Scholarship & Research
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Item Integrating livestock into small-scale vegetable farming systems(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2021) Benson-Feagler, Trestin Thea; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Megan Van Emon; D.L. Regan, M.L. Van Emon and C.J. Yeoman were co-authors of the article, 'Effects of integrating livestock into small-scale vegetable farming systems' submitted to the journal 'Sustainable agriculture research' which is contained within this thesis.Since World War II, modern agriculture systems have shifted to low-diversity monoculture crops, specializing in a singular species and generally separating those crops from livestock. Such systems require high inputs including fertilizers, herbicides and tillage, all of which may reduce ecological potential of farmland. Small-scale farms are becoming more popular due to recent interest in local eating and sustainability. To improve their environmental sustainability, some small-scale farms have incorporated livestock back into cropping systems. Soil health measurements can be valuable in understanding the impacts livestock have on small- scale farming systems as soil is the growth medium for vegetation. The objectives of this study were to evaluate nutrient cycling, microbial communities and compaction in response to grazed versus un-grazed vegetable cropping systems and use this information to understand the interaction between soil biology, nutrient cycling and livestock when integrated in a variety of vegetable production systems. Soil and biomass samples were collected over three years (2017- 2020) before and after sheep grazing occurred on three farm locations in the Northern Great Plains. Soil samples were analyzed for soil microbial diversity, bulk density and soil nutrients. While I found no consistent differences in soil nutrients, bulk density or soil microbial diversity, my results indicate that integrating livestock into small-scale vegetable farming systems did not negatively impact soil quality. Results from this study may help demonstrate to farmers and livestock operators the importance of an integrated approach, for those that already practice this approach there is affirmation that integration is feasible and purposeful and also become the starting point for further research into a little studied topic.Item Study of intracellular proteinases of some bacteria(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1962) Vadehra, Dharam Vir; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: J. C. Boyd.Item Effects of defoliating leafy spurge on condensed tannin concentrations, sheep rumen microorganisms, and migratory grasshoppers(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1996) Roberts, Joanna L.Item Monensin effects on digestion of corn or barley high concentrate diets(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1995) Surber, Lisa Marie McKinleyItem Metabolic and microbial impacts on reproduction in livestock(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2014) Swartz, Jeffrey David; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Carl Yeoman; James G. Berardinelli, Jennifer M. Thomson, Medora Lachman, Kelsey Westveer, M. Rashelle Herrygers, Rodney W. Kott, Patrick G. Hatfield, and Carl J. Yeoman were co-authors of the article, 'Temporal patterns of intake, energy-related metabolites, metabolic hormones, progesterone concentrations, and lambing rates in Rambouillet ewes selected for high and low reproductive rate' submitted to the journal 'Journal of animal science' which is contained within this thesis.; James G. Berardinelli, Jennifer M. Thomson, Medora Lachman Kelsey Westveer, Thomas O'Neill, Rodney W. Kott, Patrick G. Hatfield, and Carl J. Yeoman were co-authors of the article, 'The vaginal microbiota of ewes and cows are unique and distinct from humans and non-human primates' submitted to the journal 'PLoS one' which is contained within this thesis.; Thomas O'Neill, Medora Lachman, Kelsey Westveer, James G. Berardinelli, Rodney W. Kott, Patrick G. Hatfield, Jennifer M. Thomson, and Carl J. Yeoman were co-authors of the article, 'Sheep vaginal microbiota exhibit correlative changes with progesterone concentration and vaginal mucus secretions, but not reproductive success' submitted to the journal 'Frontiers in veterinary medicine' which is contained within this thesis.Variations exist in the reproductive outcomes of livestock animals impacting the financial sustainability of livestock operations. The objectives of this study were to determine if temporal variations in intake, metabolites, hormones, and/or the vaginal microbiota co-varied with reproductive outcomes using two lines of Rambouillet ewes selected for high or low reproductive rates. Ewes were fed from GrowSafe bunks and blood sera were collected before and during gestation. Sera were assayed for glucose, NEFA, cortisol, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, IGF-I, and progesterone concentrations. The vaginal tracts of Rambouillet ewes and crossbred cows were sampled by vaginal lavage. Microbes present in vaginal samples were determined by sequencing of their 16s ribosomal RNA gene and taxonomy was assigned by naïve Bayesian classification using the 16s rRNA gene database of SILVA. Average total intake did not differ (P > 0.05) between lines of ewes throughout the study. However, kg of TDN x total kg of lamb born -1 x ewe -1 was greater (P d 0.05) for LL ewes than for HL ewes. We observed a line and day of gestation effect for progesterone and thyroxine concentrations. Cow and ewe vaginal microbiota did not differ (P > 0.05), although cow microbiota exhibited greater (P d 0.05) diversity compared to ewe microbiota, and both differed (P d 0.05) from other described vaginal ecosystems. Temporal microbial compositions of open, pregnant, and aborted ewes did not vary by individual, by line, or with age. Microbial compositions did cluster by ewe pregnancy status at time of sampling and by the day of trial. Several microbial taxa were found to co-vary with mucus secretions, P4 concentrations, and pH. Rambouillet ewes that became pregnant and those that remained open did not exhibit significant differences in genera composition of their microbial communities. Future research is needed to determine if there are differences in species, strains, or metabolites produced by these communities.