Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the environmental impact and efficiencies of beef cattle with differing genetic potentials in the Great Plains.
Study Description: A 100-head cow-calf herd was simulated for 74 different land regions and six combinations of genetic potential within regions: large, moderate, or small mature size and high (24.2 lb/day) or low (17.6 lb/day) milk production. The simulation determined the average amount of feed required to maintain the herd. Land, water, and methane production were estimated for each combination of land use area and genetic potential. Weaning weight was estimated for each genetic potential to find resource use efficiency.
Average annual environmental impact per pound of weaning weight (WW) of a 100 head cow-calf herd with differing genetic potentials in the Great Plains
| Genetic potential1 | Grazing land (ac/lb WW) | Crop land (ac/lb WW) | Total land (ac/lb WW) | Drinking water (1000
gal/lb WW) |
Irrigation water (1000
gal/lb WW) |
Total water (1000
gal/lb WW) |
Methane (lb/lb WW) |
| Large weight
High milk |
0.0252 | 0.0022 | 0.0275 | 0.0066 | 0.1192 | 0.1258 | 0.3013 |
| Low milk | 0.0269 | 0.0022 | 0.0291 | 0.0068 | 0.1165 | 0.1233 | 0.3117 |
| Moderate weight
High milk |
0.0237 | 0.0022 | 0.0259 | 0.0065 | 0.1175 | 0.124 | 0.2939 |
| Low milk | 0.0253 | 0.0022 | 0.0275 | 0.0067 | 0.1145 | 0.1212 | 0.3017 |
| Small weight
High milk |
0.0221 | 0.0022 | 0.0243 | 0.0064 | 0.1155 | 0.1219 | 0.2851 |
| Low milk | 0.0237 | 0.0021 | 0.0258 | 0.0066 | 0.1127 | 0.1193 | 0.2917 |
1Weight (large, moderate, and small) was parameterized for each herd using data from regional surveys of cattle producers. Low lactation potential was designated 17.6 lb milk/day at peak lactation; high lactation potential was 24.2 lb milk/day at peak lactation.
The Bottom Line: Animals with greater energy requirements have larger environmental footprints. However, in environments where nutritional availability is not restricted, small, high milking cattle likely have the smallest environmental footprint per pound of weaned calf.
The full research report is available. Lakamp, A. D.; Aherin, D. G.; Larson, R. L.; Ciampitti, I. A.; Kopsa, C. J.; Weaber, R. L.; Bormann, J. M.; and Rolf, M. M. (2022) “Evaluation of Differing Genetic Potentials on Beef Cattle Resource Use in the Great Plains,” Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 8: Iss. 1. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.8223
