Research program focused on the microbiological mechanisms underlying feed efficiency, enteric emissions, and nutrition in beef cattle. Posts are my own.
Animal Science March Madness - Final Matches of the Sweet 16!
Kangaroo – Dr. Kyle McLean
vs
Ribeye – Dr. Kelly Vierck
Which advances to the next round? VOTE HERE:
tiny.utk.edu/march-madness@UTIAg
Animal Science March Madness - Final Matches of the Sweet 16!
Spotted Salamander – Dr. Daniel Mathew
vs
Great Horseshoe Bat – Dr. Saulo Zoca
Which advances to the next round? VOTE HERE:
tiny.utk.edu/march-madness@UTIAg
Animal Science March Madness — Matches 5 and 6 are here!
Match 5 is live:
Laying Hen - Dr. Xiang Li
vs
Indian muntjac – Dr. Jon Beever
Which advances to the next round? VOTE HERE:
tiny.utk.edu/march-madness@UTIAg
Animal Science March Madness — Matches 5 and 6 are here!
Match 6 is live:
Dung Beetle – Dr. Katie Mason
vs
Guinea Pig – Dr. Troy Rowan
Which advances to the next round? VOTE HERE:
tiny.utk.edu/march-madness@UTIAg
Animal Science March Madness — Matches 3 and 4 are here!
Match 3 is live:
Archerfish – Dr. Jennie Ivey
vs
Anglo-Nubian Goat – Dr. Liz Eckelkamp
Which advances to the next round? VOTE HERE:
tiny.utk.edu/march-madness
Animal Science March Madness — Matches 3 and 4 are here!
Match 4 is live:
Yakalo – Dr. Neal Schrick
vs
Broiler Chickens – Dr. Jun Lin
Which advances to the next round? VOTE HERE:
tiny.utk.edu/march-madness
Animal Science March Madness — Round 1 Begins!
Match 1 is live:
🐺Mutant (Chernobyl) Grey Wolf — Dr. Elizabeth Shepherd
vs
🐴Horses & Horsepower — Dr. Yanqiu Yang
Which advances to the next round? VOTE HERE:
tiny.utk.edu/march-madness
Animal Science March Madness — Round 1 Begins!
Match 2 is live:
Bearded Vulture — Dr. Blair Downey
vs
Okapi — Dr. Phillip Myer
Which advances to the next round? VOTE HERE:
tiny.utk.edu/march-madness
Excited to share Katie Feldmann's publication on the first complete genome sequence of Ligilactobacillus animalis NP51. Having a fully closed genome provides a useful reference for future probiotic functional/applied work in beef cattle.
@UTAgResearchjournals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mr…
After working with efficiency & resilience phenotypes long enough, you realize it’s rarely about which microbes are present — it’s about what they’re doing & when.
That realization changes how you sample, analyze, & interpret nearly everything.
#RumenMicrobiome@UTAgResearch
Feed efficiency isn’t just the animal — it’s the animal & its microbes.
We’re treating feed efficiency as a whole-system trait — integrating rumen microbes, host genomics, & precision phenotypes to understand why some animals are biologically more efficient than others.
Excited to share our article on testing molecular mechanisms using a constructed #bioluminescent reporter. The fundamental knowledge gained now underpins our research into developing beneficial microbes for #rumenhealth.
@UTIAggo.shr.lc/49bKye6
🎉 2026: Vol-Powered. Microbe-Driven. Impact-Focused! 🎉
✨ Feed efficiency
✨ Microbiome–host interactions
✨ Training future leaders in animal science
Grateful for the people & partnerships that power our land-grant mission.
#GoVols! 🍊
@UTAgResearch@UTIAg@CritterChatter
🎶On the 11th day of #microbes, the #rumen gave to me...
Rumen Fluid Metabolites!
Rumen fluid metabolomes differ in steers of varying feed efficiencies, providing insight on contributing factors in feed efficiency.
doi.org/10.1007/s11306…@UTAgResearch@CritterChatter