Ruminant Nutrition

My principal strength is in nutrition of cattle raised for beef production, and the microbiology of feed digestion.

Growth and Composition

Skeletal, muscle and adipose (fat) growth, and factors that affect them, are foundational to understanding how to raise cattle that result in a food product that has desirable yield and quality.

Reproduction

Natural service is the mainstay of native beef production, and assisted reproductive technologies are the mainstay of the beef-on-dairy production system. Those technologies were developed by colleagues that surrounded me during my professorial career.

Breeding and Genetics

This field has produced the greatest advancements in beef production in this century. While the mathematics of this field are beyond my expertise, the applications of this discipline are well within the grasp of you and me.

Cattle Facilities

I am not an agricultural engineer, but the expertise exists within my professional network. At a minimum, cattle handling facilities that enable calm, efficient movement of cattle are essential.

Spreadsheets and Apps

One of the better methods to integrate economics into beef cattle production is to evaluate scenarios, so a spreadsheet may be a useful tool for decision-making. Smartphone apps are making on-site data collection possible. Remaining on the lookout for useful apps will be a need going forward.