Grants and Contracts per year
Grants and Contracts Details
Description
Forages in the form of pasture and hay support livestock industries in the Transition Zone but
problems of forage quality, seasonal distribution of DM availability and animal utilization of forages
limit system productivity. This project will work to improve the quality, availability, and use
efficiency of forages for livestock in Kentucky and other parts of the transition zone. Forage
systems involving several grasses and legumes are needed to minimize the negative impact of the
large acreages of endophyte-infected tall fescue that remain in this region. Research is also
needed to reduce storage losses and improve forage quality of forages stored for feeding during
winter. Project efforts will also be directed at development and evaluation of endophyte-free and
novel-endophyte tall fescue varieties. A complete feeding program requires a comprehensive
understanding of not only forage/feed composition, but also an understanding of the animal's ability
to use forage/feed for productive purposes. Variation in gut mass can affect net supply and use of
energy substrates and amino acids by these tissues so this effort will include identification of
factors controlling gut cell proliferation. Specific objectives of the project are: (1) to characterize
management factors that impact the forage quality of grazed and harvested forages, (2) to
increase variability for forage quality and agronomic traits in tall fescue and to characterize
relationships among physical characteristics such as leaf tensile strength and forage quality,
palatability and animal performance, (3) to develop quantitative data regarding amino acid and N
exchanges in ruminant animals, and (4) to develop and maintain the capability for responding
rapidly when animal health problems are identified in livestock in the state.
Status | Finished |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 9/15/03 → 9/14/06 |
Funding
- Cooperative State Research Education and Extension: $403,064.00
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Projects
- 3 Finished
-
Forage For Advancing Livestock Production III-SCOPE C
Harrison, L.
9/15/03 → 9/14/06
Project: Research project
-
Forage For Advancing Livestock Production III-Scope A
Cooperative State Research Education and Extension
9/15/03 → 9/14/06
Project: Research project
-
Forage For Advancing Livestock Production III-SCOPE B
Cooperative State Research Education and Extension
9/15/03 → 9/14/06
Project: Research project