AnSci Connection
The newsletter of the Department of Animal Science

September 2007

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

Once again fall semester starts and we welcome students to campus. Again this year, the Animal Science major has the largest number of incoming freshmen with 92 students. Approximately one-third of all the new freshmen in CFANS are enrolled in the Animal Science major. Add to this freshmen number another 20 transfer students into Animal Science and it is obvious why we are excited for fall semester to begin. Our total undergraduate enrollment in Animal Science exceeds 350 students and remains the largest single major in the college.

There are several reasons Animal Science programs will continue to grow, but none more obvious than the participation and support for the 4H and FFA shows and contests during the Minnesota State Fair. Youth interest in these programs continues to grow and the competition gets tougher every year. The declining number of young people directly from farms has been countered by lease programs, which allow non-farm students to participate and show livestock. The 4H and FFA programs not only teach young people about caring for animals, responsibility and instill a good work ethic, they also provide opportunities to learn about agriculture and where our food originates. They are terrific opportunities to get these young people thinking about a college education and a career in animal agriculture. 

It is a great time to be in animal science and agriculture. There is more interest in a safe and wholesome food supply today then ever before. People are interested in where their food comes from and the quality. They look for healthy foods and nutrition-enhanced foods. All of this means a greater diversity of career opportunities in animal science beyond the farm. For anyone interested in veterinary medicine, there is a need for food animal practitioners. The Vet-Fast program, through Animal Science, is an excellent accelerated way of getting into veterinary school for those interested in food animal practice. All the students from the 2007 graduating class in Animal Science by now either have employment in the industry, returned home to the farm, or were accepted into graduate school or a professional school like veterinary medicine.

Animal science isn’t just about farm animals. Our companion animal and horse programs continue to grow. Employment in these areas will also grow as industries offer more services, products and information on companion animal care and nutrition. The opening of the new Equine Center in Veterinary Medicine this October is sure to generate even more interest in horse programs. 

Students in the Animal Science curriculum receive a strong science and applied program. The curriculum is full of opportunities to discover science from the very basic to the applied level. Many of the Animal Science courses have classes in our barns where students get hands-on experience and an opportunity to explore the world of animals.  There also are several classes where students go to commercial farms to learn and to apply their classroom knowledge. Outside the classroom, there are several very active clubs in which our students participate. They can join the Gopher Dairy Club (the largest club at the University of Minnesota), Block and Bridle, Poultry Club, Pre-Vet Club, Equestrian Club or the pre-PAM (Production Animal Medicine) Club. Participating in club activities is a valuable part of a student’s education building citizenship and creating life long friendships.

We in Animal Science have had a busy summer and particularly busy last few weeks at the Fair. Our pace will increase with classes resuming this week. However, our commitment to providing students with the highest quality education will not decrease. The field of animal science is vibrant and growing. We are proud to be contributing to the success of our students and the future of the animal sciences.  
   

News and Announcements

Linn Appointed Animal Science Department Head

Dr. James Linn became the Head of the Department of Animal Science effective June 11, 2007. Dr. Linn has served as Interim Head of the Department since February of 2006.

Jim is nationally recognized as an excellent dairy nutrition researcher and educator, and has been an Animal Science faculty member since 1979. He is a past president of the Midwest American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) and recently served on the Board of Directors of ADSA. He has authored numerous scientific publications, including the National Research Council Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle and most recently Mineral Tolerances of Animals. In addition, he has written many extension and popular press articles over the years. Throughout his career, he has participated in many interdisciplinary initiatives, having worked with colleagues in Agronomy, Agricultural Engineering, Plant Pathology, Applied Economics, and Veterinary Medicine.

The Department is extremely pleased to have Jim continue in this important leadership role.
 

MLBA Elects New VP

Dr. James Linn was recently appointed Vice President of the Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association (MLBA). This appointment is a great honor. MLBA is an important organization for the Department to be interacting with as it represents beef, dairy, horses, sheep and swine producers and industries in Minnesota.

The MLBA Hall of Fame is located in Haecker Hall and recognizes people who have made significant contributions to the livestock industry in Minnesota. The MLBA also is very active in, and supportive of, many youth livestock programs across Minnesota.

Find out more about the MLBA at http://www.mnlivestockbreeders.org/.
 

Four U of M Graduates Start Dairy Operations
Source: Agri-News, June 5, 2007

Mike McAndrews, Tom Peterson, Tara Sammon and Alicia Thurk are all starting up dairy operations within 30 miles of each other in Stearns County. The four U of M graduates are all friends who share a desire to be successful in dairying without running up a huge debt.
 
Mike McAndrews graduated from the U of M in 2000 with a degree in animal and plant systems. He worked as a herdsman on a dairy farm in Mantorville, MN, for 4 years after college. Eventually Mike decided to rent a barn in Rosemount and milk cows.

In March 2006, Mike moved 70 cows to a farm near Sauk Centre and then purchased 70 more. He currently milks more than 200 cows and is hoping to expand slowly to 250. After that, he will consider adding on to his existing facility.

Tom Peterson majored in dairy production at the U of M and after graduating in 2001, worked as a dairy nutritionist for Cargill. After 5 years at Cargill, Tom left his job to work on a dairy farm owned by his friend and fellow U of M classmate, Mike McAndrews.

Since December 2006, Tom has been renting a barn for his herd of 35 Jerseys from a former client, Gary Marthaler. Gary had an empty barn and feed in the silos after selling his herd in 2005. Tom has a 2-year lease on the barn and he pays for feed. Gary provides the forage and handles all the manure. Tom is thinking about renovating so he can accommodate another 10 to 15 cows. Eventually Tom hopes to reduce his debt so that he can increase his herd to 100 cows and buy his own facility.

Tara Sammon graduated from the U of M in 2003 with a degree in applied economics. She has worked for Farm Bureau and soon will start a new position with the Minnesota Farm and Food Coalition, which will allow her to work from a home office.

In early 2007, Tara became engaged to Nick Meyer who grew up on a farm in Sauk Centre. Nick studied dairy management at Ridgewater College and in January 2006, he purchased the family farm from his parents. They had built a new freestall barn in 2003, and in 2004 added a double 8 parallel milking parlor.

Nick currently milks 150 cows and has future plans to increase the herd. Together, Nick and Tara plan to remodel a tie-stall facility into a calf barn and turn a couple of existing calf buildings into transitional facilities.

Alicia Thurk received a degree in animal production systems with an emphasis in dairy from the U of M. After graduating in 2002, she worked for Genex for 4 years. When her parents considered selling the family farm near Villard, MN, Alicia decided she’d like to take it over. However, to be sure that dairying was for her, Alicia agreed to work for wages from her parents for one year.

Alicia currently milks 30 cows three times per day in a tie-stall barn. Her parents are in semi-retirement but continue to work on the farm. Alicia says she is definitely going to stay but she’s looking at options for the farm’s future. She wants to slowly increase herd size but expansion is limited on the family farm because of nearby slough and drainage.
 

Golombeski Receives Two Scholarships

Doctoral student Greg Golombeski received two scholarships totaling $28,000 for his research on enhancing the trace mineral status of replacement heifers through transition cow management.

Greg was one of two recipients of the John Brandt Memorial Scholarship awarded by the Land O’Lakes Foundation, the charitable arm of Land O’Lakes, Inc. The award is available to students pursuing dairy-related degrees at Iowa State University, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, South Dakota State University or the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Scholarships are awarded annually to deserving candidates who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and aptitude toward their field of study.

Just weeks after receiving the his first award, Greg was pleased to find he was also selected as one of four recipients of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) National Dairy Leadership Scholarship. The NMPF National Dairy Leadership Scholarship is awarded each year to graduate students pursuing dairy-related research that is of immediate interest to the dairy industry.

Congratulations, Greg!
  

Carlson Wins John Clark Student Fellowship Award

Doctoral student Dan Carlson received the John Clark Student Fellowship Award for his work, Highly efficient germline transgenesis and RNA interference in the mouse using methylated Sleeping Beauty transposons and progress towards a pig model of cystic fibrosis (CF).

Dan displayed his work in a poster session at the U.C. Davis Transgenic Animal Research Conference VI held August 12-16, 2007, in Tahoe City, CA.

The fellowship, sponsored by The Roslin Institute in the U.K., is awarded based on a student's involvement and presentation of research in the field of genetic engineering in animals.

Great job, Dan!
  

Meat Lab Cooks for Ag Open House

U of M Meat Laboratory personnel, with assistance from Department of Animal Science students, staff and faculty, barbequed hamburgers and hot dogs for over 350 customers on July 19th during the St. Paul Campus Agriculture Open House. 

On display were photographs of meat lab activities to educate visitors, highlight research conducted in the lab and showcase the many products available for sale. 

All meat handled and processed at the U of M Meat Lab is done under government regulations and inspection. Receipts from sales (including those from the Ag Open House) support the operational costs of the Meat Lab facility.

Meat Lab Supervisor Pete Nelson said of the Thursday evening event "Having opportunities for the public to see some of what is happening at this St. Paul campus is very important. Those visitors are the taxpayers who help fund the education and research that happens here. We here at the Andrew Boss Meat Lab were pleased to be such an important part of the evenings festivities. For us it was more fun than work."

Detailed information about the Meat Lab, as well as products available for purchase, may be found on the web at: http://www.ansci.umn.edu/meatlab.htm.
  

Meat Lab Now Offers Lamb

The Animal Science Meat Lab Sales Room is now offering a nice selection of lamb products as well as turkey products, organic fed chickens, and organic eggs. The lamb was raised at the West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris, and the turkey raised at UMore Park, Rosemount.

Please check the website (http://www.ansci.umn.edu/meatlab.htm) for more great meat items, specials and recipes.
  

World on a Plate Potluck Lunch

The Department of Animal Science is hosting World on a Plate, an international potluck lunch, on Friday, September 14, 2007 at noon.

You are invited to bring a dish to share from a country or cultural background of your choice. Your dish may reflect your own nationality if you like, but this is only one option. Both homemade and store-bought contributions will be welcome.

If you choose not to bring a dish, please join us for the food, fun and camaraderie. The event will be held in 365 Haecker Hall on the St. Paul Campus.
  

Ag Animal Care Guide to be Revised

The Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) has put together committees to work on revising the Ag Animal Care Guide. A website (http://www.fass.org/agguidecomments.asp) has been set up to solicit comments, etc., on the Guide.

Comments are due by early November. It is important to get comments into FASS as revisions are few and far between.
  

4-Hers Show Off Poultry Projects at Fair

Two hundred and forty 4-Hers participated in the 4-H Poultry Show at the Minnesota State Fair this year with projects varying from pigeons to geese and everything in between. The purple ribbon winners may be found online at http://www.fourh.umn.edu/fairresults/.

Also held during the State Fair was the 4-H State Poultry Judging Contest. The contest involves grading eggs for exterior and interior quality, grading ready-to-cook chicken carcasses, identification of chicken parts, and placing classes of past production hens. The participants are required to give oral reasons on one of the classes, then they have two minutes to summarize their reasons for placing the class the way they did. 

The top non-seniors were Eli Gindele of Wright County, John DeBuhr of Stevens County, and Mikaela Wemeier of Sibley County. The top four senior participants are eligible to represent Minnesota in the National Poultry Judging Contest. It was a close competition with 0.3 points separating the top three contestants.

Alex Hohenstein and Alyssa Nelson of Jackson County were tied for first, but the tie was broken on oral reasons giving Alex a first place finish. Stefan Swanson of Murray County placed third but declined the national trip. Reba Van Beusekom of Wright County placed fourth and Ike Pohlman of Jackson County placed fifth. Minnesota's poultry judging team, therefore, will be composed of Alex Hohenstein, Alyssa Nelson and Ike Pohlman of Jackson County, and Reba Van Beusekom of Wright County.

The 4-H program is funded through a partnership of federal, state, county and private resources and is part of the University of Minnesota Extension.
  

Not too Early to Start Thinking About Summer Poultry Course

It’s not too early to start thinking about the The Midwest Poultry Consortium/Center of Excellence Program held during the summer at the UW-Madison. The program is for undergraduate students interested in Poultry Science careers.

The application deadline will be in the Spring of 2008. Poultry Science faculty from 11 states participate in the teaching of six courses in 2-week blocks. Internships are available before and after the summer session.  

Contact Dr. Sally Noll (nollx001@umn.edu) for information, or visit the following website: http://www.mwpoultry.org/GeneralInfo.html.
  

Join Us for the 68th Minnesota Nutrition Conference

Please join us for the 68th Minnesota Nutrition Conference to be held on September 18-19, 2007, at the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis North Hotel in Brooklyn Center. This year's conference features the University of Minnesota Research Update, a symposium entitled "Meeting the Energy Needs of Livestock in the Biofuel Age," a poster session featuring U of M and industry research results, and sessions related to nutrition of dairy cows, beef cattle, poultry and swine. 

Go the MN Nutrition Conference website at http://www.cce.umn.edu/conferences/mnnutrition/ for all the details. U of M Department of Animal Science faculty and students may register free of charge. Just download a registration form, complete it and fax or mail to the indicated location.

Contact Lee Johnston (johnstlj@morris.umn.edu) if you have any questions.
 

Turkey Research Review to be Held September 27

The Minnesota Turkey Research and Promotion Council (MTRPC) is holding its annual Turkey Research Review and Avian Pneumovirus (APV) Symposium on September 27, 2007, at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center in Willmar, MN. Several U of M faculty will be presenting the results of their research.

The Turkey Research Review will begin with introductions at 9:00 a.m. and continue with the following presentations:

• Is turkey litter an asset or a liability: Crop production and environmental impacts of utilization on two field scales - John Moncrief
• Differential effects of wavelength on egg production of breeder hen turkeys - Mohamed El Halawani
• Maximizing alternative protein ingredient use in market turkey diets - Sally Noll
• Update of turkey barn air emissions monitoring - Hongwei Xin and Larry Jacobson

The APV Symposium will begin at 10:45 a.m. and include the following presentations:

• A marker vaccine for avian metapneumovirus - David Halvorson
• Biomarkers to identify AMPV vaccines from field challenges - Doug Foster
• Eradication of avian metapneumovirus in turkeys by inducing mucosal immunity with inactivated virus - Jagdev Sharma
• Development of an improved avian pneumovirus vaccine differentiable from wild virus - Sagar Goyal
• Cellulitis in turkeys: Control and pathogenesis - K.V. Nagaraja
• Recent research progress on AMPV studies by ARS - Qing Yu
• Vaccine protocol research - Sally Noll
• Update on APV in Iowa - Gretta Irwin

The program will adjourn at 3:00 p.m. Registration is $25.00 if pre-paid by the September 14th deadline, or $35.00 at the door. The fee includes a CD-ROM proceedings, continental breakfast and lunch.

To register, contact the MTRPC at 763-682-2171. For additional information, please contact Sally Noll at 612-624-4928 or nollx001@umn.edu.
 

Turkey Media Day is November 14

Turkey Media Day is scheduled for November 14, 2007, at the Turkey Research Unit at UMore Park in Rosemount. The Open House will feature a flock of young turkey hens and highlight current research in the area of ammonia emissions as related to poultry production.

For information, please contact Sally Noll at 612-624-4928 or nollx001@umn.edu.
  

Highlights of the 2007 PSA Annual Meeting

The 2007 Poultry Science Association meeting was held in conjunction with the ADSA/AMPA/ASAS joint annual meeting held in San Antonio, TX, in July. An important aspect of this meeting is presentation of scientific results.  Poultry scientists from Minnesota presented six abstracts at various sessions (Breeding and Genetics; Physiology; Nutrition):

Application of the Sleeping Beauty transposon system to avian cells.
B-W. Kong, L.K. Foster, and D.N. Foster

Clock gene expression in the premammillary nucleus (PMM) and the pineal gland of turkey hens.
B. Leclerc, S. Kang, A. Thayananuphat, C. Howell, S. Kosonsiriluk, Y. Chaiseha, and M.E. El Halawani

Dopamine-melatonin neurons in the turkey hypothalamus controlling seasonal reproduction.
S. Kang, A. Thayananuphat, T. Bakken, and M.E. El Halawani

Prolactin and luteinizing hormone proles during the reproductive cycle in the native Thai chicken.
S. Kosonsiriluk, N. Sartsoongnoen, N. Prakobsaeng, I. Rozenboim, M.E. El Halawani, and Y. Chaiseha

Response of market turkey toms to dietary protein and threonine levels in diets containing corn distillers dried grains.
S.L. Noll and J. Brannon

Nutritional value of corn distiller dried grains with solubles (DDGs): Influence of solubles addition.
S.L. Noll, J. Brannon, and C. Parsons

Abstracts from the meeting are available at the following website: http://adsa.psa.ampa.asas.org/meetings/2007/abstracts/TOC.htm.

At the business meeting, Sally Noll was elected to the position of second vice-president of the PSA Board of Directors.

Next years meeting (July 20-23, 2008) will be in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, and will be the Centennial Celebration for the Association. The event will highlight 100 years of PSA history and achievements and focus attention on new opportunities for poultry researchers and the industry. For more information, go to the following website: http://www.poultryscience.org/psa08/.

Universities are being requested to prepare a poster for presentation at the meeting as well as information about Departments of Poultry Science over the last 100 years for presentation in a book including both historical and current contributions to Poultry Science. If you have something you wish to contribute, please send to Sally Noll (nollx001@umn.edu) by September 30, 2007.
  

Gopher Dairy Club Members Travel to San Antonio for National ADSA

Five Gopher Dairy Club members, Brett Boyum, Mikki Czech, Missy Mussman, Jeff Pagel and Lucas Sjostrom, represented the U of M at the 2007 national meeting of the American Dairy Science Association held July 7-11 in San Antonio, TX. 

Lucas Sjostrom was elected secretary/treasurer of the national ADSA Student Affiliation Division for 2007-2008. The Gopher Dairy Club's yearbook, The Topline, was awarded 3rd place and their website placed 2nd. The quiz bowl team, comprised of Brett Boyum, Lucas Sjostrom, Missy Mussman and Jeff Pagel, beat Texas A&M in the first round and then in a close match, lost to eventual champion, Penn State. Missy Mussman received a "Gold" certificate for academic achievement at the awards banquet.

Congratulations!
 

Graduate Club Elects New Officers

The Animal Science Graduate Club elected new officers in June as follows:

President: Jamie Larson
Vice President: Nicolas Di Lorenzo
Treasurer: Dan Carlson
Council of Graduate Students (COGS) Representative: Amy Hazel

Jamie Larson will be handling all barn tour requests and other activities related to the Graduate Club. Questions about the Animal Science Graduate Club, may be directed to Jamie at 612-624-3063 or lars1664@umn.edu.
  

Shurson Travels to China

Dr. Jerry Shurson (photo at right) traveled to China May 21-June 2, 2007, where he presented seminars and met with key feed industry companies and large swine and poultry integrators to discuss the nutritional value and feeding applications of U.S. corn dried distiller's grains with solubles (DDGS). 

Jerry's travels took him to the cities of Fuzhou, Nanning and Guangzhou, all located in the southeastern part of China where the majority of pigs and broilers are produced. His trip was sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council and was part of their ongoing effort to promote the importation of U.S. DDGS in China for use as a feed ingredient in livestock and poultry feeds. 

Jerry also met with Mr. Xie Xiong-Ping, President of Guangdong Liangjie International Trading Company, which is the first company to import U.S. DDGS into China.
  

National Compost Dairy Barn Conference a Success!

The University of Minnesota hosted the National Compost Dairy Barn Conference on June 21 and 22, 2007. The conference drew a very diverse audience, with many attendees from out of state (18 states) and even out of the U.S. (8 different countries).

On June 21, most of the conference attendees participated on a tour of three compost dairy barns (Portners and Sellners in Sleepy Eye, and Johnsons in Heron Lake), which allowed participants to see the system first hand. 

The next day, participants gathered for a full-day classroom program that included speakers from the U of M CFANS, Animal Science, Soil Science, and Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering Departments; U of M Extension Service; U of M College of Veterinary Medicine; USDA Agriculture Research Service (ARS); Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Agriculture Utilization and Research Institute (AURI); and Minnesota Mulch and Soil.

We also had a producer panel with Dan Barka, Andrew Golberg, and Tom Portner. They each gave a virtual tour of their compost dairy barn operation and answered many questions from the audience about their management, satisfaction with the system, etc. 

The conference was a great opportunity to learn, interact with producers and researchers, and to have some fun. Thank you to all who attended the conference and to all of the speakers for doing a wonderful job. 

For those unable to attend the conference, proceedings are available (see the Extension Dairy website at www.extension.umn.edu/dairy or contact Bonnie Rae (phone: 612-624-4995; email: bjrae@umn.edu).

Above: Compost dairy barn.
  

Christians Celebrate 50th Wedding Anniversary

Dr. Charles and Betty Christians will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on September 14, 2007. The couple has lived in New Brighton since 1965 and have been very active in the community. Both Charles and Betty are graduates of Iowa State University where they met. Their three children, Linda, Cheryl and Neil, all graduated from Irondale High School in Mounds View, MN.

Charles is a professor emeritus of the U of M's Department of Animal Science. He retired in 1998 but has continued to work. He manages Dorsetdale Shepherd Farms, which is a cooperative of lamb producers that sell natural grown lamb in Twin Cities coop stores. And, at their Long Prairie farm, the Christians raise purebred Simmental and Angus beef cattle that are enjoyed by their children and grandchildren.

In 2005, Charles was honored by the Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association for his dedicated service and positive impact on the Minnesota livestock industry, and inducted into the Minnesota Livestock Hall of Fame located in Haecker Hall.

Betty has been active in Christ the King Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir and was involved in various women's groups.

The couple plans to hold a reception at Christ the King Lutheran Church between the morning services on Sunday, September 16. Also, an open house is planned for September 16 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at their home at 536 Inca Lane, New Brighton. For more information about the reception and open house, please contact Charles at 651-633-7598.

Congratulations, Charles and Betty!
  

Condolences from the Department of Animal Science

James Caswell Bryan
Our condolences to the family of James Caswell Bryan. Jim died at the age of 73 on May 14, 2007, at his home in Red Wing, MN. Jim was a 1954 graduate of the U of M School of Agriculture. He served in the National Guard for several years and farmed for many years in the Burnside area.

Jim devoted his life to agriculture. He served 50 years on the Goodhue County Fair Board; helped develop the Goodhue County Livestock Auction, which continued under his guidance for 31 years; served for 7 years on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board; was a member of the Minnesota Livestock Breeder’s Association; and he worked with 4-H programs and youth for many years.

Jim is survived by his wife, Sharon of Red Wing, 4 children, 11 grandchildren, 2 two sisters, 2 nieces and 3 nephews.

A memorial service was held at Christ Episcopal Church in Red Wing. Memorials preferred to Fairview Red Wing Hospice or the Christ Episcopal Book of Golden Memories.

~~~~~

Jack Leschner
Our condolences to farm animal attendant Fred Hrbeck on the loss of his brother, Jack Leschner, who died unexpectedly on August 2, 2007. Jack graduated from Balboa High School in the Panama Canal Zone in June of 1972. He worked at Sperry Univac (now Unisys) from September 1974 until August 2007.

Jack is survived by wife Rebecca, mother Ardith, 4 brothers, 3 sisters, and many nephew and nieces.

Jack's wishes were to have no wake or funeral services; however, friends and relatives will gather for a cookout in the fall to share their many good memories of Jack. 

~~~~~

Vickie Mikelonis
Our condolences to family and friends of Professor Vickie Mikelonis who passed away on August 14, 2007, after a two-year battle with cancer.

Professor Mikelonis became a faculty member with the U of M's Department of Rhetoric in 1980. Most recently she served as the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the B.S. in scientific and technical communication. Professor Mikelonis also taught courses in international and intercultural communication, grant writing, technical writing, and metaphor and schema theory.

A popular and respected scholar and teacher both in the Department of Rhetoric and across the University, Professor Mikelonis's classes were always filled to capacity. Her research focused on the challenges of intercultural communication in a digital age, and she spearheaded national institutes on technical communication.

A memorial Mass was held on August 24th at St. Andrews Catholic Church in St. Paul.
  

New on the Animal Science Website

Animal Science Judging Team Photos, which include: Livestock Judging Teams dating back to 1916; Dairy Cattle Judging Teams dating back to 1919; Poultry Judging Teams dating back to 1929; Meats Judging Teams dating back to 1933; the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Management Challenge Teams; Wool Judging Teams.
  

First FANS Picnic Hosted by Animal Science

Faculty, staff, students and friends (photos below) celebrated at the first summer picnic for the Division of Food, Animal and Nutritional Sciences (FANS). The event, held June 20, 2007, was hosted by the Department of Animal Science. Approximately 175 people attended on one of the most beautiful days of the summer.

Bratwurst and burgers were prepared and cooked by our own Peter Nelson and Michael Aggen from the Animal Science Meat Lab, and the Department of Food Science and Nutrition provided various flavors of ice cream from the Dairy Sales Room.

Our newly appointed Department Head, Jim Linn, presented the Outstanding Service Award to Michelle Duong for her dedicated service and commitment to the Department. The Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Doug Foster, presented the award for Outstanding M.S. Student to Amy Hazel and the Outstanding Doctoral Student Award went to Nicolas Di Lorenzo. Both students worked very hard over the past year and are very deserving of the awards.

Jamie Larson, incoming President of the Graduate Student Club, was honored to present the Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award to Dr. Cliff Lamb.

Congratulations to all the award recipients! And, thank you to all those who contributed to the preparation and execution of the picnic.

  

     

    

  

Karen Lobeck

Karen Lobeck is a first year graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in dairy management. Karen’s advisor is Dr. Marcia Endres. She will also be working with Drs. Kevin Janni and Sandra Godden.

Karen’s project will cover cow comfort and locomotion in three different housing types including compost, cross ventilated and natural ventilated freestall barns. She will begin visiting dairies sometime this month.

Karen is from Albany, WI, and grew up on a small dairy operation. The dairy cows have been sold, but Karen owns 25 head of registered shorthorns at the farm. Eventually she plans to own and manage a custom heifer raising facility, while maintaining the cow/calf herd. She also enjoys doing small construction jobs, running, and hanging out with friends.
  

Doctoral student Beka Gill left us for a full time position with the Colorado Cattlemen's Association. Beka became their Director of Industry Programs effective August 1st.

Dr. Inbae Kim from South Korea is the new post-doc who joined the swine nutrition group in August. His office will be located at 335G AnSc/Vet Med.

Jeanne and Jeff Knott have a new baby girl. Marin Ruth Knott was born on July 27, 2007. She weighed in at 8 lb 5 oz.

Department Head Jim Linn became a grandfather on June 8, 2007. Jim’s daughter Becky gave birth to an 8 lb, 15 oz baby boy. Becky and husband Jason Hildermann are the proud parents of their new son, Tyler James.

Jackson Thomas Knight is the newborn son of Mary Raeth-Knight and Rob Knight. Mary gave birth to their 6 lb, 11 oz baby boy on May 22, 2007.

Mary Raeth-Knight passed her prelims on August 27, 2007, and has advanced to candidacy for a Ph.D.

Katie Schiller successfully defended her Masters thesis on June 28, 2007. Title: Regulation of paracrine factors by bone and malignant cell interactions in an in vitro bone-tumor microenvironment model. Katie is currently working toward a Doctoral degree in the Comparative and Molecular Biosciences graduate program under the advisement of Dr. Scott O'Grady.

Si-Hung Wu successfully defended his Doctoral thesis on May 25, 2007. Title: Nutritional physiology of the Holstein selected for milk yield: Effects of energy balance and energy signal variation on the somatotropic axis. Wu has accepted a position at Hormel Institute in Austin, MN, where he will be working on cancer research.

Guowu Xu successfully defended his Doctoral thesis on August 23, 2007. Title: The influence of feeding diets containing corn dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) to grower-finisher pigs on growth performance, carcass and pork quality. Xu has accepted a position at Midwest Ag Enterprises, Inc., in Marshall, MN.
 

Dr. Mohamed El Halawani, PI, was awarded $8,900 by the Minnesota Turkey Research and Promotion Council. Project title: Effect of thermal conditioning during the prebreeder period on breeder hen turkey's reproductive performance. Period: 07/01/2007 - 06/30/2008.

Dr. Doug Foster, PI, was awarded $8,121 by the Minnesota Turkey Research and Promotion Council. Project title: Biomarkers to identify AMPV vaccines from field challenges. Period: 07/01/2007 - 06/30/2008.

Dr. Sally Noll, PI, was awarded $9,916 by the Minnesota Turkey Research and Promotion Council. Project title: Utilization of glycerin as a source of energy in market turkey diets. Period: 07/01/2007 - 06/30/2008.

Drs. Lee Johnston and Sam Baidoo (Co-PIs), and Drs. Jerry Shurson and Yuzhi Li (Co-Investigators) received $128,100 from the National Pork Board for the project, Interactive effects of DDGS and housing system on sow performance and longevity. Period: 12/1/07 - 12/1/09.

Drs. Jerry Shurson (PI) and Lee Johnston (Co-Investigator) received $22,590 from the National Pork Board for the project, Influence of rapid introduction and removal of dietary DDGS on pig performance and carcass characteristics. Period: 12/1/07 - 12/1/08.

Dr. Jerry Shurson, (PI), and Drs. Jim Pettigrew and Hans Stein (Co-Investigators; U of IL) received $71,850 from the National Pork Board for the project, Energy and amino acid digestibility of corn distillers syrup by-products in growing pigs. Period: 12/1/07 - 12/1/08.

Drs. Jerry Shurson and Hans Stein (U of IL), Co-PIs, received $24,967 from the National Pork Board for the project, Critical review of literature on feeding bio-fuels co-products to pigs. Period: 12/1/07 - 12/1/08.

In addition, three Department of Animal Science faculty have received multistate fund allocations from the new Continuing Resolution Funds, valid from May 2, 2007 through July 31, 2008:

Dr. Mohamed El Halawani, PI, received $26,700 for a project titled, Effect of thermal conditioning during the pre-breeder period on breeder hen turkeys.

Dr. Doug Foster, PI, received an award of $24,610 for a project titled, Biomarkers to identify AMPV vaccines from field challenges.

Dr. Sally Noll, PI, received two Poultry Consortium awards. The first award of $27,587 is for a project titled, Utilization of corn co-products from the ethanol industry in market turkey diets; the second award of $9,747 is for a project titled, Utilization of glycerin as a source of energy in market turkey diets.
  

- September 2007 -

3 - Labor Day holiday (U of M-TC is closed).

4 - Fall semester classes begin.

11 - CFANS Welcome Back BBQ, 11:00 am-1:30 pm, St. Paul Campus Mall along Cleveland Avenue.

13 - U of M Open House, Southern ROC, Waseca. For more information, call 507-835-3620.

15-18 - Allen D. Leman Swine Conference, RiverCentre, St. Paul, MN.

18-19 - 68th Minnesota Nutrition Conference, Crowne Plaza Minneapolis Hotel North, 2200 Freeway Blvd. (I-694 at Shingle Creek Parkway), Brooklyn Center, MN.

26 - St. Paul Campus Job and Internship Fair, 10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Continuing Education and Conference Center, U of M St. Paul Campus. For more information, contact the St. Paul Campus Career Center, Phone: 612-624-2710 / Email: spccc@umn.edu.

27 - Turkey Research Review and Avian Pneumovirus Symposium, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Holiday Inn and Conference Center, Willmar, MN. Pre-register by September 14. For more information, contact: Sally Noll, 612-624-4928. To register, contact the MTRPC at 763-682-2171.

- October 2007 -

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

- 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, Kentucky.

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.

- March 2008 -

17-21 - Spring break.

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