Susan Duckett

Professor
Ernest L. Corley Jr. Trustees Endowed Chair
Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department

Office: 112 Biosystems Research Complex
Phone: 864-656-1505
Fax: 6563131

Email: sducket@clemson.edu

Educational Background

Ph.D. Animal Science/Food Science
Oklahoma State University 1994

M.S. Animal Science
Oklahoma State University 1991

B. S. Animal Science
Iowa State University 1989

Courses Taught

AVS 4920 Advanced Fetal Fescue Research Team (undergraduate research)
AVS 4110/6110 Animal Growth and Development (Fall)
Ag*Idea, Animal Growth and Development (Fall)
AVS 8010 Lipid Metabolism (Spring, as needed)
AVS 8910 Masters Research
AVS 9910 Doctorate Research

Profile

Susan K. Duckett is currently a Professor in the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at Clemson University where she holds The Ernest L. Corley, Jr. Trustees Endowed Chair. She received her B.S. degree in Animal Science from Iowa State University, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University. She held faculty positions at the University of Idaho and University of Georgia prior to her appointment at Clemson University. Dr. Duckett's research integrates ruminant nutrition and meat science to alter lipid metabolism, fatty acid composition and palatability of animal products.

Research Interests

My research integrates ruminant nutrition and meat science to alter lipid metabolism, fatty acid composition and palatability of animal products. Current research projects include:

Animal Growth and Nutrient Utilization-
USDA-NIFA, Mitigation Strategies For Ergot Alkaloid-Induced Vasoconstriction And Intrauterine Growth Restricted Muscle Development

HATCH-
Enhancing Intramuscular Fat Deposition in Meat-Producing Animals

Lab Members

Graduate Students:
J. Luke Jacobs, Ph.D.
Aliute Udoka, Ph.D.
Gabriella Iheanacho, M.S.
Dakota Murray, M.S.
Kara Hardin, M.S.

Recent Graduates:
Maslyn Greene, Ph.D., 2023, Molecular Geneticist with the CU Genomics and Bioinformatics Facility
Anna Brewer, M.S., 2023, UGA Veterinary School
Aliute Udoka, M.S., 2022, in CU Ph.D. program
S. Maggie Justice, M.S. 2020, (Ph.D. at Auburn Univ.), Livestock Specialist at Univ. of Arkansas
Austin Cathcart, M.S., 2021, Ag Teacher at Pelion High School
Jacob Cathcart, M.S., 2021, Ag Teacher at Gilbert Higher School
Tommy West, M.S., 2020, Beef Herdsman at Clemson University Piedmont REC
Jessica Britt, Ph.D., 2019, Grant Coordinator for Prisma Health System
Sarah Wilbanks, Ph.D., 2018, Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOCSCA) Chief Executive Officier
Brandon Koch, Ph.D., 2017, Beef Nutritionist, Kent Feeds
Gabriela Volpi Lagreca, Ph.D., 2016, Researcher, Instituto Nacional de Technolgia Agropecuaria (INTA), Anguil, Argentina

Publications

Greene MA, Worley GA, Udoka ANS, Powell RR, Bruce T, Klotz JL, Bridges WC Jr, Duckett SK.
Use of AgomiR and AntagomiR technologies to alter satellite cell proliferation in vitro, miRNA expression, and muscle fiber hypertrophy in intrauterine growth-restricted lambs. Front Mol Biosci. 2023 Nov 3;10:1286890. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1286890. PMID: 38028550

Justice SM, Jesch E, Duckett SK. Effects of Dam and Sire Breeds on Lamb Carcass Quality and Composition in Pasture-Based Systems. Animals (Basel). 2023 Nov 18;13(22):3560. doi: 10.3390/ani13223560.

Jacobs JL, Hersom MJ, Andrae JG, Duckett SK.
Training and Adaptation of Beef Calves to Precision Supplementation Technology for Individual Supplementation in Grazing Systems. Animals (Basel). 2023 Sep 9;13(18):2872. doi: 10.3390/ani13182872.

Greene MA, Powell R, Bruce T, Bridges WC, Duckett SK. miRNA transcriptome and myofiber characteristics of lamb skeletal muscle during hypertrophic growth1. Front Genet. 2022 Aug 30;13:988756. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2022.988756. eCollection 2022.

Greene MA, Udoka ANS, Powell RR, Noorai RE, Bruce T, Duckett SK.
Impact of fetal exposure to mycotoxins on longissimus muscle fiber hypertrophy and miRNA profile. BMC Genomics. 2022 Aug 16;23(1):595. doi: 10.1186/s12864-022-08794-0.

Britt, J. L., M. A. Greene, J. L. Klotz, S. M. Justice, R. R. Powell, R. E. Noorai, T. F. Bruce, and S. K. Duckett. 2022. Mycotoxin ingestion during late gestation alters placentome structure, cotyledon transcriptome, and fetal development in pregnant sheep. Human & Experimental Toxicology 41, https://doi.org/10.1177/09603271221119177

Duckett, S. K. and M. A. Greene. 2022. Identification of microRNA Transcriptome Involved in Bovine Intramuscular Fat Deposition. Frontiers in Vet Sci Front. Vet. Sci., 15 April 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.883295.

Justice, S. M., E. Jesch, and S. K. Duckett. 2022. Case Report: Validation of Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry for Rapid Prediction of Fat Content in Lean Lamb Carcasses and Primals. Concepts in Dairy and Vet. Sci.
doi: 10.32474/CDVS.2022.04.000197

Justice, S. M., M. A. Greene, M. Dennis, K. Hart, L Humphrey and S. K. Duckett. 2022. Evaluation of terminal sire breed on carcass and muscle composition in pasture-finished lambs. Concepts in Dairy and Vet. Sci.
doi: 10.32474/CDVS.2022.04.000198

Britt, J. L., R. R. Powell, C. McMahan, T. F. Bruce, and S. K. Duckett. 2021. The effect of ergot alkaloid exposure during gestation on the microscopic morphology and vasculature of the ovine placenta. J. Histotechnology doi:10.1080/01478885.2021.1902670

Wilbanks, S.A., S. M. Justice, T. West, J. L. Klotz, J. G. Andrae, and S. K. Duckett. 2021. Effects of tall fescue endophyte type and dopamine receptor D2 genotype on cow-calf performance during late gestation and early lactation. Toxins 2021, 13(3), 195; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13030195

Britt, J. L., R. Noorai, and S. K. Duckett. 2020. Differentially expressed genes in cotyledon of ewes fed mycotoxins. BMC Genomics 21(1):680. doi: 10.1186/s12864-020-07074-z

Britt, J. L., M. A. Greene, S. A. Wilbanks, J. K. Bertrand, J. L. Klotz, W. C. Bridges Jr., G. Aiken, J. G. Andrae, and S. K. Duckett. 2020. Feeding tall fescue seed reduces ewe milk production, lamb birth weight and pre-weaning growth rate. Animals (Basel) 10(12): 2291; doi: 10.3390/ani10122291

Greene, M. A., J. L. Britt, J. K. Bertrand, J. L. Klotz, William Bridges Jr., J. G. Andrae, and S. K. Duckett. 2020. Feeding tall fescue seed during mid and late gestation influences subsequent postnatal growth, puberty, and carcass quality of offspring. Animals 2020, 10(10), 1859; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101859 - 12 Oct 2020

Greene, M. A., J. L. Klotz, J. P. Goodman, J. B. May, B. E. Harlow, W. S. Baldwin, J. R. Strickland, J. L. Britt, F. N. Schrick, and S. K. Duckett. 2020. Evaluation of oral citrulline administration as a mitigation strategy for fescue toxicosis in sheep. Translational Animal Science, Volume 4, Issue 4, October 2020, txaa197, https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txaa197

Apaoblaza, A., S. D. Gerrard, S. K. Matarneh, J. C. Wicks, L. Kirkpatrick, E. M. England, T. L. Scheffler, S. K. Duckett, H. Shi, S. L. Silva, A. L. Grant, and D. E. Gerrard. 2020. Muscle for grass- and grain-fed cattle differs energetically. Meat Sci. 161:107996 doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2019.107996.

Duckett, S. K., I. Furusho-Garcia, J. E. Rico, and J. W. McFadden. 2019. Flaxseed or n-7 enhanced fish oil supplementation alters fatty acid composition, plasma insulin and serum ceramide concentrations, and gene expression in lambs. Lipids 54(6-7):389-399. doi: 10.1002/lipd.12156

Greene, M. A., J. L. Britt, R. R. Powell, F. A. Feltus, W. C. Bridges Jr., T. Bruce, J. L. Klotz, M. F. Miller Jr., and S. K. Duckett. 2019. Ergot alkaloid exposure during gestation alters: 3. Fetal growth, muscle fiber development and miRNA transcriptome. J. Anim. Sci. 97(7):3153–3168, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz153

Britt, J. L., M. A. Greene, W. C. Bridges Jr., J. L. Klotz, G. E. Aiken, J. G. Andrae, S. L. Pratt, N. M. Long, F. N. Schrick, J. R. Strickland, S. A. Wilbanks, M. F. Miller Jr., B. M. Koch, and S. K. Duckett. 2019. Ergot alkaloid exposure during gestation alters: 1. Maternal characteristics and placental development of pregnant ewes.
Journal of Animal Science, Volume 97, Issue 4, April 2019, Pages 1874-1890, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz068

Klotz, J., J. L. Britt, M. F. Miller Jr., M. A. Snider, G. E. Aiken, N. M. Long, S. L. Pratt, J. G. Andrae, and S. K. Duckett. 2019. Ergot alkaloid exposure during gestation alters: 2. Uterine and umbilical artery vasoactivity.
Journal of Animal Science, Volume 97, Issue 4, April 2019, Pages 1891-1902, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz069

Koch, B.M., E. Pavan, N. M. Long, J. G. Andrae, and S. K. Duckett. 2019. Post-weaning exposure to high concentrates versus forages alters marbling deposition and lipid metabolism in steers. Meat and Muscle Biology 3(1):244-253. doi:10.22175/mmb2018.12.0040.

Koch, B. M., E. Pavan, J. G. Andrae, and S. K. Duckett. 2018. Timing of exposure to high concentrates vs. high quality forages on beef carcass and meat quality. Meat and Muscle Biology 2(1):321-333. doi:10.22175/mmb2018.06.0017

Ladeira, M. M., J. P. Schoonmaker, K. C. Swanson, S. K. Duckett, M. P. Gionbelli, L. M. Rodrigues, and P. D. Teixeira. 2018. Review: Nutrigenomics of marbling and fatty acid profile in ruminant meat. Animal doi:10.1017/S1751731118001933

Volpi-Lagreca, G., J. P. S. Neel, R. M. Lewis, W. S. Swecker, and S. K. Duckett. 2018. How does frame size, forage type and time on pasture alter forage-finished beef quality? J. Anim. Sci. Res. 2(3). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.16966.2476-6457.119

Volpi-Lagreca, G. and S. K. Duckett. 2017. Supplementation of glycerol or fructose via drinking water to grazing lambs on tissue glycogen level and lipogenesis. J. Anim. Sci. 95:2558-2575.

Volpi-Lagreca, G. and S. K. Duckett. 2016. Supplementation of glycerol or fructose via drinking water to enhance marbling deposition and meat quality in finishing cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 94:858-868.

Duckett, S. K., J. G. Andrae, J. H. Bouton, C. S. Hoveland, and M. A. McCann. 2016. Subsequent Feedlot Performance and Carcass Quality of Steers that grazed Tall Fescue with Different Endophyte Types. Forage & Grazinglands DOI:10.2134/cftm2015.0133.

Dodson, M. V., R. E. Allen, M. Du, W. G. Bergen, S. G. Velleman, S. P. Poulos, M. Feryhough-Culver, M. B. Wheeler, S. K. Duckett, M. R. I. Young, B. H. Voy, Z. Jiang, and G. J. Hausman. 2015. Invited Review: Evolution of meat animal growth research during the past 50 years: adipose and muscle stem cells. J. Anim. Sci. 93:457-81.

Wright, A., J. Andrae, C. Fernandez Rosso, E. Pavan, and S. K. Duckett. 2015. Effect of grazing legume or grass forages with or without corn supplementation on animal performance and meat quality of forage-finished beef. J. Anim. Sci. 93:5047-58.

Duckett, S. K. 2014. Changes in dietary regime impact fatty acid profile of beef. Proc. Beef Improvement Federation Proceedings, Digital Commons @ University of Nebraska
Duckett, S. K. and S. L. Pratt. 2014. MEAT SCIENCE AND MUSCLE BIOLOGY SYMPOSIUM—Anabolic implants and meat quality. J. Anim. Sci. 92:3-9.

Duckett, S. K., C. Fernandez Rosso, M. C. Miller, R. M. Lewis, and J. P. Fontenot. 2014. Effect of frame size and time-on-pasture on meat composition and palatability in a forage-finishing system. J. Anim. Sci. 92:4767-74.

Duckett, S. K., J. G. Andrae, and S. L. Pratt. 2014. Exposure to ergot alkaloids during gestation reduces fetal growth in sheep. Frontiers in Chemistry 2:68.

Duckett, S. K., G. Volpi-Lagreca, M. Alende, and N. M. Long. 2014. Palmitoleic acid reduces intramuscular lipid and restores insulin sensitivity in obese sheep. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity 7:553-63.

Kadegowda, A. K. G., A. Wright, and S. K. Duckett. 2014. Nutritional milieu of isolated stromal vascular cells determines the proliferative, adipogenic and lipogenic capacity in vitro. Adipocytes 3:4, 1-10.

Long, N. M., T. A. Burns, G. Volpi-Lagreca, M. Alende and S. K. Duckett. 2014. Palmitoleic acid infusion acutely affects glucose and insulin regulation in finished lambs. J. Metab. Syndrome 3:148 .

Volpi Lagreca, G., M. Alende, J. G. Andrae, and S. K. Duckett. 2014. Timing of exposure to high-concentrate diets vs. pasture on carcass traits and meat quality of steers. Proc. of International Meat Science and Technology Congress (ICoMST), Archivos Latinoamericanos de Produccion Animal (ALPA) Journal.

Kadegowda, A. K. G., T. A. Burns, M. C. Miller, and S. K. Duckett. 2013. Cis-9 trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid is endogenously synthesized from palmitelaidic (C16:1 trans-9) acid in bovine adipocytes. J. Anim. Sci. 91:1614-23.

Pavan, E. and S. K. Duckett. 2013. Fatty acid composition and interrelationships among eight retail cuts of grass-fed beef. Meat Sci. 93:371-377.

Pratt, S. L., T. A. Burns, M. D. Owens, and S. K. Duckett. 2013. Isolation of total RNA and detection procedures for miRNA present in bovine-cultured adipocytes and adipose tissues. Methods Mol. Biol. 936:181-94.

Schmidt, J. R., M. C. Miller, J. G. Andrae, S. E. Ellis, and S. K. Duckett. 2013. Effect of summer forage species grazed during finishing on animal performance, carcass quality, and meat quality. J. Anim. Sci. 91:4451-4461.

Duckett, S. K., J. P. S. Neel, R. M. Lewis, W. M. Clapham, and J. P. Fontenot. 2013. Effects of forage species or concentrate finishing on animal performance, carcass and meat quality. J. Anim. Sci. 91: 1454-67.

Kadegowda, A. K. G., T. A. Burns, S. L. Pratt, S. K. Duckett. 2013. Inhibition of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 reduces lipogenesis in primary bovine adipocytes. Lipids 48:967-976.

Burns, T. A., S. K. Duckett, S. L. Pratt, and T. C. Jenkins. 2012. Supplemental palmitoleic (C16:1 cis-9) acid reduces lipogenesis and desaturation in bovine adipocyte cultures. J. Anim. Sci. 90:3433-3441.

Burns, T. A., A. K. G. Kadegowda, S. K. Duckett, S. L. Pratt, and T. C. Jenkins. 2012. Palmitoleic (C16:1 cis-9) and cis-vaccenic (C18:1 cis-11) acids alter lipogenesis in bovine adipocyte cultures. Lipids 47:1143-53.

Scaglia, G., J. P. Fontenot, W. S. Swecker, Jr., B. A. Corl, S. K. Duckett, H. T. Boland, R. Smith, and A. O. Abaye. 2012. Performance, carcass and meat characteristics of beef steers finished on two different forages or on a high concentrate diet. Prof. Anim. Sci. 28:194-203.

Joseph, S., K. Robbins, E. Pavan, Scott L. Pratt, S. Duckett, and R. Rekaya. 2010. Effect of Diet Supplementation on the Expression of Bovine Genes Associated with Fatty Acid Synthesis and Metabolism. Bioinformatics and Biology Insights 4:19-31.

Duckett, S. K. and M. H. Gillis. 2010. Effects of oil source and fish oil addition on ruminal biohydrogenation of fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid formation in beef steers fed finishing diets. J. Anim. Sci. 88:2684-2691.

Miller, M. C., S. K. Duckett, and J. G. Andrae. 2010. The effect of forage species on performance and gastrointestinal nematode infection in lambs. Sm. Rum. Res. 95:188-192.

Joseph, S., S. L. Pratt, E. Pavan, R. Rekaya, and S. K. Duckett. 2010. Omega-6 polyunsaturated fat supplementation alters lipogenic gene expression in bovine subcutaneous adipose tissue. Gene Regulation and Systems Biology 4:91-101.

Pratt, S. L., T. A. Burns, and S. K. Duckett. 2010. Expression of MicroRNA During Early Differentiation of Bovine Adipocytes. J. Nucleic Acid Invest. 1:e12.

Duckett, S. K., S. L. Pratt, and E. Pavan. 2009. Corn oil or corn grain supplementation to steers grazing endophyte-free tall fescue. II. Effects on subcutaneous fatty acid content and lipogenic gene expression. J Anim Sci 87:1120-1128.

Duckett, S. K., J. P. S. Neel, J. P. Fontenot, and W. M. Clapham. 2009. Effects of winter stocker growth rate and finishing system on: III. Tissue proximate, fatty acid and cholesterol content. J. Anim. Sci. 87: 2961-2970.

Pavan, E. and S. K. Duckett. 2008. Corn oil or corn grain supplementation to steers grazing endophyte-free tall fescue. I. Effects on in vivo digestibility, performance, and carcass traits. J. Anim. Sci. 86:3215-3223.

Wu, C., S. K. Duckett, J. P. S. Neel, J. P. Fontenot, and W. M. Clapham. 2008. Influence of finishing systems on hydrophilic and lipophilic oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) in beef. Meat Sci. 80:662-667.