ASA, CSA and SSSA 2010 International Annual meeting, Oct. 31- Nov. 3, Long Beach, CA
What Grass-fed Means to Milk: Dutch Scientist to Speak at OSU This Monday (10/25) in 244 Kottman Hall at Ohio State University, Columbus.
What Grass-fed Means to Milk: Dutch Scientist to Speak at OSU This Monday (10/25) in 244 Kottman Hall at Ohio State University, Columbus.
Consumer markets for natural, forage-finished meat products are expanding in the U.S. As a result of this demand, some livestock producers are electing to finish animals on forages and market meat products directly to consumers. Results from our research show that forage-finished beef has a lower total and saturated fat content than beef from grain-finished. Forage-finishing increases the content of fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins in beef muscle. Forage-finishing also increases concentrations of cis-9 trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a potent anticarcinogen, and all omega-3 fatty acids. However, the forage species utilized for grazing during the finishing period will alter the concentrations of these important fatty acids in the beef muscle. Finishing cattle on legume species, alfalfa and cowpea, increased animal performance, dressing percentage, tenderness and consumer acceptability. Finishing cattle on grass species, bermudagrass and pearl millet, resulted in greater percentages of CLA. Our results show that forage-finished beef has similar tenderness and palatability to grain-finished beef but contains greater concentrations of desirable fatty acids and antioxidants for human health.
Anjo Elgersma, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
Dairy products in the diet – Changing societal drivers (e.g., landscape values, animal welfare) and consumer demands (e.g., tasty/healthy products) require systems that provide desired human foods produced through sustainable production processes. High-fat human diets, especially those rich in saturated fats, are often claimed to have detrimental effects on cardiovascular disease risk factors such as blood low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Dairy products contribute 15-20% of human intake of total fat, 25-33% of saturated fat and about 15% of dietary cholesterol.
Composition of milk fatty acids – During the last few decades, the fatty acid (FA) composition of milk has in many countries become less favourable, as unsaturated FA concentrations have declined. E.g., in the 1960’s, during summer the Dutch farm milk contained, on average, 15 g/kg CLA, but in 2001-2002 the average was 7 g/kg between June and August, and 5 g/kg in spring and autumn. This is due to an increased demand for energy in cows, and changed feeding and management practices, notably higher proportions of concentrates and silages in diets with less grazing.
Cow diets – There is a trend for cows to be kept indoors year round. In the Netherlands, this an issue for the political agenda; effects on milk production, landscape values, animal welfare and public opinion all play a role in the debate. Some economic analyses show benefits of grazing, as conserved feed is more expensive than fresh herbage. However, cows with very high milk yield potential cannot meet their energy requirements from grass alone, partly due to insufficient intake.
Strategies for improving milk composition – Milk from cows fed fresh green forage, especially in grazing systems, have a much higher unsaturated FA proportion than milk from silage-fed cows. Research outcomes will be presented. Grasslands thus offer considerable scope to help create product differentiation in increasingly competitive markets. Farmers from Dutch dairy cooperatives who produce milk from grazed grass now receive a premium payment in addition to the base milk price, so that primary producers can benefit from the higher market value at the end of the production chain. Dairy industries are eager to encourage their milk supplyers to produce milk with higher concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids, but when done in a natural way (through green herbage) this is correlated with an increase in CLA (C18:2 cis9,trans11) and vaccenic acid (C18:1 trans11).
Trans fatty acids, threats and opportunities
Dairy industries hesitate which way to go, as for marketing they fear penalties for elevated contents of trans fatty acids. Industries are therefore in search of alternatives such as protected omega-3 fatty acids in concentrate feed, that can escape rumen biohydrogenation. It can be questioned if this is a desirable development in view of farm incomes, sustainable land use, grassland management and animal welfare. Due to the penalty on trans fatty acids (in general) the current situation hampers rapid, large-scale improvement of the fatty acid composition of dairy products which is undesirable for consumers. Therefore a proposal for more specified terminology regarding trans fatty acids is urgently needed. This is of great societal and economic importance.
Dawn Thilmany, Ag and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, Ft.. Collins, CO
Producing livestock in grass-based systems may represent an innovative management strategy for a select group of producers whose land resources give them a comparative advantage in pasture systems. In addition to creating ecologic sustainability, however, producer-adopters must also understand the range of possible processing and market outcomes (including consumer preferences and public health issues) that have financial implications for the long-term viability of their operations. This presentation will overview the consumer motivations and values that have brought renewed attention to grassfed livestock production practices in the marketplace, including potential nutritional benefits, livestock welfare and handling practices. Special attention will be given to how values may be influenced by the marketing channels where consumers are buying their food (supermarket, health food stores, direct from producer).
William Clapham, Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center, USDA-ARS, Beaver, WV
Demand for pasture-based livestock products is strong and growing. American consumers perceive pasture-based products as having better nutritional profiles, potential human health benefits and are produced on farms where animal well-being is a top priority. Some of the demand for these products is met by US production, however a significant portion of the demand is met by imports. Three markets dominate food distribution in this country: direct/retail, industrial, and food service. Most pasture-based producers are small farmers that sell their product through direct marketing or local retailers. These seasonal production systems have been demonstrated in many parts of the country, however year-round production systems are needed to enter the large and lucrative industrial and food service markets. Obstacles hindering expansion of profitable pasture-based, beef production systems include: 1) seasonal calving that narrows the harvest window for pasture-based beef and impacts slaughter, processing and marketing schedules and 2) greater production and financial risks relative to other beef enterprises due to the need to manage livestock (and product inventory) over longer time periods. These and other production obstacles represent challenges and opportunities for the research community. Unfortunately, researchers are also challenged by institutional obstacles to pasture-based production research in the current fiscal environment. Some research institutions view pasture-based systems research as anachronistic and unworthy of support. However, pasture-based research requires sophisticated systems analysis and has the potential to contribute to the systems, agronomic and animal science literature and create opportunities for increased sales and profitability for US beef and milk producers.
Dairy products in the diet – Changing societal drivers (e.g., landscape values, animal welfare) and consumer demands (e.g., tasty/healthy products) require systems that provide desired human foods produced through sustainable production processes. High-fat human diets, especially those rich in saturated fats, are often claimed to have detrimental effects on cardiovascular disease risk factors such as blood low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Dairy products contribute 15-20% of human intake of total fat, 25-33% of saturated fat and about 15% of dietary cholesterol.
Composition of milk fatty acids – During the last few decades, the fatty acid (FA) composition of milk has in many countries become less favourable, as unsaturated FA concentrations have declined. E.g., in the 1960’s, during summer the Dutch farm milk contained, on average, 15 g/kg CLA, but in 2001-2002 the average was 7 g/kg between June and August, and 5 g/kg in spring and autumn. This is due to an increased demand for energy in cows, and changed feeding and management practices, notably higher proportions of concentrates and silages in diets with less grazing.
Cow diets – There is a trend for cows to be kept indoors year round. In the Netherlands, this an issue for the political agenda; effects on milk production, landscape values, animal welfare and public opinion all play a role in the debate. Some economic analyses show benefits of grazing, as conserved feed is more expensive than fresh herbage. However, cows with very high milk yield potential cannot meet their energy requirements from grass alone, partly due to insufficient intake.
Strategies for improving milk composition – Milk from cows fed fresh green forage, especially in grazing systems, have a much higher unsaturated FA proportion than milk from silage-fed cows. Research outcomes will be presented. Grasslands thus offer considerable scope to help create product differentiation in increasingly competitive markets. Farmers from Dutch dairy cooperatives who produce milk from grazed grass now receive a premium payment in addition to the base milk price, so that primary producers can benefit from the higher market value at the end of the production chain. Dairy industries are eager to encourage their milk supplyers to produce milk with higher concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids, but when done in a natural way (through green herbage) this is correlated with an increase in CLA (C18:2 cis9,trans11) and vaccenic acid (C18:1 trans11).
Trans fatty acids, threats and opportunities
Dairy industries hesitate which way to go, as for marketing they fear penalties for elevated contents of trans fatty acids. Industries are therefore in search of alternatives such as protected omega-3 fatty acids in concentrate feed, that can escape rumen biohydrogenation. It can be questioned if this is a desirable development in view of farm incomes, sustainable land use, grassland management and animal welfare. Due to the penalty on trans fatty acids (in general) the current situation hampers rapid, large-scale improvement of the fatty acid composition of dairy products which is undesirable for consumers. Therefore a proposal for more specified terminology regarding trans fatty acids is urgently needed. This is of great societal and economic importance.
Dawn Thilmany, Ag and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, Ft.. Collins, CO
Producing livestock in grass-based systems may represent an innovative management strategy for a select group of producers whose land resources give them a comparative advantage in pasture systems. In addition to creating ecologic sustainability, however, producer-adopters must also understand the range of possible processing and market outcomes (including consumer preferences and public health issues) that have financial implications for the long-term viability of their operations. This presentation will overview the consumer motivations and values that have brought renewed attention to grassfed livestock production practices in the marketplace, including potential nutritional benefits, livestock welfare and handling practices. Special attention will be given to how values may be influenced by the marketing channels where consumers are buying their food (supermarket, health food stores, direct from producer).
William Clapham, Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center, USDA-ARS, Beaver, WV
Demand for pasture-based livestock products is strong and growing. American consumers perceive pasture-based products as having better nutritional profiles, potential human health benefits and are produced on farms where animal well-being is a top priority. Some of the demand for these products is met by US production, however a significant portion of the demand is met by imports. Three markets dominate food distribution in this country: direct/retail, industrial, and food service. Most pasture-based producers are small farmers that sell their product through direct marketing or local retailers. These seasonal production systems have been demonstrated in many parts of the country, however year-round production systems are needed to enter the large and lucrative industrial and food service markets. Obstacles hindering expansion of profitable pasture-based, beef production systems include: 1) seasonal calving that narrows the harvest window for pasture-based beef and impacts slaughter, processing and marketing schedules and 2) greater production and financial risks relative to other beef enterprises due to the need to manage livestock (and product inventory) over longer time periods. These and other production obstacles represent challenges and opportunities for the research community. Unfortunately, researchers are also challenged by institutional obstacles to pasture-based production research in the current fiscal environment. Some research institutions view pasture-based systems research as anachronistic and unworthy of support. However, pasture-based research requires sophisticated systems analysis and has the potential to contribute to the systems, agronomic and animal science literature and create opportunities for increased sales and profitability for US beef and milk producers.