Animal Science Professional Masters Projects
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Item Improving Nitrogen Efficiency and Reducing Environmental Nitrogen in Dairy Cow DietsZhu, Junwei (2025-08)Improving dairy cattle nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is important for both environmental and production economics perspectives. In this project we used CNCPS based modelling via AMTS software to investigate dietary approaches to improve NUE through better AA supply and reducing excess RDP to the hindgut. In Step 1a, three diets differing only in Met supply (0.86, 1.06 and 1.20 g/Mcal ME) were simulated using milk production data from Danese et al. (2023). As expected, milk yield was similar across diets while milk composition improved with increasing Met supply. Productive N increased slightly in response to the higher yields and urinary N increased in response to the higher protein supply, but NUE increased overall. In Step 1b, a diet formulated to contain 1.20 g Met/Mcal ME was balanced and used to simulate increased milk yield and milk true protein output, which led to an increased productive N and reduced urinary N, improving NUE. In Step 2, dietary urea was removed from the high Met diet to reduce RDP. This resulted in a large reduction in rumen NH₃ levels and urinary N losses while maintaining milk output and productive N, improving NUE further. Overall, the results indicate that utilizing AA balancing (Met, Lys and His) and reducing rumen NH3 and RDP can be used to greatly improve N partitioning and environmental N efficiency in dairy cow diets.Item Protein Digestbility and Acceptability of Hemp Seed Meal in Horse DietsWalker, Taylor (2025-08)Hemp seed meal (HSM) has the potential to serve as a replacement protein feed for horses. The goal of this project was to assess the protein digestibility and acceptability of HSM in equine diets. Four feed concentrates containing 0% (control), 10%, 20%, and 40% HSM were tested. Horses were randomly assigned to the four feed concentrates over four 7-day periods in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Horses were offered a first-cutting, mixed orchardgrass-timothy hay at 1% of body weight (BW; as-fed) and the feed concentrate at 0.4% BW (as-fed) in the morning and evening and were turned out to a winter pasture for approximately 7.5 hours per day. Horses were adapted to their respective feed concentrate from days 1 to 5 followed by fecal sample collection on days 6 and 7 of each period. Protein digestibility was measured using both lignin and acid-insoluble ash (AIA) as internal, indigestible markers. Whole-diet (hay + concentrate) protein digestibility, feed concentrate intake, hay intake, fecal consistency, and weight change were assessed. No refusals of feed concentrates occurred across treatments. No differences were observed for any of the measured variables between the HSM treatments and the control. Digestibility values measured using AIA appeared overestimated, potentially due to soil contamination, whereas digestibility values measured using lignin fell within reported ranges for horses consuming grass hay and feed concentrates. The results demonstrate that HSM inclusion up to 40% does not affect feed concentrate intake, fecal score, and whole-diet protein digestibility, indicating that HSM is an acceptable feed ingredient for horses and may replace soybean meal as the primary protein source.Item Creation & Preference-Based Testing of Sustainable Crustacean Bait Alternatives For New England Region FisheriesWilley, Liam Jeremiah (2024)The need for sustainable fisheries bait is a longing issue that has finally surfaced in New England Fisheries. With the focus of trying to avoid increased pressure on wild fish populations in the Gulf of Maine, alternative practices have been used to subsidize the change in bait availability and price increase. Understanding how to efficiently create and utilize sustainable solutions for this recurring and ongoing problem will help strengthen the opportunities for fishermen and lobstermen, as well as benefit the lasting populations of herring and menhaden. Baitcakes and the formula to make them, will help the industry evolve with the loss of available usual bait and continue to fulfill landings and quotas required for their economic survival. Using the primary binder pectin, along with silage from repurposed fish material, and digestive enzymes found in their stomachs, cooked bait cakes can be a durable solution able to withstand ocean conditions during the soak and deteriorate at a reasonable rate with select permeability. These baits were created and tested on Large crayfish in a controlled environment to represent and replicate possible preferences of the crustaceans in comparison to the standard bait used commercially. There are many more avenues to explore when directing attention to this project and the impact it may have on New England lobster fisheries futurely.Item Results of a Retrospective Study on Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumors in Grenadian PothoundsCavanaugh, Lisa (2024)Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumors (CTVT) is a highly contagious, endemic disease among canines that infects dogs worldwide. Unfortunately, very few individuals are familiar with the disease, as it is most prevalent in lower income communities, along with third-world nations. There is currently no vaccination for the control and prevention of CTVT. Therefore, avoiding disease and future disease regression [NT1]is inevitable.Item Enhancing Consumer Knowledge of Animal Products and Grains in Cat and Dog FoodsSoeter, Lily (2024-08)Pet owners are growing increasingly interested in understanding the ingredients in cat and dog food to make informed decisions about their pets' nutrition. To support this interest, the Cornell Animal Science website will provide information beyond what is covered in this article, utilizing well-researched and credible sources. The project aims to educate pet owners, helping them confidently navigate the evolving landscape of pet food ingredient options. Chapter 1 examines the use of animal products in pet food, beginning with clarifying the origins of animals used in foods and addressing the sustainability and nutritional safety of animal byproducts. Definitions of raw and rendered animal products according to AAFCO guidelines are provided, including a distinction between raw ingredients and raw products. This chapter also includes examples of raw and rendered animal products and byproducts as they appear in real ingredient lists and offers a nutrient comparison to further illustrate their benefits in pet food. Chapter 2 explores the factors driving the increasing popularity of grain-free diets. It clarifies the primary allergens commonly found in cats and dogs, categorizes the carbohydrate sources in pet foods, and offers examples of grain-free and grain-inclusive labels. This chapter also discusses the functional benefits of cereal and pulse grains, and tuber vegetables. In a rapidly evolving pet food market, where the misconception of animal byproducts and grain-free diets are increasingly shaping consumer choices, this project serves as a resource for pet owners to make well-informed decisions by bridging the understanding of ingredient sources and their roles in pet food.Item The Impact of Education on Students' Understanding of the Pet Food IndustryAli, Asmaa (2024-08)Numerous misconceptions circulate within the pet food industry, with a notable lack of scholarly literature supporting them. These misconceptions significantly impact consumer decisions regarding pet nutrition. With the rise of social media and increased reliance on online sources, misinformation has become more widespread, frequently presenting biased perspectives on specific feeding practices. While the Internet can offer valuable insights into pets' nutritional needs, the quality of information is highly variable, making it challenging for consumers to discern accurate from misleading content. To address this issue, I designed and facilitated a senior animal science course at Cornell University (ANSC 4290/6290) in the Spring 2024 semester, aimed at educating students on common misconceptions within the pet food industry. The course covered topics such as pet food safety, the role of the rendering industry in pet nutrition, and the feasibility of vegan diets for dogs. This study assesses the impact of the course on students' perceptions through pre- and post-lecture surveys, focusing on topics where misunderstandings frequently arise. Results suggest that the course effectively improved students' understanding of complex issues in pet nutrition, highlighting the importance of targeted education in mitigating misinformation. As studies examining consumer perceptions of the pet food industry are limited, it is challenging to quantify the extent of misinformation and its impact on consumers. Therefore, this research not only contributes to enhancing public education but also helps quantify the level of misinformation present in the industry.Item Preparing for a Career in Academia: Experience With Research and TeachingAcor, Noel (2024-08)My objectives for this capstone project were to gain more experience in research and teaching to prepare for a career in academia. The outcomes include 1) completion of a research project and draft manuscript, and 2) development and instruction of a college-level course. I studied the reproductive cycles of African giant pouched rats and showed that there is high variability in the cycle length among females, and that females can be categorized into three groups based on their cycles. Interestingly, progesterone was significantly different among groups.Item The Development of a Biosecurity Resource for Horse Farms in New York StateRobinson, Will (2024)Item Hemp Seed Meal as an Alternative Protein Source in Growing Pigs Diet: a Pilot StudyZhang, Yuxin (2024)The overall goal of this pilot project was to assess the nutritional adequacy of hemp seed meal (HSM) for growing pigs. The objectives were to test the hypotheses that 1) voluntary feed intake in growing pigs fed diets containing 10 and 15% HSM will not differ compared to growing pigs fed diets containing soybean bean (SBM) as the main protein feed ingredient and 2) whole tract crude protein (CP) digestibility of a diet containing 10% HSM fed to growing pigs will not differ compared to pigs fed a diet containing SBM as the main protein feed ingredient. In the first study, six 54-kg barrows (Yorkshire × Landrace) were allocated to a repeated 3 x 3 Latin square design with 3 diets, 0% HSM (control), 10 and 15% HSM, and 3 periods. Feed intake did not differ between the HSM containing diets and control. Compared to control, ADG (1.35 kg/d) and gain:feed ratio (0.650) in pigs fed the 10% HSM diet did not differ and was greater (P < 0.05) compared to pigs fed 15% HSM (0.97 kg/d and 0.470). Compared to control, pigs fed the 15% HSM diet tended (P ≤ 0.1) to have a lower ADG and gain:feed ratio (0.470). The results show that pigs voluntarily accept diets containing HSM at an inclusion rate of 15% but have reduced growth performance compared to pigs fed diets containing 10% HSM or 0% HSM. In the second study, eight 73-kg barrows (Yorkshire × Landrace) were allocated to a randomized complete block design with 2 diets containing 0 and 10% HSM, and 2 blocks [light body weight (BW) and heavy BW]. Whole tract CP digestibility was determined using the indicator method and Cr2O3 as the inert marker. Whole tract CP digestibility between 10% HSM and control diets did not differ, with digestibility values of 75.15 and 76.21%, respectively. Additionally, initial and final BW, daily feed intake, daily gain, and gain:feed ratio did not differ between 10% HSM and control diets. The results of this studies indicate that growing pigs accept diets containing HSM up to 15% with no change in their voluntary feed intake and that HSM included at 10% does not impact whole tract CP digestibility of the diet, compared to conventional diets containing SBM as the main protein ingredient source.Item Relationships of Rumination with Haptoglobin and Ketone Levels in Dairy CattleDunseath, Sydney (2024)The ability to diagnose and treat dairy cows before they are clinically sick is a crucial aspect of management within the dairy industry. With a growing focus around nutrition and the importance of rumination, there is greater improvement being made in dairy cow health. Rumination is a crucial aspect of cow health, as it can provide a lot of valuable information regarding a cow’s health and welfare status. Haptoglobin, an acute-phase protein, is a useful indicator of monitoring inflammation in cows, especially during the early postpartum period. High concentrations of haptoglobin in the blood are indicative of systemic inflammation, which can be caused by a number of diseases and disorders. Elevated circulating concentrations of ketones, most commonly measured as beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), are prevalent during the transition period in cows, as they are in a negative energy balance and mobilizing fat reserves. High BHB concentrations in the blood are indicative of greater risk for health disorders as well as decreased production and reproduction. Ketones and haptoglobin can be measured in numerous ways, but taking blood samples are a good way to test for the concentration of both in a cow’s body. In this study, blood samples were taken to analyze the concentration of Hp and BHB in 800 cows whose rumination data was collected from rumination collars. It was found that cows with relatively low Hp concentrations had higher rumination times compared to those who had higher Hp concentrations. There was no significant difference in rumination times between cows with low BHB concentrations and those with high BHB concentrations. Being able to detect diseases early is crucial for keeping cows healthy in the dairy industry, as well as beneficial for milk production and cow health. Improved rumination should be evaluated as a method of managing haptoglobin and ketone concentrations in the blood of dairy cows as a way of preventing and treating early incidences of disease.