University of kentucky agricultural experiment station animal health and disease research fund abstract the purpose of this award is to support research that addresses pressing issues in animal health…

University of kentucky agricultural experiment station animal health and disease research fund abstract the purpose of this award is to support research that addresses pressing issues in animal health and disease prevention or treatment. For FY26, the animal health and disease award will continue to support research that seeks to better understand inflammation in agricultural animals using the thoroughbred racehorse as a model. The project will look at changes in mrna expression between exercised and non-exercised horses, as well as non-injured and injured horses from racing in kentucky. By better understanding the mrna expression in animals predisposed to injury, we may devise a method for identifying agricultural animals at risk for injury and lameness. Managing genetic factors that contribute to injury risk through better breeding or husbandry can help improve animal welfare in the future. Deliverables from the research programs supported by animal disease and health research funding include new data, scientific publications and presentations, and graduate students trained through participation in the project. Beneficiaries will include animal geneticists and breeders.