Dr. Eigenberg provides research leadership in two areas: livestock stress and manure management.  His manure management research involves nutrient tracking and management of feedlot cattle manure.  Responsibilities include developing methods of measuring and quantifying environmental risk potential in animal manure handling and distribution systems.  Principal approaches for risk assessment involve electromagnetic induction methods of tracking nutrient distribution and transformations.  Multiple linear regression and geo-spatial methods are being used to associate soil core data and soil conductivity data to generate predictive nutrient loading on feedlots and alternative treatment areas.  Model development as a means of quantifying risk is demonstrated in a Nutrient Fate Model for prediction of nitrogen and phosphorus losses from production through crop utilization for a feedlot system. 

 

His livestock stress research interests include development of methodology for stress evaluation using respiration rate and body temperature response measures.  Current research applies a USMARC developed automated respiration rate monitor to evaluate heat stress under shade and no shade comparisons.  This work has been used to generate relationships that associate respiration rate and environmental conditions to establish weather associated threshold values.  Those threshold values are incorporated into an on-site real-time monitor to provide producers information to make tactical management decisions.  Additional research focuses on development of weather bureau associated forecasting methods to alert producers of impending heat stress events for feedlot animals.