Featured Publications:
History of the Department of Dairy and Animal ScienceOn behalf of our faculty, staff and students, I invite you to read about the long and storied history of the Department of Dairy and Animal Science. The origins of the present-day Department date back to 1887! As you can imagine, since the first days of the University and Department much has happened, and thousands of individuals have passed through the gates of "Dear Old State." We in the department think it is important to share this wonderful legacy with you! I think you will be amazed at the impact our people and programs have had.
Copyright © 2003
Code Number: dashistory
Document format:
HTML
Document format:
HTML - http://www.das.psu.edu/history/
More Information - http://www.das.psu.edu/history/ .................................................................................................................................................................. |
Podcast: Biotechnology in the Barnyard: A RoundTable Discussion
Copyright © 2007
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Podcast: Penn State Dairy Alliance: It's About Collaboration
Copyright © 2007
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Polled Holstein HistoryPolled (naturally hornless) cattle make up only a small portion of the millions of dairy cows in the United States. The polled condition transmits as a dominant trait, much as black coat color in Holsteins is dominant to red. Both parents must transmit the recessive gene for horns to an offspring in order for their calf to be horned. Why then, do nearly all of our dairy cattle have horns? The primary reason is that few breeders ever selected for the polled trait and/or did not select against the horned condition. Oddly enough, the history books tell us that the ancestors of our modern-day cattle did not have horns and that mutations must have occurred that gave rise to horns. Horned cattle proliferated, and it is thought that the occurrence of polled animals in modern times is the result of another mutation from horns back to the hornless condition. Before cattle were domesticated, horns were important to the survival of the species. Now, with dairy herds largely confined to barns or fenced-in enclosures such as pastures or corrals, horns are of little value and can be a detriment to good herd management. Nearly all dairymen in this country remove horns at an early age using electric dehorners or some other method. However, the job of removing horns from cattle of any age is a distasteful one and would not be missed if there were an easier solution. This report traces the migration of the polled condition in registered Holsteins in the United States back to the time of the earliest reporting of the trait.
Copyright © 2008
Document format:
PDF
Document format:
PDF - http://www.das.psu.edu/das/pdf/polled-holsteins.pdf
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Poster for the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) Centennial Conference (2006): History of Dairy Science at Penn StateThis poster was created in 2006 for the ASDA centennial conference. Other conference posters can be found here: adsa.org/centennial/posters.asp.Poster Abstract Chartered in 1855 and designated as the second land-grant institution in the United States in 1863, Penn State has been noted for agricultural research and education for more than 150 years. Dairy research at Penn State gained recognition in 1887 with Henry Armsby's studies of energy metabolism using the Calorimeter. This work heralded the beginning of more than 100 years of dairy research and educational programs designed to assist the industry in the areas of animal breeding and reproduction, nutrition, health, growth, housing, milk synthesis, and dairy manufacturing. Penn State gained international attention with its dairy cattle nutrition studies, research in artificial insemination and dairy cattle fertility, and determination of the actions of bovine somatotropin. Penn State researchers were the first to use gas-liquid chromatography to characterize milk fatty acids and were among the first to identify lipids as a factor in heart disease. In the 1970s, they published research linking somatic cell counts with mastitis, and helped incorporate its use in testing programs. From the 1950s through the 1990s, studies of milk processing significantly extended the shelf life of dairy products. Penn State faculty established the first forage testing laboratory, and developing the current NIR technology used in forage-testing. Related research led to numerous publications, resources, and tools for evaluating pasture and forage and for monitoring calf and heifer growth. Penn State also was a pioneer in certificate programs, correspondence courses, and extension education. Statewide efforts in cattle breeding included the establishment of AI organizations, progeny testing, and Dairy Herd Improvement Associations. The Dairy Production Medicine Certificate Program was the first continuing educational program in the United States for bovine practitioners that emphasized management concepts. The University's Ice Cream Short Course, begun in 1894, is the oldest food technology and technical course in the world. Penn State also takes a keen interest in educating undergraduate students, as is evidenced by their many notable achievements. For more information about Penn State's Department of Dairy and Animal Science, see das.psu.edu.
Copyright © 2006
Document format:
PDF
Document format:
PDF - /pdf/asda.pdf
More Information - /pdf/asda.jpg .................................................................................................................................................................. |
Red and White Holstein HistoryHow did we get a Red and White Holstein population in North America when all of their imported ancestors were Black and White? This publication traces the history of the Red and White Holstein on our continent. Listen to the podcast related to this publication.
 This Podcast at Penn State's iTunesU
Copyright © 2007
Document format:
PDF
Document format:
PDF - http://www.das.psu.edu/pdf/red-and-white-20070514.pdf
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