Project Number: 5434-31000-015-01
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 01, 2003
End Date: Jun 30, 2008

Objective:
Research and develop rangeland animal management strategies and tactics that conserve rangeland resources while enhancing individual animal performance and herd productivity per unit area of land. The research will be conducted at the 55,000+ acre USDA-ARS Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory (LARRL) and other mutually agreed upon sites. Research projects to be conducted at LARRL, and the mutually agreed upon sites, will be collaborative efforts in which both the University and ARS co-lead in the preparation, planning, and execution of experiments.

Approach:
Livestock, primarily beef cattle, owned by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) will be utilized to develop new understandings of the capacity of various animal genetic selection criterion and reproductive and nutrient management strategies to enhance rangeland based, animal productivity in concert with the ecological and economic sustainability of rangeland based animal agriculture. Results will be summarized and disseminated to producers, researchers, rangeland managers, and other interested parties.