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ARS Home Plains Area Clay Center, Nebraska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Livestock Bio-Systems People







Thomas W Murphy

(Tom)    Research Geneticist (Animals) Please view our story map to easially access our sheep research: Sheep Trails (arcgis.com)  Publications(Clicking on the reprint iconReprint Icon  will take you to the publication reprint.)Sheep GEMS Update: Lambing assistance and udder health scores-(Popular Publication)An extreme model of fertility in sheep demonstrates the basis of controversies surrounding antral follicle count and circulating concentrations of anti-Müllerian hormone as predictors of fertility in ruminants-(Peer Reviewed Journal) Cushman, R.A., Yake, H.K., Snider, A.P., Lents, C.A., Murphy, T.W., Freking, B.A. 2023. An extreme model of fertility in sheep demonstrates the basis of controversies surrounding antral follicle count and circulating concentrations of anti-Müllerian hormone as predictors of fertility in ruminants. Animal Reproduction Science. 259. Article 107364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2023.107364.Meet the Research Leaders at NSIP-(Popular Publication) Murphy, T.W., Brito, L.F., Hess, A.S., Lewis, R.M. 2023. Meet the Research Leaders at NSIP. Sheep Industry News. (27)8:14-15.The potential value of international sheep evaluations-(Popular Publication) Hess, A.S., Brito, L.F., Murphy, T.W. 2023. The potential value of international sheep evaluations. Sheep Industry News. (27)8:30-31.A journey into sheep GEMS-(Popular Publication) Lewis, R.M., Brito, L., Freking, B., Burke, J.M., Murphy, T., Taylor, J.B., Wilson, C.S., Nilson, S., Arisman, B., Oliveira Rocha, A., Yazar Gunes, H. 2023. A journey into sheep GEMS. Sheep Industry News. 27(8):24-26.Targhee sire benchmarking at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station-(Abstract Only)Is scrotal ultrasound a useful tool in ram breeding soundness examination?-(Abstract Only) Murphy, T.W., Freking, B.A., Wildeus, S., Miles, J.R., Cushman, R., Snider, A.P., Rempel, L.A. 2023. Is scrotal ultrasound a useful tool in ram breeding soundness examination? Journal of Animal Science. 101(Supplement 3):654. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad281.761.Comparison of three maternal composite sheep breeds managed under pasture lambing and purebred or terminal mating systems: Ewe body weight, reproductive efficiency, and longevity-(Peer Reviewed Journal) Murphy, T.W., Freking, B.A., Bennett, G.L. 2022. Comparison of three maternal composite sheep breeds managed under pasture lambing and purebred or terminal mating systems: Ewe body weight, reproductive efficiency, and longevity. Journal of Animal Science. 101. Article skac418. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac418.CRISPR/Cas9-editing of KISS1 to generate pigs with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism as a castration free trait-(Peer Reviewed Journal) Florez, J.M., Martins, K., Solin, S., Bostrom, J.R., Rodriguez-Villamil, P., Ongaratto, F., Larson, S.A., Ganbaatar, U., Coutts, A.W., Kern, D., Murphy, T.W., Kim, E., Carlson, D.F., Huisman, A., Sonstegard, T.S., Lents, C.A. 2023. CRISPR/Cas9-editing of KISS1 to generate pigs with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism as a castration free trait. Frontiers in Genetics. 13. Article 1078991. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.1078991.Impact of four ovine TMEM154 haplotypes on ewes during multiyear lentivirus exposure-(Peer Reviewed Journal) Freking, B.A., Murphy, T.W., Chitko-McKown, C.G., Workman, A.M., Heaton, M.P. 2022. Impact of four ovine TMEM154 haplotypes on ewes during multiyear lentivirus exposure. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 23(23). Article 14966. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232314966.Effects of harvest season on carcass characteristics of lambs harvested in the Intermountain West-(Peer Reviewed Journal)Sperm characteristics of maternal composite rams before and after the breeding season-(Abstract Only) Snider, A.P., Freking, B.A., Miles, J.R., Rempel, L.A., Crouse, M.S., Cushman, R.A., Wildeus, S., Murphy Jr, T.W. 2022. Sperm characteristics of maternal composite rams before and after the breeding season [abstract]. Society for the Study of Reproduction Annual Meeting, July 26-29, 2022, Spokane, Washington. Poster P233.Effects of increasing dietary zinc sulfate fed to gestating ewes: II. Milk somatic cell count, microbial populations, and fatty acid composition-(Peer Reviewed Journal) Page, C.M., Knuth, R.M., Murphy, T.W., Rule, D.C., Bisha, B., Taylor, J.B., Stewart, W.C. 2022. Effects of increasing dietary zinc sulfate fed to gestating ewes: II. Milk somatic cell count, microbial populations, and fatty acid composition. Applied Animal Science. 38(3):285-295. https://doi.org/10.15232/aas.2022-02268.Are ovarian reserve parameters related to reproductive tract development and fertility in ewes?-(Abstract Only) Cushman, R.A., Yake, H.K., Snider, A.P., Murphy Jr, T.W., Freking, B.A. 2022. Are ovarian reserve parameters related to reproductive tract development and fertility in ewes [abstract]? Journal of Animal Science. 100(Supplement 2):85. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac064.138.Effect of TMEM154 E35K variant (haplotypes 1 and 3) on the incidence of ovine lentivirus infection and ewe productivity during lifetime exposure-(Peer Reviewed Journal) Murphy, T.W., Chitko-McKown, C.G., Heaton, M.P., Freking, B.A. 2021. Effect of TMEM154 E35K variant (haplotypes 1 and 3) on the incidence of ovine lentivirus infection and ewe productivity during lifetime exposure. Journal of Animal Science. 99(11). Article skab304. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab304.The relationship between milk score near parturition and udder score near weaning and their effects on Polypay, Rambouillet, and Targhee ewe productivity-(Proceedings) Murphy Jr, T.W., Taylor, J.B. 2021. The relationship between milk score near parturition and udder score near weaning and their effects on Polypay, Rambouillet, and Targhee ewe productivity. Translational Animal Science. 5(Supplement S1): S134-S138. Article txab176. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txab176.Invited Review: Sheep mineral nutrition considerations for extensive production systems-(Review Article) Stewart, W.C., Scasta, J.D., Taylor, J.B., Murphy Jr, T.W., Julian, A.A. 2021. Invited Review: Sheep mineral nutrition considerations for extensive production systems. Applied Animal Science. 37(3):256-272. https://doi.org/10.15232/aas.2021-02143.Evolution of the sheep industry and genetic research in the United States: Opportunities for convergence in the 21st century-(Peer Reviewed Journal) Thorne, J.W., Murdoch, B.M., Freking, B.A., Redden, R.R., Murphy Jr, T.W., Taylor, J.B., Blackburn, H.D. 2021. Evolution of the sheep industry and genetic research in the United States: Opportunities for convergence in the 21st century. Animal Genetics. 52(4):395-408. https://doi.org/10.1111/age.13067.Relationships among intramammary health, udder and teat characteristics, and productivity of extensively managed ewes-(Peer Reviewed Journal) Knuth, R.M., Stewart, W.C., Taylor, J.B., Bisha, B., Yeoman, C.J., Van Emon, M.L., Murphy, T.W. 2021. Relationships among intramammary health, udder and teat characteristics, and productivity of extensively managed ewes. Journal of Animal Science. 99(4):1-10. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab059.Comparison of performance of F1 Romanov crossbred ewes with wool and hair breeds during fall lambing and body weight and longevity through six production years-(Peer Reviewed Journal) Murphy, T.W., Freking, B.A. 2021. Comparison of performance of F1 Romanov crossbred ewes with wool and hair breeds during fall lambing and body weight and longevity through six production years. Journal of Animal Science. 99(1):1-7. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa400.Comparison of performance of F1 Romanov crossbred ewes with wool and hair breeds during spring lambing under intensive and extensive production systems-(Peer Reviewed Journal) Freking, B.A., Murphy Jr, T.W. 2020. Comparison of performance of F1 Romanov crossbred ewes with wool and hair breeds during spring lambing under intensive and extensive production systems. Journal of Animal Science. 99(1):1-10. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa397.Anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes and associated management factors in Intermountain West sheep flocks-(Peer Reviewed Journal) Stewart, W.C., Scott, D.M., Howell, S.B., Kaplan, R.M., Roeder, B.L., Murphy, T.W. 2020. Anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes and associated management factors in Intermountain West sheep flocks. Sheep and Goat Research Journal. 35:30-37.Assessment of alternative models for genetic analysis of worm and tick infestation in nellore cattle-(Peer Reviewed Journal) Passafaro, T.L., Lopes, F.B., Murphy Jr, T.W., Valente, B.D., Leite, R.C., Rosa, G.J., Toral, F.L. 2021. Assessment of alternative models for genetic analysis of worm and tick infestation in nellore cattle. Livestock Science. 244. Article 104276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2020.104276.Effect of increasing dietary zinc sulfate fed to primiparous ewes: I. Effects on serum metabolites, mineral transfer efficiency, and animal performance-(Peer Reviewed Journal) Stewart, W.C., Murphy Jr, T.W., Page, C.M., Rule, D.C., Taylor, J.B., Austin, K., Pankey, C. 2020. Effect of increasing dietary zinc sulfate fed to primiparous ewes: I. Effects on serum metabolites, mineral transfer efficiency, and animal performance. Applied Animal Science. 36(6):839-850. https://doi.org/10.15232/aas.2020-02057.Genetic and nongenetic factors influencing ewe prolificacy and lamb body weight in a closed Romanov flock-(Peer Reviewed Journal) Murphy Jr, T.W., Keele, J.W., Freking, B.A. 2020. Genetic and nongenetic factors influencing ewe prolificacy and lamb body weight in a closed Romanov flock. Journal of Animal Science. 98(9):1-8. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa283.Estimated breeding values for enhanced flock productivity-(Other)Phenotypic and genetic differences in Rambouillet lines divergently selected for reproductive rate over 50 yr-(Abstract Only) Murphy, T., Thomson, J.M., Berardinelli, J., Roeder, B. 2020. Phenotypic and genetic differences in Rambouillet lines divergently selected for reproductive rate over 50 yr [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 98(supplement 4):206. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa278.379.Development, selection criteria, and performance of Composite IV sheep at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center-(Proceedings) Murphy, T., Freking, B., Bennett, G.L., Keele, J.W. 2020. Development, selection criteria, and performance of Composite IV sheep at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 98(Supplement 4):207. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa278.381.Effects of dietary Zn on ewe milk minerals and somatic cell count-(Proceedings) Page, C.M., Murphy, T., Taylor, B., Julian, A., Whaley, J., Woodruff, K., Hummel, G., DeMarco, C., Laverell, D., Cunningham, H., Rule, D., Stewart, W. 2020. Effects of dietary Zn on ewe milk minerals and somatic cell count [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 98(Supplement 4):213-214. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa278.394.Harvest season, carcass weight, and fat measurements effects on lamb carcass characteristics and economic comparison of moderate and heavy weight lamb carcasses in the Western lamb processing industry-(Proceedings) Whaley, J., Means, W., Ritten, J., Murphy, T., Gifford, C., Cunningham, H., Woodruff, K., McKibben, H., Page, C.M., Stewart, W.C. 2020. Harvest season, carcass weight, and fat measurements effects on lamb carcass characteristics and economic comparison of moderate and heavy weight lamb carcasses in the Western lamb processing industry [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 98(4):190-191. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa278.351.Fleece and fiber characteristics of Rambouillet, Targhee, and their reciprocal-crosses at first shearing-(Proceedings) Murphy, T., Stewart, W.C., Notter, D., Knuth, R., Feagler, T., Taylor, B. 2020. Fleece and fiber characteristics of Rambouillet, Targhee, and their reciprocal-crosses at first shearing [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 98(supplement 4):206-207. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa278.380.Subclinical mastitis in sheep: etiology and association with milk somatic cell count and ewe productivity in three research flocks in the Western U.S.-(Proceedings) Knuth, R., Stewart, W., Taylor, J.B., Yeoman, C., Bisha, B., Page, C., Rowlye, C., Lindsey, B., Van Emon, M., Murphy Jr, T.W. 2019. Subclinical mastitis in sheep: etiology and association with milk somatic cell count and ewe productivity in three research flocks in the Western U.S. Translational Animal Science. 3(1):1749-1753. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txz078.Association of a nucleotide variant in Tenascin X with objective milk production traits in US dairy sheep-(Abstract Only) Hemmerling, K.M., Murphy, T.W., Herndon, M.K., Massa, A.T., Cinar, M.U., Thomas, D.L., White, S.N., Mousel, M.R. 2019. Association of a nucleotide variant in Tenascin X with objective milk production traits in US dairy sheep [abstract]. International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG). Abstract #P65 (Abstract Book p. 81). Available: https://www.isag.us/Docs/Proceedings/ISAG2019_Proceedings.pdfEffects of feeding juniper as a roughage on feedlot performance, carcass measurements, meat sensory attributes, and volatile aroma compounds of yearling Rambouillet wethers-(Peer Reviewed Journal) Kerth, C.R., Wall, K.R., Miller, R.K., Whitney, T.R., Stewart, W.C., Boles, J.A., Murphy Jr, T.W. 2019. Effects of feeding juniper as a roughage on feedlot performance, carcass measurements, meat sensory attributes, and volatile aroma compounds of yearling Rambouillet wethers. Journal of Animal Science. 97(7):2816-2830. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz174.Evaluation of Rambouillet, Polypay, and Romanov–White Dorper x Rambouillet ewes mated to terminal sires in an extensive rangeland production system: Body weight and wool characteristics-(Peer Reviewed Journal) Murphy Jr, T.W., Stewart, W.C., Notter, D.R., Mousel, M.R., Lewis, G.S., Taylor, J.B. 2019. Evaluation of Rambouillet, Polypay, and Romanov–White Dorper x Rambouillet ewes mated to terminal sires in an extensive rangeland production system: Body weight and wool characteristics. Journal of Animal Science. 97(4):1568-1577. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz070.  ProjectsDiscovery of Novel Traits to Improve Efficiency and Sustainability of Different Sheep Production SystemsIn-House Appropriated (D)Accession Number:442610Improving Robustness and Climatic Resilience in U.S. Sheep Populations through GenomicsNon-Funded Cooperative Agreement (N)Accession Number:443038Improving Robustness and Climatic Resilience in U.S. Sheep Populations through GenomicsNon-Funded Cooperative Agreement (N)Accession Number:443114Quantifying Genetic and Non-Genetic Factors Associated with Lamb Growth and Carcass CharacteristicsNon-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (S)Accession Number:441538  ARS News ArticlesNo news articles listed for this employee.


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