2005 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? The rapidly growing meat goat industry offers an alternative agricultural enterprise for small farms in the Appalachian hill lands. The productivity and survival of small farm enterprises is threatened by lack of technology for finishing meat goats and other specialty small ruminants such as hair sheep on pasture. Opportunities for enterprise diversity on small farms through application of new technologies and refinement of management practices for finishing small ruminants on pasture are needed. Finishing meat goats on pasture is an alternative agricultural enterprise for small farms in the Appalachian hill lands. Information is needed about plant species and pasture-meat goat management strategies to maintain animal health and achieve desirable growth rates and carcass quality. Current recommendations for finishing meat goats are based on studies using sheep or dairy goats, which have different metabolic demands. Infection with gastrointestinal parasites is the most common health problem encountered by goat producers in the U.S. Metabolites in specific plants may reduce parasite burdens and enhance animal performance and meat quality. The impact of intensive pasture-based finishing of meat goats on pasture ecology, soil fertility/quality, nutrient cycling, and gastrointestinal parasite control is poorly characterized. The overall objective is to conduct controlled environment, field plot, and paddock-scale experiments to better quantify components in pasture-based finishing systems capable of producing an 80-pound meat goat with carcass having a high lean to fat ratio. Plants and specific plant chemical components that have potential value in meeting meat goat performance and health, and carcass and meat quality objectives will be identified. Plant germplasm having enhanced anthelmintic properties, immune system support capabilities, and antioxidant potential for small ruminants will be increased by tissue culture techniques and conventional propagation procedures. In addition, critical points for Haemonchus contortus control in pasture-based meat goat finishing systems will be identified. The environmental impact of the goat grazing system will be monitored. Economic and other risk analyses of key factors affecting goat finishing systems will help producers better utilize small farm resources and refine management practices to be more economically feasible. The enhancement of current hill-land resource management practices and development of new management options for pasture-based finishing of meat goats and other specialty small ruminants such as hair sheep for small farms the Appalachian region is an integral component of the NP 205 (Rangeland, Pastures, and Forages) and NP 207 (Integrated Agricultural Systems). The project involves an interdisciplinary team of scientists with collaborators at Virginia State University, Virginia Tech, and University of Pittsburgh addressing soil, plant, and animal components and their interactions in a small ruminant finishing system to identify approaches for better control of gastrointestinal parasites, forage management and utilization, and production of high quality chevon harvested from pasture-based production systems. 2.List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. Overall Objective: Develop small ruminant finishing systems, including applications of medicinal plants for improving animal health. Specifically: Design forage-based finishing systems capable of producing an 80-pound meat goat with a carcass having a high lean to fat ratio and meat with consumer benefits. Year 1 (FY 2004) Sub-objective 1: Identify plant materials that have the potential value in meeting meat goat health and performance, carcass, and meat quality objectives. Goal 1: Determine the concentration of secondary metabolites in chicory herbage, the influence of soil fertility on these concentrations, and the acceptability of the herbage by goats. Milestone: Conduct forage chicory fertility plot studies Milestone: Conduct herbage palatability evaluation with goats Milestone: Analyze plant samples for various constituents Goal 2. Determine forage brassica yield, nutritive value, secondary metabolite concentrations, and influences on goat growth, health, and helminth control. Milestone: Conduct small plot studies Goal 3: Determine influences of plant constituents on in vitro rumen fermentation patterns, meat goat health and performance, and chevon quality. Milestone: Conduct in vitro rumen fermentation studies Sub-Objective 2: Identify critical points for H. contortus control in pasture-based meat goat production systems. Goal 1: Identify plant materials that influence development of H. contortus eggs and larvae in feces. Milestone: Conduct fecal egg culture studies Goal 2: Identify chemical and physical characteristics of forage plants or swards that influence migration and survival of helminth larvae in pastures. Milestone: Develop forage washing method Milestone: Conduct growth chamber studies Milestone: Conduct greenhouse studies Sub-Objective 3: Define the production potential of improved pastures for meat goats. Goal 1: Quantify plant and animal components of improved pasture systems for meat goats. Milestone: Establish/maintain pastures Goal 2: Quantify rates of N release from goat dung. Milestone: Collect dung Milestone: Conduct dung N release study Goal 3: Quantify plant species effects on N cycling in pastures grazed by goats. Milestone: Conduct tannin field study Goal 4: Perform economic and other risk analyses of key factors in pasture-based, goat- finishing systems. Milestone: Review research data Milestone: Prepare economic summaries Year 2 (FY 2005) Sub-objective 1: Identify plant materials that have the potential value in meeting meat goat health and performance, carcass, and meat quality objectives. Goal 1: Determine the concentration of secondary metabolites in chicory herbage, the influence of soil fertility on these concentrations, and the acceptability of the herbage by goats. Milestone: Conduct forage chicory fertility plot studies (Year 2 of multi-year) Milestone: Conduct herbage palatability evaluation with goats (Year 2 or multi-year) Milestone: Analyze plant samples for various constituents (Year 2 of multi-year) Goal 2. Determine forage brassica yield, nutritive value, secondary metabolite concentrations, and influences on goat growth, health, and helminth control. Milestone: Conduct small plot studies (Year 2 of multi-year) Goal 3: Determine influences of plant constituents on in vitro rumen fermentation patterns, meat goat health and performance, and chevon quality. Milestone: Conduct in vitro rumen fermentation studies (Year 2 of multi-year) Milestone: Conduct animal feeding/meat quality study Sub-Objective 2: Identify critical points for H. contortus control in pasture-based meat goat production systems. Goal 1: Identify plant materials that influence development of H. contortus eggs and larvae in feces. Milestone: Conduct fecal egg culture studies (Year 2 of multi-year) Goal 2: Identify chemical and physical characteristics of forage plants or swards that influence migration and survival of helminth larvae in pastures. Milestone: Develop forage washing method (Year 2 if necessary) Milestone: Conduct growth chamber studies (Year 2 of multi-year) Milestone: Conduct greenhouse studies (Year 2 of mulit-year) Sub-Objective 3: Define the production potential of improved pastures for meat goats. Goal 1: Quantify plant and animal components of improved pasture systems for meat goats. Milestone: Establish/maintain pastures (Year 2 of multi-year) Milestone: Conduct grazing studies Goal 2: Quantify rates of N release from goat dung. Milestone: Collect dung (Year 2 of multi-year) Milestone: Conduct dung N release study (Year 2 of multi-year) Goal 3: Quantify plant species effects on N cycling in pastures grazed by goats. Milestone: Conduct tannin field study (Year 2 of multi-year) Goal 4: Perform economic and other risk analyses of key factors in pasture-based, goat- finishing systems. Milestone: Review research data (Year 2 of multi-year) Milestone: Prepare economic summaries (Year 2 of milti-year) Year 3 (FY 2006) Sub-objective 1: Identify plant materials that have the potential value in meeting meat goat health and performance, carcass, and meat quality objectives. Goal 1: Determine the concentration of secondary metabolites in chicory herbage, the influence of soil fertility on these concentrations, and the acceptability of the herbage by goats. Milestone: Conduct forage chicory fertility plot studies (Year 3 of multi-year) Milestone: Conduct herbage palatability evaluation with goats (Year 3 of multi-year) Milestone: Analyze plant samples for various constituents (Year 3 of multi-year) Goal 2. Determine forage brassica yield, nutritive value, secondary metabolite concentrations, and influences on goat growth, health, and helminth control. Milestone: Conduct small plot studies (Year 3 of multi-year) Milestone: Conduct metabolism study Goal 3: Determine influences of plant constituents on in vitro rumen fermentation patterns, meat goat health and performance, and chevon quality. Milestone: Conduct in vitro rumen fermentation studies (Year 3 if necessary) Milestone: Conduct feeding/meat studies (Year 2 of multi-year) Sub-Objective 2: Identify critical points for H. contortus control in pasture-based meat goat production systems. Goal 1: Identify plant materials that influence development of H. contortus eggs and larvae in feces. Milestone: Conduct fecal egg culture studies (Year 3 of multi-year) Goal 2: Identify chemical and physical characteristics of forage plants or swards that influence migration and survival of helminth larvae in pastures. Milestone: Develop forage washing method (Year 3 if necessary) Milestone: Conduct growth chamber studies (Year 3 of multi-year) Milestone: Conduct greenhouse studies (Year 3 of multi-year) Goal 3: Identify effects of dietary plant materials on meat goat response to H. contortus infection. Milestone: Conduct worm culture studies (Year 1 of multi-year) Sub-Objective 3: Define the production potential of improved pastures for meat goats. Goal 1: Quantify plant and animal components of improved pasture systems for meat goats. Milestone: Establish/maintain pastures (Year 3 of multi-year) Milestone: Conduct grazing studies (Year 2 of multi-year) Goal 3: Quantify plant species effects on N cycling in pastures grazed by goats. Milestone: Conduct tannin field study (Year 3 of multi-year) Goal 4: Perform economic and other risk analyses of key factors in pasture-based, goat- finishing systems. Milestone: Review research data (Year 3 of multi-year) Milestone: Prepare economic summaries (Year 3 of multi-year) Year 4 (FY 2007) Sub-objective 1: Identify plant materials that have the potential value in meeting meat goat health and performance, carcass, and meat quality objectives. Goal 1: Determine the concentration of secondary metabolites in chicory herbage, the influence of soil fertility on these concentrations, and the acceptability of the herbage by goats. Milestone: Analyze plant samples for various constituents (Year 4 of multi-year) Goal 2. Determine forage brassica yield, nutritive value, secondary metabolite concentrations, and influences on goat growth, health, and helminth control. Milestone: Conduct metabolism study (Year 2 of multi-year) Goal 3: Determine influences of plant constituents on in vitro rumen fermentation patterns, meat goat health and performance, and chevon quality. Milestone: Conduct in vitro rumen fermentation studies (Year 4 if necessary) Milestone: Conduct feeding/meat studies (Year 3 of multi-year) Sub-Objective 2: Identify critical points for H. contortus control in pasture-based meat goat production systems. Goal 1: Identify plant materials that influence development of H. contortus eggs and larvae in feces. Milestone: Conduct fecal egg culture studies (Year 4 of multi-year if necessary) Goal 2: Identify chemical and physical characteristics of forage plants or swards that influence migration and survival of helminth larvae in pastures. Milestone: Develop forage washing method (Year 4 if necessary) Milestone: Conduct growth chamber studies (Year 4 of multi-year) Milestone: Conduct greenhouse studies (Year 4 of multi-year) Goal 3: Identify effects of dietary plant materials on meat goat response to H. contortus infection. Milestone: Conduct worm culture studies (Year 2 of multi-year) Sub-Objective 3: Define the production potential of improved pastures for meat goats. Goal 1: Quantify plant and animal components of improved pasture systems for meat goats. Milestone: Establish/maintain pastures (Year 4 of multi-year) Milestone: Conduct grazing studies (Year 4 of multi-year) Goal 4: Perform economic and other risk analyses of key factors in pasture-based, goat- finishing systems. Milestone: Review research data (Year 4 of multi-year) Milestone: Prepare economic summaries (Year 4 of multi-year) Year 5 (FY 2008) Sub-objective 1: Identify plant materials that have the potential value in meeting meat goat health and performance, carcass, and meat quality objectives. Goal 1: Determine the concentration of secondary metabolites in chicory herbage, the influence of soil fertility on these concentrations, and the acceptability of the herbage by goats. Milestone: Analyze plant samples for various constituents (Year 5 of multi-year) Goal 2. Determine forage brassica yield, nutritive value, secondary metabolite concentrations, and influences on goat growth, health, and helminth control. Milestone: Conduct metabolism study (Year 3 if necessary of multi-year) Goal 3: Determine influences of plant constituents on in vitro rumen fermentation patterns, meat goat health and performance, and chevon quality. Milestone: Conduct in vitro rumen fermentation studies (Year 5 if necessary) Milestone: Conduct feeding/meat studies (Year 4 of multi-year) Sub-Objective 2: Identify critical points for H. contortus control in pasture-based meat goat production systems. Goal 1: Identify plant materials that influence development of H. contortus eggs and larvae in feces. Milestone: Conduct fecal egg culture studies (Year 5 of multi-year if necessary) Goal 2: Identify chemical and physical characteristics of forage plants or swards that influence migration and survival of helminth larvae in pastures. Milestone: Develop forage washing method (Year 5 if necessary of multi-year) Milestone: Conduct growth chamber studies (Year 5 if necessary of multi-year) Milestone: Conduct greenhouse studies (Year 5 if necessary of multi-year) Goal 3: Identify effects of dietary plant materials on meat goat response to H. contortus infection. Milestone: Conduct worm culture studies (Year 3 of multi-year) Sub-Objective 3: Define the production potential of improved pastures for meat goats. Goal 1: Quantify plant and animal components of improved pasture systems for meat goats. Milestone: Establish/maintain pastures (Year 5 of multi-year) Milestone: Conduct grazing studies (Year 4 if necessary of multi-year) Goal 4: Perform economic and other risk analyses of key factors in pasture-based, goat- finishing systems. Milestone: Review research data (Year 5 if necessary of multi-year) Milestone: Prepare economic summaries (Year 5 if necessary of multi-year) 4a.What was the single most significant accomplishment this past year? Tannins help control soil nitrogen losses. Goats are especially adapted to utilize grazing native vegetation and forages containing high levels of tannin. In order to gain information about the possible effect of plant tannins on soil nitrogen transformation, we added 1% tannic acid to an Appalachian soil planted to Artemisia and periodically measured the concentration of nitrate in the soil solution. Concentrations of nitrate in soil solution collected 28 through 55 days after the addition showed that treatments that had received 1% tannic acid had lower nitrate levels than those without tannic acid addition. High tannin plants could be used to reduce nitrate leaching losses and contamination of ground water. 4b.List other significant accomplishments, if any. Turnips aid pasture renovation. Forage brassicas can provide high-quality forage to extend the grazing season for sheep and goats, but correct timing of planting is essential for good yields. Forage rape and turnips were overseeded into herbicide-suppressed grass pasture in April, June, July, or August in West Virginia provided forage from May to late November. Brassicas can provide forage over a wide time period and are better suited to overseeding into hill pastures that are in need of renovation than into productive pastures. Livestock producers and resource managers can improve efficiency of livestock production in Appalachia with brassica overseeding. Improved nutritional assessment of forages. Broadleaf forages that are of great interest as potential forages for meat goats often contain substances such as pectin, tannin, and ash that interfere with analysis of cell wall concentration. We analyzed a range of grass, legume, and forb forage plants using variations of standard cell wall analysis procedures and concluded that appropriate analysis method for a particular broadleaf forage will depend on its pectin and tannin content and the specific nutritional question being asked. Improved assessment accuracy of forages for goats will aid in optimizing nutrient use efficiency in order to improve production economics. Soil fertility influences chicory forage palatability. Forage chicory possesses numerous traits that make it a potentially valuable pasture species for the Appalachian hill lands, but plants grown on phosphorus-deficient soil in the region have high concentrations of bitter compounds that may be responsible for low palatability of the herbage. We conducted greenhouse and field studies to investigate whether sesquiterpene lactone concentrations in chicory herbage can be manipulated with P fertilization. Concentrations of sesquiterpene lactones were higher in regrowth than in initial growth, and the effect of P fertilization on sesquiterpene lactone concentration differed among the cultivars Forage Feast, Grasslands Puna, Six Point, INIA le Lacerta, and La Niña. Selecting a chicory cultivar that has a low constitutive level of sesquiterpene lactones and ensuring a high level of available phosphorus during establishment can enhance the opportunity to produce palatable chicory. Browse plants nutritious for goats. Woody plants contain condensed tannins which can improve nutrient utilization and aid in the control of gastrointestinal parasites in goats when appropriate amounts are present in the diet. We determined concentrations of condensed tannins in leaves of common shrubs throughout the growing season. Mean foliar condensed tannin concentration was relatively low in Morrow’s honeysuckle, autumn olive, and multiflora rose; intermediate in American crabapple and one hawthorn species; and high in another hawthorn species and in shrubby St. Johnswort. Knowledge of the condensed tannin composition of available woody plant species will enable goat producers to use their plant resources more effectively to achieve production goals. Reducing N losses in Appalachian pastures. Raising goats in the Appalachians is economically promising, but little is known about dynamics of nitrogen pollution when using high stocking rates. We studied effects of single, double and triple applications of goat urine on nitrogen leaching and vegetation. We found that with high deposition rates, nitrogen leaching losses were disproportionately higher than at moderate rates, and even worse where urine scorch killed vegetation, because the lack of vegetation eliminated plant transpiration, resulting in a greater percentage of water leaching and more pollution. Thus, one way to reduce ground water pollution associated with goat culture is to manage stocking rate and spatial distribution of salt blocks and water in order to minimize goats congregating in one place, so as to avoid high nitrogen applications and urine scorch from multiple deposits of urine on the same spot. Artemisia, possible niche market for small farms. Artemisia annua is a medicinal plant useful in controlling malaria, and is currently being investigated as a possible anthelmintic agent for control of parasites in goats. This weed could become a cash crop for Appalachian farmers, but little is known about its soil fertility requirements. We conducted greenhouse experiments using infertile acid abandoned grassland soil; Artemisia responded very strongly to calcium hydroxide application, strongly to phosphorus, and to a lesser extent to nitrogen and potassium. Soil fertility information regarding artemisia cultivation will help farmers optimize production. 4c.List any significant activities that support special target populations. A one-day Mid-Atlantic Meat Goat Symposium for Producers from Small farms and Black Farmers was co-sponsored with Virginia State University, Petersburg and Virginia Cooperative Extension, Surry, VA. The Meat Goat Symposium was attended by 154 producers and extension personnel from VA, WV, NC. Presented invited talk on "Pasture Management for Meat Goats" and a Goat Grazing Research Update to 154 attendees at Mid-Atlantic Meat Goat Symposium in Petersburg VA. Edited annual meeting Proceedings for American Forage and Grassland Council. These proceedings are distributed via print, CD, and electronic format to farmers, forage industry professionals, and scientists, and are the premier US publication for distributing grassland research results to clientele in layman's terms. Presented posters at American Forage and Grassland Council annual meeting. This meeting is attended by farmers and industry professionals as well as scientists and is a significant mechanism for information transfer from scientists to clientele. Presented demonstration on forage plant identification at WV State Fair. An animal health and nutrition workshop for small farm goat producers in Central West Virginia was conducted. An update on meat goat research involving grazing management, gastrointestinal parasite control, and forage establishment being conducted at AFSRC was also presented to the group. Instructional demonstrations on how to do fecal egg counts, a cost-effective diagnostic tool for determining gastrointestinal parasite infection in small ruminants, were conducted for goat and sheep producers from West Virginia and surrounding states for one day during the 2005 the West Virginia State Fair. The producers were primarily from small Appalachian farms with limited resources. Development of interactive computer quizzes as an extension tool. Communication of information about goat production and best growing practices is limited by the lack of people available to explain new technology and information to the public. We investigated the use of interactive computer quizzes to present information in an entertaining and educational way. Successful quizzes have been developed and demonstrated at the AFGC conference. Response of educators and extension agents was enthusiastic, and quizzes and templates were distributed to people that requested them. Collaborated with the Mountain State University Medicinal Botanicals Program and Culinary Arts Program to conduct an educational workshop for farmers on opportunities for Appalachian small farm diversification. Presentations addressed meat goat production, herbs for parasite control and meat flavor, and nutritional qualities of goat meat and included an opportunity to taste a chevon entree prepared by culinary arts students. This activity promoted producer and consumer interest in the economic potential of nontraditional farm products. Production of medicinal plants can enhance farm product diversification and the economic status of small farms in Appalachia, but the lack of information on how to grow and market medicinal botanicals is limiting enterprise development. The Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center (AFSRC) and Mountain State University (MSU) conducted a three-day symposium on production, business, and applications for medicinal botanicals, a one-day workshop on marketing medicinal botanicals, and a two-day workshop on germination and propagation of medicinal plants. These events attracted more than 100 participants from Massachusetts to Florida, and the Symposium Proceedings has been distributed throughout the Appalachian Region. To promote the medicinal plants industry in Appalachia, the AFSRC is conducting research to identify applications for medicinal plants in small ruminant production systems. MSU is addressing educational, marketing, and outreach aspects through dissemination of a monthly newsletter to growers, researchers, health care providers, industry experts, and business people, creation of an herb garden and walking trail on the university campus, and development of an undergraduate program in herbal sciences. 4d.Progress report. 1932-63000-001-02S: This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and Mountain State University (MSU) in Beckley, West Virginia. The overall objective is to develop propagation and cultivation techniques and marketing strategies for Appalachian medicinal plants and transfer technologies to students, growers, and entrepreneurs. Accomplishments include development and implementation of a Bachelor of Science degree in herbal sciences, establishment of medicinal plant production plots, and development of plans for a medicinal plant processing facility and natural products laboratory. The fourth symposium, Producing, Using, and Marketing Herbs and Non-timber Forest Products, supplemented industry updates disseminated via the monthly newsletter and the project’s web site. This project allows MSU and ARS to join forces to conduct research, education, and outreach activities that help promote growth of agricultural enterprise and expand education and economic opportunities in the Appalachian Region. 1932-63000-001-03S: This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and Virginia-Maryland Regional Veterinary College in Blacksburg, VA. The overall objective is to identify critical control points for the gastrointestinal parasite, "Haemonchus contortus", in meat goats. Pasture grazing, pen, and laboratory studies will be conducted with medicinal plants and specific isolated, plant chemical compounds that have anthelmintic properties for small ruminants. "Haemonchus contortus" control in pasture-based meat goat finishing systems will be measured by evaluating the effects of chemical and physical characteristics of plants on "Haemonchus contortus" egg numbers, egg development, and larval survival. Information obtained will enhance existing research-based management guidelines related to pasture, feed supplements, gastrointestinal parasite control, and meat quality for meat goat producers. 5.Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. The following items are from the previous project and are included here to give a sense of history and continuity. The research is part of NP 205 and NP 207. The CRIS was re-written, approved in FY 2004 and now focuses on developing finishing systems for meat goats with incorporation of medicinal plant to control gastrointestinal parasites and improve animal health and performance. The new Research Program should begin to produce useful answers by end of FY 2006. Constraints are unknown. History of the previous research: A specific cooperative agreement for meat goat collaborative research was extended with Virginia State University, Petersburg. We demonstrated that supplemental commercial tannin to high protein forage-based diets improves overall nitrogen-use as monitored by lowered blood urea nitrogen concentrations in goats and sheep. Information will help optimize nutrient use in small ruminants and help refine livestock feeding and grazing management practices in the Appalachian hill lands to reduce nitrate leaching from pastures. Procedures for extraction and analysis of secondary metabolites were applied to obtain information about palatability and nutritive value of shrub and forage speciesSesquiterpene lactone composition of chicory herbage varies with cultivar and cultivation site. Information can be used to better understand forage intake and to refine pasture systems for meat goats and other livestock on hill lands. Analyses of foliage form invasive shrubs on under-managed pastures indicated that these species can contribute valuable nutrients to meat goat diets and vitamin E in fresh herbage consumed by ruminants can enhance the case life of retail meats. Meat goats browsing shrubs may need phosphorus supplementation to maintain desired calcium to phosphorus ratio in the diet. Gypsum and dolomitic limestone increased productivity for the first several years after application on acidic grassland pastures under renovation. The fifth and sixth years after application, much of the limestone was still concentrated in the surface inch and was still increasing yields. In contrast, most of the gypsum had leached away and beneficial effects on yield were no longer present. Limestone, surface applied to abandoned pasture early in the renovation process, increased ammonia generation from urine patches. In woodlot management, research on growth and quality of specialty medicinal herbs has been initiated. Results will help producers on Appalachian small farms to better utilize farm resources, especially hill-land pastures and woodlots, for meat goat and specialty crop production to enhance economic returns. Hair sheep are gaining popularity because they adapt to a variety of climates, resist parasites, breed out of season, are prolific, and do not require shearing, but lack of performance comparisons of breeds on high-forage diets limits producers' ability to choose an appropriate breed for their farm resources. Scientists at the Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center and their collaborators at Virginia State University evaluated intake, growth, and blood parameters in three hair sheep breeds (Barbados Blackbelly, Katahdin, St. Croix) finished on high forage diets supplemented with concentrate. Breed of hair sheep was an important factor in determining overall forage nutrient-use and performance: Katahdin and St. Croix lambs had a higher average daily gain than Barbados Blackbelly lambs and Katahdin lambs were more efficient at utilizing dietary protein with the amount of corn that was offered. For pasture-based finishing systems in Appalachia, Katahdin lambs may provide the best economic returns. Forage chicory, a drought-tolerant forb, can enhance the seasonal distribution of herbage in pastures, but the palatability of herbage produced in different locations varies due to differences in sesquiterpene lactone composition. Soil-P deficiency, warm soil temperature, and N fertilization, but not drought, were correlated with elevated sesquiterpene lactone concentrations in all cultivars, though the magnitude of the response was cultivar specific and fertilization with ammonium nitrate produced a greater response than fertilization with urea. Information will guide the development of management practices to minimize the bitterness of chicory herbage and broaden opportunities for use of forage chicory in pasture-raised livestock production systems. Gypsum can be used as a source of calcium to ameliorate acid soils; however, use of gypsum can result in plant magnesium levels that are insufficient for grazing livestock. We investigated the efficiency of several sources of magnesium applied with gypsum to maintain adequate soil and plant magnesium levels. Magnesium oxide and dolomitic limestone were effective sources of supplemental magnesium, but magnesium hydroxide was not. Use of appropriate magnesium supplements with gypsum in managing low-fertility pastures can have important economic benefits for livestock producers. Meat goats tend to congregate near watering troughs and salt blocks, resulting in increased site deposition of manure. We studied the effects of repeated deposits of goat urine on nitrogen volatilization from limed and unlimed soils. Plant damage and percent of urine-N changed to ammonia gas increased with frequency of urine application; surface limestone application increased ammonia volatilization 132%. Managing the stocking density and location of water and salt to minimize multiple deposits of goat urine will improve nitrogen recycling and decrease atmospheric pollution. FY2004. Meat goat sire breed impacted live grade. The Kiko meat goat was recently introduced into the U.S. as an alternative to the Boer meat goat. Researchers at the Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center and Virginia State University, Petersburg, completed a pen feeding to evaluate the performance of the Kiko crossbreds compared to Boer crossbreds used in meat goat finishing systems. Feed intake, growth, and live grade were measured in Boer- and Kiko-sired intact male kids from Spanish and Myotonic. Small farm producers can use specific meat goat crossbreeding programs to consistently produce small, lean carcasses to satisfy niche market demands for chevon and enhance economic returns. The ethnic market demand for meat from small ruminants has been rapidly increasing in the U.S. as these markets prefer smaller and leaner carcasses than those produced by the traditional lamb markets, and are target markets for both hair sheep and meat goats. Researchers at the Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center and Virginia State University completed a pen feeding study that compared feed intake, growth, and live grade of three meat goat breeds (Boer, Myotonic, and Spanish) and three hair sheep breeds (Barbados Blackbelly, Katahdin , and St. Croix ). By using a specific breed and diet combination, producers can control animal growth rate to satisfy specific targeted, niche market demands and improve economic returns. Scientists at the Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center determined that near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) has high prediction ability for quantitation of the most prevalent fatty acids in a variety of grasses, legumes, and forbs harvested at three stages of maturity. Meats that confer the greatest health advantages to the consumer will the bring highest returns, and tools that enable livestock producers to supply consistent, desirable meat products will enhance the economic status of small-scale farms that finish small ruminants on pasture. Goats offered a commercial condensed tannin plus energy supplement excreted less soluble nitrogen and carbohydrate in urine and more soluble nitrogen and carbohydrate in feces compared to goats fed no quebracho. A preliminary feeding study was done to monitor changes in soluble nitrogen and carbon fractions of urine and feces as goats adjusted to hay plus a corn-soybean meal supplement with and without quebracho, a commercial condensed tannin. Information will help optimize protein use in small ruminants and help refine livestock feeding and grazing management practices in the Appalachian hill lands to reduce nitrate leaching to the environment. Forage Brassicas for Meat Goats: Brassicas can provide high quality grazing for meat goats in late summer and fall and could serve as a transition step in pasture renovation. However, brassica plots suffered a large amount of crop damage from deer. Deer exhibited preferential grazing of brassica cultivars and maturities, suggesting that palatability will also vary for goats grazing this forage because deer and goats have similar browsing habits. Response of Forage Chicory to Available Soil Phosphorus: We found a positive growth response of forage chicory to increasing soil P levels in a WV soil in a greenhouse but not in a soil from the Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit, University Park, PA. High soil P is a critical soil quality issue in many areas, but low soil P has been associated with high secondary compound concentrations and poor palatability of forage chicory in WV. Because secondary compounds control the anthelmintic properties of this forage, use of chicory for gastrointestinal parasite control is likely to involve management of soil P fertility. Tannin Concentration of Striate Lespedeza: Tannins were quantified in the hitherto unexamined striate lespedeza species. Plants were grown in a growth chamber. This forage has raised interest because of its assumed tannin content, but tannin concentrations proved to be much lower than in sericea or Korean lespedeza species. Striate lespedeza was also found to be difficult to establish in a field study. Therefore, it may be less useful for incorporation of tannins into ruminant diets than the other lespedeza species. Polyphenol Oxidase Activity of Annual Legumes: Polyphenol oxidase activity was identified in berseem, rose, and subterranean clovers grown in a growth chamber. This enzyme had previously only been identified in red clovers, where it is associated with slower ruminal nitrogen degradation, improved silage fermentation, and improved ruminant animal performance. Use of polyphenol oxidase-containing legumes may potentially improve meat goat performance or soil N cycling. Forage Fiber Analysis Methods for Forbs: Pectin and tannin interfere with each other during both batch processing and individual sample determination of neutral and acid fiber analyses. Appropriate analysis methods are required in order to make valid conclusions regarding fiber concentrations of these forages, and the appropriateness of methods may need to be determined on a forage by forage basis. Clover-grass hay production as affected by various soil acidity amendments. Availability of surface-applied materials may be limited. We studied the amounts of insoluble surface-applied limestone and fluidized bed combustion residue amendment (FBC) remaining on or in the top inch of the soil surface 6 years after it was broadcast onto a hayfield. We found that one quarter, one half or even more of the calcium applied as dolomitic limestone or FBC was still undissolved after this time, which indicates that dissolution rate of the residual materials is low. This information is important to farmers who need to know that a considerable portion of the limestone they surface-apply to grasslands may not be active in overcoming soil acidity. Reactions of urine in soil. In a greenhouse study we investigated the effect that surface application of limestone would have on the ability of vegetated soil from an abandoned pasture to absorb and immobilize nitrogen from goat urine. We found that although the limestone increased the amount of nitrogen transformed to ammonia gas and subsequently released from the soil surface, a large amount of the applied nitrogen still leached below a depth of 15 inches, indicating that there was a marked potential for pollution of ground water under urine patches where intensive grazing of goats is used to clear brush and weeds in pasture renovation programs. Rotational grazing increases forage use efficiency, but grazing the pasture too short may interfere with root growth. We used a flowing nutrient film technique combined with flat-bed digital scanning image registry to allow measurement of orchardgrass root length and architecture every hour. We found that clipping to four-inch height every 2 weeks resulted in the highest biomass production and largest plants. Clipping to one inch almost completely stopped root growth and would seriously limit orchardgrass productivity. The use of rapid scanners to record changes in rate of root growth in an entire root system is being actively pursued at our location. Research program should begin to produce useful answers by end of FY 2006. Constraints are unknown. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Producers: Presented “Pasture Management” and “ARS Research Update” at Mid-Atlantic Meat Goat Symposium (1 invited, 1 contributed). Provided input on meat goat producer survey being developed by Department of Resource Management, WV Small Ruminant Management Project, West Virginia University. Public: Presented lectures on Turfgrass Management and Plant Nutrient Deficiencies to Greenbrier County Master Gardener program. Presented demonstration on use of cover crops for Master Gardener Program at WV State Fair. Presented demonstration on forage plant identification at WV State Fair. Developed and presented interactive computer quiz as educational tool at the WV State Fair and American Forage and Grassland Council meeting. Presented seminar on environmental impacts on plant secondary metabolite composition, illustrating the effect of cultivation practices on the quality of medicinal plants at the Third Medicinal Plants Symposium in Beckley, WV, September 25, 2004. A presentation about herbal approaches for gastrointestinal parasite control in meat goats was made during ARS National Program Workshop on Organic Agriculture Workshop, Austin, TX, January 11-13, 2005. Co-chair of organizing committee for the 4th Annual Symposium Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Production, Business and Applications (September 2005). Session chair for Growing Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 3rd Annual Symposium on Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Productions. Reviewed monograph on Artemisia annua cultivation, World Health Organization. Scientific community: Editor for Proceedings for American Forage and Grassland Council. Presented poster and oral presentations at 2005 annual meeting of the American Forage and Grassland Council. Reviewed a total of 13 manuscripts as member of editorial board or reviewer pool for three refereed journals. Consultations with International Society of Horticultural Science on Artemesia Workshop. Consultations with Malheur Experiment Station, Ontario, OR on Artemesia annual establishment. Consultations with BioExx Extraction Technologies, Toronto, Ontario, Canada on extraction and analysis of artemisinin. Revised draft of “Work Plan for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAP) in Arid and Semi-arid Zones of Morocco”, Office of International Research Programs, USDA, ARS, Beltsville, MD. Reviewer of monograph “Artemisia, Agriculture, and Malaria in Africa: An Overview for USAID (Internal Use). Consultations with WV State University on Bioplex Research Project. Education: Presented importance of forage ecology, internal parasite control, and interactive computer quiz to Trap Hill Middle School students on field trip to AFSRC. Participated in Virginia Tech Fall Career Day and local career day to educate high school and college students about career opportunities in science and/or ARS. Presented invited research update and animal health/nutrition workshops for small farm goat producers, 4-H leaders and students, and veterinarians in southern Illinois. (November 2004). Presented lecture at educational workshop for farmers on opportunities for Appalachian small farm diversification was co-sponsored with Mountain State University, Beckley, WV. Presented lecture for a teaching/research project on limestone effects on Artemisia annua root and shoot growth for the WV Governor’s Honor Academy at Fairmont, WV, July 4-24, 2005. This research program should begin to produce useful answers by end of FY 2006; constraints are unknown. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). The Herbal Dispatch, Vol. 2, Issue 11, November 2004, Mountain State University, Beckley, WV The Herbal Dispatch, Vol. 2, Issue 12, December 2004, Mountain State University, Beckley, WV The Herbal Dispatch, Vol. 3, Issue 1, January 2005, Mountain State University, Beckley, WV The Herbal Dispatch, Vol. 3, Issue 2, February 2005, Mountain State University, Beckley, WV The Herbal Dispatch, Vol. 3, Issue 3, March 2005, Mountain State University, Beckley, WV The Herbal Dispatch, Vol. 3, Issue 4, April 2005, Mountain State University, Beckley, WV The Herbal Dispatch, Vol. 3, Issue 5, May 2005, Mountain State University, Beckley, WV The Herbal Dispatch, Vol. 3, Issue 6, June 2005, Mountain State University, Beckley, WV The Herbal Dispatch, Vol. 3, Issue 7, July 2005, Mountain State University, Beckley, WV The Herbal Dispatch, Vol. 3, Issue 8, August 2005, Mountain State University, Beckley, WV Morales, M., Foster, J.G., editors. 2005. Proceedings of the Third Appalachian Symposium on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Technology Transfer for Growers, Healthcare Providers, and Entrepreneurs. Medicinal Botanicals Program, Mountain State University, Beckley, WV. 114 p. Tuckwiller, T. 2004. Mountaintop minding–Ecologist leads effort to rescue plants on mining, logging sites. Sunday Gazette-Mail, Charleston , WV, Sept. 5, 2004, p. B1. Blankenship, J. 2004. MSU home to medicinal garden research site. The Register-Herald, (Yearbook 2004), Beckley, WV, Sept. 25-26, p. 8. Blankenship, J. 2004. New walking trail to showcase native Appalachian plants. The Register-Herald (Yearbook 2004), Beckley, WV, Sept. 25-26, p. 8. Eanes, A. 2004. Saving our Herbal Heritage. MSU today 2 (2):8-9. Review Publications Turner, K.E., Cassida, K.A., Ferreira, J.F., Foster, J.G., Ritchey, K.D. 2005. Meat goat research and production in Appalachia: Herbals for management of animal health and meat quality. Proc. 3rd Appalachian Symposium on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Technology Transfer for Growers, Healthcare Providers, and Entrepreneurs. September 22-25, Beckley WV. pp. 99-103. Foster, J.G. 2005. Condensed tannins in leaves of woody plants in Appalachian pastures. p. 35, 215-219. In K. Cassida (ed.) Proc. Amer. Forage Grassl. Counc., Vol. 14, Bloomington, IL. 11-15 June 2005. AFGC, Georgetown, TX. Cassida, K.A., Foster, J.G., Gonzalez, J.M., Sanderson, M.A., Ritchey, K.D. 2005. Establishment response of forage chicory to available soil phosphorus in Appalachia. p. 52, 232-236. In K. Cassida (ed.) Proc. Amer. Forage Grassl. Counc., Vol. 14, Bloomington, IL. 11-15 June 2005. AFGC, Georgetown, TX. Foster, J.G., Cassida, K.A., Gonzalez, J.M., Ritchey, K.D., Sanderson, M.A. 2005. Impact of phosphorus fertility on sesquiterpene lactone concentrations in forage chicory cultivars. p. 36, 237-241. In K. Cassida (ed.) Proc. Amer. Forage Grassl. Counc., Vol. 14, Bloomington, IL. 11-15 June 2005. AFGC, Georgetown, TX. Ritchey, K.D., Ritchey, J.D., O Neill, K.P., Belesky, D.P. 2005. Interactive quizzes as agricultural technology transfer and education tools. American Forage and Grassland Council Conference Proceedings, p. 249-253, Bloomington, IN, June 11-15, 2005. Turner, K.E., Ferreira, J.F. 2005. Potential use of "Artemisia annua" in meat goat production systems. American Forage and Grassland Council Proceedings 14:221-225. Ferreira, J.F., Janick, J. 2004. Allelopathic Plants. XVI. Artemisia Species. Allelopathy Journal 14(2): 167-176. Ferreira, J.F., Wood, A.J., Dhingra, V. 2004. Biochemistry and genetics of Artemisia annua l. and the production of artemisinin. In: Genetic Resources and Biotechnology. Vol. II, pp. 269-280. Thangadurai, T. Pullaiah, P.A. Balatti (Eds.). Regency Publications, New Dehli, India. Cassida, K.A., Muir, J.P., Hussey, M.A., Read, J.C., Venuto, B.C., Ocumpaugh, W.R., 2005. Biomass yield and stand characteristics of switchgrass in south central U.S.A. environments. Crop Science 45:673-681. Cassida, K.A., Muir, J.P., Hussey, M.A., Read, J.C., Venuto, B.C., Ocumpaugh, W.R. 2005. Biofuel component concentration and yield of switchgrass in south central USA environments. Crop Sci. 45:682-692. Cassida, K.A., Haby, V., Stewart, C., Gunter, S. 2004. Alfalfa as an alternative to bermudagrass for summer stocker calf pasture in the southern usa. In Agron. Abstr. [CD-ROM]. Amer. Soc. Agron., Madison, WI. Turner, K.E., Cassida, K.A. 2004. Analysis of detergent fiber fractions in high-pectin and high-tannin forages. In Agron. Abstr. [CD-ROM]. Amer. Soc. Agron., Madison, WI. Savin, M.C., Cassida, K.A., Bellows, B., Tomlinson, P.J., Payne, K.R. 2003. Influence of grazing management practices on soil quality parameters. In Agronomy Abstracts (CD-ROM), American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI. Cassida, K.A., Turner, K.E. 2005. Overseeded forage brassica yield and subsequent grass sward recovery in appalachian hill pastures. American Forage and Grassland Council Conference Proceedings, 14:152-165. Foster, J.G. 2005. Environmental impacts on secondary metabolites in medicinal plants. In: Morales, M., Foster, J.G., editors. Proceedings of the Third Appalachian Symposium on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Technology Transfer for Growers, Healthcare Providers, and Entrepreneurs, September 22-25, 2004, Beckley, WV. p. 36-41.