Person

J. Lannett Edwards

Professor | Animal Science

Specialization: Animal Scientist: Reproductive Physiology/Embryology

Overview

Reproductive failure weighs heavily on the minds of producers. Estimated percentage of females failing to become pregnant after a single insemination ranges from 35 to 40% in beef and may be as high as 50 to 70+% in dairy cattle. Failures of this magnitude are not sustainable. Estimated cost to the US cattle industry reported in 2002 was ~$1 billion annually (beef and dairy); in 2018, associated costs approached $4.7 billion annually. While estrus constitutes a “short” time with nondisputed importance for reproduction, little progress has been made towards appreciating a functional role of High Estrus Associated Temperatures (HEAT) to maximize pregnancy outcomes. Until this information is known, the significant impact of reproductive failure occurring during this time period cannot be fixed. Although HEAT is largely a by-product of increased walking activity of sexually active females my laboratory has generated new knowledge over the past several years that provide compelling support for HEAT around the time of when the cow is to be bred to directly promote critical changes in ovulatory follicle components, especially the cumulus-oocyte complex. Depending on the extent to which HEAT is functionally important to maximize pregnancy outcomes in cattle, inexpensive approaches to improving fertility may be possible. Obtaining answers to this interesting question, which is the focus of current and future research studies, could lead to significant gains in the management of reproduction to improve pregnancy rates when using artificial insemination.

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: Eash, Neal | Zhao, Yang | Voy, Brynn | Buckley, David S | Trejo-Pech, Carlos Jose Omar | Essington, Michael E | Beever, Jon | Mathew, Daniel J | Trout Fryxell, Rebecca Tiffany | Rius, Agustin G | Schrick, Neal | Duncan, Lori Allison | Chen, Ricky Xuqi

ANSC 320 - Reproductive Physiology and Lactation
3 credit hour(s)

Reproductive anatomy and physiology and lactation in agriculturally-important and companion animals, humans, and to a lesser extent avian and zoo animal species. This is a core course for animal science majors and an elective for biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology majors. Course materials may also be of interest to students majoring in other majors in agriculture, biological and life sciences. (Same as BCMB 320.)

Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours and 1 lab.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : Grade of C– or better in ANSC 220, BCMB 230, or BCMB 440; or consent of instructor.
Recommended Background: Introductory animal or human physiology course.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – junior.

ANSC 420 - Advanced Reproductive Techniques
3 credit hour(s)

Collection, evaluation, and preservation of ova, spermatozoa and embryos; application of methods of natural breeding and techniques of artificial insemination and embryo transfer; herd sire and dam evaluation; pregnancy determination; gestation and parturition; infertility; recent advances in theriogenology. Students completing the course with a grade of C or higher may qualify for certification in artificial insemination.

Contact Hour Distribution: 1 hour and 2 labs.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : ANSC 320 with a grade of C or higher.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – senior.

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: Kojima, Cheryl Jean | Mathew, Daniel J | Kojima, Freddie Naoto

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.

ANSC 515 - Special Topics
1 - 4 credit hours

Instructor-initiated course to be offered on topics of current interest.

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

Other Instructors: Ivey, Jennie | Rhinehart, Justin | Beever, Jon | Mason, Katie | Adair III, Henry S | Moorey, Sarah E | Prado, Tulio M. | Eckelkamp, Liz | Tabler, Tom | Myer, Phillip R

ANSC 525 - Research Ethics for the Life Sciences
1 credit hour(s)

How good research conduct and knowing the rules of science can enable success in life science research. Bioethics is not a focus. Cross-listed: (See Plant Sciences 525.)
Contact Hour Distribution: 1 hour. Registration Restriction: Minimum student level – graduate, or permission of instructor.

Other Instructors: Donnell, Robert L | Stewart, Neal | Kania, Stephen Anthony | Souza, Marcy Jan

BCMB 320 - Physiology of Reproduction and Lactation
3 credit hour(s)

Reproductive anatomy and physiology and lactation in agriculturally-important and companion animals, humans, and to a lesser extent avian and zoo animal species. This is a core course for animal science majors and an elective for biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology majors. Course materials may also be of interest to students majoring in other majors in agriculture, biological and life sciences. (See ANSC 320.)

Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours and 1 lab.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : Grade of C– or better in ANSC 220, BCMB 230, or BCMB 440; or consent of instructor.
Recommended Background: Introductory animal or human physiology course.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – junior.

CEM 525 - Research Ethics for the Life Sciences
1 credit hour(s)

How good research conduct and knowing the rules of science can enable success in life science research. Bioethics is not a focus. Cross-listed: (See Plant Sciences 525.)
Contact Hour Distribution: 1 hour. Registration Restriction: Minimum student level – graduate, or permission of instructor.

Other Instructors: Donnell, Robert L | Kania, Stephen Anthony | Stewart, Neal | Souza, Marcy Jan

PLSC 525 - Research Ethics for the Life Sciences
1 credit hour(s)

How good research conduct and knowing the rules of science can enable success in life science research. Bioethics is not a focus. Cross-listed: (Same as Animal Science 525 and Comparative and Experimental Medicine 525.)
Contact Hour Distribution: 1 hour. Registration Restriction: Minimum student level – graduate, or permission of instructor.

Other Instructors: Kania, Stephen Anthony | Stewart, Neal | Donnell, Robert L | Souza, Marcy Jan

Picture of J. Lannett Edwards
ETREC Johnson Animal Research Building
1750 Alcoa Highway
Knoxville, TN 37920-4574
Education and Training
  • Doctorate, Animal Sciences, General, University of Florida, 1996

J. Lannett Edwards

Professor | Animal Science
Picture of J. Lannett Edwards image
ETREC Johnson Animal Research Building
1750 Alcoa Highway
Knoxville, TN 37920-4574
Education and Training
  • Doctorate, Animal Sciences, General, University of Florida, 1996
Overview

Reproductive failure weighs heavily on the minds of producers. Estimated percentage of females failing to become pregnant after a single insemination ranges from 35 to 40% in beef and may be as high as 50 to 70+% in dairy cattle. Failures of this magnitude are not sustainable. Estimated cost to the US cattle industry reported in 2002 was ~$1 billion annually (beef and dairy); in 2018, associated costs approached $4.7 billion annually. While estrus constitutes a “short” time with nondisputed importance for reproduction, little progress has been made towards appreciating a functional role of High Estrus Associated Temperatures (HEAT) to maximize pregnancy outcomes. Until this information is known, the significant impact of reproductive failure occurring during this time period cannot be fixed. Although HEAT is largely a by-product of increased walking activity of sexually active females my laboratory has generated new knowledge over the past several years that provide compelling support for HEAT around the time of when the cow is to be bred to directly promote critical changes in ovulatory follicle components, especially the cumulus-oocyte complex. Depending on the extent to which HEAT is functionally important to maximize pregnancy outcomes in cattle, inexpensive approaches to improving fertility may be possible. Obtaining answers to this interesting question, which is the focus of current and future research studies, could lead to significant gains in the management of reproduction to improve pregnancy rates when using artificial insemination.

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: Eash, Neal | Zhao, Yang | Voy, Brynn | Buckley, David S | Trejo-Pech, Carlos Jose Omar | Essington, Michael E | Beever, Jon | Mathew, Daniel J | Trout Fryxell, Rebecca Tiffany | Rius, Agustin G | Schrick, Neal | Duncan, Lori Allison | Chen, Ricky Xuqi

ANSC 320 - Reproductive Physiology and Lactation
3 credit hour(s)

Reproductive anatomy and physiology and lactation in agriculturally-important and companion animals, humans, and to a lesser extent avian and zoo animal species. This is a core course for animal science majors and an elective for biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology majors. Course materials may also be of interest to students majoring in other majors in agriculture, biological and life sciences. (Same as BCMB 320.)

Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours and 1 lab.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : Grade of C– or better in ANSC 220, BCMB 230, or BCMB 440; or consent of instructor.
Recommended Background: Introductory animal or human physiology course.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – junior.

ANSC 420 - Advanced Reproductive Techniques
3 credit hour(s)

Collection, evaluation, and preservation of ova, spermatozoa and embryos; application of methods of natural breeding and techniques of artificial insemination and embryo transfer; herd sire and dam evaluation; pregnancy determination; gestation and parturition; infertility; recent advances in theriogenology. Students completing the course with a grade of C or higher may qualify for certification in artificial insemination.

Contact Hour Distribution: 1 hour and 2 labs.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : ANSC 320 with a grade of C or higher.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – senior.

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: Kojima, Cheryl Jean | Mathew, Daniel J | Kojima, Freddie Naoto

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.

ANSC 515 - Special Topics
1 - 4 credit hours

Instructor-initiated course to be offered on topics of current interest.

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

Other Instructors: Ivey, Jennie | Rhinehart, Justin | Beever, Jon | Mason, Katie | Adair III, Henry S | Moorey, Sarah E | Prado, Tulio M. | Eckelkamp, Liz | Tabler, Tom | Myer, Phillip R

ANSC 525 - Research Ethics for the Life Sciences
1 credit hour(s)

How good research conduct and knowing the rules of science can enable success in life science research. Bioethics is not a focus. Cross-listed: (See Plant Sciences 525.)
Contact Hour Distribution: 1 hour. Registration Restriction: Minimum student level – graduate, or permission of instructor.

Other Instructors: Donnell, Robert L | Stewart, Neal | Kania, Stephen Anthony | Souza, Marcy Jan

BCMB 320 - Physiology of Reproduction and Lactation
3 credit hour(s)

Reproductive anatomy and physiology and lactation in agriculturally-important and companion animals, humans, and to a lesser extent avian and zoo animal species. This is a core course for animal science majors and an elective for biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology majors. Course materials may also be of interest to students majoring in other majors in agriculture, biological and life sciences. (See ANSC 320.)

Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours and 1 lab.
(RE) Prerequisite(s) : Grade of C– or better in ANSC 220, BCMB 230, or BCMB 440; or consent of instructor.
Recommended Background: Introductory animal or human physiology course.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – junior.

CEM 525 - Research Ethics for the Life Sciences
1 credit hour(s)

How good research conduct and knowing the rules of science can enable success in life science research. Bioethics is not a focus. Cross-listed: (See Plant Sciences 525.)
Contact Hour Distribution: 1 hour. Registration Restriction: Minimum student level – graduate, or permission of instructor.

Other Instructors: Donnell, Robert L | Kania, Stephen Anthony | Stewart, Neal | Souza, Marcy Jan

PLSC 525 - Research Ethics for the Life Sciences
1 credit hour(s)

How good research conduct and knowing the rules of science can enable success in life science research. Bioethics is not a focus. Cross-listed: (Same as Animal Science 525 and Comparative and Experimental Medicine 525.)
Contact Hour Distribution: 1 hour. Registration Restriction: Minimum student level – graduate, or permission of instructor.

Other Instructors: Kania, Stephen Anthony | Stewart, Neal | Donnell, Robert L | Souza, Marcy Jan