Photo by Miranda Pederson/Daily News Gov. Steve Beshear shakes hands with veterinarian Dr. Jenks Britt on Tuesday at a check presentation ceremony for the Western Kentucky University Research Foundation’s study of Re-borne, a livestock health supplement, at the L.D. Brown Agricultural Exposition Center. Britt, of WKU’s ag department, will lead the study.

advertisement

As a struggling economy continues to plague local farmers, the state government recently invested in research that could help keep livestock healthy and growing.

Gov. Steve Beshear presented a $26,257 check Tuesday to Western Kentucky University’s Research Foundation to fund research into Re-borne - a supplement that would protect horses, cattle and swine from diseases and stimulates livestock growth.

“As we’re experiencing a downturn of the markets, Kentucky agriculture must keep its way of life relevant in this global economy,” Beshear said.

Simpsonville-based Re-borne Inc. plans to produce the supplement using colostrum, an animal waste product that farmers usually dispose of. Re-borne officials plan to pay farmers, or offer them a discount on the product, in exchange for bovine colostrum, the first milk from a new mother.

“It’s more bang for your buck,” said Steve Allday, Re-Borne developer.

About eight WKU students and faculty will experiment with the liquid supplement for a year, using it on distressed livestock and studying its effects.

The product is currently being tested on horses, mainly thoroughbred racehorses, throughout the United States.

Allday said the funding is crucial because it highlights Kentucky’s dedication to the product, and the company needed the money to finance equipment and personnel for the project.

The Kentucky Agriculture Development Board awarded the funds; it also recently granted $325,000 for the Re-borne production facility in Simpsonville.

The funding also attracted Michael Fowler, president of California-based AIG SunAmerican Affordable Housing Partners, to invest in the project.

Fowler said he felt confident that the project would benefit the agriculture community, “especially with the university and the state willing to cooperate,” he said.

“It’s very important in terms of what the project can do for local farmers,” Fowler said.

“What’s going to happen here will have a larger impact on the national level as well.”

While the spiraling economy has impacted most people, it has been painful for farmers, who are pouring all their money into high-priced fuel and fertilizer and not making profits in return.

And even though failing banks and auto manufacturers are pleading for government money, Beshear said it is important to invest in agriculture, even during a financial crisis.

“As we all know, the country is going through tough times, and Kentucky is not immune from that,” he said.

“We’ve got to be prepared to get through this ... at the same time, we have to move forward into the future and invest in agriculture and invest in our future.”