Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience reached where mainly Native Americans on standing Rock Sioux Reservation. these included: Students in the environmental Sciences program at Sitting Bull College in the following courses: Introduction to Soil Science (SOIL 210), Wildlife Conservation and Management (BIOL 331), Introduction to Range Management (ARSC 210), Grassland Ecology (BIOL 416) Students in the community attendingthe middle schools in the K-12 system on Standing Rock Reservation. students attended a field day in the summer of 2015 Changes/Problems:The researchmade an adjustment to the experimental design to acomodate unforeseen events thatimpacted data collection.We had suggested that: Three bison herds will be used: the SBC bison herd (35 animals), the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (SRST) herd (at least 40), and the Ron & Carol Brownotter herd (at least 40).The pasture roundups were to occur in late November and a new group of bison yearlings will be started in the trial. These will originate from the calves born and raised on the bison pasture in the previous six months prior to the start of the study. All yearlings and cows will be weighed and evaluated for health. The cows will be tested for pregnancy. All cows and yearlings will be weighed again in late February and in late August. Both electronic and dangle ear tags will be used for ease and accuracy of animal identification and to facilitate data collection and recording. A de-worming treatment wasgiven only to the bison in the Brownotter herd. However because of bison sale and environmental events, the schedule and timeline had to be readjusted. some of the required activities like including a new group of bison calves to the trial was not accomplished in all 3 herds as expected. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Tribal college faculty skill capacity building and training in the area of field sampling, microbiology and veterinary laboratory analysis and use of laboratory equipment. The PI and a student (Maurianna Loretto) spent a week at the veterinary diagnostic laboratory at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in February 2015 to process samples collected for the project. Under the tutelage of Prof. Clayton Kelling (Co-PI) and Dr. Christina Topliff, they learned various practical techniques in parasitology and typing Techniques studied and mastered included: Quantitative fecal flotation method, and the Wisconsin egg counting technique (Zajac and Conboy, 2012) How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The project addressed currently-prevailing issues related to health of the SBC bison herd that can impact low reproductive rates. In summary the project findings indicate that: Parasites affect herd productivity and health; it is recommended to develop a sound deworming program. The lack of a sound rotation program negatively impacted parasite control. The rotation program was irregularly implemented thus reducing its effectiveness. It is recommended to develop a sound rotation program and to strictly adhere to the program. Animal stress primarily from handling and environmental factors play a part in low productivity of the herd, thus compromising health. It is recommended to develop a sound herd handling program. Based on outcomes of characterization of current parameters defined in the study objective, practices and programs are being implemented to enhance herd production efficiency. Strategic herd testing and management practices will be implemented to eliminate infectious disease carrier animals from the herds and to ensure that the herds remain disease-free to eliminate losses due to infection and to prevent transmission of infectious agents to other bison or cattle herds. Other future outcomes from the project include: Increase bison herd productivity on Standing Rock by providing crucial baseline information to enable the development of optimal range management programs to optimize production and to control gastrointestinal parasites. Provide a basis for development of future studies on bison health and herd production. Enhance extension and outreach program strategies that emphasize herd health and well-being to optimize herd production for tribal and non-tribal bison herds. Make sure these strategies can be adopted by tribal colleges and tribal communities with bison herds. Develop and increase interest and skills among Sitting Bull College students in conducting agriculture and biological research involving data collection, analysis as well as publishing findings
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Characterize prevailing herd health parameters in the herds that influence animal health and herd production, and implement control measures to improve herd health. The working hypothesis for this project is that productivity in the tribal bison herd is compromised by gastrointestinal parasitism. Control measures will be implemented that are directed toward correcting prevailing factors that are determined to negatively impact herd health and production. Deliverable Products from the Research Project Develop concise and precise data on the state of bison production on Standing Rock Sioux Tribe that can benefit producers in the community. The health and production status of the SBC, Tribal, and Brownotter bison herds was determined. These are the 3 main tribally controlled herds on SRSR. Herd Production and health status of each herd was closely associated with the management goals and objectives identified for the herd. Production indices measured included: calving percentage, calving distribution (numbers of calves born recorded by time), dam age distribution, and distinction of sub-herds, fertility (breeding soundness), conception rate (pregnancy evaluation), nutrition (energy/body condition), age, ecto/endoparasite status and reproductive tract diseases exposure status. Production and health parameters were superior in the Brownotter Herd (ranch was established as a Commercial ranch); they were above average for the tribal herd (established as a cultural resource); and were sub-par in the SBC ranch (established for cultural and research purposes). Publications in scientific journals and creation of student posters. 3 papers are currently being written by the PI. Tentative papers currently in preparation include: A characterization of bison herds on Standing Rock Sioux reservation Influences of management practices and decision making on the production and health status of bison confined to pastures. Goal-oriented management options for tribal bison herd programs: relevant considerations for optimizing outcomes based on goals. Data from the project was used to contribute to a technical paper which has been developed. Managing the Herd to Optimize Bison Health and Well-Being. Kelling C., Topliff C., Smith D., Rupp G., Cortinas R., Randle R., Hardin D., Ecoffey T., Higa A., Colombe L., Mongoh M. 3 posters have been developed by students with one of the posters already presented at a regional meeting. Occurrence of Escherichia coli and Environmental Listeria in Watering Points around Open Pasture Cattle and Bison Ranches on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation (Presented at the IDeA-INBRE Tribal College Research Symposium) Bison Health: Prevalence of Parasites (Helminthes) in Fecal Samples on a Bison Pasture on SRSR Comparing soil characteristics and other edaphic factors of bison wallows and non-wallows areas in a bison pasture on SRSR Present findings at community events, scientific meetings and conferences at the local and national levels. IDeA-INBRE Tribal College Research Symposium at Candeska Cikana Community College. Occurrence of Escherichia coli and Environmental Listeria in Watering Points around Open Pasture Cattle and Bison Ranches on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation (Student: Maurice Little Bear) INBRE Statewide 2015 conference at University of North Dakota Bison Health: Prevalence of Parasites (Helminthes) in Fecal Samples on a Bison Pasture on SRSR (Maurianna Loretto) Senior Research Presentation at Sitting Bull College as qualifying requirement for BS degree in Environmental Sciences Occurrence of Escherichia coli and Environmental Listeria in Watering Points around Open Pasture Cattle and Bison Ranches on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation (Student: Maurice Little Bear) Bison Health: Prevalence of Parasites (Helminthes) in Fecal Samples on a Bison Pasture on SRSR (Student: Maurianna Loretto) Sophomore Research Presentation at Sitting Bull College as qualifying requirement for AS degree in Environmental Sciences Comparing soil characteristics and other edaphic factors of bison wallows and non-wallows areas in a bison pasture on SRSR (Student: Joshua Silk) Understanding behavior and ecology of bison on Standing Rock Sioux Reservation (Student: Maurianna Loretto) Managing the Herd to Optimize Bison Health and Well-Being. Intertribal Bison Council Presentation on the state of Bison herds on reservations (Presenter: Professor Clayton Kelling, Project Co-PI) OptimizingBison Health and Well-Being.FALCON 2015Presentation on the state of Bison herds on reservations (Presenter: Professor Clayton Kelling, Project Co-PI) Develop strong undergraduate research for students at Sitting Bull College in the area of Agriculture: Livestock Production, Animal Science and Range Management. Four undergraduate research projects were developed at Sitting Bull College tied to the project. Two projects were aimed at meeting the AS degree requirements, and 2 projects were aimed at meeting the BS degree requirement. Developed Projects AS Degree: Comparing soil characteristics and other edaphic factors of bison wallows and non-wallows areas in a bison pasture on SRSR (Student: Joshua Silk) Understanding behavior and ecology of bison on Standing Rock Sioux Reservation (Student: Maurianna Loretto) BS Degree: Occurrence of Escherichia coli and Environmental Listeria in Watering Points around Open Pasture Cattle and Bison Ranches on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation (Student: Maurice Little Bear) Bison Health: Prevalence of Parasites (Helminthes) in Fecal Samples on a Bison Pasture on SRSR (Student: Maurianna Loretto) These projects highlight and strengthen the importance of applied agricultural sciences (range science, soil science, livestock production, and animal science) in the Environmental Science program at the college. The grant also enhanced the teaching of courses related to agricultural sciences, notably Introduction to Soil Science (SOIL 210), Introduction to Range Management (ARSC 236), and Wildlife Management (ENS 331). Introduce an applied aspect of Microbiology and parasitology to the Science program at Sitting Bull College by conducting hand-on sampling and laboratory analysis. An Introductory course in Microbiology was developed and taught in the Spring of 2015 Students in various courses were invited to help with bison roundups at the SBC pasture and the tribal pastures respectively. During the roundups, sample collection procedures and techniques, body BCS techniques and other production testing techniques pertaining to bison were demonstrated by the PI and Co-PI Students were allowed practice and collect samples during the roundups Develop and conduct field teaching laboratories on Bison behavior, ecology and production for the community. A field day was organized for students from the local K-12 institutions on Standing Rock in July 2015 Students spent an entire day in the field with the SBC bison manager, the project PI, and a student assistant (Henry Jacobson). Various aspects of bison behavior, ecology and production were explained and demonstrated. Development and build a collaborative partnership between Sitting Bull College and the University of Nebraska. The project built a solid and equal partnership between a TCU (SBC- PI institution) and a top tier research institution (UNL - Co-PI institution) Both institutions took the lead in various portions of the project. The fieldwork was coordinated by the TCU which identified and arranged sites on Standing Rock reservation for sampling. The laboratory analyses were conducted at the veterinary diagnostic laboratory at UNL under the coordination of the research institution. Both institution were actively involved in each phase of the project.
Publications
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