Progress 03/01/19 to 02/28/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for the project is other scientists working on goat health, goat producers, post-doctoral researchers, undergraduate minority students,and industry partners involved in the development of goat products. Changes/Problems:Due to Covid related closures of the research labs, not all laboratory-related proposed research was accomplished during the life of the grant. However, research materials were collected that will further be evaluated to answer some of the research questions that were not completed. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Undergraduate students participated in analyzing the samples in the laboratory-acquiring workforce and research skills. Postdoctoral research associate trained undergraduate students in molecular methods The students also were trained in research data analysis and presented their research data at local and national scientific conferences. The research data generated was presented by the scientist and postdoc in scientific meetings How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been mainly disseminated to the scientific community and students who have been audiences during presentations of research findings. Informally, the scientists have engaged producers during farm visits and field workshops, informing them of the ongoing research work. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Data analysis on the effect of early probiotic supplementation on overall health, growth performance, and total plasma protein was completed. Data on the effect of probiotic supplementation on microbial loads (E.coli and lactic acid bacteria), lactic acid diversity, and food safety pathogens prevalence was characterized using PCR-based molecular methods. Total DNA has been extracted, awaiting 16s sequencing and total parasite load determination. Meat samples for collecting data on final carcass product quality were processed and are currently being analyzed.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Lactic acid bacteria diversity in pre-weaned goats as assessed by RAPD-PCR and 16s Ribosomal DNA sequencing
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Evaluation of Diversity and Potential Beneficial Characteristics of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Adult Goats
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Evaluation of Effect of Probiotic Administration on Health, Performance
and select Serum Parameters in Growing Meat Goats
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Evaluation of Effect of Probiotic Administration on Total Lactic Acid Bacteria and E.coli Counts in Pastured Growing Meat Goats
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Age based differences in abundance and diversity of lactic acid bacteria in the gut of pastured meat goats.
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Progress 03/01/21 to 02/28/22
Outputs
Target Audience:Students at Virginia State University were involved in the project and acquired skills in microbiology and molecular biology A postdoctoral associate was trained in molecular methods, data analysis, microbiology Changes/Problems:Interruption by Covid-19 related closures of the institution made it difficult to complete planned laboratory work. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Complete data analysis, develop manuscripts for publication Present data in conferences. Complete analysis of fecal samples for pathogenic bacteria( animal and human)and parasitic pathogens using molecular tools Analyze meat samples Complete serum sample analysis for relevant hematological parameters(e.g. total serum proteins, antibodies (ELISA) Complete total stool DNA extraction and send for sequencing Mentor undergraduate students and postdoctoral trainee
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The overall goal of the project is to generate research-based data on the benefits of probiotic supplementation in healthy goats of different age groups Objective 1: In addition to overall health and growth development, we have evaluatedtotal lactic acid bacteria and E.coli counts between probiotic supplemented and non-supplemented groups. We have evaluated the lactobacillus diversity in control vs probiotic treated animals using RAPD and genomic sequencing We have extracted total fecal DNA for 16s sequencing for some of the samples Students were involved in laboratory processing of samples(microbiology and molecular biology skills)
Publications
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Progress 03/01/20 to 02/28/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The main target audience reached by the project during this period was undergraduate students and postdoctoral trainees. Undergraduate students participated in field sample collection from animals involved in the experiment and also laboratory processing of samples. The postdoctoral trainee was involved in the laboratory processing of the samples during the same period. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This has been a training opportunity for undergraduate students in STEM research and laboratory skills and also postdoctoral trainees in research methods and laboratory techniques. All offered by PI. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The next step is to complete data analysis and compare probiotic supplemented and non-supplemented groups. The team will analyze serum samples by ELISA for immune health benefits, meat samples for meat quality analysis, fecal samples for parasite and pathogenic bacteria analysis, and analyze food safety pathogens. Sequencing of lactobacillus isolates and typing to confirm establishment in the goat gut will follow. Next, we will be analyzing overall microbial diversity in probiotic supplemented vs non- supplemented goats and then finally running a three-month probiotictrial with peri-weaning goats with strains known to have antiparasitic effects.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This project is aimed at evaluating the health benefits (or lack of) of early probiotic supplementation in young goat kids as well as offering training opportunities for students to acquire STEM skills. Potential benefits hypothesized are improved performance,decreased pathogenic bacteria, reduced parasite loads, higher-quality meat products, and a well-trained/skilled agricultural workforce. For objectives 1-4the first trial of the experiment with newborn goat kids until 10months of age has been completed. Animals were monitored, weights were collected, serum and fecal samples have been collected and partially processed in the laboratory. Animals have been slaughtered and meat samples are waiting for analysis. For objective 5, several students were involved in sample collection and laboratory processing, acquiring hands-on skills in animal handling, sample collections, microbiology, hematology, and molecular biology.
Publications
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Progress 03/01/19 to 02/29/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience reached so far are undergraduate students. Animal science students at Virginia State University had a experiential learning opportunities bypaticipatingin research activities accomplished during the year. These includedfecal sample collection, weighing animals, treatment administration. laboratory processing of fecal samples, serum and plasma extraction, microscopy, microbial isolation and microbial DNA extraction. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training opportunities have been offered to undergraduate students by PI (Dr. Ndegwa and Dr. Kim) during animal studies and during laboratory activites (microbial isolation, blood sample processing, microscopy and molecular techniques). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Laboratory analysis of serum and plasma samples-Immune markers, choresterol, lipids Microbial characterization and quantification-E.coli and Lactic acid bacteria DNA exteraction from fecal samples 16S sequencing Parasite quantification in fecal samples Meat quality analysis Data analysis Continue working with undergraduate students
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
All the major goals listed above are in the process of being accomplished after first experimental trial. Data on growth perfomance and healthis under analysis, Research samples (serum, fecal, samples, meat samples) have been collected and are awaiting laboratory analysis to accomplish goals i), ii), iii) and iv. Animal science students have been actively engaged in animal and laboratory studies.
Publications
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