Source: FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
BUILDING CAPACITY IN ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES (ARTS) AT FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY (FVSU): STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF IVEP AND AI IN SMALL RUMINANTS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1030376
Grant No.
2023-38821-39935
Cumulative Award Amt.
$599,670.00
Proposal No.
2022-09585
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Apr 15, 2023
Project End Date
Apr 14, 2026
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[EQ]- Research Project
Recipient Organization
FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
1005 STATE UNIVERSITY DRIVE
FORT VALLEY,GA 31030
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The global population is expected to rise from a current level of ~7.7 billion to ~9.7 billion by 2050. To meet future needs and to be able to sustain agricultural production, agricultural research and its applications need to use all emerging technologies one of which is assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). Growth in small ruminant (sheep and goat) production has gained tremendous interest in the USA over the last few decades, particularly in the southeastern U.S. Small ruminants have potential for meat and milk production as well as in biomedical and reproductive research. ARTs particularly AI and IVEP is still not-well-developed in sheep and goat compared to cattle and there is a room for further improvement. A strong, well-trained workforce in the agricultural and biomedical sciences is essential to provide the resources necessary to feed the growing population and helping people to alleviate their health issues. This effort requires innovative solutions that will come from a workforce with a diverse background. To this end, the proposed project seeks to establish ARTs research and teaching facility at Fort Valley State University to provide opportunities for underrepresented students to be trained and acquire skills in these technologies. This will give them the capabilities to complete their undergraduate and graduate degrees in agricultural and biomedical sciences and ultimately pursuing a career in embryology, andrology, animal reproduction, human fertility, or biotechnology. Another research goal of the project is to utilize ARTs especially AI and IVEP to improve the reproductive potential and production in small ruminants.
Animal Health Component
30%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
30%
Developmental
20%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
30139991020100%
Knowledge Area
301 - Reproductive Performance of Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
3999 - Animal research, general;

Field Of Science
1020 - Physiology;
Goals / Objectives
The proposed project seeks to establish assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) research and teaching facility at Fort Valley State University to provide opportunities for underrepresented students to be trained and acquire skills in these technologies. This will give them the capabilities to complete their undergraduate and graduate degrees in agricultural and biomedical sciences and ultimately pursuing a career in embryology, andrology, animal reproduction, human fertility, or biotechnology. Another research goal of the project is to utilize ARTs especially artificial insemination (AI) and in vitro embryo production (IVEP) to improve the reproductive potential and production in small ruminants.
Project Methods
The proposed project is an integrated (education/research) project. The main education goal of the project is to establish ARTs research and teaching facility to provide opportunities for underrepresented groups to be trained and acquire skills in these technologies. Another goal is to build up resources, collaborations, and technical capabilities to utilize ARTs particularly AI and IVEP in enhancing the reproductive potential and production in small ruminants. Our main research objective is developing some strategies to improve the efficiency of AI and IVEP in small ruminants. The specific research objectives of the project are: 1. To evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of L-carnitine on the quality and fertility of goat and sheep semen, 2. To investigate the effects of L-carnitine supplementation to semen extender on the viability and fertilizing ability of frozen/thawed spermatozoa in small ruminants, 3. To test the impacts of L-carnitine or CoQ10 inclusion during IVM of sheep and goat oocytes on their nuclear maturation, spindle configuration and mitochondrial activities, 4. To study the influences of L-carnitine or CoQ10 supplementation during IVM on in vitro embryo development following IVF of small ruminant oocytes.?

Progress 04/15/24 to 04/14/25

Outputs
Target Audience:Ungreaduate and grdaute students, farmers, researchers, producers, extension personnel, breeders, and other stakeholders. Changes/Problems:Some animals had died due unknown reasons. Seasonality of reproduction in sheep and goats that affect the quality of semen which impacted the time of artificial insemination. It took a long time to hire a postdoctoral fellow who fits the project. Finding a suitable supplier for animals. Finding a slaughterhouse to collect ovaries to run the IVF experiments. Organize international travelling with students abroad due to logistics and other unvoluntary arrangements. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Hiring a Postdoctoral Fellow to work on project objects. Organize several workshops for community and minority farmers on bovine and small ruminants' artificial insemination and pregnancy diagnosis. Training many undergraduate and graduate students from FVUS on different technologies of assisted reproductive technologies including artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization. Integrated graduated students in the work force in the field of animal reproduction. Two of our graduate students secured a job as lab manager in one of the biggest companies in the field of animal reproduction (TransOva Genetics). Here is the website https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-henry-869b501a0/. Undergraduate and Graduate students from FVSU participated in Summer Undergraduate Agricultural Biotechnology Research Experience (SURE) program in Utah State University. Undergraduate student, Layla Watkins (Selected for Summer Undergraduate Agricultural Biotechnology Research Experience (SURE) Scholarship in Utah State University 2024). Secured the 2nd place award poster presentation on ADVS/CVM Student Research Symposium, Utah State University, 2024. Graduate students from FVSU attended and presented their work at many national and international conferences and symposiums including International Embryo Technology Society Annual Conference January 2025. American Society of Animal Science, Annual Conference 2025. Fort Valley State University Research Day 2025. Students supported by the project secured second place in oral presentation at FVSU 2025 Research Day. Two graduate students who worked on the project objectives has graduated (Ranadheer Narlagiri worked on the effects of Coenzyme Q10 supplementation to semen extender on the quality of cryopreserved goat semen and Courtney Henry worked on the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on the quality of goat semen). We also were able to get ovaries from slaughterhouse and establish oocyte maturation and in vitro fertilization experiments. We did a virual commuincation with the CO-PI in Cairo University, Egypt to prepare for the student visit and coolaboration. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been dissiminated through extension and scientific communications in peer reviewed journals, conferences, and presentations. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue training undergraduate and gradaute students on different aspects related to animal artificial insemination and in vitro embryo production. Collabarting with the CO-PI in Utah state University.Visiting Cairo Universit, Egypt to collabrate with the Co-PI in Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University. Organize workshops and other training forstudents and famers on the ARTs and artificial insemination and IVF. Sending students to Utah State University for training. Continue publishing publishing peer reviewed papers and attending conferences and workshops. Preparing for doing artificial insemination for sheep and goats.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Hiring a Postdoctoral Fellow to work on project objects. Organize several workshops for community and minority farmers on bovine and small ruminants' artificial insemination and pregnancy diagnosis. Training many undergraduate and graduate students from FVUS on different technologies of assisted reproductive technologies including artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization. Integrated graduated students in the work force in the field of animal reproduction. Two of our graduate students secured a job as lab manager in one of the biggest companies in the field of animal reproduction (TransOva Genetics). Here is the website https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-henry-869b501a0/. Undergraduate and Graduate students from FVSU participated in Summer Undergraduate Agricultural Biotechnology Research Experience (SURE) program in Utah State University. Undergraduate student, Layla Watkins (Selected for Summer Undergraduate Agricultural Biotechnology Research Experience (SURE) Scholarship in Utah State University 2024). Secured the 2nd place award poster presentation on ADVS/CVM Student Research Symposium, Utah State University, 2024. Graduate students from FVSU attended and presented their work at many national and international conferences and symposiums including International Embryo Technology Society Annual Conference January 2025. American Society of Animal Science, Annual Conference 2025. Fort Valley State University Research Day 2025. Students supported by the project secured second place in oral presentation at FVSU 2025 Research Day. Two graduate students who worked on the project objectives has graduated (Ranadheer Narlagiri worked on the effects of Coenzyme Q10 supplementation to semen extender on the quality of cryopreserved goat semen and Courtney Henry worked on the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on the quality of goat semen). We also were able to get ovaries from slaughterhouse and establish oocyte maturation and in vitro fertilization experiments.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: 40?Coenzyme Q10 supplementation enhanced dairy goat sperm motility, viability, and acrosome integrity after cooling and cryopreservation Moawad A. R., Narlagiri R., Kolikapongu R., Henry C., Miller S., Kouakou B., Singh M., Shahat A. M., Whitley N. C., Polejaeva I. A. (2025) 40?Coenzyme Q10 supplementation enhanced dairy goat sperm motility, viability, and acrosome integrity after cooling and cryopreservation. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 37, RDv37n1Ab40.https://doi.org/10.1071/RDv37n1Ab40
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Jordan J., Whitley N. C., Fareed J., Narlagiri R., Kolikapongu R., Odom T., Brown D., Ramsey T., Shahat A. M., Singh M., Kouakou B., Polejaeva I. A., Moawad A. R. (2025) 170?Impact of l-carnitine dietary supplementation on the quality of ram semen collected during the non-breeding season. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 37, RDv37n1Ab170. https://doi.org/10.1071/RDv37n1Ab170
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Henry C., Narlagiri R., Kolikapongu R., Miller A., Kouakou B., Singh M., Shahat A. M., Whitley N. C., Polejaeva I. A., Moawad A. R. (2025) 169?l-Carnitine dietary supplementation improved the quality of dairy goat semen collected during the breeding season. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 37, RDv37n1Ab169.https://doi.org/10.1071/RDv37n1Ab169
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Beal D., Watkins L., Williams M., Liu Y., Blocher R., Patrick T., Bunderson I., Moawad A. R., Polejaeva I. A. (2025) 200?Effect of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on bovine oocyte maturation and embryo development. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 37, RDv37n1Ab200.https://doi.org/10.1071/RDv37n1Ab200
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Effect of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation in Semen Extender on the Quality of Cooled and Cryopreserved Goat Semen. By Ranadheer Narlagiri, A Thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Fort Valley State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Animal Science, November 2024 Fort Valley State University
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Impact of L-Carnitine Supplementation on the Quality of Cooled and Cryopreserved Goat Semen During the Breeding Season By Courtney Henry A Thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Fort Valley State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Animal Science April 2025 Fort Valley State University College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: El-Saka, E.M.; El-Wishy, A.B.A.; Moawad, A.R.; Ibrahim, S.; Ibrahim, S.; Shahat, A.M. Impact of Flavonoid-Enriched Antioxidant Nanoformulation Supplementation on In Vitro Maturation and Gene Expression of Buffalo Oocytes. Animals 2025, 15, 1147. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15081147
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Training many undergraduate and graduate students from FVUS on different technologies of assisted reproductive technologies including artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization. Integrated graduated students in the work force in the field of animal reproduction. Two of our graduate students secured a job as lab manager in one of the biggest companies in the field of animal reproduction (TransOva Genetics). Here is the website https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-henry-869b501a0/.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Undergraduate and Graduate students from FVSU participated in Summer Undergraduate Agricultural Biotechnology Research Experience (SURE) program in Utah State University. Undergraduate student, Layla Watkins (Selected for Summer Undergraduate Agricultural Biotechnology Research Experience (SURE) Scholarship in Utah State University 2024). Secured the 2nd place award poster presentation on ADVS/CVM Student Research Symposium, Utah State University, 2024
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Graduate students from FVSU attended and presented their work in many national and international conferences and symposium include International Embryo Technology Society Annual Conference January 2025. American Society of Animal Science, Annual Conference 2025. Fort Valley State University Research Day 2025. Student supported by the project secured second place in oral presentation in FVSU 2025 Research Day.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Ramya Sri Kolikapongu, Sharath Chandra Namani, Miller Schauston, Mahipal Singh, Brou Kouakou, Adel R Moawad, 481 Impacts of breeding method on metabolic profile, progesterone concentration, and pregnancy rates in dairy goats, Journal of Animal Science, Volume 102, Issue Supplement_3, September 2024, Pages 169170, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae234.196


Progress 04/15/23 to 04/14/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Ungreaduate and grdaute students, farmers, researchers, producers, extension personnel, breeders, and other stakeholders. Changes/Problems:It takes long time to hire a postdoctoral fellow who fitsthe project. Finding a suitable suppliers for animal. Some animals were died due unknown reasons.Seasonality of reproduction in sheep and goatstht affects the quality of semen. Finding a slughterhouse to collect sheep and goat ovaries to run the IVF experiments. Organize for travelling with the students abroad due to logestics and other unvolantry arrangements. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Organize several workshops for community and minority farmers on bovine and small ruminants artificial insemination and pregnancy diagnosis.Training many undergraduate and graduate students from FVUS on different technology of assisted reproductive technologies including artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization. Integrated graduated students in the work force in the field of animal reproduction. One of our graduate students secured a job as lab manger in one of the biggest companies in the field of animal reproduction (TransOva Genetics). Here is the website. https://ag.fvsu.edu/news/conqueror-fort-valley-state-student-will-graduate-job-animal-science. Undergraduate students from FVSU participated in Summer Undergraduate Agricultural Biotechnology Research Experience (SURE) program in Utah State University. Students from FVSU attended and presented their work in many national and international conferences and symposium such as international embryo technology society, ARD Symposium 2024, FVSU research day. My students supported by the project secured second place in oral presentation in ARD 2024 Symposium. Also my students secured the first 3 places for oral presentation in FVSU Research Day 2024. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been dissiminated through extension and scientific communications in peer reviewed journals, conferences, and presentations. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue training undergraduate and gradaute students. Collabarting with the CO-PI in Utah state University. Hiring the postdoctoral. Visiting Egypt to collabrate with the Co-PI in Cairo University. Organize workshops and other training for students and famers on the ARTs and artificial insemination and IVF. Sending students to Utah State University for training.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Organize several workshops for community and minority farmers on bovine and small ruminants artificial insemination and pregnancy diagnosis. Training many undergraduate and graduate students from FVUS on different technology of assisted reproductive technologies including artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization. Integrated graduated students in the work force in the field of animal reproduction. One of our graduate students secured a job as lab manger in one of the biggest companies in the field of animal reproduction (TransOva Genetics). Here is the website. https://ag.fvsu.edu/news/conqueror-fort-valley-state-student-will-graduate-job-animal-science. Undergraduate students from FVSU participated in Summer Undergraduate Agricultural Biotechnology Research Experience (SURE) program in Utah State University. Students from FVSU attended and presented their work in many national and international conferences and symposium such as international embryo technology society, ARD Symposium 2024, FVSU research day. My students supported by the project secured second place in oral presentation in ARD 2024 Symposium. Also my students secured the first 3 places for oral presentation in FVSU Research Day 2024. Buying the shhep and goats and initatite the experiments of feeding the animals with L-Carnitine and collecting data. Semen cryopreservation for small ruminants. Collecting oocytes and start IVF experiments.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: 203?Effects of oxygen level on bovine oocyte maturation and embryo development K. Bennett A , D. Beal B , Y. Liu A , T. Patrick A , I. Bunderson A , A. Moawad B and I. Polejaeva A - Author Affiliations A Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA B Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Georgia, USA Reproduction, Fertility and Development 36(2) 257 https://doi.org/10.1071/RDv36n2Ab203
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Exploring the impacts of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on the Quality and Fertility of Cryopreserved Goat Semen: R. Narlagiri*, S. C. Namani, R. Kolikapongu, M. Schauston, H. Courtney, B. Kouakou, M. Singh, A. R. Moawad. ARD Research Symposium 2024,
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Impacts of L-carnitine Dietary Supplementation �on Motility, Viability, and Fertility�of Dairy Goat Spermatozoa Collected During Breeding Season. Courtney Henry,�Ranadheer�Narlagiri, Sharath�Chandra Namani, Ramya Sri�Kolikapongu,�Miller,�Schauston, Brou Kouakou,�Mahipal�Singh, Adel R. Moawad 14th Annual Research Creative Works Symposium
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/blogs/fort-valley-state-university-project-building-reproductive-technology-capacities