Animal & Dairy Science: Research Programs
Animal & Dairy Science Research Overview
See Also: Faculty Listed by Research Interests
Active areas of research conducted by the faculty of the Animal and Dairy Science Department are described below under the major categories of aquaculture, animal cloning and genetic engineering, breeding and genetics, meats and muscle biology, nutrition, physiology of reproduction, and production management. Research projects are designed using applied and basic experiments to understand and solve industry problems.
Aquaculture research projects include nutrition topics with channel catfish, disease topics that involve proliferative gill disease and enteric septicemia of catfish, and water quality issues of catfish ponds, effluents, and algae production. Culture of catfish with other fishes and alternative species for aquaculture are also research issues of interest (Gary J. Burtle and G. Larry Newton).
Animal Cloning and Genetic Engineering research utilizes several techniques including embryo and cell culture, nuclear transfer (cloning), embryo transfer, in vitro fertilization, and gene addition and deletion in cells and animals (Steven L. Stice). Research in the area of rumen microbiology is currently focusing on elucidating substrate transport mechanisms in pure cultures of anaerobic rumen bacteria. Areas of research include: (1) biochemical evaluation of nutrient transport mechanisms used by rumen bacteria, (2) examine the effect of environmental conditions (i.e., pH and dilution rate) on transport activity, and (3) elucidate the genetics of important rumen bacteria. Other projects include: (1) the structure and function of genes in livestock animals, (2) regulation of genes involved with growth and development, (3) study of neuropeptides that regulate and control appetite, and (4) genes involved with stress in livestock (Clifton A. Baile and Roger G. Dean).
Research in Animal Breeding and Genetics is primarily concerned with the development and implementation of genetic evaluation programs in swine, beef and dairy cattle. This program is a balance between theoretical development of the methodologies that have the greatest potential for rapid genetic change; and, working with the leaders of the animal industry and breed associations to create efficient systems for field applications. There are also ongoing research projects which combine genetics with physiology, nutrition and meats (J. Keith Bertrand, Ignacy Misztal,) and Romdhane Rekaya.
Meats and Muscle Biology encompasses all phases of meat science research from growth and development to the production of new products for today's changing consumer. This program combines both basic and applied research to meet the needs of the meat industry. Major areas of beef, pork and lamb research include: (1) diet/health nutrition projects aimed at reducing fat levels and changing the fatty acid composition of adipose tissue in meat animals and their product; (2) utilization of ultrasound technology to predict carcass quality and palatability and body composition; (3) identification of mechanisms which control the deposition of subcutaneous and intramuscular fat; (4) biochemical and structural changes in pre and postrigor muscle and their effect on meat tenderness, and (5) the effectiveness of objective live animal measurements and ultrasound technology in predicting carcass value (T. Dean Pringle and Susan K Duckett).
A cooperative Reproductive Physiology research program in beef cattle and swine exists between the Animal and Dairy Science Department, the College of Veterinary Medicine and the USDA Richard B. Russell Agriculture Research Center. Major areas of research include: (1) reducing the generation interval by accelerating onset of puberty and decreasing the postpartum interval, (2) control of estrus and ovulation, (3) nutritional and environmental effects on reproduction, (4) neuroendocrine control of pituitary gonadotropin secretion with emphasis on leptin and other neurosecretory peptides and neurotransmitters, (5) follicular development and corpus luteum function, and (6) function and regulation of genes involved in reproduction (Rick Barb, William Graves, and Tim Wilson).
Beef Cattle Nutrition has several major areas of current research: (1) the use of rotational grazing management of annual and perennial forage for beef cattle production, (2) supplemental by-pass protein feeds for creep feeding and stocker cattle, (3) the use of feed additives and growth stimulants in finishing cattle in dry lot, (4) the development of forage-beef systems emphasizing optimum rather than maximum production, and (5) nutritional programs for preconditioning weaned calves. Basic dietary (starch, protein and fiber interaction) and physiological factors that alter the partitioning of fermentative and enzymatic starch digestion and application of findings to evaluate gain and feed conversion of feedlot cattle. Digestibility, nitrogen utilization, protein degradation and energy utilization, as well as gain performance and feed-conversion of feedlot cattle. Forage quality determination using in vitro digestibility, chemical analyzes and forage dry matter (Gary M. Hill).
Current areas of Swine Nutrition and Environment research relate to identifying nutritional and pharmacological means of improving the efficiency and profitability of pork production while addressing the impact of odors and critical nutrients in the wastes produced. In the young pig, studies include: (1) improving neonatal survival, weaning weights and future growth through nutritional manipulation of the sow's diet during late gestation and lactation and, (2) reducing post-weaning lag. In the finishing hog, studies relate to the role of genetics, nutrition and repartitioning agents in the regulation of lipid deposition. These studies include growth trials and in vitro investigations using tissue or cell preparations to ascertain critical points of lipid metabolism regulation. Environmentally based studies relate to dietary changes and waste management techniques which could reduce odor production and levels of nutrients in wastes (Michael J. Azain, C. Robert Dove, and Acie C. Murry, Jr.).
Research in Dairy Cattle Nutrition includes: (1) forage evaluation in lactating cows using production and metabolism studies and chemical, physical, instrumental and in vitro analysis, (2) silage preservation techniques and in vivo evaluation studies, (3) using dietary or pharmacological methods to understand exocrine and motile processes of digestion and subsequent influence upon feed utilization, (4) understanding the partitioning of fermentative and hydrolytic nutrient digestion as a result of ration composition, environmental stress and feed additives, (5) efficiency of dietary protein and energy utilization in the lactating cow and replacement heifer, including studies of digestion, absorption, conversion to milk-protein and-fat, microbial protein synthesis, and amino acid transport and absorption (Mark A. Froetschel, and Lane O. Ely), (6) the use of bovine somatotropin to improve efficiency of lactation, (7) the effects of dietary electrolytes and electrolyte balance on productivity of lactating cows, (8) the use of fat to increase nutrient density during heat-stress (Joe W. West and John K. Bernard), and (9) mathematical modeling of animal production and of efficiency of production systems (Lane O. Ely).
Nutrition Research in Horses is currently directed toward: (1) acceptability of fresh forages adapted to the Southeast and their ability to support growth of young horses, (2) the effects of low and high endophyte (Acremonium coenophialum) infected tall fescue pastures on broodmare performance and foal growth, and (3) characterization of hindgut microflora and response to various diets (Gary L. Heusner).
Research in Applied Areas of Production is in progress with beef cattle, dairy cattle and swine and is associated with objectives already described in the previous sections. This is not a separate production specialty, but most projects have readily applied research for theses and dissertations in production.
Faculty Listed by Research Interests
| Aquaculture | Gary J. Burtle |
| G. Larry Newton | |
| Biotechnology | Clifton A. Baile |
| Roger G. Dean | |
| Steven L. Stice | |
| Breeding and Genetics | |
| J. Keith Bertrand | |
| Ignacy Misztal | |
| Meats and Muscle Biology | Susan K. Duckett |
| T. Dean Pringle | |
| Reproductive Physiology | William Graves |
| Steven L. Stice | |
| Tim Wilson | |
| Beef Nutrition | Gary M. Hill |
| Scott A. Martin | |
| Swine Nutrition | Michael J. Azain |
| Acie C. Murry, Jr. | |
| Dairy Nutrition | |
| John K. Bernard | |
| Lane O. Ely | |
| Mark A. Froetschel | |
| Joe W. West | |
| Equine Nutrition | Gary L. Heusner |