Modern animal nutrition methods, advanced reproductive techniques and embryo transfer are just a few examples of the learning opportunities that await you.
Animal & Dairy Science
Research Programs
Overview
- Biomedical Research
- Animal Breeding and Genetics
- Meats and Muscle Biology
- Reproductive Physiology
- Beef Cattle Nutrition
- Swine Nutrition and the Environment
- Dairy Cattle Nutrition
- Applied Research in Horses
- Applied Areas of Production
- Milk and Mastitis Quality
Active areas of research conducted
- by the faculty of the Animal and Dairy Science Department are described below under the major categories of, animal cloning and genetic engineering, breeding and genetics, meats and muscle biology, nutrition, physiology of reproduction, and production management. Research projects are designed using applied and basic experiments to understand and solve industry problems.
Biomedical Research
Regenerative Biology. Human and domestic livestock stem cells offer a unique opportunity to study developmental biology, serve as a resource to screen for harmful toxins or life saving drugs or even regenerative therapies for a number of diseases. Animal stem cells benefits are far reaching, from treating race horse bone and cartilage damage to pig stem cells to treat diabetes in humans. Our platform technology will launch genetic progress in agricultural, veterinary and biomedical industries. It will enable farmers to have access to the best genetics faster than is currently possible with traditional animal breeding. Stem cells have great potential for finding restoring damaged tissues throughout the body and speeding the drug discovery process. We are developing a combined approach of both the cells needed to restore the damaged area and using these cells in a Petri dish to discover new compounds to treat diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Another current research area focuses on the molecular mechanisms that cause meiotic differentiation of stem cell derived germ cells (sperm and eggs) and the use of pig induced pluripotent stem cells as a model for regenerative cell therapies. (Franklin West, Steven L. Stice)
Growth and Obesity Research. Animal models provide the opportunity to study the molecular mechanisms involved in growth and development. Understanding these processes can have application in both livestock and human health. Our current research includes various aspects of the control of feeding behavior and energy balance regulation by the central nervous system and adipose tissue. The roles of leptin and other endocrine hormones in these functions are of special interest. We are also investigating the roles of natural compounds in adipogenesis, lipolysis and adipocyte apoptosis. Biotechnology tools, including the development of animal models and a variety of genomic and proteomic technologies, are utilized to study the molecular basis of these systems of animal physiology. (Clifton A. Baile)
Animal Breeding and Genetics
Research in animal breeding and genetics is primarily concerned with the development and implementation of genetic evaluation programs in swine, beef and dairy cattle. This program is a balance between theoretical development of the methodologies that have the greatest potential for rapid genetic change; and, working with the leaders of the animal industry and breed associations to create efficient systems for field applications. There are also ongoing research projects which combine genetics with physiology, nutrition and meats. (Ignacy Misztal, Romdhane Rekaya and J. Keith Bertrand)
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Meats and Muscle Biology
Meats and muscle biology encompasses all phases of meat science research from growth and development to the production of new products for today's changing consumer. This program combines both basic and applied research to meet the needs of the meat industry.
Major areas of beef, pork and lamb research include: (1) diet/health nutrition projects aimed at reducing fat levels and changing the fatty acid composition of adipose tissue in meat animals and their product; (2) examining the effects of feedstuffs on animal and carcass composition as it relates to yield and quality parameters, shelf-life stability and tenderness; (3) utilization of ultrasound technology to predict carcass quality and palatability and body composition; (4) identification of mechanisms which control the deposition of subcutaneous and intramuscular fat; (5) biochemical and structural changes in pre and postrigor muscle and their effect on meat tenderness, and (6) the effectiveness of objective live animal measurements and ultrasound technology in predicting carcass value. (T. Dean Pringle , Alex Stelzleni)
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Reproductive Physiology
Faculty in the Animal and Dairy Science Department work in cooperation with faculty in several departments in the College of Veterinary Medicine. The research program in reproductive physiology is limited to applied programs in dairy and equine reproduction. (William Graves)
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Beef Cattle Nutrition
The beef cattle nutrition program at UGA focuses on basic and applied approaches to improving the efficiency of beef production. The research program is a collaborative effort across several disciplines at the university including Animal Science, Crop and Soil Science, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Engineering, and Population Health. Beef cattle nutrition has several major areas of current research: (1) the use of byproduct feeds, (2) utilization of management intensive grazing, (3) nutritional programs for post-weaning management of calves, (4) investigating the ruminal kinetics of forage and feedstuff digestion, (5) forage quality determination using in vitro digestibility, chemical analyzes, and dry matter intake. Anyone interested in pursuing graduate studies in these, or additional, areas, please contact us. (Lawton Stewart)
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Swine Nutrition and the Environment
Current areas of swine nutrition and environment research relate to identifying nutritional and pharmacological means of improving the efficiency and profitability of pork production while addressing the impact of odors and critical nutrients in the wastes produced. Recent research has included studies of: 1) the interaction between dietary nutrients and vitamins and trace minerals in swine, 2) the evaluation of alternative feed ingredients on growth performance, 3) the effect of feed enzymes on nutrient availability and 4) the effect of dietary fat source on carcass fatty acid profiles.
(Michael J. Azain and C. Robert Dove)
Dairy Cattle Nutrition
Research in dairy cattle nutrition includes: (1) forage evaluation in lactating cows using production and metabolism studies and chemical, physical, instrumental and in vitro analysis, (2) silage preservation techniques and in vivo evaluation studies, (3) using dietary or pharmacological methods to understand exocrine and motile processes of digestion and subsequent influence upon feed utilization, (4) understanding the partitioning of fermentative and hydrolytic nutrient digestion as a result of ration composition, environmental stress and feed additives, (5) efficiency of dietary protein and energy utilization in the lactating cow and replacement heifer, including studies of digestion, absorption, conversion to milk-protein and-fat, microbial protein synthesis, and amino acid transport and absorption, (6) the effects of dietary electrolytes and electrolyte balance on productivity of lactating cows, (7) the use of fat to increase nutrient density during heat-stress. (Mark A. Froetschel and John K. Bernard)
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Applied Research in Horses
Opportunities for graduate research and assistantship support in eqine science are limited. Research in horses is currently directed towards the following: (1) applied studies examining equine biomechanics, particularly as influenced by standard management techniques such as shoeing techniques, training programs, nutritional supplementation, etc. (2) applied research examining the role of oxidative stress in the performance horse and (3) applied research examining the effects of basic horsemanship training on rider position and balance. (Kari Turner, Kylee Duberstein)
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Applied Areas of Production
Research in applied areas of production is in progress with beef cattle, dairy cattle and swine and is associated with objectives already described in the previous sections. This is not a separate production specialty, but most projects have readily applied research for theses and dissertations in production.
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Milk and Mastitis Quality
The Mastitis and Milk Quality program in the Animal and Dairy Science Department at UGA is focused on basic and applied studies on improving mammary gland health and the quality of milk products in dairy cows as well as in goats, horses, and sheep. Specific research areas include: 1) the development of challenge models to induce intramammary infections, 2) study of vaccination protocols to prevent mastitis, 3) evaluation of antibiotic therapeutic regimens to cure infections, 4) use of fly control programs as prevention strategies, 5) efficacy evaluation of novel intramammary therapies, 6) development of mastitis control programs for dairy heifers, and 7) use of immunostimulants as dietary supplements to control mastitis. (Stephen C. Nickerson)