Forage programs within the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences are closely allied with programs in the NC State Animal Science Department. Researchers include USDA scientists located on the NC State campus. Current research includes study of forage characteristics that alter nutritive value, nutrient cycling in forage crops which utilize swine effluent as a nutrient source, applied grassland ecology and management including silvopastoral agroforestry systems and cropping systems that integrate grazing ruminants, the development of sustainable forage/browse-based feeding and management systems for meat goats, the use of meat goats in biocontrol of weed and brush-infested pastures and woodlots, the browse potential of fodder tree species in agroforestry systems for meat goats, and strategic supplementation of forage-based diets for meat goats.
