AnSci Connection
The newsletter of the Department of Animal Science

March 2009

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

This week is spring break at the University. Some students are leaving for warmer sunnier places, some are going home, and others are working at jobs and enjoying a break from classes and course work. For some students and many faculty, spring break is not a week off. The beginning of the week is the Midwest Animal and Dairy Science meeting in Des Moines, Iowa. At this meeting, we will have several graduate students and faculty presenting results from their research studies along with a team of undergraduate students participating in the Academic Quadrathlon competition. We also have several faculty serving on program and other committees associated with the meeting. Dr. Hugh Chester-Jones will be installed as President of the Midwest Branch of the American Dairy Science Association. 

Closer to home this week will be the Midwest Poultry Federation Convention at the River Centre in St. Paul on Wednesday and Thursday, March 18 and 19. This convention is highlighted by a large trade show that brings together people from all segments of the poultry industry — egg layer, broiler, turkey, and organic/specialty poultry production. The Minnesota Turkey Growers will have their annual meeting on Wednesday. Our poultry faculty and staff will be attending the annual meeting and many of the other events at this convention.

On Thursday, March 19, the Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association will have their annual meeting on the St. Paul Campus. As part of the meeting, they will honor three people who have contributed greatly to the livestock industry in Minnesota. Each will be recognized with a portrait that will be displayed in the Livestock Hall of Fame in Haecker Hall.

I bring these events and activities to your attention to show there are many exciting things happening even under our current difficult economic times. Everyone is experiencing the pressure and stress of the recession. Budgets and incomes are declining whether it is at a company, the university, or a livestock operation. However, it is important that we participate in animal agriculture events like the ones above. Being involved, attending educational events, and socializing will help us get through this period and will likely provide good ideas for forthcoming better economic times.
 

Nelson and Pullen Work on Project in the Caribbean

The Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Public Health of the island country of Grenada (formerly known as Spice Isle) invited Meat Lab Supervisor Pete Nelson and former U of M Professor Mike Pullen to visit their Caribbean island to work on a project to develop a meat inspection plan. Pete and Mike were also asked to prepare a plan of instruction for inspection personnel, facility managers and butchers who would process meat, and the vendors who would then sell the meat.

After the first few project meetings, it was determined that assistance was also needed to design a new facility and the equipment for the facility, as well as devising a plan for management of operations, maintenance and repair, and debt retirement. The new facility will be used for the processing of beef, hogs, sheep, and goats. The newly elected Prime Minister of the country is committed to this project, which is expected to take 1-1/2 to 2 years, and a loan has been secured from the Caribbean Bank to fund the project and all training.

This recent visit and the upcoming projects are coordinated through Saint Georges University who provide housing and meals and act as the fiscal agent.

While Pete and Mike were in Grenada from February 22 through March 2, they went to the beach only twice for a total of 2 hours. They did, however, have time to enjoy some great dining and take in the awesome views.
  

Seykora Impressed with Ross U's School of Vet Med

Dr. Tony Seykora was among 16 undergraduate advisors from schools across the U.S. who were invited to tour Ross University's School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts from February 8 to 11. St. Kitts is an island nation of about 26,000 people. Their major industries are tourism and the veterinary school. Currently, there are seven U of M animal science alumni attending the school.

Says Seykora, "Before the trip, I had a misconception that a professional degree from a Caribbean school would be somewhat inferior to a degree from a U.S. university. I have to say that I was very impressed with Ross University's' faculty, facilities, and overall program. Ross has more graduates practicing veterinary medicine in the U.S. than any other veterinary school. It is definitely a veterinary school that more of our undergraduates should consider."
    

Professor Hansen Helps Normandy Breed of Dairy Cattle Focus International Activity

Dr. Les Hansen traveled to Paris and northwestern regions of France during the week of February 25 to March 4 to work with leaders of the Normandy breed of dairy cattle to strategically position the breed internationally. The Normandy breed is included in crossbreeding research at the West Central Research and Outreach Center at Morris.

While in Paris, Dr. Hansen also served as judge of the Normandy breed at the Paris Agricultural Exposition. He then moved on to the Brittany and Normandy regions of France to visit dairy herds, to tour a leading cheese production facility, and to visit the national research center for dairy cattle in Normandy. This was Dr. Hansen's fourth trip to France in recent years to work with the Normandy and Montbeliarde breeds of dairy cattle.
    

25 Years of Gopher Dairy Club Celebrated at Recognition Banquet

The February 15th annual recognition banquet of the Gopher Dairy Club was extra special for three reasons — it celebrated the 25th anniversary of the club's banquet; it was held at a new off-campus location; and it featured a new alumnus award. An attendance of 185 students, parents, and club boosters gathered at the Gateway Hotel, northwest of the St. Paul Campus for the celebration. Club President Jamie Seitzer served as emcee of the event, and welcoming remarks were provided by Department Head Jim Linn, Associate Dean Jay Bell, and Princess Kay of the Milky Way Kristy Mussman (a GDC member).

A new award — the Golden Graduate Award — was unveiled at the 25th annual banquet. The award will be presented annually to an outstanding alumnus of the U of M who has had major impact on the dairy industry. The first recipient was dairy producer Myron Czech, Little Falls, MN. Czech is a 1980 graduate of Animal Science from the U of M and has been a leader for both Minnesota Select Sires and corporate Select Sires.

The Distinguished Service Award was presented to graduate Brad Heins, and featured speaker was Steve Larson, Managing Editor of Hoard's Dairyman magazine. The two nominees to the National Dairy Shrine Student Recognition Program were announced — Amanda Eberle and Lucas Sjostrom — and they each received an award plaque from Genex/CRI. Nine $1,500 scholarships from the Gopher Dairy Club were awarded to new students, and Elizabeth Olson received the $2,000 Douglas Siem Memorial Award. The Outstanding Rookie was presented to Brandon Thesing, and the Outstanding Senior was Theresa Krause.
 

Gopher Dairy Club Heads to ND for Midwest Regional ADSA-SAD

A group of 50 students from the Gopher Dairy Club traveled to Fargo, ND, for the Midwest Regional ADSA-SAD conference held February 27 and 28. En-route to the conference, the group stopped at Lida-Acres Holsteins owned by the Johnson family of Pelican Rapids, MN, where they learned about the farm history and how their barn had been converted from an old turkey facility to the current 50 milking stall barn.

Upon arriving at the conference, the students had some free time to socialize with other dairy enthusiasts and get some rest before the long night ahead. The U of M was well represented at the Dairy Quiz Bowl competition by both the junior and senior teams. On Friday evening, the conference was called to order by Midwest ADSA-SAD President Amanda Eberle. During the meeting, they attended to yearly business and introduced the officer candidates for the coming year. Later, everyone enjoyed a night of dancing and socializing.

On Saturday afternoon, the students were brought to the NDSU campus for an afternoon filled with educational sessions and a mixer for all to enjoy. After the sessions were completed, the students enjoyed an ice cream social hosted by the Bison Dairy Club. The conference concluded with an awards banquet, which featured keynote speakers Larry Tande, Vice President of Holstein USA, and Ed Schafer, former Secretary of Agriculture. The Gopher Dairy Club did not go home empty handed as they were awarded first place in the yearbook competition and they received the award for the largest group in attendance. After the awards banquet, the students enjoyed a second night of dancing to the music of an excellent DJ.

On the drive home, the Gopher Dairy Club had the opportunity to stop at two different farms. At Union Dairy located in West Union, MN, students had the opportunity to see how a large dairy is operated. The second stop, at the Jennissen farm in Padua, MN, was interesting in its own way as it has one of the state's few methane digesters. Now back in the Twin Cities, the group is anxiously awaiting the 2010 Midwest Regional ADSA-SAD conference to be held in Brookings, SD.
  

Six MN Students Receive National DHIA Scholarships
Source: National DHIA

The National Dairy Herd Information Association (DHIA) scholarship committee chose 25 students as recipients of $500 scholarships, six of which were from Minnesota. The Minnesota recipients were Brett Blackwelder, Chokio; Amanda Carlson, Welch; Joseph Lee, McIntosh; Brittany Moorse, Minneota; Elizabeth Olson, Hutchinson; and Laura Weisz, Hillman. Elizabeth and Laura are both U of M undergraduates in Animal Science.

Judges evaluated applicants on scholastic achievement and leadership in school and community activities. Scholarships are awarded to incoming and continuing students of technical colleges, and 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities. To be eligible for a National DHIA scholarship, applicants must be a family member or employee of a herd on DHI test, a family member of a DHI employee, or an employee of a DHI affiliate. The DHI affiliate for the herd or affiliate employee must be a member of National DHIA.

National DHIA, a trade association for the dairy records industry, serves the best interests of its members and the dairy industry by maintaining the integrity of dairy records and advancing dairy information systems.
  

Meat Wholesalers and Retailers Attend Program at Meat Lab

On March 10, the Animal Science Meat Laboratory served as host to the Minnesota Beef Council and Dr. Tony Mata for a demonstration and discussion of novel beef fabrication strategies and marketing consideration. In attendance were representatives from local and national meat wholesalers and retailers.

Ryan Cox and Pete Nelson extend their thanks Mr. Ron Eustice and the Minnesota Beef Council for their continued support of such programs.

   

Meat Lab Hosts 4-H Group

On February 17, the Animal Science Meat Laboratory hosted 4-H groups from Washington, Dakota, Ramsey, and Scott counties. More than 50 youth attended sessions where they learned about the concepts of meat science and carcass fabrication.

The program was coordinated and carried out by Ryan Cox and Pete Nelson of the Meat Lab, and Ann Church from Washington County organized the event for the 4-Hers.

Ottertail Horse Owner Workshop Postponed

The Winter Regional Horse Owner Program, which was scheduled for March 14, 2009 in Ottertail, MN, has been postponed until October 24, 2009. A location change has also been made. The workshop will be held at the Red Horse Ranch Arena, Fergus Falls, MN.

For more information, please contact Krishona Martinson at 612-625-6776 or krishona@umn.edu.
  

Don't Miss the 113th Annual Meeting of MLBA

The Minnesota Livestock Breeders' Association (MLBA) is the united front organization representing the best long-term interest of its 20 purebred livestock member associations, each of which is automatically a member of MLBA. On March 19, 2009, the MLBA will hold its 113th Annual Meeting and Banquet on the U of M St. Paul Campus.

The day will begin at 10:00 a.m. with the Board of Directors meeting in Haecker Hall, Room 365. Registration for the Hall of Fame banquet and ceremony begins at 11:00 a.m. in the North Star Ballroom, St. Paul Student Center. Tickets are $25 per person. The banquet and program will be held in the St. Paul Student Center's North Star Ballroom at noon. At 3:00 p.m., the annual meeting will convene.

This year's honorees are Gene Cross (Sherburn), Marlin Berg (Pipestone), and Dean Myhre (Caledonia). These distinguished breeders will be recognized for their contributions to the Minnesota livestock industry, and will be inducted into the MLBA Hall of Fame located in Haecker Hall.

Don't miss this annual event of the MLBA! To register, contact Steve Pooch, at 651-288-4314 or steve.pooch@mnstatefair.org.
  

PorkCast Webinar: Creating an Animal Welfare Program
Source: Mark Whitney, U of M Extension

Pork producers affirm their commitment to building and maintaining the trust of customers and the public in their products and their practices. Developing an animal welfare program is an important step in ensuring animal well-being and maintaining public trust. On March 25, 2009, U of M Extension and the Minnesota Pork Board will be sponsoring a free online seminar designed to assist pork producers in the development of animal welfare programs for their operations.

"Creating an Animal Welfare Program" will begin at 1:00 p.m. (central time). Jim Lummus and Sherrie Niekamp with the National Pork Board will present information on selecting and hiring animal caretakers, tools and strategies for implementing a training program, and resources to assist in developing an animal welfare program.

Access the free program live via the Internet at www.extension.umn.edu/swine/porkcast by connecting to the website a few minutes prior to the 1:00 start time. An archived copy of the program will be made available on the same website a few days after the program airs.

PorkCast online seminars are designed to provide management-level information on current issues affecting the pork industry. Past programs are available to download and view on the PorkCast website at www.extension.umn.edu/swine/porkcast. 

Questions regarding PorkCast programs or connections can be directed to Mark Whitney, U of M Swine Extension Educator, at 507-389-5541 or whitn007@umn.edu.
 

Celebrate Minnesota Royal!

Lookin' Fine in 2009 is the theme of the 93rd Annual Minnesota Royal. Celebrate this rich tradition and participate in royal activities on the St. Paul Campus April 13 to 18, 2009. Experience Minnesota Royal events such as:

• Quiz Bowl (April 14, 6:30 p.m.)
   
• Royal Run (April 15, 4:00 p.m.
   
• Milkmaid Milking Contest (April 15, 8:45 p.m.)
   
• Ag Olympics (April 17, 3:00 p.m.)
   
• 'Stock the Trailer' — Help stock the trailer with a non-perishable food item (April 16, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in front of the St. Paul Student Center or April 18, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Livestock Pavilion)
   
• Johnny Holm Band — Don't miss an evening of music and dancing at the Livestock Pavilion (April 16, 9:00 p.m.)

Find a complete list of events on the Minnesota Royal website. For more information on Minnesota Royal, contact Janelle Kuechle, the 2009 overall chair.
  

'Generation Next' is Theme of Women's Ag Conference

This year's Women's Agricultural Leadership Conference is dedicated to activating 'Generation Next' in the field of agriculture with sessions that focus on getting the career you want, getting involved in government, and contributing to the agriculture industry.

The 11th Annual Women’s Agricultural Leadership Conference will be held at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, MN, on April 14 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Register at www.womensagleadership.org or call 715-822-6347.
  

4th Annual Pig Sale is April 19

Don't miss the Block & Bridle Club's 4th Annual Pig Sale on Sunday, April 19. The sale begins at 2:00 p.m. in the Livestock Pavilion on the St. Paul Campus.

For more information, contact Katie Church (651-271-6463), Matt Pearson (320-221-1086) or Justin Johnston (320-287-1057).
  

Attend U of M 'Living on the Land' Livestock Workshop

Demand for Extension workshops that focus on livestock has increased in the recent past, reflecting the growth in the number of small farms (1 to 49 acres) in Minnesota and across the nation. As most of the major Farm Belt states lose farms by the thousands, Minnesota is bucking the trend. According to the recent USDA Census figures, from 2002 to 2007, the state gained 2,200 small- to micro-sized farms. Goat and poultry production on small farms has expanded, and most beef and sheep production in the state already occurs on small farms.

Designed for those who are thinking about raising animals but have little experience with the production of livestock, a three-part 'Living on the Land' Livestock Workshop series is being offered by the U of M Small Farms Program. The series will be held on the U of M St. Paul Campus on three Mondays (May 4, May 11 and May 18) from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The first evening of the series will be an overview of the different breeds of sheep, goats, beef, poultry and swine, and their characteristics. The second evening will cover the nutritional needs of each species and disease prevention. The third evening will focus on facilities needed for each species, animal handling and welfare, and manure composting.

A great group of speakers has been assembled to cover each topic area. Peat Willcutt, who has developed a specialty in urban poultry production, will address heritage breeds of chickens as well as turkeys, ducks, geese and game birds. From the U of M, a variety of specialists will talk about their area of interest. Speakers include Alfredo DiCostanzo (beef), Laura Kieser (sheep and goats), Marcia Endres (animal welfare and handling), Katherine Waters (food safety), Ann Goplen (disease), Betsy Wieland (feeds, manure, composting), and Wayne Martin (swine, facilities).

The cost to attend all three workshops is $50 if registered by April 24, and $75 afterward. You can bring one friend for free. The registration deadline is April 27. Register online at: http://umnext.cmiregistration.com/ProgramDetail.aspx/LivingLandLivestockStPaul.

For more information, contact U of M Extension livestock educator Wayne Martin at 612-625-6224 or marti067@umn.edu.
   

Save the Date!

Mark your calendars for the 70th Minnesota Nutrition Conference on September 15 and 16, 2009. The Conference will again be held at the Holiday Inn, Owatonna, MN (next to Cabela's).

The Minnesota Nutrition Conference is an annual event that provides a forum for feed industry professionals to update their knowledge of beef, dairy, poultry and swine nutrition. Internationally renowned researchers bring the latest concepts in livestock nutrition to the upper Midwest. The Conference is offered by the U of M, Department of Animal Science.

Check the Minnesota Nutrition Conference website in the coming months for more information. For event sponsorship opportunities, please contact Lee Johnston at 320-589-1711 or johnstlj@morris.umn.edu.
  

Outstanding Community Service Award Nominations Due March 23

The University's Outstanding Community Service Awards recognize faculty, staff, students, and University-affiliated community members who have made significant contributions to society's well-being by devoting their time, talents and expertise to serve the public good. These awards represent the highest recognition offered by the U of M's Office for Public Engagement.

Awards will be presented for community service in five categories: 1) Outstanding Faculty Member; 2) Outstanding Student; 3) Outstanding Staff; 4) Outstanding Community Partner; and 5) Outstanding Contributions to the 2008-2009 University-wide theme, "Economic Development". All faculty and staff, regardless of rank, job classification or title, are eligible to receive these awards.

Awards given to U of M faculty and staff will carry a $2,500 annual salary augmentation during their employment at the U. All other award winners will receive a one-time payment of $2,500.

Nominations by groups or individuals must be submitted electronically to public@umn.edu by 5:00 p.m. on March 23, 2009. The application and a list of previous winners can be found at http://www.engagement.umn.edu/awards/index.html.
 

New Workshops Offered at Magrath Library

This spring semester, Magrath Library is offering a suite of new workshops that include: Formatting Your Dissertation in Word 2007; RefWorks Basics; Extreme Googling: Collaboration Tools; Some Rights Reserved: An Introduction to Creative Commons; Google for Researchers; SciFinder - Web Access to Chemical Abstracts; and many others.

For more information and to register, visit: http://www.lib.umn.edu/registration/.
  

Carly Moberg

Carly Moberg is a first year graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in Animal Science under the advisement of Dr. Jon Wheaton. Carly is working on the Plan B Master’s, which focuses primarily on coursework and a 120-hour project.

Carly is originally from Bigfork, a small rural town in northern Minnesota. She completed a BS in Animal Science here at the U of M in the spring of 2008. While working on her Master’s, Carly also works part-time at St. Francis Animal and Bird Hospital as a veterinary assistant.

During her free time, Carly enjoys being with family and friends, playing with her cat “Gus” and two chinchillas “Mishka” and “Odin”, playing volleyball with the Graduate Club, reading, creating art, and photography.
  

On March 1, 2009, Roberta Amaral started a position as an Assistant Animal Scientist-Swine under the supervision of Dr. Sam Baidoo at SROC in Waseca, MN. She is responsible for Dr. Baidoo's laboratory and is involved with all aspects of swine research. Roberta completed her Master's in Animal Science in December 2008.

Hugh Chester-Jones has a new son-in-law. Hugh's daughter, Rhonwen, was married to Berk Tas on February 28, 2009. Berk is originally from Turkey. They had a destination wedding at Coral Cove in Little Bay, Jamaica. The couple will be residing in Shoreview, MN.

After receiving a Master's in swine nutrition, alumnus Alex Drescher relocated to Quincy, IL, where he works on diet formulation for multiple species at Archer Daniels Midland. Alex also develops tag requests and feed medications for company and consumer compliance, and develops feeds that will result in acceptable manufacturing and processing characteristics. Dr. Jerry Shurson was Alex's advisor.

Jamie Larson has accepted a position as an Assistant Professor at Mississippi State University's Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences effective March 16, 2009. Her appointment is 35% teaching/65% research. She will be teaching reproductive physiology and conducting research in both dairy and beef cows. Jamie received her PhD from the U of M in February 2009.

The Rozebooms (Gretchen and Kyle) welcomed Landrey Diane into their family on February 27, 2009. She weighed 8 lb, 3 oz at birth and is the couple's first daughter. Landrey has two older brothers.

Jenny Wilson completed her Master's degree under the advisement of Dr. Jerry Shurson and is now working as an associate veterinarian at Banfield the Pet Hospital (a predominately small-animal hospital) in Gurnee, IL. As a general practitioner, Jenny is involved with numerous aspects of veterinary medicine including preventative care, surgery, internal medicine, and dentistry. She is also pursuing additional education in the area of public health, which will help her in her current position as well as future career aspirations.
  

- no new grants this month -
 

- March 2009 -

4 - Minnesota Dairy Days Workshop, Pizza Ranch, Pipestone, MN. Local contact: Merri Post, 507-825-6784.

Mar 4-Apr 29 - Living on the Land Workshop Series (Wednesdays 6:30-9:30 p.m. for 8 weeks), Rogers Community Center, Roger, MN. Contact: Betsy Gilkerson Wieland, 612-596-1175. Online registration: http://umnext.cmiregistration.com/ProgramHome.aspx.

Mar 5-Apr 30 - Living on the Land Workshop Series (Thursdays 6:30-9:30 p.m. for 8 weeks) - U of M Extension Office, Scott County (near Jordan, MN). Contact: Betsy Gilkerson Wieland, 612-596-1175. Online registration: http://umnext.cmiregistration.com/ProgramHome.aspx.

14 - *POSTPONED until October 24 with location change to Red Horse Ranch Arena, Fergus Falls, MN* - Winter Regional Horse Owner Program, Ottertail, MN. Contact: Krishona Martinson, 612-625-6776.

19 - Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet, North Star Ballroom, U of M St. Paul Campus. Contact: Steve Pooch, 651-288-4314.

24-26 - Dairy Calf & Heifer Association National Conference, Tucson, AZ. Contact: Hugh Chester-Jones, 507-837-5618 or Dairy Calf & Heifer Association, 636-449-5077.
  

- April 2009 -

13-18 - 93rd Annual Minnesota Royal, U of M St. Paul Campus. Contact: Janelle Kuechle.

14 - 2009 Women's Ag Leadership Conference, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN. Contact: Women's Ag Leadership, 715-822-6347.

19 - Block & Bridle 4th Annual Club Pig Sale (2:00 p.m.), Livestock Pavilion, U of M St. Paul Campus.
  

- May 2009 -

4, 11 & 18 - Living on the Land Livestock Workshop Series (6:30-9:45 p.m.), U of M St. Paul Campus. Contact: Wayne Martin, 612-625-6224. Online registration: http://umnext.cmiregistration.com/ProgramDetail.aspx/LivingLandLivestockStPaul.

10 - CFANS Commencement (2:00 p.m.), Northrop Auditorium, U of M Minneapolis Campus.

19-21 - Minnesota Dairy Health Conference, U of M St. Paul Campus. Contact: Veterinary Continuing Education, 612-624-3434 or 800-380-8636.
 

- June 2009 -

11-13 - Gopher Dairy Camp, U of M St. Paul Campus. Contact: Brad Heins, 612-625-9294.