bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
409 Awardee Talk: Philosophy and Examples from a Career in Animal Science Education
Authors: Huntington Carolyn E 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Training competent and successful students for career readiness is an ever-changing puzzle. These puzzle pieces include an understanding of the student demographics, consideration of the vision and mission of the department, engagement with alumni, and awareness of opportunities for employment and industry needs. These pieces require the development of a curriculum model that can evolve and respond to these components in a timely way. My career at two universities in roles including Undergraduate Coordinator and Director of Undergraduate Advising has given me the privilege to teach and work with nearly 5,000 students while addressing these puzzle pieces. Students enter with a limited understanding of career opportunities within Animal Sciences but are eager to learn more and are seeking opportunities to do so. As faculty, we can provide meaningful high impact experiences for our students, both inside and outside of the classroom, that also directly align with our appointments and expertise in research, teaching, and Extension. Success requires creating a departmental culture that fosters creativity and a willingness to experiment with new ideas and practices. These high impact experiences provide our students with greater awareness and appreciation for career possibilities that they had not considered before. As the Undergraduate Coordinator, I lead strategic conversations and planning with our faculty to discuss how our departmental core courses and supporting coursework prepare our students professionally. This includes discussion of our annual program assessment, identifying areas of strengths, where our resources may be limited, and how we are teaching to inspire, challenge, and meet the needs of our students. As we all strive to continually improve academic excellence within each of our programs, we must remain nimble and arrange the puzzle pieces to best serve our students.
73 Creating Context and Vision in Animal Science Graduates
Authors: Wickersham Tryon A 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Increasingly undergraduate and graduate students enter animal science programs with relatively little experience in production agriculture. Often, students arrive with the expectation or hope of admission to vet school only to have that dream smacked against the realities of organic chemistry and biochemistry or changing aspirations. These two factors: 1) limited background, and 2) unrealized goals coupled with others lead to frustration, confusion, and anxiety. Furthermore, a lack of background makes it difficult for them to contextualize information presented in lectures, laboratories, reading, and research. This makes it challenging for students to determine what’s next, what route they should pursue for a career. It creates uncertainty as they seek internships, consider graduate school, and begin to ponder life after graduation. Connecting students to industry professionals and experiences can go a long way towards helping students create context and begin the process of mentally exploring careers. In the university setting having a faculty with an extensive network of industry professionals and a willingness to share those contacts and work with students is essential. As a faculty member, I have focused on addressing this need in four ways: 1) being present, 2) taking them on a trip, 3) providing safe experiences, and 4) giving them a tribe. Additionally, whenever possible, I try and give them an industry role model with a similar background. To accomplish these things, I must step outside of the university and my comfort zone to engage industry stakeholders in a variety of ways. During the course of my presentation, I will discuss the four ways I help students create context for learning and a vision for themselves while also covering the methods I use to engage with industry. Ultimately, a faculty that creates and maintains connections with industry is essential for developing course content, curriculum, research questions, and, most importantly, well-rounded animal science graduates.
9 Practical Considerations for Adaptive Strategies By United States Grazing Land Managers with a Changing Climate
Authors: Derner Justin D , Wilmer Hailey , Stackhouse-Lawson Kim R , Place Sara E , Boggess Mark V 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
We outline practical considerations for grazing land adaptations with a changing climate, with an emphasis on the ranch operation scale and specific attention to directional climate changes and increased climate variability. These adaptive strategies fall into two themes: flexibility and learning under uncertainty. Ranches and livestock operations with greater land, social, or other capital resources may have more flexibility. Risk can be reduced for managers (ranchers, farmers, operators, and livestock managers) through participation in conservation or farm policy programs and/or market-based approaches. Bolstering adaptive capacity across landscapes and time can originate from social capital of operators and strategic collaborations among managers and scientists. As climate diverges from historical baselines and the realm of managers’ experiential knowledge, new conceptual frameworks are needed to structure conversations, influence research relevancy and impact, and drive imaginative solutions among researchers, managers, and local communities for socio-ecological systems. We provide simplified frameworks to help guide conversation, future research, and new imaginative solutions for systems-scale knowledge needs and adaptation to address increasingly uncertain and complex change at multiple scales. Practical considerations for adaptive strategies by grazing land managers with a changing climate will be accelerated through 1) collaborative efforts among managers and explicitly with science-management partnerships becoming more mainstream, 2) co-produced research with managers and researchers at ranch-scales, 3) development of communities of practice and associated learning opportunities, and 4) continued co-development and advancement of technologies and tools that result in high uptake adoption by ranch managers.
PSVII-9 Heterosis Effects on Reproductive Traits in a Multibreed Beef Cattle Herd in Panama
Authors: Murray Roderick Alexander Gonzalez , Thomas Milton G , Enns R Mark , Speidel Scott E 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The aim of this study was to estimate the influence of heterosis and breed percentage on calving interval (CI) and gestation length (GL), and the correlation between age at first calving (AFC) and CI, in beef cows. Data included 1,291 repeated observations of CI and GL from 502 cows with 2,840 individuals in the pedigree, including 3 generations from the multi-breed herd of the livestock experimental station of the Panama Agricultural Innovation Institute (IDIAP) in Gualaca, Panama. The herd was composed of the following genetic groups based on their breed percentage: tropically adapted Brahman (BR), Nellore (Ne), Undefined Bos indicus (BI), Guaymi Creole (CR), Senepol (SP) and Romosinuano (RS); Bos taurus (BT), Simmental (SM), Angus (A), Red Angus (AR), Limousin (LM), Charolais (CH), Wagyu (Wa), and Others (Oth); crossbreeds (cx), Beefmaster (BF), Three CX (F1 x different BT), R1(Backcross BR), R2 (Backcross BT), Composite (combination of at least 4 different breeds with less than 25% of Zebu), Upgrade (87.5% BR 12.5% BT), B1 (62.5% Zebu + 37.5% BT), and B2 (62.5% BT + 37.5% Zebu). The Zebu influenced breed group represents 50.03% of this population, followed by the F1, the three CX, composites, and R1, representing 22%, 13.89%, 6.11%, and 5.34%, respectively. The other breed groups represented less than 2.5% of the population. A repeated records animal model was used to estimate variance components for both CI and GL. A bivariate animal model was used to estimate the genetic correlation between CI and age at first calving (AFC). Fixed effects for all models consisted of contemporary group, age of dam, calf sex, degree of outcross, and breed percentage. Contemporary group was defined by calving year and season of birth. The average CI was 572.6 ± 140 d, with a range of 315 d to 910 d; and the average GL was 284.2 ± 6.3 d. The estimated regression coefficient for CI on heterosis was -0.114 ± 0.10 d/heterosis % (P = 0.266), and for GL was -0.01 ± 0.052 d/heterosis %. A shorter CI was observed for the F1, and three CX, with 558.7 days and 567.2 days, representing a 2.3% and 1.3% reduction in CI, respectively, when compared with the Zebu group. A larger CI was observed for the Nellore and Romosinuano breeds % with 0.17 ± 1.23 d, (P = 0.373) and 0.64± 0.13 d (P = 0.406), respectively. A low heritability (0.037 ± 0.026) for CI was estimated, with a positive genetic trend over the duration of the study. The analysis between CI and AFC revealed a moderate genetic correlation (0.49 ± 0.36) that allows the establishment of a selection program to improve AFC and CI, which would improve the fertility of this multi-breed herd in Panama.
PSXII-7 Characterization of Runs of Homozygosity Islands in American Mink Using Whole-Genome Sequencing Data
Authors: Davoudi Pourya , Do Duy Ngoc , Colombo Stefanie , Rathgeber Bruce , Sargolzaei Mehdi , Plastow Graham , Wang Zhiquan , Miar Younes 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The genome-wide analysis of runs of homozygosity (ROH) islands can be an effective strategy to detect the variants shared among the individuals of a population, and thereby to reveal important genomic regions for complex traits. The current study performed ROH analysis to characterize the genome-wide patterns of homozygosity, ROH islands, and the gene content of those candidate regions using whole-genome sequencing data of 100 American mink (Neogale vison). After sequence processing, variants were called using GATK and Samtools pipelines. After quality control, 8,373,854 bi-allelic variants identified by both pipelines remained for subsequent analysis. A total of 34,652 ROH segments were identified in all individuals, among which shorter segments (0.3–1 Mb) were abundant throughout the genome, approximately accounting for 84.39% of all ROH. We identified 63 ROH islands that harbored 156 annotated genes. The genes located in ROH islands were associated with fur quality (EDNRA, FGF2, FOXA2, SLC24A4, SLC24A3, PDE5A), body size/body weight (MYLK4, PRIM2, FABP2, BBS7, EYS, PHF3), immune capacity (IL2, PTP4A1, SEMA4C, CD274, JAK2, MAD2L1, CCNA2, TNIP3), and reproduction (ADAD1, KHDRBS2, INSL6, PGRMC2, LARP1B, HSPA4L, CAMK2D). Furthermore, Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed multiple significant terms (P ≤ 0.05), among which cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, and calcium signaling pathway were highlighted due to their functional roles in growth and fur characteristics. This is the first study to present ROH islands in American mink. The candidate genes from ROH islands and functional enrichment analysis suggest possible signatures of selection in response to the mink breeding targets, such as increased body length, reproductive performance and fur quality. These findings contribute to an understanding of genetic characteristics, and provide complementary information to assist with implementation of breeding strategies for genetic improvement in American mink.
PSIV-30 Exploring the Prebiotic Activities of Proanthocyanidins on a Platform Using the Three-Dimensionally (3D)-Cultured Organoids
Authors: Xi Lin , Wang Feng , Cagle Daisy , Zhu Yue , Odle Jack , Xie Deyu 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Using antibiotics, the antimicrobial substance active against bacteria and promoting growth efficiency, in feedstuffs and food supply has been attracting great attention due to its side effects and contribution to antibiotic resistance. Therefore, exploring talternatives to antibiotics is of great significance and urgent need for human health and animal industries with a sustainable high efficiency. The objective of this study is to evaluate the biological and medicinal activities of the monomers of proanthocyanidins (PAs), such as epicatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, and flavanols such as quercetin, isoquercetrin, and rutin generated from engineered plants. The evaluations were performed in intestinal organoids isolated from ileum of neonatal piglets. The organoids after expended in vitro were incubated with or without the candidate compounds for 24 hours, and then treated with or without polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [Poly (I:C), 10 µg/mL] for another 24 hours, a synthetic analog of double-stranded RNA (can induce a molecular pattern associated with viral infections). Cell proliferation, barrier function, toll-like receptor pathway and apoptosis as well as organic cation transporters were assessed by measuring the abundance of the corresponding genes. Concentration gradient (0 to 200 µM) measurements showed that isoquercetrin and epigallocatechin gallate might stimulate the intestinal cell proliferation, promote the uptake of L-carnitine, and increase barrier function and mucin secretion (P &lt; 0.05). Epigallocatechin gallate and epicatechin might affect the inflammation responses via modifying expression of Interleukins but not induce apoptosis. Interactions between the examined these compounds and Poly (I: C) were not observed (P &gt; 0.05), but the influence on the challenged pattern were tested for some of the measured genes (P &lt; 0.05). Based on the data collected from this in vitro study, we conclude that epigallocatechin gallate is a potential PA monomer with all prebiotic characteristics and its applicable values in feedstuff and food supply should be studied in vivo studies in domestic (food) animals with and without antigen challenges. Supported by NC Biotechnology Center project (1107)2022-3082 and the North Carolina Agricultural Research Hatch Projects 02780.
PSIV-28 Evaluation of Possible Interactions Between Platelets and Neutrophil in Cow Blood
Authors: Pande Priyanka , Inupala SreeNavya , Jagana Sowmya , Uzzaman Md. Rasel , Worku Mulumebet 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Neutrophils have a central role in the inflammatory response and fight infection. Platelets are essential for hemostasis and thrombosis and fighting vascular damage. Studies in man show that the interaction between these cells can modulate their function. We aimed to assess the effect of possible relationships between the platelet count in whole blood on neutrophil activation. Blood samples (50 mL) from five clinically healthy Holstein Friesian cows at the NC A&T Dairy research unit were collected. Differential white blood cell counts were conducted using a VetScan (Zoetis). Neutrophils were isolated through differential centrifugation and hypotonic lysis of red blood cells. Duplicate samples of neutrophils were maintained in phosphate-buffered saline for 30 minutes at 37 °C. The total and viable neutrophil count was evaluated using TC20 (Bio-Rad). Samples were centrifuged. The supernatant was used to determine the concentration of total secreted protein using the Bicinchoninic acid assay (Pierce). Enumeration of bovine blood platelets and white blood cells was accomplished using the Vetscan study found that there was no significant difference observed in the total cell count or percent viability in neutrophils between the five cows (P &gt; 0.05). However, protein concentration showed a significant change between animals. Correlations between total platelet count, neutrophil count, viability, and protein secretion were evaluated. No correlation was found between neutrophil count, protein secretion in isolated neutrophils and concentration of platelets in whole cow blood. The number of circulating platelets was not related to neutrophil viability or protein secretion. This approach can be used in further investigation using imaging and is needed to evaluate the effect and functional consequences of interactions between platelets and neutrophils in cow blood.
PSV-20 The Effect of Bacillus Spp. Supplementation on Performance and Immune Function of Heifers Grazing Tall Fescue Pastures
Authors: Bailey Eric , Ellis Anita , Cappellozza Bruno I , McCorkill Andy , Petzel Emily A , Brake Derek W 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Probiotics are purported to improve gastrointestinal tract health across a variety of species. Thus, we evaluated the effects of supplementing a blend of Bacillus spp. on performance and immune function in immature beef cattle. Crossbred heifers (n = 192) were stratified by initial body weight (196 ± 15.4 kg) and randomly assigned to 1 of 24 pastures (1.8 ha each) of Kentucky 31 tall fescue. Heifers were offered 2.84 kg daily of a commodity feed blend and the supplement contained either no probiotic (CON) or of Bacillus spp. (BAC). Bacillus spp. was offered at 3 grams per head per day. Heifers were weighed on consecutive days on d 0 and 1, along with d 84 and 85 to establish initial and final body weight. Interim weights were taken every 28 d. A humoral response to chicken egg albumin (OVA) was established following a subcutaneous injection with OVA. To assess heifers’ immune responses, plasma was taken from two heifers per pasture on d 1, 15, 29, 43, and 57. Plasma samples were measured for the presence of anti-OVA IgG, proinflammatory cytokines, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and chemokines. There were no trt*day interactions (P ≥ 0.30) for plasma response variables. Concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1α and IFN-γ decreased (P ≤ 0.01) in heifers supplemented with BAC. The anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-1 F5 decreased (P = 0.02) with BAC supplementation. Chemokines MIG and MIP-1β also decreased (P ≤ 0.03) with BAC supplementation. Heifers fed BAC tended to display (P = 0.09) greater titers of anti-OVA IgG than the control. Body weight and average daily gain did not differ (P ≥ 0.53) throughout the experiment. Under the conditions of this experiment, heifers supplemented with Bacillus spp. demonstrated modulated immune responses.
PSV-18 Host Transcriptional Changes Detected in the Feces of Dairy Calves Supplemented with Condensed Solubles from Milk Permeate
Authors: dos Santos Rafaela Rodrigues , Osorio Johan S , Senevirathne Nirosh , Sunkesula Venkateswarlu , Rosa Fernanda T 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Newborn dairy calves are exposed to an environment characterized by multiple challenges, such as pathogen load and nutrient delivery adaptations. Nutritional strategies can help young animals to face these challenges. Hence, we proposed that feeding a type of oligosaccharides (condensed solubles from milk permeate; CS) to dairy calves from birth to postweaning will improve their inflammatory response. This study aimed to perform real-time (RT)-qPCR in RNA isolated from fecal samples to assess the molecular changes relative to inflammation in dairy calves. To address this, 2-days old (d) Holstein calves were randomly assigned into two groups (n = 12/group): control with no supplement; or treatment with 50 g/d of CS. Both groups were fed pasteurized waste milk during the preweaning period. Calves were fed pasteurized waste milk 2×/d during week 1-5, 1×/d in week 6, and weaned at week 7. For the CS-treated calves, at each milk feeding during week 1-5, 25 g of CS was added to the pasteurized milk. At week 6, 25 g of CS was added to the milk morning feeding and 25 g were top-dressed on the starter pellets. Starting at week 7 until the end of the trial at week 12, 50 g of CS were top-dressed on the starter pellets offered to CS calves. Healthy scores were recorded daily. Fresh fecal samples were collected weekly and immediately frozen until RNA extraction. Statistical analysis was performed using MIXED procedures (SAS 9.4) with repeated measures. Significant differences were declared at P &lt; 0.05. The average fecal score postweaning was less in the CS calves relative to the control. Overall, the mRNA expression of the transcription factor of inflammation, NFKB, was less in the feces of the CS group compared with the control. However, the membrane receptor for gram-positive bacteria, TLR2, was upregulated in CS calves relative to control during the postweaning stage (week 8). The fecal gene expression of the membrane receptor for gram-negative bacteria, TLR4, and the proinflammatory cytokines, IL1B and TNFA, did not differ between groups. In summary, the lack of difference in the gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL1B and TNFA, along with the TLR4 expression in the feces of the calves, indicate that there was no severe inflammation during the trial. In contrast, TLR2 gene expression findings suggest that some mild local infection might have affected those calves. In conclusion, feeding oligosaccharides to dairy calves might improve the response to inflammation.
PSI-4 Soybean-Supplemented Nursing Ewes Showed Better Performance and Health Status Than Corn-Supplemented Ewes Stocked in Woodlands
Authors: Chaudhary Santoshi , Karki Uma , Shrestha Bhuwan , Lamsal Sadikshya 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Previous woodland-grazing studies recommended nutritional supplementation to young, growing goats and sheep as well as lactating does. However, information is limited on the role of supplement type to improve the performance and health status of nursing ewes raised in woodlands. This study tested a hypothesis that nursing ewes would remain healthy and perform equally well either with corn or soybean supplements. The study objective was to evaluate the performance and blood parameters of the nursing ewes when stocked in woodlands with corn or soybean supplements. Eighteen Katahdin-St. Croix cross-nursing ewes were divided into two groups. Each group was stocked in a separate set of woodland plots (3 plots/group) and rotated among those plots throughout the study period along with ad libitum hay from May to August 2022. Group-1 ewes were supplemented with whole corn and Group-2 ewes with whole soybean (0.5% of body weight). Animal performance data [body weight, FAMACHA score, and body condition score (BCS)] were measured on day 1, fortnightly during the study, and at the end of the study. For assessing the health status, blood samples were collected on days -1, 45, and 80 and analyzed for hematological and biochemical parameters using ProCyte-Dx Analyzer and Catalyst One (Table 1). Animal performance and blood parameter data were analyzed using the GLM procedure in SAS 9.4. Soybean-supplemented nursing ewes had greater body weight (22%, P &lt; 0.05), and better FAMACHA score (13%, P &lt; 0.01) and BCS (8%, P &lt; 0.001) in comparison to corn-supplemented nursing ewes. Similarly, blood urea nitrogen, alkaline phosphate, cholesterol, and calcium concentration were greater in soybean-supplemented vs. corn-supplemented ewes (P &lt; 0.05). Results suggest that soybean is a better supplement than corn for enhancing the performance and health status of nursing ewes grazing in woodlands.