Cattle feeding

claims that feeding beef cattle corn is causing major health problems for citizens of the United States. These claims are the effect of propaganda on high school students. Food Inc. makes statements that vilify the use corn to feed beef cattle and connects it to E. coli O157:H7, which is dangerous to humans. According to this excerpt by Purdue University, Food Inc. is making a generalization that is not fully backed up. “E. coli O157:H7 is a bacterium that is associated with cattle. A few popular books have made the claim that E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks are the result of modern beef production practices where cattle are fed diets containing higher amounts of corn or other starches (as opposed to grass or other forage). The roots of these claims are traced back to a few studies that showed that feeding higher amounts of grain to cattle can lower the pH (more acidic) of the cow’s intestinal tract. This could then favor the growth of acid-tolerant bacteria like some E. coli. While not the conclusion of the study, some folks have interpreted this to mean that feeding grain over grass has resulted in the emergence of E. coli O157:H7. Studies looking at actual E. coli O157:H7 carriage rates in cattle fed high starch (e.g., corn) vs. high forage (e.g., grass), however, have been inconsistent. Some studies have shown that E. coli O157:H7 carriage rates are not related to pH levels and others have shown that E. coli O157:H7 carriage rates can actually be higher in cattle fed…

Temple Grandin states you can only manage what you can measure to identify problems and achieve improved states of welfare (Lyles, Calvo-Lorenzo 5335). Welfare in cattle has been a major topic and question of many many years due to the numerous practices. Societal acceptance is a big concern in the welfare because what ties into it is the views of treatment and living conditions of these animals. In the cattle industry outsiders and the people known as the consumers need to understand how…

two centuries the beef industry has undergone many changes. From the coming of refrigerated train cars to Government regulations. As the population of the earth has grown, cattlemen have had to change their operations in order to feed the world. But as we try to feed more cattle in a smaller area, sickness spreads like wildfire if not treated with antibiotics. Cattle were first brought to the America’s in 1493 on Columbus’s second voyage. (Bravodelux, 2013)Spanish and Portuguese trading ships…

with these issues, the calcium and protein that are provided by these cows are essential for life, or are they? Recently, dairy products have come under speculation as a true health food. In the essay, “Is Milk a Health Food?”, written by a student, Arthur Knopf, he explains the negative characteristics of dairy and the cattle industry on our…

include genetics, gender of cattle, natural growth patterns, as well as manipulation of cattle diets in their feed. Growth Patterns The growth of carcass is made up mainly of protein and fat. As cattle is approaching mature weight, the gain of carcass makes up a higher percentage of the total gain. This makes the percentage of dressing increases day by day on feed. Although long fed cattle typically reduced the performance, adjusting the performance for percentage of dressing may show the…

use of implants may cause a decreased percent of cattle grading USDAS choice and may lower palatability of the meat product when finished. All Producers should talk with the buyers of their cattle to determine the correct implant protocol. Recombinant…

Pasture feeding has beneficial effects on n-3 fatty acids, notably eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) and docasahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3)” (Webb & Erasmus 2013). Unlike Martz, they go into detail about nutritional benefits of pasture raised beef, owing the difference in flavor that can sometimes occur to an increased presence of fatty acids. They also explain the reason for slower growth, stating grass fed livestock are typically not given growth hormones or concentrate feed, leaving…

and easiest way for them to produce and manufacture their products. One example of this is shown in the food that the food companies supply their cattle with. Cows are herbivores, which means that they only eat grass and other plants, but in order to fatten up the cows faster, the food companies fed the cattle corn. The cattle spend their time eating corn, which is a food that their bodies cannot properly digest, and spend their time standing ankle deep in their own feces. The cattle are cramped…

pressures resulting in phenotypical changes. Another way for phenotypical changes to occur in a species is by human intervention. Domestication is a form of human intervention. The domestication of B.taurus began approximately 10,000 years ago. Prior to this domestication event, cattle as we know it did not exist. The wild Aurochsen, Bos primigenius, was the ancestor to B.taurus. Wild Aurochsen are now extinct with the last recorded…

I knew this information based on an economics research project about grass fed cattle, and the profit margin associated with raising this type of cattle. Two years ago I became more involved with Agriculture by joining FFA. I became deeply interested due to my love and passion for money, and Cattle. Not coming from a farm background I thought I wouldn’t have a chance in agriculture; I was proved wrong though because one can easily adapt to a new concept. My close knit relationship with…