Federal Project Grant Award Summary

New Mexico State University received a $179,126 project grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program (CFDA 10.310), with an award date of May 1, 2026, and completion date of April 30, 2029. The research project, performed in Las Cruces, New Mexico, investigates the mechanisms by which low-dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure from subclinical bacterial infections impairs female livestock fertility. The study focuses on understanding how subacute LPS exposure modulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and gonadotropin transcription and release from the pituitary gland, with the long-term objective of elucidating the cellular mechanisms linking subclinical disease states to reproductive dysfunction in cattle.

This research addresses a significant agricultural productivity concern, as reproductive failure remains a primary reason for culling heifers and cows from livestock operations. By examining how LPS accumulation in follicular fluid disrupts estrogen production and oocyte development—effects that may occur without clinical disease symptoms—the project will generate scientific knowledge applicable to improving breeding outcomes and herd profitability in livestock operations. The findings are expected to provide insights that could inform management strategies to mitigate the impact of subclinical infections on reproductive success in cattle.