Recipient Organization
NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY
1620 STANDLEY DR ACADEMIC RESH A RM 110
LAS CRUCES,NM 88003-1239
Performing Department
Animal & Range Sciences
Non Technical Summary
The goal is to obtain one-half funding for the purchase of a high-speed centrifuge (maximum speed 21,000 rpm), which will be used by the members of the Animal and Range Sciences Department at New Mexico State University (NMSU). The other half of funding will come from the Department of Animal and Range Sciences. This centrifuge will be used to support research and teaching programs. Project director and co-PDs in ruminant nutrition conduct research involving the investigation of nutrient digestibility, nutritional management of stressed calves, productivity of the beef cow in challenging conditions, impact of diet and toxic plants on rumen microbial ecology. Commonly collected samples include ruminal fluid, duodenal contents, microbial cultures and blood. Samples are clarified by centrifugaton prior to analyzing for metabolites such as ammonia, volatile fatty acids, non-esterified fatty acids, purines, or amino acids. Circulating hormone and enzyme levels in plasma and serum are of interest to Ashley, Hallford and Ross. Harvesting serum and plasma from blood samples is the initial step for 90% of the assays conducted by these co-PDs. Additionally, Ashley conducts in vitro experiments that require the generation of expression vectors. The impact of a new high-speed centrifuge at NMSU Department of Animal and Range Sciences will greatly aid in the production of precise and accurate data. An increase in data generation will increase publication productivity and make us more competitive for grant funding in the future and expand our capabilities to adopt and/or develop new assays.
Animal Health Component
40%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
30%
Applied
40%
Developmental
30%
Goals / Objectives
The goal is to obtain one-half funding for a high-speed centrifuge (maximum 21,000 rpm), which will be used by the members of the Animal and Range Sciences Department at New Mexico State University (NMSU). The other half of the funding will be provided by the Department of Animal and Range Sciences (see letter from Dr. Tim Ross in Documentation of Collaboration). The overreaching objective of the research conducted in animal science at NMSU is to provide our stakeholders with tools to improve the efficiency of ruminant animal production in arid environments.
Project Methods
1.1. 20132014OctoberNovemberDecemberJanuaryFebruary1. Awarded funds releasedXXXXXXXXXXX2. Quotes solicited from 3 centrifuge manufacturersXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX3. NMSU Purchasing approval and centrifuge orderedXXXXXXXXXX4. Centrifuge delivered, installed, and user training completedXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX5. Centrifuge fully functionalXXXXXXXX