Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Drives Critical Research in Cattle Industry
The Florida Cattle Enhancement Board continues to make a significant impact on the state’s cattle industry through its dedicated support of applied research. In a recent conversation with Dr. Todd Thrift from the University of Florida, he emphasized how essential the board’s funding has been to research efforts that directly benefit Florida cattle producers.
“Well our single largest funder I think behind USDA here at the University of Florida has been the Florida Cattle Enhancement Projects. They have been going for I don’t know eight or ten years now.”
The scope of the projects funded is extensive and covers both animal science and related fields like agronomy and environmental science.
“I’ve had quite a few funded. Most of our faculty have had several funded and they range from estrus synchronization, embryo transfer projects, projects looking at genes and gene markers for feed efficiency, for saturated fat composition, adaptability. It’s endless.”
“You go outside of animal science and they funded projects in agronomy where they’re looking at different grasses and forages which are a big piece of the puzzle. They’re looking at biosolids. They’re looking at fertilizer applications.”
The board also supports research into reproduction, genetic markers, and environmental adaptability, which are essential for the success of Florida’s unique Bos Indicus-influenced cattle herds.
“All of those things have been funded through this cattle enhancement. It’s been critical for us. A lot of this work this what we call applied research wouldn’t be able to be done because it’s the applied stuff that we do is not traditionally funded through USDA or NIH or some of the big more scientific funding organizations.”
The funding not only supports the science but strengthens the connection between researchers and Florida cattlemen.
“It’s also a direct oh lifeline so much to the cattlemen to where they can say hey this is what we’re interested in. You know and if you look at the cattle enhancement board and you look at the priorities that the Florida cattlemen have put forward on that, that’s the things we’re trying to work on.”
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.