Project Number: 6420-32000-012-02
Project Type: Specific C/A

Start Date: May 03, 2001
End Date: Apr 30, 2005

Objective:
The objective of this study is to determine if dogs can detect the "off-flavor" compounds which are problematic in catfish production.

Approach:
Off-flavor compounds will be obtained from natural sources. These will include cultures of cyanobacteria which are known to produce such compounds as geosmin (GEO) and methylisoborneol (MIB) as well as naturally contaminated and non-contaminated pond water. The presence of these compounds will be confirmed by direct sensory observations by two dogs selected and housed at the College of Veterinary Medicine at AU and also through gas chromatography (GC-MS). Exploration of methods of training sequences will be used to train the dog to detect samples of off-flavor pond water and or samples of water in which the blue-green algae that causes off-flavor. The dogs will be trained to sit in the presence of contaminated water (positive samples) and to not sit in the presence of other water. The backward chaining approach will be used with the dogs in a laboratory setting at Greene Hall, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL.

Project Team

Shelby, Richard Klesius, Phillip Lawrence Myers - Professor (334)887-3741

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002   FY 2001

Related National Programs

Aquaculture (106)