Project Number: 5445-21310-001-02
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Apr 01, 2007
End Date: Mar 31, 2012

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research agreement is for the University, through its Hettinger Research Extension Center, to cooperate with ARS in the development of sustainable value-added animal production systems for Northern Great Plains states.

Approach:
Novel research addressing alternative feeding strategies for cattle and lambs will be conducted. Specifically, trials evaluating early-weaning strategies for May born calves, use of alternative and local feedstuffs in calf backgrounding and lamb finishing (dried distillers grains and corn gluten), and lamb finishing trials evaluating human health implications (Se-fortified meats) will be evaluated. Results from research trials will be integrated with a comprehensive educational program in an aggressive plan of technology transfer directed at individual producers. Furthermore, continual assessments of current activities will attempt to measure direct impact at the producer level and subsequent impact on rural communities.