Identifying Optimal Cattle Genetics for Grass-Finished Beef Production Systems

Commodities

Practices

Our proposal, "Identifying Optimal Cattle Genetics for Grass-Finished Beef Production Systems," addresses a critical supply-side challenge for expanding sustainable production of grass-finished beef in the North Central United States. We propose to gain insight into the challenges, knowledge gaps, and needs that exist surrounding beef cattle genetic selection specifically for grass-finished production systems. Furthermore, through a well-designed experiment in which calves with varying genomic predictions are placed in both forage-based and grain-based finishing systems, we will produce highly relevant data on the impact of genetic selection for traits of importance in grass-finished beef production systems. This will
provide much-needed data on a severely under-researched topic: the extent to which traits most optimal for forage-based finishing differ from those most optimal for grain-based finishing. Finally, through integrated outreach efforts across the life of the project, publication of high-quality peer-reviewed research, and dissemination of research-backed educational content summarizing the project findings, we will empower producers of grass-finished beef to utilize genetic technologies sustainably.

A thorough search was conducted to review past SARE-funded projects related to grassfed beef. We reviewed Research and Education grants in the NC region as well as all other SARE grant types in all other regions. While some projects have focused on grassfed beef, only one other project (a breed comparison between Angus- and Akaushi-sired calves) involved any genetic component. Thus, if funded, this proposal would represent the first SARE project of its kind to address the critical need for cattle genetics optimized for forage-finished beef cattle production systems. This will empower farmers and ranchers with the knowledge and confidence to select for animals adapted to and optimized for the unique challenges of forage-finished systems.

This project is designed to ensure we achieve the following outcomes, which are highly relevant to the SARE mission:

• Understand producer perceptions related to the feasibility and profitability of producing forage-finished beef, and the degree to which this is perceived to be limited by access to cattle with optimal genetics.
• Characterize genetic selection practices currently used by grass-finished beef producers in the North Central United States.
• Produce empirical data on the impact of calf genotype for various traits of economic importance in forage-based versus grain-based finishing contexts, and the extent to which optimal traits vary between finishing systems.
• Within a regenerative holistic context, empower farmers and ranchers with the tools and knowledge to effectively select for traits that are truly relevant to grass-finishing systems.

First, through a robust survey effort, we seek to better understand producer perceptions related to the feasibility and profitability of producing forage-finished beef, as well as the degree to which this is perceived to be limited by access to cattle with optimal genetics. Publication and dissemination of analyzed survey responses will improve the scientific community's understanding of this need area. This type of data is critical for improving outreach efforts in this
space in order to better serve producer needs.

Additionally, popular press publications, producer presentations, and media appearances summarizing these data will stimulate peer-to-peer learning and knowledge transfer among producers. We will survey producers across the North Central Region to better understand perceptions related to the feasibility and profitability of producing forage-finished beef, with particular attention given to understanding current genetic selection practices used by grass-finished producers. We hypothesize that survey results will highlight producer perceptions of poor profitability and feasibility of forage-finishing, largely due to the poor suitability of conventionally genetically selected beef cattle for forage-finished productions systems. Surveys will be designed to yield results publishable in peer-reviewed journal articles, and results will also be shared widely via our network of collaborators across the North Central region. Additionally, we will highlight these results in popular press and invited presentations to producers (the Project Coordinator contributes regularly to regenerative ag print media, podcasts, field days, and educational events), as well as through highly engaging, sharable content on our extensive web-based communication platforms.

Second, through this survey, we will characterize genetic selection practices currently used by grass-finished beef producers in the North Central United States. Much the same way, this learning objective will inform not only the scientific community with respect to educational needs in this space, but also the producer community by offering insight into the lived experiences and perspectives of other grass-finished producers.
Well-conducted surveys yield clear and measurable responses and generate actionable information to inform future research and outreach. We have relevant expertise in designing and conducting surveys within the Project Team as described in the Team Experience and Roles portion of the proposal.

Third, we will produce empirical data on the impact of calf genotype for various traits of economic importance in forage-based versus grain-based finishing contexts, and the extent to which optimal traits vary between finishing systems. Translational research is needed with respect to application of modern genomic technologies for production of high-quality beef in a forage-finished program. At the University of Missouri Forage Systems Research Center, we will conduct an experiment in which genomic-tested cattle are placed in both forage-based and grain-based finishing systems prior to harvest. Data will be analyzed retrospectively evaluating the correlations between genetic predictions for a suite of traits and actual animal performance, carcass merit, and meat quality. The
trial has been designed to yield results that will be published in a peer-reviewed journal (the Project
Coordinator and Project Team Members have authored multiple peer-reviewed publications of translational field research,
including efforts involving the use of commercial genomic tests).
We anticipate that data will illustrate important differences in selection criteria advantageous in a forage-finished context compared to a grain-based finishing context (e.g., selection for optimal rather than maximal values for certain traits).

Fourth, we will empower farmers and ranchers with the tools and knowledge to effectively select for traits that are truly relevant to grass-finishing systems. We anticipate that data generated in the research efforts (both the survey and the finishing trial of genomic-tested calves) will highlight a need for educational outreach on how to
appropriately apply genomic selection tools to improve traits specifically relevant to forage-finished production systems. To address this, data and recommendations resulting from this project will be summarized and incorporated into Extension videos and outreach materials, such as the MU-UK Extension Publication "Producer's Guide to Pasture-Based Beef Finishing." Additionally, results will form the basis of a new genetics-focused module for grass-finished beef schools currently being offered collaboratively by MU Extension, the Missouri Forage and Grassland Council, and the Center for Regenerative Agriculture. Pasture walk meetings and "virtual pasture walk" web-based Extension outreach will also be an integral component of the project, literally and figuratively walking producers through the cattle and the finishing systems during the animal trials so that producers are involved in the project from start to finish. Number of attendees will be recorded for in-person meetings, and event questionnaires will collect producer feedback both quantitatively and qualitatively to evaluate program effectiveness. Likewise,
views and engagement with digital content will be reported. Note that we have extensive experience in this regard due to the combined decades' worth of Extension experience among the Project Team.

Finally, altering long-term behavior and effecting systems-level change across the North Central region will take time; we understand this as managers of multiple active federally funded projects. However, we anticipate rapid genetic progress for producers adopting genetic selection strategies identified in this project. Even a small number of
early adopters finding strong success with a new idea or approach can catalyze industry-wide transformations. Thus, a key element of this project that will ensure success is that it is truly producer-driven and maintains collaboration and engagement from start to finish: asking producers to identify real-world needs, testing and validating their lived experiences to produce empirical data, and leveraging producers as educators throughout.