RRV: Research complex looking for cattle cost efficiencies

"There is a lot of potential savings for individuals with the research we are conducting,” states Greg Lardy, Professor in the Animal Science department at NDSU in Fargo, ND.

The NDSU Beef Cattle Research Complex started researching to find cost efficiencies for feeding cattle. The facility, located on the intersection of I-29 and 19th Avenue on the southwest side of the road, includes a cattle complex with a feeding area, handling area and calving pens, as well as an office and laboratory area. It also includes a feed storage and mixing area for the cattle.

Research will include nutrition, reproductive physiology, genomics, management and production, preharvest food safety, economics, animal behavior, environmental management, nutrient management, and meat science and carcass quality.

The facility was constructed using a combination of state and federal dollars totaling more than $3 million. The facility opened in June and can house almost 200 head of cattle.

During the first year of operation, the researchers are studying cow herd nutrition using distiller’s grain as a cost-saving strategy. In addition, research is being conducted on different levels of forage diets and the impact of various supplements and how it affects efficiency and growth of the cattle.

Trent Gilbery, Facilities Manager at the complex, explains that all of the research being conducted relates to feeding cattle and improving feed efficiency to help with the high cost of feed for producers.

“This information allows us to help producers,” he states.

Lardy adds now that corn prices have almost tripled over the past few years, now it is even more important that research data helps producers understand the costs of doing business. RRVPB

Alan Van Ormer - avanormer@prairiebizmag.com

Tags: agriculture