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Display category headings
Research Project:
ENHANCE FORAGE-BASED LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
Location:
Forage-Animal Production Research
Project Number: 6440-21310-001-00
Project Type:
Appropriated
Start Date: May 15, 2002
End Date: Dec 31, 2005
Objective:
Isolate the dosage effects of plant metabolites on animal performance without confounding effects in the rumen of protein bypass and digestibility. Determine animal preference and feedings during the seasons as affected by land characteristics and species composition and quality. Determine animal genetic factors impacting nutrient assimilation, tissue accretion, and energy expended in grazing. Determine genetic control of metabolites of forage that impact animal performance and the expression of those effects during periods of stress. Modify through management and genetics for the reduction of anti-quality components and improved protein bypass in the ruminant animal without inhibition of intake. Determine biochemical pathways controlling metabolite production in plants and identify linked genetic markers for genetic improvement of forage. Determine grazing management stress on animal performance. Monitor animal metabolism and growth to determine and manage rumen physiology in response to dietary parameters.
Approach:
Determine and model the biodiversity in the mixed pasture as a function of aspect, soil type, soil fertility, soil quality, surface topography and soil moisture. Monitor animal consumption and test forage quality and energy in representative samples from pasture. Determine seasonal changes to pasture and effects on animal grazing and energy balance for the grazing. Supplement animal diet with different cation binding materials to determine animal performance and health in presence of alkaloids from fescue. Sample rumen, omasum, and abomasums tissue to measure transport of known alkaloids as well as ruminal microbial breakdown products in parabiotic chambers. In cooperative research utilize Bio-Rad Proteome Works TM System to identify animal genes that limit nutrient assimilation and tissue accretion. Use near isogenic lines of Trifolium spp. to test for the effects of level of pubescence density and low molecular weight phenolics on forage production and quality. Determine markers in hexaploid fescue for genetic factors affecting production (QTL's) in presence and absence of alkaloid toxins in that grass. Test management systems to reduce toxin absorption and apply models to modify animal intake. Utilize other species in mixed pasture to dilute alkaloid intake and other anti-quality metabolites and determine the response curve for dilution. Utilize isogenic lines of forage with different levels of lignification and characterize digestive and metabolic capacities and the interaction with animal genotype.
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