Animal Physiology Lab

Genetic Decision-Making for Enhanced Herd Outcomes

The Animal Physiology Laboratory, part of the TSU Institute of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Research, has been involved in ruminant animal research since 1995. Up to 2002, research concentrated on tall fescue endophyte toxicosis in beef cattle with a particular interest in the use of heat-tolerant breed genetics. A transition began in 2001 that lead to the emergence of a new research area, meat goat production.

Presently, meat goats represent the research focus with genetic evaluation for performance and fitness in the southeastern US as the general theme of this TSU small ruminant effort. The research herd is comprised of approximately 250 breeding does and herd sires on 80+ acres of pastureland representing diverse sets of Boer, Kiko, Spanish, Myotonic, and Savanna genetics; all part of the meat goat genetic evaluation and outreach program.

Contact me for more information.

RESEARCH-BASED MEAT GOAT EXTENSION PUBLICATIONS

To view a valuable series of research-based meat goat extension publications, visit the web page of my research and life partner:

Maria L. Leite-Browning, DVM at Alabama A&M University

A permanent partner in the research activities of this lab, Dr. Maria is the former (initial) State Extension Specialist for goats at TSU and now serves in the same capacity as Extension Animal Scientist for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

Training sessions and seminars featuring the latest in TSU meat goat genetics research are often in joint programs with Alabama A&M and Alabama Cooperative Extension under the direction of Dr. Maria.

webpage contact:
Richard Browning

meat goat research

UPDATE (Oct 2012): Latest paper added to Publications page presenting effect of meat goat breed on doe longevity under limited-input commercial management conditions.

UPDATE (Sep 2012): New fact sheet added to Publications page addressing fescue toxicosis in meat goats following a recent research report.

UPDATE (Aug 2012): Bio-security fact sheets are now posted under the new Bio-security page as part of the educational program of the National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoo-notic Disease Defense (FAZD).

for profit or fun?

Are you raising goats for profit OR for fun and games? The link below may be helpful in answering this question when tax time comes around.

which buck is best?

twobucks

Looks alone may not answer the question. The availablility and use of solid performance data will go a long way in making good sire selection decisions when trying to enhance herd performance traits such as doe fitness or kid weight gain. This is true whether choosing among a pen of young sire prospects or perhaps purchasing semen from a selection of bucks in an AI catalog.

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