Objectives
Youth who participate in the Husker Beef Lab experience will recognize and describe:
- How research animals are protected by research protocol and cared for as teaching animals
- The human nutritional benefits of beef as a source of complete protein
- The steps ranchers and livestock producers take from pasture to plate to assure beef is a safe and nutritious food
- How agricultural lands in Nebraska are suited for livestock producers and the benefits of livestock production to the state economy
Youth who participate in the Husker Beef Lab experience will investigate and recognize:
- The science of the rumen animal digestive system and the four compartments of the cow's stomach
- The science of plant structure, microfibrils and carbohydrates in cell walls and the role of photosynthesis in carb sequestration
- The rumen as a fermentation vat and the amount of bacteria, protozoa and fungi in the cow rumen
Learning Topics
Animal Well-Being: Animal research and care of teaching animals
Nutritional Aspects of Beef: A source of protein in human health
Pasture to Plate: A safe food product
Plant Structure: Plant Growth and Development
Ruminant Anatomy and Physiology: Surface area and papillae, Ph-buffering mechanisms, symbiotic relationships of cows and micro-organisms, plant and micro-organism interaction
Nebraska Agriculture: Ecosystems and Influence on Food Production and Economy