Feed the Future’s Post

Last month we harvested 40 acres of corn for our upcoming feed study. Silage will make up a good portion of our #dairy cows' diet over the course of one and a half years, and has the energy and fiber needed to sustain cow health and productivity. 🌽 🐄 During this time, we will be feeding small amounts of Bovaer to 66 dairy #cattle over one full lactation period. We hope to get a better understanding on the impact it will have on emissions reductions, animal health and productivity.   Learn more about our upcoming research projects funded through the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Livestock Enteric Methane Emission Reduction Research Program (LEMER-RP). 👇 https://lnkd.in/g82edabU

Microbial composition of livestock buildings is the basis for the creation of a biological preparation to stabilize the microbial background Aikumys Zhumakayeva, Rakhimtay Tleulessov, Zhanar Bakisheva, Mereke Tokayeva, Sairan Dyussenov, Indira Akzhunussova https://lnkd.in/dkda_isY https://lnkd.in/dmYjtuRV

❓ Can we identify ways to enhance overall calf immunity? ❓ Can telemedicine improve the quality and accuracy of necropsies? ❓ Is it possible to grow and feed high-moisture corn products in Western Canada? 💡 The results are in on these research queries and many more projects funded by the Beef Cattle Research Council. Read the latest beef cattle research summaries ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/grZNptG9

Join the conversation... I was recently asked by a beginner farmer to provide a framework for evaluating layer poultry performance. A basic 'How-To' and 'Where To Start'. Here's my take...(what's yours - let's talk):

The paradoxes of #FarmToFork ❗ 🚜 Always under attack of #AnimalActivists and under pressure from #EuropeanUnion, the european #LivestockSector has finally reacted to the “green policies” of the #EU. 🔎 But this situation was highly predictable. In fact, European Livestock Voice and #CarniSostenibili had long pointed out the critical aspects of this policies, underlining the misconceptions and prejudices about the #environment, #health and economy of #LivestockFarming.

Policy bridges the gap between research and its implementation, especially in resource-limited settings. This course offered by the Feed the Future Innovation lab for livestock systems is a perfect place to start if you want to learn how to draft policy briefs. The course has video modules and a lot of resources that we can learn from. And it's self-paced! Can't wait to translate what I have learned to livestock systems research. Many thanks, Renata Serra University of Florida and Feed the Future Initiative. #livestockpolicy #foodandagriculture

The heftiest and happiest cattle this summer will be those kept in the shade, according to new research out of Murdoch University. The research, led by Associate Professor David Miller from Murdoch's School of Agricultural Sciences showed the shaded cattle exhibited a more positive demeanour, being described as 'settled and sociable,' while unshaded cattle were more 'agitated and anxious'. Results also showed that shaded cattle had a modest 0.13 kg overall increase in average daily gain across the 70-day feedlot period, and that the physiological and behavioural markers of health and welfare improved, with shaded cattle better able to thermoregulate during the hottest times of the experiment. Read more about these important findings for the industry online. https://loom.ly/gOze1tY

I recently attended a Meat & Livestock Australia Pasture Paramedic session led by Lisa Warn. The session ended with a SWOT analysis on the pasture itself. I’ve done many SWOT analyses before, but never thought to apply it to pasture management. This exercise was objective, uncovered assumptions, and sparked good discussions. It also helped us separate what we can control from what we can’t. This session broadened my perspective on the use of SWOT analyses. What communication tools or techniques have surprised you recently? #PastureManagement #SWOTAnalysis #ContinuousLearning #AgricultureInnovation

A new study by Frances Cowley et al, co-authored by FutureFeed's Dr Rob Kinley and Breanna Roque, PhD, evaluated the effects of feeding varying amounts of an Asparagopsis-oil formulation to beef cattle. The levels of methane (CH4) yield were reduced by 64%, 98% and 99%, with the cows consuming the highest amount of Asparagopsis-oil recording the greatest reduction in methane. This study rounds out the body of peer-reviewed research showing the safety and efficacy of Asparagopsis for beef feedlots. Read our research summary to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eHjGVCeS #Asparagopsis #EmissionReductions #Feedlot #AnimalFeed #Cattle

New paper out on «Citizens’ perceptions of agricultural policy goals – evidence from Switzerland» https://lnkd.in/ezBGSm3M in Food Policy with Judith Irek, Robert Finger, Gabrielle Mack, Jeanine Ammann - All agricultural policy goals are considered important, multifunctionality of agriculture is well understood. - Increasing animal welfare is the most important goal, increasing domestic food production the least important (even though still important). - Cultural difference seem to exist, measured by differences in policy preferences between three Swiss language regions. Agroscope