AnSci Connection
The newsletter of the Department of Animal Science

October 2007

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

This past week the University of Minnesota Extension held its annual program conference. As part of the conference, Deans from five colleges and the Humphrey Institute discussed Extension and Public Outreach in their respective academic units. All of the Deans highlighted several programs and examples where Extension was an integral part of their programs and the importance of public outreach to the success of their units. It was evident that Extension is a central entity to the University’s public service mission:

Extend, apply, and exchange knowledge between the University and society by applying scholarly expertise to community problems, by helping organizations and individuals respond to their changing environments, and by making the knowledge and resources created and preserved at the University accessible to the citizens of the state, the nation and the world.

For those of us in Animal Science, the week and annual conference was especially exciting. During the week, Deans Durgan (Extension) and Levine (CFANS) announced a new faculty position will be available in animal products (meat science). This position will focus on extension programming and research in animal product quality and safety. Support for this position exemplifies how the University responds and serves the needs of clientele groups and the public in general. This position will interact with many segments of Minnesota’s livestock industry. Animal agriculture is a significant contributor to the state’s overall economy and the University will make a major contribution to animal agriculture through enhanced animal product research and education programs.  

Minnesota ranks sixth nationally in red meat production and has over 100 companies that process animals and animal products. These processing companies have education and research needs in food safety, meat quality, nutrition and new product development. The individual in this new faculty position will work in the CFANS initiative area of Healthy Foods and with these companies to meet their needs. They also will be a key linkage between faculty on campus and Regional Extension Educators. The person will cut across departmental lines collaborating with faculty in both Animal Science and Food Science and Nutrition. They will also provide the academic resource needed to enhance the strong applied meats program and operation Pete Nelson has established as Supervisor of the Meat Laboratory. Visit the Animal Science website at http://www.ansci.umn.edu/meatlab.htm and view the many products Pete and his colleague Michael have on special for Octoberfest.

We are excited about this position and look forward to working with and serving animal agriculture through the extension and research programs related to this position. We will be sending out position announcements and initiating a search for this new faculty position within a few weeks.
 

Animal Science Student Gains Experience on Swine Field Trial
Source: Melissa Marthaler, Ralco Nutrition, Inc.

Every swine producer has seen the last couple of piglets born in a litter. They are undersized, have a tough time getting on their feet and many won’t live beyond 24 hours. However, on a farm east of Marshall, MN, a student from the U of M conducted a field trial that may save many of those piglets and in turn add profit to a swine producer’s bottom line.

The trial was a partnership between local swine producer, Greg Boerboom and Ralco Nutrition, Inc. U of M student Jenna Pomerenke served an internship at Ralco and conducted the field trial at Boerboom’s extensive farrow-to-wean operation. The product studied was First Pulse D™, a refined colostrum-based product designed to stimulate appetite and the immune system, which are both crucial to the tiniest piglets.

Pomerenke, who studies Animal Science at the U of M, had no preconceptions heading into the trial, but she understood that there are untapped profits to be gained from piglets in the bottom 20 percent of birth weight.

“I think it is important for people to realize that this study focuses on the ‘opportunity pigs’. A lot of people give up on them, and it’s important for people to know that there is profit in these pigs,” Pomerenke said. “These are healthy pigs, but the smallest ones of the litter.”

During the trial, 165 litters were involved. An entire litter was weighed and the two smallest piglets were set aside. One piglet received a dose of First Pulse D™ while the other did not. A flip of the coin determined which received the treatment. The piglets were then tagged and returned to the sow. The piglets involved in the study were very small, weighing a minimum of one and a half pounds.

The internship at Ralco was Pomerenke’s first, and she was the first intern to work at Boerboom’s facilities. Site manager Chad Cole said having Pomerenke at the facility provided him with an up close view of how First Pulse D™ really works in the pen.

“We hadn’t had a problem with scours, but what I have noticed is that pigs born later in the birthing process, they didn’t look very good, but this product saved them,” Cole said.

Results of the study will be published in scientific journals. Pomerenke agreed with Cole and said the data looks encouraging. However, Pomerenke has taken more than data with her back to the U of M. She returned with the experience and knowledge a partnership between a local swine producer and local business provided.

“This is my first internship and I absolutely loved it,” she said.

Jenna Pomerenke holds a First Pulse D™
drench gun and piglet at the Greg Boerboom
farm east of Marshall.

U of M Team Placed 2nd in Accelerated Genetics Dairy Cattle Judging Contest

The U of M placed 2nd overall among 14 teams in the collegiate dairy cattle judging contest hosted by Accelerated Genetics on September 16 at the Vernon County Fair, Viroqua, WI. The Minnesota team also placed 3rd in Jersey, 4th in Holstein, and 5th in Ayrshire.

Team members were: Adam Husfeldt (Gaylord, MN); Jamie Seitzer (St. Peter, MN); Missy Dohrn (Lake City, MN); and Clayton Krause and Theresa Krause (both of Eagle Bend, MN). All five are in their junior year at the U of M.

Individually, Husfeldt was 5th overall and 4th in Holstein, and Seizer was 8th overall and 6th in oral reasons.

The top five teams were: 1) Iowa State University; 2) University of Minnesota; 3) University of Wisconsin-River Falls; 4) University of Wisconsin-Madison; 5) University of Illinois.

Dr. Les Hansen coaches the dairy cattle judging teams for the U of M along with three alumni: Scott Ellinghuysen, Tara Sammon, and Alicia Thurk.

Second place team in the Accelerated Genetics collegiate dairy cattle judging contest from the U of M (L-R): Dr. Les Hansen, coach; Tara Sammon, coach; Clayton Krause, Eagle Bend; Theresa Krause, Eagle Bend; Jamie Seitzer, St. Peter; Adam Husfeldt, Gaylord; Missy Dohrn, Lake City; Alicia Thurk, coach; and Scott Ellinghuysen, coach.

Gopher Dairy Club Awards $18,500 in Scholarships

Twelve incoming freshmen with interest in the dairy industry received scholarships from the Gopher Dairy Club this fall. Recipients were selected based on achievement, leadership and interest in the dairy industry.

Megan Herberg of St. Peter, MN, was awarded the one $2,000 Douglas Siem Memorial Award. The Douglas Siem Memorial Award has been given to the highest ranking applicant among those applying for new student scholarships since 2005 in memory of Douglas Siem, a past club member.

Eleven additional students were awarded $1,500 scholarships: Kevin Borst (Rochester, MN), Scott Helgeson (Rose Creek, MN), Jessie Ingvalson (Caledonia,MN), Catlin Kasper (Owatonna, MN), Ellie Opitz (Cold Spring, MN), Brenda Reiter (Elgin, MN), Zachary Sawall (Clintonville, WI), Brandon Thesing (Winona, MN), Abby Udermann (Sartell, MN), Pamela VonRuden (Claremont, MN), and Robert Westman (Howard Lake, MN).

The Gopher Dairy Bar, run by the Gopher Dairy Club during the Minnesota State Fair, provides the funding for these scholarships.
 

Award Winners Announced

The Animal Sciences graduate program announced the winners of the Babcock Award for Excellence in Swine Research and the John D. Donker Dairy Science Award at the Animal Sciences seminar on October 15th. Masters students Roberta Amaral, Alex Drescher, and Sarah Schieck received the Babcock Award. Doctoral student Greg Golombeski and Masters student Martín Ruiz Moreno were this year's recipients of the Donker Award.  Roberta has been working with advisor Lee Johnston on assessing the energy content of corn distiller's dried grains (DDG) and its effect on growth performance and pork fat quality in growing-finishing pigs.

Award winners (L-R): Roberta Amaral, Alex Drescher, Greg Golombeski, Martín Ruiz Moreno, Sarah Schieck.

Alex is under the advisement of Jerry Shurson. His research is focused on advancing our understanding of distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in the formulation of swine diets. 

Sarah, who is also advised by Lee Johnston, is conducting research on the effects of incorporating crude glycerol into swine diets. 

Greg's research, conducted in the lab of advisor Jim Linn, evaluates trace mineral nutrition of dry dairy cows and its effect on colostrum quality, absorption of immuoglobulins by the calf, and trace mineral status of the dam pre- and post-partum. 

Martín's Masters research, conducted under the advisement of Marshall Stern, has focused on the use of Yucca schidigera extract as a means of improving rumen health and productivity. Upon completion of his Masters program in November 2007, Martín will be pursuing a Ph.D. degree, with Marshall Stern remaining as his advisor. He will be looking at the use of active dry yeasts and saponin-rich vegetal extracts as rumen modifiers and their effect on rumen metabolism in dairy cows. 
 

U of M Swine Continue to Do Well at State Fair

The U of M Block and Bridle Club and the St. Paul Campus Swine Barn went away with great awards for the second year at the Minnesota State Fair Open Class Swine Show.

Four breeding stock were exhibited and all of them won their individual classes. The four also received the honors of Reserve Champion Yorkshire Gilt, Reserve Champion Yorkshire Boar, highest selling York Gilt, and 3rd highest selling York gilt.

Congratulations!
 

Grad Students and Others Meet with Dr. Temple Grandin

Animal Sciences graduate students had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Temple Grandin for an informal discussion about her work. Dr. Grandin is a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University and best selling author of Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior. She is a noted animal behaviorist and one of the nation's top designers of humane livestock handling facilities.

Graduate students and several faculty and staff members asked questions and listened to Dr. Grandin’s comments on some of the research being conducted in the Department of Animal Science. Dr. Grandin looks at the big picture and how things are tied together, which made her comments especially interesting. Her no nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is style made the discussion lively and enjoyable.

Graduate Club President Jamie Larson said, “I think we all enjoyed hearing her perspective and perhaps thought about some things a little differently after the discussion.”
   

Scholarship Opportunity: Colvin Scholarship Fund

The Colvin Scholarship Fund was developed in 1999 when Louis M. “Mick” Colvin retired as Executive Director of the Certified Angus Beef Program. The scholarship recognizes Colvin's role in making dreams a reality and inspiring others to be their best. Colvin co-founded the Certified Angus Beef Program in 1978, leading it to provide the world’s top brand of fresh beef. This scholarship benefits tomorrow’s leaders who are involved in their communities and the beef industry.

Requirements and application forms for the Colvin Scholarship may be obtained at: http://www.certifiedangusbeef.com/press/csf/index.php

Applications must be postmarked by December 17, 2007. For more information, please contact Joanna Ruegsegger at 800-225-2333, ext. 268.
 

Government Job and Internship Fair

A large number of agriculturally-minded companies and organizations are scheduled to participate in the Government Job and Internship Fair on Monday, October 22. The internship fair will be held in the Great Hall of Coffman Union on the U of M Minneapolis Campus from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

To see a complete list of businesses attending, please visit http://www.mcucsa.org/govjobfair/GovFrame.htm and click on "Employers" on the upper left of the page.

If you need assistance with preparing a resume for the event, please contact the St. Paul Career Center at 612-624-2710. For more information about the St. Paul Career Center, see www.stpaulcareers.umn.edu.
 

2007-08 Twin Cities Ag Issues Round Table

Date: Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Location: Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Minneapolis
Speaker: Larry Lev, Oregon State University
Topic: Demystifying Farmers’ Markets

Larry Lev is a Professor and Extension Marketing Economist at Oregon State University who is currently a Senior Fellow working on a research and outreach program in CFANS here at the U of M. While he's here, he will be focusing on successful management of farmers' markets and on strategies for strengthening local food systems.

Internationally recognized for his insight of factors critical to successful farmers’ markets, Lev will examine the latest growth in farmers’ markets and provide thoughts on these critical factors in his Round Table discussions.  

Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. with lunch at noon, followed by the program and discussion. The luncheon fee is $30 and advance reservations are necessary.

For more information or to make a reservation, please contact Sue Pohlod at 612-625-8779.
  

Campus Community Discussion Forums: UMore Park Planning

UMore Park, the U of M Outreach, Research and Education park, is the largest (5,000 acres) contiguous property in the U.S. that is owned by a land grant university. The vision to build a University-founded community at UMore Park was affirmed by the U’s Board of Regents in November 2006. The vision is detailed in Creating the Vision: The Future of UMore Park.

Campus community discussion forums on Developing a New Community at UMore Park: Integrating University Research, Education and Public Engagement are scheduled for November 8 at the North Star Ballroom on the U of M St. Paul Campus and November 9 in the President’s Room, Coffman Union, Minneapolis Campus.

The sessions will begin with a continental breakfast at 8:00 a.m. and then U of M Vice President Charles Muscoplat will open the forums at 8:15 with an overview of the vision for a new community on the UMore Park property followed by Q&A. The academic mission task forces and co-chairs will be introduced at 9:00 and breakout sessions with brief presentations and discussions will run from 9:15 to 10:15. Breakout sessions will cover: Education; Energy; Environment; Health; Interdisciplinary Opportunities (arts and culture, technology, diversity, housing, etc.); Transportation.

The forums will end with a summary and closing remarks, adjourning at 10:30.
 

UMore Park Open House: Turkey Media Day

Turkey Media Day, the open house to be held at UMore Park in Rosemount on November 14th, will feature a flock of young turkey hens and highlight current research in the area of ammonia emissions as related to poultry production.

To find out more about Turkey Media Day, please contact Dr. Sally Noll at 612-624-4928.
  

Turkey Research Review Highlights U of M Research

The Minnesota Turkey Growers Association hosted the Turkey Research Review and Avian Pnuemovirus (APV) Symposium on September 27th in Willmar, MN. The meeting allowed U of M researchers and others to report on current turkey industry research funded by the MTGA and other sources.

Faculty and staff from the  Department of Animal Science (Drs. Mohamed El Halawani, Sally Noll and Doug Foster, and Research Associate Hayet Abbassi) presented research information on turkey breeder hen lighting, feeding of distillers grains to market turkeys, development of biomarkers for APV, and improving diagnostic tests for APV.

Additional U of M research was presented by faculty from CFANS and CVM on environmental impacts of turkey litter, turkey facility air emissions, and development of improved vaccines for APV. Approximately sixty people were in attendance.

Prior to the meeting on the 27th, the MTGA hosted an industry tour of the nation's largest turkey hatchery (Willmar Poultry Company, Willmar, MN), followed by a tour of a large turkey farm and processing facilities at Jennie-O. They finished with a tour of the MinnWest Technology Campus, the new home of Life Sciences which is the umbrella company for Willmar Poultry.

Besides U of M participants, the tour also was attended by members of the MTGA Board of Directors and other allied industry representatives. The tour highlighted the numerous opportunities for different types of positions in the poultry industry and the rapid development and utilization of technology in the industry.

During the two days, students that have participated in the Midwest Poultry Consortium’s Center of Excellence (COE) program popped up in various places. A graduate of the program (Michelle Behl) is employed by the Willmar Poultry Company hatchery. Another student, Marie Zendon, is completing an internship at Jennie-O Turkey Store.

Michelle Behl (former COE graduate) shows the tour group how the hatching egg transfer equipment works. Also shown in the photo is Grant Shold (Land O'Lakes) and Lara Durben (MTGA).
 

Second Annual Staff and Faculty Appreciation Breakfast Held

The Animal Sciences Graduate Club hosted the 2nd Annual Appreciation Breakfast to express their appreciation for all that faculty and staff in the Department do for them. The more than thirty people who attended the September 21st event were treated to a delicious breakfast of blueberry pancakes, bacon and sausage from the department's meat lab, fresh fruit, and Dan Carlson's own recipe for "green eggs" (a kicked up scrambled egg concoction loaded with spinach, jalapeño peppers, onions, and feta cheese).

Faculty and staff enjoyed the meal and hope it becomes an annual tradition!

“Thank You” to all the graduate students who helped make the event possible.
 

State FFA Fall CDE Invitational Held

Minnesota FFA members traveled to the U of M St. Paul Campus on October 9th for the State FFA Fall Invitational Agricultural Education Career Development Event (CDE).

The Dairy Cattle, General Livestock, Horse, Poultry and Soils CDEs were once again a success thanks to the help from the Gopher Dairy Club, Block & Bridle, and AgEd Club, and the expertise of Drs. Tony Seykora and Jacqueline Jacob, and Youth Leadership/Livestock Specialist Kyle Rozeboom.

Event results are posted on the web at: https://webapps.cfans.umn.edu/FFA/CDE/dfiles/fallResult.htm.
  

FREE Matlab, Mathematica, Simulink Software Licenses for CFANS Students

The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) makes Mathematica, Matlab and Simulink available to its students for use on their own personal computers.

Only one copy per person is permitted. Faculty and staff may not use this software in this manner.

Students may download a CD image of one of the versions of the products to run on their Windows 2000/XP/Vista (32-bit or 64-bit) system, MacOS X (PowerPC-based or Intel-based) system, or their Linux (32-bit or 64-bit) system.

The license period is for one year and is renewable as long as you remain a student. The licensing year starts on July 1.

Please follow this link (https://webapps.cfans.umn.edu/StudentSW) to access the download site. Students will be required to authenticate via their x.500 accounts.

If problems are encountered while accessing the installation files, please email cfans.help@umn.edu.
 

Join the Alumni Association in Supporting the U

The U of M Alumni Association (UMAA) works to build a better University for everyone on campus. The UMAA is about advocating for educational excellence and building pride and spirit. Recognizing outstanding professors, advocating for new research buildings at the legislature, and helping to provide mentors for students are just a few of the ways that they support the U.

For a limited time, the UMAA is offering U of M faculty and staff a special two-year membership for the price of one year – just $40! You can activate or renew your membership at http://www.alumni.umn.edu/membership or call the UMAA at 612-624-9658 (be sure to mention promotion code N8EME to receive the special employee rate).

As an alumni association member, you can take advantage of many rewards, including the award-winning magazine Minnesota; a 10% discount at the University Bookstore, Gold Country, and DAmico Café inside the McNamara Alumni Center; special access to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Bell Museum of Natural History, the Raptor Center, and the Minnesota Centennial Showboat; and much more.

To learn more about the work that UMAA does on behalf of the University, please see the UMAA 2007 Year in Review by clicking here or accessing the Windows Media presentation from their web page.
 

Bhupinder Juneja

Bhupinder Juneja grew up in Chandigarh, India. He received his B.E. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh, and is currently seeking his Ph.D. in Animal Science with advisement from Dr. Scott Fahrenkrug.

Bhupi’s research interests involve studying computational approaches to harvesting functional gene annotation, developing approaches to analyze and integrate diverse micro array data, and the study of systems biology with focus on machine learning, data mining and artificial intelligence (AI).

Bhupi's current hobby is working on making an AI-based poker agent that is capable of competing with other agents online.
 

Ahnna Olson was hired as the new Student Office Assistant in 305 Haecker and started her position early in September. Ahnna is a junior in Agriculture Industries and Marketing with an emphasis in Animal Science.

Dr. Mike Schmitt assumed the role of Senior Associate Dean for U of M Extension effective October 15th. Mike will provide leadership and vision for Extension research-based educational programs in all five capacity areas: agriculture, food and environment; community vitality; family development; natural resources and youth development. He will also lead grants development systems and manage faculty and academic staff development efforts. Mike will also serve as Associate Director of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.
 

Dr. Yang Da, Project Director, received a $450,000 USDA grant entitled “Genome signature of artificial selection and genome-wide association analysis in Holstein cows." Period: 1/1/08-12/31/10.

Dr. Scott Fahrenkrug, PI, received full funding ($450,000) of a USDA grant entitled "Multipotent adult progenitor cells for efficient pig genetic modification and cloning." Period: 1/1/08-12/31/10.
  

- October 2007 -

2-6 - World Dairy Expo, Madison, WI.

9 - State FFA Fall Invitational CDEs, U of M St. Paul Campus.

15 - Equine Center Grand Opening and Ribbon-Cutting, 2 p.m., 1530 Fairview Avenue, U of M St. Paul Campus.

18-21 - Minnesota Beef Expo, Minnesota State Fairgrounds, St. Paul, MN. For more information, please call 651-643-6476 or email info@mnbeefexpo.com.

22 - Government Job and Internship Fair, Great Hall, Coffman Memorial Union, U of M Minneapolis Campus. 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

22-23 - Biofuels, Carbon and Trade Conference: Leadership Challenges for the Interdependent Americas, Mississippi Room, Coffman Memorial Union, U of M Minneapolis Campus.

23 thru Nov 27 - Annie's Project - Risk Management Education for Women, Scott County Government Center, Shakopee. Contact: Laura Kieser, 952-492-5386 or 952-466-5306.

24 - 2007-08 Twin Cities Ag Issues Round Table: Demystifying Farmers' Markets, Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Minneapolis, MN. For more information, please contact Sue Pohlod at 612-625-8779.

24-27 - National FFA Convention, Indianapolis, IN.

26 - Ben Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center Building Dedication and Open House, 1964 Fitch Avenue, U of M St. Paul Campus. 4:00-6:00 p.m.

29 Thru Nov 3 - Homecoming week, U of M Twin Cities Campus.

- November 2007 -

14 - Turkey Media Day, Turkey Research Unit, UMore Park, Rosemount, MN. Contact: Sally Noll at 612-624-4928 or nollx001@umn.edu.

14-15 - National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference, Louisville, KY.

22-23 - Thanksgiving holiday (U of M-TC is closed).

- December 2007 -

4-5 - Midwest Dairy Expo, St. Cloud Civic Center. Contact: Eir Garcia-Silva, MMPA, 320-203- 8336, or Jim Salfer, U of M Extension, 320-203-6093.

13-14 - Artificial Insemination in Swine Training Course, Southern ROC, Waseca. Contact: Mark Whitney, 507-389-5541. (Note date change.)

20 - Fall semester ends.

24-25 - Christmas holiday (U of M-TC is closed).

- January 2008 -

1 - New Year's holiday (U of M-TC is closed).

16 - Winter Crops Day, Waseca and Lake Crystal, MN. For more information, contact: Southern Research and Outreach Center at 507-835-2620.

17 - Winter Crops Day, Kasson and Wykoff, MN. For more information, contact: Southern Research and Outreach Center at 507-835-2620.

21 - Martin Luther King holiday (U of M-TC is closed).

22 - Spring semester classes begin.

- February 2008 -

6 - Environmental Internship and Career Fair, North Star Ballroom, Student Center, U of M St. Paul Campus. 10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

8-9 – Northern Plains Sustainable Ag Society (NPSAS) 29th Annual Winter Conference, Seven Seas, Mandan, ND. For more information, contact NPSAS at 701-883-4304 or visit www.npsas.org.

- March 2008 -

17-21 - Spring break.

21 - Floating holiday (U of M-TC is closed). 

- April 2008 -

28-30 – State FFA Convention, U of M St. Paul Campus.