Knowledge System - Southwest Beef

The Southwest Beef Knowledge System is a synthesis of data and knowledge developed by the Sustainable Southwest Beef Project. To learn more, click on the each of the hotspots (purple targets) for more information!

Beef supply chains comprise a diversity of actors, including input suppliers; ranchers, stockers, feedlot operators; transport and storage specialists; processors; wholesalers and retailers; consumers; and governance and support institutions.

Featured Content

Tools for the Beef Industry (TOBI)

Tools for the Beef Industry (TOBI) is a decision support tool toolshed, designed to make it easier to quickly search and compare tools from across the web, published be a variety of different developers.

Supply Chain Options for Beef Cattle from the Southwestern U.S.

There are three main supply chains for cattle from the Southwest: grain finishing in the Southern Plains, grass finishing in the Northern Plains, or grass finishing in the Southwest. Each supply chain has different total costs and timelines as well as environmental impacts including water, carbon, energy, and nitrogen footprints. These impacts also vary based on the breed of cattle being produced.

Sustainability in Beef Supply Chains: Come Rain or Shine Podcast

A discussion around sustainability challenges and opportunities within the U.S. beef supply chain. Our guest for this episode is Dr. Sheri Spiegal, a rangeland scientist with the Jornada Experimental Range and Co-PI of the Sustainable Southwest Beef Project. Dr. Spiegal shares insights with us from her ongoing research on beef supply chains, tradeoffs, and producing “socially acceptable beef.”