REPRODUCTION

The goal of the Reproduction Research Unit is to increase reproductive efficiency in cattle, swine and sheep by decreasing the number of breeding-age males and females required to produce a given number of offspring. Maintaining animals for breeding is a significant cost in the production of domestic livestock, thus improvements in reproductive efficiency reduce costs, increase profitability and reduce meat prices paid by the U.S. consumer. Reproduction research at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center includes efforts to improve both male and female components of reproduction, including sperm and ova production, conception rate, and embryo-fetal development, growth and survival. A broad range of scientific approaches, including endocrine, protein biochemistry, molecular biology and genetic marker identification, are being used in these investigations.

Staff Scientists:

J.L. Vallet, Ph.D., Research Physiologist, Research Leader

M.F. Allan, Ph.D., Molecular Geneticist

R.K. Christenson, Ph.D., Research Physiologist

R.A. Cushman, Ph.D., Research Physiologist

S.E. Echternkamp, Ph.D., Research Physiologist

J.J. Ford, Ph.D., Research Physiologist

D.D. Lunstra, Ph.D., Research Physiologist

J.L. Vallet, Ph.D., Research Physiologist

T.H. Wise, Ph.D., Research Physiologist