DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL & AVIAN SCIENCES

SUMMER 2019

PB | DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER, DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND AVIAN SCIENCES, SUMMER 2019 1 | DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER, DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND AVIAN SCIENCES, SUMMER 2019 Dr. Stahl & Sohini Dutt Dr. Crawford & Dr. Stahl Sai Yuan & Dr. Sunny ANSC Annual Symposium The Department of Animal and Avian Sciences held the 33rd Annual Symposium on June 19, 2019.

Abbi Santoni pictured with a blue duiker, the smallest species of antelope. Nancy Huffman handing leaves to Ana, a Coquerel’s Sifaka lemur. TWO ANSC STUDENTS INTERN AT THE MARYLAND ZOO During the spring semester Abbi Santoni and Nancy Amur leopard, Sofiya. “I would perform daily observations STUDENT NEWS Huffman, students in Dr.Monica VanKlompenberg’s of Sofiya, cataloging her stereotypic behaviors (most namely

IN MEMORY ANSC359 internship course, got up close and personal with excessive pacing around her exhibit) and theorizing possible exotic animals during their internships at The Maryland Zoo causes. At the end of the semester, I helped the keepers in Baltimore. implement a new care-taking schedule for her, to provide May 2019 graduate Abbi Santoni served as a a keeper intern more opportunities for training and enrichment throughout in the Africa Barn, working with sitatungas, leopard tortoises, the day, and hopefully improve Sofiya’s long-term welfare.” spur-thigh tortoises, African spoonbills, blue-bellied rollers, Overall, both students had excellent and enjoyable blue-winged teals, hadada ibises, hamerkops, red crested internship experiences at The Maryland Zoo. Ms. Santorini pochards, von der decken hornbills, waldrapp ibises, fulvous reflected on her time there: “I enjoyed the unique experience whistling ducks, spur-winged lapwings, blue duikers (featured of working with zoo animals and seeing what actually goes in the picture), white storks, grey crowned cranes, and ground into zoo keeping. The keepers were great teachers and gave Ronique Beckford & Dr. Sunny Janice Barber & Dr. Stahl Kristen Brady & Dr. Keefer hornbills. She assisted the keepers with daily husbandry, such me many opportunities to gain the most from my experience. as cleaning, feeding, diet prep, and designing enrichment. It was a very friendly and supportive atmosphere that allowed This full-day event showcased our Zahidul Mondle, Jonathan Moyle, and Research Assistant/Postdoc Poster She also developed her own project through the internship me to make the most of the internship.” department’s ongoing research as Monika Proszkowiec-Weglarz. Award program at the zoo and UMD, where she studied the social presented by our graduate students First Place: Ronique Beckford Here are this year’s winners: and postdocs. The keynote speaker Second Place: Tamara Korolnek behavior of the sitatunga, a type of African antelope, and was Peter Crawford, M.D., Ph.D., Pro- Outstanding Ph.D. Student applied that to their natural behaviors. Research Assistant/Postdoc Oral fessor of Medicine and the Founding Kristen Brady Presentation Award Nancy Huffman, a junior in ANSC, served as an intern for Director of the Division of Molecular Staff Member of the Year First Place: Ronique Beckford the Chimpanzee Forest and her daily responsibilities included Medicine at the University of Minne- Janice Barber Second Place: Tamara Korolnek preparing animal diets, assisting keepers in daily training sota. Dr. Crawford’s talk was entitled Graduate Student Poster Award “Following ketone carbon through Shaffner Award for Research in sessions, working on new enrichment ideas, and helping macrophages, landing in hepatic First Place: Sohini Dutt Poultry maintain both the animal enclosures and keeper areas. The fibrogenesis.” Graduate students and Second Place: Cynthia Scholte First Place: Ronique Beckford Chimp Forest features a troop of eleven chimpanzees, as well postdocs competed throughout the Graduate Student Oral Presentation Second Place: Chaitra Surugihalli as three ring-tailed lemurs, two sifaka lemurs, 2 red-ruffed day with posters and oral presenta- Award lemurs, 3 colobus monkeys, and a single Amur leopard. She tions. Many thanks to our speaker and First Place: Sai Yuan the other guest judges: George Liu, Second Place: Ian Chambers also began a behavioral observation study on the zoo’s female

2 | DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER, DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND AVIAN SCIENCES, SUMMER 2019 3 | DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER, DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND AVIAN SCIENCES, SUMMER 2019 Ag Day Livestock Show Results Grand Champion: Allie Agate

Swine Sheep Dairy Beef Tabitha Gregory, Sarah Ibach, Claire Shields, Allie Agate, Champion Champion Champion Champion

1 2 Class 1: Class 1: Class 1: Class 1: 1. Esther Martinez Garcia 1. Eleanor Downey 1. Tiffany Thompson 1. Allie Agate - 1 2. Jenny Thornley 2. Liz Johnson 2. Amanda Retallack 2. Shana Burke - 2

3 3. Sydney Weaver 3. Lydia Cairns ANNUAL EVENT 3. Elsibel Espinal 4. Andrea Wilson 4. Megan Mihalik Class 2: Class 2: 1. Caroline Beall - 1 5. Rachele Franceschi Class 2: 2. Jasmine Richman 1. Tabitha Gregory Class 2: 1. Claire Shields 2. Shelby Presley 1. Sarah Lenhart 2. Shelby Bettencourt 3. Kyle Pope 3. Becky Schulze 2. Kelsey Nelson 3. Stephanie Filho Class 3: 3. Kelsey Miller 4. Shelby Presley 4 1. Kelsey Miller 4. Leah Fondelheit Class 3: 2. Andrea Block 5. Abbie Sise 1. Brooke Knauss 3. Emily Clark Class 3: 2. Caitlyn Ryan 1. Sarah Ibach 3. Rachele Franceschi ANNUAL EVENT 2. Alyssa Larsen Class 4: 3. Elsibel Espinal 1. Kevin Cooley 4. Anniak Quist 2. Shana Burke 5. Annemarie Gray 3. Rachel Rha Class 4: 4. Kelsey Nelson 1. Esther Martinez Garcia Class 5: 2. Allison Hatfield 1. Savannah Carlson 3. Ashley Houser 2. Liz Johnson 5 4. Elsibel Espinal 3. Isabella Carr Class 5: 4. Nadia Khan Trey Maybury and Dr. Monica VanKlompenberg 1 3 (Left to Right) Judge Jeff Semler, Grand 5 (Left to Right) Champion showmen Listya Suryani – 1 Class 6: present the Clark Memorial Herdsmanship Champion Allie Agate, Judges Jeff Myers Tabitha Gregory, Claire Shields, Ivy Lewis - 2 1. Jakia Powell Award to Allie Agate (middle) & Dr. Tom Hartsock. Sarah Ibach, & Grand Champion Dr. Tom Hartsock judging Shelby Presley and Allie Agate. Kaylin Corgan - 3 2. Cristina Manganelli 2 4 A fine line of dairy heifers & their showmen. Tabitha Gregory during the swine show. Daniela Gil - 4 3. Eleanor Ovalle

Maryland Day Recap 2019 Chad Dulin Clark Memorial Herdsmanship Award: Allie Agate

This year, it was blustery and sunny for the Livestock Show held on April 28 as part of Student Coaches: Swine: Kaitlyn Smith and Caroline Beall | Sheep: Adrianna Sniezek, Deena Silton, and Scott Klug the campus-wide Maryland Day. Grand Champion Showman and winner of the Chad Dairy: Allie Agate, Paola Martinez and Gabby Rowan | Beef: Sarah King and Lindsay Jacobs Dulin Clark Memorial Herdsmanship Award was Allie Agate. Congradualtions to her Judges: Swine: Dr. Tom Hartsock, Sheep: Jeff Semler, Dairy: Jeff Myers, & Beef: Jeff Semler and all the other winners. Many thanks to all who competed, the sponsors, judges, Faculty/Staff Coaches: Jennifer Reynolds, Megan McLean, Crystal Caldwell & Dr. Monica VanKlompenberg Announcer: Jen Reynolds Club Advisors: Racheal Slattery & Dr. Monica VanKlompenberg coaches, and all the others who helped to make the Livestock Show a success. Sponsors: Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC)

4 | DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER, DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND AVIAN SCIENCES, SUMMER 2019 5 | DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER, DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND AVIAN SCIENCES, SUMMER 2019 Another NIFA Grant for Dr. Porter

Dr. VanKlompenberg Wins Sarah Balcom Wins Woodrow Wilson Foundation Excellence in Teaching AGNR On-campus Fellowship Professional Track Faculty ANSC Professor Sarah Balcom received a $20,000 Excellence in Excellence Award Teaching Fellowship from Course Hero & the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. This program provides “Genius Grants” to Tenure- Dr. Monica VanKlompenberg was awarded the Track and Non-Tenure-Track Faculty to recognize, promote On-campus Professional Track Faculty outstanding teaching. As a non-tenure-track Fellow, Sarah will Excellence Award on Wednesday, May 15th at

receive a one-year grant of $20,000 to strengthen her teaching the 2019 State of the College Awards & Service RESEARCH and support research and conference participation. Recognition Ceremony. The Fellowship, created by Course Hero and administered by Dr. VanKlompenberg joined the department

RESEARCH the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, is a “genius grant” for of Animal and Avian Sciences (ANSC) as a outstanding teachers in higher education. “This fellowship lecturer in August 2016 and has continually highlights college educators who are using innovative, forward- gone above and beyond expectations of her ovary. A better understanding of the mechanisms thinking methods to teach their students,” said Andrew Grauer, teaching load to expand the opportunities for Dr. Porter and colleagues were regulating production of these hormones is cofounder and CEO of Course Hero. “This year’s class experiential learning and career development awarded a fourth grant in the epitomizes excellence in teaching. Fellows are pushing the for students. Over the last six semesters, Monica essential to develop new strategies aimed at boundaries in lecture halls and labs, coming up with new ways has developed or substantially redesigned eight past three years from the USDA- improving reproduction in turkeys. The specific to engage learners and crafting lessons for students that will stay courses and has demonstrated a profound objectives of the project are to 1) Define the with them long after they’ve left the classroom. We are proud to commitment to excellence in teaching. In NIFA for their proposal titled influences of estrogen and thyroid hormone on recognize these outstanding leaders as Course Hero–Woodrow designing and delivering these courses, she has “Molecular Basis for Egg Pro- responsiveness of the pituitary gland to Wilson Fellows.” focused on student-centered learning duction Rates in Turkey Hens”. hypothalamic hormones in low and high egg For non-tenure-track instructors, the fellowship supports an approaches with elements of active learning. producing hens, 2) Characterize effects of estrogen overall commitment to excellence in teaching. The flexible Most notably, she has redeveloped the Applied and thyroid hormone on responsiveness of ovarian one-year, $20,000 grant supports teaching, research, and Animal Physiology Lecture and Lab which are Meat production is the primary goal of the turkey tissues to pituitary hormones, and 3) Identify conference participation. Sarah Balcom, Jason Bruck, Ekaterina foundational courses in ANSC’s curriculum. industry and requires production of young Elgayeva, and Subhalakshmi Nagarajan make up the 2019 In addition to her teaching and academic turkeys (poults) from eggs laid by the breeding proteins and nucleic acids that regulate important non-tenure-track class. advising, Monica has sought to improve the flock. However, a large variation in egg production genes within the reproductive axis of low and high “The Woodrow Wilson team is delighted to be able to offer this undergraduate experience for ANSC students. exists within individual commercial flocks, leading egg producing hens. kind of support to the fellows. They’re emerging faculty stars.” said In July 2017 she led the organization and host- to reduced overall egg production. Improvement Completion of this research will lead to the Beverly Sanford, vice president and secretary of the Foundation. ing of the National Animal Science Academic of the reproductive efficiency of hens would identification of new information that can be used The newest Course Hero–Woodrow Wilson Fellows, already Quadrathlon working with the American eliminate the need to house and feed additional in breeding programs and the poultry industry to great college educators, are emerging leaders in their fields who Society of Animal Science. She also serves as produce more food for the growing world’s are on a clear trajectory to help their students grow into the breeding hens to meet poulty production the advisor to the Block and Brindle Club population. thought leaders—and innovators—of tomorrow. (B&B), where she has helped the club rebuild. requirements. Reproduction in turkeys is For more information on the Course Hero–Woodrow Wilson Monica is truly an asset to ANSC’s students, controlled in part by hormones produced by the Fellowship, please visit www.woodrow.org/coursehero. rising above the call of duty in many ways. hypothalamus, the anterior pituitary gland, and the

6 | DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER, DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND AVIAN SCIENCES, FALL 2017 7 | DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER, DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND AVIAN SCIENCES, FALL 2017 GRADUATE SCHOOL’S OUTSTANDING RESEARCH MADER WINS FIRST PLACE IN UNDERGRADUATE ASSISTANT AWARD DAIRY PRODUCTION ORAL COMPETITION AT ADSA ANSC graduate student Chaitra Surugihalli in Dr. The 2019 Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association Nishanth Sunny’s lab was (ADSA) was held June 23-26 in recognized with one of the Cincinnati, Ohio and attended by Graduate School’s ANSC students Hannah Mader, Outstanding Research Rachael Rha, graduate student Assistants Awards (AY 2018- Amanda Fischer, and ANSC alum, 19) at the Graduate School’s Dr. Cynthia Scholte. Annual Fellowship and Award Hannah Mader received first prize in the American Dairy Celebration on May 14, 2019. Science Association-Student Affiliate Division Chaitra has been a doctoral Undergraduate Dairy Production Oral Competition. student in Dr. Nishanth Sunny’s laboratory since Spring Competing against five other contestants, the title of her talk 2018. This award is a testimony to Chaitra’s excellent was: Immune response to Escherichia coli-induced bovine progress and contributions towards the research program, mastitis in lactating dairy cows (co-authors of the paper were investigating mechanisms regulating mitochondrial C. Scholte, D. Biswas, and K. Moyes). The focus of their metabolism and lipogenesis in embryonic to post-hatch study was to test citral, a major component of citrus oil, against E. Coli induced mastitis. Her presentation covered

chicken. FACULTY & STUDENT all aspects of the study, sampling, analysis and background information regarding the need for alternatives, the use of 2019 LeClerg Lecture in Biometrics NEWS citrus oil and the basic immune response. “The immune On April 18 in the ANSC lecture hall, Dr Ignacy Mitztal from University of Georgia presented his talk entitled, response was my main focus in my research, specifically “Genetics and genomics across species – past, present and thoughts about future.” Dr. Mesztal is a well-known

RESEARCH acute phase protein and cytokines concentrations.” researcher in the field of statistical genetics. He directs a group working mainly on tools for large-scale genetic Hannah is a May 2019 graduate of ANSC. She has been ac- evaluation of animals and partners with the biggest genetic companies in the world. His primary areas of research cepted at Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary are in genomic selection and algorithm development of complex traits in livestock animals including dairy, beef, Medicine and will be matriculating at Virginia Tech this poultry, swine and fish. fall. While at UMD she worked in Dr. Moyes’ lab on dairy Dr. Erdman Elected Vice nutritional immunogy. President of American Dairy Science Association Board of Directors On June 26th 2019, Dr. Richard Erdman, Professor Emeritus, took over the role of Vice President of the Board of Directors of the American Dairy Science As- DR. PETERS AWARDED ARPAS DISTINGUISHED sociation (ASDA). Next year he will sit as President SERVICE AWARD of the organization. Dr. Robert Peters received the 2019 Washington D.C. Area The American Dairy Science Association is an in- Chapter American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists DR. PORTER RECEIVES GOLDEN ALUMNI AWARD ternational organization of educators, scientists, (ARPAS) Dr. Vernon G. Pursel Memorial Distinguished The Department of Animal Science at the University of and industry representatives who are committed to Service Award. The award was presented by Dr. Ciro Minnesota awarded Dr. Tom Porter with the Golden advancing the dairy industry and keenly aware of Ruiz-Feria, Area Chapter ARPAS President, at the 2019 the vital role the dairy sciences play in fulfilling the Alumni Award for Achievement in Academia. The Golden ARPAS MINI-SYMPOSIUM on April 24, 2019, held at economic, nutritive, and health requirements of the Alumni Award recognizes an alumnus from academia that USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. world’s population. Together, ADSA members have has achieved distinction in their professional life for their discovered new methods and technologies that have outstanding contributions to animal agriculture and revolutionized the dairy industry. exceptional service to their respective fields.

8 | DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER, DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND AVIAN SCIENCES, SUMMER 2019 9 | DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER, DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND AVIAN SCIENCES, SUMMER 2019 Congratulations to the ANSC Spring 2019 Graduates The College of Agricultural and Natural Resources ceremony was held on May 23, 2019 at the Reckord Armory. The University ceremony was held on May 24th, 2019 at the Xfinity Center. GRADUATION

ANSC Graduate Students Nicole A Cox Jalinh Nguyen Kristina Davis, MS Alaina Kristen Doherty Katherine Claire O’Connor Jianan Liu, MS Caroline Dwivedi Allison Paige Opishinski Kristen Brady, Ph.D. Christopher Julian Edwards Amanda Leigh Retallack Marie Iwaniuk, Ph.D. Cheyenne Lyn Eller Rachel Youngah Rha Sarah Potts, Ph.D. Jack William Fergenbaum Miranda Hope Rosen Cynthia Scholte, Ph.D. Jacob Joseph Franzak Abigail Leigh Santoni Timothy Sheets, Ph.D. Hannah Paige Frydman Kimberly Grace Shannahan Sai Yuan, Ph.D. William Marcos Garcia Claire Marie Shields Erica Marie Greene Nicole Akki Singh ANSC Undergraduates Tabitha Mozelle Gregory Adrianna Ariel Sniezek Katherine Lynn Aceto Meera Gullapalli Cory Lee Snyder Yael Ad Kelly Hurtado Zoey Stump Jocelyn Alvarenga Kimani L Johnson-Downes Camilla Carmo Thompson Stacey Rachel Bloom Hary Kang Tiffany Marie Thompson Meghan Victoria Bowman Aliza Vered Kozlovsky Jenny Lynn Thornley Tess McGrath Butler-Lapointe Jade Carley Loewenstein Laura C Tompkins Lydia Halina Cairns Hannah Marie Mader Kaitlyn Savanah Torney Melissa Canaviri Anna Katherine Magnaterra Keri Lauren Walker Angela Hean-Jia Chan Josiah David Evans Manning Jade Christal Walls Lindsey Daniel Charles Maura Sophia McGraw Claire Shirin Witting Savannah Clough Erika Asako Means Alexis Antonio Yanes Katherine Marie Collins Nathan Edward Meier Emma Caroline Youngmann Arianna Tuazon Concepcion Megan Elizabeth Mihalik

10 | DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER, DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND AVIAN SCIENCES, SUMMER 2019