Animal Science

According to the 2007 USDA-NASS census of agriculture, the number of goats in the U.S. increased by 24% from 2002 to 2007 making this the fastest growing segment of the livestock industry. This follows more than a decade long trend in increased production of goats in this country. It is generally considered that the driving force for the increased demand for goat meat (chevon and cabrito) is due to the growth in the U.S. ethnic population and the desire for healthier diets. Goats are relatively small, easily handled and inexpensive. This makes them ideal for limited resource (both in terms of economic and acreage), women and Hispanic farmers. For these reasons and others, Lincoln University, along with many of 1890 Land-Grant Universities have made significant efforts to assist producers in producing and marketing goats and their products.

Contact Information:
Lincoln University Cooperative Research
107 Foster Hall
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0029
Phone: (573) 681-5380
Fax: (573) 681-2955
E-mail: Dr. Bruce Shanks shanksb@lincolnu.edu

Annual Reports by Research Investigator

Dr. Zahra Afrasiabi
Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian
Dr. Charlotte Clifford-Rathert
Dr. Helen Swartz

Developing a new nanosensor for accurate and sensitive detection of luteinizing hormone (LH) in sheep and goat. This calorimetric nanosensors consist of gold nanoparticles conjugated to anit-LH antibody. Nanosensors based on gold nanoparticles can detect LH in femtomolar quantities in real time, thus providing an opportunity to detect appropriate time to breed. This approach will offer a unique nanoparticle mediated modality for the detection of LH.

This nanosensor will be used to determine the suitable time to breed in the absence of a male, this would be highly beneficial and could result in increased use of artificial insemination by small farm family operations. Since neither ewes nor goats always have overt behavioral or physically identifiable changes that signal optimum time to breed, a physiological change must be detected.