2010 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) To develop and use tools focused on the issues of small farmers with a focus on issues that impact animal health and farm production efficiency. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Cooperative research has lead to improved strategies to reduce stress and disease in livestock and poultry. However, novel approaches are needed to further optimize and quantify production efficiency of small farms. Novel foraging strategies and the use of natural compounds will be tested to reduce stress and eliminate parasites and pathogens in production systems. University partners will assess the economic impact of new methods thereby providing small producers with tools to determine the feasability of incorporating research findings into production practices. Both undergraduate and graduate students will work with both parties to achieve project goals. 3.Progress Report A series of research projects were conducted that focus on issues that impact animal health and farm production efficiency. 1) An in situ study using ruminally-cannulated steers was conducted to determine ruminal in situ disappearance kinetics of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber of four biofuel forages, including eastern grammgrass, switchgrass, Miscanthus giganteus, and Miscanthus sacchariflorus harvested on three dates in west-central Arkansas; and determine the interactive effects of forage type and body condition on fat deposition, blood metabolites, and calving rate of beef cows. 2) Integration of poultry and sheep for parasite control in lambs; high protein forage systems for goat kids to increase tolerance to internal parasites and increase weight gains; farm systems for sheep to examine integrated control of worms; long-term effects of pelleted sericea lespedeza compared with a commercial feed on parasite control and growth in doe kids. 3) Soil characteristics in sorghum plots were determined. Four summer interns from Oklahoma State University, Langston University, Arkansas Tech University and University of Arkansas-Ft. Smith were involved in these studies. The ADODR communicated with cooperators by monthly email and phone conversations.