Project objectives

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Sept. 2012 – Aug. 2017

  • Evaluate birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) cultivars
    • Assess agronomic growth characteristics & condensed tannin profiles
    • Assess the anti-parasitic effect of BFT cultivars
    • Identify tannins critical for anti-parasitic activity
    • Assess the effect of BFT on immune function
  • Develop and demonstrate on-farm establishment & management of BFT nurse pastures
  • Evaluate herd / flock health and economic outcomes of BFT pasture mixes for gastrointestinal nematode suppression
  • Extend practices to organic & transitioning small ruminant producers
WVU
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Uphold, West Virginia University

2019 Update – Learn more about our new USDA NIFA Organic Transitions Program project entitled, Overcoming barriers to transitioning small ruminants to organic production:  Effects of feeding birdsfoot trefoil on parasite control, nutritional status & profitability, that builds from this Sept. 2012 – Aug. 2017 project.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative under Agreement No. 2012-51300-03654.orei_all