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ARS Home Midwest Area St. Paul, Minnesota Plant Science Research Research





- Samac, Deborah - Debby
- Grass, Forage, and Rangeland Agroecosystems (215)

Research Project: **Location:
                            Plant Science Research** Project Number: 5062-21500-001-004-I
                        
                        Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement Start Date: Sep 1, 2019
                        
                        End Date: Aug 31, 2024 **Objective:**
                        
                        1. Evaluate digestibility and production efficiency of alfalfa protein concentrate (APC) as a component of diets for rainbow trout.
2. Evaluate plant defensins for protecting rainbow trout from pathogens.
3. Carry out technoeconomic and market analyses of alfalfa protein concentrate production to determine the costs and benefits as an on-farm co-product in rotation with corn grain. **Approach:**
                        
                        For evaluating digestibility, in the first year four levels of commercially-available APC will be used in formulating pelleted feed for rainbow trout. Feeding studies will be done to determine digestibility, feed-intake, feed conversion, growth, proximate composition, blood chemistry, liver and intestinal histology. Pellet physical properties and the effect of APC on water quality will also be measured. In the second year, the optimal feed formulation will be tested in larger on-farm trials. To evaluate defensins, the gamma core peptides will be incorporated at different levels to determine their activity against trout pathogens. Full length defensins will be produced in vitro and in planta for incorporation in feed and in water for larger scale experiments to evaluate animal health. Yield and stability of MtDef5 produced in alfalfa will be measured. For the economic analyses, the production costs for establishing and harvesting alfalfa for APC and the value of APC, coproducts and nitrogen credits to the next crop will be used to develop an web-based decision tool for growers to evaluate incorporating APC production into their farming operations.


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