Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Alan Mathew presided over the meeting and Dave Gerrard recorded the minutes. David Morrison, Admin. Advisor, addressed the SAC-2 group. He reviewed the NIFA structure and reminded the committee of undersecretary Woteki's three major thrusts. Morrison asked the committee to again assist in identifying projects that are worthy of nomination for the National Excellence in Multistate Research Award. S-1032, which had been the Southern Region's nominee in 2010 was again supported by SAC-2 as the 2011 nominee. Morrison reminded the Committee that our report was due within 60 days following this meeting. Members of the SAC-2 Committee then provided reports and recommendations regarding multi-state projects under the Committee's oversight. Mathew asked for further business items for the SAC-2 Committee. A discussion ensued regarding funding for animal agriculture. It was recommended that a white paper be put together outlining: 1) growing animal costs and 2) the possibility of conducting education and extension functions cross-state. A motion was made that Jeff Dahl and Bob Harmon draft the paper and the motion carried. David Gerrard was nominated for chair of the committee next year and the nomination carried. Wayne Greene was nominated as secretary and the motion carried. With no further business to conduct, the 2010 meeting of the SAC-2 was adjourned.

S-1025: Systems for Controlling Air Pollutant Emissions and Indoor Environments of Poultry, Swine, and Dairy Facilities Alan Mathew (UT) reported this project was renewed as S-1025 in 2006 and will expire this year. This multi-state group has a good history of activity and productivity, although recently there appears to be a greater proportion of single-institution projects counted among the groups activities. The group meets annually, with the dates and venues listed several years in advance. In their most recent meeting May, 2010, 11 of the 32 participating members were represented. The meeting was held in conjunction with S-1032: Improving the Sustainability of Livestock and Poultry Production in the United States. One of the agenda items for this years meeting was a discussion of the future of this multi-state group, with options including termination of the project upon its expiration, initiate a new project, or merge with S-1032. The decision of the group was to continue the work of S-1025 with the submission of a new project upon expiration of the current project. Under the accomplishments of the group over the past reporting periods are a number of large coordinated multi-state collaborations and smaller collaborations between 2 or 3 participating institutions. The latest report listed on the NIMSS site was provided in September 2009; for which the group did a good in listing impacts as a part of their report. Numerous publications were listed for 2009, with a good balance of Extension and producer-oriented publications, peer-reviewed publications and abstracts, presentations and proceedings papers. While I was provided the minutes of their most recent meeting (see above), the group should be encouraged to provide a report of the most recent reporting period. Based on the accomplishments of the group over the course of this multi-state project, I recommend encouraging the group to provide updated reports, including a comprehensive final report in a timely manner, and submit a new project to continue the S-1025 work for consideration by the SAC-2 upon expiration of the current project. Alan Matthew made a suggestion the committee should merge with S-1032. Dave Morrison suggested if the committee wanted to continue, they should organize a development committee. The motions were carried unanimously. Bob Harmon (UK) volunteered to take over for Alan to monitor this committee. S-1027: The Poultry Food System: A Farm to Table Model Monitor Don Conner (Auburn) provided an update on the project. He noted the committee has been granted an extension and plans to resubmit. The group (project) of 12 has been very active. He noted that they needed a cross-state component and their reports are behind. A subset of the group is actively pursuing NIFA funding. Don recommended reports be submitted but continue meeting. Motion carried unanimously. S-1030: Flies Impacting Livestock, Poultry and Food Safety. Monitor Keith Lusby was not present and no report had been submitted. Given the topic, it was moved that the group be reallocated to Entomology department heads. Motion carried unanimously. S-1032: Improving the Sustainability of Livestock and Poultry Production in the United States. Monitor Bob Harmon (UK) reported the project terminates in 2012. The group has been highly published (40 pubs last year) and consists of a good mixture of animal scientists and agricultural engineers. This group collaborates extensively with S-1025 and the issue of combining was entertained but no action taken. Harmon recommended a development committee and writing team be formed, or an extension be requested. Mirando (NIFA) stated it was a bit too early to think of extension. Harmon suggested conversation be held about the future of the group and the motion to continue under the aforementioned carried unanimously. S-1035: Nutritional and Management Abatement Strategies for Improvement of Poultry Air and Water Quality. No report. S-1037: Integrative Functional and Physiological Genomics of Poultry. Mike Kidd (University of Arkansas) reported (sent) that the committee met in March with Dr. Roeder serving as monitor at the DFW Airport and discussed current research projects and how to increase members to collaborate with / expand on current projects. The business meeting discussions consisted of: ways to increase participation and future meeting dates. Current projects were also discussed. Current activities for active members consist of, but are not limited to: Divergent selection for pale, soft, and exudative like (PSE-like) meat in broilers; Genomic SNP analysis differentiates ascites susceptible from resistant broilers; Impact of diet and feeding program on growth and yield of Commercial Pheasants; Impact of maternal inheritance of turkeys on muscle phenotype and the muscle structure of the dam or dam line; Assessment of functional mechanisms of genetic changes as a result of selection and gene introgression Genetic predisposition of turkey to round heart disease; and Gompertz-Laird Prediction of the Requirement for Crude Protein and Metabolizable Energy by French Guinea Fowl Broilers. To date, twenty peer reviewed articles have been published by the group. Avian genetic research is important to the efficient progress of poultry breeding in a global climate of increased feed costs and increasing populations that consume poultry products. The project impacts poultry breeding programs in terms of line selection on disease resistance, nutrient utilization, and meat quality. It was moved and seconded that the committee continue and the committee voted unanimously to support the motion. S-1040: Genetic Selection and Crossbreeding to Enhance Reproduction and Survival of Dairy Cattle. Jeff Dahl (University of Florida) reported the project is dominated by participants from the North Central and Southern regions with an interest in population genetics. Recent retirements have reduced the number of participants; however, the group is being re-populated by former student participants and junior faculty that bring cutting edge molecular and genomic approaches to the project. In 2010 the group met in Gainesville, Florida on October 25 and 26. The meeting included invited speakers (Dr. Pete Hansen and Mr. Don Bennink) and station reports. The group visited a grazing dairy and a large purebred Holstein farm. The meeting was well attended with over 15 participants including graduate students. The group continues to be productive with regard to journal articles. Recent publications include joint authorship papers that address the impact of crossbreeding on performance and survivability under southeast grazing conditions. The 2011 meeting will be hosted by Mike Schutz at Purdue University on October 24 and 25. The project website is http://lgu.umd.edu/lgu_v2/homepages/home.cfm?trackID=9943. It was moved and seconded that the committee continue and the committee voted unanimously to support the motion. S-1044: Nutritional Systems for Swine to Increase Reproductive Efficiency. Alan Mathew (University of Tennessee) reported that the project is a revision of the expired S-1012 multistate project, which had a good history of productivity and multi-institutional cooperation across research and extension missions. With the expiration of that project, participating member institutions drafted a new proposal, which was approved December 1, 2008 for a 5-year period; thus they have just completed the second year under the new project. The Committee meets annually in early January, in conjunction with the NCCC-42 (Technical Committee on Swine Nutrition), with the meeting including joint discussions between both groups as well as breakout sessions specific to each of the 2 groups. The meeting agendas are typically conducive to good discussion and usually include guest speakers from USDA, commodity organizations, and others. This years meeting held January 4-5 in Orlando included discussions with USDA NIFA and ARS Program Leaders, Steven Smith and Mark Boggess. Among the aspects of the S-1044 project are specific points to coordinate the various research and Extension initiatives across participating institutions, and to standardize methods, data and statistical analyses to provide a larger and more robust datasets that should result in more comprehensive recommendations. It was suggested that this project be submitted for a multi-state award in the near future. David Morrison outlined the criteria used for such selection. The committee considered the suggestion but opted for S-1032 this year and will reconsider S-1044 next year. It was moved and seconded that the committee continue and the committee voted unanimously to support the motion. S-1045: Regional Research Project: Genetic Considerations for Beef Cattle Production in Challenging Environments. Keith Bertrand (University of Georgia) reported there are 11 universities or government research entities participating in this project. This group met in June of 2010 to discuss progress on the project, and the attendance at the meeting was very good. An annual report was also submitted in July of 2010. Although the project was just initiated in 2009, during the current year, the project published 27 papers and reports. There are four objectives in this project. The first objective involves the estimation of genetic variation associated with susceptibility or resistance to measures of disease stress in cattle managed on forage. Nine stations are participating in this objective. Some effort has been made to encourage the use of common sires across locations and to standardize the methods of collecting disease information across locations  both the use of common sires and/or breeds and common data collection techniques need to be priorities for all the objectives of this project. Objective 2 seeks to characterize diverse, tropically adapted breeds with an emphasis on cow fertility and productivity. Nine stations are participating in this objective. Objective 3 seeks to establish a DNA bank for the characterization of molecular markers, genetic parameters and future gene discovery. Nine stations are participating in this objective. Participants in the project need to put some thought into who gets access to the phenotypes and genotypes produced in this project and for how much. The information (phenotypes and genotypes) produced in this project could possibly be leveraged in future research grants. Goal of Objective 4 is to evaluate the relationship between hair coat and production traits in beef cattle. Five stations are participating in this objective. Bertrand recommended that this project be continued and the committee supported the recommendation. S-1047: Enhancing Reproductive Efficiency of Poultry. Mike Lacy (University of Georgia), in a letter, reported the group continues to be active and productive. This project has recently been approved for the next 5 year period. The group had a very successful meeting in October 2010 hosted by the University of Arkansas. They are working to include more extension faculty in the project and therefore invited Keith Bramwell and Jon Moyle to make presentations to the group. John Hardiman from Cobb-Vantress gave an excellent update on the poultry industry perspective on problems/opportunities that would be worth pursuing in poultry. Current objectives of the project include: 1) characterize mechanisms enabling rhythmic regulation of dopaminergic-melatoninergic neurons within the hypothalamus of photosensitive turkey hens, 2) characterize molecular mechanisms affecting egg production in chickens, 3) identify chromosomal regions affecting phenotypic variation in sperm mobility, a primary determinant of male fertility, and 4) characterize the mating behavior of contemporary broiler breeders and define central pathways affecting reproductive behavior. Mike Lacy concluded that this project has been highly productive and recommended it be continued, the committee agreed. SCC-72: Enhancing Reproductive Efficiency in Cattle. Terry Kiser (Mississippi State University) emailed a report and recommended the project be terminated and stated Nancy Cox (University of Kentucky) agreed. Much discussion ensued. Namely, the group felt that if someone wanted to keep the project going forward, the committee should support it. It was recommended it be continued and the motion carried. Wayne Greene (Auburn) offered to monitor the committee. The group agreed. SCC-081: Sustainable Small Ruminant Production in the Southeastern U.S. Ralph Noble (North Carolina A&T) noted that the group was using a non-drug approach to reduce parasites. Output was high. David Morrison suggested the group could become a research group. A motion to continue was made by Noble and it was seconded. The committee carried the motion. SERA-15: Competitiveness and Sustainability of the Southern Dairy Industry. Gary Hay (LSU AgCenter) suggested the group is very productive and included 8-13 states. This is a long-time group and faculty from the University of Missouri wish to join. The group sponsors the Southern Dairy Conference and reports are timely. Gary moved the committee be continued. The group agreed unanimously. SERA041 Beef Cattle Production Utilizing Forages in the Southeast to Integrate Research and Extension Programs across State Boundaries Wayne Greene (Auburn) reported the committee met on 02/07/10 in Orlando Florida with the SAAS meeting. Twenty three members were in attendance from the 13 Southern states. The immediate goal of the meeting was to discuss, strategize, and implement actions to address the deficiencies expressed by the SERA Review Committee. The long term goal of the participants is to achieve approved status of SERA041 for the 5 year period of 2010 through 2014. The discussion addressed the key comment by the Review Committee that the original proposal needed to develop specific, tangible, measureable objectives, procedures, and outcomes, particularly in research and Extension. They had significant discussion of the repackaging of the 3 objectives in their previous proposal. They repackaged their objectives to: 1) develop a Southern Extension/Research Activity for identifying and prioritizing beef/forages research and extension programming issues in the Southeast, 2) develop a Southern Extension/Research Activity to develop cooperative extension and research programs across Southern state boundaries, 3) develop strategies for funding high-priority research and extension programs and 4) enhance relationships between the Land-Grant University missions of research and extension with beef cattle commodity groups through State Beef Cattle Associations and other beef cattle organizations. Working groups were created to address revision of the objectives and identify specific-tangible outputs that would occur as a result of the SERA041 group associated with each objective. The working groups were assigned relative to the original proposal and handled the revision of the objectives. The project was approved in 2010 as a result of their combined work. Matt Hersom served as chair for 2010 and did a good job in keeping them moving forward. The group will be meeting this coming Sunday, February 6, 2011 in Corpus Christi TX in partnership with the SAAS/Southern Section ASAS meeting. Wayne moved the committee be continued and the committee agreed unanimously.

Not applicable to this committee.