@article{dobbs_reberg-horton_snyder_leon_2022, title={Assessing weediness potential of Brassica carinata (A.) Braun in the southeastern United States}, volume={188}, ISSN={["1872-633X"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.indcrop.2022.115611}, abstractNote={Carinata (Brassica carinata (A.) Braun) is a promising winter oilseed crop in the southeastern US, and ensuring agricultural and ecological safety is critical for growers. The present study evaluated the weediness and invasiveness potential for carinata in the southeastern US. A field study was conducted in Goldsboro and Clayton, North Carolina comparing emergence and survival of volunteer carinata with and without predator exclusion. Cumulative seedling emergence at both locations was highest for buried seeds with predator exclusion (42% and 15%) and lowest in unburied seeds without predator exclusion (16% and 1%). Survival 90 days after planting (DAP) at both locations was highest for buried seeds with predator exclusion (10% and 5%) and lowest in unburied seeds without predator exclusion (3% and <1%). Frost damage contributed to predator damage increasing mortality of established plants to 100% 120 DAP. In addition to the field study, the Australian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) and Plant Risk Evaluation were conducted for carinata. The cumulative score for the Australian WRA was –1 (low risk), which was below the minimum score of 6 for rejection of introduction. The agricultural and environmental scores were –5 and –2, corresponding to a low risk in agricultural and non-agricultural settings. The cumulative Plant Risk Evaluation score was 6 (low risk), which was below the minimum score of 13 for rejection. Based on the field study and risk assessments, it was concluded that there is low risk of weediness and invasiveness for volunteer carinata in the southeastern US.}, journal={INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS}, author={Dobbs, April M. and Reberg-Horton, S. Chris and Snyder, Lori Unruh and Leon, Ramon G.}, year={2022}, month={Nov} }
 @article{dunn_unruh snyder_mccarter_frey_idassi_schnake_cubbage_2021, title={Bioeconomic Assessment of an Alley Cropping Field Trial in North Carolina, U.S.: Tree Density, Timber Production, and Forage Relationships}, volume={13}, ISSN={2071-1050}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su132011465}, DOI={10.3390/su132011465}, abstractNote={Silvopasture, the combination of trees, forage, and livestock, is a management practice that is gaining interest throughout the southeastern U.S. This research analyzed a hay-based alley cropping field trial that is transitioning into a silvopasture system. We planted four different tree spacings—2.4 × 2.4 m, 2.4 × 3.0 m, 3.0 × 3.0 m, and 1.8 × 3.0 m (8 × 8 ft, 8 × 10 ft, 10 × 10 ft, and 6 × 10 ft)—of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and used secondary data for the possible planting of two different grass species—big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Tree inventories, forage samples, biometric modeling, and economic analysis of forage and timber monocultures and mixed systems were analyzed with discounted cash flow and capital budgeting analyses. Tree growth on the pasture site was exceptionally fast, generating high projected returns for timber monocultures, which exceeded returns for monoculture grass crops. Projected timber stand returns had the greatest Net Present Values (NPV) at the 4% discount rate, ranging between USD 3196 and USD 3552 per ha (USD 1294 and USD 1438 per ac) for a 2.4 × 3.0 m or 2.4 × 2.4 m tree spacing yield. Representative grass yields were obtained from secondary sources and had lower productivity, with switchgrass having the highest returns at USD 2581 per ha (USD 1045 per ac). Optimal NPVs for mixed silvopasture stands ranged between about USD 1500 per ha and USD 3500 per ha (USD 600/ac and USD 1400/ac), depending on the tree spacing within bands, the alley spacing, and the degree of competition between trees and grasses.}, number={20}, journal={Sustainability}, publisher={MDPI AG}, author={Dunn, Kenneth and Unruh Snyder, Lori and McCarter, James and Frey, Gregory and Idassi, Joshua and Schnake, David and Cubbage, Frederick}, year={2021}, month={Oct}, pages={11465} }
 @article{snyder_fisher_2020, title={Program Chair Poster Pick: Late-Breaking Abstract: A Rapid Consumer Survey Capturing the Perceptions of Beef Marketing Before and During COVID-19}, volume={98}, ISSN={["1525-3163"]}, DOI={10.1093/jas/skaa278.601}, abstractNote={Abstract
               In today’s marketplace, consumers have a plethora of options when it comes to purchasing beef, whether that be conventional, all-natural, organic, or any other feed based labeling. They also have the freedom to make that purchasing decision based on the brand, packaging, and price just to name a few. However, the supply of beef that is on the shelves for consumers changed since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. This poster reveals that no significant differences were recorded with purchasing decisions nor marketing decisions; however, data was analyzed for themes that are present during this pandemic.The purpose of this study is to find out how the purchasing behaviors of consumers have changed since the COVID-19 outbreak in terms of beef. Are specialty labels less important? Does brand loyalty still matter? In order to evaluate this, we asked consumers several questions to better understand current behaviors and trends for the marketing of beef products. The poster will provide the coded data and summaries of the total population of 54 participants.}, journal={JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE}, author={Snyder, Lori Unruh and Fisher, Melanie}, year={2020}, month={Nov}, pages={338–338} }
 @article{barrientos-blanco_thompson_widmar_wolf_snyder_2018, title={Expected value of crossbred dairy cattle artificial insemination breeding strategies in virgin heifers and lactating cows}, volume={211}, ISSN={["1878-0490"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.livsci.2018.03.005}, abstractNote={Research on sexed semen breeding techniques has largely focused on purebred cattle production systems and little work has been done evaluating sexed semen use in crossbred dairy cattle. Complementing a crossbreeding reproduction strategy with sexed semen artificial insemination (AI) has the potential to increase profit potential of sexed semen technology in the short and long run. The objective of this project was to estimate and compare the expected net present value (NPV) of reproduction management programs considering several conventional and sexed semen breeding strategies, cow ages, and breed compositions. While the potential benefits of sexed semen are varied, it is important to note that the focus of this study is on the economic returns to the breeding program. This is not a life-cycle analysis, and therefore, only the sexed semen costs and returns that directly impact the returns to the breeding program are considered. Specifically, a NPV model that incorporates dystocia and stillbirth costs, in addition to improved fertility of crossbred cattle (over purebred cattle), directly into the expected NPV calculation is developed. Increased use of crossbred dairy cattle in the United States make this research particularly timely and relevant. Consistent with previous research, results indicate that pure conventional semen AI and a mixed strategy with one sexed semen AI followed by conventional semen were generally the preferred breeding strategies in terms of expected NPV across all breeds and dam ages evaluated. Similarly, our results also support previous findings that the expected NPV of breeding programs for virgin heifers were consistently higher than lactating cows. In terms of breeds, the crossbreed scenarios generally produced higher expected NPV than scenarios for purebred Holsteins. The most influential factors resulting in these higher returns were the higher cumulative pregnancy rates associated with the crossbreds. Reproductive benefits of crossbred dairy cattle may be able to alleviate some economic pressure currently associated with poor dairy reproduction with AI breeding strategies (especially those incorporating sexed semen). However, it is important to note the likely tradeoffs associated with improvements in fertility (e.g., reduced milk production), the consideration of which is necessary to maximize whole farm profitability.}, journal={LIVESTOCK SCIENCE}, author={Barrientos-Blanco, Jorge A. and Thompson, Nathanael M. and Widmar, Nicole J. Olynk and Wolf, Christopher A. and Snyder, Lori Unruh}, year={2018}, month={May}, pages={66–74} }
 @article{mikhailova_cherney_unruh snyder_post_sharp_cox_kelly_2013, title={Effects of Drought on Nutritive Value of Kudzu}, volume={44}, ISSN={0010-3624 1532-2416}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2013.847455}, DOI={10.1080/00103624.2013.847455}, abstractNote={Kudzu (Pueraria montana), a vigorous, perennial warm-season invasive legume is widely spread in the southeastern United States and has the potential to be used as feed by ruminants during its growing season from May until first frost (usually in October). The purpose of this study was to determine the nutritive value of kudzu during a drought-prone growing season. Five samples of apical leaves and stems were harvested once a week from random locations within a 43-year-old kudzu infestation grown on a Cecil clay loam (fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults) at the Clemson University Experimental Forest (Clemson, S.C.). We report the effects of plant part, sampling date, mean air temperature (MAT), and precipitation on dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) of the kudzu. Dry matter and CP were significantly greater in the apical leaf than in the stem; CP had a significant mean air temperature by plant part interaction. A significant temperature by plant part interaction also existed for Mg. Magnesium was greater in leaf than in the stem at the beginning of the growing season until the end of October, when small differences in Mg concentrations between stem and leaf were observed. Stem and leaf Ca concentrations were not significantly different. Calcium concentrations did vary across the dates (P = 0.002). A significant temperature by plant part interaction existed for Mg concentrations (P = 0.003), Ca to P ratio (P < 0.0001), P concentrations (P = 0.0007), S (P < 0.0001), Zn (P = 0.0053), Mn (P = 0.0014), and Cu (P = 0.006). Overall, kudzu's nutritive value as feed for ruminants during the growing season is highly variable; however, chemical composition was very comparable to other common forages. More frequent and intensive droughts predicted as a result of climate change may limit forage choices; however, kudzu maintains its forage potential for feeding both domestic and wild animals during drought-prone growing season.}, number={22}, journal={Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Mikhailova, Elena and Cherney, Debbie and Unruh Snyder, Lori and Post, Christopher and Sharp, Julia and Cox, Silas and Kelly, Shawn}, year={2013}, month={Dec}, pages={3412–3422} }
 @article{arias_unruh-snyder_scholljegerdes_baird_johnson_buckmaster_lemenager_lake_2013, title={Effects of feeding corn modified wet distillers grain plus solubles co-ensiled with chopped whole plant corn on heifer growth performance and diet digestibility in beef cattle}, volume={91}, ISSN={["1525-3163"]}, DOI={10.2527/jas.2012-5777}, abstractNote={Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding corn modified wet distillers grain plus solubles (MWDGS; 48% DM) co-ensiled with chopped whole plant corn (WC) on growth performance, dietary intake, and nutrient digestibility of beef cattle. In Exp. 1, 96 Angus-crossed heifers (2 yr old; 522 ± 49.1 kg BW; 5.3 ± 0.1 BCS) were stratified and blocked according to BW and stratified by BCS in each block in a randomized complete block design (24 pens; 4 heifers/pen; 6 treatment replications). Groups were assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments for a 62 d trial. Treatments were 1) corn silage (CS) and soybean meal (CON), 2) MWDGS co-ensiled with chopped whole plant corn (WC; CO-EN), 3) CS mixed with MWDGS at feeding (CS+WDG), and 4) CS mixed with dry distillers grain plus solubles (DDGS) at feeding (CS+DDG). In Exp. 2, 4 crossbred beef steers (initial BW = 278 ± 18 kg) fitted with permanent ruminal cannulas were used in a balanced 4 × 4 Latin square to test the effects of feeding MWDGS co-ensiled with WC on DM intake, ruminal fermentation characteristics, and total tract digestibility. There were four 14-d periods, with 10 d for diet adaptation and 4 d for samples collection. Orthogonal contrasts were used and compared CON vs. diets containing distillers grains (DGD), CO-EN vs. diets where distillers grains were mixed at feeding (MIX), and CS+WDG vs. CS+DDG. In Exp. 1, the CON fed heifers resulted in greater G:F (P = 0.04) compared with those fed DGD. However, ADG (P = 0.03), final BW (P = 0.04), and BW gain (P = 0.03) were greatest for DGD diets compared with CON and greatest (P = 0.04) for CO-EN when compared with MIX. Apart from a slightly greater acetate concentration (P = 0.05), which resulted in a greater acetate to propionate ratio (P = 0.03) for the CON diet compared with DGD, no important differences were observed on intake, diet digestibility, or fermentation characteristics when comparing the CON treatment with DGD or when comparing CS+WDG with CS+DDG. However, the CO-EN diet resulted in decreased DMI (P = 0.05) and consequently decreased OM (P = 0.05), N (P = 0.04), and NDF (P = 0.02) intakes compared with MIX. Data from these studies suggest that MWDGS co-ensiled with WC can successfully replace traditional corn-based diets supplemented with soybean meal and corn silage diets supplemented with distillers grains without compromising digestibility and growth performance in pregnant heifers.}, number={9}, journal={JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE}, author={Arias, R. P. and Unruh-Snyder, L. J. and Scholljegerdes, E. J. and Baird, A. N. and Johnson, K. D. and Buckmaster, D. and Lemenager, R. P. and Lake, S. L.}, year={2013}, month={Sep}, pages={4366–4373} }
 @article{unruh snyder_mueller_luginbuhl_brownie_2007, title={Growth characteristics and allometry of Robinia pseudoacacia as a silvopastoral system component}, volume={70}, ISSN={0167-4366 1572-9680}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/S10457-007-9035-Z}, DOI={10.1007/S10457-007-9035-Z}, number={1}, journal={Agroforestry Systems}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Unruh Snyder, L. J. and Mueller, J. P. and Luginbuhl, J. M. and Brownie, C.}, year={2007}, month={Feb}, pages={41–51} }
 @article{snyder_luginbuhl_mueller_conrad_turner_2007, title={Intake, digestibility and nitrogen utilization of Robinia pseudoacacia foliage fed to growing goat wethers}, volume={71}, ISSN={0921-4488}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2006.06.006}, DOI={10.1016/j.smallrumres.2006.06.006}, abstractNote={Black locust (BL; Robinia pseudoacacia L.), a native tree of southeastern USA known to contain substantial levels of condensed tannins (CT), was fed to 32, 4 month old (20.4 kg BW) Boer cross wether goats in two randomized complete block design trials. The objectives were to examine the effects of feeding hay diets containing several levels of fresh BL foliage on intake, digestibility, and N metabolism. First year (1999) diets were HE (100% Eastern gamagrass [EGH; Tripsacum dactyloides L.] hay), HEG (70% EGH and a 30% mixture of 59% ground corn [GC; Zea mays L.], 36% soybean meal [SBM; Glycine max L.], and 5% minerals), 25BL99 (75% EGH and 25% BL leaves), and 50BL99 (50% EGH and 50% BL leaves). Second year (2000) diets were HO (100% orchardgrass [OGH; Dactylis glomerata L.] hay), HOG (70% OGH and a 30% mixture of 63% GC, 37% SBM, and 5% minerals), 50BL00 (50% OGH and 50% BL leaves), and 75BL00 (25% OGH and 75% BL leaves). In 1999, apparent digestibilities of the diets in the order listed above were 62.4, 68.2, 58.0, and 60.6% (P = 0.001) for DM and 62.8, 72.5, 56.0, and 59.1% (P = 0.001) for crude protein (CP). Acid detergent lignin digestibilities were negative for diets 25BL99 (−56.7%) and 50BL99 (−49.3%), apparently due to the formation of insoluble tannin and lignin complexes during passage through the digestive tract. Intakes of DM were similar across diets. In 2000, apparent digestibilities of diet DM (64.4, 71.7, 64.8 and 65.4%) and CP (70.0, 76.0, 66.6, and 66.5%) did not differ. Lignin digestibilities were positive for diets 50BL00 (9.4%) and 75BL00 (29.6%) unlike those for year 1999. Overall, BL contained 10% CT and 18–34% hydrolyzable tannins. In 1999, N intake, urinary N (UN) excretion and N retained were higher for diet HE G( P = 0.01) than diet HE whereas fecal N excretion (FN) was similar for diets HEG, 25BL99 and 50BL99. In 1999, FN excretion as a percentage of N intake was higher (P < 0.02) in the BL diets, although UN as a percentage of N intake did not differ among diets. In 2000, N intake and FN output were higher for BL diets compared to diets HO (P = 0.01) and HO G( P = 0.02). Fecal N as a percentage of N intake was lower (P = 0.01) for diet HOG (24.0%) than for diets 50BL00 (33.4%) and 75BL00 (33.5%). Conversely, urinary N as a percentage of N intake was higher for diets HO and HOG compared to the BL diets (P = 0.02). Increased levels of dietary BL increased FN, suggesting that tannins formed insoluble protein complexes thus hindering digestibility.}, number={1-3}, journal={Small Ruminant Research}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Snyder, L.J. Unruh and Luginbuhl, J-M. and Mueller, J.P. and Conrad, A.P. and Turner, K.E.}, year={2007}, month={Aug}, pages={179–193} }
 @article{unruh_fick_2002, title={Correcting measurements of pasture forage mass by vacuuming the stubble}, volume={94}, DOI={10.2134/agronj2002.0860}, abstractNote={Estimates of forage mass in pasture obtained by harvesting small plots may be too low because fragments of the harvested herbage are dropped into the stubble and not recovered. Our objective was to evaluate stubble vacuuming as a means of retrieving such material, thereby improving the accuracy of forage mass estimation. Our study was conducted on intensively managed dairy pastures dominated by orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.). The stubble was vacuumed following conventional harvesting of small quadrats to a stubble height of 2 cm. Harvested herbage and vacuumed stubble were oven-dried separately and then ashed to correct for soil contamination. The slope of the regression of total organic matter (OM), which included vacuumed material, on the mass of harvested herbage without vacuuming showed that clippings lost into the stubble in this study amounted to 0.045 Mg/ha OM for each Mg/ha unvacuumed herbage dry weight or 0.286 Mg/ha OM for each Mg/ha unvacuumed herbage OM. Because of the extra cost of the procedure, it is not recommended, except for ecological studies where very accurate estimations of OM distribution are required.}, number={4}, journal={Agronomy Journal}, author={Unruh, L. J. and Fick, G. W.}, year={2002}, pages={860–863} }