54 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN August 2024 PEERS REDEFINING EFFICIENCY U.S. MEAT ANIMAL RESEARCH CENTER COMMUNICATIONS Efficiency. This word has echoed through the cattle industry for generations, although, today it has more meaning behind it than it may have even a decade ago. With research, we have gained knowledge that helps us define the word in more specific ways than ever before and allows us to think more creatively about methods of improvement for beef producers. The dictionary can define many things, but the definition of efficiency to a cattle producer is not one of them. Cattle producers know that to achieve efficiency, the output must be greater than the input, the return greater than the investment and the reward greater than the sacrifice. Controlling the return is impossible since we can’t guarantee the weather or the markets; however, what we can control are the inputs. The U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) focuses on helping producers do just that. For the last 60 years, USMARC’s world-class research team has and continues to work toward solutions for cattle producers to achieve optimal efficiency. Researchers and producers understand that every aspect of care and management can contribute to the reduction of inputs and the increase of outputs. There are numerous inputs that dictate large expenses to cattle producers. The USMARC team is working to find creative solutions to reduce these expenses and improve the efficiency and sustainability of modern cattle production operations. By embracing the holistic concept of genetics x environment x management x society (GEMS), the center can evaluate how production costs and animal performance coincide and interact to contribute to efficiency and overall success. The use of vaccinations and medications to improve animal health and wellbeing are necessary, but costly. A collaborative effort from USMARC and an animal health company has made leaps and bounds in the field of early disease identification. Utilizing a facial recognition camera system could enable producers to identify a sick animal in a pen prior to it expressing any outward signs of disease, allowing for isolation and treatment prior to the spread of illness. This would drastically improve efficiency as the input cost would be reduced in numerous areas, including feed conversion, treatment and labor. Another discovery that could prevent disease entirely is the implementation of a gene edit that results in immunity to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Many cattle producers can attest to the detrimental effects this virus has and understand the immense positive impact this advancement could have on the beef industry. 1/3 Page Horizontal Nebraska Cattleman 2 color Risk Associates June/July 2024 AMY MAULER AGRICULTURE RISK MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST 308.215.0100 | AMYMAULERRA@GMAIL.COM SARGENT, NEB. | RISKASSOCIATESINC.NET SPECIALIZING IN RISK PROTECTION FOR: • LRP – LIVESTOCK RISK PROTECTION Feeder & Fed Cattle • PRF – PASTURE, RANGELAND & FORAGE Pastures & Forage Acres
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