Animal research. It puts into one’s
mind white lab coats, goggles, test tubes, and white mice. But in reality,
there’s a world of research going on every day in our universities, and much of
it concerns the animals we eat. From establishing new protocols for food safety
to finding new ways to keep our beef less expensive, universities across the country
are conducting diverse field and laboratory research to keep our animals
healthy and productive.
Pennsylvania State
University’s Research and Extension office has not only provided excellent
usable data for dairy producers in particular, but has also utilized their
extension services to make that information available to small farmers. A big
portion of their research has focused on comparing feeding
methods in dairy calves, which has great financial impact for any milk
producer small or large. Some of the most significant losses in milk production
occur due to calf mortality rates and speed of development. These studies were
proposed to find ways to limit that loss, and are built on results that are
published in Israel, the United Kingdom, and other areas of the world to ensure
that every farmer has access to the entire world’s knowledge.
Looking at
another faucet of food production, the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research
Center (EOARC) is currently working hard to not only discover more efficient
methods of raising beef cattle, but also promote their welfare.
“The long-term goal of
our research program is to elaborate strategies that prevent stress-related
illnesses elicited by routine cattle management procedures and, consequently,
promote cattle welfare and productivity.”(Cooke, 2011)
Several
current studies in progress at the EOARC are doing just that. From finding ways
to make transport and handling less stressful to suggesting new business
practices that make production more efficient, the EOARC promotes welfare by working
with cattle producers and identifying financial benefits associated with
welfare. Research at the center sponsored by Oregon State University also takes
place at many other stations and environments across the state, and all of them
collaborate to find the best ways to utilize the unique resources in Oregon and
beyond.
Across the
country, there are animal scientists working in locations just like those in
Oregon and Pennsylvania, and all of them are constantly reviewing the research
that’s been completed, and finding new questions to answer. Funding these
projects has made the systems we use today possible, and makes the daunting
task of affordably feeding the world a reality.
Guest post written by Austin J. Bouck. Austin is a student at Oregon State University studying Animal Science with a focus in pre-veterinary medicine. He is currently interning at the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center in Burns, Oregon. You can read more of his animal science research posts on his blog, Animal Science
Review.
