Dogs of all breeds could be heard barking this afternoon in the Farm Bureau Pavilion of Kildee Hall.  They were part of a class, AnS 224 Companion Animal Science that is offered every year in the Spring.  Associate Professor of Animal Science, Dr. Matthew Ellinwood, said the students were learning about dog showing and the definitions of conformation, obedience and agility shows and test.  Members of the Cyclone Country Kennel Club, a dog club in Ames that’s been around since the 1960’s, donated their time to help students learn the importance of dog obedience.   Dr. Ellinwood says “This demonstration is integral to companion animal science as the students learn the diversity of breeds, and ways those breeds perform, and impact of the dogs on the lives of their owners.”  

Students are testing their culinary skills in AnS429 Senior Sheep Production class.  Animal Science Professor, Dan Morrical says “ This is a fun project for the students because it teaches them how to prepare lamb, to use their creativity in finding a recipe that they like AND will try and working together as a team!”  According to Morrical, students can make any recipe they want as long as there is lamb or mutton included in the meal.  As part of this exercise they are graded on presentation, creativity, taste, nutrient content (fat, calories, protein per serving), cost per serving and the side dishes that best compliment their entrée.  After the judges finish evaluating each dish,  classmates get to sample the entrée which exposes them to the different way lamb can be prepared.

As part of the AnS 229 sheep science class, students are given the opportunity to visit the ISU sheep teaching farm and learn about sheep shearing, skirting fleeces and wool evaluation.  Animal Science Professor, Dr. Curtis Youngs says “The importance of what they are learning relates to the preparation of a high quality wool clip for subsequent manufacture of high quality woolen goods (such as sweaters).  It also relates to increasing profitability of sheep production.” 

The image below shows skirting of a fleece which is the process of removing dirty and low quality wool fibers before placing the rest of the fleece into a wool bag for marketing.

AnS 229 is an undergraduate course taught by Dr. Youngs, and it is offered spring semester.  

The Jeff and Deb Hansen Center will be awarded the Impact Award later this year.  The Iowa State University Alumni Association Board of Directors established this award in 2000 to recognize individuals, businesses, organizations, or units whose programs or accomplishments brought broad recognition to the university and increased the involvement of ISU constituents in the life of the university during the year prior to being nominated.

The Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center hosted the ISU’s Block and Bridle Cyclone Classic and Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Spring Showdown this past weekend with over 375 head of cattle and 500 people taking part in this annual event.  Exhibitors traveled from all over the Midwest to participate and ranged in ages from 5 to 21.  The event began with check-in on Friday, March 18^th and the first-ever Cyclone Classic Skillathon!  The Skillathon included 5 stations consisting of feed identification, heifer class to judge, beef cattle anatomy, breed identification and naming beef carcass meat cuts.  There were 33 participants.

2015 Professional and Scientific Council CYtation Awards

Each year, one outstanding student is honored as ISU's Student Employee of the Year.  Selection is based upon reliability, quality of work, initiative, professionalism, interpersonal skills and unique contributions to the employer.  The 2015-2016 Student Employee of the Year is Rachel Wonderlich.  She majors in Child, Adult and Family Services.  Students of Distinction include Alexander Shaw of Ag Systems Technology, Spencer Bates of Interdisciplinary Studies and Morgan Pittz of Animal Science.  Morgan and Alexander are both students within  the College of Ag and Rachel worked for Ag Extension.  Specific to the Department of Animal Science, Morgan Pittz is a Senior in Animal Science and works at the Swine Teaching Farm.

2016 Iowa State University Intercollegiate Meat Judging Team National Western and ISU Contest Results

The ISU Meat Judging Team is comprised of seven students: Austin Egolf, Dillsburg, PA; Michaella Fevold, Story City; Zack Peppmeier, Shannon City; Michael Stender, Aurelia; Paige Whitney, Ida Grove; Rachel Wynn, Bedford, IN; and Laura Yoder, Kalona. Coaches include: Dr. Sherry Olsen; Alex Conover, Holstein; Carl Frame, Osseo, WI; and Breanna Saso, Mauston, WI.

The American Society of Animal Science compiled the Journal of Animal Science and its most downloaded and most cited articles of 2015.  Dr. John Patience, Dr. Nick Gabler, Dr. Jason Ross, Dr. Steven Lonergan and Dr. Lance Baumgard are among the Iowa State University Department of Animal Science faculty that have co-authored 3 of the top 10 most sited articles of 2015.

The 10 most cited articles published in the Journal of Animal Science in 2015 are below:

Effects of in utero heat stress on postnatal body composition in pigs: I. Growing phase.  Johnson, J. S.; Fernandez, M. V. Sanz; Gutierrez, N. A.; Patience, J. F.; Ross, J. W.; Gabler, N. K.; Lucy, M. C.; Safranski, T. J.; Rhoads, R. P.; Baumgard, L. H.  JAN 2015  71-81. 10.2527/jas2014-8354

Congratulations to the Iowa State University Dairy Judging Team who took 4th place last weekend at the Southwest Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest held at the Southwestern Exposition & Livestock Show in Fort Worth, Texas in which 15 teams competed. The four team members competing in Fort Worth were:  Cassidy Buddenberg of Decorah, IA; Karla Hageman of Decorah, IA; Jennifer Huhe of Cresco, IA and Mariah Schmitt of Fort Atkinson, IA.  In the Brown Swiss division Karla Hageman placed 3^rd, Mariah Schmitt placed 18^th and as a team they placed 4^th.  In the Holstein Division Mariah Schmitt placed 8th, Cassidy Buddenberg placed 16th, and as a team they placed 3rd. Mariah Schmitt was 17th and as a team they finished 9th in the Jersey Division.

The ISU Livestock Judging Team competed in Denver, Colorado at the National Western Stock Show and placed 10th overall.  Kendell Steines was 7th in Sheep and Goats, Katlyn Kahler was 10th in Hogs.  The team scored 8th overall in the Carload Contest and Johnathan Triggs was 10th overall.  Team Members were Kendell Steines, Krisi Smith, Katlyn Kahler, Shayne Wiese, Shane Bockenstedet, Dustin Smith and Johnathan Triggs.  There were 24 Senior College Teams that competed at the National event.  

This 4 minute piece is a parody written to the song "but first let me take a selfie" by the Chainsmokers. The video shows scifies of female plant and animal breeders from around the world emphasizing the important role women play in this field - both historically and at the current time - and also emphasizing the passion these women have for science, their careers and their family lives.  Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam from UC-Davis produced the video that was first debuted at the opening session of the International Plant and Animal Genome Meeting on January 10, 2016.

Iowa State University Department of Animal Science students and faculty featured are:

The year 2015 marks 50 years of teaching farm excellence for the department of animal science at Iowa State University.  Click here to read the full story.  

The Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University has enjoyed unprecedented success at the 2015 National Barrow in Austin, Minnesota. The Swine Teaching Farm started the week by earning Reserve Champion Purebred Truckload honors, Champion Crossbred Truckload honors, and Grand Champion Truckload on Monday. This honor was also bestowed on the teaching farm last year, completing the farm’s quest to go back to back.  

The ISU Teaching Farm continued its winning ways on Tuesday capturing Champion Duroc Boar and Champion Duroc Gilt honors. This is the second year in a row the farm has exhibited the Champion Duroc Boar. The boar sold for $20,000 to Swine Genetics International and Vegas Showpigs. The Champion gilt sold for $1,750 to Daryl Mappes. 

ISU animal Science and veterinary researchers made possible the first-ever successful bovine embryo transfer in the Republic of Kosovo, a step that will strengthen food security and agriculture for the nation. For the complete story go to http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2015/09/03/kosovo