Project Number: 5364-31000-007-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Apr 01, 2003
End Date: Mar 31, 2008

Objective:
Improve economically important production traits of sheep without compromising reproductive efficiency.

Approach:
To improve economically important production traits of sheep without compromising reproductive efficiency, we will develop and validate nonsurgical, transcervical artificial insemination procedures for sheep; determine whether manipulating uterine immune functions will reduce the incidence of uterine bacterial contamination and prevent subsequent reductions in pregnancy and lambing rates; evaluate different biological types of sheep for reproductive efficiency, rate and efficiency of growth, carcass composition, meat quality, and mature size; determine whether strategic nutrient intervention will mitigate the negative effects of production stressors on growth, health, and reproductive processes and on skeletal muscle nutrient composition; and develop and validate methods for characterizing sexual performance of rams and reproductive efficiency of their daughters.