Position Title
Associate Professor of Animal Nutrition
Education
- B.S., China Agricultural University , 2004 (Biological Science)
- M.S., China Agricultural University , 2007 (Animal Nutrition)
- Ph.D., University of Illinois , Urbana-Champaign, 2011 (Animal Science)
Research Interests
The increasing public concerns about antimicrobial resistance of food-borne bacteria impose urgent needs to seek alternatives to antibiotics in agricultural animal industry. Many of feed ingredients and additives now are available as potential ‘alternatives to antibiotics’, either by altering microbial populations in the gastrointestinal tract or by influencing the immune system. However, the still-unclear mechanism hampers their application in the industry. Our research interest is to evaluate dietary effects on pig health by investigating impacts of products now available to the industry and developing new approach for the industry. Our long-term goal is to help the animal industry deploy feed-based health technologies to improve animal health.
A secondary research focus is to evaluate low-cost by-products or co-products from feed or food industry as feed ingredients for pigs. The efficient use of these low-cost ingredients in pig diets will increase the sustainability of swine production and reduce the reliance of energy on traditional ingredients, such as, corn and soybean meal.
Graduate Groups
Selected Publications
Liu, Y., N. W. Jaworski, O. J. Rojas, and H. H. Stein. 2016. Energy concentration and amino acid digestibility in high protein canola meal, conventional canola meal, and in soybean meal fed to growing pigs. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 212: 52-62.
Liu, Y., M. Song, F. N. Almeida, S. L. Tilton, M. J. Cecava, and H. H. Stein. 2014. Energy concentration and amino acid digestibility in corn and corn co-products fed to growing pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 92:4557-4565.
Liu, Y., M. Song, T. Maison, and H. H. Stein. 2014. Effects of protein concentration and heat treatment on concentration of digestible and metabolizable energy and on amino acid digestibility in four sources of canola meal fed to growing pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 92:4466-4477.
Liu, Y., M. Song, T. M. Che, D. Bravo, C. W. Maddox, and J. E. Pettigrew. 2014. Effects of capsicum oleoresin, garlic botanical, and turmeric oleoresin on gene expression profile of ileal mucosa in weaned pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 92:3426-3440.
Liu, Y., Y. L. Ma, J. M. Zhao, M. Vazquez-Añón, and H. H. Stein. 2014. Digestibility and retention of Zn, Cu. Mn, Fe, Ca, and P in pigs fed diets containing inorganic or organic minerals. J. Anim. Sci. 92:3407-3415.
Liu, Y., M. Song, T. M. Che, J. J. Lee, D. Bravo, C. W. Maddox, and J. E. Pettigrew. 2014. Dietary plant extracts modulate gene expression profiles in ileal mucosa of weaned pigs after an Escherichia coli infection. J. Anim. Sci. 92:2050-2062.
Liu, Y., T. M. Che, M. Song, J. J. Lee, J. A. S. Almeida, D. Bravo, W. G. Van Alstine, and J. E. Pettigrew. 2013. Dietary plant extracts improve immune responses and growth efficiency of weaned pigs experimentally infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. J. Anim. Sci. 91:5668-5679.
Liu, Y., M. Song, T. M. Che, J. A. S. Almeida, J. J. Lee, D. Bravo, C. W. Maddox, and J. E. Pettigrew. 2013. Dietary plant extracts alleviate diarrhea and alter immune responses of weaned pigs experimentally infected with a pathogenic Escherichia coli. J. Anim. Sci. 91:5294-5306.
Liu, Y., I. R. Ipharraguerre, and J. E. Pettigrew. 2013. Potential applications of knowledge of gut chemosensing in pig production. J. Anim. Sci. 91:1982-1990.
Liu, Y., M. Song, T. M. Che, D. Bravo, and J. E. Pettigrew. 2012. Anti-inflammatory effects of several plant extracts on porcine alveolar macrophages in vitro. J. Anim. Sci. 90:2774-2783.
Liu, Y. H., X. S. Piao, D. Y. Ou, Y. H. Cao, D. S. Huang, and D. F. Li. 2006. Effects of particle size and physical form of diets on mast cell numbers, histamine, and stem cell factor concentration in the small intestine of broiler chickens. Poult. Sci. 85:2149-2155.