Source: AUBURN UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
A SUSTAINABLE, EFFICIENT, PROFITABLE BEEF PRODUCTION FUTURE
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1025526
Grant No.
2021-38420-34060
Cumulative Award Amt.
$246,000.00
Proposal No.
2020-08197
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jan 15, 2021
Project End Date
Jan 14, 2026
Grant Year
2021
Program Code
[KK]- National Needs Graduate Fellowships Program
Recipient Organization
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
108 M. WHITE SMITH HALL
AUBURN,AL 36849
Performing Department
College of Agriculture
Non Technical Summary
Food production globally must double to meet demand by 2050. Increased demand for animal protein coupled with reductions in grazing lands has intensified need for greater efficiency in beefproduction. Farms and ranches where calves are raised for later sale (i.e., cow-calf operations)are the foundation of the beef production system, and our goal is to prepare graduates withinterdisciplinary knowledge and experience to develop creative solutions to critical challenges to the industry, which is extremely supportive of the proposed program. There will be a particularfocus on forages, which are environmentally sustainable and enhance profitability. The program incorporates extensive immersion experiences with our corporate partners and utilizes a learning framework called "design thinking" to promote complex, creative problem- solving. In addition to experiences with industry partners, Fellows will enjoy hands-on learning at Auburn University's Research and Extension Centers and animal facilities, and stay connected through a Community of Practice with monthly meetings and an online blog. They will be mentored by multiple mentors in a rotational model. Objectives are 1) immerse Fellows in forage-based cow-calf production systems from a multidisciplinary perspective and 2) create a pipeline to industry and Extension of graduates who understand 21?? century challenges, including environmental challenges. The AU Animal Science Department has committed to funding a second cohort of six master's-level Fellows in addition to the first six to be supported by the proposed program. Progress will be tracked for five years after graduation. Our programaligns with several USDA strategic goals, specifically sub-goal 1.7.?
Animal Health Component
40%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
40%
Applied
40%
Developmental
20%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
30739993020100%
Knowledge Area
307 - Animal Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
3999 - Animal research, general;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
1. Recruitment. The first six Fellows in this program will be recruited as a cohort and for the first semester.2. Fellows will take the foundation courses in the standard master's-degree curriculum for theDepartment of Animal Sciences as a group.3. In addition to regular coursework, Fellows together will take a two-credit-hour, team-taught Special Topics class focusing on forage-based cow-calf management, considered from several different perspectives: Forages, environment andecosystems, meat science, food safety, nutrition, reproduction technologies, and growth anddevelopmental genomics.4. By the end of the first semester, Fellows will decide which major topic they will focus on, which will determine the remainder of their coursework and their research project.5. During the remainder of the two-year course of study, Fellows will stay connected through a Community of Practice, meeting monthly and discussing current issues in forage-based cow-calf production via an online blog.6. The first group of Fellows will graduate as a cohort, facilitating future networking.
Project Methods
The graduate training program will provide broad, in-depth exposure to the forage- basedcow-calf sector, combined with leadership training. Core competencies expected to be attained. As noted, the first six Fellows will be recruited as a cohort, and for the first semester of coursework will take some of the same courses in the standard curriculum requiredfor achieving a master's degree from ANSC, including statistics (three credit hours), a graduate level life science (three credit hours), and research and thesis (one hour).Acquisition of core competencies will be evaluated throughout the program. Pre-tests will be administered and collected with IRB approval. Modules described below will involve both formative and summative evaluations requiring demonstration of required skills and rubrics, developed in collaboration with the Office of Academic Assessment and the Biggio Center.The structure of the program will allow for "rotational" mentoring during the initial threemonths of the program. As Fellows move through modules, they will be mentored by modulefacilitators. At the research stage, they will be able to maintain contact with all module mentors,facilitating a multi-mentoring structure. Fellows are being trained as scientists and formanagement positions in agriculture, including supply chain and allied industries. They also willhave the opportunity for additional graduate degrees. All mentors will be faculty with activeresearch programs representing various perspectives on forage-based cow-calf management.The rotational mentoring system has been proven effective (Burlew 1991). The approach promotesmeaningful person-centered learning rather than compartmentalized placement-centered learning(Roxburgh et al, 2012). Expanded, rotational mentoring will allow Fellows insights intosub-disciplines from multiple experts.Experiential learning will take place during the initial three months, when Fellows will gethands-on experience in the team-taught Special Topics class, giving them a comprehensive overview of the subject, core knowledge, and skills. After immersion in literature on the topics of forages, meat science, food safety, nutrition, reproductive technologies, and growth anddevelopment/genomics, students will take to the field to work in Auburn University's wealth offacilities, ranging from outlying research stations with beef cattle herds and grazing plots, tothe Stanley Wilson Beef Teaching Center, which has two animal metabolism rooms and a prep lab for beef cattle research projects as well as two working cattle chutes (manual and hydraulic). The modern working facilities provide students with many opportunities to gain hands-on experience; for example, the beef production class participates in calving out the cow herd as well asmaintaining health programs of the cow herd.

Progress 01/15/24 to 01/14/25

Outputs
Target Audience:Auburn University Animal Sciences Department mentored six exceptionally qualified Master's degree students in their participation in the second cohort of students in the novel professional development program (USDA NIFA grant (#2021-38420-34060). Thus far, these six students are completing the requirements of the program and the AU Graduate program during the period of fall 2023 -F 2024. Thesesix students were recruited in the spring of 2023 for thesecond cohort. Announcements of the NNF opportunity were extended through paid ads in ASAS, MANRRS, list serves, industry contacts, and direct emails to faculty and administrators across universities. Candidates were interviewed via Zoom, and six individuals from GA, IL, FL, and AL were identified to begin the program in the fall of 2023. The program continued to push the envelope on innovation in preparing graduates to meet future food-animal production workforce needs. A multidisciplinary team of scientists led by Dr. Mulvaney continued the program framework that prepares graduates with interdisciplinary knowledge and experiences, which enables them to bring creative solutions to the complex and critical challenges in animal agriculture, especially the beef sector. As committed in the proposal, Fellows are being guided through multiple research, classroom, field trips, leadership training, professional development, and intensive extension program planning experiences. An extension-oriented educational program in Beef Sustainabilitywas planned and executed by cohort 2 and mentors in October 2024 and designed to reach hundreds of beef community stakeholders throughout the Southeast. An off-campus industry tour, including leadership training, was also held in September. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Professional development opportunities have included: Numerous outreach and extension events, a stakeholder and leadership development trip, weekly seminars, writing center workshops, college and university-wide graduate student research poster symposia, regional and national meetings of the American Society of Animal Science, IPPEattendance - the world's largest annual poultry, feed, and meat technology exposition; grassroots sustainability conferences, International Livestock Conference. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been published in thesis, professional meeting abstracts, journal articles, seminars, symposia, extension conferences, symposia, and newsletters. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The second cohort will be in their last semester of work, in which they will present professional seminars, submit manuscripts and defend/publish their respective thesis. An assessment survey instrument covering part one of the outcomes and accomplishments of the students in the National Needs Fellowship (NNF) Program in sustainable beef systems within Animal Science will be administered. This survey is designed to thoroughly evaluate the unique aspects of the interdisciplinary approach, systems thinking, cross-disciplinary skills, experiential learning, and leadership development that the program offers. We are committed to assessing the success of the National Needs Fellowship Program in Sustainable Beef Systems and the effectiveness of the program in preparing graduates for the interdisciplinary, systems-based challenges of cow-calf production. Student and faculty feedback will help the program directorunderstand how well we achieved our goals and where improvements may be made. Also, the instrument will be adminstered to the first cohort that have graduated and are employed in pursuit of careers.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Recruitment. The second six Fellows in this program were recruited as a cohortfor the first semester. 2. Fellows took twofoundation courses in the standard master's-degree curriculum for the Department of Animal Sciences as a group. ANSC 7970 - Elevating Beef Sustainability Through Innovative Science, Professional Leadership Development, Design Thinking, Scholarly Experiential Research and Learning -- Academic professional life is highly dependent on effective scholarship and the ability to evaluate publications for credibility. The course is built on the premise that there is a need by graduate students to become more proficient in conducting literature searches, evaluating research, scientific literature, and writing technically, as well as writing to transform technical, scientific findings into more simplified forms of scholarship appropriate for various and broadened audiences. The course will establish concepts of working in a learning community and employ discussion of philosophies of scholarship and methods of research, evaluation of scientific writing, evaluation and practice of written proposals for funding and the process of publishing research findings. The course will have a core overtone of beef cattle industry sustainability. The course ANSC 7010 Beef Systems - The course attempts to touch on systems thinking elements of our advanced study of contemporary beef cattle production systems, including principles of planning, resource management and financing plus integrated biology in areas of breeding and selection, reproduction, metabolism, nutritional physiology, growth, health and disease mitigation, integration of forage system biology, soil and forage management as related to performance and sustainability goals. Our study includes rigorous analysis and application of the scientific principles of sub-disciplines of animal sciences as applied to recommended management practices. As a supplement to course lectures, it is suggested: 1) we incorporate seminar-oriented resources from YouTube or industry (NCBA, etc.) repositories; 2) assign scientific research articles to read / critique; and reference / integrate a few beef management book/chapters. 3. In addition to regular coursework, Fellows together took a class focusing on forage-based cow-calf management, considered from several different perspectives: Forages, environment and ecosystems, meat science, food safety, nutrition, reproduction technologies, and growth and developmental genomics. Accomplished 4. By the end of the first semester, Fellows decided which major topic they will focus on, which will determine the remainder of their coursework and their research projects 5. During the remainder of the two-year course of study, Fellows stayed connected through a Community of Practice, meeting monthly and discussing current issues in forage-based cow-calf production via an online interactions, field trips and engaged in planning a regional Beef Cattle Conference on Beef Sustainability 6. The second group of Fellows will graduate as a cohort in the spring and summer of 2025, facilitating future networking.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Anna Holliman, Priyanka Banerjee, Paul W Dyce. 167 Plasma Metabolomics at Weaning and 30 Days Prior to Ai in Beef Heifers with Varying Reproductive Potential. In: ASAS- CSAS-WSASAS Annual Meeting. New Mexico. 202
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Banerjee P, Diniz WJS, Hollingsworth R, Rodning SP, Dyce PW. mRNA Signatures in Peripheral White Blood Cells Predict Reproductive Potential in Beef Heifers at Weaning. Genes (Basel). 2023 Feb 15;14(2):498. doi: 10.3390/genes14020498. PMID: 36833425; PMCID: PMC9957530.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Rachel Hollingsworth, Priyanka Banerjee, Paul W Dyce. 180 Differences in Gene Expression in Granulosa Cells Harvested from Fertile and Sub-Fertile Beef Heifers. 10.1093/jas/skad281.105. In: ASAS- CSAS-WSASAS Annual Meeting. New Mexico. 2023
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Use of an AgSTEM Issues Caf� to provide experiential learning around skills for honest collaborative dialogue, stimulation of creative thinking and ag issue knowledge acquisition. Gabriella Johnson, Chandler Mulvaney, Robert Britton, Terry Brandebourg and Don Mulvaney. NACTA Journal 68 (suppl. 1):78.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Cheng, Z., L. Greenhaw, E. Johnson, R. King, Chyi-Lyi Liang, D. Mulvaney, M. Russell. 2025. Exploring the Amplification of Learning Through the Praxis of Experiential Learning. 70th Annual NACTA Conference, https://julnet.swoogo.com/nacta24
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Johnson, G., Hiltbrand, K., Corbitt, K., Martin, D., Sawyer, J., Rodning, S., & Mulvaney, D. (2023). Bolstering the social licensure of animal agriculture - Creation of more effective communication and literacy ecosystems. Alabama Livestock Research Report, 89192. https://aurora.auburn.edu/bitstream/handle/11200/50632/Alabama_Livestock_2nd_Ed.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Nichols, B. W., Bernardez-Morales, G. M., Douglas, S. L., Johnson, G. F., Barrazueta-Cordero, R. J., Belk, A. D., Ball, J. J., & Sawyer, J. T. (2024). Thermoforming vacuum packaging influences fresh pork loin chop characteristics. MDPI. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13172701
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Douglas, S. L., Bernardez-Morales, G. M., Nichols, B. W., Johnson, G. F., Barahona-Dominguez, L. S., Jessup, A. P., Belk, A. D., Ball, J. J., Cho, S., & Sawyer, J. T. (2024). Inclusion of beef heart in ground beef patties alters quality characteristics and consumer acceptability as assessed by the application of electronic nose and tongue technology. Foods, 13(5), 811. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13050811
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Mulvaney, D., Johnson, G., Kelley, R., Alfaro, G., Gore, M., Scheuermann, G., Lino, S., & Rahe, C. (2023). Developmental expression of myogenic regulatory genes in bovine myoblast cultures and fetal skeletal muscle. Alabama Livestock Research Report, 6468. aurora.auburn.edu/bitstream/handle/11200/50632/Alabama_Livestock_2nd_Ed.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Bennett, Samantha; Martin, David S.; Sawyer, Jason T.; Rodning, Soren P.; and Mulvaney, Don (2024) "Measuring Agricultural Means of Influence on Young Adults via Instagram in the United States," Journal of Applied Communications: Vol. 108: Iss. 2. https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.2521
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Bennett, S., Martin, D., Sawyer, J., Rodning, S., & Mulvaney, D. (2024). Adoption of Podcasting as a Tool for Extension Educators. The Journal of Extension, 62(3), Article 34. https://open.clemson.edu/joe/vol62/iss3/34
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Katie Corbitt,Karen Hiltbrand,Madison Coursen,Soren Rodning,W. Brandon Smith and Don Mulvaney. 2024. Credibility Judgments in Higher Education: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Detecting Misinformation from University Instructors Department of Animal Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA Educ. Sci. 2024, 14(8), 852; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14080852
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Corbitt, K. 2023. Common Knowledge or Common Sense? Evaluating Scientific and Agricultural Literacies in Higher Education
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Hiltbrand, Karen. Minding the Gap [electronic resource] : An Examination of Susceptibility to Misinformation About Beef Among Generation Z and Millennials.


Progress 01/15/23 to 01/14/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Auburn University Animal Sciences Department mentored 5 exceptionally qualified Master's degree students in their participation in the novel professional development program (USDA NIFA grant (#2021-38420-34060). These students completed the requirements of the program and the AU Graduate program during 2023. An additional six students were recruited for a second cohort. Announcements of the NNF opportunity were extended through paid ads in ASAS, MANRRS, list serves, industry contacts, and direct emails to faculty and administrators across universities. Candidates were interviewed via Zoom, and six individuals from GA, IL, FL, and AL were identified to begin the program in the fall of 2023. The program continues to push the envelope on innovation in preparing graduates to meet future food-animal production workforce needs. A multidisciplinary team of scientists led by Dr. Mulvaney continued the program framework that prepares graduates with interdisciplinary knowledge and experiences which enables them to bring creative solutions to the complex and critical challenges in animal agriculture, especially the beef sector. As committed in the proposal, Fellows are being guided through multiple research, classroom, field trips, and extension program planning experiences. An extension-oriented educational program will be planned by cohort 2 in 2024 and designed to reach beef community stakeholders throughout the Southeast. Changes/Problems:Bergen, Werner, and Muntifering, Russell have retired and left the program. Staiger, Elizabeth left the institution. Replacement members of the mentor team include ANSC faculty Dr. Wellison Diniz (Genomics), Dr. Brandon Smith (Ruminant Nutrition) What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Professional abstracts, meeting attendance & presentations. Some students will be attending the American Forage and Grassland Council Annual Meeting in Mobile (Jan 2024) the American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Meeting in Louisville (Jan 2024), the NACTA Annual Conference (Jun 2024), and the American Society of Animal Science in Calgary. Extension programming participation. Cattle Reproduction Workshop - April 2023 organized by R. Hollingsworth, A. Holliman, and N. Kertz in cooperation with Landon Marks, Regional Extension Agent in Animal Science and Forages for the NE region; n = 33 participants. Additional meetings where NNF students participated as registrants or in program planning: Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center Beef-Forage Field Day (April 2023), Alabama BCIA Artificial Insemination School (May 2023), Alabama Grazing Academy (September 2023), Tennessee Valley Research and Extension Center Beef-Forage Field Day (October 2023); Support of Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association bull and heifer development programs/sales (October 2023; December 2023) Farm Visits - Ashlyn Hurst and Rachel Hollingsworth participated in farm visits related to nutritional and reproductive management for beef producers (n = 12 to 15 farm visits in 2023 as part of an on-farm research project in collaboration with the University of Kentucky) Award recognitions - research, teaching, or extension. Provide info on the status (employment or doctoral pursuit) of completed students. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Animal Sciences Extension articles, programming, and publications Animal Science website and newsletters; Articles by the department. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue planning the unique coursework, extension programming, seminars, publication completion, and mentoring of the second cohort to completion.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Recruitment. The second cohort of six Fellows in this program were recruited for the first semester fall 2023. 2. Fellows will take the foundation courses in the standard master's-degree curriculum for theDepartment of Animal Sciences as a group. 3. In addition to regular coursework, Fellows together will take a three-credit-hour, team-taught Advanced Beef Systems course focusing on forage-based cow-calf management, considered from several different perspectives: Forages, environment, and ecosystems, meat science, food safety, nutrition, reproduction technologies, and growth and developmental genomics. 4. By the end of the first semester, Fellows decide which major topic they will focus on, which will determine the remainder of their coursework and their research project and present a planning seminar. 5. During the remainder of the two-year course of study, Fellows will stay connected through a Community of Practice, meeting at least monthly and discussing current issues in sustainable beef systemsvia an online blog. 6. The first and second group of Fellows will graduate as a cohort, facilitating future networking. What was accomplished under these goals? Food production globally must double to meet demand by 2050. Demand for animal protein, coupled with reductions in grazing lands, intensifies a need for greater efficiency in beef production. Beef production relies on farms & ranches raising calves for later sale. Our goal was to prepare 2 cohorts of six cross-trained fellows each to gain inter- and intradisciplinary knowledge and experiences capable of bringing creative solutions to critical challenges within the industry. Applicants were solicited via advertisements, list-serve networks, and recruitment webinars. The selection was guided by a rubric that included interviews and essays above a basic application. Through coaching/mentorship and leadership training, fellows were charged with the creation of Individualized Development/Experience Plans (IDP) involving: learning community dynamics, common experiences, shared/collaborative research, professional leadership & empowerment, stakeholder engagement, scholarly immersion, translational communication skills, and classroom teaching. Fellows increased competencies in critical-thinking fundamentals of environmental/production sustainability, emphasizing forages, beef systems, economics, and more. Immersion experiences with stakeholders utilized a "design thinking" framework promoting complex creative problem-solving. Fellows were immersed in an 'Experiential Learning Cycle' via comprehensive planning and execution of a high-impact experience in a regional outreach stockman and stewardship event. The ANSC-NNF program creates a pipeline to industry and extension careers with graduates who understand modern challenges within production agriculture and specifically beef production. Assessments indicate the program permeated the entire graduate program within the Department of Animal Sciences, and, in addition to thesis research, Fellows gained knowledge through leadership, process management, systems & sustainability and obtained skills and abilities, including professional certifications. During the two-year course of study, Fellows stayed connected through a Community of Practice, meeting monthly and discussing current issues in forage-based cow-calf production via regular meetings. Fellows all completed the required Sustainable Beef Programming and Advance Beef Systems courses. Five students will finish master's degree thesis requirements within Reproduction, Meats Science, Nutrition, and Ag STEM Consumer / Industry Communication research areas in May and have accepted employment as an industry Marketing Director, Regional Extension Agent, Doctoral Programs, and Meat Industry. The department has launched the second cohort of six master's-level Fellows for 2023-2025. Assessments show success in each of the objectives of the program. To-date, Graduates of the first cohort have employment in the industry, extension programs, advanced degree programs, and beef industry.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2023 Citation: Samantha P. Bennett, David Martin, Jason T. Sawyer, and Don R. Mulvaney & Soren P. Rodning. 2023. Adoption of Podcasting as a Tool for Extension Educators. J. of Extension
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Samantha P. Bennett, David Martin, Jason T. Sawyer, and Don R. Mulvaney & Soren P. Rodning. 2023. Podcasting as a Extension Tool Journal of Animal Science, Volume 101, Issue Supplement_3, November 2023, Pages 147148, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad281.181s.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Karen A Hiltbrand, Katie Corbitt, Madison Coursen, David Martin, Kimberly Mullenix, Derek Ross, Ed Youngblood, Brandon B Smith, Donald Mulvaney. 2023. Food for thought: How influenceable is the next generation. J. Animal Science 101, Suppl.3) Page 148, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad281.182
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Sara Cloft, Michelle Santiago, Chantel Simpson, Jeremy Cowan, Shea Porr, Chyi-Lyi Liang, Don Mulvaney. 2023. NACTA 2022 Experiential Learning Workshop Activity Virtual Pivot: Lessons Learned. NACTA Journal, 67(TT). https://doi.org/10.56103/nactaj.v67iTT.127
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Katie Corbitt, Savannah Locke, Karen A Hiltbrand, David Shannon, Soren P Rodning, Jason T Sawyer, Donald Mulvaney, Darcey Richburg. 2023. Measuring the Effectiveness of Both Cognitive and Emotional Forms of Instructional Videos Related to the Beef Industry. J. Animal Science, 101, Suppl.3, Page 151. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad281.186
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Donald Mulvaney, Paul Dyce, Kimberly Mullenix, Leanne Dillard, Wellison Diniz, Terry D Brandebourg, Russell Muntifering, Werner Bergen, Soren Rodning, Lawrence Hamberlin. 2023. Transformative Animal Science Fellows Program for a Sustainable, Efficient, Profitable Beef Production Future. J. Animal Science, 101, Suppl. 3, Page 322, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad281.383
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Exploring immunoglobulin and metabolomic biomarkers of subfertility in Bos taurus beef heifers. Holliman, A (07-17-2023) https://etd.auburn.edu//handle/10415/8770
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Molecular signatures and cellular differences in granulosa cells from fertile and subfertile beef heifers. Hollingsworth, RA (06-23-2023) https://etd.auburn.edu//handle/10415/8750
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Minding the Gap: An Examination of Susceptibility to Misinformation About Beef Among Generation Z and Millennials ?2023 https://etd.auburn.edu//handle/10415/8699
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Common Knowledge or Common Sense? Evaluating Scientific and Agricultural Literacies in Higher Education 2023 https://etd.auburn.edu//handle/10415/8772
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2023 Citation: Coursen, Madison M. 1, Katie E. Corbitt 1, Karen A. Hiltbrand 1, Jason T. Sawyer1, Mary K. Mullenix1, Donald R. Mulvaney. 2023. Measuring the Impact of the Young Cattlemens Leadership Program Using Ripple Effects Mapping. J. Leadership Education
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: The Influence of Hemp Seed Meal on Tenderness and Shelf Stability on Goat Steaks. Completed August 2023. https://etd.auburn.edu//handle/10415/8779
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Locke, S.L. !, K.A. Hiltbrand!, K. E. R. Corbitt!, D.H. Richburg!, D. Shannon!, S. P. Rodning!, and J. T. Sawyer!, D. R. Mulvaney. 2023. Instagram as a Tool of Diffusion for the Livestock Industry J. Applied Comm. 107: Iss. 3. https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.2460
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: V. E. Zorn, T. D. Brandebourg, M. K. Mullenix, A. D. Belk, K.B. Ale, F. W. Abrahamsen, N. K. Gurung, J. T. Sawyer. 2023. Foods 13, 2628. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13162628
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Banerjee P, Diniz WJS, Hollingsworth R, Rodning SP, Dyce PW. mRNA Signatures in Peripheral White Blood Cells Predict Reproductive Potential in Beef Heifers at Weaning. Genes (BaseI), 2023 14(2):498. doi: 10.3390/genes14020498.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Rankins G, Hollingsworth RA, Mahoney EE, Holliman AG, Dyce PW. Investigating plasma inflammatory cytokine levels relationship to pregnancy outcomes in Bos taurus heifers. Auburn University Undergraduate Journal (2022)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Anna Holliman, Priyanka Banerjee, Paul W Dyce. 167 Plasma Metabolomics at Weaning and 30 Days Prior to Ai in Beef Heifers with Varying Reproductive Potential. 10.1093/jas/skad281.074. In: ASAS- CSAS-WSASAS Annual Meeting. New Mexico. 2023
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Rachel Hollingsworth, Priyanka Banerjee, Paul W Dyce. 180 Differences in Gene Expression in Granulosa Cells Harvested from Fertile and Sub-Fertile Beef Heifers. 10.1093/jas/skad281.105. In: ASAS- CSAS-WSASAS Annual Meeting. New Mexico. 2023
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Don Mulvaney, Sara Cloft, Michelle Santiago, Chantel Simpson, Chyi-Lyi Liang, Jeremy Cowan, Shea Porr. 2023. Insights on using Student Farms and Facilities for experiential learning from the NACTA 2022 Experiential Learning Workshop. NACTA Journal, 67(TT). https://doi.org/10.56103/nactaj.v67iTT.126


Progress 01/15/22 to 01/14/23

Outputs
Target Audience:Auburn University Animal Sciences Department mentored six exceptionally qualified Master's degree students to participate in the novel professional development program (USDA NIFA grant (#2021-38420-34060). The program pushed the envelope on innovation in preparing graduates to meet future food-animal production workforce needs. A multidisciplinary team of scientists has created a program framework that prepares graduates with interdisciplinary knowledge and experience to develop creative solutions to critical challenges in animal agriculture, especially the beef sector. One student exited the program early in 2022. As committed in the proposal, Fellows were guided through multiple research, classroom, and extension experiences. The target audience of the latter was a Stockman and Stewardship educational program reaching beef community stakeholders throughout the Southeast. In the fall of 2022, efforts began to recruit a second cohort of students. Announcements of the NNF opportunity were extended through paid ads in ASAS, MANRRS, list serves, industry contacts, and direct emails to faculty and administrators across universities. Changes/Problems:Of the original co-PIs, three (Drs. Muntifering-nutrition and ecology, Bergen - nutritional biochemistry, and Staiger - genomics)have left the university. These areas of expertise and mentoring roles have been replaced by Drs. Smith, Belk, and Diniz. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In the course 'Elevating Beef Sustainability Through Innovative Science, Professional Leadership Development, Design Thinking, Scholarly Experiential Research and Learning', students completed NCBA BQA and NCBA MBA programs, received certification in Artificial Insemination. Students all received leadership certificates of completion. Each student has delivered three public seminars on research literature and thesis results. Two students received Graduate TeachingAward recognition by the North American Colleges and Teachers ofAgriculture (NACTA), and one NNF student received the AU Outstanding Masters Degree Student Award. 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?1. Present results at the 2023 Project Directors meeting. 2.We will recruit and accept a second cohort of up to 7 new fellows by late spring. 3. We plan to complete 5 master's theses in 2023. 4. We plan to submit multiple manuscripts for scientific journal publication and create corresponding translations of science articles for distribution to the industry.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Food production globally must double to meet demand by 2050. Demand for animal protein, coupled with reductions in grazing lands, intensifies a need for greater efficiency in beef production. Beef production relies on farms & ranches raising calves for later sale. Our goal was to prepare six cross-trained fellows to gain inter- and intradisciplinary knowledge and experiences capable of bringing creative solutions to critical challenges within the industry. Applicants were solicited via advertisements, list-serve networks, and recruitment webinars. The selection was guided by a rubric that included interviews and essays above a basic application. Through coaching/mentorship and leadership training, fellows were charged with the creation of Individualized Development/Experience Plans (IDP) involving: learning community dynamics, common experiences, shared/collaborative research, professional leadership & empowerment, stakeholder engagement, scholarly immersion, translational communication skills, and classroom teaching. Fellows increased competencies in critical-thinking fundamentals of environmental/production sustainability, emphasizing forages, beef systems, economics, and more. Immersion experiences with stakeholders utilized a "design thinking" framework promoting complex creative problem-solving. Fellows were immersed in an 'Experiential Learning Cycle' via comprehensive planning and execution of a high-impact experience in a regional outreach stockman and stewardship event. The ANSC-NNF program creates a pipeline to industry and extension careers with graduates who understand modern challenges within production agriculture and specifically beef production. Assessments indicate the program permeated the entire graduate program within the Department of Animal Sciences, and, in addition to thesis research, Fellows gained knowledge through leadership, process management, systems & sustainability and obtained skills and abilities, including professional certifications. During the two-year course of study, Fellows stayed connected through a Community of Practice, meeting monthly and discussing current issues in forage-based cow-calf production via regular meetings. Fellows all completed the required Sustainable Beef Programming and Advance Beef Systems courses. Five students will finish master's degrees thesis requirements within Reproduction, Meats Science, Nutrition, and Ag STEM Consumer / Industry Communication research areas in May and have accepted employment as an industry Marketing Director, Regional Extension Agent, Doctoral Programs, and Meat Industry.Thedepartment has initiated recruitment of a second cohort of six master's-level Fellows for 2023-2025.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Anna Holliman 1, Priyanka Banerjee 1, and Paul Dyce. 2022. Metabolite Differences in the Blood Plasma of Beef Heifers with Differing Fertility. Alabama Livestock Research Report.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Donald R. Mulvaney 1,*, Savannah L. Locke 1, Samantha P. Bennett 1, Karen A. Hiltbrand 1, Kattie E. Corbitt 1 and Madison M. Coursen. 2022. Exploring Means of Communication in Support of AgSTEM and Animal Agriculture. Alabama Livestock Research Report. 1
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Priyanka Banerjee 1, Soren Rodning 1, Wellison Diniz 1, and Paul Dyce. 2022.Gene and Metabolite Targets to Predict and Improve Reproductive Outcome in Beef Heifers. Alabama Livestock Research Report. 1


Progress 01/15/21 to 01/14/22

Outputs
Target Audience:Auburn University's Animal Sciences Department searched for six exceptionally qualified Master's degree prospects to participate in a novel professional development program (USDA NIFA grant (#2021-38420-34060) that pushes the envelope on innovation in preparing graduates to meet future food-animal production workforce needs. A multidisciplinary team of scientists has created a program framework that prepares graduates with interdisciplinary knowledge and experience to develop creative solutions to critical challenges to the industry. Through content and experiential modules, students will be cross-trained in disciplinary arenas of regenerative forage-based systems, meat sciences, food safety, issues communication management, growth and development, nutrition, and reproduction. Students will become equipped with leadership, design, and systems thinking, discovery, and translational research experience to develop creative solutions to critical challenges to the industry. There will be a particular focus on beef cattle production systems that are environmentally sustainable and enhance profitability. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Members of cohort 1 have participated in a diverse array of professional micro credentialing activities which include extension/outreach conferences, seminars, leadership workshops, design thinking training, artificial insemination certifications, grantsmanship / proposal development training, college-wide poster presentations. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?First semester results will be communicated to the individuals and organizations offering support letters and possibly abstracts to ASAS or NACTA as well as among the campus. First-year results will be utilized in recruitment for Cohort 2 starting fall 2023. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue to execute the plan for recruitment of Cohort 2. The latter will begin in the summer and fall of 2022.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Recruitment. The first six Fellows in this program were recruited as a cohort and for the first semester. Our approach was extensive: •Promoted ANSC NNF with a poster at the AU research Symposium •Highlighted in AU News •Participated in a COA graduate school recruitment program (12/20) •Constructing an NNF web page •Created a recruitment flier •Created press release •Notified HBCU's of the opportunity and contacts which provided letters of support •Distributed flier and opportunity to list serves: ANSC Dept Heads, ASAS, NACTA, AMSA, SSR •Sent directly to student inquiries •Participated in Recruitment webinar Tuskegee University (3.5.21) Promoted to students at Alabama A&M •Secured posting in: Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU; www.aplu.org/members/jobs-at-aplu-and-member-institutions/employment-opportunities), American Society of Animal Sciences (ASAS; https://careers.asas.org/jobs/), Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANNRS; https://blog.manrrs.org/jobs) 2. Fellows will take the foundation courses in the standard master's-degree curriculum for the Department of Animal Sciences as a group. Applicants were received from multiple states and cohort 1 is represented by students from Ohio, Virginia, Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama. Project director and co-directors developed a graduate course titled Elevating Beef Sustainability Through Innovative Science, Professional Leadership Development and Le - 13155 - ANSC 7970 - 001 which was taught in fall 2021. Students will also maintain their learning community through spring 2022 and take another Advanced Beef course as a cohort in fall 2022. 3. In addition to regular coursework, Fellows together will take a two-credit-hour, team-taught Special Topics class focusing on forage-based cow-calf management, considered from several different perspectives: Forages, environment and ecosystems, meat science, food safety, nutrition, reproduction technologies, and growth and developmental genomics. This major goal was successfully accomplished for cohort 1. Project director and co-directors developed a graduate course titled Elevating Beef Sustainability Through Innovative Science, Professional Leadership Development and Le - 13155 - ANSC 7970 - 001 which was taught in fall 2021. Students will also maintain their learning community through spring 2022 and take another Advanced Beef course as a cohort in fall 2022. 4. By the end of the first semester, Fellows will decide which major topic they will focus on, which will determine the remainder of their coursework and their research project. This goal has been accomplished for all members of the six-member cohort 1. 5. During the remainder of the two-year course of study, Fellows will stay connected through a Community of Practice, meeting monthly and discussing current issues in forage-based cow-calf production via an online blog. This plan to accomplish this goal is initiated in spring 2022. 6. The first group of Fellows will graduate as a cohort, facilitating future networking. This goal is in progress.

Publications