The United States Department of Agriculture NIFA is investing $11.4 million for 27 projects within the Animal Nutrition, Growth and Lactation Program priority area of Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), with $1.29M allocated towards research within the Department of Animal Sciences at The Ohio State University.
AFRI promotes innovative work in cellular, molecular, genomic and whole-animal aspects of nutrition, growth and lactation. Program priorities focus on "nutrient utilization and efficiency, including influence and impact of the gastrointestinal microbiome, especially mitigation of enteric methane and other greenhouse gases; innovative approaches to feed formulation or use of novel alternative feedstuffs, especially those that may contribute to reducing emission of methane and other greenhouse gases; improving the quality and efficiency of producing meat, milk, eggs, fish, and animal fiber; and metabolic disorders and nutritional deficiencies affecting production."
Dr. Benjamin Enger's USDA-NIFA grant titled “Mammary gland blood vessels: Unrealized potential to improve mammary growth and milk production efficiency” was funded for $650,000.
Dr. Alejandro Relling's USDA-NIFA grant titled "Rumen-native bacteria as an alternative to translate lower methane emissions to feed efficiency improvements" was funded for $640,000.
View the full list of grant recipients here.