. Though important habitats and sources of freshwater biodiversity, they are little accounted for in wetland conservation and restoration practices. Like much of the world’s wetlands, they have seen a significant decline from anthropogenic impacts and conversion for alternative land use. Pools are also at significant risk due to the impacts of climate change and invasive species. These small temporary water bodies perform vital ecosystem services and are host to rare and endemic species. Anostraca, or fairy …

Investigation Of Small Mammal Species Richness, Abundance, And Genetic Population Structure On And Around The Eastern Washington University Prairie Restoration Site, Sarah Deshazer

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Small mammals are an ecologically important component of every landscape on Earth. They are a food source for higher trophic level animals, disperse plant seed and mycorrhizal fungi spore, engineer the landscape through burrowing and foraging activities, and alter plant community composition through selective predation of seed and grain. Studies have shown that small mammals may help facilitate the transition between successive stages in prairie restoration. Eastern Washington University has dedicated 120 acres of campus land to restoration of native prairie habitat. Small mammals can play both a positive and a negative role in restoration, therefore it is important to …

Have Rusty Crayfish Affected The Diets Of Yellow Perch?, Matthew D. Kvam

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Freshwater ecosystems are some of the most susceptible to invasive species. It is one of the reasons they face the highest levels of species endangerment. Rusty crayfish Faxonius rusticus are one such invasive species, they fragment food webs and negatively affect native species. However, it seems as though native species are beginning to rely on them as a source of food. Yellow perch Perca flavescens, an important forage and game species, is one such species that is highly affected by these invasions. At smaller sizes yellow perch primarily feed on invertebrates whose populations are degraded by rusty crayfish. Therefore, the …

Ovarian Inflammation Mediated By Toll-Like Receptor 4 Increased Transcripts Of Maternal Effect Genes And Decreased Embryo Development, Alison F. Ermisch, Katie L. Bidne, Scott G. Kurz, Kerri A. Bochantin, Jennifer R. Wood

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Obese women are subfertile and have reduced assisted reproduction success, which may be due to reduced oocyte competence. We hypothesize that consumption of a high-fat/high-sugar diet induces ovarian inflammation, which is a primary contributor to decreased oocyte quality and pre-implantation embryo development. To test this hypothesis, C57BL/6 (B6) mice with a normal inflammatory response and C3H/HeJ (C3H) mice with a dampened inflammatory response due to dysfunctional Toll-like receptor 4 were fed either normal chow or high-fat/high-sugar diet. In both B6 and C3H females, high-fat/high-sugar diet induced excessive adiposity and hyperglycemia compared to normal chow-fed counterparts. Conversely, ovarian CD68 levels and …

Evaluating Draft Environmental Protection Agency Emissions Models For Broiler Operations, G. Li, R. S. Gates, B. C. Ramirez, R. T. Burns

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

In August 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency( EPA) released draft models to estimate daily NH3, H2S, PM2.5, PM10, and total suspended particulate semissions from U.S. broiler operations using inputs of daily mean ambient temperature, relative humidity, and live animal weight. The EPA developed these models using data sets collected between 2005 and 2007. It is important to note that over 15 yr have passed since the original data were collected, and broiler genetics, nutrition, and management have improved consideably. These models, if adopted, could have substantial impact on the U.S. broiler industry regarding air emission management and regulation. The …

Behavioral, Morphological And Genetic Differentiation Among Populations Of Enyaliopsis, Laura Macamo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The study of biodiversity is a fundamental part of the study of the ecosystem's function and stability and how changes in the habitat shape the interaction between species. In recent years, the classification of species benefited from the analysis of several types of data to aid the distinction of morphologically similar species. Enyaliopsis iaculator (Naskrecki and Guta, 2019) is a species endemic to central Mozambique. Different populations of E. iaculator were reported to exhibit differences in the time of the day the mating call is displayed, but no morphological differences were reported. Since call behavior tends to be species specific …

Investigating The Fish Community Of The Neosho River System, Ethan John Rasset

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Barrier presence in river systems has been documented to impact fishes. Low head dams specifically are frequently occurring barriers in riverine environments. Well supported impacts of these structures on fishes include diminished movement, reproduction, and habitat availability. Longitudinal patterns in riverine fish communities have long been researched to ascertain dynamics and display interactions. The need for research becomes more critical when factoring in impacts of barriers and detrimental invasive species. Knowledge of fish communities can inform fisheries biologists and aid in improved management practices for recreational and ecologically important species, as well as invasive species. The Neosho River-Grand Lake system …

Riverine Fish Population Dynamics, Aaron P. Muehler

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Dynamic rate functions (i.e., recruitment, growth, mortality) structure fish populations and are subject to latitudinal differences. These latitudinal differences are likely reflective of climatic variation and may result in spatially distinct populations that must be managed independently, especially in large systems such as the Upper Mississippi River system (UMRS). In order to successfully manage this system, an understanding of what drives these populations is required. The UMRS is useful for this investigation as it crosses 10° temperate latitude with widespread fish species found throughout. In this study, I investigated the synergistic relationship between latitude, vital rates, and abundance. Species were …

Centrifugation Cushion Vs. Spermfilter™: Effects On % Recovery, Holly S. Hopkins

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

It has been demonstrated that removing seminal plasma and resuspension of the sperm pellet in various diluents will improve the post-storage motility of spermatozoa from some stallions. This typically involves centrifugation. However, a sperm filtering device marketed by Botupharma (Phoenix, AZ) allows seminal plasma removal without a centrifuge. This study compared spermatozoa recovery rates using this device vs. centrifugation with and without a cushion. Thirteen ejaculates were collected from three quarter horse stallions. Prior to treatment, aliquots were diluted with Dulbecco's modified PBS at a dilution rate of 1:1. For the two centrifugation treatments, 12 ml of the diluted semen …

Antimicrobial Resistance Profile Of Escherichia Coli Isolated From Poultry Litter, M. J. Khong, A. M. Snyder, M. M. Young, N. L. Barbieri, S. L. Weimer

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Antimicrobial resistance is a threat to animal and human health. As a commensal and zoonotic bacterium, Escherichia coli has the potential to be a pathogenic source of antimicrobial resistance. The purpose of this study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profile of E. coli isolated from litter collected from pens in a broiler chicken experiment. E. coli was isolated from litter samples (n = 68 isolates) of 16 pens housing broilers to d 53 of age. Resistance to 10 antimicrobials was observed by disc diffusion. The presence of 23 antimicrobial and heavy metal resistance genes, O serogroups, and avian pathogenic …