Animal Agriculture as Science

1. Animal Agriculture as Science AG-ASB-1 The student demonstrates the application of scientific processes in agricultural animal research and production. a. Discusses the advances made in American agriculture. b. Analyzes how agricultural research has benefited the consumer. c. Connects scientific discoveries in animal agriculture to increase production and efficiency within the industry. d. Explains scientific developments that have revolutionized animal agriculture. e. Identifies pharmaceuticals that are derived fromanimals and lists their uses.

2. How is animal agriculture a science? What advances have been made in American agriculture? How has ag research benefited consumers? How have scientific discoveries in animal ag increased production and efficiency in the industry? How have scientific developments revolutionized animal agriculture? What pharmaceuticals are derived fromanimals? List their uses.

3. What advances have been made in American agriculture? • Domestication of livestock • Tamed animals to ensure a more stable food supply • Land Grant Act or Morrill Act • Passed in 1862 to provide public land and funds for establishing universities to teach practical methods of manufacturing and producing food and fiber • University of Georgia in Georgia

4. United States Department of Ag (USDA) • Set up in 1862 to monitor the country’s agriculture production • Hatch Act • Bill passed in 1872 to establish experiment stations in different parts of the states that had land grant colleges to perform agricultural research • Smith-Lever Act • Set up in 1914 to create the Cooperative Extension Service to teach the public the information learned from the research at the experiment stations

5. Smith-Hughes Act • Bill passed in 1917 to establish ag classes in high schools to teach new methods of agriculture

6. How has ag research benefited consumers? • Scientific method • Systematic process of gaining knowledge through experimentation • Makes sure that the results of an experiment did not occur just by chance and that something caused the change • Compares control group (no treatment) versus an experimental group (treatment applied) • Basic research- investigates the why or how processes occur in plants and animals • Applied research- uses the knowledge gained in basic research to help in a practical manner

7. Scientific Method

8. Example- Does milking cows 2x a day versus 1x a day generate more milk? Control group- cows milked 1x a day Experiment group- cows milked 2x a day All cows are of the same breed, same age, same stage of lactation, and same size Cows stay in the same type of environment, eat the same feed, consume the same amount of water and treated the same except for the number of times milked per day Any differences in milk production could then be attributed to the # of times milked per day

9. Ag Research Benefits to Consumers Resulted in abundance of animals for food Low prices for food Constant supply of affordable food Those citizens of countries that use scientific research to produce animals are the best fed and enjoy the highest standard of living in the world

10. How have scientific discoveries in animal ag increased production and efficiency in the industry since 1925? • Beef cattle weaning weights increased from 220 lbs to 482 lbs • We are now selling more the 2x the amount of beef • Result of selective breeding, better nutrition, and better control of parasites and diseases • More beef has lowered the cost of beef in grocery stores so that consumers can now afford to buy more beef

11. Sheep market weights have increased from 60 pounds to 130 pounds • Sheep production has changed from wool production to meat production • Dairy cow milk production has increased from 4189 lbs to 10,500 lbs • Number of dairy cows has reduced although milk production has stayed the same • Price for milk has decreased • Swine • Amount of feed to produce a 200 lb market hog has been reduced by 50 lbs • Average time to produce a 220 lb hog has been reduced from 170 to 157 days • Lower cost of production = less expensive pork in grocery stores

12. Poultry • Time for broiler chickens to reach market weight was cut in half from 15 weeks to 6 weeks • The amount of feed required per pound of gain was cut in half from 4 pounds to 1.75 pounds • Weight of broilers at marketing increased from 2.8 pounds to 4 pounds • Now can produce a heavier broiler in half the time on half the feed = less cost for consumer • Egg production per hen tripled on less feed • Market weight of turkeys increased on less feed in less time

13. How have scientific developments revolutionized animal agriculture? • Animal Immunization • Use vaccines to control most of the diseases that are contracted by ag animals • Refrigeration • Allowed for animals to be slaughtered anytime of the year • Meat could be stored for long periods of time • Meat could be distributed to everyone in the country and a larger supply of meat was needed

14. Artificial Insemination (AI) • Allows for the use of superior sires with superior genes and traits to be used to breed larger numbers of females • Almost any producer has access to the very best genes in the industry • Most dairy animals born are the result of AI • Embryo Transfer • One superior dam can produce many offspring in one year

15. Computers • Sped up the analyzing of data in research • Used to keep production records on animals • Formulate feed rations • Allows producers to access information through internet

16. What pharmaceuticals are derived from animals? List their uses. • Pharmaceutical- a substance that is used as a drug to make the life of a person better • Cortisone • Relieves suffering of people with arthritis • Made from the gallbladder of cattle • Insulin • Used to treat diabetes • Insulin from hogs resembles human insulin

17. Other health advances • Animal parts used for replacement parts in humans • Heart valves from pigs • Skins from pigs being used to treat humans who have received severe burns