• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Department of Animal Science
  • Degrees and Programs
    • Undergraduate Programs
      • B.S. Animal Science
        • Production/Industry Option
        • Science Option
      • Undergraduate Certificate Programs
      • Undergraduate Honors Program
    • Graduate Programs
      • M.S. in Animal Science
      • M.S. in Physiology of Reproduction
      • M.S. in Animal Breeding
      • Master of Equine Industry Management
      • Master of Agriculture in Animal Science
      • Ph.D. in Animal Science
      • Ph.D. in Animal Breeding
      • Ph.D. in Physiology of Reproduction
      • Graduate Certificate Programs
    • Specialized Programs
      • Meat Science Program
    • High-Impact Learning Opportunities
      • Competitive Teams
    • Academic Advising
      • Contact an Advisor
    • Academic Resources
  • Admissions and Aid
    • Student Life
    • Scholarships and Financial Aid
    • Graduate Degrees Application Information
  • Research and Extension
    • Research
    • Extension and Programs
    • Animal Science Facilities
  • Get Connected
    • Department of Animal Science Calendar
    • Giving to Animal Science
  • About
    • Department Directory
    • Department Leadership
    • Department History
      • Historical Brands of Texas
      • Dr. Howard Hesby
    • Areas of Excellence
    • Department of Animal Science Awards
    • Strategic Plan
    • Animal Science on AgriLife Today
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Contact Us
Search

Angus VNR: Above and Beyond Nutrition

June 5th, 2020

All living things need specific amino acids, but people can’t synthesize all of them. No worries—cattle provide them by upcycling proteins from rough forage into nutrious beef.

“If you try and consume all of your amino acids or meet your amino acid requirements from a grain source like corn or sorghum, you’re going to have to over consume calories. And so that’ll contribute to obesity and those types of problems,” says Tryon Wickersham, Ruminant Nutritionist at Texas A&M University.

Enjoying those amino acids within the nutrient density of beef delivers more than a healthy diet.

“If we really want to look at pulling people out of poverty, one of the best things we can do is feed them well so they can get better education and then go contribute to their societies. And a challenge we have is in a lot of countries we have access to sufficient number of calories. There’s ample calories available for the people, but calories don’t really allow people or toddlers to grow and develop properly, ” says Wickersham.

Research shows U.S.-produced beef cattle contribute more of the proteins we need than they consume, and that kind of efficiency is good for the planet.

“The US is really efficient at producing beef. And the demand for beef is more global now than it ever has been. And so if we just said, ‘We’re done. We’re done producing beef, we don’t like the cost of it being produced in the United States.’ People are still going to demand the beef and we might produce it somewhere else where we don’t have the same controls over how the animals are produced. We can’t assure product quality and safety and might actually produce more negative effects on the environment across the globe,” says Wickersham.

Quality also plays a part in sustainability – providing the beef people want with greater efficiency.

“We do know that producing those higher quality products positively contribute to the economic sustainability of the beef industry as well as helping consumers from a social standpoint, get the products they actually desire and want to consume and enjoy consuming. So I think on those two fronts you’re definitely benefiting sustainability from a social and then from an economic,” says Wickersham.

Protein upcycling goes beyond nutrition. It’s an economic and sustainability benefit cattlemen can be proud of.

-30-

Via source, Bovine Veterinarian |Angus VNR: Above and Beyond Nutrition


Filed Under: Department Updates, Uncategorized

A member of
Texas A&M AgriLife

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service | Texas A&M AgriLife Research | Texas A&M Forest Service | Texas A&M AgriLife Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab | College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Degrees and Programs
  • Department Directory
Department of Animal Science

© 2023 Texas A&M University. All rights reserved.

  • Compact with Texans
  • Privacy and Security
  • Accessibility Policy
  • State Link Policy
  • Statewide Search
  • Veterans Benefits
  • Military Families
  • Risk, Fraud & Misconduct Hotline
  • Texas Homeland Security
  • Texas Veterans Portal
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Open Records/Public Information