Areas of Study & Research
Since the year 2000 Dahlen has been intimately involved in research efforts with a focus on reproduction, nutrition, and management of cattle and sheep. The emphasis of his current research program is to improve fertility in livestock species and to evaluate implications of nutrition and management strategies on reproductive and offspring outcomes. Dahlen joined the North Dakota State University faculty in 2010 as a Beef Cattle Extension Specialist where he engaged in integrated Extension and research efforts taking place on over 350 commercial beef operations. Dahlen was instrumental in developing innovative training methods that empower county, area, and state Extension personnel to better serve their beef-producing clientele. The unique mix of his research background and practical experience has led to several novel research techniques, data collection efforts, and training methodologies. Dahlen was an integral part of a team that developed and optimized a standing flank hysterectomy procedure that allows his group to achieve an exemplary combination of high-level science and fiscal responsibility. Publications using this model have been geared toward answering questions about developmental programming, focusing on implications of maternal nutritional management on offspring characteristics. In 2018 Dahlen transitioned to position that allowed him to dedicate more time to research, as well as teach undergraduate/graduate classes in reproductive physiology. A new facet of his research program has been dedicated to addressing whether paternal (i.e. sire) nutrition and management was not only impacting semen characteristics and molecular composition, but also implicit in offspring outcomes. Other recent efforts involve evaluating impacts of nutritional perturbations during gestation on offspring and transgenerational endpoints, and utilizing sheep as a biomedical model for women’s vaginal health.
Courses Taught
Undergraduate and Graduate Physiology of Reproduction. 3 Credits.
- Comparative anatomy, physiology, and endocrinology of reproduction in mammals.
Undergraduate and Graduate Physiology of Reproduction Laboratory. 1 Credit.
- Anatomy, physiology and demonstration and utilization of techniques in large animal reproductive management.
Beef Industry and Production Systems. 3 Credits.
- Capstone course includes whole systems management of beef cattle enterprises.
Graduate Techniques in Reproductive Physiology. 3 Credits.
-Focuses on understanding anatomical and physiological basis for techniques used in physiology research, necessary documentation and approval process for incorporating techniques into research programs, and hands-on experience with techniques.
Previous Work
2018-Present, Reproductive Physiologist and Associate professor, Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University. 80% Research and 20% Teaching.
2016-2017, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist and Associate Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University. 60% Extension, 40% Research
2010-2015, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist and Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University. 60% Extension, 40% Research.
2002-2010, Research Fellow/Associate, Livestock Coordinator, Northwest Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota.
2000-2002, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota.
1999-2000, Student Lab Attendant, University of Minnesota, Ruminant Nutrition Lab
Summer 1999, Camp Educator, Farm in the City Day Camp, University of Minnesota.
Summers 1994 to 1998, Summer Worker, Gustafson Brothers Beef Farm, Blackduck, Minnesota.
Awards & Honors
2016 American Society of Animal Science Midwest Section Outstanding Young Extension Specialist
2012, 2015, and 2016 NDSU Extension Program Excellence Awards
2016 Northland Community and Technical College Alumnus of the Year
2016 AGSCO Excellence in Extension Award
2022 George Washington Award
Professional Associations
American Society of Animal Science
American Dairy Science Association
American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
North Dakota Stockmen’s Association
North Dakota Academy of Science
Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council
Plains Nutrition Council
Alpha Gamma Rho Professional Agriculture Fraternity
Education
- Ph.D. University of Minnesota: May 2009 Major: Animal Science; Production Systems Thesis Title: Methods to Increase Reproductive Efficiency in Beef Cattle
- M.S. University of Minnesota: February 2002 Major: Animal Science; Ruminant Nutrition and Reproductive Physiology Thesis Title: Alternative Management Strategies for Increased Profitability in Beef Cow-Calf and Feedlot Operations
- B.S. University of Minnesota: December 1999 Major: Animal and Plant Systems A.A. Northland Community and Technical College: May 1997
Publications
Publications from 2018 to October 2022:
Book Chapters (of 3):
1. Reynolds, L.P., K.J. McLean, K.L. McCarthy, W.J.S. Diniz, A.C.B. Menezes, J.C. Forcherio, R.R. Scott, P.P. Borowicz A.K. Ward, C.R. Dahlen, and J.S. Caton. 2022. Nutritional Regulation of Embryonic Survival, Growth and Development. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology Volume 1354. pp 63-76. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85686-1_4
2. Reynolds, L.P., P.P. Borowicz, J.S. Caton, M.S. Crouse, C.R. Dahlen, and A.K. Ward. 2019. Developmental Programming of Fetal Growth and Development. In: R.N. Funston and J.T. Mulliniks (Eds.), Developmental Programming in Livestock Production, Veterinary Clinics or North America: Food Animal Practice, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp 229-247. Elsevier: Philadelphia, PA. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvfa.2019.02.006
Refereed Journal Articles (of 82):
1. Dahlen, C.R., L.P. Reynolds, and J.S. Caton. 2002. Selenium supplementation and pregnancy outcomes. Frontiers in Nutrition, Manuscript ID: 1011850. Accepted. Co-principal investigator.
2. Chakrabarty, S., E.M. Serum, T.M. Winders, B.W. Neville, M.D. Kleinhenz, G. Magnin, J.F. Coetzee, C.R. Dahlen, K.C. Swanson, and D.J. Smith. 2022. Rapid quantification of cannabinoids in beef tissues and bodily fluids using direct-delivery electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Food Additives and Contaminants. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2022.2107711. Co-principal investigator.
3. Snider, A.P., K.L. McCarthy, E.C. Wright-Johnson, J.D. Ondrak, W.T. Oliver, C.R. Dahlen, R.A. Cushman, and M.S. Crouse. 2022. Yearling bulls have reduced sperm concentration and increased seminal plasma interleukin-8 after a 28-day breeding season. Reprod. Dom. Anim. RDA-OR-Jul-2022-0319. doi:10.1111/rda.14223. Collaborator.
4. Crouse, M.S., K.L. McCarthy, A.C.B. Menezes, C.J. Kassetas, F. Baumgaertner, J.D. Kirsch, S.T. Dorsam, T.L. Neville, A.K. Ward, P.P. Borowicz, L.P. Reynolds, K.K. Sedivec, J.C. Forcherio, R.S. Scott, J.S. Caton, and C.R. Dahlen. 2022. Vitamin and mineral supplementation and rate of gain during the first trimester of gestation in beef heifers alters the fetal liver amino acid, carbohydrate, and energy profile at day 83 of gestation. Metabolites 12(8):696. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12080696. Co-principal investigator.
5. McCarthy, K.L., Menezes, A.C.B, C.J. Kassetas, F. Baumgaertner, J.D. Kirsch, S.T. Dorsam, T.L. Neville, A.K. Ward, P.P. Borowicz, L.P. Reynolds, K.K. Sedivec, J. Chris Forcherio, R. Scott, J.S. Caton, and C.R. Dahlen. 2022. Vitamin and mineral supplementation and rate of gain in beef heifers: effects on concentration of trace minerals in maternal liver and fetal liver, muscle, allantoic, and amniotic fluids at day 83 of gestation. Animals 12(15): 1925. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12151925. Co-principal investigator.
6. Amat, S., C.R. Dahlen, K.C. Swanson, A.K. Ward, L.P. Reynolds, and J. S. Caton. 2022. Bovine Animal Model for Studying the Maternal Microbiome, In Utero Microbial Colonization and Their Role in Offspring Development and Fetal Programming. Front. Microbiol. 13:854453. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.854453. Co-principal investigator.
7. Diniz, W.J.S., M.S. Crouse, J.S. Caton, K.J. Claycome-Larson, A.K. Lindholm-Perry, L.P. Reynolds, C.R. Dahlen, P.P. Borowicz, and A.K. Ward. 2022. DNA methylation dataset of bovine embryonic fibroblast cells. Data in Brief. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2022.108074. Co-principal investigator.
8. Winders, T.M., E.M. Serum, D.J. Smith, B.W. Neville, M.G.K. Mia, S. Amat, C.R. Dahlen, and K.C. Swanson. 2022. Influence of hempseed cake inclusion on growth performance, carcass characteristics, feeding behavior and blood parameters in finishing heifers. J. Anim. Sci. 100:1-8 https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac159.Co-principal investigator.
9. Menezes, A.C.B., K.L. McCarthy, C.J. Kassetas, F. Baumgaertner, J.D. Kirsch, S.T. Dorsam, T.L. Neville, A.K. Ward, P.P. Borowicz, L.P. Reynolds, K.K. Sedivec, J. Chris Forcherio, R. Scott, J.S. Caton, and C.R. Dahlen. 2022. Vitamin and mineral supplementation and different rates of gain during the first trimester of gestation in beef heifers. Effects of dam hormonal and metabolic status, concentrations of glucose and fructose in fetal fluids, and fetal tissue organ mass. Animals 2022, 12, 1757: 1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12141757 Co-principal investigator.
10. Crouse, M.C., J.S. Caton, K.J. Claycome-Larson, W.J.S. Diniz, A.K. Lindholm-Perry, L.P. Reynolds, C.R. Dahlen, P.P. Borowicz, and A.K. Ward. 2022. Epigenetic Modifier supplementation improves mitochondrial respiration, growth rates, and alters DNA methylation of bovine embryonic fibroblast cells cultured in divergent energy supply. Front. Genet. 13: 812764. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.812764. Collaborator.