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Principal Investigator: Dr. Karyn Bischoff
Contact Information: E-mail: klb72@cornell.edu - Phone: 607-253-3900
Sponsor: United States Department of Agriculture
Grant Number: 00054583
Title: Determining Healthy Blood Selenium and Serum Vitamin E Levels for Domestic Goats Used in Food Production
Annual Direct Cost: $6,000
Project Period: 02/01/06-01/31/07
Summary: This study aims to define the healthy range of blood selenium and serum vitamin E concentrations in domestic goats used for meat or dairy. Selenium and vitamin E are important nutrients for animal health but deficiency or excess have caused significant morbidity and mortality. Selenium and/or vitamin E deficiency in the form of white muscle disease has been reported in goats in the US and around the world. Reference ranges for selenium and vitamin E are well established for most classes of livestock, but healthy ranges for these nutrients in goats are difficult to find in the scientific literature. The productivity of the growing US goat industry will increase as more information is accumulated on goat nutrition and medicine. This work will fill this significant research gap in goat herd health. Information collected will be made available to veterinary and livestock nutrition professionals throughout the country. A group of veterinarians from the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory and the Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University are leading this study. Areas of expertise among investigators include extension, large animal medicine, epidemiology, and toxicology. Samples will be collected from four dairy and meat goat producers in New York. Samples will be analyzed for selenium and vitamin E. Statistical analysis and interpretation will utilize appropriate software.
Preliminary results from this study will be submitted for presentation at the American Animal Veterinary Diagnosticians meeting in November, 2006. Final results will be published in a major peer-reviewed veterinary or nutrition journal. Samples will be retained for future investigations. Available preliminary data suggests that increased blood selenium and vitamin E concentrations correlate with increasing age in dairy and meat goats.
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