Ruminant Nutrition

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

Growth and Carcass 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 to 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.

Forage Agronomy

I am not a forage agronomist, but the expertise exists within my professional network. Soil fertility, cultivar choices, seeding rates, and pasture renovation expertise are close at hand.

Spreadsheets and Apps

One of the better methods to integrate economics into beef cattle production is to evaluate scenarios, so a spreadsheet can be a useful tool for decision-making. Spreadsheets are the least-cost method for organization of revenue and expense data. Desktop and smartphone apps are becoming more useful. Being on the lookout for useful apps that facilitate cost-of-production estimation will be a need going forward.