Thomas Burkey

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Thomas Burkey

Professor & CASNR Associate Dean for Graduate Education ISU/UNL Coop Vet Med Education Prog University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Contact

Address
ANSC C206f
Lincoln NE 68583-0908
Phone
402-472-6423 On-campus 2-6423
Email
tom.burkey@unl.edu
Website
Website
Social Media

Dr. Thomas Burkey joined the Department of Animal Science in 2006 and has served as a full professor of non-ruminant nutrition since 2019. He served as the interim head of the department from December 2022-July 2023. Outside of his work in the department, Dr. Burkey also serves as the Associate Dean for Graduate Education in the College of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources (CASNR).

Education

Ph.D., Animal Science, Kansas State University, 2006
M.S., Animal Science, Kansas State University, 2003
B.A., Biology, Rockford College, 1996

Teaching

ASCI 120: Animal Biology
Summary: Animal science phenomenia are utilized to illustrate general biology concepts such as cellular structure and function, metabolism, and energy flow.

VMED 550: Nutritional Biochemistry
Summary: Introduce basic biochemical aspects of metabolism and function of energy, protein, fat, minerals and vitamins in the diet. Determine nutrient requirements of food animals, pets and horses under various physiological states. Understand fate of various nutrients in simple stomached animals, ruminants and cecal fermenters. Discuss clinical nutrition problems specific to each species.

ASCI 927: Amino Acid and Protein Nutrition
Summary: Nutrition and metabolism of proteins and amino acids by animals and humans. Fundamental principles and current concepts.

BMS 336: Veterinary Nutrition
Iowa State University CVM course

Research

With training in animal nutrition, digestive physiology and mucosal immunity, his research interests include utilizing applied and basic techniques to investigate the complex interactions between nutrients, gut microbes, and immunity and how those interactions affect complex physiological traits important in human health and in agricultural species. Burkey's focus is on gut health and deciphering the interactions between nutrients, gut microbes, and immunity in swine.

Selected Publications

  • Li, Y.S., M.D. Trenhaile-Grannemann, D.M. van Sambeek, K.C. Moore, S.M. Barnett, S.C. Fernando, T.E. Burkey, and P.S. Miller. 2021. Effects of mannan oligosaccharides and Lactobacillus mucosae on growth performance, immune response, and gut health of weanling pigs challenged with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharides. J. Anim. Sci. 99(12):skab286. doi: 10.1093/jas/skab286.
  • Winkel, S., T. Burkey, D. Brink, and L. K. Karr. 2019. What influences students to choose animal science as a their major. NACTA J. Nov 2019-Oct 2020.
  • Winkel, S., T. Burkey, and L. K. Karr. 2019. Veterinary Student Case Study Project Leads to Development of Professional Skills. NACTA J. Nov 2019-Oct 2020.
  • Aluthge, N. D., W. Tom, A. Bartenslager, T.E. Burkey, P.S. Miller, K.D. Heath, C. Kreikemeier-Bower, H. Kittana, R.J. Schmaltz, A.E. Ramer-Tait and S.C. Fernando. 2020. Differential longitudinal establishment of human fecal bacterial communities in germ-free porcine and murine models. Comms. Bio. 3(1):760. doi: 10.1038/s42003 020 01477 0
  • Aluthge, N.D., D.M. van Sambeek, E.E. Carney-Hinkle, Y.S. Li, S.C. Fernando, and T.E. Burkey 2019. BOARD INVITED REVIEW: The pig microbiota and the potential for harnessing the power of the microbiome to improve growth and health. J. Anim. Sci. 97:3741-3757. doi: 10.1093/jas/skz208