Grass finishing of Criollo cattle can provide an environmentally preferred and cost effective meat supply chain from United States drylands

José P. Castaño-Sánchez, C. Alan Rotz, Matthew M. McIntosh, Cindy Tolle, Craig A. Gifford, Glenn C. Duff and Sheri A. Spiegal

Agricultural Systems, 2023, vol. 210, issue C

Abstract: The southwestern United States is experiencing an increasingly warmer and drier climate that is affecting cattle production systems of the region. Adaptation strategies are needed that will not compromise environmental quality or profitability. Options include the use of desert-adapted beef cattle biotypes, such as Rarámuri Criollo cattle, and crossbreds of Criollo with more traditional British breeds. Currently, most calves raised in the Southwest are grain finished, often with irrigated crops produced in the hydrologically-threatened Ogallala Aquifer region. A viable alternative may be grass finishing with the rainfed forage of the arid and semi-arid rangeland of the Southwest or in the temperate grasslands of the Northern Plains.

Keywords: Beef production; Meat supply chain; Criollo cattle; Grass finishing; Grain finishing; Environmental footprints (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agisys:v:210:y:2023:i:c:s0308521x23000999

DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103694

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