Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

S-1032: Chair Jun Zhu, Vice Chair John Classen, Secretary Deanne Meyer Organizing Committee for Annual Meeting: John Classen, Brent Auvermann, Robert DeOtte, Edward Kick The 2013 Annual Meeting set a new path for this Regional Research Group. The group was fortunate, in 2011, to receive a Multistate Research Award from the USDA Science and Technology Committee. The award funds were used to hire a consulting firm to engage our group in development of a draft Causal Loop Diagram. The product of this years annual meeting also serves as the deliverable for Objective 1 of the project. Thinking homework was leveraging points places to intervene in a system by Donnella Meadows The Sustainability Institute, 1999. 22 pages. Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy, was the keynote speaker opening the workshop. He stressed the importance of all Hatch projects to integrate extension, education and research in annual reports, beginning in 2014. He also stressed the need for each participant to promote research work to address societal challenges. Research by the group is done to identify ways to better manage resources, use results to develop scientifically defensible policies, and improve efficiencies of production. The Presidents Council on Agriculture, Science and Technology called for a 3% (of economy). The United States must invest in funding for AFRI,, fellowships, regional institutes. Its important to identify when public funds have been used for research that provides information for the public good. Heritage Foundation article will be forwarded for individuals to read. Introduction and workshop goals John Classen; Workshop on Systems thinking www.stcollab.com John Classen provided background information for the group to understand why the workshop format is being used this year. Briefly, the coordinating committee opted to invest dollars from the USDA award to provide in-service training for members, allow them to achieve minimal competency with system thinking vocabulary, and develop a causal loop diagram for animal systems. Kristine Wile and Rebecca Niles, Systems Thinking Collaborative, were hired to teach and facilitate the groups process and progress. Key themes engaged included: system dynamics (a lens through which all dysfunctional processes can be diagnosed; all models are wrong, some models are useful; flawed mental model; the import of systems theories, tools and processes. Systems thinking is a perspective. " The wholes is greater than the sum of its parts " There are multiple feedback processes between the parts " Structure drives behavior Workshop: A detailed discussion was hosted on individual perceptions of sustainability. During this process the following thoughts arose: want to make environmental quality better than it is; need to remember economic and social components; for us and subsequent generations; safe and plentiful; conserve resources; issues, opportunities, and obstacles to sustainably increasing food production. Members of the group were polled sequentially to identify current issues facing those producing animal products. After multiple iterations, a detailed list of more than 120 concerns had been identified. Over the course of a day, participants actively organized the issues into key focus areas. Group members were then organized into small clusters and given a focus area to organize the issues within and develop stock and flow diagrams from issues within each focus area. These stock and flow diagrams were enhanced/improved and contributed to the draft Causal Loop Diagram. Basic information was presented to participants about the importance of making the CLD and then not needing to reinvent it each time a new person joins the group. Soft variables matter. These make a blind spot if ignored. Once established one can use the CLD to identify opportunities for strongest intervention (critical control points). S-1032 membership meeting minutes: Administrator Lacewell commended the rewrite committee for a great job. New project will be approved before the end of the fiscal year. The rewrite committee: John, Steve, Brent, Jun, Bob, Wendy and Deanne. [The rewrite was approved and members notified in September. The group will maintain S-1032 designation]. Webinar subcommitteeS-1032 will deliver regularly scheduled webinars. The subcommittee to develop webinars includes: (recruit people for content) John, Jactone, Paulette, Saqib, Brent, Deanne, Amy, Zifei. Brent to head subcommittee. Consider how to put time in each webinar to provide homework and identify progress in recruitment of individuals. This provides an opportunity to showcase individuals new to the group so other members understand attributes. Who else should we reach out to---other Regional Research groups, ARS, ERS, policy, more economics, sociology, consumer experts and food safety (Paulette Hebert to identify), soils scientist, agronomists, natural resource limitations (Fred Michel to send a name). it has been helpful to underwrite travel for new people (bring them in to speak), climate modeling folks (Saqib Mukhtar identified John Neilson Gammon), quantitative sciences under represented, Steve Smith will send contacts from other multistates, LPELC (Rick Stowell could identify the minimum needed for webinar), invite industry groups and other groups, (Steve Safferman has a contact at UBC on animal welfare, invite Carolyn Stull) How did this years meeting work? John, Brent, Bob and Ed did a great job at pulling this years workshop together. Thanks to Kristine and Rebecca for their incredible energy.. Next years meeting locationFayetteville (12)executive committee to serve as logistics committee for next meeting. Given travel limitations there will be consideration of doing the meeting virtual as other committees have done. Group identified value of being in DC every other year during this 5 year project. Executive committee will work with MaryAnn Rozum to see if there are potential conference grants available for the use of the group. These tend to be a subset of other grant categories. Incoming officers: John Classen, Deanne Meyer, and Luis Rodriquez. Past chair Jun Zhu. Thanks to those members interested and willing to run for secretary.

Objective 1. Develop preliminary models of each animal industry that describe its cumulative ecological risk, emergy flows or ecological footprint as a dynamic, nonlinear function of the stocks, flows and transformations of matter and energy comprising CAFO systems. Task A. Recruit participation in this group from a broader scope of scientists and disciplines. Annual meeting in 2013 was used to incorporate new members and disciplinary representations. (TX) In collaboration with graduate committee members at West Texas A&M University, we have supervised the ongoing development of three PhD candidates in systems agriculture, specifically in the areas of life-cycle analysis (LCA) for cattle feeding, interpersonal dynamics of the environmental regulatory process for Texas CAFOs, and modeling the stocks and flows of cattle manure in the Texas High Plains. Task B. Develop a conceptual framework for a model that describes each animal industry at the national scale and its ecological footprint, emergy ledger or life-cycle profile. Sub-Task i. Identify information needs to contribute to the conceptual model, including data, stocks, flows, and indices. Annual meeting in 2013 output was a causal loop diagram for animal production systems along with documentation (maintained outside this report). This diagram is available from the Administrative Adviser or President of the committee (TX) Modeling manure flows in the Texas Panhandle in response to fertilizer prices, biofuel demand, and other externalities. A PhD student at West Texas A&M University produced a spreadsheet-based model of the manure market within 40 miles of Hereford, TX, with about 70 sellers (feedyards and dairies) and 1,100 buyers (farmers and an ethanol plant). In a simplified modeling analysis, the increase in manure demand associated with a 105MMgal/yr ethanol plant fired by gasified manure caused a $0.96/ac increase in fertilizer costs and increased the average hauling distance from 9 to 9.5 miles. Sub-Task ii. Develop a framework for reporting the identified information. Sub-Task iii. Identify critical control points (those points and processes in animal production that, when subjected to change will significantly impact the ecological footprint of animal agriculture) in mass, emergy and contaminant flows in animal agriculture. (WI) Assessment of environmental impacts and sustainability of dairy manure processing pathways. Completing a farm level LCSA of dairy manure processing including impact to emissions and nutrient cycling when processed through anaerobic digestion systems and solid liquid separation processes. An economic assessment is being paired with the study to evaluate the economic implications of various management practices. Task C. Define the measurable quantity(ies) that properly describe(s) the ecological footprint of animal agriculture, which is its true impact. Task D. Assessment of the model structure through application to feed-to-field situations. Objective 2. Continue the development and performance evaluation of process-level strategies and tactics to reduce environmental pollution at the process level from confined animal feeding operations. Task A. Develop management tools, strategies and systems for land application of animal manures and effluents that optimize efficient, environmentally friendly utilization of nutrients and are compatible with sustained land, air and water quality. Sub-Task i. Methods to reduce nutrient movement from land application sites into surface and groundwater. (TX) Implementation of a training program for commercial manure haulers and contractors in the Texas High Plains. In collaboration with the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, we completed a four-year Section 319(h) water quality project intended to foster environmentally sound management practices for land application of solid manure from cattle feedyards, including spreader calibration, soil and manure testing, environmental knowledge assessments, agronomic rate determination, and regulatory awareness. (OH) NRCS CIG project: Technical, Environmental and Economic Assessment of Manure Processing Technologies (Harold Keener) and educational programs that address manure management issues and best practices for improved water quality (Harold Keener, Fred Michel, Mary Wicks). Decision tool uses farm's livestock production to determine manure nutrients and identify feasible technologies (land app, separation, composting, anaerobic digestion, P recovery, pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction). Factsheets & key considerations provide further guidance. Sub-Task ii. Quantify gaseous emissions into the air from land application sites. (NC) Mechanisms controlling ammonia / ammonium dynamics in broiler litter. Experiments to determine the partitioning of ammonia among solid, liquid and gas phases in broiler litter were conducted. Separate experiments were conducted to measure Henry's Law constant in litter showed very little difference from that in aqueous solutions. Additional experiments were conducted to determine the liquid - solid partitioning of ammonium in litter and to quantify the equilibrium constant in this system. Sub-Task iii. Reduce movement of zoonotic pathogens and antibiotics from land application sites. (AL) Effect of weaning stress on Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and fecal butyrate producing bacteria in young calves. The incidence of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC)in pre-slaughter beef cattle was evaluated. Several factors are likely associated with the carriage of these enteric bacterial pathogens by cattle. One of these factors might be weaning stress when calves are removed from their dams depriving them of milk and forcing them to consume a different diet. Since cattle are one of the primary hosts for STEC, the pathogen might be acquired more easily from the environment when the calves are undergoing weaning stress. The study determined the incidence of STEC from rectal fecal samples collected from 119 calves 2-days before and 10-days after weaning. Sub-Task iv. Improve accuracy of manure land application in accordance with best management practices for nutrient planning. (CA) Continue development and implementation of workshops identifying best management practices for nutrient application on dairies while minimizing impact to surface and ground waters. Nine hours of workshop developed and delivered in the North Coast to confinement and pasture based dairy operators. An additional five hours of material were revised and delivered in the Central Valley for water and air quality regulatory compliance needs related to N management and volatile organic compound (VOC) mitigation measures. (OH) Demonstration project with use of manure application on cover crops and for side dressing corn. Three years of data on side dressing growing corn with liquid swine and dairy manures shows comparable corn yields. Task B. Development, evaluation, and implementation of methodology, technology, and management practices to reduce water pollution potential from animal production systems. Sub-Task i. Develop and evaluate innovative applications of engineered biological treatment processes to stabilize waste, reduce odor, and manage nutrients. (MI) Milking Center Wastewater Management. The Michigan bark filter mound research is complete and provided data on the removal of carbon and nutrients and the potential for metal leaching from milking facility wastewater. Based on the results, the MI NRCS has established a provisionary standard and design document. A vertical flow wetland continues to be operated in the field for over 3 years and design data are currently being evaluated at the pilot-scale. Results show excellent removal of carbon and nitrogen when loaded appropriately. A MI NRCS standard will be developed in late 2013. (NC) Synthesize low cost adsorbents from agricultural wastes to adsorb p-cresol. Synthesize activated carbon from pine wood by chemical activation and low temperature carbonization. The catalysts performance was tested in batch reactor and was optimized with help of central composite design. Optimum carbon yield and adsorption was found to be 63.22 % and 5.40 mg g-1 respectively at a temperature of 266 °C, Impregnation ratio of 2 and carbonization time of 2 hours. Results showed a maximum theoretical adsorption capacity of 6.97 mg g-1 was obtained at temperature 25 °C, unadjusted pH and adsorbent dose of 10 g L-1. Sub-Task ii. Develop and evaluate vegetated or aquaculture-based treatment systems for treating wastewater or runoff from concentrated feeding operations or land application sites. (MI) Farm Runoff Treatment Using Vegetated Filter Strips. Three agricultural filter strips were assessed for the treatment of dairy farmstead waste. Soil type was a significant factor in predicting removal rates. Sandy soils resulted in lower average concentrations of COD, ammonia, and TKN in the subsurface, compared to sandy loam soils. Sandy loam soils increased manganese leaching, as compared to sandy soils. Nitrate concentrations were above standard drinking water limits in leachate. The difference in performance is attributed to the increase in oxygen diffusion through the sandy soil resulting in more complete carbon removal and the prevention of anaerobic conditions that result in metals serving as electron acceptors and becoming mobile. Agricultural filter strips treating runoff from a dairy farm lowered the concentrations of carbon and nutrients but, under some conditions, can cause metals to mobilize. (WI) Characterizing silage runoff and assessing treatment using an agricultural filter strip. Silage runoff has been characterized at 6 sites to determine the water quality throughout storms and with various collection system designs. Agricultural filter strips are still being assessed to determine the water quality of runoff and subsurface leaching concentrations following application. Sub-Task iii. Develop and evaluate physical and chemical treatments for recovering or stabilizing manure solids or manure treatment by-products for improved utilization alternatives. (OH) Integrated Anaerobic Digestion System (iADs) and Utilization of liquid AD effluent for algae production . Implementation of demonstration-scale iADs utilizes liquid AD effluent to generate a dry, transportable value-added product. Confirmation that liquid AD effluent can provide nutrients to sustain algal growth, which improves cost effectiveness of algae production and AD operations. Sub-Task iv. Develop and evaluate biological or thermochemical treatment of animal manures and mortalities for conversion into renewable energy and/or value-added products. (MN) L-(D) lactic acid production by Rhizopus oryzae using pretreated dairy manure as carbon and nitrogen source. The optimal pretreatment condition for dairy manure obtained through the Box Behnken experimental design was temperature 120C, H2SO4 (MN) Optimization of continuous hydrogen production from co-fermenting molasses with liquid swine manure in an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor. This project is ongoing with optimal operating conditions in terms of pH, hydraulic retention time, and the mixing ratios of manure and sugar molasses for biohydrogen fermentation to be determined using central composite design and response surface methodology. The feasibility of producing biohydrogen from the two waste streams through fermentation will be confirmed. (MI) Biomass Energy Inventory to Support Renewable Energy Development. Databases for large farms, landfills, wastewater treatment plant biosolids, schools, universities, and prisons were incorporated into the interactive, GIS based Michigan Waste Biomass to Support Renewable Energy Inventory. Net energy modeling for 5 conversion technologies (anaerobic digestion, gasification, ethanol, biodiesel, and direct combustion) is incorporated into the tool. A qualitative and quantitative decisions support tool was developed for a major utility to evaluate potential anaerobic digestion sites and predict the needed cost to purchase electricity. (MI) Biogas Potential Assay in Support of Renewable Energy. Over 300 biomass blends, including various animal manures and food processing wastes, have been tested to determine their biogas potential. The percentage of methane and carbon dioxide produced and the amount of COD and volatile solids reduction are monitored. These biogas assays help determine if further consideration for establishing a renewable energy system is warranted for a specific waste blend. A database is available that shows the results from testing. Further, the impact of amendments such as trace nutrients, enzymes, and microorganisms on the digestion process has been tested on several blends. (CA) Survey dairy operators who had or have functioning anaerobic digester systems on farm (with genset or natural gas use) to identify barriers to technology adoption and utilization. Information used to educate Agency staff and develop a plan to reduce barriers and impediments and functionality to digester technology. Information presented to Governors GoBiz division as well as the State Federal regulatory group associated with streamlining permitting processes for digesters. (WI) Assessment of 9 full scale manure handling systems in systems in Wisconsin. A project was completed which evaluated the performance of anaerobic digestion system and solid liquid separation systems in WI for a one-year period. The project was able to determine the changes in nitrogen content and follow nutrients and pathogens throughout a digestion and separation system to better understand the performance of a digestion system in full scale implementation at dairy facilities. Sub-Task v. Develop and evaluate feeding strategies as a means of reducing water quality impacts and transfer findings to industry for implementation. (IN) Three projects were conducted to address diet management as a means to management nutrients on the farm. In the first, a symposium was held with the Poultry Science Association to discuss technological changes in poultry nutrition and what other countries have done to summarize feeding models. Additionally, through a collaborative effort with researchers in WA, IN, NE, CA, PA, and TN, case studies on how diet can impact whole-farm nutrient balance were developed and utilized. Lastly, in collaboration with scientists at MS and AL, we demonstrated how the form of semi-purified diet that is utilized for feed ingredient nutrient digestibility can impact digesta flow and thus the digestibility of some ingredients. Therefore, interpretation of these bioassays should be used with caution knowing that the assay used can affect the outcome. (MN) Improved performance of microbial fuel cells enriched with natural microbial inocula and treated by electrical current. This project is ongoing with the effects of different inoculum sources (river sediment, activated sludge and anaerobic sludge) and electrical current stimulation being evaluated using single-chamber air-cathode MFCs as model reactors based on performance in enrichment process and electrochemical characteristics of the reactors. Task C. Develop and evaluate methodology, technology, and management practices to reduce odors, gases, airborne microflora, particulate matter, and other airborne emissions from animal production systems. Sub-Task i. Develop standard methods of collection, measurement, and mitigation of airborne emissions (odors, gases, particulates, endotoxins, pathogens, and other materials) from animal production operations. (TX) Evaluation of stocking-density manipulation to reduce emissions of fugitive PM10 from cattle feedyards. In collaboration with a 60,000-head commercial feedyard and a cattle-feeding holding company with over 500,000 head of aggregate one-time capacity, we evaluated the dust-control benefits of two different ways of cutting the animal spacing in half: (a) by double-stocking pens and (b) by reducing pen area with electric cross-fencing. The project has been completed, and data analysis is ongoing. (IA, IL, and MN) Identified the Causes and Subsequent Remediation of Foaming in Swine Manure Management Systems. Project participants collected and analyzed manure samples collected at farm sites with foaming or non-foaming manure management systems to determine identify the underlying cause of manure pit foaming. The underlying cause remains elusive. (NC) Fate and transport of aerosols from animal feeding operation. Based upon three year field measurements of PM concentrations, time series analyses along with other statistical methods were conducted to model fate and transport of the PM emissions as impacted by operational and meteorological parameters. Study of dispersion plume of air emissions from animal housing was continued through CFD modeling and inverse-AERMOD simulations. The plume rise of air flow from a ventilation fan was quantified through field measurements and theoretical modeling using FloEFD. In inverse-AERMOD modeling, 480 plume simulations were conducted to investigate diurnal and seasonal variations of plume rises as impacted by ventilation, temperature, PM emission and atmospheric conditions. Sub-Task ii. Emission control technology development, evaluation and selection for site-specific cases. (CA) Worked with staff from the San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District to understand importance of volatile organic compound and particulate matter mitigation practices. Modified and disseminated educational materials to dairy operators and allied industry representatives to comply with Air District Rules. Sub-Task iii. Develop and evaluate feeding strategies as a means of reducing water quality impacts and transfer findings to industry for implementation. (MI) Improving air quality by reducing dietary crude protein in swine diets. Research continues to look for ways to reduce the environmental impact of food production and increase consumer acceptance of production practices. Funded by the National Pork Board and the MSU Animal Agriculture Initiative, a study was recently completed at the Animal Air Quality Research Facility to quantify ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions when finishing pigs are fed common industry diets and diets based on the most recent National Research Council (2012) recommended standardized ileal digestible (SID) amino acid levels and net energy system. The researchers expect that while the NRC diets likely cost more than the industry diets in the short term, the reduced air emissions from housing, during manure storage, and following land application of manure will make economic sense in the future, as increased production of crystalline amino acids can bring their cost down through achieving economies of size. Preliminary findings show that ammonia emissions are reduced by 30% when feeding these new formulations compared to the industry feeding practices only 3 years ago. (IN) Three projects were conducted to address diet management as a means to reduce nitrogen volatilization from turkey and laying hen manure. First, a 2 x 2 turkey experiment was conducted with low and high dietary crude protein with either 2 or 3 supplemental amino acids. Secondly, a laying hen experiment was conducted where a reduced crude protein diet with a zeolite and partial replacement of CaCO3 with CaSO4 was used to determine performance and manure acidification effects. Lastly, we evaluated the effects of dietary adipic acid (0 or 1 percent) or DDGS (0 or 20 percent) for laying hens (2 x 2 factorial arrangement of diets) and subsequent influence of diet and manure amendment on nitrogen loss during storage for 14-days with or without 8.8 kg/100 m2 of sodium bisulfate.

Akdeniz, N., L.D. Jacobson, B.P. Hetchler. 2013. Health risk assessment of occupational exposure to target hazardous volatile organic compounds at swine farms. Environmental Science: Process & Impacts (previously Journal of Environmental Monitoring), 15(3):563-572 [http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2013/em/c2em30722g]. Aly, S. S., H. A. Rossow, G. Acetoze, T. W Lehenbauer, M. Payne, D. Meyer, J. Maas, and B. Hoar. 2013. Survey of Beef Quality Assurance on California Dairies. J. Dairy Science in press. Auvermann, B. W. 2013. Development and implementation of an environmental training program for manure contractors. Presented to the NCBA Environmental Management and Property Rights Committee, Denver, CO, 09 Aug 2013. Auvermann, B. W. 2013. Composting livestock carcasses. Presented at the annual CAFO training, EPA Region 6, Dallas, TX, 3 Apr 2013. Auvermann, B. W. 2013. The state of the art: PM emissions from open-lot dairies. Presented at the Western States Dairy Air Quality Symposium, Boise, ID, April 16-17. Brown, D., Li, Y. B. 2012. Solid state anaerobic co-digestion of yard waste and food waste for biogas production. Bioresource Technology. 127:275-280. IF: 4.98 Bush, K. J., and B. W. Auvermann. 2013. Evaluating the dust-abatement potential of stocking density manipulation at open-lot cattle feedyards. In preparation for the Proceedings of From Waste to Worth: Spreading Science and Solutions, Denver, CO, 1-5 Apr. Auvermann, B. W. 2013. Manure and dust management on cattle feedyards: a Texas A&M AgriLife Research update. Presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Veterinary Consultants, Colorado Springs, CO, 02 Aug 2013. Cai, T, Park S, Li, Y. B. 2013. Nutrient recovery from wastewater streams by microalgae: status and prospects. Sustainable and Renewable Energy Reviews. In press. IF: 6.02 Harrison, J., R. White, V. Ishler, G. Erickson, A. Sutton, T. Applegate, B. Richert, T. Nennich, R. Koelsch, R. Burns, D. Meyer, R.Massey, and G. Carpenter. 2012. Case Study: Implementation of feed management as part of whole farm nutrient management. Prof. Anim. Sci. 28:364-369. Hollman, M., W. Powers, A. Fogiel, J. Liesman, D. Beede. 2013. Response profiles of enteric methane emissions and lactational performance during habituation to dietary coconut oil in dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 96:1769-1781. Larson, R.A., Safferman, S.I. 2012. Field application of farmstead runoff to vegetated filter strips: surface and subsurface water quality assessment. Journal of Environmental Quality. 42(2) 592-603. Liew L., Shi, J., Li, Y. B. 2012. Methane production from solid-state anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic biomass. Biomass and Bioenergy 46:125-132. IF: 3.65 Liu, Z., W. and W. Powers. 2012. Effects of saponin extracts on air emissions from steers. J. Anim. Sci. 90:4001-4013. Liu, Z., W. Powers, R. Angel, D. Karcher, and T. Applegate. 2011. Effect of amino acid formulation and supplementation on air emissions from turkeys. Trans. ASABE. 54(2): 617-628. Liu, Z., W. Powers, and H. Liu. 2013. Meta-analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from swine operations. J. Anim. Sci. 91:4017-4032. Liu, Z., W. Powers., B.S. Oldick, J. A. Davidson, and D. Meyer. 2012. Air emissions from dairy cows fed typical diets of Midwest, South, and West U.S. J. Environ. Qual. 41(4):1228-1237. Marek, G. Modeling manure flows in the Texas Panhandle in response to fertilizer prices, biofuel demand, and other externalities. Ph. D. dissertation in Systems Agriculture, West Texas A&M, Canyon, TX. Park, S., Li, Y. B. 2012. Evaluation of methane production and macronutrient degradation in the anaerobic co-digestion of algae biomass residue and lipid waste. Bioresource Technology. 111:42-48. IF: 4.98 J. Rathbun, S. I. Safferman, S. S. Davis, T. Cleary, K. Foight. 2012. Performance evaluation of the Michigan filter mound for treating milking center wastewater frorm a small dairy. Transactions of the ASABE, 55(3): 995-1002. Romero, C., M.E. Abdallah, W. Powers, R. Angel, and T. J. Applegate. 2012. Effect of dietary adipic acid and corn dried distillers grains with solubles on laying hen performance and nitrogen loss from stored excreta with or without sodium bisulfate. Poult. Sci. 91:1149-1157. Romero, C., E. Onyango, W. Powers, R. Angel, and T.J. Applegate. 2012. Effect of a partial replacement of limestone by a CaSO4-zeolite mixture combined with a slight protein reduction on production indices, egg quality and excreta pH in laying hens. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 21:325334. Safferman, S.I.; Kirk, D.M.; Faivor, L.L.; Wu-Haan, W. 2012. Anaerobic Digestion Processes, in Bioremediation and Sustainability Research and Applications, eds. Moee, R. ; Mudhoo, A., Scrivener Publishing, Salem, MA. Sun, J., J. Zhu, W. Li. 2012. L-(+) lacic acid production by Rhizopus Oryzae using pretreated dairy manure as carbon and nitrogen source. Biomass and Bioenergy 47: 442-450 Wall, D.M.; Wu-Haan, W.; Safferman, S.I. 2012. Reconstitution of Dewatered Food Processing Residuals with Manure to Increase Energy Production from Anaerobic Digestion. Biomass and Bioenergy. 46(2012) 429-3434. Wu-Haan, W., L. Guo, W. J. Powers, C. R. Angel, and T. J. Applegate. 2013. Effect of feeding a commercial laying hen diet containing distillers dried grains plus solubles on nutrient mass balance. Appl. Engng. In Agric. 29:423-429. Xu, F. Q., Shi, J., Lv, W., Yu. Z. T., Li, Y. B. 2013. Comparison of Different Anaerobic Digestion Effluents as Inoculum and Nitrogen Sources for Solid-State Anaerobic Digestion of Corn Stover. Waste Management 33:26-32. IF: 4.98 Zhao, L., P. J. Tyler, D. Rankins, T. McCaskey and L. Wang. 2013. Effects of weaning stress on the levels of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and fecal butyrate-producing bacteria in young calves. International Association for Food Protection Annual Meeting Charlotte, NC July 28-31, 2013. Poster P2-62. Zhao, L., P.J. Tyler, J. Stearns, C.L. Bratcher, D. Rankins, T.A. McCaskey and L. Wang. 2013. Correlation analysis of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli shedding and faecal bacterial composition in beef cattle. J Appl Microbiol 115, 591-603.