NCCC206: Nutrition and Management of Feedlot Cattle to Optimize Performance, Carcass Value and Environmental Compatibility (NCT192)
Statement of Issues and Justification
An NCR committee dedicated to nutritional and pre-harvest management issues of cattle feeding will focus research efforts and disseminate information in service to a key component of the beef cattle industry. Cattle feeding in the North Central Region contributes significantly to the agricultural economy in the U.S. The states represented by this committee account for 60% of cattle on feed and 45% of feeder cattle in the U.S. (1). The revenues from the sale of cattle in these states represent a billion dollar industry, and in many cases is the major agricultural commodity in the state.This committee is unique among NC and NCR committees in directing research interests toward beef cattle nutrition issues facing the U.S. cattle feeding industry. The major focus of this committee will be the development of nutritional and management strategies that address current issues facing the cattle feeding industry, such as environmental compatibility, beef quality and safety, and economic sustainability. This focus clearly distinguishes the research efforts of this group from other NC or NCR committees in which scientists are focused on dairy production, utilization of animal manure and organic residues, grazing systems, cow-calf management, and molecular mechanisms regulating growth of muscle and adipose tissue. The research goals of this committee are supportive of all five research goals of CSREES.
The committee has and will continue to work diligently to discover, disseminate, and implement technology that improves efficiency of producing beef as well as enhancing the quality of beef. A purpose of this committee will be to promote scientific exchange, stimulate cooperation and collaboration among scientists at different institutions, and to minimize duplication of research effort.
A major focus will be the development of management strategies that facilitate production of beef in an environmentally sustainable manner. One approach will be to improve the utilization of by-product feeds in diets for feeder cattle in order to allow a potential waste product to be recovered in edible, high quality protein foods. The feedlot industry is the major utilizer of byproducts from the food and grain processing industries, which are abundant in the North Central region. Optimizing capture of the nutrients from the byproducts of these industries has important environmental and economic implications(2,3). This is particularly true in light of the proliferation of ethanol production facilities in this region. The second approach in this realm will be to conduct beef cattle nutrition and management research to limit N and P losses to the environment(4,5). New EPA regulations and societal concerns regarding the impact of confinement of livestock on the environment provide ample justification of our research thrust in this area.
Coordinated research also will be planned to investigate effects of nutrition and pre-harvest management on the quality and safety of beef. Maintenance of a safe and wholesome food supply continues to be a major challenge in the U.S. The presence of E. coli 0157:H7 in feedlot cattle and on beef carcasses continues to contribute to safety concerns(6). Alternative feeding programs will be evaluated as a means of controlling pathogenic microorganisms, like E. Coli 0157:H7. Other food safety issues such as the use of genetically modified grains by beef cattle will be investigated. Likewise, research will target enhancement of important beef quality issues such as tenderness and marbling(7).
This committee will plan and conduct beef cattle nutrition and management research to enhance cattle health, well-being, performance and carcass value. These issues are critical to profitability as the industry moves to a value-based marketing system and the formation of alliances within the industry(8,9).
The beef industry continues to rely on the expertise of this committee to discover, develop and evaluate new technology prior to its adoption by the feedlot industry. In order to accomplish this task, it is critical that committee members meet annually to identify strengths and weaknesses of our knowledge of cattle feeding. Collaboration among members has and continues to develop new feeding programs to improve production efficiency, reduce the impact of confinement beef production on the environment, and to enhance beef quality and safety. The interaction of these committee members is crucial in conducting unbiased research projects for the benefits of the beef industry and consuming public.
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