Steven A. Zinn
Department Head and Professor

 Contact

   Phone: (860) 486-0861

   Email: Steven.Zinn@UConn.edu

   Office: George White Bldg., Room 108

 

Background

Education

• Ph.D. (Animal Science), Michigan State University, 1989
• M.S. (Animal Science), Michigan State University, 1984
• B.S. (Animal Science), Cornell University, 1978

 
Dr. Zinn grew up in Southern New York and received his BS in Animal Science from Cornell University. He then worked as the Research Coordinator at the Cornell Dairy Teaching and Research Unit for 2.5 years. After that, he then received his MS and PhD degrees in Animal Science from Michigan State University. Following completion of a post doc at the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology, he joined the faculty of Animal Science at the University of Connecticut in 1990.

 

Academics

Area of Interest

My research interests are tissue-specific expression of growth factors during development in livestock and physiological mechanisms involved in efficiency of animal production. This work focuses primarily on the role of endocrine and other metabolic factors in the growth process.

Our current work focuses on the effects of maternal feeding on the development of the offspring in sheep.  Under- or over-feeding the dam during pregnancy can have long-lasting detrimental effects on the offspring that can impact overall health, growth rate, efficiency and the amount of protein and fat in the carcass.  We are currently investigating the multi-generational effect of poor maternal nutrition and its impact on the feed efficiency of the offspring. 

Classes Taught

ANSC 3194/SAAS 294	Undergraduate Seminar
ANSC 3316	Endocrinology of Farm Animals
ANSC 3317W	Scientific Writing in Endocrinology of Farm Animals
ANSC 3691	Professional Internship
ANSC 5616	Endocrinology of Farm Animals
UNIV 1810	Animal Science Learning Community

Awards and Achievements

• 2021 American Society of Animal Science Morrison Award
• 2019 CVMA Distinguished Service Award
• 2018 UConn AAUP Career Teaching Excellence Award
• 2017-2018 - President of the American Society of Animal Science
• 2017 - USDA Northeast Regional Award for Excellence in College and University Teaching in the Food and Agricultural Sciences
• 2016 - University Teaching Fellow Award from the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
• 2016- UConn foundation Alumni Faculty Excellence Undergraduate Teaching Award
• 2015 - Named an ASAS Fellow in the Administration Category
• 2015- Named a Top 20 Outstanding Animal Science Professor by vettechcollege.com
• 2014 - H. Allen Tucker Lactation and Endocrinology Award
• 2014 - CPIA Academic Advisor of the Year Award
• 2011-2015 - Editor and Founder of Animal Frontiers: The Review Magazine of Animal Agriculture
• 2010-2012 - Served on the Provost's Library Advisory Committee
• 2008-2014 - Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Animal Science. This is the premier animal science journal. Previously, he had served as associate Editor of Physiology (2003-2005) and then Division Editor of Growth, Reproduction and Physiology (2005-2008).
• 2006 - Elected to a two-year term to the President's Athletic Advisory Committee
• 2003 - College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Excellence Award
• 2002 - UConn Agriculture and Natural Resources Alumni Association Award for Excellence in Teaching
• 2001 - 2002 First Year Experience Teaching Award
• 2001 - 2002 - Outstanding Undergraduate Faculty Advisor for the University of Connecticut
• 1994 - Northeast ADSA/ASAS Young Scientist Award

 

Publications

Gauvin, M.C., S.M. Pillai, S.A. Reed, J.R. Stevens, M.L. Hoffman, A.K. Jones, S.A. Zinn, and K.E Govoni. 2020. Poor maternal nutrition during gestation in sheep alters prenatal muscle growth and development in offspring. J. Anim. Sci. 98: 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz388

Duan, J., M. Zhang, K. Flock, S. Al Seesi, I. Mandoiu, A.K. Jones, E. Johnson, S.M. Pillai, M.L. Hoffman, K.K. McFadden, H. Jiang, S.A. Reed, K.E. Govoni, S.A. Zinn, Z. Jiang and X.C. Tian. 2019. Effects of maternal nutrition on the expression of genomic imprinted genes in ovine fetuses. Epigenetics doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/15592294.2018.1503489.

Duan, J., K. Flock, N. Jue, M. Zhang, A.K. Jones, S. Al Seesi, I. Mandoiu, S.M. Pillai, M.L. Hoffman,R. O’Neill, S.A. Zinn, K.E. Govoni, S.A. Reed, H. Jiang, Z. Jiang, and X.C. Tian. 2019. Dosage Compensation and Gene Expression of the X Chromosome in Sheep. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics 9: 305-314; https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.118.200815

Martin, D.M. A.K. Jones, S.M. Pillai, M.L. Hoffman, K.K. McFadden, S.A. Zinn, K.E Govoni, and S.A. Reed. 2019. Maternal restricted- and over-feeding during gestation result in distinct lipid and amino acid metabolite profiles in the longissimus muscle of the offspring. Frontiers in Physiology doi:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.00515.

Govoni, K.E., S.A. Reed and S.A. Zinn. 2019. Invited Symposium Review: Poor maternal nutrition during gestation: Effects on offspring whole body and tissue-specific metabolism in livestock species. Journal of Animal Science doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz157.

Jones, A.K., R.E. Gately, T.D. Kellogg, S.A. Zinn, K.E. Govoni and S.A. Reed. 2018. Evaluation of the Nova Vet Meter for sheep-side monitoring of beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) and description of ewe BHBA during late gestation in three flocks from the Northeastern U.S. Research in Veterinary Science  118: 491-497.

Pillai, S.M, N.H. Sereda, M. L. Hoffman, E.V. Valley, T. D. Crenshaw; Y.-K. Park; J.-Y. Lee, S.A. Zinn and K.E. 2017. Govoni. Effects of poor maternal nutrition during gestation on bone development and mesenchymal stem cell activity in offspring. PLOS One doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone. 0168382. 87

Hoffman, M. L., S. A. Reed, S. M. Pillai, A. K. Jones, K. K. McFadden, S. A. Zinn and K. E. Govoni. 2017. The effects of poor maternal nutrition during gestation on offspring postnatal growth and metabolism. J. Anim. Sci. doi: 10.2527/jas.2016-1229.

Jones, A. K., R. E. Gately, K. K. McFadden, S. A. Zinn, K. E. Govoni and S. A. Reed. 2017. Ultrasonographic assessment of fetal heart, umbilicus, ribs and placentomes during mid-gestation and the agreement of ultrasound measurement with corresponding postmortem data in the sheep. Reproduction in Domestic Animals doi: 10.1111/rda.12961.

Jones, A. K., M. L. Hoffman, S. M. Pillai, K. K. McFadden, K. E. Govoni, S. A. Zinn and S.A. Reed. 2017. Gestational restricted- and over-feeding promote maternal and offspring inflammatory responses that are distinct and dependent on diet in sheep. Biology of Reproduction. doi: 10.1093/biolre/iox174.

Pillai, S. M., Jones, A. K., Hoffman, M. L., McFadden, K. K., Reed, S. A., Zinn, S., & Govoni, K. 2017. Fetal and organ development at gestational days 45, 90, 135 and at birth of lambs exposed to under- or over-nutrition during gestation. Translation Anim. Sci. 1, 16-25. 10.2527/tas2016.0002

Hoffman, M. L., Reed, S. A., Pillai, S. M., Jones, A. K., McFadden, K. K., Zinn, S., & Govoni, K. 2017. The effects of poor maternal nutrition during gestation on offspring postnatal growth and metabolism. J. Anim. Sci. 94, 3093-3099. 10.2527/jas.2016-1229

Jones, A. K., Gately, R. E., McFadden, K. K., Hoffman, M. L., Pillai, S. M., Zinn, S., Govoni, K., & Reed, S. A. 2017. Ultrasound during mid-gestation: Agreement with physical foetal and placental measurements and use in predicting gestational age in sheep. Reprod. Dom. Anim. 10.1111/rda.12961

Hoffman, M. L., Peck, K. N., Wegrzyn, J., Reed, S. A., Zinn, S., & Govoni, K. 2016. Poor maternal nutrition during gestation alters the expression of genes involved in muscle development and metabolism in lambs. J. Anim. Sci. 94, 3093-9. 10.2527/jas.2016-0570

Jones, A.K., R.E. Gately, K.K. McFadden, S.A. Zinn, K.E. Govoni, and S.A. Reed. 2016. Transabdominal ultrasound for detection of pregnancy, fetal and placental landmarks, and fetal age before day 45 of gestation in the sheep. Theriogenology doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology. 2015.11.002.

Hoffman, M.L., K.N. Peck, M.E. Forella, A.R. Fox, K.E. Govoni, and S.A. Zinn. 2016. The effects of poor maternal nutrition during gestation on postnatal growth and development of lambs. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 789-79910.2527/jas2015-9933.

Raja, J.S., M. L. Hoffman, K. E. Govoni, S. A. Zinn, and S. A. Reed. 2016. Restricted maternal nutrition alters myogenic regulatory factor expression in satellite cells of ovine offspring. Animal doi:10.1017/S1751731116000070.

Hoffman, M.L., K.N. Peck, J.L. Wegrzyn, S.A. Reed, S.A. Zinn, and K.E. Govoni. 2016. Poor maternal nutrition during gestation alters the expression of genes involved in muscle development and metabolism in lambs. J. Anim. Sci. 94:3093-3099 doi: 10.2527/jas.2016-0570.

Zinn, S.A., S.L. Ivey, D. L. Lalman, N.M. Long, and R.A. Zinn. 2016. Beef Cattle Nutrition Symposium:  Feeding Holstein Steers. J. Anim. Sci. 94:3135-3136 doi: 10.2527/jas2016-0412

Pillai, S. M., A. K. Jones, M. L. Hoffman, K. K. McFadden, S. A. Reed, S. A. Zinn, and K. E. Govoni. 2016. Fetal and organ development at gestational days 45, 90, 135 and at birth of lambs exposed to under- or over-nutrition during gestation. Translational Animal Science doi: 10.2527/tas2016.0002.

Wulster-Radcliffe, M., D.L. Hamernick, L Reynolds, G.S. Lewis and S.A. Zinn. 2015. Scientific publications: From the stone tablet to the electronic tablet. Animal Frontiers 5 (issue 3): 45-51.

Zinn, S.A. 2015 H. Allen Tucker Lactation and Endocrinology Award: Graduate Education: Lessons from my mentor. J. Anim. Sci. 93: 12: 5594-5596. doi: 10.2527/jas2015-8869

Zinn, S.A. 2014. H. Allen Tucker Lactation and Endocrinology Award: Graduate Education: Lessons from my mentor. J. Anim. Sci 93: 12: 5594-5596. doi: 10.2527/jas2015-8869

Zinn, A.T., M.D. Foreman, L. Griffin Masso, D.T. Ouimette, S.A. Zinn. 2014. Learning Communities: Animal Science at the University of Connecticut. Natural Sci. Education. DOI: 10.2134/nse2014.09.0021

Reed, S.A., J.S. Raja, M.L. Hoffman, S.A. Zinn and K.E. Govoni. 2014. Poor maternal nutrition inhibits muscle development in ovineoffspring. J. Anim. Sci. Biotech. DOI: 10.1186/2049-1891-5-43. http://jasbsci.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/2049-1891-5-43.

Zinn, S.A. and A.M. Beck. 2014. The human-animal bond and domestication: Through the ages…animals in our lives. Animal Frontiers 4 (issue 3): 5-6.

Hoffman, M.L., M.A. Rokosa, S.A. Zinn, T.A. Hoagland, and K.E. Govoni. 2014. Poor maternal nutrition during gestation in sheep reduces circulating concentrations of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 in offspring. Domest. Anim. Endocrinol. 49:39-48.

McGonagle, A., H.C. Freake, S.A. Zinn, T. Bauerle, J. Winston, G. Lewicki, M. Jehnings, D. Khan-Bureau, and M. Philion. 2014. Evaluation of STRONG-CT: A program supporting minority and first-generation U.S. science students. J. STEM Ed.: Innovat. Res. 15:52-61

Glynn E.R., A.L. Sanchez, S.A. Zinn, T.A. Hoagland, and K.E. Govoni. 2013 Culture conditions for equine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and expression of key transcription factors during their differentiation into osteoblasts. J. Anim. Sci. Biotech. 4:40 (DOI: 10.1186/2049-1891-4-40).

Zinn, S.A. 2011. Animal Frontiers: Future prospects for the beef industry. Animal Frontiers 1 (issue 2):1-3.

Zinn, S.A. 2011. Animal Frontiers: The birth of the review magazine of animal agriculture. Animal Frontiers 1 (issue 1):1-2.

Govoni, K.E., D. Goodman, R.M. Maclure L. Penfold, and S.A. Zinn. 2011. Serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 and -3 in eight hoofstock species. Zoo Biol. 30: 275-284.

Mazzaro, L.M., J.P. Richmond, M. Kluever, J. Morgan, J.L. Dunn, S.A. Zinn, and E.A. Koutsos. 2010. Evaluation of an alternative to feeding whole frozen fish in Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus leucas). Zoo Biol. 29: 1–20.

Richmond, J.P., T. Jeanniard du Dot, D.A.S. Rosen, and S.A. Zinn. 2010. Seasonal influence on the response of the somatotropic axis to nutrient restriction and re-alimentation in captive Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). J. Exp. Zool. 313A:144–156, 2010.

Richmond, J.P., T. Norris, S.A. Zinn. 2010. Re-alimentation in harbor seal pups: Effects on the somatotropic axis and growth rate. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 165: 286-292.

Richmond, J.P, J. Skinner, J. Gilbert, L.M. Mazzaro, and S.A. Zinn. 2008. Comparison of the Somatotropic Axis in Free-ranging and Rehabilitated Harbor Seal Pups (Phoca vitulina). J. Zoo Wild. Med. 39:342-348.

Velayudhan, B.T., K. E. Govoni, T. A. Hoagland, and S A. Zinn. 2007. Growth rate and concentrations of the somatotropic axis in beef cattle administered exogenous bovine somatotropin beginning at 200, 250 and 300 days of age. J. Anim. Sci. 85:2866-2872.

Sciadone, M.P., L.Yao, M. Schaller, S. A. Zinn and H.C.Freake. 2004. Diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid enhances thyroid hormone action by a transcriptional mechanism. Biol. Trace Element Res. 99: 219-232.

Govoni, K.E., T.A. Hoagland and S.A. Zinn. 2004. The ontogeny of the somatotropic axis in Hereford calves from birth to one year of age and its response to administration of exogenous bovine somatotropin. J. Anim. Sci.82:1646-1655.

Govoni, K.E., T.A. Hoagland and S.A. Zinn. 2003. The ontogeny of the somatotropic axis in male and female Hereford calves from birth to one year of age. J. Anim. Sci. 81:2811-2817.

L.H., W. J. Weber, B. A. Crooker, G. W. Kazmer, S. A. Zinn, L. B. Hansen and H. Chester-Jones. 2002. Effects of Selection for Milk Yield on Growth Hormone Response to Growth Hormone Releasing Factor in Growing Holstein Calves. J. Dairy. Sci. 85: 2529-2540.

Rausch, M.I., M.W. Tripp, K.E. Govoni, W. Zhang, W.J. Weber, B.A. Crooker, T.A. Hoagland and S.A. Zinn. 2002. The response of body weight gain, somatotropin, insulin-like growth factor I and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins-2 and -3 to limit feeding and somatotropin supplementation in growing beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 80:94-100.

Govoni, K.E., X.C. Tian, G.W. Kazmer, M.T. Taneja, B.P. Enright, A.L. Rivard, X. Yang and S.A. Zinn. 2002. Age-related changes of the somatotropic axis in cloned Holstein cattle. Biol. Reprod. 66:1293-1298.

Freake, H.C., M. Schaller, A. Trzcienski and S.A. Zinn. 2002. Zinc chelation amplifies thyroid hormone action, but has variable effects on zinc efflux in cultured cells. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 61: 47A.

Zinn, S.A., C. Faustman, J.W. Riesen. 1992. Developing Oral Communication Skills in Animal Science Classes. NACTA J. 37:14-17.

Hobbies/Non-Academic Interests

• Auto racing
• Fishing