Skip to main content

ANSC

Study: Insect protein slows weight gain, boosts health status in obese mice

URBANA, Ill. — As the global population grows under a changing climate, the urgency to find sustainable protein sources is greater than ever. Plant-based “meat” and “dairy” products may be popular, but they’re not the only environmentally friendly meat alternatives. 

Read full story

Cardoso named to board of the American Dairy Science Association

URBANA, Ill. — The American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) has announced new board members to advance its mission to sustain and grow the global dairy industry.

Read full story

Illinois animal sciences professor elected to American Academy of Microbiology

URBANA, Ill. – University of Illinois professor Isaac Cann has been elected a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, one of just 65 microbiologists worldwide recognized for the honor in 2023.

Read full story

U of I study gives a thumbs up to carefully formulated vegan diets for dogs

URBANA, Ill. – In today’s pet food market, there are products to match nearly every lifestyle, value system, and price point pet owners demand, including vegan formulations. New University of Illinois research shows at least two human-grade, lightly cooked vegan diets provide adequate nutrition for dogs.

Read full story

Deer protected from deadly disease by newly discovered genetic differences

URBANA, Ill. – It was the height of summer 2022 when the calls started coming in. Scores of dead deer suddenly littered rural properties and park preserves, alarming the public and inconveniencing landowners. According to officials at the Urbana Park District, it was Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD), a midge-borne viral illness that pops up in white-tailed deer populations around the state every few years.

Read full story

Team streamlines DNA collection, analysis for elephant conservation

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A new DNA-collection approach allows scientists to capture genetic information from elephants without disturbing the animals or putting their own safety in jeopardy. The protocol, tested on elephant dung, yielded enough DNA to sequence whole genomes not only of the elephants but also of the associated microbes, plants, parasites and other organisms – at a fraction of the cost of current approaches.

The researchers report their findings in the journal Frontiers in Genetics.

Read full story

New monounsaturated soybean oil works well in pig diets

URBANA, Ill. – Adding a fat source to the traditional corn-soy swine diet is common practice, but the type of fat can make a difference both for growing pigs and carcass quality. Polyunsaturated fats, the primary type in distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), can reduce fat quality and complicate processing of pork bellies and bacon.

Read full story

Animal welfare judging team provides unique experiential learning for students

URBANA, Ill. – From zebrafish to chickens to boars, students on the University of Illinois animal welfare judging team learn to evaluate living conditions for a wide range of animal species. That gives them a unique opportunity to put their skills to practice while networking and having fun.

Team members Tawni Williams and Zoey Witruk both received top placements at the 2021 Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Contest (AWJAC).

Read full story
Subscribe to ANSC