College of Agriculturehttps://aurora.auburn.edu/handle/11200/39772024-03-29T00:06:37Z2024-03-29T00:06:37ZAlabama Livestock Research Report 2023https://aurora.auburn.edu/handle/11200/506322024-02-23T09:30:14ZAlabama Livestock Research Report 2023
Almost $450 million worth of cattle and calves were sold in Alabama last year, generating a $2.5 billion impact. Hay and haylage production resulted in a value of $235 million to producers supporting the cattle and horse industries. Over $8 million worth of pork was marketed and $7 million of dairy products was generated in the state. With 47,000 meat goats, the state ranks 8th in goat production. Animal agriculture is alive and well in Alabama.
At a time when the world population continues to grow, there is a greater demand for high‐quality animal protein. However, with population growth resulting in more urban sprawl, fewer land resources are available to meet the food and animal production needs. This increases the need for basic and targeted food animal research programs to provide technology that increases the efficiency of food animal production systems.
The Department of Animal Science faculty and staff are answering this call by working synergistically in the development of research and extension programming across the state. Multidisciplinary programs are being developed, implemented, and delivered to meet the needs of stakeholders (both food animal producers and food animal consumers) across the state, region, nation, and world. Thus, it is with great pleasure that we present to you the second edition of the Alabama Livestock Research Report. Building upon the success of our first publication, this edition continues to serve as a comprehensive overview of the research and outreach initiatives developed in the Department of Animal Sciences at Auburn University.
This publication combines reports from faculty, staff, and graduate students on campus and Experiment Stations. We provide in-depth information on our research programs, which incorporate growth biology, reproductive physiology, nutrition, genetics, meat science, animal health, management, and production practices into a comprehensive program. Additionally, we showcase our outreach activities and partnerships with industry stakeholders.
We are proud to say that this report and research are made possible thanks to the financial support of funding agencies, organizations, and stakeholders who believe in the value of our work. Thank you to the faculty, students, and staff that contributed to this publication. Together, we can continue our mission of improving the lives of livestock producers and enhancing the sustainability of the livestock industry in Alabama and beyond.
We invite you to explore our findings, learn about our progress, and engage with us as we work together to build a brighter future for our state’s agriculture. Should you have any questions about the research reported in this publication, do not hesitate to contact us or any of the authors of the individual reports.
Sincerely,
L. Wayne Greene
Professor and Head
Department of Animal Sciences
210 Upchurch Hall, Auburn Univ, AL 36849
greenlw@auburn.edu
Evaluation of dissolved carbon dioxide to stimulate emergence of red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Decapoda: Cambaridae) from infested pondshttps://aurora.auburn.edu/handle/11200/506292024-01-26T09:30:12ZEvaluation of dissolved carbon dioxide to stimulate emergence of red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Decapoda: Cambaridae) from infested ponds
Invasive crayfish have adverse effects on habitats and native species. Control of invasive crayfish populations is a major challenge facing natural resource managers. This study evaluated the effectiveness and optimal conditions for the control agent carbon dioxide (CO2), which can be diffused into water to facilitate capture of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii; RSC). The efficacy of CO2 shows promise in its use for a variety of invasive aquatic species. Here, we evaluate CO2’s ability to stimulate movements towards the shoreline and/or induce complete terrestrial emergence from outdoor ponds. Twelve pond trials were conducted using three, 0.02-ha experimental ponds at Auburn University, Alabama, USA. Silt fencing was installed on dry land around the perimeter of each pond with the lower 0.3 m of fencing accordion-folded to provide shelter and a collection point for emerging crayfish. Each pond was stocked with 100 RSC before testing. Experimental treatment ponds were then injected with gaseous CO2 using porous air diffusers, whereas control ponds (C ponds) received no CO2. Multiple water quality parameters were monitored hourly. Three independent treatment scenarios with CO2 diffusion were crayfish captured at the end of trial only (F: final), crayfish captured hourly (H: hourly), and incorporation of continuous inflow of fresh water at a flow rate of 0.2 L/s into the central catch basin to serve as a refuge with crayfish captured hourly (R: refuge). In control ponds, crayfish were captured at the end of trial only. In F ponds, CO2 diffusion for approximately five hours caused a mean of 12% of total crayfish to emerge from the water. However, capture efficiency was increased to a mean of 45% of total crayfish by increasing collection frequency to every hour and netting submerged crayfish near the water edge in addition to capturing terrestrially emerged crayfish. Presence of a freshwater inflow reduced capture efficiency in R ponds relative to H ponds. Odds of capturing crayfish increased with increasing water temperature, CO2 concentration, crayfish mass, and with decreasing pH. Based on results, we provide a set of predictive equations as well as interactive calculators to help natural resource managers explore several environmental and treatment-related scenarios that predict changes in capture probability in small research ponds. Carbon dioxide shows promises as a tool to increase capture rate of RSC. It is not likely to be 100% effective by itself, but could be a useful component of an integrated management strategy.
Alabama Agricultural Statistics 2011https://aurora.auburn.edu/handle/11200/506242023-12-09T09:30:14ZAlabama Agricultural Statistics 2011
Alabama Agricultural Statistics 2010https://aurora.auburn.edu/handle/11200/506232023-12-09T09:30:22ZAlabama Agricultural Statistics 2010