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Faculty | ADVS

Kara Thornton-Kurth

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Beef Cattle Nutrition, Skeletal Muscle Growth and Physiology

Assistant Professor

Contact Information

Go toOffice Location: AGRS 241
DialPhone: 435-797-7696
SendEmail: kara.thornton@usu.edu


Educational Background

PhD, Animal Physiology, University of Idaho, 2013
Physiology of growth and metabolism of skeletal muscle in beef cattle
BS, Animal Science, (Spanish), Washington State University, 2009

Expertise

Ruminant Nutrition // Program goal: To uncover the molecular mechanism(s) through which nutrition affects growth and end-product quality of livestock animals.


Biography

Kara Thornton-Kurth is an Assistant Professor in the Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences Department at Utah State University. In 2009, She earned her B.S. in Honors Animal Science and a minor in Spanish from Washington State University. She then moved eight miles across the border and completed her doctoral studies in skeletal muscle physiology at the University of Idaho in 2013. Next, Dr. Thornton-Kurth worked as a post-doctoral research associate at University of Minnesota, where she received additional training in skeletal muscle growth. In 2015, she joined USU faculty and runs a research program focusing on the effects of nutrition and growth in livestock animals.


Teaching Interests

Dr. Thornton Kurth currently teaches four separate courses: 1. Animal Feeds & Feeding (ADVS 2500) 2. Applied Animal Nutrition (ADVS 5500/6500) 3. Nutrient Utilization and Metabolization in Livestock (ADVS 5530/6530) and 4. Basic Nutrition (VM7580).

Research Interests

Research in Dr. Thornton-Kurth's lab broadly focuses on improving production and efficiency of livestock animals, particularly brief cattle. A major goal of Dr. Thornton-Kurth's research program is to uncover the molecular mechanism(s) through which nutrition affects growth and end-product quality of livestock animals. Currently, there are 3 projects occurring in her lab: 1. Elucidate the mechanism through which trenbolone acetate improves skeletal muscle growth in satellite cells of beef cattle 2. Determine the molecular mechanism(s) responsible for observed differences in end-product quality of offspring from dams that received a nutritional insult in the second trimester 3. Gain insight into the molecular pathways responsible for development of tenderness in beef products. Dr. Thornton-Kurth's research program is currently supported by funds from the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Western Sustainable and Research and Education Programs, as well private industry funding.

Awards

Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year, 2019

USU - Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Science Department

Gamma Sigma delta Agricultural Graduate Research Student of the Year, 2011

Gamma Sigma Delta- University of Idaho

AVS outstanding graduate student of the year, 2011

University of Idaho

Graduate student poster presentation competition, 2010

Pacific northwest animal nutrition conference

Publications - Abstracts

    Publications - Books & Book Chapters

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      Publications - Fact Sheets

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        Publications - Curriculum

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          Publications - Journal Articles

            Academic Journal

          • Dang, D., Buhler, J., Davis, H., Thornton-Kurth, K., Matarneh, S., Inhibition of mitochondrial calcium uniporter enhances postmortem proteolysis and tenderness in beef cattle. Meat Science
          • Mizell, S., Miller, S.L, Royer, A.M, Thornton-Kurth, K., Garcia, M., (2017). Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms associated with growth and carcass traits located on QTL Regions previously associated with Bovine Respiratory Disease. Genetics and Molecular Research, 16:4
          • Thornton-Kurth, K., Chapalamadugu, K.C, Eldredge, E.M, Murdoch, G.K, (2017). Analysis of Longissimus thoracis Protein Expression Associated with Variation in Carcass Quality Grade and Marbling of Beef Cattle Raised in the Pacific Northwestern United States. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 65:7, 1434-1442.
          • Kamanga-Sollo, E., Thornton-Kurth, K., White, M.E, Dayton, W.R, (2017). Role of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor-1 in estradiol 17β-induced alterations in protein synthesis and protein degradation rates in fused bovine satellite cell cultures. Domestic Animal Endocrinology, 58, 90-96.
          • Waldron, B.L, Banks, J.E, Newhall, R., Snyder, D.L, Thornton-Kurth, K., (2016). Interseeding Forage Kochia into Established CRP to Improve Fall and Winter Grazing Potential. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Mamagement, 2, doi: 10.2134/cftm2015.0200
          • Thornton-Kurth, K., Kamanga-Sollo, E., White, M.E, Dayton, W.R, (2016). Active G protein–coupled receptors (GPCR), matrix metalloproteinases 2/9 (MMP2/9), heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (hbEGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), erbB2, and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) are necessary for trenbolone acetate–induced alterations in protein turnover rate of fused bovine satellite cell cultures. Journal of Animal Science, 94:6, 2332-2343.
          • Thornton-Kurth, K., Richard, R.P, Colle, M.J, Doumit, M.E, de Veth, M.J, Hunt, C.W, Murdoch, G.K, (2015). Effects of dietary potato by-product and rumen-protected histidine on growth, carcass characteristics and quality attributes of beef.. Meat science, 107, 64-74.
          • Thornton-Kurth, K., Kamanga-Sollo, E., White, M.E, Dayton, W.R, (2015). Role of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP2 and MMP9), heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (hbEGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), erbB2, and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) in trenbolone acetate-stimulated bovine satellite cell proliferation.. Journal of animal science, 93:9, 4291-301.
          • Kamanga-Sollo, E., Thornton-Kurth, K., White, M.E, Dayton, W.R, (2014). Role of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor-1, matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9, and heparin binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor in estradiol-17β-stimulated bovine satellite cell proliferation.. Domestic animal endocrinology, 49, 20-6.
          • Welch, C.M, Thornton-Kurth, K., Murdoch, G.K, Chapalamadugu, K.C, Schneider, C.S, Ahola, J.K, Hall, J.B, Price, W.J, Hill, R.A, (2013). An examination of the association of serum IGF-I concentration, potential candidate genes, and fiber type composition with variation in residual feed intake in progeny of Red Angus sires divergent for maintenance energy EPD.. Journal of animal science, 91:12, 5626-36.
          • Thornton-Kurth, K., Welch, C.M, Davis, L.C, Doumit, M.E, Hill, R.A, Murdoch, G.K, (2012). Bovine sire selection based on maintenance energy affects muscle fiber type and meat color of F1 progeny.. Journal of animal science, 90:5, 1617-27.
          • Papasani, M.R, Thornton-Kurth, K., Yinggian, Z., Brezas, A., Welch, C., Wang, G., Villasante, A., Pokharel, D., Cheguru, P., Kotla, S., Julien, D.C, (2010). Does obesity reduce load-induced muscle hypertrophy?. The Journal of physiology, 588:Pt 11, 1819-20.

            • Professional Journal

          * Has not been peer reviewed

          Publications - Literary Journal

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            Publications - MultiMedia

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              Publications - Technical Reports

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                Publications - Translations & Transcripts

                  Publications - Other

                    * Has not been peer reviewed

                    Scheduled Teaching

                    ADVS 2500 - Feeds and Feeding, Fall 2019

                    ADVS 2500 - Feeds and Feeding, Fall 2019

                    ADVS 5500, 6500 - Applied Animal Nutrition, Spring 2019

                    VM 7580 - Basic Nutrition, Spring 2019

                    ADVS 2500 - Feeds and Feeding, Fall 2018

                    VM 7580 - Basic Nutrition, Spring 2018

                    HONR 4900 - Honors Thesis/Capstone, Spring 2018

                    ADVS 5530, 6530 - Nutrient Metabolization and Utilization, Spring 2018

                    ADVS 2500 - Feeds and Feeding, Fall 2017

                    ADVS 5500 - Applied Animal Nutrition, Spring 2017

                    ADVS 6500 - Applied Animal Nutrition, Spring 2017

                    ADVS 5080 - Beef Management, Spring 2017

                    ADVS 2500 - Feeds and Feeding, Fall 2016

                    ADVS 3910, 6900 - Special Topics, Spring 2016


                    Graduate Students Mentored

                    Reganne Briggs, Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, June 2019
                    Tevan Brady, Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, January 2019
                    Caleb Reichhardt, Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, July 2018
                    Laura Smith, Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, January 2018
                    Jacob Hadfield, Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, May 2017
                    Nikole Ineck, Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, May 2017