BEEF CATTLE - Texas A&M University

BEEFCATTLEA TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AREA OF EXCELLENCEDepartment of Animal Scienceanimalscience.tamu.edu

Join our pursuit to become the world leader in teaching,research, and education associated with beef cattle adaptedto subtropical and tropical climates.Texas is all about beef, andbeef is all about Texas.Texas leads the nation in beef cattlepopulation and production. Texas contains the largest population of beef cows andcattle on feed in the United States! Texas has more cattle than 43 U.S. states have people. Texas has more cattle than 156 countries have people.Texas leads the nation in number ofagricultural operations. There are 248,800 farms and ranches in Texas, covering130.2 million acres (77% of the state's total area). 98.6% of Texas farms and ranches are family farms,partnerships, or family-held corporations.Agriculture is the second-largesteconomic generator in Texas, afteroil and gas. Texas agricultural cash receipts, including timber,average 20 billion annually, and cattle productioncontributes 50% of those receipts. Cotton ranks second behind cattle, contributing 10%.Texas is home to all aspects of thebeef industry supply chain. Texas contains all phases of beef production, fromcow-calf operations to packers. Texas has more cattle on feed than Australia andCanada combined.Texas consumers spend nearly 9 billion a year on beef.

HOWDY!G. Cliff Lamb, Ph.D.Professor and Department HeadAnimal Science, Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M shouldbe an internationalleader in a fewspecific areas ofexcellence.Beef cattle mustbe one of these.As the largest and most diverse academicdepartment of its kind, the Department ofAnimal Science at Texas A&M Universitytakes pride in providing superiorfacilities, animals, and resources to retainand attract the best and brightest facultyand students from around the globe.As part of our overall mission, we aspireto be the international leader in specificareas of excellence — particularly beefcattle. Cattle and calves are the numberone cash agricultural commodity inTexas, with a value exceeding 10 billionannually — more than five times greaterthan cotton, the state’s second mostvaluable commodity. In order to sustainthis vital component of the economyand continued growth of agriculture inTexas, beef cattle production systemsmust be a primary “flagship” focusarea of the department. To support ourefforts, we propose the InternationalArea of Excellence for Cattle Adaptedto Subtropical/Tropical Environments(both Bos taurus- and Bos indicus-basedbreeds). This initiative aligns well withthe department’s current Beef ProductionSystems Strategic Plan and will ensure amore unified direction for our work inbeef cattle production systems. Our goal isto be the world leader in beef productiongenetics, management, and products. Ourvision is to be regarded as the premiercenter for high-quality beef cattle researchand education programs.To enhance our scope in beef cattle anddevelop this area of excellence, we mustsignificantly improve our infrastructurefor cattle research and education. We alsowill collaborate with our stakeholders toensure that we have access to the best beefcattle genetics available. Development ofthe following new research and educationprograms will be priority: a comprehensive distance-learningcertificate program in beef cattleproduction, increased opportunities forexperiential learning for our students,and enhanced learning opportunities forour industry partners.The continued success and contributionsof the Department of Animal Science atTexas A&M are vital to the sustainabilityof the Texas, U.S., and internationalbeef industries. We have received initialsupport from the university to hire twofaculty members to lead this initiative, andwe welcome you to join us as we becomethe world leader in beef cattle productionsystems.Sincerely,G. Cliff Lamb, Ph.D.

Rich History inBeef Cattle ResearchCreated in 1903, the Department of Animal Husbandryat Texas A&M emphasized the feeding, breeding, andevaluation of livestock. In 1911, the Department ofDairy Husbandry was formed to train students in themanufacturing and handling of dairy products. From1911 to 1947, both departments focused on teaching,while the Texas Agricultural Experiment Stationconducted research and the Texas Agricultural ExtensionService provided outreach. After 1947, research, teaching,and outreach were combined in the departments, andin 1965 the two departments merged as the Departmentof Animal Science. With over a century of growth, thedepartment has become the largest and most diverseuniversity-based animal science department in the world.Beef cattle have always been a key component of research,teaching, and Extension at Texas A&M. The revolutionaryresearch conducted by the department’s scientists hasdefined the way cattle are raised today in Texas andaround the globe. Research accomplishments include thefollowing: Studying the biological cycle of the cattle tick,Boophilus annulatus, resulting in the control of thefever tick Pioneering crossbreeding experiments (Bos indicus B. taurus breeds) in the 1920s, leading to firstestimate of hybrid vigor in crossbred cattle Determining heritability of weight gain, with anemphasis on weaning weight Developing phosphorus supplementation programsfor grazing cattle Developing and refining sorghum grain as cattle feed Establishing nutrient requirements for beef cattlethrough the National Academy of Sciences Discovering chemical communication betweenembryo and dams for successful pregnancy Understanding the fundamental reproductivebiology of Brahman cattle Completing the first successful embryo transfer in alivestock species Using electrical stimulation of beef carcasses toimprove beef tenderness, quality, and shelf-life Studying the factors regulating marbling andtenderness in beef productsAs we work to meet the current and future challengesassociated with a growing population, the Department ofAnimal Science will lead the world toward food securitythrough efficient and sustainable beef production.

Future Excellencein Beef ProductionWorld food production must increase 70% by2050 to feed an additional 2.3 billion people.Beef consumption will also double by 2050,from 60 million to 130 million tons. However, asthe planet becomes more populated and urbanareas expand, resources for beef production willbecome more limited. Therefore, productionefficiency will have to increase during the comingdecades to address the global beef demandwhile maintaining ecological stewardship andproper use of limited natural resources. Much ofthis increase in beef production is expected tocome from subtropical and/or tropical regions,which contain nearly 70% of the world’s cattlepopulation. These regions include Texas and thesoutheastern United States, Mexico, Central andSouth America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.The Texas beef industry encompasses all phasesof beef production, from cow-calf ranches toprocessing facilities, throughout a variety ofenvironments and climates, from West Texasto the Gulf Coast. Such diversity allows theDepartment of Animal Science to conduct research that isrelevant throughout Texas, the United States, and in mostsubtropical/tropical regions of the world. To successfullytake on the local, national, and international challengesrelated to beef production and food security, we proposethe development of the International Area of Excellence forCattle Adapted to Subtropical/Tropical Environments in theDepartment of Animal Science.Our vision is to provide unparalleled leadership, bestpractices, research, support, and training to beef industriesworldwide, particularly those based in subtropical/tropical environments. This specialty will help us enhancebeef production through excellence in developing anddisseminating genetics, management, and product-relatedtechnologies to producers, students, industry professionals,and the public.Through our vision of excellence and strategic engagements,along with commitment and support from the Aggiecommunity and stakeholders, the Department of AnimalScience will establish itself as a global leader in beefproduction research and education and will play a seminalrole in feeding the world.“Excellence is doing ordinarythings extraordinarily well.”—John W. Gardner (1912–2002)Author and former U.S. Secretary ofHealth, Education, and Welfare

Your gift will help us achieve excellence through capitalimprovements, marketing, and emphasis on education.Capital Improvements( 5 million)Preserve and enhance current beef cattle facilities forresponsible growth and development of the Excellence in BeefCattle Initiative.Graduate Fellowships( 1.5 million)Provide financial assistance to graduate students, allowingTexas A&M to recruit exceptional graduate students fromacross the United States and around the world.Endowed Professorships( 3 million)Through three professorships at 1 million each, we willincrease our faculty talent, which in turn enriches theacademic environment and attracts the brightest students.Professorships help to recruit, reward, and provide resourcesfor building premier beef cattle teaching, research, andExtension programs.High-Impact LearningExperiences ( 500,000)Texas A&M classrooms should know no borders. Our highimpact learning experiences, such as field trips and industryconferences, expand the classroom through national andinternational perspectives. Funding in this area providesstudents with these unique learning opportunities.International Beef CattleAcademy ( 500,000)A major component of our Excellence in Beef Cattle Initiativeis to create an international educational program that engagesindustry leaders, professionals, and beef producers worldwideto come and learn from Texas A&M. Our faculty willprovide digital learning, conferences, and hands-on trainingfor students, sharing cutting-edge knowledge about beefproduction.Marketing andDevelopment ( 500,000)Funds will be used to elevate the visibility of the TexasA&M Excellence in Beef Cattle Initiative on a national andinternational spectrum.

Our vision for excellencegoes beyond Texas.Texas beef producers serve a global clientele, and TexasA&M University’s vision for beef cattle excellence transcendsall borders. Our vision is to make Texas A&M the worldleader in beef cattle teaching, research, and Extension inthe area of beef cattle adapted to subtropical and tropicalclimates.Head per km2 11-55 - 1010 - 2020 - 5050 - 100100 - 250 250UnsuitableSource for map, used with permission: Robinson T. P., G. R. W. Wint, G. Conchedda, T. Van Boeckel, V. Ercoli, E. Palamara, G.Ciunardi, L. D’Aietti, S. I. Hay, and M. Gilbert. 2014. Mapping the global distribution of livestock. PloS ONE 9(5): E96084. p. 1.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0096084.Nearly 70% of the world’s cattle population is located in thesubtropical and tropical regions of the world.(Shown between the gray lines)

Beef cattle is the number one agricultural commodity in Texas.Texas is number one in beef cattle in the United States.The United States is number one in beef cattle in the world.Together, we can make Texas A&Mnumber one in beef cattle worldwide.With your help, we can achieve our goal of making Texas A&M University the recognized worldleader in beef cattle teaching, research, and outreach. Please join us in being a part of theTexas A&M Beef Cattle Area of Excellence.For more information, please contact:Texas A&M FoundationCollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences556 John Kimbrough Blvd., Suite 2002140 TAMUCollege Station, TX 77843-2140(979) 847-9314AgLifeSciences.tamu.edu/giving

Beef cattle is the number one agricultural commodity in Texas. Texas is number one in beef cattle in the United States. The United States is number one in beef cattle in the world. With your help, we can achieve our goal of making Texas A&M University the recognized world leader in