UC Davis CLEAR Center

Gene editing is transforming pork production, but is it safe for pigs and the people who eat them? Researchers are making sure the answer is YES. ✅ Organizations like the FDA want to ensure gene-edited livestock meet stringent safety standards before hitting the market, and they are enlisting the help of researchers at land-grant universities to provide robust datasets to help them make informed decisions. 👩🔬 This includes University of California, Davis researchers, Dr. Elizabeth Maga and Dr. Trish Berger, who are both leading a team set on studying gene-edited pigs at the molecular level. We've heard of the word "frankenfood" in headlines, but gene-editing isn't about creating fake food — it's about using science to create safe and sustainable foods. 🧟♂️ Full article: https://lnkd.in/gTvPHub4

This Earth Day, we’re celebrating the hands that care for the land every single day. 🌎 Meet Dave Mensink — a pig farmer who knows that protecting natural resources isn’t just about today… it’s about tomorrow. From soil health to water conservation, his commitment ensures that pig farming stays sustainable for future generations, including his own. Because for many farmers around the world, caring for the Earth isn’t just a fad. It isn’t just a trend. It’s a legacy. #EarthDay #PigFarming #sustainability

Happy #NationalRenderingDay! ♻️ 🐂 Instead of letting byproducts from livestock production go to waste, rendering transforms parts of the animal that doesn't make it to the supermarket, or as Dr. Frank Mitloehner says, "everything but the moo" — into useful products like cosmetics, heart valves, and other medical applications. Rendering might happen behind the scenes, but it's making a real difference in sustainability by reducing waste and contributing to the circularity of animal agriculture.

Hey cattle ranchers and dairy farmers! 👋 We're looking for fresh, boots-on-the-ground perspectives to help shape this year's conversation on livestock and methane. Your voice matters, and we want you to be part of the ongoing discussion. Let's talk real challenges and real solutions. 🐄 🐂 Scholarships are available to make it happen! Reach out to jproudman@ucdavis.edu for more information. 📩

What if we could curb methane production in the rumen of a cow even before it starts? Yes, cattle produce #methane, but it's actually the microorganisms in the rumen of their stomach that are responsible for methane production. 🦠 Feed additives mixed into #cattle feed can reduce methane made by the organisms in the rumen, but they're usually fed later in an animal's life. What if we fed additives when cattle were young — before those microbes can form? Funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Livestock Enteric Methane Emissions Reduction – Research Program (LEMER-RP), the UC Davis CLEAR Center will be looking at early-life intervention strategies that could alter the gut microbiome of young cattle fed methane-reducing feed additives which could make a measurable difference for farmers and ranchers. 🌎 🐂 PhD student, Madison Kindberg will be spearheading this research study at the University of California, Davis, and has written a fantastic article going over it in depth. It was recently featured in Progressive Cattle — give it a read if you haven't yet! Full article: https://lnkd.in/g-VwSs3i

Are you ready to lead the herd? 🐂 The Animal Science Department at the University of California, Davis is looking for their next Beef Barn Manager! This incredible role also works closely with our graduate students to ensure successful animal research trials. Apply by April 29 or share with your network. 👇 https://lnkd.in/gsFU4drF

Gene editing has opened up new possibilities for animal breeding, but is gene editing in pigs safe? 🐖 Through genetic modification, scientists can introduce desirable traits into #pig populations, such as increased resistance to disease or improved growth rates — key factors for a #sustainable food system and financially viable operation. Bridging the gap in gene editing research is incredibly important. That's why researchers like Dr. Elizabeth Maga and Dr. Trish Berger at the University of California, Davis, are building robust datasets from gene-edited pigs, studying whether modified traits are reliably passed on to the next litter and across multiple generations. 🧬 These findings will help the FDA make informed decisions on the safety of gene editing based on science driven data. See how UC Davis researchers are harnessing cutting-edge technology to help improve animal agriculture on the UC Davis CLEAR Center website. Full article: https://lnkd.in/gTvPHub4

We're looking forward to a lively panel on one of the most promising and complex climate solutions in animal agriculture! 🐄 🐂 Join Paul Wood AO at Global Methane Hub, Colin South, CEO of ArkeaBio™, David Aitken, Interim Chief Executive at Lucidome Bio, and John Hammond, Director of Research at The Pirbright Institute for a full discussion on what's working, what's not, and what's next for methane-reducing vaccines. 🔬 State of the Science Summit: Reducing Methane from Animal Agriculture 🗓️ May 19, 20 & 21 📍 ARC Ballroom at the University of California, Davis 🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/gAZNS6GY

A HUGE congratulations to Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson on this prestigious award! 👏

Seventy percent of ALL agricultural land is used to raise livestock, but what does this really mean? While this number may seem high, much of this land is unsuitable for growing crops for food. This is due to... Water scarcity 💧 Poor soil quality 🌱 Rocky terrain 🪨   Cattle on the other hand, are uniquely adapted to thrive in these challenging landscapes. They can convert inedible forage into high-quality protein, supporting a sustainable food system, while playing an important role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. 🐂   Instead of asking why livestock require so much land, perhaps we should be asking how we can best optimize the land used to feed a rapidly growing population. 💡