NEPCKarsten
Grass-Based
Milk and Livestock Research
Multiple benefits of
collaborative research and education activities among:
- researchers from multiple disciplines,
- institutions, producers, and processors
Fat
Characterization Initiative Phase I:
Implementation of Standard Laboratory Methods
Douglas D. Archibald, Heather D.
Karsten, Crop & Soil Sciences
Fatty Acid Profile Analysis
to Support Pasture & Grazing Research
Forage fatty acids
Milk fatty acids
Definitive Measurements for
Marketable Attributes
CLAs
Omega-3s
Saturated/Unsaturated
Shortcomings
Slow
(hours/sample)
Costly
(commercial labs:
$150 per milk sample!)
Fat
Characterization Initiative Phase 2:
Development
of Rapid Analytical Methods
Objective: develop a fat
characterization system suitable
for routine use by milk
producers
- fast & inexpensive
assay
- with an easily
understandable report
Expected benefits to
pasture-based producers:
- Data to support consumer
education & marketing claims
- Tool for producer-led
on-farm research
- Method to resolve disputes
about product authenticity
Penn
State researchers have studied how grazing management & plant species
influence unsaturated fats & vitamins (Karsten, Archibald, Engelhart,
Muller, & Patterson; Penn State)
Cows
that grazed vegetative leafy pasture
- higher milk production, protein, fat, CLA
& TVA
Hens
that foraged vegetative pastures, had egg yolks with
- more omega-3 fats on legumes vs. grass
- more vitamin E & A pasture than caged
hens
Pasture
Based Beef Systems for Appalachia
Scientists
at USDA ARS Beaver, WV Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center, Virginia
Tech, & West Virginia University are studying: production & marketing of grass-fed beef
-
seasonal dynamics of forage fatty acids
-
various pasture & stored feeding strategies
influence the fatty acid composition of
steers & beef
a) Research in numerous
locations on:
- preserving unsaturated fatty acids in stored forage
- grazing management practices & supplemental feeding
to elevate unsaturated fats, CLA, omega-3, vitamins
b) Consumer Education
Education Efforts:
- Jo Robinsons website: www.eatwild.com
- non-profit coalition web video about factory farms:
www.themeatrix.com
c) Pennsylvania
Association for Sustainable Agriculture 2004 consumer survey
found:
- over 60% of Pennsylvania consumers who regularly purchase
meat directly from farmer
make an extra effort to do so
- over 85% of these PA consumers pay more for local meat
Future
Research Needs
Future
Research Questions
human nutrition studies on
healthful fats, vitamins, other traits
develop low cost, efficient
fat characterization techniques
- quantify economic market value of
pasture-based products
identify ways to prevent
oxidation of unsaturated fats & associated off-flavors
identify ways to manage
stored feeds & supplemental
feeds to maintain beneficial nutritional
characteristics
Additional
Resources Needed & How the
Pasture Consortium Private Sector Can Help
Give feedback to academic researchers
Provide grass-based livestock products for use in research
Write letters of support for proposals
Develop a check-off program to generate funds for a producer-led
seed-grant program
State your research priorities to those who shape USDA and state DA
competitive research programs
USDA National Program Staff
USDA administrators at various levels
Secretary of Agriculture for your state
Legislators at state and national level
State your opinions about University research programs of interest to
administrators with resources to enhance those programs
USDA-ARS area directors
USDA-ARS research leaders
College of Agriculture research deans
Heads of University departments
Work
with groups with similar interests:
-
Pasture-based organic livestock producers
-
Non-profit farm and public or
environmental interest groups
-
PASA, Pennsylvania
Association for Sustainable Agriculture
-
groups that funded the
themeatrix.com website,