Human & Animal Health

Study Creates First Comprehensive Genetic Map of Chickens

An international team of researchers led by Professor Huaijun Zhou from University of California, Davis, created the first-ever detailed map of how genes are regulated in chickens—a breakthrough that could help scientists breed birds that are more resistant to diseases like avian influenza.

Bird Flu's Varied Impacts on Egg and Milk Markets

University of California, Davis agricultural economists explore the reasons for reduced egg supplies and high egg prices in a recent article and assess what producers and consumers can expect now that the pathogen has spread through California dairies. The authors find that California egg production in December 2024 was 30% lower than in January 2022, while national production, which is the source of most of California’s retail supply, had declined by much less.

FST Professor Maria Marco Elected to the American Academy of Microbiology

Maria Marco, microbiologist and professor with the Department of Food Science and Technology, has been elected to the 2025 class of fellows for the American Academy of Microbiology. 

Marco has been with UC Davis faculty since 2008 and teaches two upper division food microbiology courses on campus. She has built an internationally recognized research program on fermented foods, probiotics and how diet affects microbes in the gut. Her research examines the beneficial compounds these microbes produce and their impact on human well-being. 

Sweet Molasses Feed Key to Understanding Grazing Behavior in Cattle

Researchers tempted grazing cattle with sweet molasses feed to discover whether cows would roam far and wide to graze or stick close to the herd, water supplies and feed stations.

The findings by animal scientists at the University of California, Davis and published in the journal Scientific Reports, offer a low-cost way for ranchers and others to identify the best cows for their landscapes to optimize grazing while meeting the nutritional needs of cattle. 

A Healthy Routine That Lasts

It’s mid-February and many New Year’s resolutions have already fizzled out, with research suggesting that about 80% don’t last past this point. Debbie Fetter, associate professor of teaching with the UC Davis Department of Nutrition, shares some practical tips to help make healthy habits last all year long. Fetter, who teaches the NUT 10 course, earned her Ph.D. in nutritional biology from UC Davis and provides strategies to help make healthy eating and exercise fun and sustainable.

 

Dining Out with San Francisco’s Coyotes

As their traditional dining options dwindle and natural areas give way to restaurants, homes and sidewalks, the coyotes of San Francisco are shifting what they eat.

Scientists from the University of California, Davis, wanted to understand what San Francisco’s coyotes are eating, and how their diet is changed and shaped by the city’s landscape, which can vary from block to block.