Improving nitrogen usage efficiency to reduce the environmental impact of beef cattle

Abstract

Any animal operation that lacks proper nutrition, feeding management and waste-disposal program has the potential to pollute the environment. In this regard, animals are fed inadequate nutrient amounts, that are not used efficiently for production (e.g., meat and milk), large quantities of the nutrients may be excreted and potentially contributing to environmental degradation. In this scenario one may consider that Brazil and Australia together have nearly 17% of world's cattle stocks (mainly beef cattle, FAOSTAT, 2016). Which means that the beef cattle production system may have global economic and environmental impact. In this sense, both institutions have been conducting studies to enhance the understand the underlying mechanisms of feed efficiency in beef cattle. We intend to offer joint disciplines in the graduate program of UNESP, what will benefit all graduate students of the graduate program. Moreover, we will promote seminars to focus in specific methodological issues. This initiative will provide the opportunity for deepening the discussion research findings in manuscripts under preparation, what will play an important role in disseminating the results in high-quality publications. Ultimately, we intend to build joint research proposal to be submitted to research funding agencies at timing opportunity to create a medium-long-term collaboration. (AU)