ASCI 112 Midterm #1

What is California proposition 2 and how did it lead to prop 12?

- chickens originally in small cages
- prop 2 in 2008 required colony cages to be at least 116 square inches
- prop 12 was an extension of this that requires producers in California to be cage-free by 2022
- also applies to pregnant pigs and calves

What is science?

The systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.
Knowledge covering general truths especially those obtained and tested through the scientific method.

What is animal science?

The study of the biology of animals under the control of mankind; one of the oldest sciences that began when man first started to domesticate animals.

What is husbandry?

Basic day to day caring of animals such as food, water, and shelter

Domestication timeline

dog
sheep/goats/cows
pigs
cars
horses/llamas/alpacas
chickens
ferrets/camels
rabbits/ducks
mice
rats

What was the first animal to be domesticated?

Wolf

how was the domestication of the wolf evidenced?

In paintings where hunters were shown working in unison with the wolf

What was the first domesticated animal?

dog

When were dogs domesticated and what were they originally used for?

33,000-18,000 BP (15,000 BP)
- Time of hunter gatherers
- Used for hunting, guarding, and nomadic lifestyle

When were sheep, goats, and cows domesticated?

11,000-10,000 BP
- Neolithic (New Stone Age) Era: when farming originated
- transition from nomadic lifestyle to permanent colonies using animals for food

when were pigs domesticated?

8,000 years ago

When were cats domesticated?

7,000 years ago

When were horses, llamas, and alpacas domesticated?

5,000-6,000 years ago

when were chickens domesticated?

4,000 years ago

When were ferrets and camels domesticated?

3,000 years ago

When were rabbits and ducks domesticated?

1,000 years ago

When were mice domesticated?

1654

When were rats domesticated?

1880

Purpose of domesticating animals

food, protection, sheepherding, clothing, transportation, entertainment, companionship, looks, working dogs, hunting, economics (income, social value), sporting, control of another species, religious ceremonies, war, specific research

What are the features of domestication?

- Changes driven based on human-desired traits (a type of selective pressure) that benefit us in some way
- Animals change genetically and phenotypically (appearance, behavior, physiology - how the body works)
- An evolutionary process driven by selection pressures (natural or artificial)

What are the theories of domestication?

Adoption:
- artificial selection (raised by humans)
- early humans may have taken wolf pups from their mothers and raised them in captivity to be less afraid of humans. The tamest ones would be continually bred.

Adaptation:
- natural selection (wolves chose domestication)
- the wolves moved into a niche or foraging area near humans and consumed human waste. The wolves most comfortable around humans would get the most food and be able to raise pups successfully.

Domestication vs. Tameness

- Tameness is behavior-focused, and doesn't involve genes or physical appearance.

- it is a gradual habituation to humans, characterized by reduced fearfulness.

- Cannot be passed down through generations; it is focused on single individuals

- Wild animals can be tamed but they are not domesticated.

Behavioral Traits that drive Domestication

Response to humans - tamable, small flight zone, non-aggressive toward humans, readily controlled, attention-seeking.

Social behavior - live in groups (mainly for agriculture), have dominance hierarchies, minimal territorial behavior (groups can overlap home range), and regular social grooming activities.

Adaptability and activity - wide environmental tolerance, no specialized diet, limited agility (easy to restrain and contain), small home range (don't wander too far), diurnal rather than nocturnal.

Juvenile characteristics - temperament (docile), quick learning, willingness to associate with other species, quick maturation for meat, dependence on humans, playfulness that drives curiosity and bonding with humans, manageable size, young-like physical appearance that compels us to care for them.

Sexual behavior - Clear sexual signaling behaviors between males and females to indicate reproductive status, able to breed freely in captivity, promiscuous mating (male-females do not form pair bonds), maternal instincts, shorter gestation period, what age an animal becomes sexually mature.

Precocial development - Idea that animals can be very independent as soon as they are born. Their young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching (some exceptions with dogs/cats/etc.), they have initial rapid, strong bonding of dam and young, and the young can be separated from parents at an early age. Precocial -- (of a young bird or other animal) hatched or born in an advanced state and able to feed itself almost immediately.

Altricial -- "requiring nourishment;" refers to a pattern of growth and development in organisms which are incapable of moving around on their own soon after hatching or birth.

Do most farm animals have precocial or altricial young?

Precocial; humans raise these animals in large numbers for food, fiber, or work, so it's important to be efficient with how we raise these animals.

Do most companion animals have precocial or altricial young?

Altricial; humans are willing and able to invest lots of time into the care of the young if the mothers aren't able to

In what ways do our domesticated cats not fit the mold of domestication? Why don't we see the huge variation in cat breeds (type/shape/size) that we see in dog breeds?

Cats are very independent and often don't like human interaction
- the dog was domesticated much earlier
- dogs were bred for more purposes
- cat breed variation is mostly for aesthetics

Piebald coloration

Spotting pattern with large, unpigmented white areas and smaller pigmented black patches

Physical effects of domestication

- increased variation in coat color, horns, hair
- piebald coloration
- variation within species (breeds)
- Skeletal changes (shortening jaws and facial region, smaller teeth)
- Faster growth rate
- Change in body size

Neoteny - the retention of juvenile characteristics throughout their lifetime (floppy ears, curly tails, piebald coloration, fewer or shortened vertebra, large eyes, rounded forehead, large ears, and shortened muzzle)

Biological (physiological) effects of domestication

- decreased brain to body size ratio
- increased muscle
- increased milk production
- faster growth rate
- changes in pattern of fat deposition (extra fat is deposited throughout the muscle in domestic species and around internal organs in wild species)

Behavioral effects of domestication

- loss of self-sufficiency
- less adaptable to environmental changes
- loss of pair bonding (ducks, geese, foxes)
- loss of broodiness
- reduced flightiness and aggressiveness
- increased juvenile characteristics

Taxonomy

Science that involves the description, identification, classification, and nomenclature of organisms (kings play chess on fine grain sand).

Domain Eukarya - plants and animals

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata - any animal with a backbone and locomotion

Class Mammalia - warm-blooded, lactating females, has fur/hair

Order Carnivora -consumes primarily meat

Family Ursidae - bear-like

Genus Ursus - sorts animals based on common attributes such as looks and behaviors

Species Ursus Americanus

What is a breed?

A group of domestic animals that have the same appearance, behavior, and/or other characteristics (e.g., growth/production) that distinguish it from other organisms OF THE SAME SPECIES

- result of artificial selection through domestication

how many domestic dog breeds are currently recognized by the Animal Kennel Club?

199

What are some other Kingdom classes?

Plantae, Fungi

What are some other phylum classes?

Mollusca (clams), Arthropoda (scorpions), Annelids (worms)

What are some other animal classes

Reptilia, Amphibia, Aves

What are some other orders?

Artiodactyla (even-toed hoofed animals, herbivores, omnivores - cows, deer, camels, pigs), Primates, Rodentia, Cetacea (marine animals), etc.

What are some other carnivore families?

Felidae (cat like), Canidae (dog like), Mustelidae (badgers, wolverines, etc.)

dairy production breeds

Holsteins:
- 90% of dairy cows in the US
- high milk production
- 23,000 lbs. per lactation (10 month period)
- laid back

Jersey:
- 2nd most common dairy cow
- higher milk fat % better suited for cheese production
- smaller than Holsteins and produce less milk
- feisty

beef production breeds

Angus:
- most common beef breed in the US
- high quality
- generally raised in feed lots for the last months of their lives

Hereford:
- known for their vigor and foraging ability
- often graze on rangeland
- high quality

Brahman:
- heat tolerance due to loose skin
- popular in South America

Poultry production categories

Layers:
- chickens that produce eggs
280-320 eggs per year
- smaller and flightier than broilers
- White Leghorn, Rhode Island Red, and New Hampshire

Broilers:
- used for meat
- muscular wide breast width
- legs set apart
- fast growing (market weight in 44 days)
- Cornish and White Plymouth Rock

Swine Breeds

Yorkshire:
- common breed for pork products
- very large (450-750 lbs)

Hampshire:
- black with white belt
- heavily muscled with lean meat
- one of the oldest American swine breeds

Horse Breeds

Mustang: feral horses that have been caught and tamed; often branded

Quarter Horse: Heavily muscled, fast (short distance), excellent for. working cattle, most of CP horses are these

Thoroughbred: Widely used in horse-racing, tall and lean, known for agility, speed, and spirit

Sheep Production Breeds

Dorper: one of the most fertile sheep breeds, hornless with a long body and a light covering of hair and wool, primarily a mutton sheep (food)

Rambouillet: Originated with Spain's Merino Flocks (world's finest wool), known for fleece production

Goat Production Breeds

Boer: developed in South Africa for meat production, white bodies and distinctive brown heads

Kiko: from New Zealand where their names mean "meat"; fast growing, ideal for low input farming, hardy

How many farm animals are in the US?

9 billion (8.8 billion are broilers)

How many companion animals are in the US?

140 million (50% dogs, 34% cats)

How may exotic animals are in the US?

750k according to the US Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Animal agriculture prior to the 1950s

Romantic/Agrarian view:
- simple, basic life
- nature as an ideal
- small family farms
- subsistence agriculture (just enough to live)
- People were much more connected to the individual animal at this time. Animals were raised in their natural environments and people spent a long of time tending to their individual care and needs.

Mid 1700 - 1800's - Industrial Revolution in the US and Europe

New technologies that could harness things like steam and water power allowed for societies to transition from hand manufacturing to mechanized systems. This opened the door for new ways to raise animals for agriculture.

- the surge bucket milker --> the Lely robotic milking unit

Human Urbanization percentages

1800: 3% of population industrial revolution
1900: 14%
mechanization/urbanization
1950: 30%
Intensification of food animal production systems
2014: 53%
2045: 67%

Population of individuals living in urban environments

1950: 746 Million
2014: 3.9 Billion
2045: ~ 6 Billion (estimated)

How much of the world population is directly involved in agriculture? US population?

35% of the world population, 1.3% of the US population

What happened during the agro-industrial age (1965-70)?

Efficiency and high production in animal agriculture was the goal. Life had changed dramatically in production agriculture and people realized that corn was the favored crop:

- high energy feed, high yields, and low spoilage
- the low price didn't justify shipping it, so it became nutrient dense livestock feed
- led to confinement/concentrated animal feeding operations

Egg production industry in the 1960's

Cage systems became predominant and farmers adopted technology to improve manure handling and egg collection. Conveyor belts replaced hand collection, with belts promptly carrying eggs from the laying area to washers. Poultry scientists and farmers improved feeding, genetics, disease resistance and flock management, and hens were productive and healthier.
By the 1970's farmers were adding more and more birds into these cage systems.

New Rational/Industrial View

- life is improved by science/technology
- nature as imperfect
- productivity of enterprise

Why are pigs placed in gestation crates?

Pigs can become aggressive with one another, and competition is high because they're really hungry
- if they have free access to food, they will eat way more than they are supposed to (lowers the survivability of piglets)

What is a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO)?

a farm in which animals are raised in confinement - that has over 1,000 "Animal Units" confined for over 45 days in a year. There are approximately 19,500 CAFO's in the U.S. at the present time.

What are the benefits of animal feeding operations?

- More efficient system to feed and house animals based on specialization (species, use, etc.)
- Low cost source of meat, milk, eggs due to efficient feeding and housing
- Enhance local economy, increase employment

What are the cons of animal feeding operations?

- Waste production (manure management)
- Environmental impacts (air quality)
- Water quality

Changing Cultural Views (20-21st Century)

- anti-industrial claims
- cramped and unhealthy living conditions
- they have no contact with nature
- they suffer from injuries and deformities
- loss of human nature
- among the general population, an increasing number of people are concerned about the quality of life of these animals

Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act (2008)

- prohibit the confinement of certain farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs.
- health and productivity levels were checked, but welfare and happiness were not.
- confinement laws imposed by California impact other states more than us because they are California's suppliers for meat.

How does prop 12 differ from prop 2?

Prop 12 prohibited the confinement of calves raised for veal, breeding pigs, and egg-laying hens in areas below a specific number of square feet rather than restrictions based on animal behavior and movement

Beginning in 2020, Proposition 12 is set to ban the confinement of:

- each calf has at least 43 square feet
- Egg-laying hens (chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) has at least 1 square foot of usable floor space

Beginning in 2022, Proposition 12 is set to ban the confinement of:

- breeding pigs and piglets in less than 24 square feet
- egg laying hens must be in cage free housing systems where each hen has 1-1.5 square feet of usable floor space

United States Department of Agriculture

- Responsible for developing and executing federal government policy on farming, agriculture, forestry and food.
- Promotes trade, production, food safety and sustainability

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Leads international effort to defeat hunger, provides resources to improve agricultural practice to ensure food security and good nutrition.

US Food and Drug Administration

Protects and promotes public health through regulation and supervision of food safety (handling, processing, distribution), animal feeds, drugs and supplements that can be given to animals.

Summary of Trends in US Animal Agriculture

- Less of the total population involved in agriculture
- Increased demand for animal products
- Increased production of animal products
- Number of animal farms and animals declining
- Farm size is increasing (more animals per farm)
- Animals are becoming much more productive and efficient

how many animals in the US are kept for entertainment?

100,000-1,000,000

What is biochemistry?

The science of understanding the chemical processes that occur within living organisms.
- combines biology and chemistry to study living matter
- this basic science is fundamental to understanding processes

Biological Levels of Organization

Atom
Molecule
Macromolecules
Organelle
Cell
Tissue
Organ
Organ system
Organism

Cellular level of organization

Atom: basic unit of matter (ex. hydrogen, oxygen, carbon)

Molecule: chemical structure consisting of atoms. (ex. water, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide)

Cell: Life's fundamental unit of structure and function. (ex. plant cell, animal cell)

organismal level of organization

tissue: group of similar cells (ex. muscle, connective)

organ: composed of 2-4 types of tissues working together to perform functions hat are beyond the scope of an individual tissue type. (ex. heart, bone, liver)

organism: an individual living thing

population level of organization

Communities, Ecosystems and the Biosphere

Element

Substance that cannot be chemically broken down/interconverted into simpler substances.

- made up of ONE type of atom
- There are 90 naturally occurring elements on earth, the rest are synthetic.

Six Elements Basic to Life

SPONCH: Sulfur, Phosphorus, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, Hydrogen.

What percentage of an organism's body weight do the SPONCH elements make up?

95%

What percentage of the human body is made up of water?

50-65%

What is carbon used for?

Used in the body for cellular respiration (among other uses)

- we would have no DNA without carbon

What is hydrogen used for?

Energy production in the form of ATP!

- we would weigh a lot less without hydrogen

What is nitrogen used for?

Amino Acid and Nucleic acid production

- we wouldn't be able to make more muscle without nitrogen

What is oxygen used for?

Oxidizes food

- we would weigh a lot less without oxygen

What is phosphorus used for?

Production of bones, teeth

- we wouldn't have ATP without phosphorus

What is sulfur used for?

Resists bacteria, cleanses blood

- our muscle proteins would fall apart without sulfur

Molecule

Two or more elements held together through chemical bonds
- water, glucose

Macromolecule

BIG molecules which are building materials for the body
- Nylon (C12H22N2O2)n

Monomers

Small molecules that can join with other similar molecules to form larger molecules or polymers.

- cannot be broken down further

Polymers

Large molecules consisting of many identical or similar building blocks (monomers) linked by chemical bonds

- Starch is a naturally occurring polymer comprised of glucose monomers

Monomer to Polymer

monomers connected in long chains produce polymers

what does the word saccharide mean?

sugar

4 Major Categories of Macromolecules

Carbohydrates (sugars)
Lipids
Proteins (amino acids)
Nucleic Acids (in DNA and RNA)

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are molecules used for both ENERGY and STRUCTURAL functions.
- made up of sugars and their polymers
- only made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

What atoms make up carbohydrates?

carbon, hydrogen, oxygen

Monosaccharides

Simple sugars:
glucose (C6H12O6), fructose (C6H12O6), galactose (C6H12O6), ribose (C5H10O5), deoxyribose (C5H10O4)

How are monosaccharides classified?

by the number of CARBONS they have

- hexoses
- pentoses

Disaccharides

sucrose = glucose - fructose
lactose = glucose - galactose
maltose = glucose - glucose

What's the deal with lactose free milk?

Regular milk contains lactOSE. The lactASE enzyme our bodies produce helps to break down lactose in our bodies.

- Lactose intolerance occurs when people (and animals) don't produce enough
lactase to break down lactose. Not producing enough lactase as adults is actually
completely normal in animals because the only time they're usually exposed to
milk (lactose) is when they're young. As they age, the body stop producing the
lactase enzyme because there is no longer the same need to digest lactose since
the animal no longer requires it for survival.

- When lactose intolerant individuals digest lactose, it mixes with bacteria in the
large intestine which ferments the sugar and causes gas, bloating and diarrhea.
By putting the lactase enzyme directly in the milk, the lactose intolerant person
doesn't have to digest anything - it's already done!

Why do these lactose-free beverages taste sweeter?

When the lactase enzyme
is added to the milk, it splits lactose into its two monomers: glucose + galactose.
These simple sugars actually taste sweeter to the tongue than more complex
sugars.

3 common polysaccharides

Starch
Cellulose
Glycogen