Who We Are
Supporting a better food supply.
Nutrition is one of the most important—and often one of the most expensive—parts of animal agriculture. The National Animal Nutrition Program (NANP) provides data and resources that support animal development to create a thriving, profitable food supply and healthier population in the United States.
What does NANP do?
The NANP provides research-based data on animal nutrient needs, feed ingredients, feeding strategies, and animal performance—as well as software and educational materials to support research on domestic species (beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, and poultry).
Why does NANP matter?
Good nutrition helps ensure proper animal development and the quality and safety of meat, milk, eggs, and other products. With easy access to animal nutrition data, researchers, farmers, and policymakers can make informed decisions that promote animal performance and welfare, and boost producer profitability and competitiveness.
Who is involved?
Led by 31 scientists from 22 institutions, the NANP has diverse expertise on animal species and production types. The team works with other research, academic, government, and industry partners to meet stakeholder needs and promote wide use of NANP data and tools.
How is NANP funded?
The NANP is a National Research Support Project (NRSP-9) that started in 2010 and is supported by the Experiment Station Committee on Organization and Policy, the State Agricultural Experiment Stations, and Hatch Funds provided by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The NANP, a research support activity that has been requested by stakeholders, is focused on addressing challenges facing researchers and educators and filling current gaps in the animal agriculture industry. Its mission is focused on an integrated and systematic approach to collecting, assembling, synthesizing, and disseminating data, educational tools, and technologies on nutrient needs of agricultural animals to facilitate high priority research.