Challenges in Sustainable Beef Cattle Production: A Subset of Needed Advancements

Jason A. Hubbart (), Nathan Blake, Ida Holásková, Domingo Mata Padrino, Matthew Walker and Matthew Wilson
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Jason A. Hubbart: Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, West Virginia University, Agricultural Sciences Building, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Nathan Blake: Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, West Virginia University, Agricultural Sciences Building, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Ida Holásková: Office of Statistics and Data Analytics, West Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, West Virginia University, 1194 Evansdale Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Domingo Mata Padrino: Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, West Virginia University, Agricultural Sciences Building, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Matthew Walker: Office of Statistics and Data Analytics, West Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, West Virginia University, 1194 Evansdale Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
Matthew Wilson: Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, West Virginia University, Agricultural Sciences Building, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA

Challenges, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Estimates of global population growth are often cited as a significant challenge for global food production. It is estimated that by 2050 there will be approximately two- billion additional people on earth, with the greatest proportion of that growth occurring in central Africa. To meet recommended future protein needs (60 g/d), approximately 120 million kg of protein must be produced daily. The production of ruminant meat (particularly beef cattle) offers the potential to aid in reaching increased global protein needs. However, advancements in beef cattle production are necessary to secure the industry’s future sustainability. This article draws attention to a subset of sustainable beef cattle production challenges, including the role of ruminant livestock in meeting global human protein needs, the environmental relationships of advanced beef cattle production, and big data and machine learning in beef cattle production. Considering the significant quantities of resources necessary to produce this form of protein, such advancements are not just a moral imperative but critical to developing advanced beef cattle production practices and predictive models that will reduce costs and liabilities and advance industry sustainability.

Keywords: beef cattle production; sustainability; environmental change; environmental biophysics; big data; machine learning; forage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A00 C00 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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