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Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS.

Podcast: Rat brains change at night

Neurobiologists are curious how a walk in the sunshine can change your mood. In a recent study, Dr. Davide Dulcis discovered that the chemicals in a rat’s brain change based on periods of light and darkness. In this podcast, Dr. Dulcis explains how this study could change how we think about animal behavior and neurological disorders. Listen to the podcast

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Photo of the week: Cattle chutes

Chutes are used to restrain cattle during times it is essential for the animal to be still, such as when receiving vaccinations. Read more

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New on AnimalSmart.org!

Every month, we add new articles to AnimalSmart.org. This site is a great resource for educators, consumers and kids interested in animals and the science behind agriculture. Read more

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JAM Workshop: Teaching and Learning in the Animal Sciences

Monday July 8, 2013.
Convention Center Rm 105-106

Topic: Challenging Old Assumptions and Breaking New Ground for the 21st Century

Attend this pre-meeting workshop to learn how to improve your students’ experiences and skills in the animal sciences. Instructors, administrators, PhD students, Post-docs, educational researchers and employers are invited to attend. Read more

Recent Articles

23
May

Online course: Pharmaceutical use in cattle

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Presented by West Texas A&M University

This course will equip persons involved in the administration, distribution or sale of pharmaceuticals used in cattle to maximize therapeutic outcomes, prevent drug-related problems and protect the wholesomeness of the food supply chain. Read more »

22
May

ASAS members lead AMPA workshop

Dr. Jim Sartin (center back, orange shirt) and Dr. Steve Zinn (center back, black shirt) with attendees of the AMPA Writing Workshop

Dr. Jim Sartin (center back, orange shirt) and Dr. Steve Zinn (center back, black shirt) with attendees of the AMPA Writing Workshop

By Madeline McCurry-Schmidt / ASAS Communications

Two leading animal scientists traveled to Mexico this week to lead a workshop on scientific publishing. This workshop series is an important part of ASAS outreach around the world.

Dr. Jim Sartin, ASAS president, and Dr. Steve Zinn, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Animal Science, shared their writing experience at the Mexican Association of Animal Production annual meeting. Their goal was to help animal scientists prepare manuscripts for publications like the Journal of Animal Science. The publication world is competitive, so Zinn and Sartin explained how to improve writing quality and clarity.

Working on your own manuscript? You can visit “Writing Workshop” to view a past series of presentations by Dr. Greg Lewis and Dr. Michael Galyean.

20
May

Breed spotlight: The Yorkshire pig

NAL4330_pigletdrinkingBy Samantha Walker / ASAS Communications

Pork producers rely heavily on the hybrid vigor that comes from crossbreeding, but that does not mean purebred hogs are just for show.

Different breeds are known for different things. Some are known for their meat quality, some for their growth rate and others for their mothering capabilities.

But sometimes swine breeders show favor for one breed over another and the breed that proves to be most popular is the Yorkshire.

According to data obtained from the National Swine Registry, a consolidation of the Yorkshire, Hampshire, Landrace, and Duroc breed associations, the Yorkshire is the most recorded breed in the United States with over 419,000 litters of pigs on record since 1988. Read more »

19
May

Feature video: Congressman discusses new Farm Bill

House Representative Frank Lucas describes the process the New Farm Bill will go through to be passed into legislation:

16
May

Day of the FASS Symposium in Washington approaches

The Federation of Animal Science Societies is hosting their Annual Spring Symposium on June 4 in Washington D.C. The meeting is an open invitation with no registration fee.

Learn more