Progress 09/01/24 to 08/31/25
Outputs
Target Audience:During this reporting period, the primary target audiences were undergraduate and graduate students in Animal and Range Sciences at New Mexico State University (NMSU) and California State University, Chico (CSU Chico). These students represent a mixture of first-generation college students, underrepresented minorities in agriculture, and students pursuing advanced training to prepare for professional careers in animal science, veterinary medicine, rangeland management, and meat science. Our efforts reached these groups through a combination of formal classroom instruction, laboratory-based research experiences, professional conference participation, structured mentoring, internships, and extension-style outreach activities. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided extensive opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students to develop technical, academic, and professional competencies aligned with careers in agricultural sciences. Undergraduate Students (Chico State and NMSU). Faculty-Led Research Training: Students gained hands-on experience in reproductive physiology, rumen fermentation, invasive plant management, forage production, and nutrient cycling research. They developed laboratory skills (sample collection, hematology, molecular assays), data analysis, and poster preparation. Experiential Learning Trips and Internships: Students participated in the NMSU Emersion Trip, which provided multi-institutional training in livestock production and exposure to research facilities in New Mexico and California. NMSU undergraduates also completed structured internships, including the U.S. Beef Academy, the Southern Great Plains Dairy Consortium, and a veterinary practice externship. Professional Conferences: Undergraduates presented posters and attended sessions at the Society for Range Management Annual Meeting (2025), the California Cattlemen's Association Conventions (2024-2025), the California Feed & Grain Association, and the NMSU Undergraduate Research and Creative Arts Symposium. These activities enhanced their communication skills, networking abilities, and exposure to professional careers in agriculture. Graduate Students (NMSU). Research Development: Graduate fellows advanced their thesis and dissertation projects with direct mentorship in experimental design, data collection, statistical analysis, and manuscript preparation. Several graduate students published or prepared manuscripts in Journal of Animal Science, and Theriogenology. Teaching Assistantships: Graduate students served as GTAs in courses such as ANSC 1120 (Intro to Animal Science), ANSC 2310 (Meat Science), ANSC 301 (Carcass Evaluation), ANSC 370 (Anatomy & Physiology of Domestic Animals), and ANSC 421 (Physiology of Reproduction). These roles provided professional development in teaching, curriculum design, grading, and mentoring undergraduate students. Mentoring Undergraduates: Graduate students mentored undergraduates in lab procedures, poster design, abstract preparation, and research writing (e.g., Dominguez mentoring Blair; Gurule mentoring Valencia). This enhanced leadership and communication skills for both graduate and undergraduate participants. Professional Development Workshops: Students participated in structured workshops, including the NMSU Etiquette Dinner, Clifton Strengths Workshop, and LinkedIn Career Development Session. These workshops targeted professional readiness, communication in formal settings, and self-awareness of strengths. Leadership and Service: Graduate fellows assumed leadership positions such as President of the Animal & Range Sciences Graduate Student Association (ARSGSA), Graduate Student Director for the American Society of Animal Science, and coaches for the Academic Quadrathlon and Meat Judging Teams. These roles enhanced organizational, leadership, and outreach skills. Outreach and Community Engagement. Students engaged in outreach through STEM Nights at local elementary schools, Ag Day events, farm and ranch heritage tours, and campus farm tours for K-12 audiences. These experiences provided training in communicating science to diverse audiences, community engagement, and agricultural advocacy. Summary. The project created a vertically integrated training environment where undergraduate students gained early research exposure and professional networking opportunities, while graduate students strengthened teaching, mentoring, and leadership competencies. Collectively, these experiences advanced the professional development of students and aligned with the project's goal of preparing a diverse and competitive agricultural workforce. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results from the USDA HSI Pipeline to Ag Leaders project were disseminated broadly to academic, industry, and community audiences through a combination of conference presentations, publications, workshops, and outreach activities. Dissemination efforts reached both scientific communities of practice and broader public audiences, ensuring that research findings and student accomplishments were shared widely. 1. Professional Conferences and Scientific Meetings. Undergraduate and graduate students presented posters and oral presentations at regional, national, and international conferences, including the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Annual Meeting (2025, Arlington, TX), the Western Section ASAS Meeting, the Society for Range Management Annual Meeting (2025, Spokane, WA), the California Cattlemen's Association Conventions (2024-2025), and the California Feed & Grain Association (2025). Student presentations addressed topics such as reproductive physiology, immune responses to endotoxin exposure, rumen fermentation, forage production, invasive weed management, and nutrient cycling in livestock compost. These presentations disseminated student-led research to academic peers, industry representatives, and agricultural producers. Several students received recognition for their dissemination efforts, including 1st place awards in undergraduate and graduate poster competitions at ASAS and CSU Chico research symposia. 2. Publications and Proceedings. Peer-reviewed manuscripts were produced and submitted to journals such as the Journal of Animal Science, Theriogenology. Conference abstracts and proceedings were published through the Western Section ASAS and disseminated via professional societies. These publications targeted the scientific research community in reproductive physiology, ruminant nutrition, meat science, and rangeland management. 3. University and Local Outreach. Students presented research locally at the NMSU Undergraduate Research and Creative Arts Symposium and the ACES Open House, reaching university peers, faculty, staff, and community stakeholders. Graduate students and faculty coordinated farm tours, Ag Days, and outreach events to highlight livestock production, reproduction, and meat science research to community members, K-12 students, and agricultural producers in New Mexico and California. 4. Professional Development and Industry Networking. Students and faculty participated in industry-focused sessions such as Lunch & Learn events at ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS and the US Beef Academy. These provided direct dissemination to agricultural producers, allied industry representatives, and extension partners. Dissemination also occurred through professional workshops including etiquette dinners, LinkedIn training, and Clifton Strengths assessments, where students shared their experiences and connected with stakeholders from academia and industry. 5. Broader Community Engagement. Outreach events such as STEM Nights at Jornada Elementary School (Las Cruces, NM) and community heritage events provided opportunities for students to explain agricultural science to non-specialist audiences. These activities broadened the impact of the program by increasing agricultural literacy and awareness among K-12 students and families. Summary. Through posters, oral presentations, peer-reviewed publications, outreach events, and professional networking, this project has successfully disseminated results to a wide range of communities of interest including scientific peers, agricultural industry professionals, K-12 students, and local communities. These efforts ensured that program outcomes were communicated both within the professional research community and to broader audiences who benefit from enhanced understanding of agriculture and livestock production systems. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, the project will focus on recruiting new undergraduate and graduate students from CSU Chico and NMSU, particularly those from underrepresented groups in agriculture. Recruitment will target students interested in animal science disciplines such as reproductive physiology, ruminant nutrition, rangeland ecology, and meat science. Cohorts from both institutions will continue to meet through joint virtual and in-person sessions, providing opportunities for mentoring, presentation practice, and peer-to-peer collaboration. A student exchange visit is also planned to expand immersion experiences at each partner institution. Students will participate in a series of professional development workshops including etiquette and networking training, LinkedIn and career branding sessions, and strengths-based leadership development. Guest lectures from academic and industry professionals will continue to expose students to diverse career pathways and research innovations. Finally, both undergraduate and graduate fellows will be supported to attend and present at major professional meetings such as ASAS, SRM, the California Cattlemen's Association, and the Reciprocal Meat Conference. Collectively, these activities will strengthen the pipeline by preparing undergraduates for graduate study, expanding graduate student teaching and mentoring skills, and enhancing overall competitiveness for future careers in the agricultural sciences.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During this reporting period, the project continued to expand its impact in building a student pipeline between California State University, Chico (CSU Chico) and New Mexico State University (NMSU), with measurable progress toward both undergraduate and graduate training goals. A total of 12 students (5 CSU Chico undergraduates, 3 NMSU undergraduates, and 4 NMSU graduate students) actively participated in program-supported research, professional development, and outreach activities. Undergraduate Training (Goal: 15 students). Chico State (n=5): Students conducted research in rumen fermentation, invasive species management, forage production, and nutrient cycling in compost. All students were involved in experiential learning through poster or oral presentations at professional meetings including the Society for Range Management (SRM) Annual Meeting (2025) and the California Cattlemen's Association Convention (2024-2025). One student (Benitez) also presented at the California Feed & Grain Association and the CSU Chico Research Symposium. Four students attended the NMSU Emersion Trip for multi-institutional experiential training. NMSU (n=3): Undergraduate participants engaged in reproductive physiology and immunology research. Valencia presented award-winning research at the ASAS Annual Meeting (1st place, Undergraduate Poster Competition) and at the NMSU Undergraduate Research and Creative Arts Symposium. Blair presented a poster at the ACES Open House, while Monroe completed a USDA & NDIA Cooperative Extension/Research Internship. Collectively, these undergraduates developed competencies in laboratory research, poster design, scientific writing, and oral communication. Graduate Training (Goal: 10 students). M.S. Students (n=3): Dominguez, Luna, and Webster advanced their thesis research in reproductive physiology and meat science. Each served as Graduate Teaching Assistants in undergraduate courses (e.g., Anatomy & Physiology of Domestic Animals, Intro to Animal Science, Meat Science, Carcass Evaluation), thereby enhancing their instructional skills. They also mentored undergraduate researchers, directly contributing to the program's pipeline model. Achievements included: Dominguez - 1st place in the Western Section ASAS Graduate 3-Minute Thesis Competition. Luna - Lightning talk presentation at the Graduate Research & Arts Symposium (2025) and outreach through Jornada Elementary STEM Night. Webster - Leadership in the Intercollegiate Meat Judging Program, internships at National Beef and Seaboard Foods, HACCP certification, and multiple guest lectures. Ph.D. Student (n=1): Gurule demonstrated advanced progress toward dissertation goals, publishing multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts (Journal of Animal Science, Frontiers in Physiology), presenting research nationally, and serving in leadership roles (President of ARSGSA; Graduate Student Director on the National ASAS Board). Gurule also mentored undergraduates (e.g., Valencia) and served as lead TA in major courses (ANSC 370, ANSC 421). Professional Development and Outreach. Students from both campuses participated in structured professional development workshops (e.g., Etiquette Dinner, Clifton Strengths Workshop, LinkedIn Profile Development). Outreach to the broader community included participation in STEM Nights at local elementary schools, Ag Days, farm tours, and industry Lunch & Learn sessions at ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS. These activities targeted not only student development but also enhanced visibility of agricultural sciences to K-12 and public audiences. Outputs and Progress Toward Goals. Publications: 3 peer-reviewed journal articles published; 1 manuscript in preparation. Abstracts/Proceedings: 4 published and presented at national or regional meetings. Student Transition: Undergraduate participants gained critical research and communication skills, preparing them for transition into graduate study. Graduate students gained teaching, mentoring, and leadership skills, fulfilling the program's objectives of vertical integration. Representation: A majority of participants self-identified as Hispanic, Native American, or other underrepresented groups, directly advancing the HSI program's mission of enhancing diversity in the agricultural sciences workforce. Overall: The project successfully advanced its goals by training, mentoring, and professionally developing both undergraduate and graduate students across two institutions. These efforts resulted in measurable academic outputs, enhanced professional readiness, and meaningful progress toward building a diverse pipeline of future agricultural leaders.
Publications
- Type:
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Austin, M.M., Castro, B., Ochoa, L., Dominguez Arellanes, J.F., Luna, K.L., Salas, Y.A., Gurule, S.C., Soto-Navarro, S.A., Gifford, C.A., & Hernandez Gifford, J.A. (2024). The effect of repeated lipopolysaccharide endotoxin challenge on immune response of breeding ewes and subsequent lamb performance. Journal of Animal Science. doi:10.1093/jas/skae294
- Type:
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Castro, B., Candelaria, J.I., Austin, M.M., Shuster, C.B., Gifford, C.A., Denicol, A.C., & Hernandez Gifford, J.A. (2024). Low-dose lipopolysaccharide exposure during oocyte maturation disrupts early bovine embryo development. Theriogenology, 214:5765.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Dominguez Arellanes, J.F., Austin, M.M., Gurule, S.C., Soto-Navarro, S., & Hernandez Gifford, J.A. (2024). Impact of lipopolysaccharide endotoxin on haptoglobin concentrations in ewes during follicular development. Proceedings of the Western Section, American Society of Animal Science (WSASAS).
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Luna, K.L., Ward, M., Austin, M.M., Dominguez Arellanes, J.F., Ochoa, L., Gurule, S.C., Sirois, S., May, M., Lawrence, J., Scholljegerdes, E.J., Soto-Navarro, S., & Hernandez Gifford, J.A. (2024). Efficacy of a chute-side pregnancy test on early pregnancy determination in mature Rambouillet ewes. Proceedings of the Western Section, ASAS
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2025
Citation:
Valencia, J.A., Gurule, S.C., Dominguez, J.F., Lucero, N., Luna, K.L., Soto-Navarro, S., & Hernandez Gifford, J.A. (2025). Repeated low-dose endotoxin exposure on hematological and febrile response in nulliparous Rambouillet ewes. Proceedings of the Western Section, ASAS.
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Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of this project includes undergraduate and graduate students fromAnimal and Range Sciences at New Mexico State University; and undergraduate and graduate students at California State University - Chico. The object is to increase expsoure of professional development, leadership and mentoring opportunties in an effort train students to become leaders in the Agricultural workforce and/or prepare them for entry into graduate programs. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One NMSU undergraduate student participated in the 5 week US Dairy Consortium in Clovis, NM. (May - June 2024) One NMSU graduate student and one Chico State undergraduatestudent participated in the US Beef Academy in Corona, NM (June 2024) Quarterly meetings focused on professional development. In the fall (October 2023), a former NMSU PhD graduate, Eben Oosthuysen, presented a seminar and insights to his career path in Industry as Feedlot Nutrition Consultant. In January, Chico State students traveled to NMSU to participate in professional development activities and meet NMSU faculty and students. NMSU hosted anetiquette dinner event for all participants. Students learned how to formally interact in a dinner interview or banquet situation. Students toured several campus and college farm facilities. In February, NMSU students had the opportunity to attend a keynote speech by Jose Hernandez, former NASA astronaut and first Hispance migrant to be in space. In April, a LinkedIn Workshop was presented by Yvonne Franco from the NMSU student success center. Students participated in this interactive workshop to develop their personal professional profile. In July, students from both universities attended the ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS meeting. As part of the meeting, the students attending a Lunch and Learn with presentations from Industry and Academia. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Vigil, J.M. and K.L. DeAtley. 2024. Effects of compost environment on bone degradation of livestock mortality compost. In Proc. Western Section American Soc. Anim. Sci. Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Cuevas Leyva, E., J.A. Lopez Gerardo, C.I. Ramirez, B. Vallejo, J.M. Vigil, J.S. Messina, R.B. Taylor, K.L. DeAtley, and L.B. Smith. Blood And Trace Element Analysis of Beef Cattle On Olive Pomace Feeding Trial. California Cattlemen's Association Convention. Sparks, NV. M. Henson, E. Cumming, K.L. DeAtley, L.B. Smith, and A. McKeith. 2023. Effects of Olive Pomace On Beef. California Cattlemen's Association Convention. Sparks, NV. Vigil, J.M., C. Ramirez, E. Cuevas Leyva, J.A. Lopez Gerardo, J.S. Messina, B. Vallejo, R. Taylor, and K.L. DeAtley. 2023. Determination Of Bone Degradation Methodology Post Livestock Mortality Composting In California. California Cattlemen's Association Convention. Sparks, NV. Vallejo, B., C.I. Ramirez, J.M. Vigil, R.B. Taylor, J.A. Lopez Gerardo, and K.L. DeAtley. 2023. Forage Production Analysis Of Conventional Vs Organically Managed Irrigated Pasture In Northern California. California Cattlemen's Association Convention. Sparks, NV. Messina, J.S., K.L. DeAtley, J.M. Vigil, J.A. Lopez Gerardo. 2023. Soil Quality Analysis Of Conventional Vs Organically Managed Irrigated Pasture In Northern California. California Cattlemen's Association Convention. Sparks, NV. J.A. Lopez-Gerardo, C. Ramirez, C.Reyes, J. Messina, P. Espinosa, E. Cuevas-Leyva, B. Vallejo, and K.L. DeAtley. 2023. Supplementation of Olive Pomace For Growth And Carcass Quality In Feeder Heifers. California Cattlemen's Association Convention. Sparks, NV.J.F. Dominguez Arellanes, M.A. Austin, S.C. Gurule, S. Navarro-Soto, J.A. HernandezGifford. 2024. Impact of Lipopolysaccharide Endotoxin on Haptoglobin Concentrations inEwes During Follicular Development. 2024. NMSU ACES Open House, and NMSU Undergraduate Research and Creative Arts Symposium. (Poster) K. L. Luna, M. Ward, M. M. Austin, J. F. Dominguez Arellanes, L. Ochoa, S. C. Gurule, S. Sirois, M. May, J. Lawrence, E. J. Scholljegerdes, S. Soto-Navarro, J. A. Hernandez Gifford. 2024 Efficacy of a chute-side pregnancy test on early pregnancy determination in mature Rambouillet ewes. NMSU ACES Open House,and NMSU Undergraduate Research and Creative Arts Symposium. (Poster) Y.A. Salas, M.M. Austin, S. Soto-Navarro C.A. Gifford and J.A. Hernandez Gifford. Evaluation of Immune Gene Expression in Response to Endotoxin Challenge in Ewes. 2024.NMSU ACES Open House,and NMSU Undergraduate Research and Creative Arts Symposium. (Poster) What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In this next reporting period we will recruit undergraduate and graduate students. From Chico State, one student will complete her second year in 2024-2025 and we are hoping to include an additional three new students in 2024-2025. From NMSU, three students that completed their respective degrees and participation in the Pipeline to Ag Leader's program will continue pursuing graduate work at NMSU (2 M.S. and 1 PhD). We will also continue to hold regular meetings for the PI's to plan and incorporate recommendations from our outside reviewer. Quarterly meetings will be held virtually in conjunction with the students participating in the program at NMSU and Chico State. We will provide professional development workshops in a variety of opportunities for the students.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Accomplishments: A total of eight students have been involved with the Pipeline for Ag. Leader's program at CSU, Chico. One student graduated in 2023 and six graduated in 2024. One student will complete her second year in 2024-2025 and we are hoping to include an additional three new students in 2024-2025. From NMSU's Pipeline to Ag Leader's program, three undergraduates completed their B.S. degree and two have continued on to graduate school. Two graduate students successfully completed a M.S. degree and one is currently accepted into Veterinary School and the other is accepted into a PhD program. Five NMSU students supported by this grant attended the ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS meeting and presented their research findings. One student from Chico state attended this meeting and also presented research conducted as part of their program.Students from both universities presented at numerous local, regional and national meetings to disseminate their research finding. N Graduates Fall 2023 and present position: Chico State Undergraduate. Estefania Cuevas-Leyva - Sierra Gold Nursery, Yuba City, CA Graduates Spring 2024 and present position: Chico State Undergraduate 1. Julianna Messina - Graduate School at Colorado State University, pursuing M.S. In animal science 2. Bryan Vallejo - Internship at USDA High Plains Grasslands Research Station, Cheyenne, Wyoming 3. Carolina Ramirez - Veterinary Technician, Azores Veterinary Practice, Turlock, CA 4. Jesus Lopez-Gerardo - Internship in Feedlot Management at University of Nebraska, Lincoln 5. Riley Taylor - Field Representative for Kapa Seed Services, Idaho 6.Linda Figueroa - Graduate School at CSU, Chico in Regenerative Agriculture Graduates Spring 2024 and present position: NMSU Undergraduates 1. Jeffrey Dominguez - Graduate School NMSU, Reproductive Physiology 2. Karime Luna, Graduate School NMSU - Reproductive Physiology 3. Yulianna Salas - Pursuing job opportunities at NDSU in ranch management. Graduates Spring 2024 and present position: NMSU Graduate Students 1. Vinicio Carrera - Veterinary School, Arizona 2. Naomi Lucero- Ph.D program NMSU - Ruminant Nutrition Students continuing 2024-2025 (Research Project): Chico State Taryn Chima (Protocol Development for Extending Ram Semen) Students continuing 2024-2025 (Research Project): NMSU Sara Gurule - PhD student (Evaluating low-dose endotoxin bacterial exposure on bovine ovarian function)
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
B. Castro, J.I. Candelaria, M.M. Austin, C.B. Shuster, C.A. Gifford, A.C. Denicol, and *J.A. Hernandez Gifford. 2024. Low-dose lipopolysaccharide exposure during oocyte maturation disrupts early bovine embryo development. Theriogenology. 214:57-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.10.010.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
M.M. Austin, J.F. Dominguez Arellanes, Y.A. Salas, S. Soto-Navarro, C.A. Gifford, J.A. Hernandez Gifford. 2024. The effect of repeated lipopolysaccharide endotoxin challenge on immune response of breeding ewes. Proceeding Western Section American Society of Animal Sciences
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
K. L. Luna, M. Ward, M.M. Austin, J.F. Dominguez Arellanes, L. Ochoa, S.C. Gurule, S. Sirois, M. May, J. Lawrence, E.J. Scholljegerdes, S. Soto-Navarro, J.A. Hernandez Gifford. 2024. Efficacy of a chute-side pregnancy test on early pregnancy determination in mature Rambouillet ewes. Western Section American Society of Animal Sciences
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
M.M. Austin, J.F. Dominguez Arellanes, Y.A. Salas, S. Soto-Navarro, C.A. Gifford, J.A. Hernandez Gifford. 2024. The effect of repeated lipopolysaccharide endotoxin challenge on immune response of breeding ewes. Abstract. Western Section American Society of Animal Sciences.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
J.M. Vigil, and K.L. DeAtley. 2024. Effects of compost environment on bone degradation of livestock mortality compost. Abstract. ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
J.M. Vigil, and K.L. DeAtley. 2024. Heavy metal and nutrient concentration in non- and livestock-mortality compost. Abstract. ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS.
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