Management strategies for intensive rotational grazing of lactating dairy cows during summer and winter seasons are currently being examined. Research is conducted cooperatively with faculty in the Departments of Animal Science, Agronomy and Soil Science. Nutritional factors being examined include long chain fatty acids and degradable and undegradable crude protein. Understanding the basic mechanisms of action is the ultimate goal. Physiology Research in physiology includes investigations in the processes controlling reproduction, immune function, growth, mammary development and lactation.
Research ranges from animal systems to the control and function of individual genes.
Research on reproductive physiology research is conducted within the department and cooperatively with other departments in the Interdisciplinary Reproductive Physiology Program . These dep artments include Animal Sciences, and Microbiology and Cell Science in the College of Agriculture, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Anatomy, Pharmacology and Biochemistry in the Medical Center and Departments of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and Physiological Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine. The diversity of this program permits graduate students to be exposed to a cross section of a number of reproductive areas. These areas involve ovulation control, uterine function, placental-fetal growth and metabolism, and lactation. Species studied include cows, sheep, pigs, horses, rats, and mice.