The interaction between nutrition and health is important for both production animal agriculture and human well-being, and there exists a complex interplay between development of a stable microbiota, intestinal function, and maturation of the immune system in young animals. Moreover, normal gastrointestinal function is often compromised when an animal experiences immune activation, including decreases in nutrient digestion and absorption. From a nutritional perspective, these circumstances are quite challenging to manage because disease-challenged animals not only consume less feed, but also experience metabolic shifts that compromise profitability. Research in this area focuses on how nutritional technologies influence growth, immunity, and gastrointestinal function, as well as how nutritional requirements are changed in livestock species experiencing respiratory and enteric infections.
Animal Nutrition & Health Publications
- Smith, B. N., and R. N. Dilger. 2018. Immunomodulatory potential of dietary soybean-derived isoflavones and saponins in pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 96:1288-1304. doi:10.1093/jas/sky036
- Lindblom, S. C., N. K. Gabler, R. N. Dilger, Z. F. Olson, C. L. Loving, and B. J. Kerr. 2018. Influence of feeding thermally peroxidized soybean oil on oxidative status in growing pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 96:545-557. doi:10.1093/jas/sky005
- DeGroot, A. A., U. Braun, and R. N. Dilger. 2018. Efficacy of guanidinoacetic acid on growth and muscle energy metabolism in broiler chicks receiving arginine-deficient diets. Poult. Sci. 97:890-900. doi:10.3382/ps/pex378
- Gautier, A. E., C. L. Walk, and R. N. Dilger. 2017. Effects of a high level of phytase on broiler performance, bone ash, phosphorus utilization, and phytate dephosphorylation to inositol. Poult. Sci. 97:211–218. doi:10.3382/ps/pex291
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Gautier, A. E., C. L. Walk, and R. N. Dilger. 2017. Influence of dietary calcium concentrations and the calcium-to-non-phytate phosphorus ratio on growth performance, bone characteristics, and digestibility in broilers. Poult. Sci. 96:2795-2803. doi:10.3382/ps/pex096
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Franco, S. M., F. d. C. Tavernari, R. C. Maia, V. R. S. M. Barros, L. F. T. Albino, H. S. Rostagno, G. R. Lelis, A. A. Calderano, and R. N. Dilger. 2017. Estimation of optimal ratios of digestible phenylalanine + tyrosine, histidine, and leucine to digestible lysine for performance and breast yield in broilers. Poult. Sci. 96:829-837. doi:10.3382/ps/pew305
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Rochell, S. J., J. L. Usry, T. M. Parr, C. M. Parsons, and R. N. Dilger. 2016. Effects of dietary copper and amino acid density on growth performance, apparent metabolizable energy, and nutrient digestibility in Eimeria acervulina-challenged broilers. Poult. Sci. 96:602-610. doi 10.3382/ps/pew276
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Rochell, S. J., A. Helmbrecht, C. M. Parsons, and R. N. Dilger. 2016. Interactive effects of dietary arginine and Eimeria acervulina infection on broiler growth performance and metabolism. Poult. Sci. 96:659-666. doi:10.3382/ps/pew295
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Rochell, S.T., Helmbrecht, A., Parsons C.M., Dilger R.N. 2016. Influence of dietary amino acid reductions and Emeria acervulina infection on growth performance and intestinal cytokine responses of briolers fed low crude protein diets. Poult. Sci. 95:2602-2614. doi:10.3382/ps/pew153.
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Rochell, S. J., Parsons C. M., and Dilger R. N. 2016. Effects of Eimeria acervulina infection severity on growth performance, apparent ileal amino acid digestibility, and plasma concentrations of amino acids, carotenoids, and α1-acid glycoprotein in broilers. Poult. Sci. 95:1573-1581. doi:10.3382/ps/pew035
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Panasevich MR, Allen JM, Wallig MA, Woods JA, Dilger RN. 2015. Moderately fermentable potato fiber attenuates signs and inflammation associated with experimental colitis in mice. J. Nutr. 145:2781-2788. doi:10.3945/jn.115.21857
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Rochell SJ, Alexander LS, Rocha GC, Van Alstine WG, Boyd RD, Pettigrew JE, Dilger RN. 2015. Effects of dietary soybean meal concentration on growth and immune response of pigs infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. J. Anim. Sci. 93:2987-2997. doi:10.2527/jas.2014-8462.
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Panasevich MR, Kerr KR, Serao MC, de Godoy MR, Guérin-Deremaux L, Lynch GL, Wils D, Dowd SE, Fahey GC, Swanson KS, Dilger RN. 2015. Evaluation of soluble corn fiber on chemical composition and nitrogen-corrected true metabolizable energy and its effects on in vitro fermentation and in vivo responses in dogs. J. Anim. Sci. 93:2191-2200. doi:10.2527/jas.2014-8425
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Panasevich MR, Kerr KR, Dilger RN, Fahey GC, Guérin-Deremaux L, Lynch GL, Wils D, Suchodolski JS, Steiner JM, Dowd SE, Swanson KS. 2014. Modulation of the faecal microbiome of healthy adult dogs by inclusion of potato fibre in the diet. Br. J. Nutr. 24:1-9. doi:10.1017/S0007114514003274
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Almeida JA, Ponnuraj NP, Lee JJ, Utterback P, Gaskins HR, Dilger RN, Pettigrew JE. 2014. Effects of dietary clays on performance and intestinal mucus barrier of broiler chicks challenged with Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium and on goblet cell function in vitro. Poult. Sci. 93:839-847. doi:10.3382/ps.2013-03587
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Panasevich MR, Rossoni Serao MC, de Godoy MR, Swanson KS, Guérin-Deremaux L, Lynch GL, Wils D, Fahey GC Jr, Dilger RN. 2013. Potato fiber as a dietary fiber source in dog foods. J. Anim. Sci. 91:5344-5352. doi:10.2527/jas.2013-6842.
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Wils-Plotz EL, Jenkins MC, Dilger RN. 2013. Modulation of the intestina environment, innate immune response, and barrier function by dietary threonine and purified fiber during a coccidiosis challenge in broiler chicks Poult. Sci. 92:735-745. doi:10.3382/ps.2012-02755.
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Dilger RN, Bryant-Angeloni K, Payne RL, Lemme A, Parsons CM. 2013. Dietary guanidino acetic acid is an efficacious replacement for arginine for young chicks. Poult. Sci. 92:171-177. doi:10.3382/ps.2012-02425
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Faber TA, Dilger RN, Hopkins AC, Price NP, Fahey GC Jr. 2012. Effects of oligosaccharides in a soybean meal-based diet on fermentative and immune responses in broiler chicks challenged with Eimeria acervulina. Poult. Sci. 91:3132-3140. doi:10.3382/ps.2012-02364.
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Faber TA, Dilger RN, Iakiviak M, Hopkins AC, Price NP, Fahey GC Jr. 2012. Ingestion of a novel galactoglucomannan oligosaccharide-arabinoxylan (GGMO-AX) complex affected growth performance and fermentative and immunological characteristics of broiler chicks challenged with Salmonella typhimurium. Poult. Sci. 91:2241-2254. doi:10.3382/ps.2012-02189
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Faber TA, Dilger RN, Hopkins AC, Price NP, Fahey GC Jr. 2012. The effects of a galactoglucomannan oligosaccharide-arabinoxylan (GGMO-AX) complex in broiler chicks challenged with Eimeria acervulina. Poult Sci. 91:1089-1096. doi:10.3382/ps.2011-01993
Conference Presentations
- Smith BN, Morris A, Oelschlager ML, Dilger RN. Soy isoflavones and porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome viral infection in weanling pigs. 2017. Annual Meeting for American Association of Swine Veterinarians. Denver, CO.