This multidisciplinary course helps students develop an intellectual framework for understanding and interpreting issues involving animal welfare and ethics of animal use in agriculture, science and society.

This course is primarily focused on providing conceptual and methodological tools to understand how diet and the gut microbiome converge to impact the physiological landscape of animals and humans, considering diet, host and microbiome as one highly integrated system. To that end, the course relies on concepts of data analysis, gastrointestinal microbiology, the breadth of scientific literature produced up to date and hands on experiences to immerse attendants in the ever-growing microbiome field and open them to consider a microbiome lens to address different research questions in their respective fields. The course emphasizes three main conceptual areas: 1. Compositional and functional organization of microbial communities in the mammalian gut: From cells to functional communities. 2. Dietary drivers of the mammalian gut microbiome: Nutritional Ecology in the mammalian gut 3. Host-microbiome interactions: Physiological impact of the mammalian gut microbiome Rather than memorizing these concepts, the course emphasizes the need to apply them to real life issues in animal and human nutrition and health. As such, recognizing these conceptual areas in context, and using them for problem solving in their respective research areas is the ultimate goal of the course. Undergraduate level course in microbiology and physiology are suggested to enroll in this course. Also, previous completion of statistics courses and familiarity with the R statistical interface and command line are recommended.

Advanced application of animal welfare science toward the assessment of real-life scenarios in agriculture, companion, and exotic animals. Top students will compete on the UMN team at the Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Competition held in November each year.

You have a great research idea, now what? How do you turn your idea into a proposal? It has been said paraphrasing Edison, that innovation is one percent inspiration, ninety-nice percent perspiration. In this course, we will start with and inspiring idea and sweat our way to develop a research proposal. The students will go through a step-by-step process that starts choosing and defining a research idea, then proceeding to do literature reviews and to the development of hypothesis, aims, objectives and a research strategy. The aim of this course is to provide students with tools to understand the structure of scientific reports and proposals, literature searches and basic data interpretation. The student will learn about different research approaches and how to achieve consistency in their research projects. We will guide students in how to begin and develop a written research proposal that will satisfy the requirements of their advisers, institution and funding organizations. prereq: There are no prerequisites, however, having taken ANSC 3011 Statistics for Animal Science is desirable.

Topics vary. See Class Schedule or department. Topics may use guest lectures/experts. prereq: instr consent

This applied microbiology course is intended to provide theoretical basis and hands-on experience to students on major pathogenic bacteria colonizing livestock and domestic poultry. This course will provide skills to the students who seriously consider farm animal and poultry microbiology research and/or teaching in their careers. Pathogenic bacteria in livestock and poultry such as Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157: H7, and Salmonella, fungal microorganisms (Aspergillus), and beneficial microorganisms such as Lactobacillus, will be discussed. In addition, the course will introduce feed testing methods (Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) methodology), common antibacterials/antibiotics used for decontamination and disinfection, and the emerging alternatives to antibiotics with a perspective on bacterial antibiotic resistance. In a flipped class room format, the students will gather necessary information provided by the instructor, listen to short lectures on the methods and mechanisms, participate in demonstrations, and apply it in a typical BSL2 laboratory set up under supervision. All students should undergo BSL2 training prior to enrollment. Online training counts to approximately 5-6 hours. Not more than 4 students will be allowed for each session due to BSL2 pathogenic microbiology space restriction, access to RAR facilities, and some non-conventional microbiological methods. Special health conditions, pregnancy, and immunocompromised situations must be consulted with the instructor prior to enrollment. The students must obtain clearance from ROHC for their tetanus vaccination status.

Overview of biochemical molecules and pathways important in nutritional events. prereq: BIOC 3021 or instr consent

Whole body macronutrient metabolism as it relates to etiology of metabolic diseases. Signaling between tissues to control homeostasis. How dysregulation of crosstalk can lead to metabolic diseases. How diet, exercise, or starvation impact metabolism. Regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. Designing/analyzing/interpreting research data.

This course is designed for graduate students in the applied agricultural, animal science, and related programs that require an understanding of applied statistical analysis and interpretation of research data. Students will learn central principles in sampling, experimental design, and statistical analysis. The course will have an intense focus on data analysis of research data with SAS software. By the end of the semester, students should be able to generate testable hypotheses, organize a work plan to collect research data, and analyze results using appropriate statistical procedures and SAS software. Prerequisites: STAT 3021 or 5021: Statistical Analysis or equivalent, or consent of instructors

Ethical considerations in use of animal subjects in agricultural, veterinary, and biomedical research. Federal, state, and University guidelines relating to proper conduct for acquisition/use of animals for laboratory, observational, epidemiological, and clinical research. Regulatory requirements, bases for what is deemed proper conduct. Societal impact on scientific investigations utilizing animal subjects. prereq: Grad student or prof school student or instr consent

Whole body growth of animals, bone, and adipose tissue; structure, function, differentiation, and development of tissues; mode of action of hormones, growth factors, and growth promoters. prereq: instr consent

Integrated systems approach to energy metabolism of animals. Application of classical techniques of calorimetry and comparative slaughter. Development of systems for expressing energy content of feeds, and techniques for measuring whole body and organ metabolism of specific nutrients. prereq: instr consent; BIOC 4331 recommended

Basic and applied concepts of protein metabolism in farm animals. prereq: BioC 4331

Review, critical evaluation of recent research reports. prereq: instr consent

Research in selected areas: topics and animal species determined by consultation. prereq: instr consent

Research including experimental studies in disciplines associated with animal production and research, with emphasis on interdisciplinary studies. prereq: instr consent

Industrial work assignment involving animal science. Review/approval by faculty member and director of graduate studies. Final report covering work assignment. prereq: AnSc grad student, dept consent