By Dan Loy
A culmination of five years of extensive research through the USDA’s National Program for the Genetic Improvement of Feed Efficiency in Beef Cattle will be on display next month, according to Iowa Beef Center director Dan Loy.
“Iowa State is one of the eleven universities involved in this USDA project that has genotyped and phenotyped more than 8,000 head of cattle from nine breeds across the nation to date,” Loy said. “We’re hosting a Beef Nutrition Showcase highlighting several outcomes of the project research on Saturday, June 11 at the Iowa State University Beef Nutrition Farm.”
Set for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the farm located five miles northwest of the Iowa State campus at 3405 North Dakota Ave., the event will provide opportunities for attendees to view multiple ongoing feed trials and learn how selection tools from the USDA grant are now being applied to real-world feedlot production.
Patrick Wall, extension beef specialist, said one trial will be of special interest to those wanting to learn more about expected progeny differences (EPDs.)
“One of the featured trials is testing the American Hereford Association’s new Feed Intake EPD, specifically to see if feedlot managers can potentially use a sire’s EPD for intake to enhance the management and ultimate profitability of a pen of cattle,” Wall said. “The program also will highlight a Residual Feed Intake (RFI) test of Limousin cattle, trace mineral interactions on a group of purebred Red Angus, and a zinc metabolism study on Angus genetics.”
A steak sandwich dinner will conclude the event at the Hansen Student Learning Center in Ames. There’s no cost to attend but people are asked to preregister by June 6 to ensure an adequate meal count. Preregister by calling Wall at 515-450-7665 or email him at patwall@iastate.edu. For additional details on the program schedule, see the program flier.
Source:iastate.edu