Cattle research project wins national award for FFA member

INDIANAPOLIS — Olivia Shike chose her agriscience project that involved trace minerals to help her uncle with his cattle operation.

“I looked at the effect of injectable trace minerals on the conception rates of artificially inseminated cows and heifers and embryo transfer recipients,” she said.

Shike won the national award in animal systems of the 2021 National FFA Agriscience Fair at the 94th National FFA Convention and Expo held in Indianapolis.

“It was surreal because I didn’t get to walk on stage,” the Unity Tolono FFA member said. “One of our chapter members accepted the award for me because I was in the horse evaluation competition at that time.”

After the horse contest, Shike learned she won the agriscience award from her mom.

“When my mom pulled out the award, I was super excited because I put a lot of hours into this project,” said the daughter of Dan and Jennifer Shike. “This is a competition where you have to do a lot of work.”

Shike started her research project in November 2020.

“The two main people who helped guide me with this project is my dad who is a professor of animal science at the University of Illinois and Dr. Wes Keller who is a veterinarian and embryologist,” she said.

Keller taught Shike how to look at embryos under a microscope and how to palpate a cow.

“It was an incredible experience to work alongside my grandpa, uncle and dad,” she said. “It was exciting for three generations working together and doing something that my great-grandfather had started his own business in.”

The cows were pregnancy checked in February.

“I found the injectable trace minerals had no effect on the conception rate of the AI cows or the ET recipients,” said Shike, who is advised by Rich McCabe.

Shike identified a couple of factors that contributed to the results of her project.

“I had a small sample size so to be able to prove this one way or the other I would need more cattle,” she said.

In addition, all the cattle received a trace mineral supplement in the feed.

“So, the control group was not mineral deficient,” Shike said.

For her project, Shike wrote a 14-page research paper.

“After the state competition, I had the opportunity to revise it, so I added more graphics and it became a 20-page paper,” Shike said.

“I am very grateful for all the people who helped me with my project,” the high school sophomore said. “The smile on my grandpa’s face when he heard that I was a national finalist and how happy it made him to see three generations working on this project is a memory I won’t forget.”

Shike plans to do additional agriscience research projects.

“One idea is to work with my brother and since my project had a small sample size it would take more trials to be able to validate the facts,” she said. “I’m interested in replicating this trial to see if I get different results.”

The Unity Tolono FFA member has participated in a variety of FFA Career Development Events.

“I started doing CDEs as an eighth-grader and ag sales is one of my favorites,” she said.

Shike has competed in several public speaking events, including creed speaking, extemporaneous and prepared public speaking.

“I competed in prepared public speaking as an eighth-grader and I was state champion,” she said. “But due to COVID I didn’t go to national convention, so I’m looking forward to creating another prepared speech.”

Writing a speech for the extemporaneous event in 30 minutes is not an easy task, Shike said.

“That skill is completely out of my comfort zone, but I’m looking forward to doing that again in the future,” she said. “I have also been on the livestock and horse judging teams.”