Challenge Accepted?

There are multiple factors at play and many cattle ranchers must consider many things when running their operation. Today’s beef is produced using fewer resources than ever before, but there is still more to be done. Through this challenge, students will become more aware of the intricacies of beef production. After thoughtful research to evaluate how these challenges exist globally, nationally, and locally, students will design, test, and demonstrate a solution that optimizes production as well as economic, environmental, and social needs.

Identify a Problem

According to the United Nations, it’s estimated there will be nearly 10 billion people on Earth by 2050.1 That’s three billion more mouths to feed than exists today, which means more food will need to be raised and grown to meet the food demands of a growing population. People around the world consume beef, particularily in the United States, because it has 10 essential nutrients, such as protein and iron, that are important requirements in our diets.2 Cattle ranching families have to balance maintaining a profitable business that complies with current regulations with producing a safe and affordable product for a growing population, while at the same time, caring for the land and environment.

Challenge Question

How can we, as cattle ranchers, raise beef cows in a way that balances production as well as economic, environmental, and societal needs?

This system must address the following needs:

• Production as well as economic, environmental, and societal needs

Success will be determined by:

• Construction of a model of a cattle ranch (either cow-calf or stocker/backgrounder) that addresses best practices in the following areas:
  • Beef cattle health/welfare
  • Land and environmental management
  • Beef cattle nutrition
  • Costs of production
• Grazing plan
• Producing and sharing a presentation that communicates knowledge gained