Agriculture Commons^™

A Nano Particle Vector Comprised Of Poly Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid And Monophosphoryl Lipid A And Recombinant Mycobacterium Avium Subsp Paratuberculosis Peptides Stimulate A Pro-Immune Profile In Bovine Macrophages, C.D. Souza, John Bannantine, W.C. Brown, M.G. Norton, W.C. Davis, J.K. Hwang, P. Ziaei, Gaber S. Abdellrazeq, M.V. Eren, J.R. Deringer, E. Laws, M.C.D. Cardieri

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Aims: We evaluated the potential of a nanoparticle (NP) delivery system to improve methods of delivery of candidate peptide-based vaccines for Paratuberculosis in cattle.

Methods and Results: Peptides derived from Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map), and the pro-inflammatory monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) were incorporated in polymeric NPs based on poly (D,L-lactide-co- glycolide) (PLGA). The PLGA/MPLA NPs carriers were incubated with macrophages to examine their effects on survival and function. PLGA/MPLA NPs, with and without Map antigens, are efficiently phagocytized by macrophages with no evidence of toxicity. PLGA/MPLA NP formulations did not alter the level of expression of MHC I or …

Identification Of Sero-Reactive Antigens For The Early Diagnosis Of Johne’S Disease In Cattle, Lingling Li, J. P. Bannantine, Joseph Campo, Arlo Randall, Yrjo T. Grohn, Robab Katani, Megan Schilling, Jessica Radzio-Basu, Vivek Kapur

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of Johne’s disease (JD), a chronic intestinal inflammatory disease of cattle and other ruminants. JD has a high herd prevalence and causes serious animal health problems and significant economic loss in domesticated ruminants throughout the world. Since serological detection of MAP infected animals during the early stages of infection remains challenging due to the low sensitivity of extant assays, we screened 180 well-characterized serum samples using a whole proteome microarray from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), a close relative of MAP. Based on extensive testing of serum and milk samples, fecal culture and …

Cell Wall Peptidolipids Of Mycobacterium Avium: From Genetic Prediction To Exact Structure Of A Nonribosomal Peptide, John Bannantine, Giles Etienne, Francoise Laval, Judith R. Stabel, Anne Lemassu, Mamadou Daffe, Darrell O. Bayles, Christelle Ganneau, Frederic Bonhomme, Maxime Branger, Thierry Cochard, Sylvie Bay, Franck Biet

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Mycobacteria have a complex cell wall structure that includes many lipids; however, even within a single subspecies of Mycobacterium avium these lipids can differ. Total lipids from an M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) ovine strain (S-type) contained no identifiable glycopeptidolipids or lipopentapeptide (L5P), yet both lipids are present in other M. avium subspecies. We determined the genetic and phenotypic basis for this difference using sequence analysis as well as biochemical and physico-chemical approaches. This strategy showed that a nonribosomal peptide synthase, encoded by mps1, contains three amino acid specifying modules in ovine strains, compared to five modules in bovine strains …

Strategies For Evading Blackbird Damage, George M. Linz, Page E. Klug

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Foraging blackbird flocks have great mobility as they search for food that is plentiful, is easily accessed, and has a high nutritional value. Ripening corn, rice, and sunflower fit those criteria, as does seeded rice. The birds will move from field to field to find the ideal combination of energy spent to discover food versus the energy value of the food (Pyke et al. 1977). An extraordinary effort is often needed to actively move the birds from a foraging location with a high positive value (e.g., close to roost and early ripening sunflower) versus a location with a I~w value …

An Application Of Time Series Methods To Investigate Eu Dairy Commodity Price Dynamics, Dennis Bergmann

Theses

Fundamental changes to the common agricultural policy (CAP) have led to greater market orientation which in turn has resulted in significantly changed price dynamics of EU dairy prices. These changed dynamics include sharply increased price variability of EU farm gate milk prices as well EU dairy commodity prices such as butter and Skimmed Milk Powder (SMP). In addition it was expected that EU dairy prices will align to Word dairy prices. This alignment of prices would also see an alignment of volatility levels which were significantly higher for World dairy prices than EU dairy prices. The aim of this thesis …

Automating The Milking Process Within A Grass-Based System, John Shortall

Theses

The successful integration of automatic milking (AM) and grazing has resulted in AM becoming a feasible alternative to conventional milking (CM) in pasture-based systems. The objective of this thesis was to establish (i) the social, environmental and economic effects of adopting AM technology and (ii) the factors affecting cow traffic, which once the AM is adopted, can also impact on the sustainability of AM. A theme across this thesis is the examination of AM in the context of a seasonal pasture-based milk production system. Electricity and water meters were installed on seven AM fanns. Milking and livestock/^miscellaneous processes were the …

Economic Viability Of Direct Drilling In Ireland Compared To Conventional Drilling, Angus Griffith

Theses

With the price of fuel rising and the need for farmers to try and cut costs, and not just variable and the input cost of producing the crop need to be reduced too. It is for this reason that this project is going to focus on direct drilling (DD) vs. conventional tillage (CT) which is the most common system of production in Ireland while also looking into the difference in the costs of establishing each of the two methods. In addition, this project will determine whether or not there are any differences in soil quality and conditions as well as …

Meat For Missoula: Educating Our Youth On Sustainable Meat Production Practices, Amelia R G Liberatore

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

In autumn 2016, a controversy arose when a student group, Advocates for Animals, took up a campaign against three meat pigs at the PEAS Farm due to strong views about animal consumption. Pigs serve as a central piece of food source education to hundreds of Missoula children who visit the farm every year. Unfortunately, the controversy overshadowed the educational purpose of exposing children to sustainable meat production practices. Moreover, access to the PEAS Farm and good food education is not available to all local children. I wondered whether education was accessible elsewhere. Unfortunately, child-appropriate, culturally relevant food literature is scarce. …

Opuntioid Cacti Management Guide: Best Practice Information For Austrocylindropuntia, Cylindropuntia And Opuntia Species In Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

Key points:

• Australia does not have any native cacti.
• Opuntioid cacti impact on Australia environmentally, agriculturally and aesthetically, as well as posing a risk to animal welfare and human safety.
• Invasive cacti are drought resistant and hardy, surviving in low rainfall environments.
• All species spread vegetatively through the rooting of cladodes (stem segments), fruits or flowers. Some species also spread by seed.
• Opuntioid cacti vary significantly in their form and habit, ranging from low-growing shrubs under 50 cm to erect trees up to approximately 6 m tall.
• Australian rangelands are especially vulnerable to cacti invasion.
• The cost of control often …

Education And The Development Of On-Farm Identity: Dairy Farm Women's Experiences, Amy Leigh Spangenberg

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women throughout the world have found emancipation through education. Yet, there has been no research on the role that education plays in dairy farm women's primary, on-farm identity development and how farm women's identities develop. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine dairy farm women's perceptions of previous learning (education) and its influence on their primary, on-farm identity development. The feminist standpoint theory provided the framework for this study. A homogeneous, purposeful sample of 10 active dairy farm women were interviewed using individual, face to face, semistructured questions to answer the question: What are dairy farm women's perceptions …

Assessment Of Canopy Chlorophyll Content Retrieval In Maize And Soybean: Implications Of Hysteresis On The Development Of Generic Algorithms, Yi Peng, Anthony L. Nguy-Robertson, Timothy J. Arkebauer, Anatoly A. Gitelson

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Canopy chlorophyll content (Chl) closely relates to plant photosynthetic capacity, nitrogen status and productivity. The goal of this study is to develop remote sensing techniques for accurate estimation of canopy Chl during the entire growing season without re-parameterization of algorithms for two contrasting crop species, maize and soybean. These two crops represent different biochemical mechanisms of photosynthesis, leaf structure and canopy architecture. The relationships between canopy Chl and reflectance, collected at close range and resampled to bands of the Multi Spectral Instrument (MSI) aboard Sentinel-2, were analyzed in samples taken across the entirety of the growing seasons in three irrigated …

Goldfields Nullarbor Rangelands Biosecurity Association Inc. Activity Report 2016/17, Goldfields Nullarbor Rangelands Biosecurity Association Inc.

Recognised Biosecurity Group Annual Reports

The Goldfields Nullarbor Rangelands Biosecurity Association Inc. (GNRBA) is unique in rangeland management across Western Australia. It has a huge area to service and is working hard to provide a top class service to ratepayers. It is now well recognised as being a leader in the RBG’s in WA. The GNRBA Inc formally became operational on 1st July 2011. At this time it took over the APB Zone 9 operations.

Kimberley Rangelands Biosecurity Association Invasive Species Activity Report 2016/17, Kimberley Rangelands Biosecurity Association

Recognised Biosecurity Group Annual Reports

The Kimberley Rangelands Biosecurity Association (KRBA) has an annual Large Feral Herbivore culling program that includes feral donkeys, horses and camels with other animals such as water buffalo and pigs targeted when located. The program focusses primarily on donkeys, using the radio telemetry technique with horses and camels culled opportunistically during tracking. Currently there are 135 active collars throughout the region.

Meekatharra Rangelands Biosecurity Association Inc. Annual Report 2016/17, Meekatharra Rangelands Biosecurity Association Inc.

Recognised Biosecurity Group Annual Reports

The Meekatharra Rangelands Biosecurity Association Inc (MRBA) is an industry body with a membership of all pastoralists in the Shires of Yalgoo, Mount Magnet, Cue and Meekatharra. The Association has been established under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 with a charter to manage and control declared pests, both animal and plant.

Pilbara Regional Biosecurity Group Inc. Annual Report 2016/17, Pilbara Regional Biosecurity Group Inc.

Recognised Biosecurity Group Annual Reports

The Pilbara RBG is a not for profit association formed under the Associations Incorporation Act 2015, providing declared pest control programs for land managers, particularly in the pastoral zone. The associations’ primary purpose is the control of declared pests using funding from Declared Pest Rates paid by landholders on pastoral stations. These Declared Pest Rates funds are matched dollar for dollar by the WA Government to reflect the public benefit of controlling declared pest animals and weeds. The association is formally recognised by the Hon Minister for Agriculture and Food as a recognised biosecurity group (RBG).

Using Exogenous Hormone Application To Suppress Axillary Shoot Development In Tobacco, W. Jesse Carmack

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

The variability in the number of basal axillary shoots (ground suckers) among all tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) varieties, has increased since the hydroponic transplant production system became the standard. The larger root ball of hydroponically produced transplants compared to traditionally produced transplants potentially generates a difference in the ratio of auxin (inhibits axillary shoot formation) to cytokinin (promotes lateral branching), that induces basal axillary shoot development. Starting in 2014, studies were conducted to investigate whether the addition of synthetic auxins or cytokinins to hydroponic transplant production could prevent ground sucker formation. Different tobacco cultivars, with high or low ground sucker …

Evaluation Of Smartstax And Smartstax Pro Maize Against Western Corn Rootworm And Northern Corn Rootworm: Efficacy And Resistance Management, Graham P. Head, Matthew W. Carroll, Sean P. Evans, Dwain M. Rule, Alan R. Willse, Thomas L. Clark, Nicholas P. Storer, Ronald D. Flannagan, Luke W. Samuel, Lance Meinke

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Background: Cases of western corn rootworm (WCR) field-evolved resistance to Cry3Bb1 and other corn rootworm (CRW) control traits have been reported. Pyramid products expressing multiple CRW traits can delay resistance compared to single trait products. We used field studies to assess the pyramid CRW corn products, SmartStax (expressing Cry3Bb1 and Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1) and SmartStax PRO (expressing Cry3Bb1, Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1 and DvSnf7), at locations with high WCR densities and possible Cry3Bb1 resistance, and to assess the reduction in adult emergence attributable to DvSnf7 and other traits. Insect resistance models were used to assess durability of SmartStax and SmartStax PRO to WCR resistance.

Results: …

Closing Abandoned Livestock Lagoons Effectively To Utilize Nutrients And Avoid Environmental Problems, Leslie J. Johnson, Charles Shapiro, Amy Schmidt

Nebraska Cooperative Extension: Faculty and Staff Publications

In Nebraska alone, nearly 400 earthen manure storage structures are in operation; approximately four dozen requests to cease operation of permitted lagoons were received by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality in the prior decade with many more non-permitted storage structures being in need of proper closure. Abandoned livestock lagoons, earthen manure storage basins, and other manure storages (e.g. concrete pits) need to be decommissioned in a manner that controls potential environmental risk and makes economical use of accumulated nutrients. Currently, limited guidance is available to support lagoon closure planning and implementation and few professionals who support livestock producers have …

Stress-Responsive Pathways And Small Rna Changes Distinguish Variable Developmental Phenotypes Caused By Msh1 Loss, Mon-Ray Shao, Sunil Kumar Kenchanmane Raju, John D. Laurie, Robersy Sanchez, Sally A. Mackenzie

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Background: Proper regulation of nuclear-encoded, organelle-targeted genes is crucial for plastid and mitochondrial function. Among these genes, MutS Homolog 1 (MSH1) is notable for generating an assortment of mutant phenotypes with varying degrees of penetrance and pleiotropy. Stronger phenotypes have been connected to stress tolerance and epigenetic changes, and in Arabidopsis T-DNA mutants, two generations of homozygosity with the msh1 insertion are required before severe phenotypes begin to emerge. These observations prompted us to examine how msh1 mutants contrast according to generation and phenotype by profiling their respective transcriptomes and small RNA populations.

Results: Using RNA-seq, we analyze …

Influence Of Olfactory And Visual Cover On Nest Site Selection And Nest Success For Grassland-Nesting Birds, Dillon T. Fogarty, Dwayne Elmore, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf, Scott R. Loss

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Habitat selection by animals is influenced by and mitigates the effects of predation and environmental extremes. For birds, nest site selection is crucial to offspring production because nests are exposed to extreme weather and predation pressure. Predators that forage using olfaction often dominate nest predator communities; therefore, factors that influence olfactory detection (e.g., airflow and weather variables, including turbulence and moisture) should influence nest site selection and survival. However, few studies have assessed the importance of olfactory cover for habitat selection and survival. We assessed whether ground-nesting birds select nest sites based on visual and/or olfactory cover. Additionally, we assessed …