Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Committee members acknowledged the growing concern of uterine prolapses in today’s industry and made commitments to initiate investigations. Several labs are looking into the marketing of putative assays to assist with swine production. These areas of research include; the use of nanotechnology to filter/purify semen prior to insemination, glycan and sperm receptor interactions to enhance fertility, and identifying biomarkers that can assist with identifying young pigs that will have a reduced growth trajectory.

Several participants had recently applied for funding from the National Pork Board for a special boar seasonality call.  Dr. Tim Safranski and colleagues received the proposal funding in which heat-stress upon boars will be evaluated. 

Boar Performance (IL, MS, NC, IN, MO, NE, USMARC)

Daigneault B, McNamara K, Purdy P, Krisher RL, Knox RV, Rodriguez-Zas SL, Miller DJ. 2015. Enhanced fertility prediction of cryopreserved boar sperm using novel sperm function assessment. Andrology. DOI:10.1111/andr.12035.

Gonzalez-Peña, D., R. V. Knox, M. D. MacNeil, and S. L. Rodriguez-Zas. Genetic gain and economic values of selection strategies including semen traits in three- and four-way crossbreeding systems for swine production. 2015. J. Anim. Sci. 93:879-891.

Gonzalez-Pena, D, Knox, R.V., Rodriguez-Zas, S.L. 2016. Contribution of semen trait selection, artificial insemination technique, and semen dose to the profitability of pig production systems: A simulation study. Theriogenology. 85:335-44.

Knox, R.V., J. M. Ringwelski, K. A. McNamara, M. Aardsma, and M. Bojko. 2015. The effect of extender, method of thawing and duration of storage on in-vitro fertility measures of frozen-thawed boar sperm. Theriogenology 84:407-412.

Knox, R.V. 2015. The fertility of frozen boar sperm when used for artificial insemination. Reprod. Dom. Anim. 50 (Suppl 2):90-7.

Machado S, Kadirvel G, Bovin N, Miller DJ. 2015. Oviduct glycans regulate Ca2+ influx, protein tyrosine phosphorylation and viability of sperm. Submitted.

Miller DJ. 2015. Regulation of sperm function by oviduct fluid and epithelium: Insight into the role of glycans. Reprod Domestic Anim 50(Suppl 2): 31-39. doi: 10.1111/rda.12570.

Pedroso-Silva E, Frost D, Li L, Bovin N, Miller DJ. 2016. Identification of lactadherin as a Lewis X trisaccharide binding protein in porcine sperm. (Submitted)

Feugang JM, Greene JM, Sanchez-Rodríguez HL, Stokes JV, Crenshaw MA, Willard ST, Ryan PL. Profiling of relaxin and its receptor proteins in boar reproductive tissues and spermatozoa. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2015 May 20;13:46. doi: 10.1186/s12958-015-0043-y.

Flowers, W.L. 2015. Factors affecting the efficient production of boar sperm. Reprod. Dom. Anim. 50(suppl. 2), 25-30.

Flowers, W.L. 2016. Current strategies in boar management. Proceedings, Reproduction Workshop, 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, 17- 23.

Cabezón FA, Stewart KR, Schinckel AP, Barnes W, Boyd RD, Wilcock P, Woodliff J.  Effect of natural betaine on estimates of semen quality in mature AI boars during summer heat stress. Anim Reprod Sci. 2016 Mar 22. pii: S0378-4320(16)30095-1. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2016.03.009.

Desaulniers, A.T., W.R. Lamberson, T.J. Safranski. 2016. Prenatal heat stress reduces male anogenital distance at birth and adult testis size, which are rescued by concurrent maternal Artemisia absinthium consumption. J. Thermal Biology, 57: 84-91.

Brauer, V.M., J.R. Wiarda Bell, A.T. Desaulniers, R.A. Cederberg and B.R. White. 2016. Functional activity of the Gnrhr2 gene promoter in testis-derived cells is partially conferred by nuclear factor-B, specificity protein 1 and 3 (SP1/3) and overlapping early growth response 1/SP1/3 binding sites. Gene (In Press).

Desaulniers, A.T., R.A. Cederberg, G.A. Mills, J.J. Ford, C.A. Lents and B.R. White. 2015. LH-independent testosterone secretion is mediated by the interaction between GnRH2 and its receptor within porcine testes. Biol. Reprod. 93:45.

Thorson, J.F., A.T. Desaulniers, C. Lee, B.R. White, J.J. Ford and C.A. Lents. 2015. The role of RFamide-related peptide 3 (RFRP3) in regulation of the neuroendocrine reproductive and growth axes of the boar. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 159:60-65.

Sow and Gilt Performance (IL, IA, NC, IN, MO, USMARC)

Knox, R.V. Artificial insemination in pigs today. Theriogenology. 2016.85: 83-93.

Knox, R.V. 2015. Recent advancements in the hormonal stimulation of ovulation in swine. Vet. Med.: Research and Reports. 6:309-320.

Nteeba, J., Sanz-Fernandez, M.V., Rhoads, R.P., Baumgard, L.H., Ross J.W., Keating, A.F. 2015 Heat stress alters ovarian insulin mediated phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and steroidogenic signaling in gilt ovaries. Biology of Reproduction; 92:148.

Flowers, W.L. 2016. An update of factors affecting sow longevity. Proceedings, Reproduction Workshop, 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, 32-37.

An R, Wang C, Turek J, Machaty Z, Nolte DD. Biodynamic imaging of live porcine oocytes, zygotes and blastocysts for viability assessment in assisted reproductive technologies. Biomed Opt Express. 2015; 6:963-976.

Lee K, Davis A, Zhang L, Ryu J, Spate LD, Park KW, Samuel MS, Walters EM, Murphy CN, Machaty Z, Prather RS. Pig oocyte activation using a Zn²⁺ chelator, TPEN. Theriogenology. 2015; 84:1024-1032.

Wang C, Zhang L, Jaeger LA, Machaty Z. Store-operated Ca2+ entry sustains the fertilization Ca2+ Signal in pig eggs. Biol Reprod. 2015; 93:25.

Calderón Díaz JA, Vallet JL, Lents CA, Nonneman DJ, Miles JR, Wright EC, Rempel LA, Cushman RA, Freking BA, Rohrer GA, Phillips C, DeDecker A, Foxcroft G, Stalder K. 2015. Age at puberty, ovulation rate, and uterine length of developing gilts fed two lysine and three metabolizable energy concentrations from 100 to 260 d of age. Journal of Animal Science 93(7):3521-3527.

Freking BA, Lents CA, Vallet JL. 2016. Selection for uterine capacity improves lifetime productivity of sows. Animal Reproduction Science 167:16-21.

Miles JR, Vallet JL, Ford JJ, Freking BA, Oliver WT, Rempel LA. 2015. Contributions of the maternal uterine environment and piglet genotype on weaning survivability potential: II. Piglet growth, lactation performance, milk composition, and piglet blood profiles during lactation following reciprocal embryo transfers between Meishan and White crossbred gilts. Journal of Animal Science 93(4):1555-1564.

Rempel LA, Vallet JL, Lents CA, Nonneman DJ. 2015. Measurements of body composition during late gestation and lactation in first and second parity sows and its relationship to piglet production and post-weaning reproductive performance. Livestock Science 178:289-295.

Vallet JL, Calderón-Díaz JA, Stalder KJ, Phillips C, Cushman RA, Miles JR, Rempel LA, Rohrer GA, Lents CA, Freking BA, Nonneman DJ. 2016. Litter-of-origin trait effects on gilt development. Journal of Animal Science 94(1):96-105.

Vallet JL, McNeel AK, Miles JR, Freking BA. 2014. Placental accommodations for transport and metabolism during intra-uterine crowding in pigs. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology 5(1):55.

Vallet JL, Miles JR, Rempel LA, Nonneman DJ, Lents CA. 2015. Relationships between day one piglet serum immunoglobulin immunocrit and subsequent growth, puberty attainment, litter size, and lactation performance. Journal of Animal Science 93(6):2722-2729.

Wright EC, Miles JR, Lents CA, Rempel LA. 2016. Uterine and placenta characteristics during early vascular development in the pig from day 22 to 42 of gestation. Animal Reproduction Science 164:14-22.

Growth, Development, Physiology (BARC, IA, NC, MO, USMARC)

Ramsay TG, Stoll MJ, Blomberg le A, Caperna TJ. 2016. Regulation of cytokine gene expression by orosomucoid in neonatal swine adipose tissue. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology 7:25. doi: 10.1186/s40104-016-0081-0.

Ramsay TG, Blomberg L, Caperna TJ. 2016. α 1-acid glycoprotein inhibits lipogenesis in neonatal swine adipose tissue. Animal (5):812-820. doi: 10.1017/S1751731115002414.

Johnson, J.S., Sanz-Fernandez, M.V., Patience, J.F., Ross, J.W., Gabler, N.K., Lucy M.C., Safranski, T.J., Rhoads, R.P., Baumgard, L.H. 2015 Effects of in utero heat stress on postnatal body composition in pigs: I. Growing Phase. Journal of Animal Science; 93:71-81.

Johnson, J.S., Sanz-Fernandez, M.V., Gutierrez, N.A., Patience, J.F., Ross, J.W., Gabler, N.K., Lucy M.C., Safranski, T.J., Rhoads, R.P., Baumgard, L.H. 2015 Effects of in utero heat stress on postnatal body composition in pigs: II. Finishing Phase. Journal of Animal Science; 93:82-92.

Sanz Fernandez, M.V., Johnson, J.S., Abuajamieh, M., Stoakes, S.K., Seibert, J.T., Cox, L., Kahl, S., Elsasser, T.H., Ross, J.W., Isom, S.C., Rhoads, R.P., Baumgard, L.H.. 2015. Effects of heat stress on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in pigs. Physiological Reports; 3: e12315.

Cruzen, S.M., Boddicker, R.L., Graves, K., Johnson, T.P., Arkfeld, E.K., Baumgard, L.H., Ross, J.W., Safranski, T.J., Lucy, M.C., Lonergan, S.M. 2015 Carcass composition of market weight pigs subjected to heat stress in utero and during finishing. Journal of Animal Science; 93:2587-2596.

Waide, E.H., Dekkers, J.C.M., Ross, J.W., Rowland, R.R.R., Wyatt, C.R., Ewen, C.L., Thekkoot, D.M. Boddicker, N.J., Tuggle, C.K. 2015. Not all SCID pigs are created equally: Two independent mutations in the Artemis gene cause Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID) in pigs. Journal of Immunology 195:3171-3179.

Johnson, J.S., M. Abuajamieh, M.V. Sanz Fernandez, J.T. Seibert, S.K. Stoakes, A.F. Keating, J.W. Ross, J.T. Selsby, R.P. Rhoads, and L.H. Baumgard. 2015. The impact of in utero heat stress and nutrient restriction on progeny body composition. Journal of Thermal Biology; 53; 143-150.

Ross J.W., Hale B.J., Gabler N.K., Rhoads R.P., Keating A.F., Baumgard L.H. 2015 Physiological consequences of heat stress in pigs. Animal Production Science 55:1381-1390.

Lima, H., Jacobi, S., Man, C., Walker, K., Sommer, J., Flowers, W., Blikslager, A., Xi, L., and Odle, J. Effects of methylating vitamins and docosahexaenoic acid supplementation on intrauterine growth retardation in a feed-restricted swine model. FASEB Journal 28, 112-121.

Huang, Y.L., Ashwell, M.S., Fry, R.S., Lloyd, K.E., Flowers, W.L. and Spears, J.W. 2015. Effect of dietary copper amount and source on copper metabolism and oxidative stress of weanling pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 93, 2948-2958.

Mao, J., M.-T. Zhao, K.M. Whitworth, L.D. Spate, E.M. Walters, C. O’Gorman, K. Lee, M.S. Samuel, C.N. Murphy, R.S. Prather. 2015. Oxamflatin treatment enhances cloned porcine embryo development and nuclear reprogramming. Cellular Reprogramming 17:28-40. doi: 10.1089/cell.2014.0075. Epub 2014 Dec 30. PMID: 2548976.

Huang, J., H. Zhang, X. Wang, K. Dobbs, J. Yao, G. Qin, K.M. Whitworth, E.M. Walters, R.S. Prather, J. Zhao. 2015. Preimplantation porcine embryo development impairment by histone demethylase KDM5B knockdown and disturbance of bi-valent H3K4me3-H3K27me3 modifications. Biol. Reprod. 92: 72. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.114.122762. Epub 2015 Jan 21. PMID: 25609834.

Redel, B.R., K. Tessanne, L.D. Spate, C.N. Murphy, R.S. Prather. 2015. Arginine increases development of in vitro produced embryos and affects the PRMT-DDAH-NO axis. Reproduction, Fertility & Development 27:655-666. Mar 13. doi: 10.1071/RD14293. PMID: 25765074.

Spate, L.D., A.N. Brown, B.K. Redel, K.M. Whitworth, R.S. Prather. 2015. PS48 can replace bovine serum albumin in pig embryo culture medium, and improve in vitro embryo development by phosphorylating AKT. Mol Reprod Dev 82:315-320. doi: 10.1002/mrd.22474. Epub 2015 Mar 16. PMID: 25776657.

Park, J., L. Lai, M. Samuel, D. Wax, R.S. Prather, X. Tian. 2015. Disruption of mitochondrionto-nucleus interaction in deceased cloned piglets. PLoS ONE 10(6);E0129378. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129378. PMID 26067091.

Whitworth, K.M., J. Mao, K. Lee, W.G. Spollen, M.S. Samuel, E.M. Walters, L.D. Spate, R.S. Prather. 2015. Transcriptome analysis of pig in vivo, in vitro fertilized and nuclear transfer blastocyst stage embryos treated with histone deacetylase inhibitors post-fusion and activation reveals changes in the lysosomal pathway. Cellular Reprogramming 17:243-258. Doi 10.1089/cell.2015.0022. PMCID: PMC4529055.

Redel, B.K., L.D. Spate, K. Lee, J. Mao, K.M. Whitworth, R.S. Prather. 2016. Glycine supplementation in vitro enhances porcine preimplantation embryo development. Molecular Reproduction & Development Doi:10.1002/mrd.22618. Epub 2016 Feb 8. 83:246-258. PMID 26824641.

Krisher, R.L., A. Heuberger, M. Paczkowski, J. Stevens, C. Popsil, L.D. Spate, R.S. Prather, R.G. Sturmey, J.R. Herrick, W.B. Schoolcraft. 2015. Applying metabolomics analyses to the practice of embryology: Physiology, development and ART. Reprod. Fertil. Devel. 27:602-620. Mar 13. doi: 10.1071/RD14359. PMID: 25763765.

Calderón Díaz JA, Vallet JL, Prince TJ, Phillips CE, DeDecker AE, Stalder KJ. 2015. Optimal dietary energy and amino acids for gilt development: Growth, body composition, feed intake, and carcass composition traits. Journal of Animal Science 93(3):1187-1199.

Lents CA, Brown-Brandl TM, Rohrer GA, Oliver WT, Freking BA. 2016. Plasma concentrations of acyl-ghrelin are associated with average daily gain and feeding behavior in grow-finish pigs. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 55:107-113.

Wells JE, Berry ED, Kalchayanand N, Rempel LA, Kim M, Oliver WT. 2015. Effect of lysozyme or antibiotics on fecal zoonotic pathogens in nursery pigs. Journal of Applied Microbiology 118(6):1489-1497.

Basic Science and Technology (BARC, IA, USMARC, MS, MO, NE)

Caperna TJ, Shannon AE, Stoll M, Blomberg LA, Ramsay TG. 2015. Regulation of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein synthesis by porcine hepatocytes in monolayer culture. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 52:51-59. doi: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2015.02.002.

Zhao,J., W. Xu, W., Ross, J. W., Walters, E.M., Butler, S.P., Whyte, J.J., Kelso, L., Fatemi, M., Vanderslice, N.C., Giroux, K., Spate, L.D., Samuel, M.S., Murphy, C.N., Wells, K., Prather, R.S., Masiello, N., Velander, W.H. 2015 Tissue engineering of the mammary gland to produce abundant hemophilia B therapy in milk. Scientific Reports 5:14176.

Selsby J.T., Ross J.W., Nonneman, D., Hollinger, K. 2015 Porcine models of muscular dystrophy. ILAR Journal; 56:116-126.

Vasquez ES, Feugang JM, Willard ST, Ryan PL, Walters KB. Bioluminescent magnetic nanoparticles as potential imaging agents for mammalian spermatozoa. J Nanobiotechnology. 2016 Mar 17;14:20. doi: 10.1186/s12951-016-0168-y.

Feugang JM, Youngblood RC, Greene JM, Willard ST, Ryan PL. Self-illuminating quantum dots for non-invasive bioluminescence imaging of mammalian gametes. J Nanobiotechnology. 2015 Jun 4;13:38. doi: 10.1186/s12951-015-0097-1.

Schook, L.B., T.V. Collares, W. Hu, Y. Lian, F.M. Rodrigues, L.A. Rund, K.M. Schachtschneider, F. K. Seixas, K. Singh, K.D. Wells, E.M. Walters, R.S. Prather, C.M. Counter. 2015. A genetic porcine model of cancer. PLoS ONE doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0128864. PMID: 26132737.

Men, H., L.D. Spate, C.N. Murphy, R.S. Prather 2015. Cryopreservation of in vitro-produced early stage porcine embryos in sealed straws. BioResearch Open Access 4:258-265. Doi: 10.1089/biores.2015.0012. PMID: 26309801.

Beaton, B.P., Y.-J. Choi, D.-N. Kim, J.-H. Kim, M.S. Samuel, J.A. Benne, K.D. Wells, K. Lee, J.-H. Kim, R.S. Prather. 2015. Inclusion of homologous DNA in nuclease-mediated gene targeting facilitates a higher incidence of bi-allelically modified cells. Xenotransplantation (18 SEP 2015 | DOI: 10.1111/xen.12194). 22:379-390.

Redel, B.K., R.S. Prather. 2015. Meganucleases revolutionize the production of genetically engineered pigs for the study of human diseases. Special Swine issue (T. Monticello & W. Haschek-Hock, eds) of Toxicologic Pathology (DOI | 10.1177/0192623315613160) 1-6.

Cederberg, R.A., J.E. Smith, E.A. McDonald, C. Lee, A.R. Perkins and B.R. White. 2015. Activity of the porcine gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor gene promoter is partially conferred by a distal gonadotrope specific element (GSE) within an upstream enhancing region, two proximal GSEs and a retinoid X receptor binding site. Reprod. Biol. Endocrinol. 13:45.

Genetics and Genomics (MO, USMARC)

Whitworth, K.M, R.R.R. Rowland, C.L. Ewen, B.R. Trible, M.A. Kerrigan, A.G. Cino-Ozuna, M.S. Samuel, J.E. Lightner, D.G. McLaren, A. Mileham, K.D. Wells, R.S. Prather. 2016. Gene edited pigs are protected from porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. Nature Biotechnology (7 DEC 2015 | DOI: 10.1038/nbt.3434). 34:20-22. PMID 26641533.

Bernal Rubio YL, Gualdrón Duarte JL, Bates RO, Ernst CW, Nonneman D, Rohrer GA, King A, Shackelford SD, Wheeler TL, Cantet RJC, Steibel JP. 2016. Meta-analysis of genome-wide association from genomic prediction models. Animal Genetics 47(1):36-48.

Cagnone G, Tsai T-S, Srirattana K, Rossello F, Powell DR, Rohrer G, Cree L, Trounce IA, St.John JC. 2016. Segregation of naturally occurring mitochondrial DNA variants in a mini-pig model. Genetics 202(3):931-944.

Nonneman DJ, Schneider JF, Lents CA, Wiedmann RT, Vallet JL, Rohrer GA. 2016. Genome-wide association and identification of candidate genes for age at puberty in swine. BMC Genetics 17(1):50.

Rohrer GA, Brown-Brandl TM, Nonneman DJ. 2014. Characterization of a novel porcine stress syndrome. National Swine Improvement Federation. NSIF Volume 36.

Rohrer GA, Nonneman DJ, Wiedmann RT, Schneider JF. 2015. A study of vertebra number in pigs confirms the association of vertnin and reveals additional QTL. BMC Genetics 16(1):129.

Schneider JF, Miles JR, Brown-Brandl TM, Nienaber JA, Rohrer GA, Vallet JL. 2015. Genomewide association analysis for average birth interval and stillbirth in swine. Journal of Animal Science 93(2):529-540.

Wiedmann RT, Nonneman DJ, Rohrer GA. 2015. Genome-wide copy number variations using SNP genotyping in a mixed breed swine population. PLoS One 10(7):e0133529.

Teaching and Extension (WI, MO, KS, WV, NC)

Parrish, J.J., Smith, M.F., Geisert, R.D., Davis, D.L., Wilson, M.E. and Flowers, W.L. 2015. How to communicate with undergraduate students that lack an animal science or agricultural background. Animal Frontiers 5, 54-59.