51AV

Nutritional Physiology Laboratory

Research

The Livestock Nutritional Physiology Laboratory investigates how dietary components, environmental toxins, and pathogen exposure influence immune function, metabolism, and overall animal physiology. Our goal is to explore nutritional strategies and physiological adaptations to environmental and biological stressors to improve livestock health and productivity.

People

Miriam Garcia

Dr. Garcia earned her B.S., M.S., and Engineering degree in Animal Science from National Agrarian University La Molina, Peru, and her Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of Florida. She completed postdoctoral training at the University of Maryland and Kansas State University before transitioning to industry, where she led research in animal nutrition and health. In 2024, she joined the Department of Food and Animal Sciences at 51AV A&M University as an Associate Professor, where she teaches courses in animal nutrition, metabolism, and management while mentoring students and conducting research. With extensive experience in academia and industry, Dr. Garcia is committed to teaching, student development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Lizette Garcia

Degree – Master of Science Graduate Student

Lizette.garcia@bulldogs.aamu.edu

 

Publications

2024

• Saddoris-Clemons, Kari, Saheed Osho, Miriam Garcia, and Brooke Humphrey. 2024. Effects of Dietary Inclusion of a Proprietary Combination of Quillaja saponaria and Yucca schidigera on Intestinal Permeability and Immune Response in Broiler Chickens during a Coccidia Challenge. Animals 14:1737.

2023

• Osho, S., K. Bolek, K. Saddoris-Clemons, B. Humphrey, and M. Garcia. 2023. Impact of a direct-fed microbial supplementation on intestinal permeability and immune response in broiler chickens during a coccidia challenge. F. Microbiol, 14.
• Jiang, Y., J.D. Chapman, B. Humphrey, and M. Garcia., 2023. Effects of OmniGen^® PRO on ruminal fermentation, stress, and inflammation of Holstein cattle induced with a subacute ruminal acidosis. Frontiers in Animal Science, 4, p.1202609.
• Marins, T.N., Calix, J.O., Orellana Rivas, R.M., Bernard, J.K., Garcia, M., Chapman, J.D., Kirk, D.J. and Tao, S. 2023. Effect of withdrawing an immunomodulatory feed additive from lactating cow diets on peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation. J. Animal Sci. p.skad187.
• Huzzey, J. M., J. P. Jarrett, E. D. Sharman, M. Garcia, J. D. Chapman, and D. J. McLean. 2023. Effects of OmniGen AF feed supplementation on glucocorticoids, blood leukocyte messenger RNA abundance, and energy metabolism in overstocked Holstein dairy cows.  Animal 17:100805.

2021

• Garcia, M., S.R. Montgomery, S.J. Moisá, G.A. Hanzlicek, L.E. Hulbert, and B.J. Bradford.  2021. Effects of milk feeding strategies on short-and long-term productivity of Holstein heifers. J. Dairy Sci. 104:4303-4316.
• Brown, W.E., M. Garcia, L.K. Mamedova, K.R. Christman, M.G. Zenobi, C.R. Staples, B.M. Leno, T.R. Overton, B.K. Whitlock, J.A. Daniel, and B.J. Bradford. 2021. Acute-phase protein α-1-acid glycoprotein is negatively associated with feed intake in postpartum dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 104:806-817.

2019

• Gregg, B. A., P. A. Parker, K. M. Waller, L. G. Schneider, M. Garcia, B. Bradford, J. A. Daniel, and B. K. Whitlock. 2019. Effects of central and peripheral administration of an acute-phase protein, α-1-acid-glycoprotein, on feed intake and rectal temperature in sheep. J. Animal Sci. 97:4783-4791.
• Jolazadeh A., T. Mohammadabadi, M. Dehghan-banadaky, M. Chaji, and M. Garcia. 2019. Effect of supplementation fat during the last weeks of uterine life and preweaning time on performance, ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites, passive immunity and health of the newborn calf. British J. Nutr. 122:1346-1358.
• Jolazadeh A., T. Mohammadabadi, M. Dehghan-banadaky, M. Chaji, and M. Garcia. 2019. Effect of supplementing calcium salts of n-3 and n-6 fatty acid to pregnant nonlactating cows on colostrum composition, milk yield, and reproductive performance of dairy cows. Anim. Feed Sci. Tech. 247:127-140.

2018

• Garcia M., L. K. Mamedova, B. Barton, and B. J. Bradford. 2018. Choline regulates the inflammatory response of bovine immune cells and alters the mRNA abundance of enzymes and receptors involved in its metabolism. Frontiers Immunol. 9:2448.
• Scholte, C., D. Nelson, M. Garcia, S. Linden, T. Elsasser, S. Kahl, Y. Qu, and K. M. Moyes. 2018. Recombinant bacteriophage endolysin, PlyC, is non-toxic and does not alter blood neutrophil oxidative response in lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 101: 6419-6423.
• Qu, Y., T. Elsasser, S. Kahl, M. Garcia, C. Scholte, E. Connor, G. Schroeder, and K. M. Moyes. 2018. The effects of feeding mixed tocopherol oil on whole-blood respiratory burst and neutrophil immunometabolic-related gene expression in lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 101:4332-4342.
• Martel, C. A., L. K. Mamedova, J. E. Minton, M. Garcia, C. Legallet, and B. J. Bradford. 2018. Effects of TNF receptor blockade on in vitro cell survival and response to negative energy balance in dairy cattle. J. Anim. Sci. Biotech. 9:6.

2017

• Garcia, M., B. J. Bradford, and T.G. Nagaraja. 2017. Review: Ruminal microbes, microbial products, and systemic inflammation. P. Anim. Sci. 33:635-650. 
• Garcia, M., Y. Qu, C. M. Scholte, D. O’Connor, W. Rounds, and K. M. Moyes. 2017. Regulatory effect of dietary intake of chromium propionate on the response of monocyte-derived macrophages from Holstein cows in mid-lactation. J. Dairy Sci. 100:6389-6399.
• Abdelatty, A. M., M. E. Iwaniuk, M. Garcia., K. M. Moyes, B. B. Teter, P. Delmonte, A. K. G. Kadegowda, M. A. Tony, F. F. Mohamad, and R. A. Erdman. 2017. Impact of short-term feed restriction on milk components and mammary lipogenic gene expression in mid-lactation Holstein dairy cows by extraction of total RNA from milk fat. J. Dairy Sci. 100:4000-4013.
• Garcia, M., M. L. Power., and K. M. Moyes. 2017. Immunoglobulin A and nutrients in milk from great apes throughout lactation.  Am. J. Primatology. 79:e22614.

2016

• Garcia, M., L. F. Greco, J. E. P. Santos, W. W. Thatcher, and C. R. Staples. 2016. Programming effect of dietary fatty acids on performance of Holstein heifers from birth through first lactation. Anim. Feed Sci. Tech. 222:64-74.
• Garcia, M., L. F. Greco, A. L. Lock, J. E. P. Santos, W. W. Thatcher, and C. R. Staples. 2016. Supplementation of essential fatty acids to Holstein calves during late uterine life and first month of life alters hepatic fatty acid profile and gene expression. J. Dairy Sci. 99:7085-7101.
• Garcia, M., T. H. Elsasser, L. Juengst, Y. Qu, B. J. Bequette, and K.M. Moyes. 2016. Short Communication: Amino acid supplementation and stage of lactation alter utilization of nutrients by blood neutrophils from lactating dairy cows in vitro. J. Dairy Sci. 99:3777-3783.

2015

• Garcia, M., B. J. Bequette, and K M. Moyes. 2015. Hepatic metabolic response of Holstein cows in early and mid-lactation is altered by nutrient supply and lipopolysaccharide in vitro. J. Dairy Sci. 98:7102-7114.
• Garcia, M., Y. Qu, X. Zhu, T. Elsasser, and K.M. Moyes. 2015. Glucose supplementation has minimal effects on blood neutrophil function and gene expression in vitro. J. Dairy Sci. 98:6139-6150.
• Garcia, M., T. H. Elsasser, D. Biswas, and K.M. Moyes. 2015. The effect of citrus-derived oil on bovine blood neutrophil function and gene expression in vitro. J. Dairy Sci. 98:918-926.
• Greco, L.F., J.T. Neto, A. Pedrico, R.A. Ferrazza, F.S. Lima, R.S. Bisinotto, N. Martinez, M. Garcia, E.S. Ribeiro, G.C. Gomes, J.H. Shin, M.A. Ballou, W.W. Thatcher, C.R. Staples, and J.E.P. Santos. 2015. Effects of altering the ratio of dietary n-6 to n-3 fatty acids on performance and inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide challenge in lactating Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 98:602-617.
• Alava, E. I., Y.C. Newman, L.E. Sollenberger, C.R. Staples. L.E. Ortega, M. Beseggio, E.N. Alava, and M. Garcia. 2015. Rotational stocking rate of Tifton 85 Bermudagrass and supplementation level effects on performance of replacement dairy heifers. Agron. J. 107:388-394.
• Garcia, M., J.H. Shin, A. Schlaefli, L.F. Greco, F. P. Maunsell, J.E.P. Santos, and C.R. Staples. 2015. Increasing intake of essential fatty acids from milk replacer benefits performance, immune responses, and health of preweaned Holstein calves. J. Dairy Sci. 98:458-477.

2014

• Garcia, M., L.F. Greco, M.G. Favoreto, R.S. Marsola, D. Wang, J.H. Shin, E. Block, W. W. Thatcher, J.E.P. Santos, and C.R. Staples. 2014. Effect of supplementing essential fatty acids to pregnant nonlactating cows on calf performance, immune response, and health. J. Dairy Sci. 97:5045-5064.
• Garcia, M., L.F. Greco, M.G. Favoreto, R.S. Marsola, L.T. Martins, R.S., Bisinotto, J.H. Shin, A.L. Lock, E. Block, W. W. Thatcher, J.E.P. Santos, and C.R. Staples. 2014. Effect of supplementing fat to pregnant nonlactating cows on colostral fatty acid profile and passive immunity of the newborn calf. J. Dairy Sci. 97:392-405.

2009

• K., C. Gómez, M. Garcia, T. Aufdermauer, M. Kreuzer, H.D. Hess and H.R. Wettstein. 2009. Effect of diet type on performance and metabolic traits of Peruvian local and introduced cow types kept at 200 and 3600 m of altitude. Livestock Science 122:30–38.

2008

• K., C. Gómez, T. Aufdermauer, M. Garcia, M. Kreuzer, H.D. Hess and H.R. Wettstein. 2008.  Milk fatty acid profile of Peruvian Criollo and Brown Swiss cows in response to different diet qualities fed at low and high altitude. Arch. Anim. Nutr. 62:468–484.