**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY AND SUCCESS ARE CRITICAL ASPECTS CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROFITABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF CATTLE OPERATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. ONLY 30% OF ANIMALS CONCEIVE AND CARRY PREGNANCY TO TERM, AMOUNTING TO A COST OF ALMOST $1 BILLION PER YEAR FROM PREGNANCY LOSSES ON BEEF AND DAIRY FARMS. PLACENTAL DEVELOPMENT, AMONG OTHER ASPECTS OF PREGNANCY, IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESSFUL REPRODUCTION. THEREFORE, THE AIMS OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO LEVERAGE CUTTING-EDGE GENOMIC TECHNOLOGIES TO UNDERSTAND GENETIC REGULATION OF PLACENTAL DEVELOPMENT AT SINGLE CELL RESOLUTION, AND UTILIZE THIS KNOWLEDGE TO FURTHER UNDERSTAND THE INFLUENCE OF GENETIC VARIATION ON FERTILITY TRAITS IN CATTLE. THIS WORK WILL CONTRIBUTE TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES NECESSARY FOR REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS. FURTHER, IT WILL ALLOW FOR MORE PRECISE IDENTIFICATION OF REPRODUCTIVELY SUPERIOR ANIMALS WITH THE USE OF GENOMICS, WHICH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO MORE PROFITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE CATTLE OPERATIONS.