The Equine Extension Expanse: Reaching the next generation of industry professionals by integrating applied metabolomics and a train- the-trainer approach

Author

Sawyer Main, University of Tennessee, KnoxvilleFollow

Date of Award

12-2023

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Animal Science

Major Professor

Jennie L.Z. Ivey

Committee Members

Jennie Ivey, Lew Strickland, Justin Rhinehart

Abstract

The University of Tennessee Extension System and others land grant institutions strive to translate basic science into usable information for various outlets and use applied research to answer practical problems. Currently, the large population of emaciated horses continues to challenge the equine industry; however, little is known regarding the equine metabolome during emaciation and the changes that occur throughout nutritional rehabilitation. Ten emaciated horses underwent a refeeding process, during which blood samples were collected for a blood chemistry panel and metabolomics analysis. Statistical analysis was conducted using SAS v9.4 (Cary, NC). Significant differences in blood chemistry analytes and metabolite abundance were seen during the refeeding process. Potentially toxic compounds, analytes related to liver, kidney, and muscle function, as well as energy-related metabolites were also altered during the refeeding process. Alantoin (p ≤ 0.01), phenylalanine (p ≤ 0.1), and methionine (p ≤ 0.05) were found to be significantly decreased in horses with higher BCS scores. Land-Grant Institutions and Cooperative Extension Services seek to disseminate information such as this to the general public. However, Extension agents differ in areas of expertise, leaving some counties with minimal ability to provide 4-H horse project members with sufficient content knowledge while agents in other counties are more well versed in equine-specific areas. The Tennessee regional and Eastern National 4-H Hippology contests were used to determine areas of knowledge deficiency. Nutrition, tack, selection, health, and breeds were categories identified as areas in which 4^th – 12^th grade youth lacked adequate knowledge and a training program and new curriculum was developed and delivered to county extension agents. Statistical analysis was conducted using SAS v9.4 (Cary, NC). Nutrition questions most often missed by senior and junior high youth (k=7.8, 51.94%; k=7.5, 44.22%) whereas junior youth missed training questions most frequently (k=4.9, 54.14%). Of the 5 topic areas of deficiency, selection questions were the lowest percentage missed by senior and junior high youth (k=5.9, 36.81%; k=7.1, 39.53%) whereas junior youth missed health questions least frequently (k=4, 39.87%). It was found that training status had no significant on scores from year to year. However, significant effects were found when comparing across question category (p

Recommended Citation

Main, Sawyer, "The Equine Extension Expanse: Reaching the next generation of industry professionals by integrating applied metabolomics and a train- the-trainer approach. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 2023.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/10071