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Agustin G Rius

Associate Professor | Animal Science

Specialization: Nutritional and Environmental Physiology

Overview

As nutritionist, I have a long-term interest in macronutrients because amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids play a variety of roles on production, immunity, and health. We investigate physiological, metabolic, and molecular changes elicited by heat stress in dairy cows and calves. Our findings strongly suggest that the intestinal barrier function is severely impaired and a critical target to develop interventions to mitigate heat stress effects on bovine productivity and well-being.

Honors and Awards:

2019 - High Impact Early Career Researcher

2017 - UTK Student/Faculty Research Award

2013 - Animal Science Award - New Zealand Society of Animal Production

Service to Professional Associations:

2021/2023 - Annual Meeting Programming Committee - Ruminant Nutrition, American Dairy Science Association

2021 - 2022 - President - Southern Branch, American Dairy Science Association

Research Focus

The focus of my research program is to understand the role of nutrients, hormones and regulatory mechanisms of key metabolic pathways to improve nutrient use efficiency in growing and lactating animals.

Teaching Focus

Comparative Animal Nutrition (ANSC330/338)

Comparative Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism (ANSC431/531)

Dairy Management (ANSC 482)

Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
AGNR 512 - Teaching Internship in Agriculture and Natural Resources
1 credit hour(s)

Supervised experience in teaching - test preparation and evaluation of agriculture students.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 2 hours for MS students and maximum 4 hours for PhD students.

Other Instructors: Essington, Michael E | Edwards, J. Lannett | Beever, Jon | Mathew, Daniel J | Zhao, Yang | Trout Fryxell, Rebecca Tiffany | Buckley, David S | Schrick, Neal | Duncan, Lori Allison | Chen, Ricky Xuqi | Eash, Neal | Bates, Gary Edward | Kojima, Freddie Naoto | Kojima, Cheryl Jean | Kwit, Charles

Semesters Offered: Fall
ANSC 330 - Comparative Animal Nutrition
3 credit hour(s)

Nutrients and their sources, assimilation, function, and requirements. Essential nutrients in carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores. Identification of commonly used feedstuffs. Ration nutrient analysis and formulation for beef and dairy cattle, sheep, horses, swine, poultry, laboratory and companion animals.

Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours lecture and 1 lab.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : ANSC 220 with a grade of C– or better and CHEM 112* or CHEM 132*.

Other Instructors: Kojima, Freddie Naoto

Semesters Offered: Fall
ANSC 338 - Honors: Comparative Animal Nutrition
3 credit hour(s)

Nutrients and their sources, assimilation, function, and requirements. Essential nutrients in carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores. Identification of commonly used feedstuffs. Ration nutrient analysis and formulation for beef and dairy cattle, sheep, horses, swine, poultry, laboratory and companion animals.

Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours lecture and 1 lab.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : ANSC 220 with a grade of C– or better and CHEM 112* or CHEM 132*.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Kojima, Freddie Naoto

Semesters Offered: Fall
ANSC 482 - Dairy Management
3 credit hour(s)

Integration of principles of nutrition, breeding, physiology, and marketing into complete production and management programs. Structure of industry, enterprise establishment, systems of production, production practices, and herd improvement programs. Alternatives evaluated in terms of production responses and economic returns.

Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours and 1 lab.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : ANSC 320 and ANSC 330.
(RE) Corequisite(s): ANSC 340 and ANSC 380.

Semesters Offered: Fall
ANSC 494 - Animal Science Teaching Assistant
1 credit hour(s)

Assist the primary instructor in laboratory instruction and demonstrations.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 3 hours.
Registration Permission: Consent of department.

Other Instructors: Edwards, J. Lannett | Kojima, Cheryl Jean | Kojima, Freddie Naoto | Mathew, Daniel J

Semesters Offered: Fall
ANSC 511 - Special Problems in Animal Science
1 - 4 credit hours

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 9 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – graduate or permission of instructor.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Semesters Offered: Fall
Picture of Agustin G Rius

865-974-3150

arius@tennessee.edu

Google Scholar
Brehm Animal Science Building
2506 River Dr
Knoxville, TN 37996-4574
Education and Training
  • Doctorate, Animal Sciences, General, Virginia Polytech Inst & St Un, 2009
  • MS, Animal Sciences, General, University of Illinois Urbana*, 2004
  • Doctorate, Veterinary Medicine, General, Other, 1996
Lab Members
Reshma Nair
Kinsley Frady
Web Presence
Orcid
LinkedIn
Rius Lab

Agustin G Rius

Associate Professor | Animal Science
Picture of Agustin G Rius image

865-974-3150

arius@tennessee.edu

Google Scholar
Brehm Animal Science Building
2506 River Dr
Knoxville, TN 37996-4574
Education and Training
  • Doctorate, Animal Sciences, General, Virginia Polytech Inst & St Un, 2009
  • MS, Animal Sciences, General, University of Illinois Urbana*, 2004
  • Doctorate, Veterinary Medicine, General, Other, 1996
Overview

As nutritionist, I have a long-term interest in macronutrients because amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids play a variety of roles on production, immunity, and health. We investigate physiological, metabolic, and molecular changes elicited by heat stress in dairy cows and calves. Our findings strongly suggest that the intestinal barrier function is severely impaired and a critical target to develop interventions to mitigate heat stress effects on bovine productivity and well-being.

Honors and Awards:

2019 - High Impact Early Career Researcher

2017 - UTK Student/Faculty Research Award

2013 - Animal Science Award - New Zealand Society of Animal Production

Service to Professional Associations:

2021/2023 - Annual Meeting Programming Committee - Ruminant Nutrition, American Dairy Science Association

2021 - 2022 - President - Southern Branch, American Dairy Science Association

Research Focus

The focus of my research program is to understand the role of nutrients, hormones and regulatory mechanisms of key metabolic pathways to improve nutrient use efficiency in growing and lactating animals.

Teaching Focus

Comparative Animal Nutrition (ANSC330/338)

Comparative Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism (ANSC431/531)

Dairy Management (ANSC 482)

Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
AGNR 512 - Teaching Internship in Agriculture and Natural Resources
1 credit hour(s)

Supervised experience in teaching - test preparation and evaluation of agriculture students.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 2 hours for MS students and maximum 4 hours for PhD students.

Other Instructors: Essington, Michael E | Edwards, J. Lannett | Beever, Jon | Mathew, Daniel J | Zhao, Yang | Trout Fryxell, Rebecca Tiffany | Buckley, David S | Schrick, Neal | Duncan, Lori Allison | Chen, Ricky Xuqi | Eash, Neal | Bates, Gary Edward | Kojima, Freddie Naoto | Kojima, Cheryl Jean | Kwit, Charles

Semesters Offered: Fall
ANSC 330 - Comparative Animal Nutrition
3 credit hour(s)

Nutrients and their sources, assimilation, function, and requirements. Essential nutrients in carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores. Identification of commonly used feedstuffs. Ration nutrient analysis and formulation for beef and dairy cattle, sheep, horses, swine, poultry, laboratory and companion animals.

Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours lecture and 1 lab.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : ANSC 220 with a grade of C– or better and CHEM 112* or CHEM 132*.

Other Instructors: Kojima, Freddie Naoto

Semesters Offered: Fall
ANSC 338 - Honors: Comparative Animal Nutrition
3 credit hour(s)

Nutrients and their sources, assimilation, function, and requirements. Essential nutrients in carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores. Identification of commonly used feedstuffs. Ration nutrient analysis and formulation for beef and dairy cattle, sheep, horses, swine, poultry, laboratory and companion animals.

Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours lecture and 1 lab.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : ANSC 220 with a grade of C– or better and CHEM 112* or CHEM 132*.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Other Instructors: Kojima, Freddie Naoto

Semesters Offered: Fall
ANSC 482 - Dairy Management
3 credit hour(s)

Integration of principles of nutrition, breeding, physiology, and marketing into complete production and management programs. Structure of industry, enterprise establishment, systems of production, production practices, and herd improvement programs. Alternatives evaluated in terms of production responses and economic returns.

Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours and 1 lab.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : ANSC 320 and ANSC 330.
(RE) Corequisite(s): ANSC 340 and ANSC 380.

Semesters Offered: Fall
ANSC 494 - Animal Science Teaching Assistant
1 credit hour(s)

Assist the primary instructor in laboratory instruction and demonstrations.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 3 hours.
Registration Permission: Consent of department.

Other Instructors: Edwards, J. Lannett | Kojima, Cheryl Jean | Kojima, Freddie Naoto | Mathew, Daniel J

Semesters Offered: Fall
ANSC 511 - Special Problems in Animal Science
1 - 4 credit hours

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 9 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – graduate or permission of instructor.
Registration Permission: Consent of instructor.

Semesters Offered: Fall
Lab Members
Reshma Nair
Kinsley Frady
Web Presence
Orcid
LinkedIn
Rius Lab