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Dr. Brian Crooker

Brian A. Crooker
Professor
Nutritional Physiology of Ruminants

Department of Animal Science
105B Haecker Hall
1364 Eckles Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108-6118
Telephone: 612-625-3185
Fax: 612-625-5789
Email: crook001@umn.edu

Education

  • Postdoctorate, Cornell University - Nutritional Physiology
  • Ph.D., University of Illinois - Dairy Nutrition
  • M.S., University of Maine - Animal Nutrition
  • B.S., University of Maine - Biochemistry

Research Interests

Regulation of nutrient use by food producing animals with a focus on lactation. Studies are designed to determine physiological, metabolic, and genetic factors that regulate and affect performance and efficiency of lactation. Effects of selective breeding, metabolic modifiers, and dietary modifications on lactational performance, body composition, endocrine profiles, and gene expression are determined. Holstein cows from a breeding project designed to produce superior (high producing, efficient) and inferior (low producing, less efficient) cows, which currently differ in milk yield per lactation by more than 4,000 kg, and contemporary cows are used in these studies. Current efforts with these cows and their calves are focused on the somatotropic axis (GH, IGF-I, and IGFBPs). We are also evaluating methods to successfully induce cows to lactate, that is to produce milk without calving.

Teaching Responsibilities

  • ANSC 1011: Domestic Animals & Society (guest lecturer)
  • ANSC 3511: Animal Growth & Development (guest lecturer)
  • ANSC 8134 - Ethical Conduct of Animal Research (lead instructor)

Outreach Programs

Developed program addressing safety, use, and economics of bovine somatotropin. Participate in efforts to address issues in animal welfare, biotechnology, and ethics.

Awards

National Milk Producers (R. M. Hoyt Memorial) Award for Outstanding Graduate Student in Dairy Science, 1985

Affiliated Centers/Organizations/Appointments

Minnesota Foundation for Responsible Animal Care

Professional Activities

  • Board of Directors, Minnesota Foundation for Responsible Animal Care
  • Member, American Dairy Science Association
  • Member, American Society of Animal Science
  • Member, Physiology and Endocrinology Committee (2009-present)
  • Member, International Insulin-like Growth Factor Research Society
  • Member, International Congress of Farm Animal Endocrinology

Publications (2005-2009)

- Refereed Articles -

Rhoads, M.L., R.P. Rhoads, M.J. VanBaale, R.J. Collier, S.R. Sanders, W.J. Weber, B.A. Crooker, and L.H. Baumgard. 2009. Effects of heat stress and plane of nutrition on lactating Holstein cows: I. Production, metabolism, and aspects of circulating somatotropin. J. Dairy Sci. 92:1986- 1997.

Annen, E.L., C.M. Stiening, B.A. Crooker, A.C. Fitzgerald, and R.J. Collier. 2008. Effect of continuous milking and prostaglandin E2 on milk production and mammary epithelial cell turnover, ultrastructure, and gene expression. J. Anim. Sci. 86:1132-1144.

Carriquiry, M., W.J. Weber, L.H. Baumgard, and B.A. Crooker. 2008. In vitro biohydrogenation of four sources of protected dietary fats. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 141:339-355.

Carriquiry, M., W.J. Weber, and B.A. Crooker. 2008. Administration of bST in early lactation: A meta-analysis of production responses by multiparous Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 91:2641–2652.

Weber, W.J., C.R. Wallace, L.B. Hansen, H. Chester-Jones, and B.A. Crooker. 2007. Effects of selection for milk yield on somatotropin, insulin-like growth factor-I and placental lactogen in Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 90:3314-3325.

Radcliff, R.P., B.L. McCormack, D.H. Keisler, B.A. Crooker, and M.C. Lucy. 2006. Partial feed restriction decreases growth hormone receptor 1A mRNA expression in postpartum dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 89(2):611-619.

Jiang, H., M.C. Lucy, B.A. Crooker, and W.E. Beal. 2005. Expression of growth hormone receptor 1A mRNA is decreased in dairy cows but not in beef cows at parturition. J. Dairy Sci. 88:1370-1377.

Kay, J.K., W.J. Weber, C.E. Moore, D. Bauman, L. Hansen, H. Chester-Jones, B.A. Crooker, and L.H. Baumgard. 2005. Effects of week of lactation and genetic selection for milk yield on milk fatty acid composition in Holstein dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 88:3886-3893.

Weber, W.J., L.H. Baumgard, G.W. Kazmer, S.A. Zinn, L.B. Hansen, H. Chester-Jones, and B.A. Crooker. 2005. Effects of selection for milk yield on growth hormone response to dose of growth hormone releasing factor in Holstein calves. J. Dairy Sci. 88:1723-1731.

- Invited Papers, Conference Proceedings, Research Reports -

Crooker, B.A., M. Carriquiry, and W.J. Weber. 2007. Energy balance of the periparturient dairy cow. Four-State Nutrition Conf., Dubuque, IA. June 12-14. pp. 1-12.

Crooker, B.A., M. Carriquiry, and W.J. Weber. 2006. Reproductive success in dairy cows: the linkage of milk yield, nutrition, and reproduction. 8th Intermountain Nutrition Conf. Salt Lake City, UT. Jan. 24-25. pp. 213-224.

Carriquiry, M. and B.A. Crooker. 2005. Reproductive success in dairy cows: the linkage of milk yield, nutrition, and reproduction. 66th Minnesota Nutrition Conference. St. Paul, MN. September 20-21. pp. 255-269.

- Abstracts -

Pérez-Clariget, R., C. López-Mazz, M. Regueiro, B.A. Crooker, and M. Carriquiry. 2008. Hyperglycaemia in day 9 of the estrous cycle did not increase ovulation rate in ewes but modified plasma IGF-I concentrations. P170. International Congress on Animal Reproduction. Budapest, Hungary. July 13-17.

Carriquiry, M., W.J. Weber, L.H. Baumgard, and B.A. Crooker. 2007. In vitro examination of rumen biohydrogenation (BH) of four dietary fats. Midwest ADSA, March 07.

Carriquiry, M., W.J. Weber, and B.A. Crooker. 2007. Dietary fat and bovine somatotropin (bST) for Holstein cows: Responses in early lactation. Midwest ADSA, March 07.

Carriquiry, M., W.J. Weber, S.C. Fahrenkrug, and B.A. Crooker. 2007. Hepatic gene expression in Holstein cows treated with bovine somatotropin (bST) and fed omega-3 fatty acids in early lactation. Midwest ADSA, March 07.

Crooker, B.A., W.J. Weber, S.C. Denham, and J.L. Vicini. 2007. Evaluation of an intraruminal pH probe. J. Dairy Sci. 90(Suppl. 1):562.

Rhoads, M.L., R.P. Rhoads, S.R. Sanders, S.H. Carroll, W.J. Weber, B.A. Crooker, R.J. Collier, M.J. VanBaale, and L.H. Baumgard. 2007. Effects of heat stress on production, lipid metabolism and somatotropin variables in lactating cows. J. Dairy Sci. 90(Suppl. 1):230.

Carriquiry, M., C.R. Dahlen, W.J. Weber, G.C. Lamb, and B.A. Crooker. 2006. Bovine somatotropin and dietary fat enriched with omega-3 fatty acids in dairy cows: III. Postpartum ovarian activity. J. Dairy Sci. 89(Suppl. 1):346.

Carriquiry, M., W.J. Weber, C.R. Dahlen, G.C. Lamb, and B.A. Crooker. 2006. Bovine
somatotropin and dietary fat enriched with omega-3 fatty acids in dairy cows: I. Lactation performance. J. Dairy Sci. 89(Suppl. 1):63.

Carriquiry, M., W.J. Weber, C.R. Dahlen, G.C. Lamb, S.R. Sanders, L.H. Baumgard, and B.A. Crooker. 2006. Bovine somatotropin and dietary fat enriched with omega-3 fatty acids in dairy cows: II. Milk fatty acid composition. J. Dairy Sci. 89(Suppl. 1):63.

Carriquiry, M., W.J. Weber, C.R. Dahlen, G.C. Lamb, and B.A. Crooker. 2005. Effects of bST and dietary fat in early lactation on lactational performance of Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 88(Suppl. 1):178.

Pollard, B.C., M.D. Estheimer, M.E. Dwyer, P.C. Gentry, W.J. Weber, E. Lemke, L.H. Baumgard, D.A. Henderson, B.A. Crooker, and R.J. Collier. 2005. The influence of parity, acclimatization to season, and recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) on diurnal patterns of prolactin and growth hormone in Holsteins exposed to heat stress. J. Dairy Sci. 88(Suppl. 1):121.

Wu, S.H., W.J. Weber, Y. Da, H. Chester-Jones, L.B. Hansen, Y. Boisclair, and B.A. Crooker. 2005. Leptin gene polymorphisms and selection for milk yield in Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 88(Suppl. 1):170.

- Producer Oriented Publications -

Crooker, B.A., M. Carriquiry, and W.J. Weber. 2007. Reproductive success in dairy cows: The linkage of milk yield, nutrition, and reproduction. Progressive Dairyman. June. http://www.progressivedairy.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=696
 

Earlier Publications


College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
  

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