Dr. Kristina Horback, an associate professor in the Department of Animal Science at University of California, Davis, has always been fascinated by the lives, and more specifically the minds of cattle. Growing up in the Bay Area, she would travel past ranches, captivated by the sight of cattle grazing on distant hills, and often wondered how these animals navigated the expansive rangelands.

“I was always curious about why the cows were up there on the hill or why they were down the hill,” said Dr. Horback.

Every year, ranchers, researchers, policy makers, and industry leaders gather for the most anticipated event of the year: CattleCon. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is the organizer of the annual conference and trade show, which is the largest cattle industry event in the country.

As the climate crisis intensifies, reducing global greenhouse gas emissions has become an urgent priority that requires immediate and sustained action. Methane, one of the greenhouse gases, is particularly of concern with its strong ability to trap heat in the atmosphere.

By Amy Quinton

Published on UC Davis.

Billing their show as “ag like you’ve never seen or heard it before” and the place “where food news and pop culture collide,” millennials and farmers Natalie Kovarik and Tara Vander Dussen are in cyberspace each week with provocative, enlightening and entertaining convos that shed light on the what, the where and the how of our food supply. 

By Emily C. Dooley

Published on UC Davis, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Not all cattle are the same when it comes to grazing. Some like to wander while others prefer to stay close to water and rest areas. 

By Frank Mitloehner

Published on Progressive Cattle.

California’s cattle ranchers contribute a significant amount to the region’s culture, economy and food supply, but do they also inadvertently help to temper the wildfires that have been plaguing the state? And if so, is it a better alternative – environmentally speaking – to letting grasslands burn?