Background & Management Information

On the NMSU Angus, Brangus & Brahman Herds

Additional Herd Statistics & Sale Report

The department of Animal and Range Sciences maintains three purebred cattle herds for the purpose of teaching, research, and demonstration. The Angus herd was initiated in 1979. The majority of this herd is maintained at the Corona Range and Livestock Research Center (CRLRC) in central New Mexico under the management of Mr. Gene Parker with the remainder of the herd being maintained at the Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center (CDRRC) near Las Cruces under the direction of Mr. Brian Samson. The Brangus herd which was initiated in 1966 and the Brahman herd which was initiated in 1999 are maintained at the CDRRC. All mature cows in these herds are managed as range cattle with limited supplementation and assistance at calving. Breeding season for the mature cows in the Angus herd at the CRLRC begins in June and involves estrus synchronization and artificial insemination followed by a 45-day clean-up period. Breeding season for the mature cows at the CDRRC involves natural service mating from May 1 - August 1. All heifers from these herds are developed, estrus synchronized, and artificially inseminated on the NMSU campus each spring before being placed with clean-up bulls at the research centers. The heifers that become pregnant from this management system return to the NMSU campus to have their 1st calf under the assistance and observation of the students within the Department of Animal and Range Sciences. All open yearling heifers in the Angus and Brangus herds are culled.

Selection Strategies for NMSU Herds

Selection within the NMSU Angus and Brangus herds is based upon maximizing reproductive efficiency while simultaneously increasing growth performance for herds that are self-maintaining. All natural service sires are selected from within the existing herds. These sires are selected based upon calving ease and reproductive performance of their dam and the daughters of their sire. This selection procedure also includes balancing EPD potential for growth traits and scrotal circumference in coordination with growth performance in the NMSU performance bull test. Artificial Insemination sires are selected to bring genetic improvement to the herds and are based upon high accuracy EPDs.

If you would like to be added to the bull sale mailing list or if you need to ask questions, contact: Neil Burcham. If you have questions regarding the horse sale contact Joby Priest.

Mr. Neil Burcham
331 Knox Hall, MSC 3I
Department of Animal and Range Sciences
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM 88003
Phone: (575) 646-2309

Joby Priest
MSC 3I
New Mexico State University
PO Box 30003
Las Cruces, NM 88003-0009
Phone: (575) 646-5595
Email: priest@nmsu.edu