Genetics

Genomics and the Evolving Role of the Bovine Veterinarian

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:58:16 GMT

Genomic testing is gaining traction in the beef industry, but for many producers, adoption still feels out of reach. The tools are available and the data is powerful, but the starting point is often unclear.

Increasingly, producers are looking to their veterinarians for guidance. The challenge is that many veterinarians are still defining what their role in genomics should look like.

Insights from Dr. Kirk Ramsey, professional services veterinarian, and Kelsey Luebbe, genomics technical services scientist, both with Neogen, highlight both the opportunity and the uncertainty shaping this shift.

An Expanding Role for a Trusted Voice

Producers have no shortage of information about genomics. Industry media, technical specialists and webinars all contribute to awareness, but when it comes time to make decisions, veterinarians remain a trusted source.

That trust is rooted less in genomics expertise and more in long-standing relationships and a deep understanding of herd performance. Veterinarians already play a central role in decision-making on many operations. Genomics is simply extending that role into new territory.

For many practitioners, genomics aligns closely with work they are already doing.

Veterinarians advise on heifer selection, evaluate bulls and track reproductive performance over time. They understand how cattle perform within a specific environment and how past decisions continue to influence current outcomes. This perspective is increasingly valuable as genomic data becomes part of the conversation.

“We have to be very diligent about looking for opportunities to expand our consulting realm because we have to maintain a capacity to provide value to our customers, especially as technology comes on and is moving forward,” Ramsey says.

Rather than focusing solely on treatment and prevention, veterinarians are being pulled into more strategic discussions, helping producers evaluate trade-offs and set long-term direction.

“We have to be on top of understanding what’s out there, understanding how we can provide value, and then at the same time, trying to be more than just the traditional veterinarian that we have always been. Maybe dive in a little bit more and leverage our capacity to understand the production systems and new technologies, helping our customers be progressive.” Ramsey adds.

This adjustment does not replace traditional services, but builds on them.

The Confidence Gap

Despite this opportunity, many veterinarians do not feel fully prepared to lead genomic discussions.

“As a veterinarian, I had no idea that my producers were looking to me for genetic advice. I knew they were looking to me for treatment advice, vaccination protocols or maybe even general production type questions, but I didn’t realize I actually had that much influence over whether they would even look in the genomic direction,” Ramsey says.

There is a growing awareness that expectations have changed, even if training has not fully kept pace.

“We don’t have a ton of training as veterinarians on genomics,” Ramsey begins. “It was a class we took at 6:30 a.m. back in undergrad, but I don’t feel like I learned a lot more in the DVM program.”

At the same time, industry organizations and companies are beginning to expand continuing education and develop resources to support veterinarians in this space.

The knowledge gap exists, but it is narrowing.

(Vernon Bewley - Neogen)

A Practical Entry Point

For veterinarians, stepping into genomics does not require mastering every detail of the technology. It starts with approaching it the same way they approach other herd-level decisions.

“If somebody comes and says, ‘Hey, I want to start testing,’ the first thing is to establish the goals. What are you trying to accomplish? Where are we headed? What are the things that we can help you identify? Where are the hurdles that you currently are facing and how can we help you move past them?” Ramsey says.

1. Start with herd goals, not genomic tests

Genomics is most useful when it is tied to a defined objective. Without that context, even strong data has limited value.

“Sometimes that conversation stalls because ‘What are your goals?’ is such a huge, open-ended question. So we reframe it: Where are you making money? Where are you losing money? Or, where does it really bother you that you’re losing money? That’s where we start,” Luebbe says.

Framing the conversation around economics makes it more actionable.

2. Use what you already know about the herd

Veterinarians bring years of observation and data to the table. Genomics adds another layer, helping explain patterns and refine decisions rather than replacing existing knowledge.

3. Lean on available resources

While genomics-specific training for veterinarians is still developing, practical information is available through industry partners, genomic companies and professional organizations.

4. Focus on interpretation, not promotion

The veterinarian’s value lies in helping producers understand and apply results, not in selling a specific test.

5. Integrate genomics into existing decision points

Genomics fits naturally into decisions already being made, including replacement selection, breeding strategies and long-term planning.

What Getting Started Looks Like for Producers

For producers, the biggest barrier to adoption is often uncertainty, not resistance.

A practical starting point is to focus on a defined group of animals tied to an immediate decision, such as replacement heifers. This allows genomic data to be applied directly without overcomplicating the process. Luebbe suggests making the process fun can be a good entry point.

“Test the animals that you’re arguing about with your brother,” Luebbe says. “Whether it’s the whole bunch, the bottom 50% or the top 25%. Do it so that you can gain some additional information to help you make better decisions.”

Optimally, testing should represent the whole group being evaluated rather than a small subset of top-performing animals, ensuring the results provide a meaningful picture.

Genomics works best alongside visual assessment and experience. It adds insight into differences that are not always visible but does not replace practical knowledge.

The Growing Intersection of Genetics and Health

While genomics has traditionally focused on production and maternal traits, its role is expanding into health.

“We’re starting to bring more health-driven traits to the table. Using genomics to understand the capacity of the immune system for the animal and their genetic risk of developing bovine respiratory disease or congestive heart failure. We’re starting to see this change in the industry and leveraging genomics to understand what health concerns our cattle might be having,” Ramsey says.

This shift strengthens the connection between genomics and veterinary expertise, creating new opportunities to improve herd resilience and reduce disease risk through selection. As these tools evolve, veterinarians will play a key role in helping producers interpret and apply this information effectively.

A Shift Already Underway

Genomics is no longer a future concept. It is a tool that is steadily becoming part of everyday decision making.

“Genomics will never replace a producer’s understanding of their cattle,” Ramsey says. “But what it can do is uncover that layer hidden underneath the skin and identify the genetic capacity that they’re actually bringing.”

For veterinarians, the shift is already happening. Producers are asking questions, expectations are evolving and data is becoming part of routine conversations. The opportunity is not to become an expert in every aspect of genomics, but to build on the role veterinarians already hold.

Getting started does not require having all the answers. It requires stepping into the conversation and helping move it forward.

Precision Genomics: The Veterinarian’s Role in Commercial Herd Rebuilding

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 18:38:03 GMT

With the U.S. beef herd at historic lows , rebuilding is no longer just about numbers. It is about keeping the right females. Today, every retained replacement heifer represents years of genetic influence, input costs and production risk. For the bovine practitioner, this is an opportunity to move beyond traditional “chute-side technician” roles and become a strategic data consultant. Selection is no longer just about phenotype; it is about mitigating biological and economic risks.

The following strategies for precision genomics are pulled from a deep-dive discussion with Dr. Kent Andersen and Dr. Tom Short on The Bovine Vet Podcast . By pairing clinical experience with genomic tools, practitioners can better navigate the current rebuilding phase.

Moving Beyond Visual Appraisal

Visual selection remains a cornerstone of cattle management. Structural soundness, disposition and obvious developmental concerns cannot be ignored. However, phenotype alone does not tell the whole story of an animal’s future productivity.

The Trap of Size: Selecting the largest heifers often inadvertently selects for higher maintenance requirements and increased feed intake.

“Traditionally, commercial cow-calf producers have selected their replacement heifers based on visual appraisal — and perhaps, the ones that are born earliest and just have the look of making a good cow,” says Andersen, director of global beef genetic technical services for Zoetis Animal Health. “Unfortunately, when you select based on looks and size, sometimes you’re picking the biggest ones. So, you’re picking the heifers that may turn out to be the bigger cows that have higher maintenance requirements.”

The Genomic Advantage: Genetic predictions provide insight into metabolic efficiency, fertility, and longevity before a single dollar is spent on development.

“There’s a lot of traits in the unseen world, such as cow fertility, intake, feed conversion, bovine respiratory disease health, that you really can’t gauge by just looking at them,” Andersen says. “The new tools allow the producer to pick heifers that are less risky of dropping out early and maybe not being very profitable.”

Clinical Genomics: Disease Risk and Wellness

One of the more significant recent advancements is the ability to generate genomic predictions related to disease risk, particularly bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Developing those metrics required assembling large populations of cattle with detailed health records and corresponding genotypes. Understanding the value of those predictions requires a clear understanding of heritability.

Heritability vs. Management: Genetics do not replace vaccinations, but they lower the baseline risk. Selecting for higher “Wellness” scores builds a more resilient herd that responds better to clinical protocols.

“Heritability is kind of a term a lot of people don’t understand in a way, but it’s basically just the amount of variation in a trait that we see that’s due to additive genetics, meaning that we can measure it, select for it and improve it,” says Short, associate director in outcomes research with Zoetis Animal Health.

The Data Gap: Historically, commercial heifers lacked the Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) available to seedstock. Genomic testing (e.g., Inherit Select) bridges this gap, providing EPD-level accuracy on unproven females.

“With this technology, we’re getting genetic predictions in commercial cattle that, if you think about it historically, have had very little, if any, information recorded on them,” Short says. “All the data recording and genetic selection and prediction and everything has really occurred at the seedstock level.”

By combining DNA information with national cattle evaluation systems, commercial heifers can now receive EPDs across a range of economically important traits, from fertility and growth to structural and health-related measures.

Managing Genetic Antagonisms

Selecting for a single trait, such as extreme growth, often comes at a cost to others, such as calving ease or fertility.

“Selecting to increase one trait may actually decrease another, but in an undesirable direction,” Short explains. “That’s where you have to weigh the two traits in an index appropriately, knowing that there’s antagonisms there.”

Economic Indices: Use weighted indices to manage these trade-offs. These tools balance production and maternal performance to ensure overall operation profitability rather than chasing outlier data points.

Precision Culling: Identifying “bottom-tier” genetics early allows producers to divert resources toward high-potential females, optimizing the client’s input costs and long-term sustainability.

The DVM as the “Trusted Adviser”

The veterinarian is often the most influential voice in a producer’s decision-making process, making them the ideal conduit for genomic integration.

“In our interactions with commercial cow-calf producers, it’s almost always the veterinarian that is the most trusted adviser,” Andersen says. “The veterinarian is helping them with their herd health program, so we think it’s a natural fit for the bovine practitioner to also assist with getting DNA collected and using the results.”

Short echoes that sentiment. “Most cow-calf herds that have a valid client-patient relationship with their veterinarian trust them as a resource, and especially when it comes to things like health and genetics, which are more technical aspects of what they have to do in their everyday jobs,” he says.

Workflow Integration: DNA collection via ear punch is easily integrated into routine pregnancy diagnosis, vaccination, or breeding soundness exams.

Consultative Value: By interpreting genomic results, veterinarians can guide mating strategies and marketing decisions—such as selling “value-added” replacements—strengthening the Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR).

The Economic Reality of Genomic Testing

Early adopters in the commercial space are capturing disproportionate value in a tight market.

“Early adopters are the ones that get the biggest reward,“ Short says. “Not only am I going to select the very best heifers I test for my own replacements, I’ve got a next group here that are pretty good. I’m going to sell them as value-added replacements to my neighbors.”

Genomic testing, often costing between $15 and $40 per head, can lead to significantly higher lifetime returns by ensuring only the most efficient, fertile, and healthy females enter the breeding herd. While visual appraisal and experience are still important, pairing intuition with genomic insight defines the next generation of decision-making.

Summary for the Practitioner

“I think the sail has been set to evolve from real group herd-based to more individual animal-based in our selections, in our matings, in our management protocols, in our days on feed and harvest time protocols,” Andersen concludes. “The individual animal information, I think, paves the way for that.”

As the industry shifts toward individual animal management, genomic data is the next essential “diagnostic tool.” It allows the practitioner to move from managing groups to optimizing individuals, ultimately building a more profitable operation for the client.

To hear more from Andersen and Short on how genomics is redefining the commercial cow-calf industry, including more information on Inherit Select and the newly introduced BRD selection indices, listen to the full conversation on the latest episode of The Bovine Vet Podcast .

Tips for Creating Uniform Calf Crops

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:57:32 GMT

When evaluating factors that impact ranch profitability and efficiency, producing uniform calf crops can’t be overlooked.

“I think calf uniformity can be really important to the rancher,” says Emma Briggs, faculty supervisor for the research feedlot and the commercial cow herd for Kansas State University Ag Research Center in Hays, Kan.

What does a uniform calf crop look like? It can start with the basics of frame size, weight and other phenotype characteristics, but that’s not the full story in today’s beef industry.

“Uniformity goes beyond just looking at necessarily appearance,” Briggs explains. “It also reflects things like reproductive success for replacement heifers and staying within that 365-day calving interval to be as efficient and productive as possible.”

Tight or planned calving intervals improve phenotype uniformity, but bull selection can improve genotype uniformity for performance on and after the ranch.

“A key point is really looking at genetic consistency,” Briggs says. “So, using sires that have similar EPDs [expected progeny differences] and making sure that we’re not picking bulls that are in the first percentile for growth and then also picking bulls that are in the 50^th percentile.”

On the topic of genetics, understanding breed composition and purpose is critical.

“Other factors to keep in mind are breed composition and type. Make sure that they’re going to have similar purpose characteristics, so you’re not going to have anything too high on the spectrum, good or bad,” Briggs says.

Strategic crossbreeding is a tool ranchers can utilize to hone in on animal purpose and work toward uniformity, too.

“Crossbreeding can be a really beneficial tool, especially if you are having some animals that can lean towards that terminal side maybe,” Briggs explains. “A crossbreeding system gives us a lot of hybrid vigor and is essentially free pounds of lean calf sometimes, depending on the different production standpoint that you have.”

Uniform calf crops impact ranch management past marketing calves in the fall and winter each year.

“Reducing differences in these calves helps develop a good replacement heifer strategy,” Briggs says. “It also helps on the back end with cow nutrition management and maintaining good body condition score, because a 1,200-lb. cow is likely going to have different needs than an 1,800-lb. cow.”

Efficiency of time when working cattle is also an important outcome of calf uniformity.

“There’s nothing more frustrating than having a 90-day-old calf with a 1-day-old calf and you need to give them all vaccine, but then the 1-day-old calf can’t really have it quite yet,” Briggs says. “So, trying to make those calving windows a little bit tighter makes it easier to ensure we give these calves the vaccines they need.”

Outside of planned calving windows and planned genetic selection, what else can producers do to improve calf uniformity?

“Have a goal and have traits that you look at to create uniformity,” Briggs says. “Stick with those and stay away from single-trait selection.”

Additionally, remember these kinds of changes happen over the long run.

“Uniformity doesn’t happen overnight,” Briggs summarizes. “If you are looking to start by shrinking your calving window, don’t overlook the variety of synchronization tools available to you. Even a simple one-shot PG can really push your cows to come into cyclicity sooner and at the same time.”

You can listen to the full conversation on the “Casual Cattle Conversations” podcast.

Herd Sustainability Begins at the Bull Sale

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 12:52:04 GMT

Building a herd, or even maintaining a herd, that works for your unique operation, in your unique environment and helps to enhance profitability, marketability and sustainability on your ranch requires diligence.

That diligence begins at the sale for most operations when buying herd bulls, but it’s easy to get swept up in those moments.

“There are always a handful of bulls that are right at the top of the sale — the ones that everybody wants — but only a handful of people will be able to get that bull bought and take him home,” says Robert Williams, Trust In Food sustainable livestock technical manager. “The reality is, there are a lot of bulls at the sale that will fit differently in different programs.”

“When genetics for reproduction, growth, functional traits and efficiency align with cattle adapted to their environment, the result is a more sustainable beef production system.”

Williams brought together experts at the most recent Trust In Beef Sustainable Ranchers Tour stop in Kingsville, Texas, to share how you can change focus at the sale and reap the benefits for your operation.

Make a Plan and Stick to It

Lindsay Upperman, ABS Global beef genetic services manager, says a successful sale begins before you walk into the barn door.

“Start with what you need,” she explains. “What are the one or two traits that you’re looking for to improve in that next calf crop? Do you not have as much weaning weight? Do you need more fertility or reproductive efficiency in your females?”

Once you’ve narrowed your goals, Upperman says you can narrow the number of bulls that fit within those percentile rankings.

“I know a lot of people don’t like those numbers, but they help a lot,” she explains. “If you’re choosing at that 50^th percentile, that’s breed average for that sire or that group of animals, and if you choose above that, you’re doing better than the breed average in that given trait.”

Selecting animals in those upper percentile rankings moves the herd average where genetic improvement is needed, but is the top 1% always better?

Robert Wells, King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management professor of practice and endowed chair in ranch management, cautions the top rankings can be deceiving.

“The top 1% is not always better,” he stresses. “Think about your environment. If you’re down here in south Texas, we’re in a drought. A top 1% bull in lactation and milk is not where we need to be.”

He adds: “Think about the mature size of your cow. If you’ve got a small cow, maybe you need to add a little bit. But if you’ve got a large cow, that we don’t want to select for those really, really heavy growth type individuals, especially if we’re going to be making maternals happen.”

Then comes the bidding. Upperman recommends you stick to your plan in that decision as well.

“Now, how much better dictates how much money you want to spend on that animal at the end of the day,” she says. “Pick the 10 best bulls that fit maybe those two or three traits you’re looking for to get into your next set of calf crop. Go from there and see what you can give. But I would say try to offset as best you can, because obviously the more you pay, that doesn’t always mean you’re going to get, 10 percentage points better, so definitely offset with what you’re going to get.”

Wells says having a solid plan for the day means you are in a much better position when bidding begins.

“When you go to those auctions, it’s really, really easy to get caught up in the moment, and next thing you know that auctioneer is going really fast, and all sudden, you’re buying a $10,000 bull,” he says.

The 2025 Trust In Beef Sustainable Ranchers Tour culminated in Kingsville, Texas in November where experts shared insights into unlocking production efficiency on-ranch.

(Trust In Beef)

Use EPDs wisely

“Using EPDs (expected progeny differences) does work every day of the year,” Wells says. “Using those EPDs to look at production practice parameters, such as weaning weight, yearling weight, looking at your marbling scores — that’s how the industry has been able to have this remarkable spurt-up on our carcass characteristics.”

Taking into account genetic traits are one way the industry as a whole has seen significant improvement, but the same can hold true at the ranch-gate as well.

“It can be huge,” Wells adds. “I’ve seen producers who have increased their weaning weights by over 100 lb., and not increase the cow size and not do anything different, other than just putting the right genetics in that cow.”

Make Smart Matches

Each breed can contribute unique genetics and characteristics. Successful ranchers find ways to leverage those traits alongside operational goals and the environment around them.

“Different breeds bring an asset to your herd — a special set of characteristics or traits that are going to offset the other part of that group that is mating, so making sure that you’re utilizing that,” Upperman explains. “And again, thinking, are we retaining females? Does that mean two breeds work better in that female mating than maybe a terminal cross? And nine times out of 10, that’s true. Just make sure you’re thinking about both ends, and maybe it’s not just one breed that capitalizes on all of those.”

Wells shares a critical tip that can help differentiate breed selection at the sale.

“Your cow works 365 days of the year, so match your cow to your environment, but match your bull to your market,” he says. “Think about breed complementarity for cows, because she has to work every day of the year. The bulls only work 60, maybe 90 days. Make sure that cow fits your environment. Because if she doesn’t fit your environment, it’s like trying to push a rope up a hill. It’s not going to be very successful. And if you do it, it’s going to be very costly. And then use breed complementarity to match your bull to your marketing outcomes.”

No matter what is out there at your next bull sale, Upperman say the primary tool you have is your gut.

“There’s always going to be something new, there’s always going to be the next best thing, the next tool, because that’s what geneticists like to do is try to make things better,” she says. “We’re trying to give you new things to utilize that may help within your herd. But if it doesn’t fit within your productivity, your profitability for your herd, then why are you considering it? Use what you have and what is already there that gives you profit.”

Farm Journal’s Trust In Beef shares information about how investing in sustainability can build profitability and legacy on your ranch. Visit www.TrustInBeef.com for additional resources or to learn how to connect with a future Sustainable Ranchers Tour event.

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Drovers Round Up: Register Now for CattleCon and Breed Association Updates

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 15:18:55 GMT

Gelbvieh Releases New Indexes and EPDs

The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) launched three new economic indexes and four new expected progeny differences (EPDs).

The new indexes include: maternal profit index (MPI), feeder profit index (FPI) and total profit index (TPI). The new EPDs are: mature weight (MWT), cow energy requirement-yearly (CERY), dry matter intake (DMI) and $GAIN.

AGA hosted a webinar introducing the new indexes and EPDs on Sept. 23. Visit the AGA website for more information.

CattleCon 2026 Registration Open

CattleCon 2026, the largest cattle industry event of the year, is heading to the heart of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, Feb. 3-5. New for 2026: all registration options include access to Cattlemen’s College education sessions and demonstrations .

Register for CattleCon 2026 before Oct. 1 to receive the best prices and access to more hotel options. You can find the type of registration that’s the right fit for you as well as discounts for students on the CattleCon website .

Click here for the CattleCon schedule .

Cattle producers attending Cattlemen’s College are eligible for the Rancher Resilience Grant, which provides reimbursement for registration and up to three nights of hotel. Click here for more information and to apply.

2026 Sires Used in NRSP

The American Hereford Association’s National Reference Sire Program (NRSP) is designed to identify and validate the genetic merit of young sires that offer seedstock producers and commercial users opportunities to improve their herds for specific traits and a combination of traits. It also provides ongoing confirmation of the profitability associated with Hereford genetics.

Find the list of 2026 NRSP born sires selected to use at Olsen Ranches, Harrisburg, Neb.

Associations Seek Interns

Applications are now open for multiple internship programs. Learn more at these links:

American Angus Association seeks 2026 summer interns

NCBA Accepting Applications for Spring 2026 Internships

Breaking Down Methane in the Beef Industry

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 19:17:12 GMT

Methane research has been a hot topic in the beef industry. During the recent Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium , multiple presentations focused on methane research on how to reduce emissions, its link to feed efficiency and how genetic improvement could be possible.

This is the first article in a series that will breakdown what methane is and its impact on the environment.

What is Methane?

Methane is a greenhouse gas. Cattle produce methane through enteric fermentation, a natural digestive process that occurs in the rumen. It’s created when methanogens (a type of archaea microbe) in the rumen microbiome convert hydrogen and carbon dioxide into methane during feed digestion.

According to the “ Beef’s Role in Greenhouse Gas Emissions ” website, the biogenic carbon cycle is a naturally occurring process where carbon is utilized, recycled and stored in different states. In nature, plants take in sunlight and carbon dioxide and use them to create carbohydrates in a process called photosynthesis. Cattle then eat the plants and digest the carbon that is stored in the plants, undergoing enteric fermentation.

Cattle are ruminant animals, meaning that microbes in their stomach breakdown carbohydrates through the fermentation process. Ruminant animals, including sheep, goats, buffalo, elk and deer, have a unique four compartment stomach to help break down food. The rumen is the largest of these four compartments, filled with microorganisms that help break down foliage like grass.

This process creates gasses such as methane. This methane is then belched out — not through flatulence. After approximately 10 years, methane is broken down in the atmosphere and converted back to carbon dioxide which plants can take in, thereby completing the carbon cycle.

Methane production by cattle is part of a natural carbon cycle where the methane oxidizes in the atmosphere over a period of years converting the carbon to carbon dioxide (CO₂) that can be fixed through plant growth to form carbohydrates in feed. Within this cycle there is no long-term impact on climate if methane emissions and oxidation are in balance.

(Wendy David, BeefResearch.org)

During a Beef Cattle Institute (BCI) “Diving into Diets” podcast , Brad White, Kansas State University veterinarian, and Phillip Lancaster, K-State BCI nutritionist, discussed how methane is created along with mitigation strategies.

Lancaster says methane is produced anytime there is anaerobic fermentation. When organic materials, like feeds, is being broken down by microbes with a lack of oxygen. He says large sources of methane produced by agriculture related causes include the enteric fermentation in ruminant animals, lagoons and rice paddies.

He adds non-agriculture sources are wetlands and landfills. According to Lancaster, it is about a 50/50 split for methane production between ag- versus non-ag-related sources. In the beef industry, two primary sources of methane are enteric fermentation (digestive processes) and manure management systems.

Lancaster says cows on grass produce more methane than feedlot cattle.

“It’s the cows out on grass that are producing three-quarters of the methane that the whole beef industry produces,” he says.

With forages, because of the slower rate of digestion — and the lower the quality of the forage equates to slower the rate of digestion, a higher proportion of that original energy being emitted as methane. In comparison with feedlot cattle on a high-grain diet, because of the rapid rate of digestion and the type of end products, there is a much lower proportion being emitted as methane.

Do Cattle Cause Global Warning?

Media has placed a lot of blame of the changing climate on cattle. Scientific evidence does not support this claim in the U.S. In the “ Tough Questions About Beef Sustainability: Are U.S. Cattle Causing an Increase in Global Warming? ” fact sheet, it reports that methane has a relatively short atmospheric lifespan, unlike carbon dioxide, which can remain in the atmosphere for hundreds to thousands of years.

This characteristic makes it an attractive target for rapid climate change mitigation. The methane produced by cattle is part of a natural carbon cycle, where plants absorb carbon dioxide and animals release it, unlike fossil fuel emissions that introduce new carbon into the system.

According to BeefResearch.org , between 1961 and 2019 the U.S. beef industry, through continued sustainability efforts and improved resource use, has reduced emissions per pound of beef produced by more than 40% while also producing more than 67% more beef per animal. Emissions from cattle, including those that come from the feed production, fuel and electricity, account for 3.7% of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.

Currently, emissions from U.S. beef cattle are less than 0.5% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, emissions from beef cattle represent 2.2% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. These numbers will likely continue to decrease as farmers and ranchers seek to reduce methane emissions further through best management practices, including grazing management and feed supplementation.

Burning of fossil fuels has a long-term impact on atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.

(Wendy David, BeefResearch.org)

Comparing the emissions from cattle to those emitted by vehicles through the combustion of fossil fuels, both affect the blanket around our planet. However, there is a major difference between these two sources of greenhouse gases. Burning fossil fuels takes carbon that has been stored in the earth since pre-historic times and converts it to carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere.

Methane Research is Not New

Lancaster says early methane research was done back in the early 1900s because it’s a loss of energy during the feed digestion process — it’s energy the animal does not get to capture and utilize.

“We know a lot about enteric methane production, because we’ve been studying it for 100 years,” he explain.

White and Lancaster summarize methane reduction in the beef industry requires a multifaceted approach. Continued research, innovative technologies and an understanding of the carbon cycle will be essential in developing effective, economically viable solutions that support both environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity.

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Iowa State Livestock Research Aims to Uncover How Biological Factors Impact Human Fertility

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 21:25:43 GMT

Despite having sperm with good motility (forward movement) and morphology (cell shape), one out of every four boars experience a conception rate of less than 80%. The issue mirrors human fertility challenges with one out of eight couples struggling with infertility, and one-third of those cases are attributed to male factors, according to the National Institute of Health.

“Pigs and cattle are species we have plenty of oocytes and sperm cells available for, allowing us to conduct in vitro fertilization research,” says Karl Kerns, Iowa State University assistant professor of animal science in a recent article . “They also are effective models for human reproduction compared to rodents, who do not model the human as well genetically or phenotypically at the cellular level.”

He dedicates his research efforts to pigs and cattle .

Kerns’ Lab specializes in molecular reproductive physiology with a focus on understanding and enhancing livestock sire fertility. The lab is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including andrology and molecular biology labs as well as an in vitro fertilization (IVF) lab. The IVF lab has computer-assisted semen analysis and time-lapse fluorescent microscopes to image-based flow cytometry paired with deep learning, artificial intelligence analysis methods and sorting flow cytometry.

The lab’s goal is to enhance reproductive efficiency by analyzing sperm quality and identifying biological markers that influence fertility rates. The process involves sorting sperm cells using advanced flow cytometry technology. The sorter system uses microfluidics and lasers to analyze and sort cells based on fluorescence-marked biomarkers.

“We can track thousands of cells per second, identifying key fertility indicators and sorting them accordingly,” Kerns says.

The process allows for an in-depth analysis of fertility potential and production capabilities.

Kerns’ team employs both positive and negative biomarkers to evaluate sperm quality. Positive biomarkers are generally considered good and reflect increased chances of conception, while negative biomarkers can indicate compromised fertility potential.

The team also assesses mitochondrial activity, zinc signatures and protein detection, all of which assist the lab in detecting and analyzing both healthy and unhealthy sperm.

Ian Shofner, a third-year doctorate student in mammalian reproductive physiology, focuses on artificial intelligence (AI) and developing models that predict sperm fertility metrics in the Kerns Lab.

“Currently, male fertility diagnostics are lacking in accuracy, and my work aims to improve these predictions for better assessments of male fertility in mammals,” Shofner explains. “With this, we intend on enabling the industry to make cost-effective AI solutions for fertility diagnostics using affordable brightfield microscopy technology.”

Tyler Weide, a third-year doctorate student in the interdepartmental genetics and genomics program, has an emphasis on uncovering the molecular and cellular mechanisms for fertilization.

“It’s an ideal environment for those interested in reproductive physiology to apply critical thinking in solving complex problems relevant to both agricultural and biomedical sciences,” Weide says.

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