Beef cattle are the most important livestock commodity in the agricultural economy of Texas. Feed manufacturing and packing plants also play a significant role in the total economy of Texas.
Feed is a major cost in cattle feeding.
Production, processing, and manufacturing of feed, along with the efficient use of feed by cattle, all contribute to the cost of cattle feeding. By producing a high-quality protein from these resources otherwise unusable by humans, cattle make a positive contribution to human nutrition, but they are inefficient compared with poultry or swine. Several factors contribute to this inefficiency, including shipping stress, low relative feed intake, poor utilization of certain feed ingredients, inefficient lean meat growth, and the production of excess fat. Increased efficiency of beef production has been accomplished through conventional research, but new technology must also be applied to make major advances in the economic efficiency of cattle feeding. The overall objective of the ongoing research program at Texas Tech is to improve the economic status of beef production in Texas and to develop basic knowledge for use in production of fed beef.