Dairy biomass (DB) is evaluated as a possible co-firing fuel with coal. Cofiring of DB offers a technique of utilizing dairy manure for power/steam generation, reducing greenhouse gas concerns, and increasing financial returns to dairy operators. The effects of cofiring coal and DB have been studied in a 30 kW (100,000 BTU/hr) burner boiler facility. Experiments were performed with Texas Lignite coal (TXL) as a base line fuel. The combustion efficiency from co-firing is also addressed in the present work. Two forms of partially composted DB fuels were investigated: low ash separated solids and high ash soil surface. Two types of coal were investigated: TXL and Wyoming Powder River Basin coal (WYO). Proximate and ultimate analyses were performed on coal and DB. DB fuels have much higher nitrogen (kg/GJ) and ash content (kg/GJ) than coal. The HHV of TXL and WYO coal as received were 14,000 and 18,000 kJ/kg, while the HHV of the LA-PC-DBSepS and the HA-PC-DB-SoilS were 13,000 and 4,000 kJ/kg. The HHV based on stoichiometric air were 3,000 kJ/kg for both coals and LA-PC-DB-SepS and 2,900 kJ/kg for HA-PC-DB-SoilS. The nitrogen and sulfur loading for TXL and WYO ranged from 0.15 to 0.48 kg/GJ and from 0.33 to 2.67 for the DB fuels. TXL began pyrolysis at 640 K and the WYO at 660 K. The HA-PC-DB-SoilSs began pyrolysis at 530 K and the LA-PC-DB-SepS at 510 K. The maximum rate of volatile release occurred at 700 K for both coals and HA-PC-DB-SoilS and 750K for LA-PC-DB-SepS. The NOx emissions for equivalence ratio (φ) varying from 0.9 to 1.2 ranged from 0.34 to 0.90 kg/GJ (0.79 to 0.16 lb/mmBTU) for pure TXL. They ranged from 0.35 to 0.7 kg/GJ (0.82 to 0.16 lb/mmBTU) for a 90:10 TXL:LA-PC-DB-SepS blend and from 0.32 to 0.5 kg/GJ (0.74 to 0.12 lb/mmBTU) for a 80:20 TXL:LA-PC-DB-SepS blend over the same range of φ. In a rich environment, DB:coal cofiring produced less NOx and CO than pure coal. This result is probably due to the fuel bound nitrogen in DB is mostly in the form of urea which reduces NOx to non-polluting gases such as nitrogen (N2).

Infertility in dairy cattle remains a major economic loss to dairy producers. Identifying dairy cattle with superior genetic potential for improved fertility would increase dairy farm profitability. Dairy heifers were classified into two groups based upon services per conception (SPC); those animals with a single SPC were determined to be highly fertile and animals with greater than or equal to 4 SPC were classified as sub-fertile. Whole genome association analysis was performed on 20 individual heifers from each group utilizing a 777K highly density (HD) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip. Genomic data were evaluated utilizing PLINK, a whole genome association analysis toolset, and 570,620 SNP were available for analysis with a total of 39 samples being analyzed. Forty-four SNP were determined to be associated with fertility classification (P <= 0.00001) and were located on Bos taurus chromosome (BTA) 2, 4, 9, 19, and 26. The SNP and ranges between SNP were analyzed using BLAST-Like Alignment Tool (BLAT); SNP were associated with 5 candidate genes for reproduction. The SNP on BTA 2 were located within the region coding for the non-imprinted Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome 2 (NIPA2) gene, which is involved in gestational magnesium transport. Also on BTA 2, SNP were identified within the region encoding for cytoplasmic fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) interaction protein 1 (CYFIP1). The CYFIP1 gene is involved with the functionality of FMR1 and has been linked to premature ovarian failure in humans. Additionally, 3 SNP on BTA 9 were located near monofunctional C1-tetrahydrofolate synthase (MTHFD1L), which has been linked to neural tube defects during gestation in humans A difference in allele frequency was observed between the two groups for SNP located on BTA19 in proximity to two genes, zinc finger 18 (ZNF18) and mitogen activated protein kinase 4 (MAP2K4). The ZNF18 motif and MAP2K4 were found to be involved in heart development of the early embryo and associated with toll-like receptors (TLR) involved in gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) signaling, respectively. The involvement of one or all of these genes may further explain reduced fertility in dairy cattle.

Growing rates of manure produced from large dairies have increased concern for the environmental quality of nearby streams and watersheds. Typically the manure from the freestalls on these dairies is flushed with water to a mechanical separator. Here, flushed dairy biomass (DB) is parted into separated solids and separated liquid. The separated liquid is discharged into lagoons for treatment and eventual land application. This thesis proposes thermodynamic models for firing DB in small scale boiler systems that would eliminate land application and lagoons, which are being claimed to be the source of nutrient leaching and overloading. Fuel analysis of flushed DB from a dairy in central Texas show that it contains 93%moisture (%M), 3%ash (%A), and 4%combustibles (%Cb), while separated DB solids contain 81%M, 2%A, and 17%Cb. The dry, ash-free higher heating value of DB is approximately 20,000 kJ/kg. Using dry, ash-free results, computations can be made over ranges of %M and %A. For example, DB containing 70%M requires 9.74%Cb to vaporize all moisture and produce gaseous products of combustion at 373 K, but requires 17.82%Cb to burn in a regenerative combustor with a flame temperature of 1200 K. Separated solids that are pressed in an auger to 70%M (3%A and 27%Cb) can burn at 1200 K with exhaust temperatures of up to 1130 K and a minimum required heat exchanger effectiveness of 15%. Pressed solids can thus be fired in a boiler, where the remaining separated liquid can be used as feed water. The pressed solids only can release about 30% of the heat required to vaporize the remaining unclean feed water. However, pressed DB solids can be blended with drier fuels to vaporize almost all the unclean water. The low quality steam produced from the unclean water can be used in thermal processes on the farm. A similar system can be developed for vacuumed DB without the need to vaporize unclean feed water. As for large dairies with anaerobic digester systems already installed, directly firing the produced biogas in a small scale boiler system may be another way to similarly vaporize the remaining effluent.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Sverges lantbruksuniversitet, 2001. / Based on 4 previously prepared or published papers reprinted here. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2010. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 65 p. : col. ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.) -- Lincoln University, 2009. / Also available via the World Wide Web. Some images in print version are not in digital version.

Thesis (M.S. in animal sciences)--Washington State University, December 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Jan. 15, 2010). "Department of Animal Sciences." Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-77).

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio State University, 1970. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-64). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide, currently affecting about 3 million global populations. The incidence of Type 2 diabetes has been increasing particularly in recently developed Asian settings including Hong Kong. Dairy product, as a part of dietary guidelines, has been hypothesized to help reduce risks of Type 2 diabetes. However different types of dairy product might have different effects on Type 2 diabetes given their varying content in fat, sugar and vitamins. Objective: To review literature on the examination of the association between consumption of different types of dairy products (total dairy, high-fat dairy, low-fat dairy and fermented dairy) and the risk of type 2 diabetes Methods Relevant studies were searched and identified through database of PubMed and Google Scholar using combination of keywords. Studies examining the association between consumption of total dairy and subtypes of dairy products and the risk of type 2 diabetes were included. Results: Of the 163 papers identified, 10 studies were finally included in this systematic review. All studies were prospective cohort study from Western countries. Findings for different kinds of dairy products varied. For high-fat dairy products consumption, nine out of the ten studies found there was no association with type 2 diabetes risks. For low-fat dairy products, six out of ten studies found an inverse association after adjusted for confounders like age, sex and total energy intake; among these six studies, three still reported an inverse association after further adjusted for confounders like education level, smoking status and alcohol intake, physical activities and family history of type 2 diabetes. For fermented dairy products (mainly yoghurt), among seven studies which examined this, three studies found an inverse association between yogurt consumption and Type 2 diabetes risk before and after adjusted for multivariate confounders (age ,sex, total energy drink, education level, social class, physical activities, smoking status, alcohol intake and family history of type 2 diabetes, etc) . One of the three studies also found that, other than yogurt, there was an inverse association between low-fat fermented dairy and total fermented dairy consumption and type 2 diabetes risks after adjusted for age and sex. However, after further adjustment, the association became null for total fermented dairy products while it remained for low-fat fermented dairy products. All of the 10 studies that examined subtypes of dairy product also reported total dairy product consumption. For total dairy product, six out of ten studies found an inverse association. Conclusion: Overall, total dairy consumption might be associated with lower risks of type 2 diabetes, but the associations may be varied by subtypes of dairy products. Across different types of dairy products, low-fat dairy consumption was associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes while high-fat dairy consumption was clearly not associated with type 2 diabetes risk. Results for subtypes of fermented dairy consumption remain unclear. Further prospective cohort study in other non-Western populations may provide are required. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

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