By Emily Eilers
Research and impact
University of Nebraska-Lincoln feedlot nutrition and management doctoral student Anna Kobza is researching supplemental fat in feedlot diets. Part of her research is looking at the use of palm oil as a supplemental fat and the other part is looking at how a feed additive can improve the digestibility of fat.
“Fat is commonly fed to increase the energy density of the diet without increasing the starch content, which comes from grain,” Kobza said. “Reducing the starch content reduces the risk for digestive disorders.”
So far Kobza’s data is suggesting that palm oil is a viable alternative to current sources of fat such as corn oil and tallow. Digestion trials are still ongoing for the feed additive.
Aside from Kobza’s research project, she is also the research coordinator for metabolism and digestibility labs. The extensive beef research that happens at the university is shared with producers across Nebraska by Extension educators. Extension educators also help communicate problems producers are having back to the researchers so they can work to create a solution.
“Our goal is to help the producers in our state do what they do better and provide them resources to understand how to do that,” Kobza said.
Beef advocacy
Kobza is from David City and showed horses in 4-H. This led her to become interested in having a 4-H beef project while in high school. Kobza did not live on a farm but knew a local beef producer who knew a seedstock producer in western Nebraska who let Kobza borrow breeding heifers to show over the summer. After showing heifers, Kobza got interested in pursuing a career in beef and ultimately attended UNL for her undergrad in animal science.
Kobza completed her master’s in feedlot nutrition at West Texas A&M University. While doing work for her master’s, she noticed a lack of representation of the cattle feeder by ag advocates on social media. She began posting about her daily life in the feedlot and realized her passion for sharing the story of beef through social media.
“What’s also important to me is teaching other producers in the beef industry how to communicate with consumers more effectively and how to discuss difficult topics,” Kobza said.
There are some tools and practices in the beef industry that are not always perceived well by consumers. Communicating the reason, safety, and welfare behind these practices can help consumers understand the industry better.
If consumers don’t understand agriculture and the reasons that producers use the practices they do, policy and consumer decisions end up based on misinformation, which can have far-reaching impacts on agriculture. That’s why Kobza is so committed to communicating the reality of cattle production to her over 90,000 Instagram followers.
After graduating from UNL with a doctorate in feedlot nutrition and management, Kobza plans on finding a job as a consulting feedlot nutritionist working with producers across the Midwest and High Plains. Kobza is also excited to move with her fiancé to his family’s ranch.
Source : unl.edu