Nutritional and Metabolic Physiology; Small Ruminant Production

Born in Cuba, I grew up near Chicago and graduated from Proviso East High School (Maywood, IL) in 1976. I attended and received my B.S. (1980) in Agriculture from Illinois State University, Normal. In 1983, I received my M.S. in Animal Science (Ruminant Nutrition; Mentor: R.N. Heitmann) from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and in 1987 I received my Ph.D. in Animal Science (Ruminant Nutritional Physiology/Pharmacology; Mentor: W.J. Croom , Jr.) from North Carolina State University, Raleigh. In the Fall 1986, I joined the fledgling staff at the Kika de la Garza Institute for Goat Research in Langston University, Oklahoma as an Assistant Research Professor. I joined LSU in June 1991 at the rank of Assistant Professor, and was tenured and promoted to rank of Associate Professor in July 1994. In 1999, I spent a six-month sabbatical at the Institute of Food, Nutrition, and Human Health at Massey University, and AgResearch's Grassland's Research Centre, New Zealand, working with T.N. Barry and W.C. McNabb, respectively. Presently, I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Science, and my appointment is 70% Research and 30% Teaching.

RESEARCH

I have three main areas of research. Below I have briefly described each of our project areas; however, if you would like further information on any of these areas, please feel free to contact me.

Metabolic Aspects and Treatment of Hyperammonemia in Ruminants: Role of Carnitine. The first research area involves studying the biological effects of elevated blood ammonia (a condition known as hyperammonemia) on metabolism, well-being, and productive performance of ruminant animals. Hyperammonemia (also known as "ammonia toxicity" and "urea toxicosis") can develop as a result of intentional or accidental consumption of feeds or forages containing elevated levels of total nitrogen and soluble nitrogen, and is associated with poor or suboptimal performance. In extreme cases, hyperammonemia results in reproductive failure and even death. Our goal is to elucidate the mechanism(s) by which ammonia exerts these deleterious effects, and to develop a possible preventive or even therapeutic treatment. Preliminary results suggest that L-carnitine, a natural compound known for its integral role in mitochondrial fatty acid metabolism, has been effective in the prevention and treatment of experimentally-induced hyperammonemia. Basic and applied research projects investigating this particular nutritional disorder and the potential of L-carnitine as a preventive and therapeutic agent are being conducted using sheep, beef cattle, lactating dairy cows, goats, and laboratory rodents.

Chromium Chelates in Livestock Animals. A second area of research involves the evaluation and elucidation of mechanism of organic chelates of chromium. Chromium is a micromineral purported to have profound influences on fat and muscle deposition in farm and laboratory animals, as well as humans. Many of the effects attributed to supplemental chromium are thought to occur through the action of the pancreatic hormone, insulin. Our laboratory is involved in various interdisciplinary, multispecie (beef and dairy cattle, sheep, swine, horses) research efforts to elucidate the mechanism of action of different organic chelates of chromium on insulin-dependent and insulin-independent effects on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.

Small Ruminant Production in the Southern Region. The third area of research involves evaluation of genetic and management practices of sheep and meat-type goats for production under humid, subtropical conditions characteristics to the Gulf Coast region. Our research efforts in sheep production look at the comparative aspects of hair- versus wool-type sheep breeds. Our research flock has Suffolk and the unique Gulf Coast Native sheep (both wool breeds), as well as St. Croix and Katahdin sheep (both hair sheep breeds). Research focuses on the comparative aspects of adaptability and production of these breeds and their crossbreds at various physiological stages, and emphasizes physiological, parasitological and nutritional mechanisms. Furthermore, our research with meat goats involves the evaluation of nutritional factors and their influences on growth and carcass characteristics. Our research herd includes Boer goat crosses and dairy-type goats. This is an area of great interest in recent years.

Collaborative Research Efforts. In addition to the primary research areas mentioned above, our laboratory group is involved in a number of collaborative research efforts. We conduct a great deal of interdisciplinary experiments with various laboratories across the state, nation and world. Presently, our collaborators within the state include: the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Southern University, and branch stations of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, including the Dean Lee, Hill Farm, Idlewild, Rosepine, Southeast, and St. Gabriel Research Stations. Out of state, we have collaborative research ties with research labs at Langston University, Oklahoma, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, Texas A&M University, San Angelo, University of Georgia, Athens and Tifton, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Virginia State University, Petersburg, and Tuskegee University, Alabama. In addition, we have strong research and teaching ties with the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Cuautitlan, and the Autonomous Metropolitan University, Iztapalapa, Mexico.

TEACHING

Teaching is important at LSU, and developing a quality, pertinent, and challenging teaching program is important to me personally. I enjoy teaching undergraduate and graduate classes. At present, teaching assignments include ...

1. AGRI 1005: Science & Society (Fall)
2. ANSC 2133: Growth and Development of Livestock (Spring)
3. ANSC 4086: Small Ruminant Production (Alt. Spring)
4. ANSC 7030: Energy in Nutrition (Alt. Fall)

I also assist in other courses, primarily Animal Science Seminar (ANSC 4092), Animal Nutrition (ANSC 4009) and Rumen Physiology and Metabolism (DARY 7018). I have also taught short courses in Mexico on Ruminant Nutritional Physiology. Moreover, our laboratory is actively involved in providing Undergraduate Research Internships to qualified students under the Animal Science Problems (ANSC 3051).

SERVICE

My activities in national professional organizations include membership in the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS), American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), the International Goat Association (IGA), the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA), the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC; Pittsboro, NC), and Gamma Sigma Delta. I am a member of the Editorial Board of Small Ruminant Research (1998 - Present) and the Latin American Journal of Small Ruminants, Cuautitlan, Mexico (1993 - Present), and served on the Editorial Board, Journal of Animal Science, Ruminant Nutrition: Digestion and Metabolism Section (1990-1993). I serve as the state-wide coordinator for NACTA (1997-Present). At the state or regional level, I am a member of the Louisiana Sheep Producers' Association (LSPA) and the Louisiana Meat Goat Association (LMGA). Moreover, I serve on the Louisiana State Scrapie Certification Board, and the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Alternative Livestock Advisory Committee. I serve on various university, College of Agriculture (COA) and departmental level committees.

AWARDS

Received the Gamma Sigma Delta Annual Award of Merit ­ Teaching (1998), Who's Who Among America's Teachers (1998), the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station's Tipton Team Research Award, LSU Agricultural Center (1998), the Gamma Sigma Delta College of Agriculture Teaching Merit Honor Roll (1994-98), and the Distinguished Service Award, Langston University, Oklahoma (1990).

Representative Publications:

Berg, B.M., W.J. Croom, Jr., J.M. Fernandez, J.W. Spears, E.J. Eisen, I.L. Taylor, L.R. Daniel, B.A. Coles, F. Boeheim, and P.J. Mannon (2000) Peptide YY administration decreases brain aluminum in Ts65Dn Down Syndrome mouse model. Growth, Development and Aging 64, 3-19.

Bunting, L.D. T.A. Tarifa, B.T. Crochet, J.M. Fernandez, C.L. DePew, and J.C. Lovejoy (2000) Effects of dietary inclusion of chromium propionate and calcium propionate on glucose disposal and gastrointestinal development in dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science 83, 2491-2498.

White, T.W., D.E. Franke, J.M. Fernandez, G.T. Gentry, L.R. Gentry, and P.T. DeRouen (2000) Influence of urea alone or combined with fish meal and solubles in liquid supplement on performance of grazing cow-calf pairs. Professional Animal Scientist 16, 226-230.

Gentry, L.R., J.M. Fernandez, T.L. Ward, T.W. White, L.L. Southern, T.D. Bidner, D.L. Thompson, Jr., D.W. Horohov, A.M. Chapa, and T. Sahlu. (1999) Dietary protein and chromium tripicolinate in Suffolk wether lambs: Effects on production characteristics, metabolic and hormonal responses, and immune status. Journal of Animal Science 77, 1284-1294.

McCormick, M.E., D.D. French, T.F. Brown, G.J. Cuomo, A.M. Chapa, J.M. Fernandez, J.F. Beatty, and D.C. Blouin (1999) Crude protein and rumen undegradable protein effects on reproduction and lactation performance of Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 82, 2697-2708.

West, J.W., G.M. Hill, J.M. Fernandez, P. Mandebvu, and B.G. Mullinix (1999) Effects of dietary fiber on intake, milk yield, and digestion by lactating dairy cows during cool or hot, humid weather. Journal of Dairy Science 82, 2455-2465.

White, T.W., J.M. Fernandez, L.S. Walz, L.R. Gentry, A.M. Chapa, and D.C. Blouin. (1999) Effect of nutrient restriction and realimentation on growth and metabolic responses of shorn Suffolk, Gulf Coast Native, and crossbred lambs. Professional Animal Scientist 15, 112-115.

Chapa, A.M., J.M. Fernandez, T.W. White, L.D. Bunting, L.R. Gentry, T.L. Ward, and S.A. Blum (1998) Influence of intravenous L-carnitine administration in sheep preceding an oral urea load drench. Journal of Animal Science 76, 2930-2937.

DePew, C.L., L.D. Bunting, J.M. Fernandez, D.L. Thompson, Jr., and R.W. Adkinson (1998) Performance and metabolic response of young dairy calves supplemented with chromium tripicolinate. Journal of Dairy Science 81, 2916-2923.

Forbes, C.D., J.M. Fernandez, L.D. Bunting, L.L. Southern, D.L. Thompson, Jr., L.R. Gentry, and A.M. Chapa (1998) Growth and metabolic charactersitics of Suffolk and Gulf Coast yearling ewes supplemented with chromium tripicolinate. Small Ruminant Research 28, 149-160.

Walz, L.S., T.W. White, J.M. Fernandez, L.R. Gentry, D.C. Blouin, M.A. Froetschel, T.F. Brown, C.J. Lupton, and A.M. Chapa (1998) Effects of fish meal and sodium bentonite on daily gain, wool growth, carcass characteristics, and ruminal and blood characteristics of lambs fed concentrate diets. Journal of Animal Science 76, 2025-2031.

Fernandez, J.M., T. Sahlu, C.D. Lu, D. Ivey and M.J. Potchoiba (1997) Production and metabolic aspects of of nonprotein nitrogen in lactation rations of dairy goats. Small Ruminant Research 26, 105-117.

Bunting, L.D., J.M. Fernandez, R.J. Fornea, T.W. White, M.A. Froetschel, J.D. Stone, and K. Ingawa (1996) Seasonal effects of supplemental fat or undegradable protein on the growth and metabolism of Holstein calves. Journal of Dairy Science 79, 1611-1620.

Chapa, A.M., J.M. Fernandez, and D.L. Thompson, Jr. (1996) Changes in plasma somatotropin, prolactin, glucose and nonesterified fatty acid concentrations in goats administered an epinephrine challenge. Small Ruminant Research 23, 125-133.

Amoikon, E.K., J.M. Fernandez, L.L. Southern, D.L. Thompson, Jr., T.L. Ward, and B.M. Olcott (1995) Effect of chromium tripicolinate on growth, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, plasma metabolites and growth hormone in pigs. Journal of Animal Science 73, 1123-1130.

Chapa, A.M., J.M. Fernandez, D.L. Thompson, Jr., R.J. Tempelman, L.F. Berrio, W.J. Croom, Jr., and W.M. Hagler, Jr. (1995) Endocrine and metabolic response to muscarinic stimulation and inhibition in ruminants: Effects of slaframine. Journal of Animal Science 73, 3673-3680.

Kitchalong, L., J.M. Fernandez, L.D. Bunting, T.D. Bidner and L.L. Southern (1995) Influence of chromium tripicolinate on glucose metabolism and nutrient partitioning in growing lambs. Journal of Animal Science 73,2694-2705.

White, T.W., J.M. Fernandez, P.T. DeRouen, and L.S. Sticker (1995) Growth and metabolic responses of calves grazing dormant forage and fed soybean meal, fish meal, and urea in corn-based supplements. Professional Animal Scientist 11, 110-115.

Bunting, L.D., J.M. Fernandez, D.L. Thompson, Jr., and L.L. Southern (1994) Influence of chromium picolinate on glucose usage and metabolic criteria in growing Holstein calves. Journal of Animal Science 72, 1591-1599.

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