CLAYTON – Forty years ago on
Oct. 10, 1978, New Mexico State University’s Clayton Livestock Research Center
began operations.
DATE: 09/24/2018
WRITER: Jane Moorman,
505-249-0527, jmoorman@nmsu.edu
CONTACT: Glenn Duff, 575-374-2566, glennd@nmsu.edu
Since then, as one of the few university feedlot research facilities in the
nation, pertinent science-based research has been conducted to improve the
health and performance of newly received beef cattle, including nutrition, and
management to slaughter. In addition, the facility has a 120 -acre center pivot
for conducting research with winter wheat.
The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences will celebrate
the work that has been conducted at the facility with an open house beginning
at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13. Lunch will be served, followed by a program.
“It’s important to showcase what we have been doing at this facility and then
talk about the future,” said Glenn Duff, NMSU professor and superintendent of
the research center. “We know it is a busy time of the year for cattlemen, so
the event will only be about two-and-a-half hours.”
Consuelo Sowers, farm ranch supervisor for the facility, is compiling research
data from the past 40 years on health and performance of newly-received cattle.
An analysis of the trends will be presented during the celebration.
“We are proud that several management decisions in the feedlot industry and
recommendations in the Nutrient Requirement of Beef Cattle are the result of
research here at the Clayton Livestock Research Center,” Duff said.
While looking back at the research, the past superintendents will be recognized
for their leadership through the years.
“We’ve invited several of the past superintendents” Duff said. “Hopefully they
will attend and share their memories of their time here.”
During the 1970s, cattlemen from across the state helped promote the need for
this type of research facility.
In 1972, the New Mexico State Legislature first appropriated funds for the
construction and operation of the center. A special use permit was approved by
the Cibola National Forest in 1973 and 1975 for the construction on 320 acres
of the Kiowa National Grassland within its jurisdiction. Construction began in
1975.
Research pens, with a capacity of approximately 960 head were constructed from
pipe, with fence line concrete feed bunks. The facility includes cattle
handling equipment in an enclosed barn including a working chute system, scales
for weighing individual animals and a loading chute and scales for weighing
trucks or groups of cattle.
Through the years, upgrades have been made include a “Bud Box” design cattle
handling system for truly low stress handling conditions. Recently, the feedlot
water troughs were replaced with a heated water system.
Construction of the feed mill was completed in December 1978. It provides
storage of feed ingredients, contains a steam flaker and dry roller for grains
and mixing of experimental diets. The roughage boxes were recently upgraded
with funds from the Agricultural Experiment Station.
Forty years later, the feed mill is in operation as is the center-pivot
irrigation system on 120 acres, which is currently being used for research.
“We have recently planted winter wheat on this field,” Duff said. “We will be
evaluating preconditioning or value added programs on health and performance of
the newly-received calves in this field.”
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