Title: Management Practices for Production of Goats in the South-Central U.S.

Type: USDA NIFA Evans Allen

Project Number: OKLXSAHLU2017

Period: 2012-2017

Investigators: T. Sahlu, A. L. Goetsch, R. Puchala, R. C. Merkel, T. A. Gipson, S. P. Hart, S. Zeng, Z. Wang, L. J. Dawson, and E. Loetz

Institutions: Langston University

Objectives:

• Study goat management practices and product technologies to increase the level and efficiency of goat
  productivity for increased profitability from goat production and lower costs to consumers of goat
  products.

Title: Genomics of Resilience in Sheep to Climatic Stressors

Type: USDA 1890 Institution Capacity Building – Research and Teaching

Project Number: OKLXGOETSCH13

Period: 2013-2018

Investigators: A. L. Goetsch1, T. A. Gipson1, R. Mateescu2, S. Zeng1, R. Puchala1, M. Rolf3, T. Sahlu1, P. Oltenacu2, and B. K. Wilson4

Institutions: 1- Langston University, 2 – University of Florida, 3 – Kansas State University, and 4 – Oklahoma State University

Objectives:

1. Gain a better understanding of the genetic basis of adaptation in sheep to change in climate
2. Through a landscape genomics phase, document that some allele frequencies of otherwise genetically similar populations vary as a function of environmental climatic conditions
3. Evaluate traits expected to be important for resilience to climatic stressors under identical conditions with sheep of four breeds randomly selected from four different locations with varied environmental conditions
4. In a genome-wide association phase, ascertain if these resilience traits are genetically based and heritable
5. Compare and rank genomic breeding values for these resilience traits of oldest sheep of each location and bred to elucidate how different environmental climatic conditions affect the importance of these traits to fitness
6. Investigate change in the mean value of each resilience trait along environmental gradients, possibly consistent with climatic variation

Title: Comparison of Biological Control of Red Cedar with Goats to Conventional Methods of Control

Type: USDA 1890 Institution Capacity Building – Research and Extension

Project Number: OKLXHART14

Period: 2014-2018

Investigators: S. P. Hart1, T. A. Gipson1, R. C. Merkel1, J. Pennington2, C. Clifford-Rathert2, and C. Williams1

Institutions: 1 – Langston University, and 2 – Lincoln University

Objectives:

1. Learn more about factors affecting red cedar consumption by goats so that they can be more effectively for control red cedar
2. Compare the degree of control and cost of use of goats versus alternative methods of clipping, burning, and herbicide

Title: Enhancing Wellbeing and Productivity of Dairy Goats Using Smart Technology

Type: USDA 1890 Institution Capacity Building – Research

Project Number: OKLXGIPSON14

Period: 2014-2018

Investigators: T. A. Gipson1, S. P. Hart1, R. Puchala1, E. Loetz1, L. J. Dawson2, and B. Ardrey2

Institutions: 1 – Langston University, and 2 – Smartsock

Objectives:

1. Validate the appropriate use of a rumen bolus for real-time monitoring of rumination and ruminal temperature
2. Model rumination time and rumen movement using the rumen bolus
3. Examine temperature and rumination time in relation to estrus using the rumen bolus
4. Examine temperature and rumination time in relation to mastitis using the rumen bolus

Title: Sustainable Control of Greenhouse Gas Emission by Ruminant Livestock

Type: USDA 1890 Institution Capacity Building – Research

Project Number: OKLXGOETSCH14

Period: 2014-2018

Investigators: A. L. Goetsch1, R. Puchala1, T. Sahlu1, M. Flythe2, and G. E. Aiken2

Institutions: 1 – Langston University, and 2 – USDA ARS Forage-Animal Production Research Unit

Objectives:

• Characterize long-term effects of lespedeza condensed tannins in combination with other substances
  potentially reducing ruminal methane emission by sheep and goats

Title: Combating Anthelmintic Resistant Parasitic Nematodes in the Small Ruminant Industry

Type: USDA 1890 Institution Capacity Building – Research

Accession Number: 1012072

Proposal Number: 2016-06596

Period: 2017-2020

Investigators: Z. Wang1, J. Zhao2, A. L. Goetsch1, S. P. Hart1, T. Sahlu1, and W. C. Davis3

Institutions: 1 – Langston University, 2 – AZ Nature Art LLC, and 3 – Washington State University

Objectives:

• Develop alternative approaches to diminish use of chemical anthelmintics that parasites of small
  ruminants have developed resistance to

Title: A Respiration Calorimetry System for Study of Energy Use and Methane Emission by Small Ruminants in Production Settings

Type: USDA AFRI Foundational Equipment Grant

Accession Number: 1014848

Project Number: OKLUGOETSCH2018

Period: 2018

Investigators: A. L. Goetsch, R. Puchala, T. A. Gipson, and T. Sahlu

Institutions: Langston University

Objectives:

• Long-term goal: Use an indirect open-circuit calorimetry system with groups of small ruminants in free-moving settings to enhance efficiency of use of nutrients and energy, decrease ruminal emission of the greenhouse gas methane, and develop optimal grazing management strategies.
• Acquire and set up the system and conduct research to determine optimal experimentation
  conditions, namely appropriate numbers and times of daily measurements and numbers of individual
  animal observations.