Produce Nutrition News

Fewer Vegans, More Meat Eaters: What It Means for Beef

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:21:18 GMT

Not long ago, it felt like beef had a target on its back.

Between headlines about plant-based alternative proteins, questions about how cattle are raised and shifting consumer preferences, there was a lot of speculation about beef’s future. As a young rancher, I heard those conversations just like everyone else — and like many producers, I wondered what they might mean for our industry long term.

Today, the conversation looks very different.

Beef demand is strong, even as prices remain high and supplies are tight. And that strength isn’t just anecdotal — it’s backed by data. Beef Checkoff-funded research like the Meat Demand Monitor (MDM), a monthly national survey of U.S. consumers, continues to show that consumers value beef for its taste and that eating satisfaction plays a major role in their purchasing decisions.

In fact, a report summarizing the MDM’s findings from February 2020 to December 2025 shows that more than 85% of Americans today identify as meat consumers, and consumer willingness to pay for beef at retail has increased faster than inflation. Over that same period, the number of consumers identifying as vegetarian or vegan has declined from 14% to just 7%.

Furthermore, broader food and nutrition trends are working in beef’s favor. Protein continues to be top of mind for consumers, whether they’re focused on overall health, weight management or maintaining muscle as they age. Even the rise of GLP-1 medications has reinforced the importance of nutrient-dense foods, with many users prioritizing protein to support their health goals.

I occasionally run ultramarathons and enjoy strength training, and I’ve experienced firsthand how important nutrition is when you’re pushing your body to its limit. Athletes often tailor their diets carefully, focusing on complete protein to support muscle development and recovery. Increasingly, more Americans — even non-athletes — are thinking about food in those same terms.

That trend plays directly to beef’s strengths as a flavorful, nutrient-dense protein. It’s also reflected in the continued recognition of lean beef as part of a healthy dietary pattern in the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans , reinforcing what many of us in the industry have long known: beef can absolutely be part of a healthy lifestyle.

That recognition doesn’t happen by accident. Research and education play an important role in helping consumers access accurate information about beef. Producers are investing in nutrition research through the Beef Checkoff, and that research continues to explore beef’s role in healthy dietary patterns. Meanwhile, outreach to health professionals helps ensure science-based information reaches the people influencing what we eat.

On our ranch, we’ve seen that demand play out firsthand. Cattle prices have remained strong for the past two years. That’s a welcome change from years when we hoped to simply break even after accounting for feed, fuel and other input costs. Strong cattle prices reflect the reality that supplies are tight and demand for finished beef remains strong.

Conversations with my neighbors suggest many operations are experiencing the same.

However, strong demand today doesn’t guarantee strong demand tomorrow. That’s why continued investment in building demand, expanding market opportunities and strengthening consumer trust matters.

Like many producers, I think a lot about what it will take to keep family operations viable for the next generation. Recent devastating wildfires near our ranch here in Nebraska are a reminder of just how quickly challenges can arise — and how deeply they can affect our communities. While there’s no single solution, continued investment in building demand, expanding market opportunities and strengthening consumer trust plays an important role in helping keep operations viable and our industry strong.

As I take on a larger role in our family ranch, I’m encouraged — not just by where beef demand stands today, but by the factors supporting it. My generation of cattle producers takes the future of this industry seriously. We want the opportunity to pass down healthy, viable operations to the next generation — just as previous generations did for us.

Jaslyn Livingston is a fourth-generation cattle producer from Broadwater, Neb., where she helps manage A Lazy L Ranch LLC with her family. The diversified operation includes cow-calf, feedlot and row-crop production. She also serves on the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, helping guide Beef Checkoff programs focused on research, education and promotion.

Managing Vitamins and Minerals to Increase Calf Survival

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 21:31:03 GMT

Stillbirths and weak newborn calves are among the most frustrating outcomes in both beef and dairy systems. Calving difficulty, infectious disease and congenital defects are often investigated first, yet many cases end with no clear explanation. Even when calving appears normal, losses still occur leaving veterinarians and producers searching for answers after the fact.

Dr. Bob Van Saun, professor and Extension veterinarian at Penn State University, spoke on the importance of maternal nutrition and the placental transfer of vitamins and minerals on a recent episode of AABP’s “Have You Herd?” podcast.

What often goes unnoticed is the gestational environment that shaped the fetus long before calving began. Nutritional decisions made months earlier, particularly around vitamins and trace minerals, can quietly determine whether a calf is born resilient, compromised or nonviable. Rather than being isolated calving failures, some stillbirths might represent the final outcome of inadequate fetal preparation.

“If we don’t do what we need to do nutritionally for that pregnant animal, we could have very long-term effects not only on the reproductive success of the female, but also on the offspring,” Van Saun says.

Newborn Calves Enter the World Nutritionally Limited

Newborn calves, whether beef or dairy, arrive with a biological disadvantage: milk alone cannot meet their trace mineral and vitamin needs.

“We often tout milk as nature’s perfect food, and it certainly plays a very important role in the macro minerals and in energy and protein, but one of the things that’s been well known is milk does not have significant quantities of most of the trace elements. Particularly iron, copper, selenium and even some of the vitamins aren’t in high quantities within the milk,” Van Saun says.

Trace minerals and vitamins are essential for enzyme function, immune development and antioxidant defense, yet the neonatal diet provides very little of them. As a result, the calf’s ability to survive early life depends heavily on what accumulated before birth, particularly in the fetal liver.

“With some of the work that’s been done, we’re starting to recognize that the mineral status of that newborn calf is very dependent upon how we feed mom,” Van Saun says.

In addition to gestational nutrient transfer, colostrum is an important way to get calves off on the right foot, especially with fat soluble vitamins, so long as the mother has been appropriately supplemented.

Placental Transfer of Minerals and Vitamins

Minerals and vitamins reach the fetus through the placenta, but not all nutrients behave the same way. Trace minerals appear to move primarily by facilitated diffusion, rather than active transport. Van Saun explains that as a result, fetal blood concentrations are typically much lower than maternal blood concentrations.

Once those nutrients enter fetal circulation, the liver becomes the key storage site. However, the complete mechanism by which these nutrients are stored in the liver is not well understood.

“If you remember the anatomy, the umbilical vein goes directly to the liver. It’s my thinking that the fetal liver somehow captures these minerals and stores them,” Van Saun says. “The fetal liver can concentrate these trace elements to a level that’s nearly twice what we typically see in the dam. We need to find out what influences this.”

In contrast, fat-soluble vitamins cross the placenta inefficiently, particularly later in gestation, leaving newborn calves relatively depleted at birth and heavily reliant on colostrum to establish antioxidant protection.

Maternal Mineral Deficiencies and Fetal Loss

At the Penn State diagnostics lab, mineral and vitamin analyses of fetal and stillborn calf livers have revealed a surprising number of incidences of deficiency. Despite expectations of a linear relationship between maternal mineral status and fetal mineral status, there appears to be very little direct relationship.

“When I plot maternal versus fetal concentrations, I generally see a shotgun scattergram,” Van Saun explains. “That makes me think there’s got to be some other regulatory process there.”

Across the data, several nutrients appear repeatedly in association with fetal loss and stillbirth. Van Saun highlights the following:

Copper: Essential for enzyme systems and antioxidant defense
Selenium: Critical for glutathione peroxidase activity
Zinc: Involved in cellular and immune development
Magnesium: Supports energy metabolism and neuromuscular stability
Vitamin A: Needed for epithelial development and antioxidant defense

Oxidative Stress at Birth

As umbilical blood flow is compromised during delivery, particularly during prolonged or difficult births, the fetus experiences hypoxia.

“That’s going to produce large quantities of reactive oxygen species,” Van Saun explains. “And if those aren’t squelched by the antioxidant system, that could cause the demise of the animal.”

Trace minerals and fat-soluble vitamins play central roles in the defense against reactive oxygen species. When fetal reserves are marginal, oxidative stress during calving might push a compromised fetus past a survivable threshold. This could help explain why some stillborn calves show no obvious infectious, genetic or mechanical cause at necropsy.

Why Overfeeding Isn’t Usually the Problem

A common concern is whether aggressive mineral supplementation could harm the fetus. However, even in dams with liver mineral levels that would be considered toxicosis, fetal levels remain within a narrow range.

“When maternal concentrations of liver minerals are very low, the fetal maternal ratio is quite high. In other words, the fetus is capable of extracting more mineral from a deficient mom,” Van Saun says. “But as mom’s mineral status increases to very high levels, the ratio is quite low. Suggesting that there is some mechanism in place where the fetus doesn’t over accumulate.”

Van Suan observed this most profoundly with copper, but has also seen the same pattern with zinc, iron, selenium and manganese.

“Somehow, Mother Nature has built in a protective mechanism on both ends of the spectrum ensuring even when mom is on the low side, the fetus can try to accumulate,” he says. “And then if mom is on the high side, the fetus doesn’t over-accumulate.”

Stillborn Calves as Nutritional Sentinels

Stillborn calves represent an underused opportunity to evaluate herd nutrition. Liver mineral and vitamin analysis from stillborn calves can uncover deficiencies that were not clinically apparent in the dam.

“We really need to emphasize how to make a good situation out of a bad situation,” Van Saun says. “I think if you’re having a string of stillborns, I would be wanting to take a liver sample.”

Repeated measures of low selenium, copper, or vitamin A in stillborn calves, especially in the absence of other pathology, can point back to gestational nutrition as the root cause.

What Can You Do to Get Ahead of the Problem?

Effective investigation of stillbirths and weak calves should begin with diet evaluation, but meaningful assessment of gestational nutrition requires a broader, more deliberate strategy. A clearer understanding can be gained by using multiple diagnostic entry points across the herd and across time.

Van Saun highlights several practical diagnostic opportunities:

Submitting liver samples from stillborn calves when infectious and congenital causes are not identified
Using cull cow or abattoir liver samples to establish baseline mineral status
Sampling healthy animals within defined physiologic groups, rather than sick cows in inflammatory states
Building longitudinal data rather than interpreting isolated results

Taken together, these approaches allow the shift from reactive troubleshooting to proactive risk management.

Stillbirths and weak calves are often the final expression of biological constraints established months earlier not failures limited to the calving event.

New Dietary Guidelines Move Food Pyramid Closer to the Farm

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:43:25 GMT

The White House delivered a simple but clear message to Americans today: Eat real food.

“We are finally putting real food back at the center of the American diet. Real food that nourishes the body, restores health, fuels energy and builds strength,” says Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “This pivot also leans into the abundant, affordable and healthy food supply already available from America’s incredible farmers and ranchers. By making milk, raising cattle and growing wholesome fruits, vegetables and grains, they hold the key to solving our national health crisis.”

In the “most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in decades,” the White House released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 . The updated pyramid inverts the 1992 USDA version by prioritizing:

Protein (1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, an increase from 0.8 grams)
Dairy and healthy fats as the foundation
Vegetables (3 servings per day)
Fruits (2 servings per day)

Unlike the old pyramid’s grain-heavy base and processed carbs, new recommendations limit whole grains to 2 to 4 servings per day and added sugars and highly processed oils should be avoided entirely.

Eat More Protein

Rollins says the previous dietary guidelines demonized protein in favor of carbohydrates.

“These guidelines reflect gold standard science by prioritizing high-quality, nutrient-dense protein foods in every meal,” Rollins says. “This includes a variety of animal sources, including eggs, poultry, seafood, and red meat, in addition to plant-sourced protein foods such as beans, peas, lentils, legumes, nuts, seeds and soy.”

To put the new protein recommendations into perspective, Sigrid Johannes, executive director of government affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, says for folks who should be consuming 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight that’s a 100% increase in recommended daily protein intake.

Dairy’s Seat at the Table

Dairy emerged in a strong position under the new dietary guidelines, with federal nutrition guidance supporting dairy at all fat levels for the first time.

“One of the key messages they’re telling consumers is eat dairy and eat dairy at all fat levels — that’s whole milk, cheese and butter,” says Matt Herrick of the International Dairy Foods Association. He calls it “a significant watershed moment,” reflecting how many families currently eat and shop today.

Echoing Herrick’s perspective, National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Gregg Doud adds by better recognizing both fat and protein, the guidelines give a fuller picture of dairy’s nutritional value.

“Not all fats are created equal, and because the guidelines acknowledge this, dairy’s benefits are better reflected in this iteration of the guidelines,” Doud says.

When it comes to protein, consumer demand is reshaping the category, with cottage cheese at its highest level since the 1980s because of the high-protein trend, Herrick notes.

“Consumers are looking at labels more than ever and trying to find cleaner, less processed foods. Dairy fits that bill. Most products have just a handful of ingredients, and they’re all high in protein. People are turning to protein for growth, energy and overall health, and we’re going to continue to see consumers look to dairy to fulfill their protein and healthy fats needs,” Herrick says.

The processing sector has grown alongside the rising demand for dairy, reflecting both increased production and changing consumer preferences. Roughly $8 billion has been invested in new processing facilities from 2022 to 2025, with another $11 billion expected through 2028.

“We’re going to continue to see investments in processing facilities — new plants, updated lines and more capacity — to meet growing consumer demand for dairy protein and healthy fats,” Herrick notes.

Eat More Meat and Poultry

When it comes to meat and poultry, Julie Anna Potts, Meat Institute President and CEO, says Secretary Rollins and Secretary Kennedy’s leadership have simplified the dietary guidelines making it clear meat is a protein powerhouse.

“Robust scientific evidence demonstrates that meat is a rich source of high-quality protein, essential vitamins and highly bioavailable minerals that support human health throughout the lifespan,” Potts says.

Kansas beef producer Marisa Kleysteuber describes the new “commonsense” dietary guidelines as “exciting and refreshing.”

“As beef producers we are blessed to work with a ruminant animal that can utilize Mother Nature’s production of cellulose from rain and sunshine and then convert it to one of the most nutrient rich proteins there is,” she says. “Whether the consumer is desiring an organic, grass fed or corn fed beef product, there are cattlemen and women all over the U.S. who put their heart into raising these cattle to produce a nutritious and delicious product that we have always believed in and now our leaders are standing behind the ranchers and farmers of America.”

Quintessentially American foods such as burgers, steaks, pork chops and Easter hams can remain a staple of American households, and the guidelines go so far as to recommend parents introduce nutrient-dense foods, including meat, early and continue focusing on “nutrient-dense foods such as protein foods” throughout childhood.

“America’s pork producers appreciate the 2025 dietary guidelines putting pork front and center on the plate. They took note of producer concerns and rightly gave pork and other high-protein, nutrient-dense and delicious meats their due when it comes to Americans’ health and dietary habits,” says Rob Brenneman , National Pork Producers Council president-elect and pork producer from Washington, Iowa.

Maddie Hokanson , a Minnesota pork producer and mother of two, says the new dietary guidelines’ strong emphasis on protein is a positive for the pork industry. She believes the new guidelines, paired with pork’s quality nutrition and versatility, bring together the perfect opportunity to increase pork consumption and demand in the U.S.

“As pig farmers, we are proud to produce a meat product that is packed with high-quality protein, while also being nutrient-dense with many essential vitamins and minerals,” Hokanson says. “As a parent to young children, I see both the physical and cognitive benefits of prioritizing protein in the diet at all ages, and I’m excited to see what the short- and long-term effects of this recommendation will be.”

Three Servings of Veggies and Two Servings of Fruit

Dairy and meat weren’t the only items at the top of the new dietary pyramid. Fresh fruits and vegetables were also given top billing.

“Diets rich in vegetables and fruits reduce disease risk more effectively than many drugs,” says Robert F Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health.

The new dietary guidelines recommend three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit per day. Like past editions of the dietary guidelines , the new guidelines recommend Americans eat “a variety of colorful, nutrient-dense vegetables and fruits” and advises whole produce items be eaten “in their original form.” Though not explicitly stated, the updated guidelines also call out “frozen, dried, or canned vegetables or fruits with no or very limited added sugars” as good options.

“Today’s dietary guidelines reinforce the critical role fruits and vegetables play in overall health,” says Mollie Van Lieu, International Fresh Produce Association vice president of nutrition and health, in the group’s response. “Scientific evidence consistently shows that fruits and vegetables should make up the majority of what people eat. The Administration’s focus on whole foods is an opportunity to increase fruit and vegetable intake, as they are the most nutrient-dense foods available.”

Rollins Teases Plan to Expand Real Food Retail Accessibility

There was more than the new dietary guidelines announced at the press event. Rollins mentioned upcoming changes at retail she says would increase the accessibility of whole, healthy foods to those in food deserts.

“Soon, USDA will finalize our stocking standards,” she says, explaining retailers that take SNAP benefits are bound by the stocking standards. “Very soon we will be finalizing that rule that will mandate all 250,000 retailers in America to double the type of staple foods they provide for America’s SNAP households. This means healthier options will be in reach for all American families, regardless of circumstance, at levels never seen before in our country.”

Grains and Oilseed Industry Focuses on Positives

In terms of grains, in its guidance USDA recommends Americans “focus on whole grains, while sharply reducing refined carbohydrates.” The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) shared mixed reactions to the changes.

“We appreciate the continued recognition of whole grains as an essential part of Americans’ diets,” said a spokesperson with NAWG in a statement to Farm Journal. “However, we are concerned that some portions of the new guidelines around grains and wheat are unintentionally confusing. Wheat, wheat flour, and foods made from wheat have been nutrient-rich, life-sustaining staples for tens of thousands of years and deserve clear, continued support as a central part of our nation’s diet.”

The American Soybean Association (ASA) focuses on the positives saying it highlights the importance of increased protein consumption, including plant-based proteins, such as soy-based foods. They also emphasize prioritizing healthy fats, including oils rich in essential fatty acids like soybean oil.

ASA says an addendum continues to call into question the process of soybean oil extraction, which it says is scientifically proven to be safe for human health.

“Soybean oil and soy protein play a critical role in the health and nutrition of Americans,” says Scott Metzger, ASA president and Ohio farmer, in a press release. “We remain deeply concerned by the rhetoric and selectively cited studies regarding the health and safety of soybean oil in DGA supporting material.”

Metzger says soybean growers will continue to work with the administration and educate MAHA commission leadership on the health benefits of soy-based foods and soybean oil.

The National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) echoed those concern: “Vegetable oils, or “seed oils” as they’re sometimes referred to, are a significant provider of essential fatty acids and remain a safe and cost-effective source of dietary fats in the American diet, as they are globally,” said a NOPA press release. “However, some appendices rely on a narrow evidence base with limited citations, which is concerning given the administration’s rhetoric questioning the safety of certain vegetable oils despite an established scientific consensus.”

NOPA also argues oilseeds support the production of affordable meat, dairy and eggs as meal produced from oilseeds are a key component of livestock diets.

Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Costs Dip By 5%

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:46:11 GMT

As families across America prepare for their Thanksgiving celebrations next week, the 40th annual American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) survey brings some welcome news for the wallet.

The classic Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people is projected to cost an average of $55.18, marking a 5% decrease from last year. However, this price point remains notably higher than five years ago.

A Long-Standing Tradition
Since 1986, the AFBF has tracked and reported the cost of a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Each year, volunteer shoppers from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico canvas local grocery stores—or their online counterparts—to record prices for a standard list of holiday staples.

The list of items surveyed for prices includes turkey, cubed stuffing, sweet potatoes, dinner rolls, frozen peas, fresh cranberries, celery, carrots, pumpkin pie mix and pie crusts, whipping cream, and whole milk.

This year’s grocery bill highlights several price shifts. Four key items saw a drop in price: the centerpiece turkey, cubed stuffing, fresh cranberries, and dinner rolls.

Conversely, five items—sweet potatoes, frozen green peas, vegetable tray, whole milk, and whipping cream—experienced price increases. Pumpkin pie mix and pie shells remained virtually unchanged from last year’s figures.

Regional Differences Contribute To Costs
For those celebrating in the West, the classic Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people costs $61.75, making it the most expensive region and approximately 12% higher than the national average. Families in the Northeast also face prices above the national average, with their classic meal coming in at $60.82. The South boasts the most affordable holiday meal at $50.01, closely followed by the Midwest at $54.38.

Americans living in the West will pay, on average, nearly $10 more per meal than those living in the South.

(AFBF)

If you expand dinner options to include ham, Russet potatoes, and green beans, including these additional items elevates the total meal cost for 10 to $77.09, or $7.71 per person.

Regionally, the South again offers the lowest total at $71.20, followed by the Midwest at $76.33. Both the Northeast and the West saw a jump in cost, reaching $82.97 and $84.97, respectively. The West once more stands out, with costs higher there than in other regions.

Turkey Takes a Back Seat in the Bill
Historically, the turkey has been the undisputed heavyweight on the Thanksgiving receipt, often accounting for an average of 43% of the total dinner cost. However, in 2025, a 16-pound turkey represents only 39% of the cost for a 10-person dinner—its lowest share since 2000.

Turkey prices have dropped for consumers this year because, in many instances, retailers are using them as a loss leader to attract shoppers.

(AFBF)

A 16-pound turkey will set shoppers back an average of $21.50, reports the AFBF, a significant 16% decrease from 2024. While fresh turkey prices continue to climb as the poultry sector battles highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), the prices for frozen turkeys—the preferred choice for most Thanksgiving feasts—are steadily declining.

Adding to this trend, turkey demand outside of the holiday season continues to wane, with the average American consuming only 13 pounds of turkey per year, nearly 3 pounds less than six years ago.

Side Dishes Gain Weight on the Grocery Receipt
Despite the overall dip in Thanksgiving meal costs this year, side dishes now command a larger share of the total grocery bill. Price increases for fresh produce and essential baking ingredients underscore elevated costs throughout the entire supply chain.

Items like fresh vegetables and sweet potatoes registered some of the most substantial cost increases. A veggie tray is up by more than 61%, and sweet potatoes saw a 37% jump.

Several items saw price reductions this year, helping to mitigate the overall meal cost, according to the AFBF survey. Dinner rolls are down 14.6%, stuffing is down 9%, and cranberries are down 2.8%.

Your next read: Normal La Niña Pattern to Return By Thanksgiving

Microbial Crude Protein: What It Really Means For Your Herd

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:07:26 GMT

When you set out feed for your herd, you’re not just filling the cow’s belly, you’re fueling the rumen microbes that make cattle unique. These microbes ferment forage and grain, multiply, and then move down the digestive tract — becoming one of the cow’s most important protein sources. This microbial crude protein (MCP) can make up more than half of the protein a cow actually uses.

MCP plays a central role in growth, reproduction and milk production. Researchers have spent decades trying to pin down exactly how much MCP cattle get from different diets. Because MCP cannot be measured directly in the digesta of cattle, estimates of MCP synthesis have traditionally relied on invasive surgical procedures to install intestinal cannulas and markers to estimate digestive flow and MCP concentration within that flow. If we could predict MCP with confidence, we’d know when cows are covered and when they need more protein supplementation. But, as a recent study shows, it’s not quite that straightforward.

Michael Galyean and Luis Tedeschi, from Texas Tech and Texas A&M, respectively, dug into a dataset including 335 observations from cattle feeding studies around the world. They tested how well existing formulas — like those in the NASEM beef cattle guidelines — and newly developed ones did at predicting MCP. By comparing predictions against actual measurements from the studies, the team was able to see which methods came closest to the truth.

What they found was that none of the formulas were perfect. Across the board, predictions were off by 25% to 30% from what cattle actually produced. That’s a big margin of error when you’re trying to dial in protein efficiency.

The surprising part was that adding more diet details to the equations didn’t really make them much better. Whether researchers included fiber, crude protein or other feed characteristics, the precision of MCP calculation didn’t improve much compared to more simple approaches.

In fact, the straightforward 10% of total daily nutrient (TDN) intake rule of thumb performed nearly as well as the more complex equations. That means that for everyday ranch use, a simple calculation may get you just as close as the math-heavy ones.

The study also found differences in how scientists measured microbial protein in the first place was a big source of variation. Some trials used different markers or sampling points to estimate digesta flow, which led to different outcomes. In other words, part of the uncertainty comes not from the cattle or their diets, but from the tools we use to measure what’s happening inside the rumen.

For producers, this research highlights both the opportunity and the challenge of feeding cattle for optimal protein use. Protein is one of the most expensive parts of the ration. Overestimating MCP can mean underfeeding and losing performance. Underestimating it can mean overspending and wasting nutrients.

What this study suggests is that while nutritionists will continue refining models, it may not be worth chasing tiny decimal points. A solid rule of thumb, like MCP being 10% of TDN intake, is probably good enough for most operations. The real focus should stay on supplementing wisely and watching how cattle respond.

So, how can you use this information on your ranch or feedlot? Start with the basics. If you know the TDN content of your feed and how much your cattle are eating, estimating MCP at 10% of that intake gives you a practical benchmark. From there, you and your nutritionist can decide if supplemental protein is needed to meet the animals’ metabolizable protein requirements.

Just as importantly, keep an eye on your cattle. Body condition, conceptions rates, calf gains and milk production are still the most reliable indicators of whether the ration is working. The research may give us tools and formulas, but the cows themselves provide the best feedback.

Galyean and Tedeschi believe more estimates of MCP using consistent techniques with greater precision — along with new scientific tools like DNA sequencing and metaproteomics of rumen microbes — will eventually help make predictions sharper. Until then, remember precision is limited and feeding decisions should be built with some wiggle room.

At the end of the day, the goal is the same as always: keep the rumen microbes happy and the cows will thrive. Feeding the microbes well is feeding the herd well, and that’s what keeps performance and profitability on track.

Emphasizing Nutrition in Medical Education is Welcome and Overdue, Meat Institute Says

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:54:30 GMT

The Meat Institute applauded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Education’s announcement urging leading medical education organizations to provide more comprehensive nutrition education and training.

“Americans trust their doctors for advice, including advice on nutrition,” Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts said in a release. “This initiative should make nutrition and medical advice synonymous for the well-being of the patient and the consumer.”

Potts believes this initiative can help counter confusing and misleading information about nutrition, including the vital role of meat and poultry in health dietary patterns.

“Meat and poultry products provide consumers with a convenient, direct and balanced dietary source of all essential amino acids,” the Meat Institute said earlier this year. “Per serving, meat, poultry and fish provide more protein than dairy, eggs, legumes, cereals, vegetables or nuts. Protein is critical for developing, maintaining and repairing strong muscles; is vital for growth and brain development in children; and is essential to prevent muscle loss during aging.”

In February, Meat Institute President Vice President of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Susan Backus said a modified Healthy U.S.-Style Dietary Pattern risks the potential for unintended consequences for nutrient and energy intakes.

“Americans need to improve their eating patterns to promote health,” Backus pointed out. “Considering dietary choices based on taste and cultural preferences, health and economic status, and food availability will be key to improving the dietary habits of Americans. A recommendation to reduce, limit or avoid nutrient dense products like meat and poultry will have significant unintended nutritional consequences across all life stages.”

Potts said improving nutrition education for medical professionals is “welcome, commonsense and overdue.”

It's Time For Transparency and Scientific Integrity in the Dietary Guidelines, Marshall Says

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 13:52:27 GMT

Despite decades of Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) is concerned why “U.S. citizens have only become sicker and more obese, while taxpayer dollars continue to fund this chaotic and broken process,” he said in a release.

Marshall and Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) have introduced the Dietary Guidelines Reform Act of 2025, legislation that will amend the National Nutrition Monitoring & Related Research Act of 1990 and aims to modernize the development of federal dietary guidelines with up-to-date, evidence-based nutritional information.

“The Dietary Guidelines Reform Act brings much-needed transparency and scientific integrity to the dietary guidelines process, restores public trust, and aims for healthier outcomes by ensuring the recommendations truly serve the American people,” Marshall said in a release.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans — which inform all federal nutrition programs, including school breakfast and lunch, and provide dietary recommendations used by health professionals — are updated every five years by the departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services based on recommendations from an advisory committee.

Among its recommendations for the 2025 guidelines, the advisory committee said Americans should reduce and replace red meat with plant-based proteins.

Jackson introduced the House companion version of the bill.

“The Biden administration has weaponized the dietary guidelines to push a partisan agenda instead of sound nutritional science,” Jackson said in a release. “My bill will ensure these dietary guidelines are based on transparent, evidence-based research — not political ideologies — so Americans can trust they are getting real, science-backed recommendations that support their health and well-being.”

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) opposes the advisory committee’s recommendation on meat, noting in Capital Update that “[t]here has been no scientific justification for reducing red meat and replacing it with plant-based proteins. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans need to reflect nutrition science and continue to recommend animal-based protein such as red meat as a critical part of the American diet.”

NPPC added that it will work with the Trump administration to ensure the Dietary Guidelines best serve the health and nutrition interests of the American public.

“One of our roles at NPPC is to work on the dietary guidelines and provide feedback to those decision-makers on why pork needs to stay on the plate,” NPPC past president Lori Stevermer said at the National Pork Industry Forum. “I would say, certainly with the discussion on health and the focus on protein in diets, pork fits very well in the guidelines. We’re going to continue to make sure, through that work with the dietary guidelines, that the pork is part of everybody’s plate.”

Your Next Read: Reducing Red Meat in Favor of Plant-Based Proteins Raises Nutritional Concerns

NCBA Slams Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Recommendations

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 21:12:19 GMT

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) slammed the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s unhinged recommendations that propose replacing high-quality proteins like beef with beans, peas, and lentils in a statement released on Oct. 22.

“The preview meeting of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee this week stands out as one of the most out-of-touch, impractical, and elitist conversations in the history of this process,” says NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “After 22 months of public discussion and lip service to transparency, we are disappointed by the number of chaotic new directions that were proposed at the literal last minute. We would laugh at the suggestion that beans, peas, and lentils are going to replace lean red meat and fill all the nutrient gaps Americans are facing if it weren’t such a dangerous and deceptive idea.”

NCBA Executive Director of Nutrition Science and Registered Dietitian Dr. Shalene McNeill points out there have been more than four decades of Dietary Guidelines advice, and during that time red meat consumption has declined, yet obesity and chronic disease is on the rise.

“Seventy percent of the calories in the U.S. diet are plant based,” she says. “Now, the committee wants to reduce red meat intake even further, marginalizing the 80% of the population who identify themselves as meat eaters. These recommendations put some of the most vulnerable at risk for nutrient gaps, especially older Americans, adolescent girls, and women of child-bearing age.”

Beef contributes only 5% of the calories in the American diet, but more than 5% of essential nutrients like potassium, phosphorous, iron, B6, niacin, protein, zinc, choline, and B12, McNeill explains.

“It’s baffling that we are trying to get Americans to cut out red meat when the evidence indicates nutrient deficiencies and chronic disease are increasing as red meat consumption declines,” she adds. “As a registered dietitian and nutrition scientist, I am concerned that basing guidelines on highly academic exercises, hypothetical modeling, and weak science on red meat will not produce relevant or practical guidelines and will not help us achieve healthier diets.”

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee is tasked with delivering recommendations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as the agencies craft the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Feeding Whole Cotton Plants to Cattle?

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

By Blair Fannin, Texas AgriLife Extension

Texas beef producers are exploring the use of whole cotton plants as a protein source for cattle due to extreme drought conditions, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service expert.

“Due to the continued extreme drought, many cattle producers are examining new options for feeding cattle instead of traditional grass hay,” said Dr. Larry Redmon, AgriLife Extension state forage specialist in College Station. “One new item with little nutritive value information is grazing unharvested cotton plants, baled whole cotton plants, (which) are simply baled cotton.”

Several livestock producers have inquired about crude protein value in cotton plants as well as energy content, Redmon said.

“In many places where cotton lint yield was so low, many people were considering baling their whole cotton plants and feeding it to their cattle or grazing the standing cotton.”

Redmon said he had never had the question before, but received some fresh cotton plant samples for analysis. Additionally, Dr. Tryon Wickersham, Texas AgriLife Research nutritionist in College Station, began testing cotton plant samples that he collected as well. Wickersham’s samples had already been defoliated or had been baled and were being fed directly as the cotton module.

The preliminary results were quite interesting, Wickersham said.

“Although a non-traditional feedstuff for cattle, the presence of the cotton seed with its high fat content and cellulose (lint) provides for a fairly high quality feedstuff,” Wickersham said. “The fat content is quite a bit higher than would normally be fed to beef cattle and some scouring may occur, but the animals do well with the cotton diet.”

Preliminary results included the following:

Fresh whole cotton plants, including stems, leaves and bolls: crude protein 13.3 percent, total digestible nutrients 62.4 percent.
Whole cotton plants including stems and bolls, but minus the leaves: crude protein 11.2 percent, total digestible nutrients 58.8 percent.
Cotton and seeds from a harvested cotton module: crude protein 15.6 percent, total digestible nutrients 59.4 percent.

Wickersham suggests the cotton could be used as a source of supplemental energy.

Meanwhile, Dr. Gaylon Morgan, AgriLife Extension state cotton specialist, notes most cotton defoliation or desiccation products prohibit grazing or feeding to livestock feed for at least 30 days to 45 days.

“We recommend referring to the product label to ensure the minimum labels restrictions are met,” Morgan said.

Redmon said weather conditions are not forecast to improve in the near future and those who continue to hold cattle during these unprecedented drought conditions will find it difficult to find hay.

“They will also pay extremely high prices for hay they do find, and can set themselves up for significant environmental damages by keeping animals in pastures that are devoid of any ground cover,” Redmon said. “As reluctant as we are to sell cattle, the best option from an economic and ecological standpoint is likely to simply sell out.”

Redmon also advises a sample of any cotton or cotton plants to be grazed should be analyzed for nutritive value prior to feeding or grazing.

My Beef Checkoff Quiz January 2016

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 05:30:08 GMT

Take this month’s My Beef Checkoff Quiz for a chance to win a prize package from My Beef Checkoff.

Children's author training

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 05:30:08 GMT

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Did you know ‚... the Children’s Literature Author Training was held Jan. 7-10 in Orlando, Fla.? The event was designed especially for authors identified as key opinion leaders, with selection priority on those authors from an urban or non-farm background. Twelve authors participated in the event.

The Beef Checkoff partners with Snap by Groupon

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 05:30:08 GMT

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Did you know ‚... In the fall of 2015, the checkoff partnered with Snap by Groupon to test the effectiveness of reaching and engaging millennial parents at the pre-purchase stage when they’re planning a grocery store trip to influence purchase consideration of beef? Overall, the campaign resulted in a lift in beef purchases. The campaign had a significant impact on shoppers’ frequency of store trips with a 23% increase in store visits. This increase in store visits is in the top 5% of all offers ever featured on Snap.

Focus on protein

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 05:30:04 GMT

DID YOU KNOW ... that it takes TWO TO THREE TIMES MORE CALORIES from plant-based alternatives to get the same amount of protein as you get in a 3-oz. serving of lean beef? What’s more, the protein in beef is “complete,” which means that it contains all of the essential amino acids that your body needs but cannot produce on its own -- and it can aid in weight loss. Help us SHARE the good news about the BEEF produced by America’s cattle industry!

Most People Think They Eat Healthier Than They Do

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 17:47:31 GMT

You are what you “think” you eat. A new study says that may not be a good thing for most Americans.

According to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, people are usually wrong when ranking how well they eat, particularly when they think their diet is healthy.

USDA and University of Central Arkansas researchers looked at data from 9,757 American adults who were asked to complete a food survey and rate their diet on a scale from “poor” to “excellent.”

The researchers wanted to find out whether a single, simple question could be used as a screening tool for nutrition studies — to replace or complement the detailed dietary questionnaires commonly used in nutrition research, the American Society for Nutrition reports. Previous studies have found that self-rated health is a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality, but there is scant research on whether self-rated diet quality is predictive of the actual quality of one’s diet.

Researchers then evaluated participants’ eating habits and graded them (from A to F) based on the Healthy Eating Index which assigns points for eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein. It also gives points for avoiding processed foods, refined grains and sugar and saturated fat.

Results showed that 85% of participants inaccurately rated their own diet, almost all of them by ranking it as healthier than it really was, the American Society for Nutrition reports.

Lead author of the study Jessica Thomson, a research epidemiologist with USDA, said most adults overrate the quality of their diet, sometimes to a substantial degree.

Meanwhile, 71% of participants ranked their diet as good, very good or excellent. However, only 12% of the participants’ diets ranked that highly in terms of “healthy eating.” The study showed 70% of the participants’ diets were given an F, but only 6% of people self-assessed their diet as such.

What’s Missing?

Researchers said the difference between the ideal healthy diet and what people were actually eating was typically a lack of whole grains, greens, legumes, seafood and plant-based protein, and too much sodium and saturated fat.

But what they were getting right was the importance of protein.

Further research could shed light into what factors people consider when asked to assess their diet quality, Thomson said.

“It’s difficult for us to say whether U.S. adults lack an accurate understanding of the components of a healthful versus unhealthful diet or whether adults perceive the healthfulness of their diet as they wish it to be—that is, higher in quality than it actually is,” Thomson said in a release. “Until we have a better understanding of what individuals consider when assessing the healthfulness of their diet, it will be difficult to determine what knowledge and skills are necessary to improve self-assessment or perception of one’s diet quality.”

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

Kellogg’s Faux Meat Spin-Off Faces ‘Tough Environment’

Red Meat Tariffs Off the Hook as Food Prices Soar

Treat calf scours early for best results

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 13:12:19 GMT

Diarrhea in neonatal calves is one of the leading causes of morbidity (sickness) and mortality (death) in North America and Europe and continues to be a major cause of economic loss to the beef cattle industry. There are five major infectious causes of diarrhea in calves less than 21 days of age: E. coli K99, Rotavirus, Coronavirus, Cryptosporidia, and Salmonella. Other factors such as inadequate colostrum, poor sanitation, stress, and cold weather can make calf survival almost impossible. Regardless of the cause, diarrhea results in loss of electrolytes and water in the feces of calves and decreases milk intake. Ultimately, this leads to dehydration, metabolic acidosis (the blood is more acidic than normal), electrolyte abnormalities, and a negative energy balance from the lost nutrients and lack of milk. Oral electrolyte solutions have typically been used to replace fluid losses, correct acid-base and electrolyte levels in the blood, and provide nutritional support with the added benefit of being relatively inexpensive and easy to administer. Recent research has resulted in better methods to assess and treat a calf with diarrhea as well as better guidelines for choosing an oral electrolyte solution.

The most common mistake made in the use of oral electrolyte replacement therapy is waiting too long before administering these formulas or not giving them often enough to affected calves. Administered early and frequently, these fluids help the calf maintain strength and normal body temperature and allow it to continue nursing. Administering fluids too late, when the calf is already depressed and down, or administering too little so that the calf continues to lose more fluid than it is receiving orally, allows the dehydration to worsen and the calf’s condition to deteriorate. When dehydration and acidosis get severe enough, the gastrointestinal tract loses function and orally administered fluids are no longer of any value. In these cases, the only effective means of preventing death is to have a veterinarian administer intravenous fluid therapy.

A quick assessment of a calf with diarrhea will determine if oral fluid therapy or if intravenous (IV) is needed. The choice depends on the severity of both dehydration and metabolic acidosis (low pH of the blood). Dehydration is relatively easy to monitor by how far the eyeball is set back into the skull and the loss of skin elasticity. Metabolic acidosis is assessed by the calf’s ability to stand and suck. In general, a standing calf with a strong to moderate suckle reflex or that demonstrates a “chewing action” can be given oral fluids. Mildly dehydrated calves showing mild skin tenting when the skin on the neck is pinched, minimal sinking of the eye into the head, eyes and mucous membranes are still moist, and extremities are still somewhat warm are ideal candidates for oral fluids.

Thumb rules for the use of oral electrolyte fluid supplements for scouring calves:

1. Reconstitute the oral electrolyte supplement and administer it according to manufacturer’s recommendations.

2. Administer the reconstituted fluid formulation at approximately 5% of body weight, which is 2 quarts for an 80 pound calf. How many times per day this is necessary depends on how much fluid the calf is receiving by nursing and how much fluid is lost through the diarrhea. In many cases, the progression of the disease is not very rapid and the problem lies only in the missed opportunity to administer oral fluids at an earlier stage when response is best. Continued assessment of the scouring calf’s condition is required in order to make good decisions regarding the frequency of fluid administration.

3. Only administer oral fluids if the calf still has a suckle response. It is usually better to administer oral fluids by bottle with voluntary suckling. This enhances passage of the fluid to the abomasum via the esophageal groove. Oral fluids can be given by esophageal feeder when the suckle reflex is weak, but this method places fluids into the rumen. Any calf with a very weak or absent suckle reflex should be given IV fluid therapy because, if oral fluids are given to a calf with ileus (no gut motility), the fluid is not absorbed but instead pools in the rumen resulting in bloat and/or rumen acidosis. ANY calf that is severely depressed and unable to stand requires intravenous fluids.

4. It is extremely important that the oral fluids chosen for rehydration will be able to increase blood pH from an acidic state to a more neutral state. This is normally accomplished by alkalinizing agents such as bicarbonate, acetate, or propionate found in oral electrolytes. Although all have similar effects, acetate and propionate are preferred over bicarbonate in nursing calves because they do not interfere with milk digestion.

5. If calves are depressed and refuse to nurse, a hypertonic oral electrolyte product such as Calf-Lyte II HE or Enterolyte HE can be used. A “hypertonic” oral electrolyte product has a very large amount of glucose (sugar) in the preparation and has “HE” on the label (for “high energy”). Hypertonic solutions can give greater nutritional support because of the higher glucose level yet they can cause abomasal bloat and increased diarrhea if the calf is unable to absorb this large amount of sugar. If nursing is not resumed within 12 hours, calves will get too weak to respond to oral treatment alone.

6. Milk or milk replacers should NOT be withheld from scouring calves. None of the oral electrolyte formulas provide adequate protein and energy to replace milk. Some experts used to recommend a “rest the gut” approach, suggesting that continued milk feeding worsens diarrhea. However, research has shown that milk feeding does not prolong or worsen diarrhea, nor does it delay healing of the intestines. Calves should be maintained on their full milk diet (continue nursing) plus oral electrolytes when possible as long as they exhibit diarrhea.

Electrolyte fluid administration is by far the most effective treatment for calves with scours. Because affected calves are often weak and chilled, additional nursing care may be necessary for survival. In this regard, providing warmth, dry bedding, protection from the elements, and adequate nutritional support are all critical. Fluid therapy is most effective when it is administered aggressively and early in the course of the disease. The most critical factor may be the early recognition of affected calves. Caught early, most calves will respond very favorably to oral fluid therapy. Remember milk is better at maintaining a normal blood glucose level than any electrolyte solution so allow the calf to continue nursing. If the calf becomes so severely dehydrated it is weak and unable to rise, or if it has no suckle, intravenous fluid therapy may be the only way to save the calf’s life. Other treatments, such as antibiotics, may be beneficial but they are far less important than fluid and electrolyte replacement when it comes to calf survival.

Improved diagnostics are now available to ascertain the cause of neonatal calf diarrhea. The UKVDL has a Calf Diarrhea Multiplex PCR panel which tests for the major diarrhea pathogens in calves less than 21 days old including: E.coli K99, Rotavirus, Coronavirus, Salmonella spp., and Cryptosporidia. Submit one fecal sample per calf early in the course of disease and before any treatment has been given. The test is highly accurate as it detects the DNA or “molecular fingerprint” of the various pathogens and results are available within 1-2 days. At least 5 grams of feces must be submitted in a labeled, leak-proof container maintained at a cool temperature during transport. Do not submit fecal samples in gloves; screw cap tubes or vials are preferred in the laboratory. Call the UKVDL (859) 257-8283 or check the website

http://vdl.uky.edu for more information.

Tips to Reduce Hay-Drying Time, Produce Quality Forage

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 18:00:28 GMT

By Tracy Turner, Purdue University

CALDWELL, Ohio - While producers might find it challenging to get hay dry in early June due to changing weather conditions, there are steps they can take to get the crop up quickly and reduce the potential for rain damage, a forage expert with Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences says.

“Proper tedding, raking, and equipment care are just some of the steps producers can take to reduce drying time and produce high-quality hay,” said Clif Little, an educator with the college’s outreach arm, Ohio State University Extension.

Although drying time for hay is affected by forage species, environmental conditions, cut height and swath width, Little said a good management plan can make a big difference in hay quality.

“Cutting and drying hay quickly is always important, especially with everything being a little behind this year because of the planting season,” he said. “Feed prices are high, so anything producers can do to produce quality hay is a benefit.

“We’re fighting rain as well as other work we’ve got to do around the farm. But we still have to get hay up quickly because when we get rain on our forage it can be devastated or ruined. So using these steps may allow producers to get it up a day or two earlier.”

Little’s tips:

* Make sure hay-mowing equipment rollers are adjusted properly.

* Cut hay in the morning after the dew is off to help speed drying time and reduce the loss of carbohydrates due to respiration. Respiration is a natural process and continues until the plant dries to a moisture content of about 40 percent.

* Lay high-yielding forages in a wide swath to give better access to sun and wind.

* Use tedding to reduce drying time by spreading the hay. While tedding increases costs in terms of time and fuel, the increase is offset by a reduction in drying time.

* Ted hay shortly after cutting and when it contains no less than 50 percent moisture to reduce leaf shatter and forage loss.

* Rake hay at an optimal moisture content of 30 to 40 percent. Raking hay at the improper moisture content can contribute to loss of plant leaf material. Raking when the hay is ready to bale (very dry) can cause major leaf shatter and reduce the overall nutrient content of the forage.

* Bale hay at the proper moisture content based on the size and shape of bales to reduce harvest and storage loss. For most small rectangular and large round bales, the recommended baling moisture content is 18 percent. For high-density large rectangular bales, the range can be 12-14 percent moisture for proper storage.
* If storing hay outside, make sure you choose a location that is dry, preferably on a solid surface, such as rock, and make sure the location is high and open to wind.

For More Information

Get the latest hay and forage news .

Fetal Programming and Effects of Cow Nutrition

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:47:29 GMT

Source: SDSU Extension

Can changes to a cow’s energy intake during the second trimester enhance the quality of beef her offspring will produce? What effect might it have on the reproductive ability of the cow’s offspring? Those are questions a team of SDSU researchers are studying.

Known as fetal programming, this concept suggests that during development of the fetus important biological parameters can be manipulated and these alterations can carry through to maturity. While fetal programming has been studied in human health, it’s a relatively new area of research in the beef industry, explains SDSU associate professor of animal science Amanda Blair.

With more than $411,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the South Dakota Beef Industry Council, Blair and her colleagues began a four-year project in 2010 to determine how limiting a cow’s energy intake during the second trimester affected her calf. Blair says, “We focus primarily on the second trimester because that’s when the bulk of the muscle development [of the fetus] occurs.”

She worked with SDSU Extension meat specialist Keith Underwood, feedlot nutritionist Robbie Pritchard, and geneticists Michael Gonda from SDSU and James Reecy, director of Iowa State University’s Office of Biotechnology. Three doctoral students have also been involved in the project. Former SDSU Ruminant nutritionist Aimee Wertz-Lutz is involved with the project as well.

By better understanding fetal programming, the researchers hope to eventually enhance the quality and quantity of beef.

The team divided 151 cows at the Cottonwood Range and Livestock Field Station near Philip, S.D., into two groups. All cows were bred in June 2010 and the groups were managed the same until the second trimester. During that 90-day period, one group was fed a “positive” energy diet to maintain an average body condition score of five, meaning the cows maintained their weight or gained slightly. The second group was fed less energy - a “negative” energy diet - to lose body condition.

Protein was held constant, so the only variable was energy, Blair explains. In the third trimester, the cows were then given the same rations.

“We didn’t want to be extreme,” Blair explains. “We wanted to mimic what could normally happen in a production setting. Losing one-half to one body condition score during the winter is traditionally OK.” Then producers usually increase the nutritional levels in the third trimester.

The calves were born in April and May 2011, weaned in October and brought to the SDSU feedlot. In spring of 2012, twenty-four head were harvested at the SDSU Meat Lab and analyzed for changes in gene expression. The remaining steers and heifers were processed at Tyson Foods in Dakota City, Neb., where carcass data and meat quality attributes were recorded.

Overall, the study showed that “altering maternal energy during mid-gestation impacts the fat deposition of the offspring,” Blair explains. The calves from cows in the negative energy group had a more favorable distribution of carcass fat.

“They had an increase in marbling relative to back fat,” Blair noted. “From a beef production standpoint, that’s exciting.”

But, she cautions, “We don’t know what would happen long-term with the females.” A University of Nebraska study suggests that these females will be negatively affected as breeding stock.

The yield grade of the offspring from the negative energy cows - who cost less to feed - also was improved, Blair says. This measure looks at carcass weight, back fat, percentage of kidney, pelvic and heart fat and ribeye area. Meat tenderness and color were unaffected by the maternal diets.

Though this looks good to cattle producers, Blair isn’t ready to issue any recommendations.

“We have a lot to learn,” she says, particularly when it comes to breeding stock. She explains fat is very important to reproduction, both the age at which the animals reach puberty and their fertility.

Next, Blair and fellow SDSU researchers will investigate the effects of reducing protein intake during mid- and late-gestation. The project has received funding from the South Dakota Beef Industry Council, and will be done in collaboration with University of Nebraska reproductive physiologist Rick Funston.

“These types of studies allow us to look at the whole beef system from conception to consumption,” Blair says. Only when researchers know more about the mechanisms and what’s changing will they be able to advise producers on using fetal programming as a management tool.

This information was originally published in the SDSU Agricultural Experiment Station 2013 Annual Report .

Matching Protein Needs and Protein Content

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:43:48 GMT

Not all feedstuffs contain the same proportions of RDP and RUP.
By: Karla H. Jenkins, UNL Cow/Calf, Range Management Specialist

When cattle producers check the tag on a bag of supplement or get an analysis back on some hay samples, they mostly likely look for the crude protein content first. Crude protein is derived from the nitrogen content of the feedstuffs and while it is helpful to know, it does not tell the whole story when balancing diets for ruminant animals.

Beef cattle, as well as all other ruminants, actually have a requirement for metabolizable protein. Metabolizable protein includes rumen degradable protein, rumen undegradable protein, and microbial protein. Rumen degradable protein (RDP) is protein that is easily degraded in the rumen making the nitrogen available for the microbes in the rumen. This is necessary so the microbes can initiate digestion in the rumen. Producers might have also heard this type of protein called degradable intake protein or DIP. Rumen undegradable protein (RUP) is protein that is not digested by the microbes in the rumen and is available for the ruminant animal itself for tissue growth or lactation. This has also been called escape protein, bypass protein, or undegradable intake protein (UIP). Lastly, the microbes in rumen complete their life cycle and flow through the digestive tract supplying additional protein to the host animal as well.

Not all feedstuffs contain the same proportions of RDP and RUP. This becomes even more complicated when commodities are mixed together to make supplements because the combinations of ingredients are proprietary to the company selling the product. However, producers should be aware of the RDP and RUP proportions in commonly used feedstuffs so they can choose the supplement best suited for the needs of their cattle. The protein in corn distillers grains is about 40% RDP and 60% RUP, making it a good source of RUP. The protein in forages is predominately RDP while urea is 100% RDP.

The metabolizable protein needs of cattle vary with the stage of production they are in. Additionally, the supplementation needs are also dependent on the protein content of the base diet. For example, growing cattle have been demonstrated to respond to RUP supplementation even when grazing high quality forage because the forage, though high in overall crude protein, is still deficient in RUP. Whether a producer chooses to supplement those calves depends on the price of supplement as well as other factors such as retained ownership, and other resources available in the production system. Lactation and growth both require a source of RUP and therefore, a young cow nursing her first calf and going into the breeding season could benefit from a protein supplement high in RUP. On the other hand, a nonlactating, bred, mature cow grazing dormant native range would benefit from a supplemental source of RDP to support rumen bacterial function.

Also it is important to consider the price of the supplement. There have been times when corn distillers grains were the cheapest source of protein to supplement. When feeding this to mature cows on winter range, it resulted in feeding more RUP than needed, but was the cheapest source of RDP. Additional RUP can be recycled by the ruminant animal and used as a source of RDP. However, feeding excess RDP does not serve as a source of RUP. As commodity markets fluctuate; producers in that situation need to evaluate whether the cheapest source is a urea based supplement or a commodity. For assistance with calculating supplement cost on a unit of protein basis or with ration formulation producers should contact their local extension office or access http://beef.unl.edu .

Why All the Fuss About Body Condition?

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:42:03 GMT

Why is it that nearly every article on beef cow nutrition seems to focus on body condition?
By: Warren Rusche, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist

Surely with all the advanced knowledge and research that has been done over the years we have something better to go on than a visual estimation of body fat on a cow to evaluate the success or failure of nutritional status?

The short answer to that question is that we focus on body condition because it works. The best indicator that we have for the nutritional status of a beef cow is her body condition. Right now most spring calving herds are either in or are approaching the last trimester. Managing body condition in the last three months ahead of calving is important for two very big reasons:

Thin cows tend to produce poorer quality colostrum with lower levels of immunoglobulins. They also tend to have calves that take longer to stand and are less able to produce enough body heat to maintain their temperature under cold conditions.
Cows that are thin at calving are less likely to breed back in the first 21 days of the breeding season and are more likely to be open in the fall.

Between those two factors, body condition influences not just the size of the check from the 2015 calf crop but the 2016 calf crop as well. That’s the reason for the focus, because body condition can have such a sizeable impact on a rancher’s bottom line.

Monitoring & Managing Body Condition

There are a number of checklists and visual guides that have been developed to body condition score (BCS) cows. The process doesn’t have to be complicated. If you can see more than one or two ribs and the outline of the spine is visible, then that cow is below the optimum BCS of 5. In a group of cows the key factor is how many cows in the group are below that optimum line. If there’s only a small number (perhaps 5 to 10%), there is little reason to be concerned. These cows may simply be cattle that don’t fit their environment and spending a lot of extra money on the entire group to pick up the handful at the bottom isn’t likely to be profitable. It would be more feasible to either keep them with the original group or sort them out to be managed separately. Larger percentages of thin cows indicate that additional inputs will be required or that changes to the production system need to be made, or both.

If additional feed energy needs to be supplied, the sooner that process begins the easier it will be to put on the necessary weight. To change a cow one body condition score (approximately 70 lbs. to 90 lbs. of body weight) in 90 days requires about 20% more energy; 30% more energy is required if that change needs to happen in 60 days. To put it another way, feeding a cow in late gestation an alfalfa-grass mixed hay diet should add about one body condition score in 90 days. A sixty day period would require an energy concentration similar to straight alfalfa; adding that much weight in 30 days would require a diet similar to corn silage.

Now is Time to Check Cattle Rations, Test Feeds

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:41:40 GMT

Inadequate nutrition can cause cows to lose weight and body condition.

Grazed forage may not be adequate to meet beef cattle’s nutritional needs this time of year, North Dakota State University Extension Service livestock experts warn.

“The nutritional quality of mature standing forage diminishes the further we get into winter through deterioration and selective grazing,” says John Dhuyvetter, area Extension livestock specialist at the North Central Research Extension Center near Minot. “Dormant pastures are likely low in vitamins and minerals, and lack adequate rumen-degraded protein to maximize fiber digestion.”

Inadequate nutrition can cause cows to lose weight and body condition. In cold weather, a cow’s energy demands increase as its body burns energy reserves to stay warm, and the cow can use up those fat reserves quickly.

“When this occurs, playing catch-up can be an uphill battle as it can take up to 45 days to regain one body condition score.” says Fara Brummer, area Extension livestock specialist at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter.

A longer-term effect of poor nutrition is that cows may not rebreed. This can occur when cows are underfed six months prior to breeding. The best time to make sure the cows are in adequate shape is during the middle trimester of pregnancy. In most North Dakota cow herds, that is November through February.

“So now is the time to feed the cow herd to good body condition, not lose weight,” says Karl Hoppe, area Extension livestock specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center. “Feed the cows correctly right now so you don’t end wondering why there are so many open cows next fall.”

Dhuyvetter says that modest supplementation may be all that midgestation, dry, mature (moderate productivity) cows need if forage availability is high even though the quality is low. Periodically feeding high-protein hay, byproducts or commercial supplements that deliver 0.3 to 0.4 pound of crude protein per head per day will maximize intake and energy from low-quality forage.

Higher-need animals such as bred heifers and young cows, highly productive larger types (heavy milking, large frame) and less efficient grazers (old and broken mouth) need better feed than what late-season grazing provides. These animals likely will require daily feeding or access to good-quality hay, silage or grain and grain byproducts to meet their nutritional requirements.

“Abundant hay stocks and reasonably priced feeds makes it easy to justify providing cows what they need to stay in condition, deliver a healthy calf and rebreed in light of today’s record prices for calves and cows,” Dhuyvetter says.

Developing a feeding system that works for a cow herd is reasonably easy because of the supplements and coproduct feeds available in North Dakota, according to Hoppe.

“Practically a full feed of hay plus 5 to 7 pounds of coproducts can meet the needs of a gestating cow,” he says.

Knowing the energy content of feeds is the first step to a proper diet. Hay that is only 45 percent total digestible nutrients (TDN, an estimate of energy content in feeds) won’t be adequate to maintain weight when the weather drops below zero.

“Cows losing body fat may be all right if feed is short, the weather is particularly cold or cows are extremely fat,” Hoppe says. “A cow can easily handle one or two days of underfeeding, but a month of underfeeding can lead to one or two body condition score decreases. Two weeks of subzero weather can lead to weight loss if total cow feed intake isn’t increased or if the energy content isn’t increased.”

Brummer says that stockpiled winter grazing can provide effective manure and nutrient distribution, but a disadvantage is that it can damage the forage crop if the grazing isn’t managed properly. Grazing cattle can remove the snow cover and its insulating effect, exposing the plants to the cold. Green-up may be delayed the following spring if cattle remove the plants’ winter cover.

In addition to feeding cattle high-energy feeds with adequate nutrients, the animals need access to water to help keep their body temperature at the proper level, she says.

Cattle also need wind protection. For example, livestock protected by a windbreak can experience a 19-degree increase in temperature when the wind speed is 20 mph and the temperature is 20 degrees Fahrenheit, she notes.

Herd assessment is another important part of making sure cows receive adequate nutrition.

“It is easy to overlook individual animals in a herd situation,” Brummer says. “Thin females, as well as first- and second-calf heifers, should be sorted off and maintained separately with additional supplementation beyond the rest of the herd.”

For more information on winter feeding, check out the NDSU Extension publication “Alternative Winter Feeding Strategies for Beef Cattle Management” at http://tinyurl.com/winterfeedingstrategies .

Source: North Dakota State University Extension Service

NDSU Shares Beef Cattle Research Results

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:40:47 GMT

NDSU researchers study several beef cattle topics in 2014.

Pelleting distillers grains, artificial insemination (AI) vs. natural service, the effects of corn processing and particle size, animal temperament and hay bale-binding material are among the beef cattle topics North Dakota State University researchers studied in the past year.

In the study of AI and natural service, the researchers from the NDSU Animal Sciences Department and Central Grasslands Research Extension Center near Streeter, along with colleagues from the University of Florida, compared the growth, attainment of puberty and pregnancy rate of heifers born to dams exposed to the two breeding systems. The researchers found that while heifers born to dams exposed to AI were heavier at birth, by 189 days of age, they weighed the same as heifers born to dams exposed to natural-service bulls.

The research also indicated that pregnancy rates were similar among the heifers born from the two breeding systems. In addition, AI did not increase the number of heifers that became cyclic, or pregnant, early, compared with heifers born to dams exposed to natural service-bulls

Researchers in the Animal Sciences Department conducted the hay bale-binding material study because of concerns about the effects on cattle if they ingest excessive amounts of net wrap. The researchers found that the three types of net wrapping and the biodegradable twine they evaluated had not disappeared 14 days after cattle ate hay with those wrappings. However, more than 70 percent of the sisal twine they evaluated did disappear during that 14-day period.

“Because none of the plastic products disappeared during our study interval, the potential exists for these products to build up in the rumen through time and possibly lead to associated complications,” says NDSU Extension Service beef cattle specialist Carl Dahlen, one of the researchers. “Whether complications occur as a result of net wrap consumed likely is based on the volume of the product consumed and the ability of the plastic particles to move through the digestive tract.”

Researchers from NDSU’s Carrington Research Extension Center and Northern Crops Institute on campus teamed up for the distillers grains study. They said that while pelleting distillers grains with solubles can make them easier to transport, they don’t pellet well as a single ingredient. However, the researchers found that adding field pea flour to the distillers grains improves their pelleting quality and nutritional value.

In the corn processing study, researchers from NDSU’s Hettinger and Carrington Research Extension Centers were hoping to help answer the questions of how much processing is necessary and when to process to obtain optimum feed efficiency and dry-matter intake. The researchers found that when forages make up more than 15.5 percent of the diet on a dry-matter basis, corn should be processed by dry rolling or fine grinding to achieve a particle size of about 1.35 to 5.5 millimeters.

Animal Sciences Department researchers found that temperament did not have any significant correlation with feeding behavior or growth performance, but it did have significant correlations with certain carcass characteristics, such as hot carcass weight, marbling and yield grade.

“Temperament in cattle is an important issue in the cattle industry,” says Gerald Stokka, the study’s lead researcher, Extension livestock stewardship specialist and veterinarian, and associate professor. “Easily excitable cattle are potentially dangerous to themselves and personnel handling them. Also, research has shown that excitable cattle tend to have lower-quality carcasses than calmer cattle.”

For more information about these studies, as well as other NDSU beef cattle research, see the “ 2014 North Dakota Beef Report ”.

Source: NDSU Extension

Is There Value in Fat Supplementation for Beef Heifers?

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:38:06 GMT

By: Elaine Grings, Cow/Calf Management & Production Specialist, SDSU Extension

The value of addition of supplementary fat to improve reproduction in beef heifers has been a topic of interest throughout the last decade. A variety of research projects have found variable results. In an evaluation of nine experiments in which fat was fed, Bret Hess of the University of Wyoming concluded that there was benefit to supplementing fat to heifers through both increased pregnancy rates with an average increase from 64 percent for non-fat supplemented to 73 percent for fat supplemented heifers, and in getting heifers to conceive earlier in the breeding season. It was recommended that fat supplements only be fed to heifers for about 60 to 90 days pre-breeding. Rick Funston at the University of Nebraska also conducted a literature review and cautioned against feeding fat when it resulted in over-conditioned heifers, which could actually decrease pregnancy rates.

Since these reviews were published, research has continued to look at fat supplementation for beef heifers with more attention paid to the actual source of fat. Every fat source contains a unique make-up of individual fatty acids and it is the specific fatty acids that may be responsible for observed effects on reproduction. Three fatty acids of interest in heifer nutrition include oleic acid, found in relatively high levels in canola seeds, soybeans and many nuts; linoleic acid, which is high in some safflower seeds, sunflower seeds, and cottonseed; and linolenic acid, found in high levels in flax (linseed) and camelina seeds.

Dietary fatty acids are hydrogenated in the rumen of cattle. In this process, hydrogen atoms are added to unsaturated fats, changing the proportions of the different fatty acids reaching the intestine for absorption. This makes studying and understanding fat supplementation of ruminants difficult. Feeding certain fatty acids does not always result in these same fatty acids being absorbed for use by the body.

A study in the December 2013 issue of The Professional Animal Scientist by researchers at the University of Illinois reported on a study testing the effect of different fat supplements on reproductive performance of developing beef heifers. Seven-month-old fall-born Angus x Simmental heifer calves were fed a control supplement of corn and soybean meal or a supplement containing one of three fat sources: whole raw soybeans (high in linoleic acid), a mix of corn, soybean meal and a commercially available ground flax product (high in linolenic acid), or a mix of corn, soybean meal and a commercially available hydrolyzed animal fat source (high in oleic acid) at a rate of about 4 pounds per day. Heifers grazed pastures of tall fescue and red and white clover. Heifers were bred by AI after 193 days of supplement feeding. Bull breeding followed for 45-days after AI. Heifers fed the control supplement gained 1.03 pounds per day, which tended to be less than heifers fed fat supplements, averaging 1.11 pounds per day. Heifers fed soybeans gained less than heifers fed flaxseed (1.06 versus 1.14 pounds per day). Conception to AI averaged 60 percent and was not affected by supplementation type. Overall pregnancy rate for fat-supplemented heifers averaged 85 percent, which tended to be less than control heifers (93 percent). Plasma fatty acid profiles were not affected by supplementation type.

In this study, fat supplementation did not improve reproductive performance in beef heifers. Reproductive performance was acceptable in all treatments, with 60 percent of heifers conceiving to AI. It may be that if reproduction is not limited in some way, fat supplementation does not add additional benefit. This study is in agreement with other studies and reviews that indicate that fat supplementation may not have much benefit in well-developed heifers and that short periods (60 to 90 days) of fat feeding may be more beneficial than longer periods.

For more information, view the abstract of the article, available online at the Professional Animal Scientist website.

Feeding Cows for Cold Weather

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:38:03 GMT

By: Steve Tonn, UNL Extension Educator

The cold blast we had in December makes us think there is more cold weather ahead. When feeding cows we need to consider the effect of weather conditions. Dr. Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist, offers these tips for feeding cows in cold weather. The major effect of cold on nutrient requirement of cows is increased need for energy. To determine magnitude of cold, lower critical temperature for beef cows must first be estimated. For cows with a dry winter hair coat the lower critical temperature is considered to be 32 degrees F. In general, researchers have used the rule of thumb that cows’ energy requirements increase 1 percent for each degree the wind chill is below the 32 degree lower critical temperature. Therefore the calculation example for a cow with a winter dry hair coat would be:

Step 1: Cow’s lower critical temperature is 32 degrees F.
Step 2: Expected wind-chill from weather reports (let’s use 4 degrees wind chill in this example)
Step 3: Calculate the magnitude of the cold: 32 degrees - 4 degrees = 28 degrees
Step 4: Energy adjustment is 1 percent for each degree magnitude of cold or 28 percent.
Step 5: Feed cows 128 percent of daily energy amount. (if a cow was to receive 16 pounds of high quality grass/legume hay; then feed 20.5 pounds of hay during the cold weather event).

Research has indicated that energy requirement for maintenance of beef cows with a wet hair coat is much greater. Cows that are exposed to falling precipitation and have the wet hair coats are considered to have reached the lower critical temperature at 59 degrees F. In addition, the requirements change twice as much for each degree change in wind-chill factor. In other words, the energy requirement actually increases 2 percent for each degree below 59 degrees F. To calculate the magnitude of the cold when the cow is wet would be the difference between 59 degrees minus 4 degrees = 55 degrees. True energy requirements to maintain a wet cow in this weather would be 2 percent X 55 degrees or 110 percent increase in energy (which would mean that over twice the normal energy intake is needed.)

This amount of energy change is virtually impossible to accomplish with feedstuffs available on ranches. In addition this amount of energy change in the diet of cows accustomed to a high roughage diet must be made very gradually to avoid severe digestive disorders. Therefore, the more common-sense approach is a smaller increase in energy requirements during wet cold weather and extending the increase into more pleasant weather to help regain energy lost during the storm.

Cows that were consuming 16 pounds of grass hay per day and 5 pounds of 20 percent range cubes could be increased to 20 pounds of grass hay offered per day plus 6 to 7 pounds of range cubes during the severe weather event. This is not a doubling of the energy intake but by extending this amount for a day or two after the storm may help overcome some of the energy loss during the storm and done in a manner that does not cause digestive disorders.

The fact that it is not feasible to feed a wet, very cold cow enough to maintain her current body condition, underscores the need for cows to be in “good” body condition at the start of winter.

Source: Dr. Glenn Selk, OSU Extension Cow Calf Corner Newsletter Dec. 10, 2012.

Is Hay Still the Best Choice to Winter Cows?

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:37:40 GMT

Source: South Dakota State University Extension

The feed cost environment for 2013-2014 is dramatically different compared to last year, according to Warren Rusche, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist.

“Corn and corn-derived feeds such as distiller’s grains and silage are only about half the cost of one year ago. Hay and roughage costs are lower as well, but on a percentage basis the price decline has not been as dramatic as compared to corn prices,” Rusche said.

With this in mind, Rusche says there may be an opportunity to exploit these differences in feed prices to reduce winter feed expenses.

In Table 1 he laid out three different rations for 1,400-pound cows in late gestation. The rations were formulated to meet protein requirements and at least maintain body condition. Ration #1 is a traditional hay based diet using alfalfa hay (19 percent crude protein) and grass hay (8% crude protein). Ration #2 consists of corn silage, corn stalks and modified distiller’s grains. Ration #3 is a limit-fed diet using 10 pounds of hay (alfalfa and grass) combined with 10 pounds of corn per head per day. The prices are based on published price data from South Dakota feed markets in late November.

“Using these prices, diets utilizing corn or corn-derived feeds are more cost effective compared to diets relying completely on hay,” Rusche said.

Of course, he added, every situation is different and hay costs in some markets may not be as high as the values used here.

“It should be noted that the corn price is for dry corn. In some cases there may be an opportunity to utilize wetter corn that would otherwise be subject to discounts and reduce costs further,” he said.

Implementing some of these strategies requires limiting the cows’ feed intake below what their appetite would be normally. In order to do that successfully, Rusche said the following management factors that need to be considered:

Diets should be based on actual nutrient analyses.
Gradually adapt cattle to diet changes, especially if high-starch feeds are used.
Proper bunk management is extremely important to avoid digestive upsets.
Allow plenty of room at the bunk and in the lot (at least 30 inches of bunk space and 500 ft2 per cow).
Limit-fed rations will meet the cows’ nutrient needs, but won’t satisfy their appetite. Strong fences are essential.
Just like under more traditional management systems, body condition needs to be monitored to make sure that the cattle are on track to meet production goals.

For a more in-depth discussion of limit feeding cows, producers can visit iGrow.org and read “Limit Feeding Strategies for Beef Cows” or contact Rusche at 605-882-5140 or Warren.Rusche@sdstate.edu.

Worried About Hormones?

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:37:40 GMT

Source: Bruce Treffer, UNL Extension Educator

There are a lot of concerns and mixed messages about hormones in beef. There are a few things to keep in mind the next time you hear that beef contains too many hormones.

All multi-cellular organisms contain hormones. That’s true for animals and vegetables, but some meat production systems use hormone implants which cause the meat to have slightly more hormones than the non-implanted. True in beef, but not in pork or chicken as federal law does not permit the use of hormones in raising hogs or chickens. Implants are used to increase efficiency (i.e. feed conversion to muscle more quickly) or more muscle from less feed more quickly, which keeps prices down and reduces the environmental impact of production.

In beef, the implanted animals will produce meat that contains slightly more of the hormone estrogen (1.9 versus 1.3 nanograms per 3 ounce serving - which is about the size of a deck of cards). Is that extra estrogen going to cause problems? Consider the facts. When hormones are eaten, they are digested, broken down and largely neutralized, so they don’t act as hormones anymore. Even if they did, the 1.9 nanograms of estrogen in implanted beef seems miniscule when we consider that a child’s body produces around 50,000 nanograms of estrogen per day. An adult female (non-pregnant) will produce 480,000 nanograms of estrogen per day on its own.

The 1.9 nanograms of estrogen in implanted beef is also miniscule compared to 225 nanograms of estrogen in potatoes, 340 nanograms of estrogen in peas, 520 nanograms of estrogen in ice cream, 2,000 nanograms of estrogen in cabbage, 11,250 nanograms of estrogen in soy milk, and 170,000 nanograms of estrogen in soybean oil… all based on a 3 ounce serving size. One birth control pill contains 35,000 nanograms of estrogen. It may be surprising to learn that there are more hormones in commonly eaten food products than there are in beef ( http://go.unl.edu/uhg4 or http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p2767.pdf )!

So why do kids seem to be growing faster and reaching puberty earlier? Genetics play a role, but hormones make far less sense than calories consumed and increased levels of body fat (i.e., childhood obesity). According to Dr. Frank Biro of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, “BMI (body mass index) is, we found, the biggest single factor for the onset of puberty.” It is easy to blame hormones and sometimes just meat for that matter, or food in general for health problems because the general public is removed from actual food production and processing. It is human nature to be fearful of things we aren’t familiar with or that we don’t fully understand. It is always advisable to do some research and make inquiries yourself before believing everything you hear or read. If misinformation and half-truths are repeated often enough, and in sinister enough media campaign voices, they can take on a life of their own devoid of science or truth.

For more UNL Beef information go to http://beef.unl.edu

Nutrition Plays Key Role in Maintaining Efficient Cows

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:37:40 GMT

Source: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Heading into the winter months, cattle producers should give careful attention to adequate nutrition of beef cattle, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

Dr. Jason Cleere, beef cattle specialist, College Station, told producers at the recent South Central Texas Cow-Calf Clinic in Brenham to monitor body condition of their cattle to ensure those cows will raise a healthy calf and properly re-breed.

“Cattle markets have been phenomenal,” Cleere said, “and things are green and the outlook is great.”

However, lack of nutrition is one of the main causes for cattle not breeding, he said.

“Nutrition is extremely important to the cow-calf operation,” Cleere said. “The way we manage cattle to calve at two years of age and have a calf every year, you’ve got to have some nutritional management out there for them.”

Cleere said one of the most important things producers should do is look at the body condition of their cows.

“The other thing is look at manure,” he said. “It varies, but it tells us what is going on with those cattle, what they are eating and the quality of their diet. “

Body condition scoring is a numerical system for evaluating the condition or fatness of breeding cattle. The system ranks cattle from one, very thin, to 10 very fat. Cattle in average condition would receive a score of five. Cleere said cattle will first put on fat in the brisket area, then behind the shoulder and onward towards the rear of the animal.

“The effect of body condition score on pregnancy rates is significant,” he said. “Research indicates that cows should be at least a body condition score of 5 at calving to achieve optimum re-breeding rates.

“However, the best time to be looking at body condition score would be when you wean your calves so that nutritional management decisions can be made prior to calving,” he said. “You should look at it year round, and especially during the winter feeding period to make sure the cattle are being supplemented properly.”

Cleere said body condition score also impacts how much money cull cows will bring when sold. He demonstrated a cow with a body condition score of two with a value of $50-$60 per hundredweight. A cow with a body condition score of six was worth $75-$85 per hundredweight.

“If we compare the two values on these cows, it equals $920 to $495 in difference between the cows,” Cleere said. “The heavier cow weighs 1,150 pounds versus 900 pounds on the thin cow. When it comes to making culling decisions due to drought, if we let those cows get too thin and calve, it’s going to hurt reproduction rates. If it didn’t rain and we had to sell, we have animals a lot less valuable if you let them get too thin. Some tried to squeeze the value out of their cows and skimp on feeding.”

Cleere advised monitoring cows throughout the year to not only optimize reproduction, but to have cattle in condition to bring added dollars if forced to decrease cow numbers due to dry conditions.

NCBA Statement on the Merck Animal Health Five-Step Plan to Ensure Responsible Beef

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:37:06 GMT

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) commends Merck Animal Health for taking meaningful action to address questions about the impact of Zilmax on animal welfare. America’s farmers and ranchers take animal care very seriously and support Merck’s efforts to ensure that Zilmax can be used responsibly to raise beef without compromising the health and well-being of cattle.
Beta-agonists, like Zilmax, are FDA-approved feed additives that, when added to feed in small amounts at a specific time in their lives, help cattle make the most of the food they eat resulting in more lean muscle instead of fat. Extensive research shows that beta-agonists are metabolized quickly by cattle so they are not stored in the body and therefore are not present in the meat. Beta-agonists are approved for use in the United States, Canada, Australia and two dozen other countries across the developed world.
Cattlemen and women believe in making decisions about the use of animal health products like beta-agonists based on science, not speculation. At this time, there is no scientific basis for saying the use of beta-agonists caused the animal welfare concerns cited by Tyson in their decision to stop buying cattle fed Zilmax.
However, when concerns about the use of beta-agonists and cattle well-being surfaced in sporadic anecdotal reports, NCBA convened the world’s top animal welfare experts, including Dr. Temple Grandin, to review the science and compare it to real-life observations. Over the past several months we have reviewed numerous scientific studies, gathered input from cattle feeders using the products, and sought to understand any possible correlation between the use of beta-agonists and reported animal welfare issues.
Our goal is to fully understand how the use of these products impacts animal welfare in real-life conditions. If this process determines the current use of beta-agonists is compromising animal welfare, we will take appropriate action to ensure that every animal raised for food receives the proper care it deserves.
The five-step plan announced by Merck today will accelerate this process while ensuring that every feedyard worker handling Zilmax is properly trained and certified to use the product. In committing to retrain and recertify every customer using Zilmax they are going above and beyond what is required to ensure their product is used responsibly.

To contact NCBA visit www.beefusa.org.