Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Strengthens Research Partnerships in the Florida Cattle Industry
The Florida Cattle Enhancement Board continues to play a vital role in strengthening relationships between researchers and the Florida cattle industry. Through strategic funding and collaboration, the board supports research projects that directly benefit Florida ranchers and advance beef cattle genetics and performance.
We spoke with Rick Moyer, President of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, about the impact of the partnership between producers and researchers.
“So first of all, it’s been an awesome relationship. Thank goodness for the Cattle Enhancement Board. It’s done a lot of good for our industry as a whole,” Moyer said. “I think our relationship with the researchers has been awesome.”
Supporting Meaningful Beef Cattle Research
Each year, the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board reviews numerous research proposals aimed at improving herd health, genetics, and overall productivity. A board evaluates the applications and selects projects that offer the greatest potential impact for Florida’s cattle producers.
“You know, we get tons of applications that come in every year and then there’s a board that selects all that. But I think there’s a huge amount of respect for our researchers and vice versa,” Moyer explained. “They do the best they can to get as many of the important research projects as possible.”
This collaborative process ensures that research funding addresses real-world challenges facing Florida ranchers while maintaining scientific rigor.
University of Florida Brahman Project Shows Strong Progress
One standout initiative supported in part by cattle enhancement funds is the University of Florida Brahman Project. The program focuses on improving Brahman genetics, a critical breed in Florida’s climate and production systems.
“But I think the Brahman Project that the University of Florida has done, I think they’ve used some cattle enhancement funds and I’ve probably seen that more than any other project,” Moyer said.
He highlighted the measurable progress made in the UF herd. “The strides that they’ve made in their herd, they’ve got some really high-quality genetics that they’re working hard on and working on that tenderness and working on the marbling and disposition and gamut from phenotypically to genotype.”
By targeting traits such as marbling, tenderness, disposition, and genetic markers, the project aims to enhance both performance and beef quality. According to Moyer, the improvements have been noticeable and impactful.
“So that’s probably what I paid most attention to and seen the most progress with and I think they’ve done a great job doing it.”
Through continued collaboration and research funding, the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board remains a key driver of innovation and progress within the Florida cattle industry.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.