Federal Grant Award Summary

Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) received a $180,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program (CFDA 10.310), awarded on May 1, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2029. The three-year research project addresses heat stress impacts on dairy cattle reproductive performance by investigating how elevated temperatures and associated metabolic changes—specifically elevated insulin and reduced glucose levels—impair the cellular stress response mechanisms that protect ovarian follicles from heat-related damage.

The deliverables include scientific research examining heat shock protein activation in dairy cattle ovarian follicles under controlled environmental conditions at Virginia Tech's Blacksburg, Virginia facility. The study will compare metabolically normal cows with those exhibiting altered insulin-glucose patterns during heat stress exposure, utilizing follicular samples and blood measurements to evaluate cellular stress response pathways. The research aims to generate evidence-based management strategies to improve dairy cattle fertility during hot weather conditions, with the ultimate objective of reducing economic losses to dairy producers and supporting more resilient reproductive performance under challenging environmental conditions.