AnSci Connection
The newsletter of the Department of Animal Science

November 2009

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

Investing in Animal Science Graduate Education

Earlier this year, Michigan State University professors James Ireland, George Smith and Jose Cibelli and five colleagues from other institutions wrote an article in Science describing the lack of federal funding for animal research. In the article, they point out even though the economic value of livestock and poultry in the United States exceeds $132 billion, only 0.04 percent ($32.15 million) of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) budget was in competitive research programs involving farm animals. The decline has been occurring over a number of years, but is now at a critically low level jeopardizing animal science research and education programs. The impact of this insignificant funding for basic research is being felt throughout the livestock sector in less applied research and fewer students receiving advanced degrees in the animal sciences.

All scientific and technical advancements begin with human capital. It takes people and educated people to discover new ideas and technology, but also knowledgeable people to use technology advancements. Gary Becker in a book on Human Capital states, “economic growth closely depends on the synergies between new knowledge and human capital, which is why large increases in education and training have accompanied major advances in technological knowledge in all countries that have achieved significant economic growth.” The U.S. still leads the world in agriculture and food production; however, at the federal government level, we have become complacent and diminished funding in agriculture and farm animal research that has made us a leader in world food production and agriculture. Instead, advancing agriculture knowledge and technology has been left up to private sectors to support the research and human capital that will be needed in the future. Private and non-government organizations can only do so much and as a society we need to collectively invest in the education and research needed for economic growth in agriculture and the animal sciences. 

Of special concern is the effect that declining funding has had on graduate education. The number of graduate students in Animal Science programs across land-grant institutions at both the M.S. and Ph.D. level has declined sharply from 1980s into the 2000s. At Minnesota, we are reflective of this change going from 70 to 80 graduate students during the 1980s to 30 students today. As the number of graduate students in animal science programs is diminished, the need and demand for advanced degreed people in the animal sciences has not. Companies as well as universities are finding it difficult to hire the people they need in research and technical areas. 

Ralco Nutrition, Inc. at Marshall, Minnesota has the mission statement, “To help our customers meet changing demands in animal nutrition and health through the practical application of knowledge and innovation.” Seeing the decline in human capital in animal agriculture and the need for knowledge in animal agriculture, Ralco Nutrition, Inc. is supporting a graduate fellowship in animal science. Jon Knochenmus, company president, stated, “we wanted to give back to the state and the university, which has provided us with great opportunities and knowledge in animal agriculture and invest in the continuing future of animal agriculture.” This fellowship comes independent of any specific research commitments providing only the opportunity for bright young animal scientists to acquire the knowledge and skills to benefit animal agriculture in the future. Support such as this provides an opportunity to do research in areas important to animal agriculture where funding may not always be available. 

In another way, the W.E. Petersen endowment fund is also helping us meet our commitments to providing the highest quality graduate education program in animal science. The small number of graduate students has created a problem in having a critical number of students to teach courses. We will be addressing this challenge through the W.E. Petersen symposium. Through the symposium and in cooperation with Animal Science Departments in other land-grant universities, we will be looking at distance learning opportunities and other ways we can partner across universities to share expertise and resources to provide the best educational opportunities for students. More information will be forth coming on this in early 2010.  

We thank everyone who funds our research projects and supports our graduate students. Without your support, there would be very few graduate students in animal science and agriculture. We all have a stake in advancing the knowledge and skills of current and future human capital in the animal sciences. We need future scientists, employees and leaders in both the basic and applied animal sciences. If you, your company or organization are interested in helping educate the next generation of animal scientists, I invite you to contact me to explore partnership educational opportunities.  

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Faculty Highlights

Dr. Douglas Foster

Dr. Douglas Foster is a professor of cell and molecular biology with a teaching and research appointment. Dr. Foster team-teaches an introductory course in biotechnology, a molecular biology course for the Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Lake Itasca, as well as a graduate course on the mechanisms of hormone signaling. He teaches a laboratory-based graduate course on molecular biology techniques and serves as the coordinator for the year-long graduate seminar series. In addition, he serves as the coordinator for the CFANS senior thesis option and the Department of Animal Science biotechnology option.

Dr. Foster has mentored 31 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows while at The Ohio State University and the University of Minnesota, including his current M.S. students, Hurley Huang and Lance Hellstrom. Many of his Ph.D. students hold academic faculty positions or are research specialists with biotechnology companies. In 2008, he was awarded the University of Minnesota Graduate-Professional Teaching Award (one of eight awarded University-wide).

Dr. Foster’s research interests focus on understanding the molecular and cellular events that lead to an immortalized cellular phenotype. Toward this end, his laboratory has produced 26 immortalized cell lines from chicken, turkey, pig and human tissues. His avian cell lines serve as substrates for the production of a number of different vaccines, and have been disseminated throughout the world to over 3000 laboratories and companies. He has seven patents that have been issued for the development of these immortal cell lines. One cell line in particular has been of interest since it is the world’s only immortal avian cell line that has been spontaneously derived and is reverse transcriptase negative.

Currently, Dr. Foster is developing methodologies to immortalize chicken kidney, liver, feather follicle and intestinal epithelial cells to serve as substrates for ILTV, Marek’s Disease virus and enteric viruses. He is using molecular techniques to ‘conditionally immortalize’ cells then remove the agent causing the cells to forego cellular senescence. He is also using recombinant transcription factor proteins to produce chicken inducible pluripotent stem cells, again with the potential of developing immortal cell substrates and/or transdifferentiating fibroblastic cells into becoming epithelial cells. Finally, with funding from the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, Dr. Foster is developing recombinant protein subunits to a toxin known to cause turkey cellulitis.

Dr. Foster has been funded by USDA competitive grants and by several different commercial vaccine companies to develop immortal cell lines capable of propagating specific viruses for the potential manufacturing of vaccines. This funding has led to the discovery of species-specific differences in cell cycle regulation, which has resulted in over 100 publications.

Dr. Mike White

Dr. Mike White is a Morse Alumni Distinguished Professor of Animal Science with responsibilities in teaching and research. His teaching responsibilities include co-teaching AnSc 3511: Animal Growth and Development and AnSc/Agro 3203: Environment, Global Food Production and the Citizen. Dr. White also teaches a May-term Global Seminar to Florence, Italy entitled “Sustainable Food Systems of Italy” where he takes 25 students from the U of M abroad to study the environmental, economic and sociopolitical sustainability of centuries-old food systems. Dr. White was voted CFANS "Outstanding Professor" by the CFANS Student Board this year.

Dr. White is a member of the Academy of Distinguished Teachers (ADT) on the Twin Cities Campus and serves on the Twin Cities ADT steering committee. He is a resource teacher for the Center for Teaching and Learning and this year has served as a faculty mentor for 12 early career professors across the University. This year Dr White was invited to the UW Oshkosh Provost’s Summit on Teaching and Learning as the keynote speaker and was an invited panel speaker on two panels at the ADT retreat for the entire U of M system held in Deerwood, MN.

Dr. White’s research area is the cellular and molecular regulation of muscle growth and development in animals, focusing on the role of the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), their binding proteins (IGFBPs) and steroids in muscle growth in pigs and cattle. Dr. White’s research has been continually funded by the USDA/NRI for over the past 20 years and he collaborates closely with Drs. Bill Dayton and Marcia Hathaway on two national USDA/NRI funded projects; one entitled “Defining the cellular mechanisms of steroid-enhanced muscle growth in steers”; the other entitled “Mechanism by which IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 mediate the proliferation-suppressing actions of myostatin and IGF-beta on porcine myogenic cells”. The steroid grant was re-funded this year and was ranked in the top three of the proposals submitted to that section. This year Dr. White has been invited to present his research findings to Pfizer Company in Kalamazoo, MI, the USDA/NRI PD meeting in Montreal, Quebec, and as a panel speaker for the Food Industry Networking Program. This research will increase our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying muscle growth and provide the foundation for the development of alternatives and future tools to enhance muscle growth in meat animals.

Dr. White has two children, both of which are students at the U of M. In addition to enjoying his teaching, research and interactions with students, he enjoys canoeing with his colleague Bill Dayton, fishing, camping, singing, oil painting, making wine and exploring his Italian heritage.
 

Solution-Driven Symposium to Address Sustainable Animal Agriculture

We hear the term "sustainability" used a lot, but what does it really mean for animal agriculture? Speakers at the next CFANS Solution-Driven Science Symposium will discuss global food production, the environment and livestock production, and animal-welfare audit.

"Sustainable Animal Agriculture in the 21st Century" will be held Thursday, December 3, 2009, 1:00-5:00 p.m., in the North Star Ballroom of the Student Center on the U of M's St. Paul Campus. The event is free; however, registration is required. Register on-line or contact Betty Davidson via email at david011@umn.edu by November 25th.

The Symposium will include presentations from nationally known experts as well as responses from U of M scientists and a Q&A with the audience. Guest speakers include Roger Cady, senior technical consultant for Elanco Animal Health; Earl Dotson, president and CEO of Validus Services, LLC; Wendy Powers, professor and director, Environmental Stewardship for Animal Agriculture at Michigan State University; and others.
 

Date and Location Change — Dairy Leaders Roundtable Meeting

In order to take advantage of a program opportunity, the Minnesota Dairy Leaders Roundtable executive committee has changed the date and location of the upcoming Roundtable meeting. The Roundtable meeting originally scheduled for December 9 in St. Cloud has been CHANGED TO DECEMBER 3 in ST. PAUL in conjunction with the CFANS Solution-Driven Science Symposium "Sustainable Animal Agriculture in the 21st Century".

The Roundtable meeting will be held in the Cherrywood Room at the Student Center on the U of M St. Paul Campus beginning with registration, refreshments and informal visiting at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will convene at 10:00 a.m. and will include dairy data update, update on legislative issues and plans for the 2010 legislative session, and highlights from dairy organizations. A meeting of the Minnesota Dairy Partnership, Inc. will be held at 11:45 a.m., and lunch (dutch treat) will follow at noon.

The CFANS Symposium will take place in the Student Center's North Star Ballroom from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. There is no charge to attend the Symposium but please register by November 25. Register online or email Betty Davidson to register.

For more information about the Minnesota Dairy Leaders Roundtable, please contact Ed Frederick, Roundtable Facilitator at 507-235-8422.
 

Martinson Elected to CAFES Alumni Board of Directors

Dr. Krishona Martinson, Equine Extension Specialist, was recently elected to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls College of Agriculture Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) Alumni Board of Directors. Also elected were Leah (Schliep) Addington and Chad Glaze. The nine-member board (with the addition of two ex officio members) leads the CAFES Alumni Association.

The purposes of the Alumni Association are to facilitate the exchange of information among the alumni and friends of the CAFES; encourage interest and support for scholarships, teaching improvements, research, extension programs, and international agriculture; assist in establishing program priorities and facilities in CAFES; develop networking to aid in college recruitment and enhancement of a state leadership role for the CAFES; and to promote events and activities for alumni and friends to renew friendships and identify common concerns.
 

2009-2010 Carcass Merit Program off to Great Start
Source: Grant Crawford, U of M Beef Team

The U of M Extension Beef Team’s annual Carcass Merit Program (CMP) kicked off recently at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center (NWROC) in Crookston and UMore Park in Rosemount. The CMP began in the early 1990’s at the NWROC as a way for beef cow/calf producers to test the feedlot performance and carcass potential of their calves. In recent years the program moved to UMore Park, and in 2008 the NWROC feedlot was added back as a second location to serve producers in Northwestern Minnesota.

This year’s program has a record participation of 25 producers from across Minnesota entering 421 head of cattle. The group size entered by producers ranges from 5 to 58 head. The cattle enrolled in the program will be weighed once monthly throughout the program and will be harvested when they reach appropriate market weight. Harvest of market-ready cattle is anticipated to begin in April of 2010 with the heaviest incoming cattle and continue through July 2010 for the lightest incoming cattle. At harvest, carcass characteristics such as USDA quality and yield grade, ribeye area, backfat, marbling, and hot carcass weight are recorded.

During the program producers are given monthly updates on the progress of their cattle in terms of health, average daily gain, and feed intake, and are provided a detailed final report showing how their cattle performed compared with others in the program. The final report also includes suggestions on how the performance and carcass data can be used to improve the genetics of the cowherd.

In addition to the opportunities the CMP provides to cow/calf producers, Animal Science beef production students at the U of M in St. Paul and Crookston and veterinary students in St. Paul benefit from the hands-on experience of working with feedlot cattle and learning feedlot management strategies related to nutrition, cattle receiving, facilities, marketing and cattle health.

The U of M Beef Team hosts CMP open houses annually in late February or early March to update participants on the progress of the program and answer questions. If you are interested in attending an open house, please check the Beef Team website or the Carcass Merit Program website, or contact Grant Crawford (craw0105@umn.edu) or Alfredo DiCostanzo (dicos001@umn.edu) for dates and details.
 

Final Dates/Locations to Attend PQA Plus and TQA Trainings
Source: Mark Whitney, Extension Swine Team Leader, U of M Extension Regional Center, Mankato

Pork producers and livestock transporters can earn their individual certifications for Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA Plus) and Transport Quality Assurance (TQA) at free trainings in Waseca, Le Center and Worthington. These are the final trainings scheduled for these areas this year.

The PQA Plus trainings will be held from 10 a.m. to noon and the TQA trainings from 1:30-4:00 p.m. The times are the same at all locations.

• The Waseca PQA Plus and TQA trainings will be on November 19 and December 17 at the  Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca.
   
• The Le Center PQA Plus and TQA trainings will be on December 7 at the Le Sueur County Fairgrounds, Le Center.
   
• The Worthington PQA Plus and TQA trainings will be December 14 in the Farmers Room of the Nobles County Government Center, Worthington.

Pre-registration is recommended to ensure seating and materials. To pre-register, call the Minnesota Pork Board office at (800) 537-7675 or email colleen@mnpork.com. Provide your name, address, telephone number and email address, if available.

PQA Plus is required as a condition of sale by nearly all packers for those individuals who provide daily care of pigs, such as owners, managers and employees. The PQA Plus training also describes the site assessment process and how to achieve PQA Plus Site Status. The minimum age for PQA Plus certification eligibility is 14. TQA training is also a common hog packer requirement for drivers delivering hogs to the plant and for on-farm animal handlers.

Pork producers can check their PQA and TQA certification status by calling the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-7675. Check with your hog packer for their specific requirements of PQA Plus certification, PQA Plus Site Status and TQA certification.

PQA Plus and TQA trainings are hosted by the Minnesota Pork Board, Pork Checkoff and the U of M Extension Swine Team.
 

Anderson is #1 in National at Dairy Cattle Judging

Three students majoring in Animal Science at the U of M - sophomores Karen Anderson and Elizabeth Olson, and freshman Isaac Salfer - represented Minnesota in the National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, September 28, at World Dairy Expo held in Madison, WI. The 4-H team represented the joint counties of McLeod and Meeker, and the 4th team member was Alan Barka, a high school junior.

Karen Anderson placed 1st overall among more than 100 contestants! Furthermore, Anderson was 2nd overall in oral reasons and 1st overall in the Ayrshire breed. Teammate Elizabeth Olson was 6th overall in oral reasons. Isaac Salfer placed 4th in Holstein, and Alan Barka was 4th in Guernsey and 5th in Ayrshire. As a team, the 4-Hers placed 5th overall, 1st in Guernsey, 2nd in Ayrshire, and 3rd in Holstein.
 

U of M has 3rd Team at Dairy Cattle Judging Contest in Louisville, KY

The U of M placed 3rd overall among 16 collegiate teams in the dairy cattle judging contest hosted by the North American International Livestock Exposition, Louisville, KY, on November 8. Among the five dairy breeds, the Minnesota team was 2nd in Holstein, 3rd in Guernsey, 4th in Ayrshire, and 5th in Jersey. Team members were Megan Herberg, St. Peter; Abby Udermann, Sartell; Caitlin Kasper, Owatonna; and Charlie Schiller, Freeport.

Individually, Herberg was 4th overall, 6th in oral reasons, 2nd in Brown Swiss, and 4th in Holstein. Udermann placed 9th overall and 2nd in Jersey, and Kasper was 12th overall, 6th in Ayrshire, and 7th in Brown Swiss.

The top three teams were extremely close in ranking with Virginia Tech earning 1st place with individual team members placing 1st, 2nd, and 18th. The University of Wisconsin-Madison placed 2nd with the 5th, 6th and 8th individuals, edging out the U of M with 4th, 9th, and 12th individuals by only 3 points. A 32-point margin separated the U of M from the 4th-place team from Ohio State. Penn State placed 5th.

Dr. Les Hansen coaches the dairy cattle judging teams for the U of M along with alumni Scott Ellinghuysen, Altura, and Alicia Thurk, Villard.

Team photo (L-R): Les Hansen (Coach), Alicia Thurk (Coach), Caitlin Kasper, Megan Herberg, Abby Udermann, Charlie Schiller, and Scott Ellinghuysen (Coach).

Quail Project Wins 2nd Place at FFA Convention

At the 82nd National FFA Convention held in Indianapolis in October, Katherine Kubacki and her project partner, Kelvin Anderson, competed in the National Agriscience Fair taking 2nd place in the Senior Zoology Division. Their project entitled "The effect of protein content on quail growth" tested two different levels of protein in feed. The importance of the project is to help poultry producers maximize meat production and profit.

Katherine is an incoming freshmen majoring in Animal Science at the U of M. Look for more news about the 2009 FFA Convention online.
 

Livestock Investment Grant Deadline is November 30

Funding is available to livestock producers to offset the costs of improving and expanding their operations through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Livestock Investment Grant Program. Qualifying producers would be reimbursed for 10% of project expenses with a minimum expense of $4,000 and a maximum of $500,000. Applications must be postmarked no later than November 30, 2009. For an application and to learn more about the Livestock Investment Grant, visit the Minnesota Department of Ag website.
 

Students Encouraged to Apply for Beef Industry Scholarships
Source: National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Denver, CO

Applications are now being accepted for the 2010-2011 Beef Industry Scholarship program, sponsored by the CME Group and presented by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. All entries must be postmarked by December 1, 2009.

Ten scholarships of $1,500 will be awarded to young people pursuing careers in the beef industry. The program encourages talented and thoughtful students who have demonstrated a commitment to a career in the beef industry, either through classes, internships or life experience. Graduating high school seniors or full-time undergraduate students enrolled at a two-year or four-year college for the 2010-2011 academic school year are eligible to apply.

Applicants or their families must be members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to receive the scholarship. Applications must include a 750-word essay that identifies a key issue confronting the beef industry and suggests a solution. Applicants must also submit a letter expressing future career goals and provide two letters of recommendation. A full description of the scholarship program, submission requirements and an online application can be found on the National Cattlemen’s Foundation website, or call 303-694-0305 for information.

In addition to a scholarship, the first-place winner will receive airfare and lodging to attend the 2010 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show in San Antonio, TX, January 27-30, 2010.
 

2009 Cattle Feeder Days to Be Held in Five Locations

Cattle Feeder Days will be held at the following locations in December this year:

• Morris - December 7 (9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.)
• Luverne - December 8 (6:00-9:00 p.m.)
• Slayton - December 9 (9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.)
• Lamberton - December 10 (9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.)
• Rochester - December 10 (6:00-9:00 p.m.)

Registration will begin 30 minutes prior to program start time. The registration fee is $30 per person ($15 for each additional person from same farm or family) and includes a meal and program proceedings.

This year's topics include Feedlot Heifer Nutrition and Management; Finish Weights and the Meat Processing Industry; Nutrient Management as a Profit Center in the Feedlot; and Practical Reflections on Feedlot Nutrition and Management.

For more information, see the 2009 Cattle Feeder Days flyer, visit the Beef Team website, or contact Grant Crawford via email at craw0105@umn.edu.
 

Home Study Course to Address Cow/Calf Health Management

The Beef Home Study Course for 2010 will focus on Cow/Calf Health Management. Course topics include Common Diseases of the Beef Cattle Herd; Internal and External Parasite Control; Antibiotic Use; Biosecurity and Quality Assurance; Herd Health Calendars; Newborn Calf Care; and Preparing Calves for Weaning.

Registration is $50 for the course. The registration deadline is December 30, 2009. The first lessons should be in the mail by January 15, 2010.

For further registration information, contact Denise Plonis at (218) 327-4490 or visit the Beef Team website.
 

I-29 Conference to Address Core Issues of U.S. Dairy Industry
Source: J.W. Schroeder, Associate Professor and Extension Dairy Specialist, NDSU

"Sustaining Our Dairy Families, Farms and Rural Communities" is the emphasis of the 5th Annual I-29 Dairy Conference designed for dairy farm owners and families, agri-industry partners and other professionals. The event will be held on Thursday and Friday, January 21-22, 2010 at the Best Western Ramkota Inn in Sioux Falls, SD.

The conference opens on Thursday evening with keynote speaker Jolene Brown. Brown is a popular professional speaker who brings humor, hope, and helpful ideas to those who want to celebrate and learn skills for the human, and sometimes humorous, side of agriculture. She will explore the possibilities and opportunities for these turbulent times in her presentation, "When Pigs Fly".

Friday morning, Brown will present a workshop on strengthening dairy families. “Facts of Life: When Family and Business Collide” is a fast-paced session focusing on the tools needed to bring about productivity, profitability and collaboration in successful family farm business operations. Additional approaches to sustaining dairy farm operations will be discussed in the breakout sessions that follow. Dr. Jan Shearer, ISU College of Veterinary Medicine, will share research information about sustaining the dairy herd through a focus on cow welfare. John Baker, attorney for the Iowa Concern Hotline and legal counsel for the Iowa Mediation Service will discuss strategies and guidelines for making ownership transitions, changes in the farm business structure, and exit-entrance plans. Jim Salfer, U of M Extension educator, will present an analysis of dairy business options and the factors that could affect profitability.

During the noon luncheon, Richard Naczi, CEO of American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Inc., will provide an update on national dairy initiatives. This will be an interesting follow-up to his message on dairy sustainability presented at the 2009 I-29 Conference.

The Friday afternoon session focuses on one of the hottest issues circulating in the U.S. dairy industry, milk marketing for the 21st century. Conference attendees will hear from speakers who present details about two key approaches currently debated in the industry. Ken Bailey, a consultant and broker with FCStone Group, will explore free market system strategies, and Gary Vande Vegte of Van Bruggen & Vande Vegte will discuss supply management strategies. The afternoon ends with a Q&A session with a panel that includes dairy producers.

The I-29 Dairy Conference is coordinated by University Extension dairy specialists serving the multi-state I-29 region as the I-29 Dairy Consortium, and is made possible by the generous support of the dairy agri-industry serving the region. Registration is $20 per person; pre-register by January 14, 2010 to be eligible for door prizes. Full conference details and lodging information are available on the I-29 Dairy Conference website, or call J.W. Schroeder at 701-231-7663 for more information.
 

Castration Clinic A Success

A free equine castration clinic was held on Saturday, September 26 at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Lake Elmo, MN. The clinic was sponsored by the Minnesota Horse Welfare Coalition, which is comprised of members from the Minnesota Horse Council, the Minnesota Animal Humane Society, Equine Rescues, the U of M, and the Minnesota Association of Equine Practitioners. The clinic is a component of The Gelding Project, which is designed to reduce the number of unwanted horses in Minnesota.

Eighteen stallions were castrated; including 3 Pintos, 3 American Quarter horses, 4 miniature horses, 2 miniature donkeys, 4 Arabians, 1 Shetland pony and 1 Peruvian Paso. The stallions ranged in age from 4 months to 19 years.

In order to participate in the clinic, horse owners had to demonstrate a hardship and needed a referral from a veterinarian, humane agent or horse rescue. Castrations were performed by 21 U of M veterinary students while under close supervision by 9 licensed equine veterinarians who donated their time.

The horses came from 8 Minnesota counties. Eighty-two percent of participating owners were female and a majority were over the age of 40. Eighty-two percent of participants owned six or more horses. Twenty-seven percent of participants operated boarding stables. Ninety percent had access to the Internet. Forty-five percent of participants stated they would not have castrated their stallions without the clinic. Sixty-three percent of the participants still had stallions on their property, which resulted in both intentional and accidental breedings, showing a need for future castration clinics and educational sessions around the state.

Above: Photos from the 2009 Equine Castration Clinic.
 

Beef Team Contributes to Another Successful Expo

The U of M Beef Team worked with the Minnesota Beef Expo to create a great learning opportunity for youth who attended the event. The 10th Annual Minnesota Beef Expo, held during MEA weekend (October 15-18), included a trade show, many learning opportunities, a cattle show, and a sale. The U of M Beef Team put considerable time and effort into three of the events to give participants the opportunity to learn more about raising beef animals.

On Thursday night, the Minnesota Youth Beef Experience Seminar (photo at left) was held in the Andrew Boss Laboratory of Meat Science on St. Paul Campus. Extension educators and faculty addressed nearly 100 participants about the basics of raising beef cattle. Topics included nutrition, animal handling, live animal evaluation, and carcass evaluation and fabrication. Four carcasses were used to compare and exhibit to the youth the traits that were being discussed. A Farm Service Agency representative was also on hand to discuss young producer loan options with attendees.

The event was evaluated by gauging participants' knowledge before and after the presentations. All areas saw an increase with some increasing their knowledge by over 90%. Participants stated that the carcass trait presentations were the most useful and showed a 91% increase in knowledge.

At the conclusion of the Minnesota Youth Beef Experience Seminar, one name was drawn from a cowboy hat to win a free project heifer. Two other youth were awarded free registration to the Minnesota State Cattleman’s Association Annual Convention in December.

On Friday, the Beef Team coordinated and judged "Extreme Makeover - Beef Expo Style" (photo at right). Eight teams of four competed to fit an animal in one half-hour. Team members had to be from different age groups and they had to work together to fit as well as answer questions about the process and beef industry. Each member of the winning team received a clippers.

The Minnesota Beef Expo is held annually at the State Fairgrounds and coordinated by the Minnesota State Fair along with many volunteers and sponsors.
 

Cattle Marketing and Beef Processing Addressed at Cattle Harvest Day

The Cattle Harvest Day Workshop was held November 6, 2009 in the Livestock Arena and the Andrew Boss Laboratory of Meat Science on the U of M St. Paul Campus. The program was provided by U of M Meat Science and the U of M Extension Beef Team. Thirty-five beef producers, college students, government officials, academicians and veterinarians attended presentations addressing the factors relevant to cattle marketing and subsequent beef processing. Workshop speakers included Ryan Cox, Alfredo DiCostanzo and Pete Nelson (U of M Department of Animal Science), Grant Crawford and Ryon Walker (U of M Extension), and Ron Eustice (Minnesota Beef Council). 

Ryan Cox said, "We would like to extend a special thanks to the Maple Island Hunt Club for hosting our pre-workshop event. We would also like to thank the staff of the Andrew Boss Laboratory of Meat Science for support. We look forward to this new program as an annual event."

Above: Cattle Harvest Day Workshop (left); pre-workshop networking event at Maple Island Hunt Club (right).
 

Honey, Candles, and Calendars at Annual Frenatae Sale

Frenatae, the Entomology Department's graduate student organization, is offering locally produced, organic honey and hand-crafted beeswax candles at their annual sale December 2-4, 2009. A new addition to this year's sale — Calendars! Calendar pages are composed of illustrations from Dr. Ralph Holzenthal's Scientific Illustration of Insects course. Check out the calendar and find ordering information on the new Frenatae website.

Calendars MUST be pre-ordered by November 20 to guarantee their availability. Honey and candles may also be pre-ordered. All advance orders must be prepaid by November 20. Funds from the sale help to support the Frenatae organization.
 

Save the Date for Legislative Briefing and Reception

President Robert Bruninks and Archie Givens, U of M Alumni Association President invite you to the 2010 Legislative Briefing and Reception on January 27, 2010. Registration, light dinner and cash bar will be held 5:30-6:00 p.m., with the legislative program running 6:00-7:30 p.m. The program will include a preview of the U of M's 2010 legislative request by President Bruninks with discussion of the challenges that higher education faces during these difficult economic times.

The reception and program will take place in McNamara Alumni Center, Memorial Hall, 200 Oak Street SE, Minneapolis, MN.
 

Membership Discount to Join U of M Alumni Association

Consider becoming a vital member of the campus community and an ambassador for the University by joining the U of M Alumni Association, and receive a discount! This fall, the Alumni Association is offering faculty and staff a 2-year membership for the price of 1 year. Current members can also take advantage of this offer to renew. The discount is available through November.

Alumni Association members help sustain important initiatives that support the University, including Distinguished Teaching Awards; legislative advocacy on behalf of the University; mentoring program support; and MINNESOTA magazine, the award-winning publication that keeps members informed about U of M research, teaching, student life, alumni achievements, Gopher athletics, arts, events and activities.

Members receive valuable on-campus rewards, including a 10% discount at the University Bookstore and D'Amico and Sons Cafe in the McNamara Alumni Center. Member benefits also include nationwide savings on entertainment, travel and online shopping. View a complete list of member benefits and sign up for membership on the U of M Alumni Association website. Use campaign code N10EE to receive the $50 two-for-one membership price through November.
 

Adam Husfeldt

Adam Husfeldt is a first year Animal Science graduate student pursuing a Master's degree in Dairy Management. He works as a research assistant for Dr. Marcia Endres and is researching manure solids used as a bedding material on commercial dairy farms.

Adam grew up on a small dairy farm near Gaylord, MN, and graduated this past spring from the U of M with a B.S. in Animal Science with a dairy industry emphasis. While attending the U of M, he was an active member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and the Gopher Dairy Club. Adam was also a member of the 2009 Dairy Challenge Team.
 

Dan Carlson and wife Heather have a newborn son, Ethan Daniel. Ethan was born on October 14, 2009, at 8 lb. See photo of Ethan being kissed by older "sister" Bella.

Jim Linn is a grandfather for the 2nd time. Aaron Alan Hilderman (9 lb, 11 oz) was born to Jim's daughter, Becky, and son-in-law, Jason on October 20, 2009.
 

Alfredo DiCostanzo received a grant in the amount of $194,896 from AURI. The long-term goal of the study is to assess the effect of feeding distillers’ grains (DGS) and glycerin on the fecal shedding, colonization and prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (ECO157) in cattle. Funding period: 10/5/09-6/30/10.
 

- November 2009 -

3 - Minnesota Agri-Growth Council Annual Meeting, Minneapolis Convention Center. Contact: Minnesota Agri-Growth Council, 651-905-8900.

5 - PorkBridge: Packer Perspective on Quality of Hogs. Contact: Mark Whitney, 507-389-5541.

9 - PQA Plus and TQA Training, MN Pork Office, Mankato. Contact: MN Pork Board, 800-537-7675 or colleen@mnpork.com.

12-13 - Swine Nursery Management Training Course, West Central ROC, Morris, MN. Contact: Mark Whitney, 507-389-5541.

14 - Fall Regional Horse Owner Program (1:00-4:00 pm), Red Horse Ranch Arena, Fergus Fall, MN. Contact: Krishona Martinson, 612-625-6776. Online registration.

18 - Turkey Media Day (1:00-4:00 p.m.) Turkey Research Unit, Rosemount, MN. Contact: Sally Noll, 612-624-4928.

19 - PQA Plus & TQA Training, Southern ROC, Waseca, MN. Contact: MN Pork Board, 800-537-7675 or colleen@mnpork.com.

- December 2009 -

3 - Solution-Driven Science Symposium: "Sustainable Animal Agriculture in the 21st Century" (1:00-5:00 pm), North Star Ballroom, Student Center, U of M St. Paul Campus. FREE. Registration required.

3 - NOTE DATE/LOCATION CHANGE! Minnesota Dairy Leaders Roundtable Meeting (9:30 am-Noon), Cherrywood Room, St. Paul Campus Student Center, in conjunction with CFANS Solution-Driven Science Symposium: "Sustainable Animal Agriculture in the 21st Century" (1:00-5:00 pm). For more information about the Roundtable, contact: Ed Frederick, 507-835-3422.

3-5 - Minnesota State Cattlemen's Annual Convention and Trade Show, Cragun's Resort, Brainerd, MN. Contact: MSCA, 612- 850-5027 or maysteve@comcast.net.

7 - PQA Plus & TQA Training, Le Sueur County Fairgrounds, Le Center. Contact: MN Pork Board, 800-537-7675 or colleen@mnpork.com.

7 - Minnesota Cattle Feeder Days, Prairie Inn, Morris, MN (9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.). Contact: Grant Crawford, 320-234-0441.

8 - Minnesota Cattle Feeder Days, Blue Mound Banquet Center, Luverne, MN (6:00-9:00 p.m.). Contact: Grant Crawford, 320-234-0441.

8-9 - Midwest Dairy Expo, St. Cloud, MN. Contact: Minnesota Milk, 763-355-9697 or 877-577-0741 (toll-free).

9 - Minnesota Cattle Feeder Days, Royal Loon, Slayton, MN (9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.). Contact: Grant Crawford, 320-234-0441.

9-11 - North Dakota Poultry Industries Convention, Holiday Inn, Fargo, ND. For more information, contact Protein Alliance, Inc. at 877-289-8875 or send email to Carl Wittenburg.

10 - Minnesota Cattle Feeder Days, U of M Southwest ROC, Lamberton, MN (9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.). Contact: Grant Crawford, 320-234-0441.

10 - Minnesota Cattle Feeder Days, LaQuinta Inn, Rochester, MN (6:00-9:00 p.m.). Contact: Grant Crawford, 320-234-0441.

14 - PQA Plus & TQA Training, Farmers Room, Nobles County Government Center, Worthington, MN. Contact: MN Pork Board, 800-537-7675 or colleen@mnpork.com.

17 - PQA Plus & TQA Training, Southern ROC, Waseca, MN. Contact: MN Pork Board, 800-537-7675 or colleen@mnpork.com.

23 - Fall Semester ends 

- January 2010 -

1 - University is Closed for New Year's Day holiday.

7 - PorkBridge: Marketing Your Hogs at the Ideal Weight. Contact: Mark Whitney, 507-389-5541.

18 - University is Closed for Martin Luther King holiday.

19 - Spring Semester begins.

21-22 - 5th Annual I-29 Dairy Conference, Best Western Ramkota Inn, 3200 Maple Street, Sioux Falls, SD. Contact: JW Schroeder, 701-231-7663.

27 - Legislative Briefing and Reception (5:30-7:30 p.m.), McNamara Alumni Center, Memorial Hall, 200 Oak Street SE, Minneapolis.

- February 2010 -

2-4 - Dairy Management Workshops, St. Cloud, New Ulm and Rochester. Contact: Jim Salfer, 320-203-6093 or Minnesota Milk, 763-355-9697 or 877-577-0741 (toll-free).

2-5 and 8-12 - Minnesota Cow-Calf Days (10 locations). Contact: Ryon Walker, 763-767-3847 or Lori Schott, 320-225-5055.

- March 2010 -

15-19 - Spring Break

- April 2010 -

12-17 - Minn Royal, U of M St. Paul Campus.