Summary
Current Research
- Dual-use hard red winter wheat strategies to improve animal and wheat grain production
- Pre-clinical detection of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in confinement fed cattle based on changes in individual animal behavior
- Interrelationships between cattle and their microbiome
- Integrated grazing land systems for beef production
Our research approach focuses on sustainable production of animal protein from agricultural ecosystems. The research program adopts a soil to sirloin or pasture to plate perspective, where the sustainability of the entire systems from soil conservation to animal production.
Current research focuses on integrating molecular genomics of cattle and their gut bacteria with the latest advances in protein and metabolism measurements with economically relevant traits such as feed efficiency, animal metabolic disorders, bovine respiratory disease, antimicrobial resistance, methane production and food safety.
-
- Systems biology research model for development of next-generation cattle-microbiome selection tools to improve sustainable beef production in the 21st century.
-
- Wheat pasture bloat in cattle is triggered by complex interactions of the animal and it’s rumen microbiome to various biotic, abiotic and management precursors.
-
- Rumen microbiome responses in English and Brahman cattle to feeding low-quality rice straw and protein supplementation.
-
- Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most expensive disease affecting cattle in the U.S.. We are developing approaches to predict and treat BRD than traditional clinical diagnosis.
Dual-use hard red winter wheat strategies to improve animal and wheat grain production
This project deals with mitigation of frothy bloat in cattle grazing winter annual cereal grain forages. We found that bloat on wheat pasture is related to pre-plant nitrogen fertilization rates and decreasing nitrogen fertilization before planting can reduce bloat frequency, severity, duration and economic losses.
Pre-clinical detection of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in confinement fed cattle based on changes in individual animal behavior.
We have been able detect BRD based morbidity 1 to 4 days earlier than visual diagnoses based on clinical systems. An array of sensor technologies are being tested. We are developing computer models to analyze data from various sensor platforms to enhance the accuracy and precision of sensor based morbidity detection. Our goal is to develop systems compatible with commercial cattle feeding.
Interrelationships between cattle and their microbiome
We are conducting systems biology research to discover and translate the interrelationships between cattle and their microbiome as these relate to adaptation to novel feeds, feed efficiency, reproductive performance, methane emission, immunology and animal genomics. We have particular emphasis on discovery of microbiome, genetic, metabolomic and proteomic markers of economically relevant traits for animal selection for phenotypic and genetic improvement in beef cattle production.
Integrated grazing land systems for beef production
This project deals with development and characterization of integrated native rangeland, introduced perennial forage pastures and cropland management strategies for sustainable beef cattle production in the Southern Great Plains. Key components are soil health, grazing management, woody plant management, forage development, watershed health, wildlife management and agronomic practices.
William E. Pinchak, Ph.D.
Pinchak is a research animal nutritionist. He works on sustainable improvement in the efficiency of production from beef cattle systems in the Southern Great Plains.
Body Condition Score Charts for Beef Cattle
- Brahman Body Condition Score Charts
- Continental Cattle Body Condition Score Charts
- English Cattle Body Condition Score Charts
Team Members
- Doug Fulford, Technician II
Publications
See attached CV
Grants
- Grant #1