Dr. Michelle Rhoads
Assistant Professor
Agricultural Research Center
4101 North Campbell Ave
Tucson, AZ 85719
Office: (520) 626-1949
Fax: (520) 626-1283
Email: rhoadsm@email.arizona.edu
Degrees
- Ph.D., University of Missouri - Columbia, Animal Science
- M.S., Cornell University, Animal Science
- B.S., University of Missouri - Columbia, Animal Science
Grew up on dairy farm near Jefferson City, MO
Current position: Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Began as an Assistant Professor September 1, 2007
Research Interests:
Current research interests focus on the fertility of early lactation dairy cattle. Specific interests include: 1) the nutritional and metabolic regulation of dairy cow fertility, and 2) how gene expression within the reproductive tract changes during the estrous cycle and from non-pregnancy to pregnancy. The primary aim is to elucidate factors involved in the apparent decrease in dairy cow fertility, including changes in growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I and ghrelin.
Dr. Rhoads will be developing a Reproductive Management Course and will assume teaching responsibilities of ANS 215 Anatomy & Physiology of Domestic Animals.
Grants:
CSREES, USDA National Research Initiative Competitive Grant
Principal Investigator (postdoctoral award)
Title: Characterization of ghrelin and its receptor in the reproductive tract of dairy cattle experiencing different energetic states.
Selected Publications:
Rhoads, M.L., J.P. Meyer, S.J. Kolath, W.R. Lamberson and M.C. Lucy. 2006. Expression of growth hormone receptor and IGF-I mRNA in the reproductive tissues of early postpartum dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. (in preparation).
Rhoads, M.L., J.P. Meyer, W.R. Lamberson, D.H. Keisler and M.C. Lucy. 2006. Uterine and hepatic gene expression in relation to days postpartum, estrus and pregnancy in postpartum dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. (submitted).
Meyer, J.P., R.P. Radcliff, M.L. Rhoads, J.F. Bader, C.N. Murphy and M.C. Lucy. 2007. Timed artificial insemination of two consecutive services in dairy cows using prostaglandin F2a and gonadotropin-releasing hormone. J. Dairy Sci. J. Dairy Sci. 90(2):691-698.
Fish, R.D., B.E. Jones, M. Rhoads and R.L. Ax. 2006. Postpartum cyclicity in cows: The relationship to synchronization outcomes. (conference proceeding, in press).
Rhoads, M.L., R.P. Rhoads, R.O. Gilbert, R. Toole and W.R. Butler. 2005. Detrimental effects of high plasma urea nitrogen levels on viability of embryos from lactating dairy cows. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 91(1-2):1-10.
Rhoads, M.L., R.O. Gilbert, M.C. Lucy, and W.R. Butler. 2004. Effects of urea infusion on the uterine luminal environment of dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 87(9):2896-2901.
Baumgard, L.H., M.J. VanBaale, R.P. Rhoads, M.L. Rhoads and R.J. Collier. 2005. Strategies for identifying and reducing heat stress on dairy cattle from semi-arid climates. (conference proceeding, in press).
Rhoads, R.P., M.L. Rhoads and Y.R. Boisclair. 2005. Implications of a dysfunctional somatotropic axis during the transition period in dairy cattle. Pages 197-208 in Proc. 20th Annu. Southwest Nutr. & Mgmnt. Conf., Tempe, AZ.
