Department Updates

Noted animal welfare expert Ted Friend to retire after 38 years at Texas A&M

May 30th, 2015

Writer: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, [email protected] COLLEGE STATION – For 38 years, Dr. Ted Friend has walked up and down the stairs of the Kleberg Animal Science Building at Texas A&M University where he established himself as a national expert and researcher on animal behavior and welfare. “It’s been a lot of fun,” said Friend, who…

AgriLife Extension, Texas Beef Council to conduct Beef 706 program in Alpine

May 29th, 2015

Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, [email protected]: Logan Boswell, 432-837-6207, [email protected] Lea Schneider, 432-729-4746, [email protected] ALPINE – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the Texas Beef Council, and Sul Ross State University will conduct Beef 706, a free quality assurance program organizers say is designed to help growers raise a safe, top quality product for the consumer….

Article highlights meat science educational program

May 28th, 2015

The April 2015 issue of Meat & Poultry Magazine features an article titled “Aggie-Style meat education” and highlights industry education offered through workshops, courses and camps hosted by the meat science section in the Department of Animal Science. Writer Kimberlie Clyma writes, “In 1989, the Texas Beef Council was looking for a way to educate…

Stock Horse Team wins reserve national championship

May 27th, 2015

ABILENE – The Texas A&M Stock Horse Team won the reserve championship title at the Stock Horse of Texas (SHOT) Collegiate World Championship held Oct. 30 in Abilene. Team members are Haley Birkenfeld, an education major from Nazareth; Lane Birkenfeld, an accounting major from Nazareth; Kylie Reis, a biomedical science major from Oxford, Mich.; Sarah…

The Five Freedoms of Cattle

May 23rd, 2015

Writer: Ron Gill, 979-845-5705, [email protected] Animal welfare is a topic of a lot of discussion across the livestock industries. One philosophy regarding welfare management and oversight centers on a concept of five freedoms livestock under our care should be granted. Now, one could argue about the term “freedoms” and what that might imply, but when…

Low-stress cattle handling is not low-pressure cattle handling

May 21st, 2015

Writer: Burt Rutherford, 806-353-8528, [email protected] “We spend a lot of time with cattle in a feedyard. But we don’t necessarily spend the right time with the right cattle.” That’s how Ron Gill, program leader for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, started out a cattle handling training session for feedyard cowboys recently. Gill’s training session on low-stress…

Animal Science presents 2015 alumni awards, hall of fame induction

May 19th, 2015

COLLEGE STATION – The Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University recognized two former students with alumni awards and inducted two individuals into the Animal Science Hall of Fame during a special ceremony held April 29 in College Station. Dr. Mitch Bowling received the 2015 Outstanding Young Alumni Award; John Bellinger was recognized with…

Beginning Rancher Educational Program scheduled June 9-10 at Texas A&M

May 8th, 2015

Writer: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, [email protected] Contact: Dr. Tom Hairgrove, 979-458-3216, [email protected] COLLEGE STATION – A Beginning Rancher Educational Program is scheduled June 9-10 at the O.D. Butler Jr. Animal Science Complex at Texas A&M University in College Station. The free workshop is open to those who have entered the ranching business over the past 10…

Aggie Processed Meat School teaches art and science of making popular retail products

May 7th, 2015

Writer:  Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, [email protected] Contact: Dr. Dan Hale, 979-845-3935, [email protected] COLLEGE STATION – More than 25 meat processors and hobby sausage-makers recently attended the Aggie Processed Meat School held at Texas A&M University in College Station. “The goal of this is to help meat processors and people involved in food service understand the science…

American Quarter Horse showcase set for May 1 at Texas A&M

April 20th, 2015

Contact: Krissy Schroeder, 979-845-4320, [email protected] Vogelsang, 979-845-5796, [email protected] COLLEGE STATION — The Texas A&M Department of Animal Science will host a special showcase of a dozen American quarter horses available for sale on May 1, 2015 in College Station. The horses will be available for viewing and demonstrations from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Freeman Arena on…