Animal Sciences

Images of sperm captured through image-based flow cytometry show irregularities that can affect fertility. From left to right, the images show a knobbed acrosome, nuclear vacuoles and mitochondrial aplasia and piriform head.

April 4, 2023

Putting the AI in AI

Peter Sutovsky, professor of animal sciences, and one of his postdoctoral researchers, Lauren Hamilton, were recently awarded a $1.3 million grant by USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to support their work in creating artificial intelligence they hope will not only help farmers and the agriculture industry, but couples battling infertility, too. “We want to translate this into any area of science where it can be beneficial,” Sutovsky said. “That could be livestock, humans or even endangered species.” The project itself involves examining tens of thousands of images of sperm samples from 85 genome-sequenced bulls for morphological irregularities and…
Team with award

March 27, 2023

Mizzou Academic Quadrathlon Team Takes Top Honors

The University of Missouri Academic Quadrathlon team took home first place during the 2023 American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Midwest Academic Quadrathlon competition. The event took place during the Midwest Section annual meeting, which was held in mid-March in Madison, Wis. The Quadrathlon competition consists of a laboratory practicum, written exam, oral presentation and quiz bowl. The team will now represent MU at the National American Society of Animal Science in July. The team includes: Catriona Chew, senior, animal sciences Caleigh Grote, senior, animal sciences Alexia Sweiger, senior, animal sciences Aliyah Luntsford, senior, animal sciences…

March 25, 2023

2023 AFA Institute Selections Include Several CAFNR Students

Several CAFNR students were recently chosen as 2023 Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Animal Institute and Food Institute selections. AFA experiences connect students to a diverse community of peers and professionals who are passionate about food and agriculture. The goal of the experiences is to challenge the way students think about themselves, their potential career and the agriculture industry. 2023 AFA Animal Institute Selections: Addison Anna Brisbane, sophomore, agriculture Caitlyn Kleffner, junior, animal sciences Emily Popa, sophomore, animal sciences Aleece Thornhill, junior animal sciences Tanner Tipton, junior, animal sciences 2023 AFA Food Institute Selections: Halley Blades, senior, food science and…
Family posing for a photograph at an awards ceremony. Everyone dressed in black and gold.

March 10, 2023

CAFNR Celebrates Women’s History Month: Q&A with Stacey Follis

Stacey Follis shared the moment with her family as she received the 2022 CAFNR Column Award for Animal Sciences last fall. Stacey L. (Wood) Follis (BS Agriculture – Minor in Animal Sciences ’98; MS Animal Sciences – Reproductive Physiology ’00) has been employed in the animal health industry for more than 22 years. Her focus is in clinical development with a wide spectrum of experience, from bovine to feline to canine to swine, contributing to more than 30 product indications. Follis started her career with Pharmacia & Upjohn in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She has not technically changed employers since, although…
MU livestock judging team.

Feb. 24, 2023

Mizzou Livestock Judging Team Finishes Third at Dixie National

The Mizzou Livestock Judging Team recently finished third at the Dixie National Collegiate Beef Judging contest, held in Jackson, Miss. Along with the third-place overall finish, the team finished third in Reasons, Market Steers and Continental Cattle. The group earned fifth-place markings in Brahman Cattle and English Cattle as well. Jenna Blessing, a senior agriculture major, finished sixth in Market Steers. Pictured, left to right: assistant coach Clint Bailey, senior, agriculture; Shane Vehige, junior, animal sciences; Sam Wheeler, junior, agriculture; Grant Stafford, junior, agriculture; Brady Schnelten, junior, animal sciences; Addie Thessen, junior, plant sciences; Blessing; Allison Eitel, senior, agriculture; and…
Ag Building

Feb. 23, 2023

2023 CAFNR Joy of Discovery Seed Grant Program Winners Announced

The second batch of proposals funded by CAFNR’s Joy of Discovery Seed Grant Program has been announced. The Joy of Discovery Seed Grant Program supports nascent, collaborative, multi transdisciplinary research with the goal of developing a competitive proposal for federal funding. The following proposals were selected (listed by the PI, Co-PI/s and title of the project): David Braun, Zachary Traylor, Sherry Flint-Garcia and Pavel Somavat; Developing the new “craft whiskey” market: Evaluation of Missouri heritage corn lines Jill Kanaley and Abdelnaby Khalyfa; Sleep Restriction, Exosomes and Insulin Resistance Abraham Khoo; Novel ways to increase biomass oil production Mengshi Lin and Jung Mun (Journey) Yang; Development…
Two white men in suits stand in front of a mural holding a plaque and smiling

Feb. 15, 2023

Animal Sciences Professor Named Distinguished Alumnus

Randall Prather, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Animal Sciences, was recognized as the 2022 Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry (ASI) Distinguished Alumnus on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. Prather obtained his bachelor’s (1982) and master’s (1984) degrees from Kansas State ASI. Prather has been a Mizzou faculty member since 1989 after completing his PhD and Postdoc at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “The ASI Department is proud to recognize Randy Prather as the 2022 Distinguished Alumnus,” said Mike Day, Kansas State ASI department head. “His impact extends from his foundation in animal agriculture and reproductive biology into many facets…
When Kaija Caldwell first arrived at the University of Missouri she wasn’t sure where her interest in animals was going to take her. Caldwell left Mizzou in 2020 with an animal sciences degree and the equine science and management certificate. She had also found a passion for horses. Photo courtesy of Kaija Caldwell.

Feb. 13, 2023

Turning a Passion into a Career

“Horses are my career.” When Kaija Caldwell first arrived at the University of Missouri she wasn’t sure where her interest in animals was going to take her. Caldwell left Mizzou in 2020 with an animal sciences degree and the equine science and management certificate. She had also found a passion for horses. Photo courtesy of Kaija Caldwell. Kaija Caldwell said the words still feel surreal coming out of her mouth. When Caldwell first arrived at the University of Missouri she wasn’t sure where her interest in animals was going to take her. She certainly wasn’t expecting to fall in love…
Hongjo Lee posing.

Feb. 6, 2023

Hong Jo Lee

Educational background Ph.D., Seoul National University Classes Taught AN_SCI 4973: Molecular and Cellular Techniques in Animal Science AN_SCI 4979: Poultry Production…
A white man with white hair and a white, neatly-trimmed beard in a dark grey button-up shirt stands in front of a sign that reads,

Dec. 19, 2022

National Academy of Inventors Names MU’s Randall Prather to 2022 Fellows Program

Prather is one of only 169 academic inventors to receive the prestigious honor this year.