**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** INSUFFICIENT ENERGY INTAKE DELAYS PUBERTY ONSET WHICH NEGATIVELY IMPACTS ANIMAL AGRICULTURE GIVEN THAT PRODUCERS DEPEND ON THE TIMELY ATTAINMENT OF PUBERTY TO MAXIMIZE THEIR PROFITS. WHILE UNDERNUTRITION HAS BEEN SHOWN TO INHIBIT BRAIN FUNCTION, THE MECHANISMS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FORTHIS INHIBITION REMAIN LARGELY UNKNOWN. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO GAIN INSIGHT INTO HOW INSUFFICIENT NUTRITION ACTS WITHIN THE BRAIN TO CONTROL REPRODUCTION. THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVESOF THIS GRANTARE FOCUSED ON THE HYPOTHESIS THAT A KEYBRAIN CHEMICAL, AGOUTI-RELATED PEPTIDE, WHICH IS KNOWN TO PLAYA MAJOR ROLE IN EATING, ALSO PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN CONTROLING REPRODUCTION DURING UNDERNUTRITION IN FEMALE LAMBS. THEREFORE, THIS GRANT WILL LOOK AT HOW THIS BRAIN CHEMICAL CHANGES DURING UNDERNUTRITION IN YOUNG FEMALE SHEEP AND WE PREDICT THAT THIS BRAIN CHEMICAL WILL BE ANIMPORTANT PART OF THE MECHANISM FOR MEDITING THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF UNDERNUTRITION ON REPRODUCTION. UNDERSTANDING HOW THE BRAINCONTROLS REPRODUCTION DURING UNDERNUTRITIONWILL ALLOW THE PRODUCER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THE IMPACT OF INSUFFICIENCT NUTRITION COMPROMISESPUBERTY ONSET IN ORDER TOBETTER CONTROL THE TIMING OF PUBERTY ONSET TO ULTIMATELY INCREASE REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY AND MAXIMIZE PRODUCER PROFITS.