This experiment compared the effects of two artificial insemination (AI) rods on farrowing rate and number of piglets born per litter. Three hundred eighty-nine sows were allotted into two experimental groups based on parity, body condition, and breed of sire influence of the sows. One hundred ninety-three matings were performed using the experimental intrauterine rod, and one hundred ninety-six matings were performed using the traditional cervical rod as the control. Total number of piglets born per litter was measured after each sow farrowed, and the farrowing rates were calculated at the end of the study. Farrowing rates were 68% and 66% and total number of piglets born per litter was 9.39 ± 0.55 and 9.74±0.53 for the experimental and control groups. Number of piglets born alive per litter was slightly lower than the total number of piglets born per litter for both groups, 8.97±0.54 and 9.29 ±0.52. The total number of piglets born per litter and the farrowing rates were not significantly (P > 0.05) different between the experimental and control groups. Results from this trial produced no incentive to use the intrauterine AI rod in this or other similar commercial settings.

The skin of reptiles is a complex organ with many sensory, regulatory and behavioral functions. Desert reptiles face a suite of challenges as their skin contacts hot-dry environmental surfaces. The marbled whiptail lizard, Cnemidophorus marmoratus (Lacertilia: Teiidae), is found in hot deserts of southeastern New Mexico and western Texas and is often above ground during the hottest times of the day. When active, these lizards encounter a broad range and intensity of visible and infrared wavelengths. The role of the integument in temperature regulation, although poorly understood, is critically important for these diurnal animals. Albedo, coloration, pattern, and in some circumstances color change, may be determined by placement and orientation of three distinct types of dermal chromatophores (xanthophores, iridophores, and melanophores). Here electron microscopy, brightfield microscopy, and reflectance spectroscopy is used to examine some of the structural-functional relationships of the chromatophores of these lizards with particular attention to the crystal containing iridophore.

Black bears (Ursus americanus) occur sporadically in eastern Kentucky, and there is some evidence that a breeding population exists. In order to establish management practices to enhance the black bear population in Kentucky, information about this population is needed. However, until recently, no population size estimate has been available. Gathering information on black bears is difficult because black bears are elusive animals. The development of new molecular methods has made it easier to track and gather information on black bear populations, including estimates of population size. Molecular markers are particularly useful in that they do not require physical contact with the animal. Both scat and hair can be collected and utilized to identify individuals. Approximately 100 hair traps were placed throughout the eastern wildlife management regions and were monitored for a six-month period at two-week intervals by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. A total of 108 hair and scat samples were obtained. Eight microsatellite markers and one SRY marker were used to genotype and determine the sex of individual black bears. A minimum of thirty- nine different individuals (26 males and 13 females) were identified during the study period. Most of the individuals were identified during June and July and were collected from Pine Mountain and Kingdom Come areas. Capture histories of these individuals were then analyzed to estimate population numbers for the entire study area and Pine Mt/Kingdom Come using models from the computer program CAPTURE, Schnabel-Schumacher method, and Jolly-Seber method. The estimates for the entire study area were not very accurate, because the hair traps did not cover the entire study area. The number of bears between the clusters of hair traps could not be determined. The estimates for Pine Mountain and Kingdom Come were the more accurate, because the traps covered most of this area. For CAPTURE program, the estimates for Pine Mt/Kingdom Come ranged from 23 using hair and scat data combined to 58 using hair data only. Both estimates used M(tb) model, but estimates based on scat and hair data combined used Burnham estimator while estimates based on hair only used Jackknife estimator. Population estimates using Jolly-Seber method were only done using hair and scat combined for Pine Mt/Kingdom Come and ranged from 11 to 21. Using Arlequin 2.0, the average genetic diversity of the population was found to be approximately 0.75 (+/-0.409), which is similar to the diversity that is found from other black bear populations. The relatedness between the individuals was also tested using Kinship 1.2. Only seven individuals were found to be unrelated to any other individuals. There seem to a strong genetic relatedness between most of the individuals identified in the study area.

Two-hundred-seventy-two sows were utilized in two trials to evaluate the effects of prostaglandin and pregnant mare serum on reducing weaning to estrus interval, increasing the degree of estrus synchrony and improving fertility at estrus resulting in improved pregnancy rates and subsequent litter performance. Sows were randomly allotted to treatments. In trial 1, sows were assigned to one of three treatments: T1 (n=18; l0mg of PGF2α /hd 24-48 hrs. after parturition), T2 (n=20; lOmg of PGF 2 α /hd at weaning) and controls (n=20). No differences (P>.05) were observed for survival rate and 21D litter wt. among treated and the control sows (83.71 vs. 81.57%; 103.89 vs. 108.36, respectively). As well, WEI, farrowing rate, and subsequent NBA did not differ between treat 1, treat 2, and controls (4.73 vs. 4.81 vs 4.75; 83.33 vs 80 vs 80%; 11.13 vs. 11.06 vs. 10.25, respectively). Trial 2 was performed with two experiments. The first experiment was performed in July 1996. Sows were assigned to one of two treatments: 1) controls ( n=52); 2) Administration of 60mg pregnant mare serum (n=39; injected at weaning). Farrowing rate was higher (P<0001) for PMSG treated sows than controls (100 vs. 63.46%, respectively). PMSG showed no significant (P>.05 effect upon improving number born alive among treated and control sows (11.13 vs. 10.57, respectively); however, there was a trend toward increased litter size among the treated sows. Experiment 2 occurred in February and March 1997. Sows were allotted to one of three treatments: 1) controls (n=42); 2) 60mg pregnant mare serum (n=42; administered at weaning); 60mg pregnant mare serum gamma radiated (n=39; administered at weaning). Data showed no significant difference among PMSG, GR-PMSG and controls for 5d estrus rate and 30d pregnancy rate (83.33 vs. 89.74 vs. 80.95%; 92.86 vs. 97.44 vs. 88.10%, respectively). Evidence from trial 1 showed that the use of prostaglandin did not enhance reproductive performance in swine. In addition, PMSG had little effect on improving fertility at post-treatment estrus and increasing number born alive. Although not statistically significant, trends toward larger litter sizes as well as improved 5d estrus rates and 30d pregnancy rates were evident in the treated sows. However, treatment with PMSG appeared to be effective in improving farrowing rates in the warmer months, perhaps masking the anestrus conditions typically detected during the summer.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oklahoma State University, 2009. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Oklahoma State University, 2009. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Concern for elephant welfare in zoological facilities has prompted a number of exhibit and management modifications, including those involving enrichment. Knowledge of how these changes impact measures of health and wellbeing, such as elephant movement and behavior, is crucial as the effects of multiple enrichment types and their interactions are largely understudied. The present study used observations and GPS unit collected data to determine the effects of space and food on the walking distance and behavior of thirteen African elephants, whose dominance structure was ascertained by the handlers at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (SDZSP). This facility has two exhibits of approximately equal size. Three treatments were created to assess the effects of food and space enrichment: (1) access to half of the exhibit with food (Half); (2) access to both yards with food in one yard, or half the total exhibit space (Both/Half); and (3) access to both yards with food in both (Both). To account for mirrored effects, the reverse for Half and Both/Half were also completed. Significant differences across treatments were revealed for average total walking distances, which varied among elephants belonging to different dominance groups. Overall, treatment Both evoked the most diverse behavior. Walking and behavioral data were related, as were walking distances and elephant dominance rank. No such relationships were found between dominance and behavioral measures. The information obtained from this study has direct implications for the management of the SDZSP elephants and could be applicable for elephants at other facilities that consider the choices between increasing the size of exhibits and the use of other forms of enrichment.

Phytoestrogens are diphenolic, non steroidal compounds which are present in plants and are consumed by both humans and animals. Previous investigations have demonstrated that dietary phytoestrogens appear to have neurobehavioral effects on intermale aggression in male Syrian hamsters and the neural mechanisms require further exploration. In this study experiments involving a phytoestrogen (PE) and a phytoestrogen free (PE Free) diet were performed to determine whether or not diet had an effect on the expression of a and p estrogen receptors in the brain of male Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Twenty male hamsters were used for experimentation and animals were divided into a PE (n = 10) and a PE Free group (n = 10) for a period of 3 weeks. Animals were sacrificed, perfused and brains removed for subsequent protein extraction and immunohistochemisty. Estrogen receptors were quantified using western blot utilizing brains from both the PE and the PE Free group. Results revealed a wide spread distribution of estrogen receptors throughout the brain of male Syrian hamsters. Positive irnmunoreactive labeling was observed in the thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, cortex and hipoocampus. Sections were matched and comparisons were made to determine which estrogen receptor had a higher rate of expression. Results revealed higher levels of ERP binding in comparison to ERa. In addition, there appeared to be a higher expression of estrogen receptors in animals on the PE Free diet (p < 0.05). Overall, results obtained form western blots support the hypothesis that animals on the PE Free diet experienced an increase in ER expression. Moreover, immunohistochemistry revealed visual differences of estrogen receptor expression in the brain and data suggests that a diet lacking phytoestrogens can up regulate estrogen receptors in male hamsters. In summary, we have demonstrated that manipulating the diet can have neurobiological consequences and future research should consider diet as a significant factor in experimental research on the brain.

The juxtaposition of a forage-fed diet versus a high-energy grain-based diet for beef cattle has become a prevalent issue concerning consumers today. Because the influence of media, and modern culture’s general push for a return to natural and healthy living, people have developed an opposition to the way in which corporations produce the meat we as customers purchase and consume. There is reason to react, but it must be noted that much of the evidence and information made public is not conclusively proven through scientific research, and even still, experimental studies have yet to determine substantial evidence. The primary goal of this proposed experiment is to investigate the correlation between Escherichia coli O157:H7 growth and the diet of beef cattle, focusing on grass-based versus grain-based diets. I would like to investigate this phenomenon further and discover—with the majority of factors thought to foster E. coli O157:H7 growth eliminated (change in environment, feed and feeding method)—whether diet is actually the significant issue promoting the population growth of E. coli O157:H7. The secondary goal of this proposed experiment is to investigate the correlation between diet and the nutritional content of the beef produced. Grass-fed beef has been popularized and marketed as a healthier option to conventionally raised grain-finished beef. It has developed a reputation based on little scientific evidence, so I would like to examine this topic further by issuing nutritional profiles of the beef produced by steers from this study and contribute to the ongoing research. Sixty newborn Angus calves from Hearst Ranch will undergo a 1-2 year study. Groups of steers, differentiated by diet, will be organized using color-coded identification tags that attach to the ears of the steer. Group 1 will consist of 15 steers fed a 100% forage diet based off of the regimen. Group 2 will consist of 15 steers fed a forage diet that is 25% high grain concentrate. Group 3 will consist of 15 steers fed a forage diet that is 50% high grain concentrate. Group 4 will consist of 15 steers fed a forage diet that is 75% high grain concentrate. Monthly rectal swab fecal samples should be collected and assessed according to the procedures of Davis et al. 2005. I hypothesize that E. coli O157:H7 growth will not show statistically significant differences between diets. I do believe population growth will show an increase during summer months as opposed to winter months, however. After steers have reached their optimal weight of 1100-1200 pounds, they will be slaughtered. A USDA professional will grade the carcasses, and further nutritional profiling tests will be done at to University of Georgia Meat Science Technology Center. Proximate, cholesterol, and fatty acid compositions for each of the steers will be profiled according to the procedures of Duckett et al. 2009. I predict that the nutritional profile of the beef produced will show significant differences, where the grass-fed steers will have a much higher concentration of omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oklahoma State University, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.