BUILDING CAPACITY IN LARGE ANIMAL TEACHING AND RESEARCH AT ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY: PERFORMANCE OF BEEF CATTLE EXPOSED TO STRESS

The project goalisto build capacity in large animal teaching and research at Alabama A&M University, and toenhance pre-veterinary education for underserved students in the Animal Bio-Health Science (ABHS) program, Alabama A&M University. Specific objectives are to: (1) Establish a large animal teaching and research laboratory; (2) Enable faculty preparation to enhance effective teaching of the Introduction to Animal Bio-health Science (FAS 112) and the Animal Models in Biomedical Research course (FAS 424); (3) Provide training in large animal behavior, health, reproductive management and microbiome and develop student competency in the use of ultrasound and advanced behavior monitoring technology; (4) Provide leadership/mentoring opportunities for ABHS students through participation in local and national professional organizations; and (5) Investigate the relationship between road transportation duration and behavior, health response and gut microbiome of beef cattle in the summer.