50 Nebraska Cattleman November 2023 Spreading It Around is Better By Design. West Point Design (402) 372-2408 2074 S Hwy 275 West Point NE 68788 www.westpointimp.com Horizontal Distributor designed by West Point Design Berma Distributor NEW FEATURE! Power Lift Kit CALL TODAY! Pull Type or Truck Mount Styles 16T to 34T Sizes Available! IANR By Mike Boehm, Ph.D. Vice President for Agriculture, University of Nebraska, Harlan Vice Chancellor, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Momentous Year This past year has been momentous for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and its Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR). We said goodbye to Chancellor Green, welcomed Chancellor Bennett and will soon welcome a new University of Nebraska president. We saw another year of record external investments in agricultural research and made swift progress on construction of the Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center. And this fall, we welcomed an incoming class of College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources students that is among the largest in the college’s history. At the same time, budget challenges have led us to further tighten our belts and seek new ways to be even better stewards of our financial resources. Like those we serve across greater Nebraska, we have felt the impacts of widespread drought, intense heat and other severe weather. It has been a year of making positive impacts, navigating change and taking advantage of new opportunities. Through this, I am proud that the people who make up IANR have remained focused on our land-grant mission and serving the people of Nebraska through research, teaching and Extension efforts. I would like to highlight a couple recent projects that serve Nebraska’s beef producers and industry. First is a project led by Jessica Peterson, Ph.D., associate professor of animal science, which is looking to deepen the understanding of links between genetics and cattle growth efficiency. This study, which has significant potential to expand the range of genetic tools used by breeders, focuses on the mitochondria of cows. Mitochondria are commonly referred to as the “powerhouse” of our cells. These membranebound organelles, which have their own genetic material – their own genome – are responsible for creating the energy needed for all cellular functions. Breeders use a variety of genetic data for their operations, but information from the mitochondrial genome of an animal has not been widely studied. Peterson and her collaborators will aim to determine how variation in the maternal cattle’s mitochondrial genomes affects overall efficiency in animal growth, and hope that producers will be able to identify cows with higher levels of feed efficiency and use that as one of the considerations during breeding selection. Another program I would like to highlight is the Great Plains Heifer Development Program, a partnership between UNL and South Dakota State University (SDSU) to optimize heifer development and reproductive efficiency. This program, which will be based at the Haskell Ag Lab near Concord, will be open to consigners eager to enhance their heifer development strategies. UNL and SDSU researchers and faculty will offer a unique blend of services focused on the foundational principles of heifer selection, feeding, management strategies, genetic tools for sire selection, estrus synchronization protocols, post-breeding management and more. Beef Extension Educator Connor Biehler described the program as “where the rubber meets the road for cattle producers, where we can address the practical challenges producers encounter in optimizing heifer reproduction, making informed breeding decisions, and ensuring the longevity and productivity of their herds.” The program will begin accepting cattle in mid-December. For more information, contact Biehler at cbiehler2@unl.edu or (402) 624-8007. Last, I would like to highlight a truly Nebraska story that I am proud has a UNL tie. Many of you know Daniels CONTINUED ON PAGE 52
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