Ruminant Nutrition
Ruminant animals have always had a unique
place in animal agriculture because of their ability to
efficiently digest fibrous plant materials. Studies in ruminant
nutrition range from cellular limitations in nutrient assimilation
to forage use by grazing animals, namely cattle and sheep.
Specific areas of research include:
- regulation and limitations of nutrient
absorption and digestion.
- optimizing forage availability and
utilization, particularly fescue.
- evaluation of nutrient requirements
and management of the dairy cow.
- study of protein, vitamin, and mineral
nutrition.
- incorporation of alternative feeds
into ruminant diets.
Specialties
within Ruminant Nutrition
Equine
Nutrition
Horses are an important part of the
agricultural economy in Kentucky as well as the rest of
the nation, and the University of Kentucky has long been
a premier institution for equine research. Outstanding
research facilities include a large horse herd, ample individual
housing, analytical laboratory, round pen and treadmill.
Research with the horse focuses on nutrition with projects
including:
-
hormonal
and metabolic responses to different types of exercise.
-
nutrient
requirements during growth, reproduction, and exercise.
- dietary management procedures that
improve digestion, growth and performance.
Specialties within Equine Nutrition
Non-Ruminant Nutrition
Research in non-ruminant nutrition involves
studies with swine and poultry. Discoveries from both
basic and applied research are integrated into feeding programs
to maximize the rate and efficiency of meat and egg production
and to optimize reproductive performance. Research
projects currently include:
- evaluation of nutrient requirements.
- bioavailablity of nutrients.
- interrelations of nutrients with
genetics and environmental factors.
- efficacy of growth and carcass modifiers.
- nutritional properties of feed ingredients.
Specialties
within Non-ruminant Nutrition
Physiology research includes both the
fields of reproductive and lactational physiology.
The reproductive physiology group includes research and
extension faculty who conduct both basic and applied research
with beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine and sheep. Research
ranges from field trials with cooperating commercial herds
to in vitro studies at the cellular and molecular levels.
The focus of the lactational physiology program is on prevention
and control of mastitis and on bovine immunity. Primary
areas of research interest include:
- regulation of puberty onset.
- endocrine control of uterine function.
- enhancement of sperm fertility.
- nutritional and environmental factors
influencing disease resistance in cattle.
- applied studies on mastitis prevention
and control.
Specialties within Physiology
Research is oriented primarily towards
evaluation of various beef cattle genetic types when managed
on endophytic‑tall fescue.
Specialties
within Genetics and Animal Breeding
The
Food Science program
integrates a strong basic research program with applied
research in areas related to foods derived from animals
and other important agricultural products. Food Science
research is essential to the efficient utilization of valuable
agricultural products and adding value to low‑quality
raw materials. The number of jobs in the field
of food science has historically exceeded the number of
Food Science graduates.
Specialties
within Food Science
Microorganisms play
key roles in many agricultural and animal production systems.
An understanding of microbial physiology and of the symbiotic
relationships between microorganisms and domestic animals
is critical to developing efficient management practices.
The microbiology
program emphasizes the use of molecular and
biochemical tools for studying and manipulating beneficial
microbial activities in agricultural and animal production
systems. Areas of study include:
