Department Updates

From the Ground Up: Ground Beef Demand Surges During Pandemic

From the Ground Up: Ground Beef Demand Surges During Pandemic

July 6th, 2020

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) -It’s safe to say that most of us have eaten more at home than normal during the outbreak of the coronavirus and that has been challenging for some folks that just don’t cook a lot. But, apparently ground meat doesn’t intimidate inexperienced cooks like some meat cuts do. “We have turned into…

Texas A&M AgriLife Study Targets Contamination Hotspots In Food Processing

July 6th, 2020

By Kay Ledbetter, Texas A&M AgriLife Communications Understanding foodborne pathogen pathways will lead to greater food safety. Food safety through a greater understanding of the contamination “hotspots” in our food supply chain, particularly meat, is a priority for a new Texas A&M AgriLife Research study. Sapna Chitlapilly Dass, a meat science research assistant professor in the Texas…

Fencing considerations for goats

July 6th, 2020

Goats with horns and wire hog panels don’t mix. Inevitably, the goat sticks its head through the panel to reach a tasty morsel on the other side, and when it pulls back, its horns prevent it from pulling its head out. During a presentation on Keeping goats in and predators out, Reid Redden, Texas A&M…

Food safety tips when grilling, cooking outdoors

July 1st, 2020

Proper cleaning is key to avoiding foodborne illness from grate to plate Cleaning grill grates, keeping a clean workspace, and properly storing and preparing meats are all important to maintaining food quality and avoiding foodborne illness, said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts A clean grate is a great start Davey Griffin, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension meat specialist…

Mom was right about not touching slime; researchers looking at pathogens in food facilities

Mom was right about not touching slime; researchers looking at pathogens in food facilities

June 10th, 2020

By Coral Beach on June 9, 2020 New research underway seeks to determine how and where bacteria hide in food processing plants so that they can be eliminated, to the benefit of public health and the bottom line of food companies. The project involves scientists at Texas A&M, Stanford University, and the USDA’s Agricultural Research…

Angus VNR: Above and Beyond Nutrition

Angus VNR: Above and Beyond Nutrition

June 5th, 2020

All living things need specific amino acids, but people can’t synthesize all of them. No worries—cattle provide them by upcycling proteins from rough forage into nutrious beef. “If you try and consume all of your amino acids or meet your amino acid requirements from a grain source like corn or sorghum, you’re going to have…

Texas 4-H makes additional preparations for safe summer camps

June 3rd, 2020

Additional cleaning, mobile check-in, limiting equipment use among enhanced safety measures The Texas 4-H Conference Center in Brownwood is making changes to its various summer camps as a means to protect attendees and camp workers from the coronavirus. Texas 4-H is the youth development component of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, an educational outreach…

Two ANSC grads re-appointed to TAHC

Two ANSC grads re-appointed to TAHC

June 2nd, 2020

On May 4, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott appointed two new Commissioners to the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), Jimmie Ruth Evans representing the sheep and goat industry and Melanie Johnson, Ed.D., representing the general public. The governor also reappointed Kenneth “Ken” Jordan representing livestock markets, Barret J. Klein representing the swine industry, Joe Leathers representing…

2020 Dairy Max scholarship awarded to #tamuansc Dairy Science Club member

June 2nd, 2020

JUSTIN, Texas — Nicole Koke of Dublin, Texas, is a 2020 Dairy MAX scholarship recipient because of her outstanding scholastic achievement, leadership and achievement in agriculture. Koke is one of four students with dairy roots receiving a $2,500 scholarship from Dairy MAX. Dairy farmers not only produce a nutritious food for the world, but play…

Cattle fever tick numbers on the rise

May 28th, 2020

AgriLife experts warn of ticks’ potential negative economic impact Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are working to help thwart the spread of cattle fever. An announcement from the Texas Animal Health Commission, TAHC, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program, USDA-CFTEP, that cattle fever tick…