Aussie desert plant packs a protein punch
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 17-Jun-2026 00:16 ET (17-Jun-2026 04:16 GMT/UTC)
The drought-tolerant shrub affectionately known as Old Man Saltbush is mostly used as stock fodder, but can also be added to salads or cooking and has been enoyed by Indigenous Australian for thousands of years. Now, early research suggests it could be a healthy and sustainable alternative many more of us should be eating.
Change is afoot in the U.S. beef supply chain. More dairy cattle seem to be specifically bred to generate a calf to be sold as beef, but so far documentation for the trend is mostly anecdotal.
In an invited talk at the USDA’s 102nd Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, University of Tennessee agricultural economist Charles Martinez is poised to show the impact of beef on dairy crossed cattle on the U.S. beef supply chain and propose a new category for recording cattle market data: beef on dairy. Martinez says documenting this developing market will help industry analysts understand the true nature of the U.S. beef supply chain as well as the economic state of the beef and dairy industries.