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Glen Aiken
Supervisory Animal Scientist
(859) 257-1647
USDA ARS Forage Animal Production Research Unit (FAPRU)
N-220 Agricultural Science Building North
1100 South Limestone Road
University of Kentucky Campus
Lexington KY 40546-0091
ARS FAPRU EMAIL: Lexington.Web@ars.usda.gov
Mission: FAPRU is charged with the Mission to improve the productivity, profitability, competitiveness, and sustainability of forage-based enterprises within the transition zone of the Eastern and Midwestern United States. The mission is accomplished by managing plant and animal genetic and physiologic responses to improve animal health/performance and plant persistence/production.
Statement of Need: Livestock production is heavily dependent on forage systems for sustainability and competitiveness in a Global Market. These forage systems are an economical means of delivering nutrients and function to conserve soil and water resources. However, available data for predicting animal performance in response to plant nutrient consumption is limited in application due to our poor understanding of plant nutrient interactions with the genetic/physiologic expression of grazing animals under various environmental conditions. Further, our limited understanding of the effects of plant nutraceuticals and anti-quality factors on nutrient intake and utilization are limiting improvements in developing management protocols.
Goals:
1. Improve persistence, productivity, and quality of forage grasses and legumes.
2. Improve forage-animal health/performance and forage intake/utilization.
3. Improve animal and forage productivity of forage-based systems through optimization and preconditioning management protocols.
