AnSci Connection
The newsletter of the Department of Animal Science

April 2006

Notes from the Department Head | News & Announcements | Graduate Student Profile
Congratulations | Recent Grants | Animal Science Seminars | Calendar of Events

  
The influence of China on world economics, technology and global supply chain has been written about many times in the last few years. Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to Beijing, China to participate in a dairy conference and experience why China is a leader in today’s world economy.

Beijing is a rapidly growing and developing city of 18 million people. The 2008 summer Olympics will take place in Beijing. The city is busy preparing for the event and wants to show the world a modern and progressive China. And, they will. New construction is everywhere in Beijing and especially at the Olympic Park. In about 1 square mile, there were 13 super sized construction cranes working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week building stadiums and facilities for the Olympics. As I traveled across Beijing, new construction or remodeling of existing buildings or landmarks seemed to be occurring everywhere. I was told that China is currently consuming over half of the taconite or steel being produced in the world today. Throughout this country of 1.3 billion people, they are busy building, remodeling and preparing for the Olympics. People who will be involved in Olympic activities and tourism are now studying and learning English. Everywhere in Beijing, from building identifications to road signs to restaurant menus, the English spelling of the name was usually listed right under the Chinese spelling. Beijing is as modern and progressive as any city in the world.

The dairy industry in China is also rapidly growing. The government has made increasing milk production a priority. They want to increase milk product consumption per capita and increase the use of milk products in infant formulas. In the last 4 years, both milk production and the number of dairy cows in China have increased 250%. The average herd size is still small at 3 to 5 milk cows, but there are also herds of over 3,000 milk cows. A farm I visited had about 600 milk cows producing about 21,000 lb of milk per cow per year. Average milk production per cow in China is closer to 8,000 lb per year. Milk price was close to the U.S. price at about $13.00 per cwt.

Over 350 people attended the 3-day dairy conference. The audience included dairy producers, feed industry people, university professors and students. Some of the dairy producers traveled 2 days by train to attend the conference. The extension and industry seminars we routinely have opportunity to attend here are relatively uncommon in China. The Chinese are eager to learn all they can from international experts on how to improve milk production and milk quality on their farms. Some of the things Chinese dairy producers asked about were: feed additives, metabolic problems, fiber levels in diets, colostrum feeding to calves, acidosis, culling rates and why cows eat dirt. Half way around the world, the questions dairy producers ask don’t change.

The number one limitation to increasing milk production in China is the availability of ample quantities of quality forage. The typical forages fed to dairy cows now is corn stover silage (corn stocks with little or no grain) and poor quality grass hay. The Chinese are starting with lower quality forages then we have, but the challenge remains the same as Midwest dairying in that forage quality is essential for high milk production.

Could China emerge as the new world leader in dairy production? The answer is yes. They have a long way to go, but with science, technology and the dedication to work that the Chinese people demonstrate, they could be a serious player in the world dairy market in a few years if they choose to pursue it. The government’s commitment to increasing dairy production includes support for research, technology transfer, and student education as well as farm level benefits. Between 30 and 40 graduate students from 2 universities attended the conference. They were all studying various aspects of dairy production. The students were eager to learn and asked many questions in English so they could practice.

It is a long plane trip from here to China and back. Just enough time to read the book “The World Is Flat” by Thomas Friedman. If you haven’t read it, it is a book on China and India, and why and how these two countries are rapidly becoming the technology centers of the world and the global supply chain for goods and services. Based on what I saw and experienced on this trip to China, the book accurately describes the transformations that are occurring and why “made in China” now applies to the highest technology and science applications to children’s toys.
  

What's Happening in Growth Biology Research?

The Growth Biology Research Group is composed of Bill Dayton, Marcia Hathaway and Mike White. Research is focused in three major areas: 1) mechanisms by which myostatin affects muscle growth in pigs; 2) mechanism by which anabolic steroids enhance muscle growth in feedlot cattle; and 3) mechanisms by which feeding sub-therapeutic levels of antimicrobials enhance muscle growth in pigs.

Mechanisms by which myostatin affects muscle growth in pigs: Myostatin, which is predominantly expressed in developing and in adult skeletal muscle, is an important negative regulator of muscle proliferation and differentiation. Naturally occurring mutations that cause production of inactive myostatin result in a condition called double muscling in which muscle mass is greatly increased. Additionally, myostatin-null mice have significantly increased muscle mass due to increased muscle fiber number and size. Consequently, understanding myostatin’s mechanism of action is of great importance to our ultimate understanding of biological regulation of muscle growth and development in meat producing animals. Myostatin treatment of cultured porcine embryonic muscle cells (PEMC) inhibits proliferation and differentiation and causes increased production of insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-3 and IGFBP-5 mRNA and protein. Utilizing antibodies or other methods to inactivate or interfere with the production of IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 in myostatin treated PEMC cultures results in a 90% decrease in the ability of myostatin to suppress muscle cell proliferation. Thus, it appears that IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 play an essential role in the mechanism of action of myostatin. We are currently attempting to define the role of IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 in the mechanism of action of myostatin. Results of these studies will provide significant new information about the role of IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 in mediating the negative effects of myostatin on growth of porcine muscle and could ultimately lead to the development of targeted strategies to increase rate and efficiency of muscle growth in meat-producing animals.

Mechanisms by which anabolic steroids enhance muscle growth in feedlot cattle: It is well established that anabolic-steroid-treatment of yearling steers significantly enhances muscle growth. Despite general agreement on the effectiveness of anabolic steroids, there has been no consensus as to the biological mechanism(s) responsible for the anabolic effects of either estrogenic or androgenic steroids. Recently, we have begun to define a potential mechanism for anabolic steroid-stimulated muscle growth in steers. We have observed increased circulating and muscle tissue levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in yearling steers implanted 40 d with a combined trenbolone acetate (TBA) and estradiol (E2) implant compared with non-implanted steers. IGF-I stimulates both proliferation and differentiation of myogenic cells and increased levels could be responsible for the enhanced muscle growth observed in TBA/E2 implanted steers. We also have observed a greater number of actively proliferating satellite cells in the semimembranosus muscles of implanted steers than from the corresponding muscles of control steers. Because it is well established that postnatal muscle growth is dependent on satellite cell proliferation and incorporation of their nuclei into existing muscle fibers, our data suggests that an increase in the number of actively proliferating muscle satellite cells may be involved in anabolic-steroid-induced muscle growth. Combining animal studies with bovine muscle cell culture experiments, we are attempting to establish that steroid-induced muscle growth in beef cattle results from a direct effect of steroids on muscle that results in increased local production of muscle IGF causing enhanced satellite cell activity and enhanced muscle growth. Additionally, we are attempting to determine if there may be additional muscle growth mechanisms working in conjunction with the direct steroid-induced elevation of muscle IGF and increases in proliferating satellite cells. These studies will increase our understanding of the mechanism of anabolic-steroid-induced muscle growth in an economically important species and will provide information about the interaction of steroids and the IGF system in steroid-induced muscle growth. This will increase our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying muscle growth, which will lay the foundation for the development of future tools and methods to enhance muscle growth in meat animals.

Mechanisms by which feeding sub-therapeutic levels of antimicrobials enhance muscle growth in pigs: Inclusion of sub-therapeutic levels of antimicrobials in pig diets has been routinely used to enhance growth rate and efficiency for over 50 years. However, the mechanism by which sub-therapeutic antimicrobials enhance growth has never been elucidated. With the increasing concern about the development of resistant bacteria in animals fed sub-therapeutic levels of antimicrobials and the resultant likelihood that antimicrobials will be banned as animal feed additives, there has been renewed interest in identifying viable alternatives. We believe that the best chance for identifying alternatives that do not carry the same concerns about the development of resistant bacteria is to determine the mechanism by which sub-therapeutic antimicrobials enhance growth. Our data, obtained using a combined in vivo and in vitro experimental protocol involving antimicrobial supplemented pigs and non-supplemented pigs (control) maintained in a controlled environment, show that circulating IGF-I levels are significantly higher (25%) in antimicrobial-fed pigs than in controls. Moreover, there is a positive correlation between circulating IGF-I levels and growth in control and antimicrobial-fed pigs. We also have shown that the increase in circulating IGF-I level is not simply a direct result of an increase in voluntary feed intake. Additionally, compared to sera obtained from pigs fed control diets, the sera obtained from pigs fed antimicrobials supports increased proliferation and protein synthesis and decreased protein degradation in muscle cell cultures. It has been hypothesized that sub-therapeutic levels of antimicrobials enhance growth by reducing the impact of undesirable microbial populations in the GI tract, Although the exact nature of this undesirable impact is not known, the preceding findings suggest that decreased levels of IGF-I may be involved. Our current research in this area combines muscle cell culture and whole animal studies to identify the biological mechanism by which antimicrobials enhance muscle growth. We believe the results of these studies will lead to identification of viable alternatives to antimicrobials as growth promotants for swine.
  

Update on CFANS Dean Search

The search committee for a permanent dean of the new College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) has been charged with securing an effective and distinguished leader for the new college by July 1, 2006. They have finalized the position description; the official posting may be accessed at http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/employment/openings/job135196.html.

The committee encourages all members of the CFANS community to actively participate in the search by nominating candidates with a demonstrated ability, or high potential, to immediately succeed in this leadership position. Your direct involvement in the nomination process will help the search committee to develop a rich list of exemplary candidates. The committee hopes to provide 3-5 finalist candidates for review and consideration in June.

Formal nominations and confidential suggestions may be forwarded to the committee via Leanne Wirkkula, staff to the committee, at wirkkula@umn.edu or 612-625-0563. Information on the search is available at http://www.newcollege.umn.edu/National_Dean_Search.html.

Please direct comments and concerns specific to the search process to either of the committee co-chairs: Mary Nichols (612-625-0238, mnichols@cce.umn.edu) or Jeff Klausner (612-524-9227, klaus001@umn.edu).
  

Chester-Jones is Recognized by PDHGA

Dr. Hugh Chester-Jones was recognized for his distinguished service over the past 8 years to the Professional Dairy Heifer Growers Association (PDHGA) during the 10th Anniversary National Calf and Heifer Conference and Tour held in Visalia, CA, March 22-24, 2006.

Hugh was the fourth recipient of the Cady Award named after Roger Cady, a founding member of PDGHA and the first recipient of the award. The award is given every 2 or 3 years.

Chester-Jones co-chaired the 2006 conference with Bob James from Virginia Tech. The conference had 585 participants representing most of the U.S. states and other countries including Canada, South Africa, Spain and Saudi Arabia.
  

New Fellowship in Reproductive Physiology

A new fellowship to support reproductive physiology has been established by Bo and Margareta Crabo, Cave Creek, AZ, and IMV International Corp., Maple Grove, MN. Professor Emeritus Bo Crabo initiated funds for this fellowship with a generous matching program from IMV International Corp. and the U of M.

Funds will be allowed to accrue for the fellowship to begin in 2010 to support graduate research in reproductive physiology (with an emphasis on horses and swine) at the U of M.

Many of the details are still in the works. Questions may be directed to Doug Foster at 612-624-4277 or foste001@umn.edu.
  

Shurson Presents DDGS Research in China

Dr. Jerry Shurson was invited by the U.S. Grains Council to present seminars at four different Chinese Feed Industry Conferences in Qingdao, Shanghai and Guangzhou on nutritional characteristics and feeding value of U.S. distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in swine diets.

The Beijing office of the USGC also organized meetings with several of the major feed companies in SE China where Shurson discussed research results from studies he has conducted over the past several years at the U of M and how DDGS fits into various swine diet formulations. These seminars and meetings generated a lot of interest and it is expected that shipments of U.S. DDGS to some of these feed manufacturers will begin soon.

Many of the companies there had experience with using Chinese DDGS but were not aware of the nutritional differences between Chinese and U.S. DDGS. The most common complaints about using Chinese DDGS were high variability of nutrient content (especially fat) among sources and high levels of mycotoxins. There was a great deal of interest and desire to purchase U.S. DDGS due to its higher quality, lower variability in nutrient content, high amino acid digestibility, and lower risk of mycotoxins. Currently, the corn price is higher than DDGS price in China, creating a favorable pricing situation for Chinese companies to import U.S. DDGS.

Shurson’s travels in China took place in March from the 18th to the 28th.
  

U of M Grad Receives 2006 Neal Award
Source: Paul Welsh, food360º, a Division of Vance Publishing Corp.

Marlys Miller, editor of Pork magazine and a U of M graduate, was honored with a Neal Award at the 52nd Annual Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Awards for editorial achievement luncheon at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. She was recognized for her work on porkmag.com, one of Vance Publishing Corp.’s food360º division properties.

Porkmag.com is the web arm of Pork magazine, a publication started in 1981 to provide business-focused information for the U.S. pork production industry. During that 25-year period, Pork editors have received ten Neal Awards and have been finalists an additional five times in the annual competition presented by American Business Media. Ms. Miller, who holds a B.S. degree in agricultural journalism from the U of M, has now personally received seven Neal Awards and four Certificates of Merit.

The judging panel, chaired by Marshall Loeb, columnist, MarketWatch from Dow Jones, selected 32 Neal Award winners out of 101 finalists from an original 1,250 entries. The Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Awards have been called “the Pulitzer Prize of the business press.”

Food360º was formed in January of 2005 by combining three Vance divisions (Produce, Crops and Livestock) to bring a full-chain view to the food industry from production agriculture through grocery retailers and food service establishments. Food360º is the largest division of Vance Publishing, which is based in Lincolnshire, IL.

Since its founding in 1937, Vance Publishing Corp. has been a recognized leader in business information and communications. Vance serves select business-to-business markets with 24 magazines, a host of newsletters, web offerings, and data and custom media products.

Founded in 1906, American Business Media is the industry association for global information providers that produce magazines, newsletters, web sites, trade shows and other media, reaching an audience of more than 90 million professionals, and generating over $19 billion in advertising revenues in 2005. 
  

Snobrich Takes 1st Place

Robyn Schnobrich won first place in the ASAS Undergraduate Research Paper Competition at the 2006 ASAS/ADSA Midwestern Meeting, March 20-22 in Des Moines, IA. The paper is entitled Effect of egg protein antibody on performance of dairy calves.

Robyn conducted her research at the Southern ROC during her summer internship. Her research was supported by Hubbard Feeds, who are members of the research partnership team. Robyn's project was supervised by Drs. Jim Linn and Hugh Chester-Jones, and David Ziegler. Dr. Les Hansen is her undergraduate advisor.

Robyn is one of the student managers of the Gopher Dairy Bar at the Minnesota State Fair (last year and this year), a member of the Gopher Dairy Club, and secretary of Block & Bridle.
  

U of M Team Gets Gold

The North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge took place March 31 and April 1, 2006 in Twin Falls, ID. The event was hosted by the University of Idaho and Washington State University and supported financially by industry sponsors.

This year, the U of M team received additional financial support from Minnesota Milk Producers Association, Minnesota Select Sires, Nelson Consultants, and Land O’Lakes. The team and their coach are very thankful for this support.

The Dairy Challenge is an innovative 2-day competition for students representing dairy science programs at North American universities. It enables students to apply theory and learning to a real-world dairy, while working as part of a 4-person team. The teams evaluate a commercial dairy operation and then make management recommendations to a panel of judges. After visiting the dairy in the morning, they have only one afternoon to develop their farm analysis and prepare a PowerPoint presentation with their recommendations.

The following day, the teams present their recommendations to a panel of judges and field questions from the judges. Award levels are Platinum, Gold, and Silver (in that order).

Twenty-seven teams representing universities from coast to coast and Canada competed this year. The team from Minnesota consisted of Animal Science students Megan Becker, Brent Czech, Andrew Golberg and Jon Schefers. Dr. Marcia Endres coached the team. The team worked very well together. Team members described the contest as a great learning experience that helped them improve their dairy diagnostic skills while working in a team-based environment. They came back home with a Gold Award in a very competitive division of the contest.

Congratulations team!
  

U of M Participates in National Collegiate Poultry Judging Contest

For the first time in many years, the U of M had a team participating in the National Collegiate Poultry Judging Contest in Baton Rouge, LA. It was a learning experience for both the students and coach!

Of the 11 teams participating, the U of M team placed 11th. In the area of poultry judging, there are three different types of National contests — 4-H, FFA and Collegiate. Unfortunately, all three contests are different in their approaches, and experience with a particular contest is essential to doing well. The team now has more experience and plans to do better next year.

The team thanks the Department of Animal Science, the Gopher Poultry Science Club, and the Broiler & Egg Association of Minnesota (BEAM) for helping with travel costs.

Three Minnesota Students Receive Ranelius Scholarship
Source: Lara Durben, MTGA, Buffalo, MN

This year, the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association (MTGA) awarded Ranelius Scholarships to three worthy students: Nicole Lorenz, a senior at Little Falls High School; Blake Van Denburgh, a sophomore at the U of M; and Kelsey Campbell, also a sophomore at the U of M.

All three students were honored at the MTGA’s annual meeting, March 22, 2006, in St. Paul.

Lorenz of Little Falls, MN is active in 4-H, band, hockey, FFA and is on the A honor roll. She was raised on a dairy, beef and crop farm, and since 7th grade she has worked on a neighbor’s turkey farm, often working before and after school. She plans to further her education in college next year and study natural resources/environmental science.

Van Denburgh and Campbell are both Animal Science majors at the U of M with emphasis in poultry science. Both are members of the Poultry Science Club; have attended the International Poultry Exposition in Atlanta; are Ag Ambassadors for the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences; and will participate in the Collegiate Poultry Judging competition in Baton Rouge, LA.

Campbell hails from Lindstrom, MN. She is involved in Campus Crusade for Christ and is employed at the U’s Poultry Teaching and Research Facility assisting Dr. Jacquie Jacob with organic poultry diets.

Van Denburgh is a sophomore from Oak Grove, MN. He is on the board for the National 4-H Poultry & Egg Conference, and last year was voted “Most Dedicated to the Poultry Industry" at the 2005 Midwest Poultry Consortium.

The Ranelius Scholarship is a competitive award program that seeks to give funds annually to high school senior(s), college or university student(s) from Minnesota who are pursuing an interest that relates in some way to the turkey industry. For information about the 2007 scholarship application process, please contact Lara Durben at 763/682-2171 or lara@minnesotaturkey.com. Details are also available at http://www.MinnesotaTurkey.com. Applications are due by February 1, 2007.

Above, left: Ranelius Scholarship recipient Kelsey Campbell of Lindstrom, MN with MTGA Executive Director Steve Olson. Above, right: Ranelius Scholarship recipient Blake Van Denburgh of Oak Grove, MN with MTGA Executive Director Steve Olson.
 

Plan for On-campus Stadium Advances

President Robert Bruininks announced in late March a new plan to fund an on-campus football stadium, which the University has been working on with a bipartisan group of legislators. This plan has earned the support of the University’s Board of Regents, the Minnesota Student Association, and the Faculty Consultative Committee, as well as the two key legislative committees.

The Board of Regents met on March 27th approving the plan 11-1. Committees in both the Minnesota House and Senate approved the idea later that same week.

As a part of this plan, the state would acquire nearly 3,000 acres of UMore Park property near Rosemount, which would become permanently protected by the state for public use and give the U permanent rights to use the land for research, education and outreach. The U would receive $9.4 million per year over 25 years to cover U-issued bonds for $124 million, or one-half of the estimated stadium cost.

President Bruininks first called the deal a win-win for the University and the state. He later amended that description to multiple wins.

Among the positives:

• The land is protected and the U retains rights to conduct research there.
• The legislature will look more favorably upon voting for a stadium if the state gets something in return.
• The proposed student fee for the stadium would be cut in half, from $50 per semester to $25.
• Private fundraising effort will get a boost, as the U remains committed to raising half the $248 million price tag from non-state sources.
• The stadium proposal can stay on schedule for a fall 2009 opening.

The U has already received $1 million from the U of M Alumni Association, the money it has been using to conduct reviews and assessments of the land. And the U has an agreement with TCF Bank of $35 million for naming rights. Best Buy Corporation has also pledged to contribute $2.5 million.

The stadium would be located just east of Williams and Mariucci Arenas, north east of the site of the old Memorial Stadium. It would seat 50,000 but be expandable up to a capacity of 80,000.
  

Keep in Touch With Conlin

Several weeks ago, Dr. Joe Conlin, Animal Science Professor Emeritus, moved back to the farm where he spent his early years growing up, milking cows, making hay — all that went with living and working on a dairy farm. It's also the place his great grandfather settled as an immigrant in 1848. The farm is less than a mile south of the city limits of Columbus, WI, about 25 miles N.E. of Madison.

Joe sent word to "Stop by for a visit if you are ever in the area. I don't want to lose touch with my many Minnesota friends and colleagues. I can still be reached with my old e-mail address, conli002@umn.edu. My new address and phone numbers are listed below. Keep in touch."

New Publication Profiles Options for Upper Midwest Dairy Producers
Source: Meg Moynihan, MDA, and Beth Nelson, MISA, St. Paul, MN

Beginning dairy farmers as well as seasoned producers have a new resource available. Dairy Your Way is a free, 100-page book that profiles a variety of dairy housing and production systems suitable for the Upper Midwest.

Producers, university researchers, extension educators and industry experts from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan contributed to the book. Each chapter profiles a different aspect of dairy production and includes profiles of farmers from all three states who are all dairy farming successfully in different ways.

"Minnesota is a great state for all kinds of dairy farms," said Dairy Your Way editor Meg Moynihan, an agricultural specialist at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). "We wrote this book so people interested in dairying would have a straightforward resource to help them choose among the many available options to develop a system that best fits their farm, goals, and resources."

Dairy Your Way describes the variety of management alternatives available to today's dairy producers, including tie stall setups, free stall barns, and transitional housing options. The book also discusses confinement, grazing and organic management systems as well as custom heifer-raising and value-added production. There is also a chapter dedicated to milking center design and retrofitting options. For farmers at the beginning or the end of their careers, one chapter is devoted to entry and exit strategies.

Print copies of Dairy Your Way are available free of charge from the MDA by calling the MDA at 651-201-6012 or Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) at 800-909-6472. The publication was produced using funds from the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. It is published by the MDA in collaboration with MISA at the U of M, the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota, the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems at the University of Wisconsin, and the Michigan Agricultural Stewardship Association. U of M Dairy Specialist Dennis Johnson served as content specialist for the book.

There are two other titles in the "Your Way" series. Poultry Your Way is available by calling the MDA. Hogs Your Way is available for purchase from the U of M Extension Distribution Center at 800-876-8636 or http://www.extension.umn.edu (type "Hogs Your Way" into the search box). All three books are available on-line at http://www.misa.umn.edu.
  

New Book About MN Weather

Minnesota Weather Almanac, a new book by Dr. Mark Seeley, Extension Climatologist/Meteorologist, Department of Soil, Water and Climate, details everything you've always wanted to know about Minnesota's often baffling weather. It's a complete guide to our Minnesota weather including historical details, fun facts and scientific lessons. Using charts, maps and a reader-friendly text, Seeley presents Minnesota's history in terms of high temperatures, significant rainfall, and devastating blizzards. Minnesota Weather Almanac defines the character of our seasons and includes biographies of well-known figures in the history of Minnesota's weather.

A schedule of presentations and signings may be found on-line at http://www.soils.umn.edu/book%20signing%20schedule.pdf.
  

Walk-in Career Counseling Available

Walk-in career consultations for Wave 1 employees are available every Monday from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon through the end of June in Room 120 Biosystems and Ag Engineering on the St. Paul Campus and in Room 216 Donhowe on the Minneapolis Campus.

Career counselors from the Employee Career Enrichment Program are there to assist employees in career planning, reviewing resumes, preparing for interviews, assessing interests, and enrollment in the University Talent Connection (UTC) program, which is a resource established to help employees in the six colleges affected by Wave 1 of the strategic positioning process to finds job openings within the U system.

UTC, utilizing the services of the Employee Career Enrichment Program, is designed to help interested, talented staff connect, early in the process, to University employment opportunities.

Questions about the walk-in career service should be directed to Rosie Barry at 612-626-1004 or barry023@umn.edu.
  

Conference Addresses Nature Deficit

Today's children are losing touch with nature. It is estimated that approximately 70% of American mothers frequently played outside as children. Today, only 31% of children play outside. Is this loss of outdoor play to blame when it comes to childhood obesity on the rise or attention deficit disorder?

Find out more as the U of M Landscape Arboretum hosts the 9th Annual "Growing to Learn" Conference on Earth Day, April 22nd, 2006, with guest speaker and well-known Author Richard Louv.

Learn more about the conference on-line at: http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/education/adult/publicpolicy.htm. 
  

Forum to Focus on Food Safety

The colloquium on Ethical Guidelines for External Support of University Initiatives in Food Safety and Food System Protection, May 11-12, 2006, will serve as a forum for U of M researchers, investigators at other public and private research universities and leading companies, trade associations and agencies to explore the ethical issues associated with external funding for university activities.

This forum will focus on food safety and food system protection with the objective of generating a guidance document for use by U of M, and other university food safety and food system protection centers and related units in soliciting and evaluating potential partnerships and external support.

The event is sponsored by the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety; the National Center for Food Protection and Defense; and the Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment and the Life Sciences.

For more information and registration, please see: http://www.cvm.umn.edu/cahfs/.
  

Day on the Farm for Charity

Sustainable agriculture is a buzzword, but what does it really mean? Find out by spending time on an organic farm on Saturday, June 10th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon.

Learn what goes into your food and how you can connect with locally available resources. Find out what you can do in your own home to promote renewable resources such as composting, gardening, and supporting businesses and suppliers that provide earth-friendly practices. Learn how to plant trees and maintain them – which can save resources including energy costs. Watch demonstrations of artisan bread baking and learn about the role of animals on the farm. Take a look at Native American plantings, and the impact of sustainable practices on water quality.

You'll see how technology is playing a role in agriculture. Participate in a scavenger hunt with GPS/GIS technology courtesy of UND Aerospace. See the newest technology in on-farm computers and look at how computers (NASA weather station) take some of the guesswork out of weather conditions.

Purchase your lunch from 4-Hers at the farm and experience the flavor and fun of eating outside.

Day on the Farm for Charity will be held at the Lee Thomas Organic Farm, 12506 20th Street N., Moorhead, MN. Expect this to be a fun-filled day of learning, playing and door prizes. The cost of $35.00 per family goes directly to nonprofits.

Day on the Farm for Charity is sponsored by Country Choice Organic; Clay Soil and Water Conservation District; Lee Thomas Farm; Minnesota Department of Agriculture; John Deere; UND Aerospace; Clay County Extension; and The Gifted Learning Project Nonprofit.

For additional information, contact Moorhead Community Education at 218-284-3400.
  

Organic Livestock Production Conference Coming in August

Organic livestock production is growing rapidly throughout the world, and sales are anticipated to increase dramatically in the coming years. Although organic livestock production has made significant advances over the last several decades, navigating complex regulatory frameworks and dealing with challenges facing the sector such as securing high levels of health and welfare in organic livestock systems needs to be addressed on an international level. In addition, the organic movement needs to take advantage of and share the vast knowledge about organic livestock management practices that has been accumulated, from feed supply to market management.

The 1st IFOAM International Conference on Animals in Organic Production will be held August 23-25, 2006, at the Continuing Education and Conference Center on the U of M St. Paul Campus.

The conference will focus on important issues concerning organic livestock and animal husbandry, concentrating on health and food safety in organic livestock production systems, marketing trends, innovation in organic livestock production systems, and livestock breeding strategies. Key figures from around the world will present the diversity of organic livestock systems, including opportunities and challenges on the horizon.

Main objectives of the conference are to identify the best practices in organic livestock production and marketing, advance animal health and welfare in organic production systems, and facilitate trade in organic livestock products.

The conference is for livestock producers, processors, retailers and traders, as well as developers of standards and certification systems for organic livestock, governmental or intergovernmental organizations involved in the sector, researchers, consultants, veterinarians, animal nutritionists, and other service providers.

For further information about the conference, including opportunities for sponsorship, contact Neil Sorensen, Manager, Communications and Events, at n.sorensen@ifoam.org.
  

State Fair Job Opportunities

The Minnesota Turkey Research & Promotion Council, and the Broiler & Egg Association of Minnesota would like to hire qualified college students who are studying toward a Food Science / Nutrition / Ag-related degree. Students will be hired to staff two booths during the upcoming 2006 Minnesota State Fair, which runs August 24-September 4, 2006. The booths will be located next to one another in the Empire Commons Building.

The primary responsibility is to positively promote and represent Minnesota’s turkey industry to fair attendees. Specific questions may be related the nutritional benefits, preparation and production of turkey and/or egg products, food safety, etc. The work hours are 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

These part-time positions offer a salary of $10.00 per hour, paid entry to fairgrounds when working, and a ticket for a free meal at Turkey To Go restaurant per shift.

For more information about these opportunities or to apply, contact Theresa Neddermeyer at 763-682-2717 or theresa@minnesotaturkey.com by June 19, 2006.
  

Chicken Recipe Could Get You $100,000

Chicken is the only required ingredient for recipe entries in the 47th National Chicken Cooking Contest, whether prepared whole, in parts or in any combination of parts. It can be fresh (raw) chicken; marinated raw chicken; pre-cooked chicken, such as rotisserie; or ground chicken (sorry, no grilling recipes). All recipes must be original, make four to eight servings and must be cooked twice in a 3-hour time period. Judging will be based on taste, appearance, simplicity and appeal.

The grand prize is $100,000.

You may enter on-line at http://www.eatchicken.com/cooking_contest/entry_form.cfm or enter by mail using the printable entry form; send it to National Chicken Cooking Contest, PO Box 27997, Washington, DC 20038-7997, or fax it to 202-293-4005. Enter as many times as you like, but each entry must be made separately.

The entry deadline is October 15, 2006.

One finalist from each state and the District of Columbia will be selected to participate in the National Cookoff in May 2007, in Birmingham, AL. Each finalist receives an expense-paid trip to the National Cookoff and a chance to compete for the $100,000 grand prize and $18,000 in runner-up prizes.

For more information or to enter on-line, visit: http://www.eatchicken.com.
  

Amy Hazel

Amy Hazel is from Lanesboro, MN, located in the SE corner of the state. She grew up on a 200-cow registered Holstein operation. Her family also grows 700 acres of corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. Her parents are Brian and Judy Hazel. Amy completed her undergraduate degree in December at the U of M, earning a B.S. in Animal Science with a dairy production emphasis.

Now in her first semester of graduate school, Amy is studying applied dairy cattle breeding under Drs. Les Hansen and Tony Seykora. She is looking forward to working on dairy crossbreeding and its effects on health, production, and profitability. She also plans to work on the body size trial at Crookston. Another area of interest is improving health traits in dairy cattle.

After completing her Master’s degree, Amy plans to work for an AI organization or the USDA’s Animal Improvement Programs Lab, but would also like to stay involved in the dairy industry working directly with producers on the farm level.

In her spare time, Amy enjoys showing cattle, playing piano, singing, gardening, taking walks with her dogs, and working on the farm.
  

Crystal Lehnertz, our Student Office Assistant, was awarded a scholarship from the Department of Applied Economics. Crystal is a junior majoring in agricultural and food business management with an emphasis in finances and a minor in environmental horticulture.

Mary Raeth-Knight successfully defended her M.S. thesis on March 30, 2006. The title of her thesis: Effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Propionibacterium freudenreichii on Performance, Diet Digestibility and Rumen Characteristics of Holstein Dairy Cows.

Jennifer Welsh will join our administrative staff on April 24, 2006, as our Student Personnel Coordinator. Jennifer has been working at the U for the past 10 years and is currently with the Department of Family Social Science where she provides graduate and undergraduate student support and administrative support.
  

Marcia Endres, PI: $6,000 from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Title: Composting Bedded Pack Barns for Dairy Cows. Period 04/03/06-04/02/07.

Cliff Lamb, PI: $175,000 from the Blandin Foundation. Title: Development of IVF Laboratory at the NCROC Reproduction Biotechnology Center - Grand Rapids. Period: 04/01/06-03/31/09.
  

Department of Animal Science seminars are held September through May on Mondays at 3:00 p.m. in Room 365 Haecker Hall. Everyone is welcome. Please join us.

May 2006

5- Last Day of Instruction (Spring Semester)

6- The Raptor Center's Spring Raptor Release, Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Contact: Jill Determan at 612-624-4836.

7- COAFES Commencement Ceremony, 2:00 p.m. at Northrop Auditorium, U of M Minneapolis Campus.

8-13- Final Exams

11-12- Ethical Guidelines for External Support of University Initiatives in Food Safety and Food System Protection, U of M. Contact: Frank Liu, 612-625-8561.

16-18- Ag Awareness, Livestock Pavilion, U of M St. Paul Campus. Contact: Beka Gill 612-624-3073.

16-18- Minnesota Dairy Health Conference, U of M St. Paul Campus. Contact: Veterinary Continuing Education, 800-380-8636.

18-19- Distillers Grains Symposium, Louisville, KY. Contact: Michelle Harper, 800-759-3448.

29- Memorial Day Holiday - The U is Closed

June 2006

8-10- Gopher Dairy Camp, U of M St. Paul Campus. Contact: Brad Heins 612-625-9294.

10 - Day on the Farm for Charity, Lee Thomas Organic Farm, 12506 20th Street N., Moorhead, MN. Contact: Moorhead Community Education, 218-284-3400.

12- Summer Session Begins

14 & 15- 4-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference, Grand River Center, Dubuque, IA. Contact: Wisconsin Agri-Service Association 608-223-1111.

July 2006

4- Independence Day Holiday - The U is Closed

9-13- ADSA/ASAS Joint Annual Meeting, Minneapolis Convention Center.

August 2006

4- Summer Session Ends

17- UMore Park Open House, Rosemount. Contact: UMore Park Administrative Office and Conference Center, 651-423-2455.

23-25- 1st IFOAM International Conference on Animals in Organic Production, Continuing Education Center, U of M, St. Paul, MN. Contact: Neil Sorensen at n.sorensen@ifoam.org.

24-Sep 4- Minnesota State Fair, Fairgrounds, St. Paul.

September 2006

4- Last Day of Minnesota State Fair, Fairgrounds, St. Paul.

4- Labor Day Holiday - The U is Closed

5- Classes Begin (Fall Semester)

13-15- 60th Annual NAAB Annual Convention and Biennial Technical Conference, Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Milwaukee, WI. Contact: NAAB, 573-445-4406.

14- 5th Annual U of M Open House, Southern Research & Outreach Center, Waseca. Phone: 507-835-3620.

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