Across the united states, a large share of cattle entering the beef supply chain originates from dairy operations, due to the increasing useof beef sires on dairy cows

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded West Texas A&M University $300,000 under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (CFDA 10.310) on September 15, 2026.

The project compares gut microbiota and gene activity development in calves raised in dairy settings versus traditional beef production systems. The research examines digestive-tract bacterial communities and intestinal tissue gene expression to understand how early-life management practices on dairies and beef operations influence downstream cattle performance traits including growth, feed efficiency, and health. Results will inform future management strategies and research directions for raising healthy, productive cattle across diverse production systems.

Work is performed in Canyon, Texas, with a period of performance through September 14, 2028. The assistance type is a project grant.

These calves can grow and perform differently from cattle raised in traditional beef systems, with implications for production efficiency and overall system productivity. One likely reason for these differences is the early life environment: the nutrition, housing, and daily care calves receive long before they arrive at a feedlot. Those early conditions can shape how the GUT develops, including the communities of bacteria that are presentthere and how the animal's own genes are turned on or off in the intestine. Because the GUT is central to digestion, immunity, growth, and overall health, understanding how early life environments influence GUT development is important for improving animal health and consistency in beef production. This project will compare calves raised in typical dairy settings with those raised in traditional beef settings to see how their early environments change GUT biology and later life performance. We will examine several parts of the digestive tract to understand how the bacteria present interact with gene activity in intestinal tissues and then evaluate how these combined biological patterns relate to traits such as growth, feed use, and overall health. The results will give a clearer picture of how early management decisions made on dairies and beef operations can have lasting biological effects. Over time, this knowledge can guide future research and management strategies that help producers raise healthy, productive cattle across diverse production systems.