Major Focus:
Scientists at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo develop technologies that enhance sustainable utilization of rangelands, the major land resource type in west central Texas by sheep, goat, cattle and wildlife. Specific activities include:
- Prescribed fire and cooperative burning associations for rangeland improvement.
- Selective breeding goats to increase the consumption of juniper to enhance their effectiveness for biological control of this encroaching species.
- Longest running Rambouillet ram and Angora buck performance test in the world.
- Foremost animal fiber testing laboratory in the U.S. pioneered several techniques for quantifying economically important fiber properties.
- Determining the feeding value of ethanol byproducts such as distiller’s dry grain.
- Determining values of juniper as a roughage source in sheep and goat diets and as an anthelmintic.
- Developing multiple applications for near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy including measurement of economically important traits of animal fiber, diet composition of free-ranging animals and for monitoring several components important to the development of biofuels.
- Provided leadership for 2007 National Research Council publication Nutrient Requirements of Small Ruminants.
- Developed the first soremouth vaccine and manufactured more than 50 million doses.
- Developed and implemented first/only U.S. genetic evaluation of Boer goats.
- Sheep and goat breed comparisons to improve production efficiency.
- Developed Texas Quail Index for monitoring quail populations
Mission:
Discovering knowledge to improve lives.
Research Programs:
Animal Science: animal breeding and genetics, animal fiber measurement, ruminant nutrition. Range Science: brush management, prescribed fire, grazing systems, restoration ecology.
Wildlife Science: quail management, nutrition and wildlife/ livestock interaction.
Special Initiatives:
Joe Skeen Institute for Rangeland Restoration
Animal Fiber Research on Wool and Mohair
Resident Director:
Dr. John Walker
7887 U.S. Highway 87 North
San Angelo, TX 76901
Phone: (325) 653-4576
Fax: (325) 658-4364
E-mail: jw-walker@tamu.edu
Personnel (FTE):
Research 33; Extension 28
Established:
Since 1887, Texas AgriLife Research has been an integral part of the Texas A&M System. AgriLife Research is the state’s only agency dedicated to research and technology development in food, agriculture and natural resources. There are 13 AgriLife Research and Extension Centers serving the specific research needs of each region and for agricultural and urban citizens across the state.
Facilities:
Opened in 1972 through a cooperative effort with the local agricultural community, the AgriLife Center at San Angelo administers research of the Sonora Research Station located between Sonora and Rocksprings (established in 1916) and the Texas Range Station located south of Barnhart, (established 1938). The Sonora Research Station was established at the request of the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association, which contributed one-half of the funds to purchase the land. Recently, the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch in Fisher County was made available through a cooperative venture with a nonprofit organization The Conservation Fund. These properties located in five counties provide ample opportunity to conduct fieldbased research on livestock and wildlife production and rangeland conservation.
