Challenges and Opportunities for Expanded Production of Pasture Based Livestock Products.

Demand for pasture-based livestock products is strong and growing. American consumers perceive pasture-based products as having better nutritional profiles, potential human health benefits and are produced on farms where animal well-being is a top priority.  Some of the demand for these products is met by US production, however a significant portion of the demand is met by imports.  Three markets dominate food distribution in this country: direct/retail, industrial, and food service.  Most pasture-based producers are small farmers that sell their product through direct marketing or local retailers.  These seasonal production systems have been demonstrated in many parts of the country, however year-round production systems are needed to enter the large and lucrative industrial and food service markets. Obstacles hindering expansion of profitable pasture-based, beef production systems include:  1) seasonal calving that narrows the harvest window for pasture-based beef and impacts slaughter, processing and marketing schedules and 2) greater production and financial risks relative to other beef enterprises due to the need to manage livestock (and product inventory) over longer time periods.  These and other production obstacles represent challenges and opportunities for the research community.  Unfortunately, researchers are also challenged by institutional obstacles to pasture-based production research in the current fiscal environment.  Some research institutions view pasture-based systems research as anachronistic and unworthy of support.  However, pasture-based research requires sophisticated systems analysis and has the potential to contribute to the systems, agronomic and animal science literature and create opportunities for increased sales and profitability for US beef and milk producers.