2026/2027 Research

Establishment of Diagnostics for Cache Valley Virus Infection in Livestock

Cache Valley Virus (CVV) is a mosquito-borne virus that can infect sheep, goats, cattle and other livestock. In sheep and goats, infection during pregnancy can be particularly concerning because the virus has been associated with abortion, stillbirths and congenital abnormalities in newborn animals.

This research will develop and establish diagnostic tools to identify CVV infections in livestock, with an emphasis on understanding when and where the virus is circulating.  A major challenge is that the signs of CVV infection can be difficult to distinguish from other causes of reproductive problems. Developing reliable diagnostic testing will help veterinarians determine whether CVV played a role in reproductive loss, rather than having to rely primarily on clinical signs. Over time, having accurate information about CVV infections can help producers develop strategies to reduce reproductive losses and improve the health and productivity of their livestock.

Cynthia McMillen (PITT)
$65,110

Early Identification of Open Ewes Using Circulating Small RNAs 

For sheep producers, knowing pregnancy status early can make a significant difference in the efficiency and profitability of the flock. A reliable early blood test could give farmers another practical tool to manage breeding, feed, labor and flock size more efficiently.

This research is investigating whether small pieces of genetic material called circulating small RNAs, found in a ewe’s blood, can be used to identify whether she is pregnant or “open”early in pregnancy. The goal is to develop a simple blood-based test that can detect non-pregnant ewes much earlier than traditional methods. This can improve flock productivity by shortening the time between breeding opportunities and increasing the number of lambs produced over time.

Claire Stenhouse (PSU)
$63,796

Applied Sample Collection Training for Serology and Ovine Genetic Selection

This project focuses on training sheep producers and industry professionals to properly collect blood and other samples from sheep for two important purposes: serology testing, which can identify exposure to diseases, and genetic testing, which can help identify animals with desirable traits for breeding.

Properly collected samples provide more reliable results when testing for exposure to infectious diseases. Genetic samples can help producers identify sheep with traits such as better growth, reproduction, health, or productivity.

Training producers to collect and handle samples correctly reduces errors and improves the usefulness of laboratory results. Producers who can collect samples correctly on the farm may reduce the need for additional handling, trips, or outside assistance.

The research puts practical testing tools directly into the hands of sheep producers, helping them use science and data to make better health and breeding decisions and improve the long-term productivity of their flocks.

Austin Brown (PSU)
$22,286

Muscle and Growth Outcomes of Lambs After Maternal Mycotoxin Exposure

 This research examines how mycotoxins—harmful substances produced by molds that can grow on feed and stored grains—affect lambs when their mothers are exposed during pregnancy. Researchers will look at whether exposure to mycotoxins before birth can influence lamb growth, muscle development, body composition and overall productivity later in life, even if the lamb itself is not directly consuming contaminated feed.

Understanding these effects could help sheep producers recognize that mycotoxin exposure may have long-term impacts on lamb performance and the value of market animals, not just immediate health problems. The research can provide information to help farmers make better decisions about feed quality, mycotoxin management and ewe nutrition during pregnancy, potentially improving lamb growth, muscle development and profitability.

Thomas Dobbins (PSU)
$49,040

Understanding Links Between Immune Function and Successful Pregnancy in Ewes

Reproductive efficiency is one of the biggest drivers of profitability in sheep production.

This research examines how a ewe’s immune system affects her ability to become pregnant, maintain a pregnancy and successfully produce healthy lambs. Researchers will investigate whether differences in immune function can help explain pregnancy loss, poor reproductive performance or differences in lamb survival, and identify factors that may influence reproductive success.

By better understanding of the connection between immune health and fertility producer can identify ewes that may be at greater risk for reproductive problems and improve management of nutrition, health, vaccination and breeding programs. Ultimately, the research could help farmers achieve more successful pregnancies, fewer reproductive losses, healthier lambs and more productive flocks.

Camilla Hughes (PSU)
$56,675

Project ALM (Animal Language Models) at the DAT-AI-LAB

ALM stands for Animal Language Models. This project is exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) can interpret and learn from the sounds, vocalizations and other behaviors of farm animals. The goal is essentially to develop an AI system that can recognize patterns in what animals are communicating such as signs of stress, illness, hunger, discomfort or reproductive activity and turn that information into useful information for farmers.

Research in animal bioacoustics has shown that animal vocalizations can contain information about physiological and behavioral conditions, and AI can potentially automate the analysis of those sounds.

Benefits to farmers: ALM could eventually give farmers a 24/7, non-invasive way to monitor animals, without having to physically handle or individually observe every animal. Early identification of changes in behavior or vocalizations could help farmers spot health or welfare problems sooner, improve animal care, reduce labor, and potentially prevent losses by allowing problems to be addressed before they become more serious.

Daniel Foy (AgriGates)
$114,000

Nutritional Mitigation of Heat Stress in Lactating Sows: Maximizing Physiological Resilience

Heat stress can have a direct impact on sow productivity, litter performance and profitability. This research is investigating how nutrition can help lactating sows cope with heat stress, particularly during the summer months when high temperatures can reduce feed intake and put significant stress on the sow. Researchers will examine how different nutritional strategies may help sows maintain normal body function, appetite, milk production and overall health despite heat exposure.

If the right nutritional approach can help sows remain healthier and maintain better feed intake and milk production during hot weather, farmers could see stronger piglet growth and survival, improved sow condition and reproductive performance, and fewer production losses associated with heat stress. The research could also provide producers with practical feeding strategies to help their herds better withstand challenging summer temperatures.

Eduardo Rico (UPENN)
$75,949

Pork Carcass Fabrication to Improve Chilling Efficiency and Harvesting Capacity

 This research is examining how pork carcasses can be fabricated or processed more efficiently after harvest to improve chilling and increase processing capacity. Researchers are looking at ways to manage carcasses so they can cool more quickly and consistently, while maintaining pork quality and making better use of processing facilities. More efficient chilling is important because carcass temperature needs to be reduced quickly after harvest to help maintain meat quality and food safety.

Benefits to farmers: Improving chilling and fabrication efficiency could help processors handle more pigs, reduce processing bottlenecks and make better use of existing facilities. For farmers, greater processing capacity can mean more reliable access to harvest slots and fewer disruptions when plants are operating near capacity. Ultimately, the project could help strengthen the efficiency of the pork supply chain, from the farm to the consumer, while helping maintain the quality and value of the pork produced.

Thomas Dobbins (PSU)
$17,982

Host-Adapted Probiotics to Reduce Salmonella in Laying Hens

Reducing Salmonella in laying hens could help improve flock health and biosecurity and reduce the risk of Salmonella contamination of eggs and the farm environment. This research is investigating probiotics specifically selected or developed to work well in laying hens and whether they can help reduce Salmonella in the birds. The goal is to identify beneficial bacteria that can establish themselves in the hen’s digestive system and compete with or inhibit Salmonella, potentially reducing the amount of Salmonella carried by the bird and shed into the environment.

A successful host-adapted probiotic could provide producers with another practical, non-antibiotic tool for managing Salmonella, potentially complementing existing vaccination, sanitation, pest control and other biosecurity practices. Ultimately, the research could contribute to safer eggs, healthier flocks and fewer production and food-safety risks for egg producers.

Reducing Salmonella can help lower the risk of contaminated eggs reaching consumers, reduce the amount of Salmonella circulating in the flock and farm environment, strengthen overall biosecurity and disease-control programs.

Erika Ganda (PSU)
$53,679

Gut Microbiome, Passive Transfer, and Parasite Resistance in Sheep

 Internal parasites, particularly gastrointestinal worms, can cause poor growth, anemia, illness and death in sheep, while also creating challenges with dewormer resistance. Understanding the relationship between the gut microbiome, maternal immunity and parasite resistance could help farmers identify sheep that are naturally more resilient to parasites and develop management strategies that reduce their dependence on dewormers.

This research is examining how the gut microbiome (the community of beneficial and other microorganisms living in a sheep’s digestive system) may influence a sheep’s ability to resist parasites. Researchers are also looking at passive transfer, which is the process by which a ewe passes antibodies and other immune protection to her lamb through colostrum (the first milk after birth). The goal is to better understand how the ewe’s health and immune status, the lamb’s early-life immune protection, and the gut microbiome work together to influence resistance to parasites.

Ultimately, this could lead to healthier lambs, better growth, fewer parasite-related losses and more productive, sustainable flocks.

Erika Ganda, PSU
$71,039

FlockFit: Smartphone-Based On-Farm Assessment of Poultry Growth and Fitness

FlockFit is a research project exploring how a smartphone camera can be used as an easy, on-farm tool to assess poultry growth, body condition and physical fitness. Instead of relying only on scales or manually evaluating individual birds, the technology would use images or video captured with a phone to collect information about the flock.

The goal is to develop technology that can quickly measure or estimate characteristics such as bird size, growth and physical condition, giving producers more information about how their flock is performing without requiring extensive handling or specialized equipment.

FlockFit could give poultry producers a fast, relatively inexpensive and non-invasive way to monitor their birds using technology they already have—their smartphone. Earlier identification of differences in growth or physical condition could help farmers make more informed decisions about nutrition, flock management, housing and overall bird health.

Enrico Casella (PSU)
$90,733