Penn Veterinary Medicine | University of Pennsylvania

Description of Research Expertise

Ruminant Nutrition • Sheep & Goat, Beef and Dairy cattle • Nutrient uptake and utilization • Feed Additives, Feed Supplements • Total mixed rations • Modeling of Rumen fermentation •

Ruminant Microbiology • Cultivation of Rumen microbes • Application of molecular techniques to Ruminant Nutrition • Metagenomics • Next generation throughput sequencing • Sequential and Gene-centric approaches of metagenomics • Microbial diversity in the rumen in response to diet and dietary shifts • Identification of food-borne pathogens in the gut of various animals • Identify gene markers for economically important traits and enhance ruminant production

Selected Publications

Pitta, D.W., Pinchak, W.E., Dowd, S.E., Osterstock, J., Gontcharova., V., Youn, E., Dorton, K., Yoon, I., Min, B.R., Fulford, J. D., Wickersham, T.A., Malinowski,D.P., : Effect of supplementing Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermented product (SFP) on the productive performance of steers grazing wheat pasture. In 2010 JAM Conference. July 11-15, Denver, CO. Jul 2010.

Pitta, D.W., Pinchak, W.E., Dowd, S.E., Osterstock, J., Gontcharova., V., Youn, E., Dorton, K., Yoon, I., Min, B.R., Fulford, J. D., Wickersham, T.A., Malinowski,D.P.: Rumen Bacterial Diversity Dynamics Associated with Changing from Bermudagrass Hay to Grazed Winter Wheat Diets. 2010 JAM Conference. July 11-15, Denver, CO. Jul 2010.

Pitta, D.W., Pinchak, W.E., Dowd, S.E., Osterstock, J., Gontcharova., V., Youn, E., Dorton, K., Yoon, I., Min, B.R., Fulford, J. D., Wickersham, T.A., Malinowski,D.P.: Rumen Bacterial Diversity Dynamics Associated with Changing from Bermudagrass Hay to Grazed Winter Wheat Diets. Microbial Ecology 59(3): 511-522, Apr 2010.

Pitta, D.W., Barry, T.N., López-Villalobos, N., Attwood, G.T.: Effect of willow supplementation upon plasma amino acid concentration in ewes grazing drought pastures of low nutritive value. Animal Feed Science and Technology 148(2-4): 183-191, Jan 2009.

Pitta, D.W., Barry, T.N., López-Villalobos, N., Kemp, P.D.: Willow fodder blocks: an alternate forage to ewes during drought? Animal Feed Science and Technology 133(3-4): 240-258, Feb 2007.

Barry, T.N., McWilliam, E.L., Pitta, D.W., Diaz Lira, C.M., Kemp, P.D., Pomroy, W.E., Lopez-Villalobos, N., Gawith, P., Douglas, G.B., : Willow browse blocks for drought protection and for sustainable management of internal parasites. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association. 68: 101-108, 2006.

Pitta, D.W., Barry, T.N., López-Villalobos, N., Kemp, P.D., : Effects on ewe reproduction of grazing willow fodder blocks during drought. Animal Feed Science and Technology 120(3): 217-234, May 2005.

Reddy, G.V.N., P. Dipti Wilhelmina and M.S. Reddy: Effect of detoxified rapeseed meal based expander extruder processed complete diet on milk and meat production in field conditions. Indian Journal of Animal Science 75(1): 74-76, 2005.

Pitta, D.W., T.N.Barry, N.Lopez-Villalobos and P.D.Kemp: The effect on sheep reproduction of grazing willow fodder blocks during drought. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 64: 67-71, 2004.

Reddy, G.V.N., P. Dipti Wilhelmina and M.S. Reddy: Effect of detoxified neem seed cake on growth and nutrient utilization in Nellore lambs. Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition 20(3): 279-284, 2003.