Explainers

An anaerobic digester is an air-tight enclosure wherein enzymes and microorganisms convert the biodegradable organic matter contained in the manure into biogas and new microbial cells.

In recent years, new management strategies on dairy farms have cooked up solutions that allow us to make a cheeseburger relying on the dairy industry alone, which carries benefits for people, producers, and the planet.

The lifecycle of a hog depends upon the sex of the animal. Given 90 percent of modern hog operations use artificial insemination, most male pigs are raised for meat production, while female pigs are evaluated to be used as breeding stock.

Pork is one of the most widely consumed proteins in the United States, along with chicken and beef. And it’s big business in the United States, with U.S. pork exports through September 2022 totaling $5.6 billion. Production of this versatile, affordable protein has come under scrutiny in recent years and leaves people asking how pork is raised.

Simply put, land use refers to how we use the land. It represents the economic and cultural activities such as agricultural, residential, industrial, mining and recreational use with respect to human activity and is an important consideration when discussing the sustainability of the foods we eat.

How do California dairy farms manage their water to make the most of this precious resource during these years of drought and keep their cattle healthy and productive?

Mitloehner lab Ph.D. student Sebastian Mejia Turcios explains the many moving parts that bring beef to our tables in America.

Mitloehner lab Ph.D. student Alice Rocha, M.S. explains why GWP* better measures the short-lived nature of methane in the atmosphere and why it is important to measure methane correctly.

Mitloehner lab graduate student Conor McCabe. M.S., explains why dairy nitrogen management can have major economic, environmental, and human health implications

Mitloehner lab Ph.D. student Conor McCabe, M.S. explains what constitutes a dairy cow diet and the many ways they upcycle byproducts into high-quality nutrition.