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The first National Livestock Association is made in the U.S. This is an important livestock association as it advocates for the interest of cattle ranchers. -
The U.S. Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) is made in 1884 to protect the animal industry. More specifically it fights for the value of health in American agriculture or food production. For example it tries to eliminate diseases in animals by enforcing animal welfare laws. -
The first recorded case of Texas cattle fever is caught. This tick-borne protozoan parasite was detrimental for the industry as a large portion as cattle suffered, and as a result the economy of the cattle industry did too. This led to more disease control in the industry. -
The Beef Trust controversy arose in 1898 due to dominating meat packaging companies giving the Army rotten canned beef during the Spanish American war. This caused a outrage and lots of mistrust. -
The Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act were passed in 1906. This was to enforce safer and cleaner meat processing after Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle exposed facilities to the public. -
The Smith-Lever Act establishes the Cooperative Extension Service which offers research based information on livestock management. -
The first use of artificial insemination on dairy cattle in 1923 is a revolutionary step for the breeding industry in general and specifically in dairy cattle. -
The U.S. Department of Agriculture starts cattle breed improvement programs that are supposed to help genetic traits like milk production, disease resistance, and growth rate through selective breeding practices like AI. -
The American Quarter horse association is founded in 1948. This associations purpose is to promote quarter horse breeding, and keep official records of numbers and registry. -
The first successful frozen semen AI in cattle happened in 1962 which revolutionized breeding as it allowed for long distance breeding. It also created more options for better genetics as it was more available. -
In 1967 the USDA introduced federal meat grading standards. The purpose of this was to enforce consistent quality in the meat supply. -
The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act is signed in order to legally protect wild horses and burros due to their historic symbolism. -
The National Dairy Promotion and Research Board is made to help build demand in the market through marketing and research for dairy farmers. -
In 1996 the very first cloned sheep is born and her name is Dolly. Dolly, being the first mammal cloned from an adult cell, opened the door to potential in cloning for livestock production. -
The first case of Mad Cow Disease or Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy was reported in 2003. It is a neurodegenerative and often fatal disease. This was a devastating time in the industry as exports and consumption went down. -
The FDA approves the first genetically modified salmon safe to eat which was a pathway for other genetically altered foods to be passed. -
Researchers make the first cultured beef burger after lots of technological advancements in lab growing meat. This marked the beginning of lab gown alternatives for meat and protein. -
The USDA adds the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Rule to add more regulations to improve animal welfare. -
California’s Proposition 12 goes into effect in 2021 in order to have a important list of housing needs for animal welfare purposes. These practices are important because the housing requirements were basic humane necessities for the animals. -
Precision livestock farming is an idea that technological advancements in things like AI and loT that work towards reaching peak livestock production on a farm. This has allowed for farms cross the word to reach optimal efficiency.