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Perennial grass pastures provide the basis for beef production systems across the Southeast United States. One common management practice that is widely recommended among agronomists is interseeding cool-season legumes. Legumes can serve as a complementary resource for filling in production gaps, reducing supplemental feedstuffs, reducing the need for nitrogen fertilization, increasing the nutritional quality of forage available, increase biomass production, improve animal performance, and can reduce the toxic effects of endophyte-infected tall fescue through dilution. A simulated economic analysis was developed to further the economic understanding of the cost of implementation, the subsequent animal and forage performance benefits, and net returns from the inclusion of legumes over many research trials and years. Data from 15 peer-reviewed papers was used to simulate the economic benefits of implementing this production practice. Cost of production and revenue for each paper were calculated using the 10-year average from 2010 to 2019. This analysis provides users with a further understanding of the net returns, critical breakeven areas, and return on investment that is necessary in order to successfully implement the inclusion of cool-season legumes in perennial grass-based systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper was to derive economic weights for performance and survival traits of growing pigs including feed conversion ratio (FCR), daily feed intake (DFI), ADG, postweaning survival of the growing pig (SG), and carcass fat depth at the P2 site (CFD). An independent model was developed for each trait to derive economic values directly based on a typical Australian production system. This flexible approach may be used to customize economic values for different production systems and alternative trait combinations in breeding objectives. Discounted genetic expressions were used as a means of taking into account differences in frequency and timing of expression of traits to obtain economic weights. Economic values for SG were derived based on a costsaving and a lost-revenue approach. The correct formulation of the economic value of ADG depends on how feed cost is included in the breeding objective. If FCR is defined as a breeding objective trait, then savings in feed costs through earlier slaughter should not be counted in the economic value of ADG. In contrast, if DFI is included in the breeding objective instead of FCR, then feed-cost savings through earlier slaughter need to be attributed to the economic value for ADG, as a benefit from faster ADG. The paper also demonstrates that economic weightings in indexes for FCR can potentially be overestimated by 70% when it is assumed that DFI or FCR records taken from a limited duration test period reflect the corresponding trait over the full lifetime of the growing pig destined for slaughter. Postweaning survival of the growing pig was the most important breeding objective trait of growing pigs. The relative importance of each breeding objective trait in a sire-line index based on the genetic SD of each trait was 44.5, 27.0, 17.4, and 11.1% for SG, FCR, ADG, and CFD, respectively Further studies to better clarify the extent of genetic variation that exists in SG under nucleus-farm and commercial-farm conditions are warranted, given the high economic importance of this survival trait of growing pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of animals for improved performance affects the profitability of pig fattening and has environmental consequences. The goal of this paper was to examine how changes in genetic and market parameters impact the biophysical (feeding patterns, timing of slaughter, nitrogen excretion) and economic (return per pig space unit) results describing pig fattening in a Finnish farm. The analysis can be viewed as focusing on terminal line breeding goals. An integrated model using recursive stochastic dynamic programming and a biological pig growth model was used to estimate biophysical results and economic values. Combining these models allowed us to provide more accurate estimates for the value of genetic improvement and, thus, provide better feedback to animal breeding programs than the traditional approach, which is based on fixed management patterns. Besides the benchmark scenario, the results were simulated for 5 other scenarios. In each scenario, genotype was improved regarding daily growth potential, carcass lean meat content, or the parameters of the Gompertz growth curve (maturing rate [fi], adult weight of protein [ap], and adult weight of lipid mass [aL]). The change in each parameter was equal to approximately 1 SD genetic improvement (ceteris paribus). Increasing fi, ap, daily growth potential, or carcass lean meat content increased the return on pig space unit by €12.60, €7.60, €4.10, or €2.90 per year, respectively, whereas an increase in aL decreased the return by €3.10. The genetic improvement in aL and fi resulted in the highest decrease in nitrogen excretion calculated in total or per kilogram of carcass gain but only under the optimal feeding pattern. Simulated changes in the Gompertz growth function parameters imply greater changes in ADG and lean meat content than changes in scenarios focusing on improving ADG and lean meat content directly. The economic value of genetic improvements as well as the quantity of nitrogen excreted during the fattening period largely depends on feeding. Improved genotypes can require changes in pig management pattern. Estimating the influence of the genotype on the nitrogen excretion without considering changes in the management pattern can result in flawed conclusions. To improve overall economic performance and to decrease the environmental footprint of fattening pig production, the pig producer can adjust the herd management pattern according to the pigs' genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Request for proposals and research priorities abound relative to beef quality, safety and sustainability. The objective of this paper is to propose emerging research areas relevant to retail stores, food service distributors and chefs. Consumers purchase beef based on a price:value relationship therefore future research must address the diversity of factors affecting beef demand while advancing science. Translating these biological discoveries into an enjoyable eating experience with margin opportunities for the entire supply chain should be the goal. Key areas of research and education include enhancing beef knowledge, managing carcass variation, understanding red meat yield and enhancing carcass utilization. Consumers still lack basic beef knowledge relative to quality indicators, preparation methods, and muscle nomenclature despite an increasing number of information sources. Meat Science Extension programs have the opportunity to serve as a reliable resource for meat fabrication and further processing while providing industry guidance in unifying nomenclature. Carcass weight continues to increase, resulting in greater primal and sub-primal weight variation. Future fabrication methods should offer solutions to address packing labor challenges and box count logistics while addressing end-user demand for consistent sizing. While considering alternative fabrication methods for heavier carcass weights, research should evaluate methodologies to accurately assess carcass yield across all biological types of cattle. Current yield grade calculations are consistent, however, the current equation is inadequate due to changes in cattle type and modern fabrication methods since formula inception. Despite consistent beef quality improvements across the industry, consumers can still influence eating satisfaction by cooking method and time. Research evaluating optimal muscle choice and comparable substitutes across a variety of preparations, aging methods, cooking times and temperatures would enhance recipe ideation needs. Specifically consider research to evaluate beef in context of consumer preparation temperatures rather than academic medium. The beef business is complex due to variation in carcass composition, fabrication method and end-user specifications. Each alternative processing decision has a consequence, future work should apply economic evaluation to these alternatives. Technology continues to advance yield and precision of sub-primal portioning yet innovative solutions to address packing labor challenges are lacking, these technological advances should strive to increase red meat yield while reducing labor needs in harvest or fabrication. Meat scientists can address the needs of end-users by taking a systems approach to beef research in order to develop economical solutions to logistical challenges while enhancing the consumer eating experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2-yr study was conducted to determine the effects of rate of N fertilization on productivity and nutritive value of stockpiled "Tifton 85" bermudagrass for lactating-cow and calf performance. On 31 October 2012 (year 1) and 11 November 2013 (year 2), 16 Angus × Simmental cows (mean initial BW for both years, 647 ± 23 kg) and their calves (mean age for both years, 16 ± 3 d) were assigned randomly to 0.76-ha paddocks (2 cow-calf pairs/paddock) of stockpiled "Tifton 85"; bermudagrass pasture that had been cut to a 10-cm stubble height in early August and fertilized with either 56 (56N), 112 (112N), or 168 (168N) kg N/ha (2 paddocks/treatment), or to replicate 0.41-ha paddocks (2 cow-calf pairs/paddock) of dormant pasture with free-choice access to August-cut “Tifton 85” bermudagrass hay plus 2.7 kg whole cottonseed daily (HAY). Cows were allowed access to strips of ungrazed forage by moving polytape every 3 to 4 d to maintain a DM harvest efficiency of approximately 75%. In year 1, forage mass (6,113 kg DM/ ha), IVDMD (60.9%), and grazing d/ha (314) were not different (P > 0.05) among the stockpile treatments over a 116-d grazing period; mean forage IVDMD (60.1%) and CP (12.7%) in the stockpiled treatments were greater (P < 0.05) than the HAY treatment. Stockpiled forage CP concentration was greater (P < 0.05) for the 168N than 56N and 112N treatments and was greater (P < 0.05) for the 56N than 112N treatment. In year 2, mean forage CP concentration was greater (P < 0.05) for the 168N (14.5%) than 56N (11.3%), 112N (12.0%), and HAY (9.0%) treatments; mean stockpiled forage IVDMD (59.5%) was greater (P < 0.05) than the HAY treatment (46.3%); and mean forage mass for the 168N treatment (5,017 kg DM/ha) was 378 kg and 298 kg DM/ha greater (P < 0.05) than the 112N and 56N treatments, respectively. Mean cow BW (611 ± 147 kg), body condition scores (5.5 ± 0.6), and milk production (9.0 ± 6.0 kg/d) were not different (P > 0.05) among treatments. Mean blood urea-N (BUN) concentrations (11.2 mg/mL) were not different among treatments, but mean BUN across treatments for the last sampling date was greater (P < 0.05) than the first and second sampling dates. Mean 205-d adjusted weaning weight (249 kg ± SD) was not different among treatments. Economic evaluation revealed that input costs/cow were 66%, 61%, and 56% greater for HAY than 56N, 112N, and 168N, respectively. Stockpiled forages were of sufficient nutritive quality to support lactation without supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In sheep and goat breeding programs, the proportion of females for which the sire is known (known paternity rate [KPR]) can be very low. In this context, paternity assignment using SNP is an attractive tool. The annual genetic gain (AGG) is impacted by the accuracy of the EBV. In populations with a low KPR, the number of known relatives for a given individual is low, and the EBV that are based on this information are imprecise. However, the impact of partially known paternal filiations, in terms of potential genetic and economic losses, has never been quantitatively evaluated in situations where natural mating is the main reproductive mode. A deterministic model was developed to assess, for a panel of real breeding programs, the influence of the female KPR on the AGG and economic benefit. First, males were divided into categories according to their status (natural mating or AI sire) and breeding cycle and females according to parity, sire status (including unknown sire), and breeding cycle of the sire. Second, a demographic model described, for each category, the accumulation of known records for individuals and their close relatives. The output from this model was used to compute the average accuracy of the EBV per category. Then, a genetic model based on the gene flow between categories over time was described. Using the average accuracy of EBV per category, it provided the asymptotic AGG of the nucleus given its KPR. In the economic studies, changes to the mean genetic values in the nucleus and the commercial population after an increase in KPR and various gain:cost ratios (monetary gain due to an extra genetic SD of the selected trait divided by the cost of 1 assignment) were considered. Relative profit and payback periods were computed. We showed that SNP-based parentage assignment aimed at increasing the female KPR was not always profitable and that the type of breeding program and the size of the commercial population should be taken into consideration. Notably, achieving a profit was largely dependent on obtaining a favorable gain:cost ratio. The maximum supplementary AGG (16.9%) was obtained for breeding programs using only natural mating. In such programs without AI, a gain:cost ratio of 5 was needed to make assignment profitable at the nucleus level whereas a gain:cost ratio of 2 was sufficient if the nucleus represented a third of the total population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), which first emerged in the United States in 2013, spread throughout the U.S. hog population. Limited preemptive knowledge impeded the understanding of PEDV introduction, spread, and prospective economic impacts in the United States. To assess these impacts, this article reviews the timeline of PEDV in the United States and the corresponding impacts. PEDV is a supply-impacting disease and is not demand inhibiting, as pork demand remained strong since PEDV first appeared. Pig losses reached significant levels during September 2013 through August 2014, with the majority of pork production impacts occurring in 2014. PEDV had differing impacts for subsectors of the pork industry. A budget model demonstrates that producers could have had pig losses and decreases in productivity proportionally smaller than price increases, resulting in net returns above what was expected before the major outbreak of PEDV. Previous literature is reviewed to identify the potential main industry beneficiaries of the PEDV outbreaks in the United States. As a result of reduced volumes of available pig and hog supplies, reductions in annual returns likely occurred for packers, processors, distributors, and retailers. In addition, pork consumers who experienced reduced-supply-induced pork-price increases were likely harmed directly by higher prices paid for pork and indirectly as prices of competing meats were also likely strengthened by PEDV. This article also identifies future considerations motivated by the appearance of PEDV in the United States, such as discussions of industry-wide efficiency and competitive advantage, the future role of PEDV vaccines, enhancement in biosecurity measures, and consumer perceptions of food safety and insecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to develop a transparent, comprehensive, and flexible model for each trait for the formulation of breeding objectives for sow traits in swine breeding programs. Economic values were derived from submodels considering a typical Australian pig production system. Differences in timing and expressions of traits were accounted for to derive economic weights that were compared on the basis of their relative size after multiplication by their corresponding genetic standard deviation to account for differences in scale and genetic variability present for each trait. The number of piglets bom alive had the greatest contribution (27.1%) to a subindex containing only maternal traits, followed by daily gain (maternal; 22.0%) and sow mature weight (15.0%). Other traits considered in the maternal breeding objective were preweaning survival (11.8%), sow longevity (12.5%), gilt age at puberty (8.7%), and piglet survival at birth (3.1%). The economic weights for number of piglets bom alive and preweaning piglet survival were found to be highly dependent on the definition of scale of enterprise, with each economic value increasing by approximately 100% when it was assumed that the value of extra output per sow could be captured, rather than assuming a consequent reduction in the number of sows to maintain a constant level of output from a farm enterprise. In the context of a full maternal line index that must account also for the expression of direct genetic traits by the growing piglet progeny of sows, the maternal traits contributed approximately half of the variation in the overall breeding objective. Deployment of more comprehensive maternal line indexes incorporating the new maternal traits described would lead to more balanced selection outcomes and improved survival of pigs. Future work could facilitate evaluation of the economic impacts of desired-gains indexes, which could further improve animal welfare through improved sow and piglet survival. The results justify further development of selection criteria and breeding value prediction systems for a wider range of maternal traits relevant to pig production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]