IMPROVING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT AND THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF MICHIGAN BEEF

The major goals of this project are:Determine the impact of a simple versus complex forage grazing system on animal and plant productivity, greenhouse gas flux, and soil health.Determine the impact of finishing system (forage and grain) and breed type (Red Angus or Akaushi sired) on beef production, carcass merit, and beef nutritive and sensory dynamics.Determine the impact of supplementation (baleage and soyhull pellets) on grass-fed beef production and subsequent beef nutritive value.Conduct a meta-analysis on United States bovine enteric methane production and identify achievable factors to lower emissions including an assessment of modeling factors that influence enteric methane emission estimates.