On this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Drs. Glenda Pereira and Colt Knight sit down with Dr. Gary Anderson, Animal and BioSciences Specialist Emeritus, University of Maine. The conversation reviews milk quality guidelines and cleanliness after milking and to review in the milk room. Dr. Anderson was a professor at the University of Maine, and served in the role of dairy specialist working on programs such as milk quality and sanitation, estate planning, Green Pastures program and more. Dr. Anderson continues to be a resource for the dairy and livestock industries in Maine. In his free time, Anderson stays active with his grandkids.

Important: Please work with your veterinarian to develop health management plans, and discuss protocols for maintaining milk quality.

• View the factsheet “Guidelines for Improving Milk Quality by UMaine/UNH”
  https://extension.unh.edu/resource/guidelines-improving-milk-quality-fact-sheet

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).

In this episode of the Maine Farmcast, Dr. Colt Knight dives into the fascinating world of zebrafish research with Mark Nilan, who manages the University of Maine’s animal care facility, and student lab assistant Megan Joynt. They chat about why zebrafish are such great research models, from their genetic similarities to humans and transparent embryos to their rapid development, and introduce the special “Abby” line used for its controlled genetics. They also share details about current projects looking at Candida infections, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and the flu virus, and Megan talks about her capstone project studying fish fecundity at different ages.

The conversation touches on the zebrafish lab’s move to a new state-of-the-art facility with better climate control, which will boost research quality and create more opportunities for collaboration and grants. Mark and Megan reflect on their own unexpected but rewarding paths into aquaculture and research, offering insight into the many career options in marine science. They also discuss how animal research is strictly regulated, the lab’s commitment to transparency through public tours, and broader topics like zebrafish in regenerative medicine and GMOs in agriculture and aquaculture. It’s a great listen about how a tiny fish is making a big impact on science, health, and education at UMaine.

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).