USDA-Hatch,. Hormonal control of growth and energy use by chickens deficient in amino acids. Amino acids affect growth and hormonal function in chickens. This project examines the physiological effects of dietary amino acid deficiencies. Dietary deficiencies of individual essential amino acids were found to differentially affect growth, feed intake, and blood levels of growth and thyroid hormones, and insulin-like growth factors in growing broiler chicks. This demonstrates that the response of the avian endocrine system to dietary protein deficiency depends on the specific essential amino acids involved. These results will aid in formulation of optimal diets for chickens, will promote economical production of meat and eggs, and will reduce environmental nitrogen contamination. (L. Carew, F. Alster, E. Zakrzewska, J. McMurtry, R. Vasilatos-Younken)
UVM Extension. UVM Extension Beef Program. Vermont beef farms are small, resulting in inefficiencies when competing in the commodity beef markets. This project increases sustainability of beef farms by cooperatively developing markets that reward added value and by controlling costs. Value-added markets were featured in a conference attended by 80 producers, in multiple on-farm workshops, and in articles distributed to all Vermont beef and dairy producers. Individual phone, email, and on-farm consultations supported producers entering these markets. Participation in value-added markets increased and analysis to confirm the benefit began. (C. Comstock)
Private donor. Small Ruminant Dairy Project. Demand and recognition is strong and growing for Vermont sheep and goat cheese. Farmers producing milk and cheesemakers need unique information and services to assure a high-quality product that is profitable. The UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Dept. of Animal Sciences collaborate on this program. Since 1998, the project provided over 1,500 client consultations, 150 farm visits, and 80 workshops and conferences reaching 2000 people. A quarterly newsletter and monthly calendar reaches 450 readers. Grant funding was recently obtained for research on dairy goat nutrition. These efforts are helping to sustain small ruminant dairy farmers throughout the region. (C. Delaney, C. Huber, V. Grubinger, A. Matthews)
USDA-Other Grant, Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. Implementing Dairy Goat Nutrition Programs for Improved Farm Sustainability. Demand for goat milk has outstripped the supply in Vermont by 1 million pounds. One barrier to profitable milk production is high feed costs and farmers receive no or inconsistent advice on how to best utilize feed for their goats. By collecting production, goat body condition and feed analysis data, rations will be calculated to balance energy and protein intake and thus minimizing nitrogen waste and feed cost and optimize production and profit. Nine dairy goat farms and seven feed companies were enlisted to collect relevant farm data to balance rations for energy and protein. Dairy goat farms will improve feed use to optimize production and profits. (C. Delaney, J. Knapp)
UVM Extension. Barn safety audit--Safety for horses and owners. Horsemen's liability issues can negatively affect public and private equine facilities. The purpose of this project is to facilitate accident prevention through educational workshops and the distribution of the Self-Guided Horse Facility Analysis book to horse owners. Results continue to indicate greater participant awareness of safety issues in equine facilities. The publication is used on a national level by the United Stated Equestrian Federation in their Instructor Certification Program, and has been incorporated in Michigan Extension programs. (E. Greene)
UVM Extension, Risk Management. Horse health and horsekeeping issues. Horse health, care, and maintenance are common management issues that arise among horse owners. The purpose of seminars, workshops, and poster presentations is to contribute to improved equine care and disease prevention through clientele education. State, regional and national workshops and presentations have provided information on responsible horsekeeping to over 500 people. Horse owners will use this information to improve the quality of care for their animals, as well as responsible land management. (E. Greene, L. Waterman, G. Harris, A. Willard, B. Gabos, Vermont Horse Council)
UVM Extension, Risk Management. Improving evaluation skills and providing methods for pasture/paddock management. Pasture care, management, water quality, and improvement is an ongoing issue for horse owners. The purpose of the workshops is to educate horse owners on effective methods to improve pasture management techniques for their horse operations. Participants have been exposed to simple methods for creating sacrifice areas, improving pasture, and diverting run off from turn out areas. They have idenifited opportunities to incorporate ideas for improvements in their own pastures. The attendees have improved their knowledge of methods to improve horse-keeping areas, and have developed better small acreage management practices. (E. Greene, G. Harris, L. Waterman, A. Willard)
Vermont Department of Agriculture. Vermont Horses Count: Equine industry impact survey results and final report. There has been inadequate and/or outdated documentation and representation of the equine industry contribution to the Vermont economy. This 3-year project measured horse numbers and provided primary figures on the associated monetary contribution to Vermont. The Vermont Horses Count Survey has been completed, tabulated, and the final report has been distributed to participants, industry members, and state legistlators. Equine industry members have used the report for business plan documentation and legislators have used the information for background and language for horse-related legislation. (E. Greene)
UVM Extension. Predicting Morgan Horse Growth. We evaluated growth rates of Morgan horses by pooling data points of post-weaning foal weights from the UVM Morgan Horse Farm from 1965-1997. A polynomial equation was developed to predict Morgan weights between 150-540 days of age. The purpose of this project was to establish a mature weight prediction equation for the data set, challenge the polynomial prediction equation using current data from individual horses, and compare the growth rates of Morgan and Thoroughbred horses. Growth prediction curves for this population of Morgan foals were best described using a nonlinear logistic equation. The nonlinear logistic equation provides a more accurate growth curve for the UVM Morgan herd. UVM Morgans, as a group, grew slower than the Thoroughbreds. (E. Greene, J. Knapp, S. Davis)
UVM Extension. The Effect of Age of Dam on Birth Weight and Growth Rate of Thoroughbred Foals. In the Thoroughbred racing industry, foals are often sold as weanlings, and foal size and growth rates can have a significant impact on marketability. The objectives of this study were to determine if foals from aged broodmares were lighter at birth, the growth rate differed, and, if growth rates of foals that were fostered on nurse mares varied from own-dam foals. In this population, older mares produced smaller foals at birth, but nurse mares helped them grow faster and catch up to their peers. These highly managed foals raised for the intention of marketing them as weanlings grew at consistent rates with other Thoroughbred foals (Pagan 1998). Data from this population of aged broodmares has provided documentation of birth weights and growth parameters of Thoroughbred foals. (E. Greene, J. Willard, J. Williams, J. Willard, J. Knapp)
UVM Extension, Champlain Valley Exposition, Risk Management. Everything Equine/Horses 2004. University of Vermont hosted Everything Equine/Horses 2004, a regional equine educational event and trade show. This collaborative project provided a broad gamut of information on equine industry topics. The Annual VT Equine Industry Summit was also hosted within this equine activity. Over 5,000 people attended equine-related educational seminars (3 rooms) and live demonstrations over the two-day period. Seminars included Equine Biosecurity, Training Methods, Equine Business, Barn Safety, Veterinary Topics, etc. Governor Douglas was a presenter and attendee. This event provided educational opportunities to over 5,000 equine industry members, as well as demonstrated the vitality of this non-traditional livestock industry in the state. (E. Greene, T. Oddy, K. Clark, L. Waterman)
UVM Extension, Undergraduate Research Endeavors Competitive Awards. Tools for Promoting Biosecurity in Vermont's Equine Community. Horse Owners are rarely aware of potential for outbreak or spread of disease within and between their equine facilities. A binder was created to collect the best tools and resources available for checking and changing equine farm practices. The binder information has been presented at Everything Equine/Horses 2004 and in poster format at the National Association of County Agricultural Agents Meeting (FL). Many evaluators have said that they will change their biosecurity practices. Equine industry members will use this information to increase the biosecurity safety and preventative measures in their facilties. (E. Greene, J. Ather)
USDA-Multi-state,. Genetic and functional genomic approaches to improve production and quality of pork. While the prolactin receptor in swine is known to impact production aspects such as lactation and reproduction, the sequence of the porcine prolactin receptors has not been determined. This project will determine the sequence and function of prolactin receptors in pigs. We have identified several allelic variants of the porcine prolactin receptor. We have begun to analyze their functional properties in vitro. By having access to the sequence of allelic variants of the prolactin receptor in swine, it will be possible to determine whether the different genotypes differ in their phenotype. (R. Hovey, J. Trott)
USDA-NRI Competitive Grant, USDA-Competitive Grant. Endocrine Regulation of Porcine Mammary Gland Development and Morphogenesis. Mammary gland development determines ultimate milk production potential, where milk production by sows limits piglet growth. This project will examine the effect of various hormones on cell proliferation, parenchymal morphology and hormone receptor distribution in the mammary gland. We have commenced the animal phase of this project by performing surgeries and hormone treatments on nine females to date. Tissues have been collected and immunohistochemical methods developed. These data will establish what hormone combinations are essential for mammary growth in swine. (R. Hovey)
14 projects