Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The committee met at the Easterday Farms Headquarters in Pasco Washington on July 29-30, 2013. Interactive guest presentations were provided by Greg Brandhorst, Tyson cattle procurement and Chairman of the Washington State Beef Commission; Brad McDowell, President of AB Foods (formerly Wash Beef) in Toppenish, WA; and Cody Easterday, of Easterday Farms. Noe Figaroa hosted an informative tour of the new Easterday Farms Feedlot. Brett Hess provided an administrators report including updates on NIFA/AFRI funding/priorities. The eight members present provided joint committee station reports from their respective states and Gary Sullivan also participated in the station presentations via conference call. Discussions of potential collaborations were conducted surrounding Project W-3177 that initiated on October 1, 2012. The 2014 annual meeting will be held in Nebraska and the committee also agreed to work on organizing a symposium at the 2015 Reciprocal Meat Conference also to be held in Nebraska. Dr. Gary Sullivan and Dr. Dustin Pendell were elected as the incoming Chair and Vice-Chair/Secretary, respectively.

Outcomes: At UC Davis (Oltjen), an evaluation of differing production management strategies of beef production in California resulted in ammonia emissions ranging from 98 to 141 g/kg HCW and carbon footprints of 10.7 to 22.6 kg CO2e/kg HCW. Within the British beef production cycle, the cow-calf phase was responsible for 69 to 72% of total GHG emissions with 17 to 27% from feedlot sources. Holstein steers that entered the beef production system as a by-product of dairy production had the lowest carbon footprint because the emissions associated with their mothers were primarily attributed to milk rather than meat production. For the Holstein system, the feedlot phase was responsible for 91% of the total GHG emission, while the calf-ranch phase was responsible for 7% with the remaining 2% from transportation. This simulation study provides baseline emissions data for California beef production systems and indicates where mitigation strategies can be most effective in reducing emissions. During the feedlot phase, use of BAA decreased NH3 emission by 4 to 9 g/kg HCW, resulting in a 7% decrease in NH3 loss from the full production system. Combined use of ionophore, growth implant, and BAA treatments decreased NH3 emission from the full production system by 14 g/ kg HCW, or 13%. The C footprint of beef was decreased by 2.2 kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e)/kg HCW using all the growth-promoting technologies, and the Holstein beef footprint was decreased by 0.5 kg CO2e/ kg HCW using BAA. Over the full production systems, these decreases were relatively small at 9% and 5% for Angus and Holstein beef, respectively. The growth-promoting technologies we evaluated are a cost-effective way to mitigate GHG and NH3 emissions, but naturally managed cattle can bring a similar net return to Angus cattle treated with growth-promoting technologies when sold at an 8% greater premium price. At CSU, researchers developed a methodology for detection of BSE Specified Risk Material in animal products. Additionally, developed antimicrobial interventions to reduce the likelihood of Salmonella contamination in raw poultry intended for use in the manufacture of frozen, not-ready-to-eat entrees. Provided food safety assistance for small meat and poultry processors through development and implementation of industry best practices. Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of FreshCase technology to extend the shelf-life of whole muscle pork and ground pork sausage and whole muscle beef and ground beef. Conducted a comprehensive consumer panel palatability rankings and establishing baseline tenderness of American lamb meat. Finally, researchers participated in national audits to determine the status of beef, pork and lamb quality in the United States. Scott Fausti (SDSU) studying uncertainty and risk with carcass quality; ability of market to communicate signals. Specific project Evaluating Grid Marketing Outcomes Over Time. They evaluated behavior related to the risk associated with the premium for carcass quality and price volatility. Greater price volatility = risk averse producers require greater premium on a grid to participate. Choice/Select spread sends mixed signals to sellers dependent on perceived cattle quality Grids generally strengthening over time, regardless of cattle quality. Outputs include 122 publications listed at end of this report plus a few highlights below: Rob Maddock (NDSU) Supplemented DDGS during grazing (all fed DDGS in the feedlot) Sup. = 0.6% of body wt. Supplemant resulted in lower WBSF (P=0.07. Only 30% of beef slaughtered as Kosher is sold that way and all experiences same Pre-harvest stress whether qualified or not. They found that those qualifying for Kosher were heavier muscled, with less marbling; much tougher (WBS), and had shorter sarcomere lengths. Antonio Faciola (UN-Reno) has used an in vitro fermentation system to evaluate different forages (evaluate fiber digestion, etc). Used 10 cattle with rumen cannulas (in situ). Omasal sampling technique (avoids problem of duodenal cannulas). Also studied Impact of canola meal vs soybean meal (they showed an increase in milk production). Mancini’s work (UCONN) showed that lipid oxidation decreased oxygen consumption, altered membrane permeability, and decreased metmyoglobin reduction. These lipid-mediated effects can influence beef color stability alter beef color. At Louisiana (Scaglia) steers’ ADG in forage versus feedlot systems ranged from 1.3 to 1.75 kg/d. A typical n-6/n-3 ratio was observed, i.e., 2.19-2.23 for samples from forage-fed steers and 10.55 for control (feedlot). The former also had significantly greater level of C18:2 cis 9 trans 11 and greater level of trans-vaccenic acid. Consumers of Asian ethnicity (n=112) participated in 2012 in the consumer panel. Asians most preferred grilling compared to skillet, roasting, or frying. Likewise, Asians most preferred medium and/or medium-well compared to other degrees of doneness of the rib-eye steaks. Regardless of the cooking method (1 or 2 sided grilling), there were no significant differences in acceptability scores for appearance, overall aroma, and overall flavor for all samples. When both populations (Latinos and Asians) are compared, grilling was the most preferred cooking method. There was a population effect in the acceptability ratings of all sensory attributes where Asians scored lower compared to Hispanics. A nationally representative sample was collected from 2,000 consumers who indicated they had eaten forage-fed beef in the past year was collected. A nationally representative sample size of 2,000 beef eaters from the general population was also collected. The survey was comprised of questions that elicited information regarding forage-fed beef consumers’ and general beef consumers’ attitudes, perceptions and behavior regarding forage-fed beef. The survey also included a conjoint experiment designed to elicit consumer preferences for selected beef product attributes. Four attributes were tested. These included product type, production source, product grade and price. Product type was tested at three levels, which included a grass-fed beef product with a USDA certification, a grass-fed beef product without a USDA certification, and a grain-fed beef product. Source was tested at three levels, including a locally produced product, a domestic product and an imported product. Grade was also tested at three levels including USDA select, choice, and prime. Price was tested at three levels, which include $2.99, $4.99 and $7.99 per pound. Preliminary results of the conjoint analysis indicates that the most preferred product is a locally produced forage-fed product with a USDA certification, prime cut, and priced at $2.99 per pound. In June 2012, the fourth year (grazing season) began with a new group of steers. Up to date, steers have been grazing summer pastures until November, with conserved forages being fed thereafter until the end of the year. This project evaluates year-round grazing systems that provide beef cattle producers in Louisiana the appropriate setting to compare to their own productions systems. Increasing interest and support of producers has improved the visibility of the Program. Activities The overall objectives of this project are to 1) Measure and improve beef quality, safety and value by assessing impacts of animal health, animal care, and processing management / production strategies. 2) Improve supply chain management, information transfer and value determination by examining strategies of information collection and dissemination. And 3) Determine factors influencing domestic and international consumer demand for U.S. beef. At WSU, Busboom and Nelson have conducted substantial work with regard to objective one. This includes assessing the impact of diet and aging on beef palatability, fatty acid composition, and aroma-active compounds contributing to beef flavor and off-flavor. Manuscripts related to in vitro and invivo studies of the effect of heat treatment and ensiling on survival of Taenia eggs were published. Studies showed that heat treatment and ensiling eggs for 28d independently eliminated infectivity to sheep. At Connecticut (Mancini), projects contributing to Objective 1 were completed to better understand raw and cooked meat color by determining the effects of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) on lactate dehydrogenase activity, NADH-dependent reductase, and non-NADH-dependent reductase metmyoglobin reduction. Mass spectrometric examination indicated that HNE can adduct to cysteine and histidine resides of LDH at pH 5.6. This interaction decreased NADH formation and metmyoglobin reduction, suggesting that lipid oxidation can inactivate enzymes involved in metmyoglobin reduction. At Nebraska (Calkins, Sullivan), a series of research projects were conducted contributing to Objective 1. Projects included exploration of new fabrication strategies for the beef forequarter, further investigation of the impact of feeding ethanol byproducts (distillers grains) to cattle on raw and cooked products, evaluation of natural antioxidant compounds to counteract increases in lipid oxidation due to animal diet, and assessment of the impact of antimicrobial sprays on steaks. Results were shared with the sponsoring companies, Nebraska publications, industry and professional meeting. At UC Davis (Oltjen) a partial life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted using a whole farm model to estimate GHG and NH3 emissions from representative beef production systems in California. They used the model to compare 1) Angus-natural, with no use of growth-enhancing technologies, 2) Angus implant, with ionophore and growth-promoting implant, 3) Angus-ß2-adrenergic agonists (BAA; e.g., zilpaterol), with ionophore, growth-promoting implant, and BAA application, 4) Holstein-implant, with growth implant and ionophore application, and 5) Holstein-BAA, with ionophore, growth implant, and BAA use. At KSU (Tonsor) studied Seven Beef Demand Drivers (see NCBA report). They are food safety, product quality and form, price, nutrition, health, social aspects, and sustainability. The most influential are safety; product quality and form; sustainability; social aspects. Of those the ones the industry can influence the most are safety; product quality and form. Also involved in E coli grant and evaluating the value of Information – USDA reports/surveys (e.g., no July cattle inventory report). Also studying mCOOL – no consumer demand response so cost = a net loss. Involved in Certification of Beef Tenderness – fact sheet. At CSU, (Belk, K. E.; Pendell, D. L.; Sofos, J. N.; Tatum, J. D.; Smith, G. C.; Nightingale, K. K.; Goodridge, L. D.) outputs included evaluation of the cost/benefit of traceability and assessment of its value in market-based programs; development of science-rooted strategies and technologies to reduce foodborne illness and improve the effectiveness of policies related to food safety and trade; enhancement of palatability, processing, and marketing of beef by studying instrument grading, beef flavor and tenderness technologies, and carcass fabrication strategies. Scott Fausti (SDSU) studying uncertainty and risk with carcass quality; ability of market to communicate signals. Specific project Evaluating Grid Marketing Outcomes Over Time. They evaluated behavior related to the risk associated with the premium for carcass quality and price volatility. Currently studying packer procurement practices & how they change as market conditions change. Milestone 1: Decision was made to organize a symposium at the 2015 RMC in Nebraska, June 14-17, 2015. Glynn Tonsor has made inquiries with AMSA and received a positive response. A draft outline of a symposium on The Impact of Social Issues on the US Beef Industry has been prepared and is under review by the W-3177 committee. Milestone 2: Potential International meetings were discussed but no decisions were made. Milestone 3: The results of this project are being used by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to promote economic, value-enhancing practices in the meat industry. Such work benefits beef producers as the demand for beef products is growing. Reports and ongoing work by Oltjen, Pendell, and Tonsor on the costs and benefits of animal identification systems were used by USDA in their decision to stop the NAIS program and in subsequent assessments shaping voluntary identification and traceability systems. The work with distillers grains will help to ensure quality is maintained and that food waste is minimized. Antimicrobial sprays have the potential to enhance the safety of pre-cut steaks. Industry adoption needs to be documented.

See attached.