** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** GOATS ARE A VALUABLE LIVESTOCK SPECIES FOR FOOD SECURITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. HOWEVER, THEY ALSO EMIT METHANE, A POTENT GREENHOUSE GAS, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO GLOBAL WARMING AND CAN REDUCE ANIMALS' GROWTH EFFICIENCY. OUR PROJECT SEEKS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BY FINDING WAYS TO BREED GOATS THAT PRODUCE LESS METHANE WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE ANIMALS. TO DO THIS, WE'RE FOCUSING ON TWO MAIN OBJECTIVES:FIRSTLY, WE PLAN TO VALIDATE THE GREENFEED (GF) SYSTEM FOR MEASURING GOATS' METHANE EMISSIONS. THIS INVOLVES COMPARING IT WITH THE RESPIRATION CHAMBER (RC) SYSTEM, A GOLD-STANDARD METHOD, TO ENSURE THE GF SYSTEM'S ACCURACY FOR GOATS. DEVELOPING A RELIABLE PROTOCOL FOR METHANE MEASUREMENT WILL ENABLE ITS APPLICATION ON A LARGER SCALE.SECONDLY, SINCE METHANE EMISSION IS AN INHERITABLE TRAIT, WE WILL EXPLORE THE GENETIC FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE IT AND OTHER RELATED TRAITS SUCH AS FEED EFFICIENCY. WE WILL ESTIMATE THE GENETIC PARAMETERS, SUCH AS HERITABILITY AND GENETIC CORRELATIONS, TO INFORM SELECTIVE BREEDING STRATEGIES THAT BALANCE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS. IN ADDITION, WE AIM TO IDENTIFY THE GENES AND PATHWAYS THAT DIFFER BETWEEN GOATS WITH HIGH AND LOW METHANE EMISSION AND FEED EFFICIENCY THROUGH TRANSCRIPTOMICS ANALYSIS. THIS COULD LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COST-EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONAL SNP PANEL THAT CAN CAPTURE THE GENETIC VARIATION OF THESE TRAITS.THE END GOAL IS TO PROVIDE GOAT FARMERS WITH THE MEANS TO RAISE MORE SUSTAINABLE LIVESTOCK, BENEFITING BOTH THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR LIVELIHOODS. IF SUCCESSFUL, THIS PROJECT COULD HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT, IMPROVING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF GOAT FARMING AND POTENTIALLY INFLUENCING OTHER AREAS OF LIVESTOCK AGRICULTURE.