2007 Beef Research Report

North Dakota State University and the Carrington Research Extension Center are proud to present this feedlot research report. The collective efforts represented in this publication support current and future livestock production in North Dakota and will potentially lead to greater financial returns and improved quality of life for those involved in animal agriculture. We appreciate the financial support of several commodity groups and state and federal grant programs as listed in the acknowledgments.

Beef Feedlot Research
NDSU has increased its feedlot research program through collaborative efforts of an informal research team including scientists and extension faculty from the Animal and Range Sciences Department and the Carrington Research Extension Center. Many other experiment station and extension faculty contribute to the feedlot research and outreach program. The feedlot enterprise has been proven to be economically competitive in North Dakota when management and economies of scale are optimized. The focus areas for feedlot research are nutrition and North Dakota feedstuffs, feedlot management, the environment, waste management, genetics of North Dakota cattle, and economics. Research and outreach in feedlot will continue for the benefit of all cattle feeders.

Beef Cow/Calf Research
Beef research at the Carrington Center also includes cow/calf studies with a mission to study the synergies of crop production and ruminant livestock. The cow herd can add value to low-cost crop residues, new and co-product feeds, and create a more biologically and economically sustainable farming operation. Cows can lower the financial risks associated with crops-only farming.

Livestock Nutrient Management
Management of livestock manure is becoming a more visible and sensitive program area that affects all livestock producers. Containing runoff is essential for permitted operations. Composting manure and determining nutrient value of manure are current program focal points.