Alabama Livestock Research Report 2023

Abstract

Almost $450 million worth of cattle and calves were sold in Alabama last year, generating a $2.5 billion impact. Hay and haylage production resulted in a value of $235 million to producers supporting the cattle and horse industries. Over $8 million worth of pork was marketed and $7 million of dairy products was generated in the state. With 47,000 meat goats, the state ranks 8th in goat production. Animal agriculture is alive and well in Alabama. At a time when the world population continues to grow, there is a greater demand for high‐quality animal protein. However, with population growth resulting in more urban sprawl, fewer land resources are available to meet the food and animal production needs. This increases the need for basic and targeted food animal research programs to provide technology that increases the efficiency of food animal production systems. The Department of Animal Science faculty and staff are answering this call by working synergistically in the development of research and extension programming across the state. Multidisciplinary programs are being developed, implemented, and delivered to meet the needs of stakeholders (both food animal producers and food animal consumers) across the state, region, nation, and world. Thus, it is with great pleasure that we present to you the second edition of the Alabama Livestock Research Report. Building upon the success of our first publication, this edition continues to serve as a comprehensive overview of the research and outreach initiatives developed in the Department of Animal Sciences at Auburn University. This publication combines reports from faculty, staff, and graduate students on campus and Experiment Stations. We provide in-depth information on our research programs, which incorporate growth biology, reproductive physiology, nutrition, genetics, meat science, animal health, management, and production practices into a comprehensive program. Additionally, we showcase our outreach activities and partnerships with industry stakeholders. We are proud to say that this report and research are made possible thanks to the financial support of funding agencies, organizations, and stakeholders who believe in the value of our work. Thank you to the faculty, students, and staff that contributed to this publication. Together, we can continue our mission of improving the lives of livestock producers and enhancing the sustainability of the livestock industry in Alabama and beyond. We invite you to explore our findings, learn about our progress, and engage with us as we work together to build a brighter future for our state’s agriculture. Should you have any questions about the research reported in this publication, do not hesitate to contact us or any of the authors of the individual reports. Sincerely, L. Wayne Greene Professor and Head Department of Animal Sciences 210 Upchurch Hall, Auburn Univ, AL 36849 greenlw@auburn.edu