Why We Need a Ruminant Revolution: Combating Malnutrition and Metabolic Illnesses to Enable Sustainable Development

Animal source foods (ASF) are essential for proper human development and function. Livestock in general, and ruminants in particular, are essential components of our sustainable global food systems. Of significant worldwide impact, diets with higher-than-recommended levels of ASF can correct the symptoms of metabolic illnesses, offering hope in arresting the current worldwide epidemic of diabetes and other metabolic diseases. Most dietary policy and recommendations are based on the ill-founded belief that plant-based, high-carbohydrate diets are “healthy.” High-quality scientific evidence does not support the belief that vegetarian diets are healthier than omnivorous or animal-based diets. A Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction (TCR) lifestyle approach has demonstrated its efficacy in reversing Insulin Resistance (IR) and the non-communicable diseases associated with, or caused, by it. True sustainability is a multifaceted topic consisting of societal, economic, and ecological aspects. The enormous suffering and financial costs of chronic illness must be acknowledged. The production of high-quality animal protein and animal fat by ruminants from feed resources humans cannot directly utilize will be fundamental to feeding a growing population. This essential food production can preserve and enhance the diverse environments where it takes place. We need a revolution in our thinking of what constitutes a healthy diet, of what causes chronic illness, of the vital role that animal product play in the human diet, and the essential nature of ruminant animal agriculture in meeting humanity’s needs. This will mean overthrowing established policies and institutions, and confronting vested belief systems. We’ll need an effort, analogous to the Green Revolution, to develop and deploy the knowledge and technology necessary to meet the needs of the mid-21st Century world

Creating an International Forage and Grasslands Curriculum

Grasslands cover nearly 2/3 of the land masses of the world and make up 1/4 of the earth\u27s surface. Although various regions of the world have different names for their grasslands, common management principles govern maintaining and improving these lands for the food production and environmental services they provide. There is much talk today about “finding the balance between environmental protection and economic development” but there is little evidence of knowledge about grassland ecosystems being translated into effectively implemented policies designed to restore degraded grasslands. In contrast, there are many examples of the tragic consequences of economic development rather than biological capacity driving decision-making. Historically, people were connected with the land and understood the soil, plant, animal, human “circle of life.” This understanding led to appropriate management. Today, the vast majority of the developed world has little understanding of these natural processes and increasing percentages of the developing world live in cities and are disconnected from the natural ecosystems that service them. Even those few studying agricultural sciences have little appreciation for the scope and diversity of grasslands present in the world. Far fewer have an understanding of the importance of grasslands management principles and needed supporting policies. Thus, there is a need for teaching materials that can be used worldwide to convey the importance and proper management of grasslands and forage-livestock systems

Grass Breeding to Improve Fiber Quality

This presentation was given at the 2017 PRO-DAIRY Winter Forage Meetings.PRO-DAIR