Profitable Livestock Production (McKinley County)

Beef Quality Assurance is an on going program that teaches cattle producers how to handle cattle, proper nutrition needs, record keeping, importance of vaccinations and other procedures to produce beef without residue of animal products or pesticides. During the past year, the McKinley County Extension Agent has made 4 presentations to over 83 producers with 46 becoming certified. This number will increase greatly with the Navajo Nation seeing some results in cattle sold getting the better price because the producers are BQA certified. The Navajo Nation Department of Agriculture has now made this program a requiremnet to renew their tribal lease, so this will increase the number of trained BQA producers.

Short-term
• Increased awareness of novel management practices and knowledge of current issues for more than 10% of New Mexico livestock producers through educational programs, direct communications, and popular press publications.
• Increased the number of producers using technology to evaluate production and financial aspects of cow-calf enterprises through participation in a Standardized performance analysis workshop.
• More than 90% of attendees surveyed at educational workshops perceive the monetary value of education gained exceeded the cost of attendance.

Medium term
• Improve decision-making skills of more than 500 livestock producers and county Extension agents through educational programs and seminars such that they are more confident in livestock management.

Long Term
• Improved knowledge level of county Extension agents regarding management of sheep and beef cattle through in-service trainings in the area of Range Nutrition and Management.

Assisted the State Specialist and Cibola County Agent in coordinating a one day sheep shearing school for sheep producers on the Navajo Nation. Pat Melendraz was the instructor for this hands-on event. He covered safety for the animal and shearer, how to properly take care of your equipment, how to sharpen and maintain your blades and how to shear sheep.

The Agent along with the Tri-State Agent coordinated a one and half day horse clinic. Approximately 65 people attended this program and learned about dental care, feeding and nutrition for their horses. Other demonstration topics were artificial insemination for horse, how to gentle break your horse and horse chiropractics. People were also able to bring their horse for dental work and hoof care.

The agent along with the planning committee, planned and conducted the Annual Indian Livestock Days for native american producers within the state. The event was well attended over 125 particiapants for the two-day event.


Gary Hathorn, San Juan County Extension Agent
Roberta Rios, Northern District Director
Pat Melendrez, Livestock Specialist at Alcalde
Lee Watts, Zuni Extension Agent
Jimmy Plane, Cibola County Extension Agent
Jeff Bader, Bernalillo County Extension Agent
Richard Ng, Otero County Extension Agent
Steve Lucero, Sandoval County 4-H Agent
Daniel Melendrez, Alcalde Outreach Extension Agent
Melissa Long, Alcalde Outreach Extension Agent
Sandy Taylor, Sandoval County Home Econ Agent
Elena Bowers, McKinley County Home Econ Agent
Rex Salvador, Sheep Producer, Acoma
Greg Mendez, BIA Natural Resources, Mescalero
Alton Henderson, Navajo Nation Department of Agriculture


Indian Livestock Days 2007

May 16th

9:00 am Welcome and Opening
9:30 am Livestock Security by Billy Dictson
10:30 am Break
10:45 am Premise and Animal ID by Ron Parker and Scott Bender
11:15 am Wildlife Damage Control by Jon Boren
Noon Lunch
1:00 pm BQA – Clay Mathis
3:00 pm Break/Health Fair
3:30 pm Body Condition Scoring & Cattle Selection – Clay Mathis
5:00 pm Adjourn / Dinner on your own

May 17th

8:30 am Range 101 (including restocking and record keeping) – Chris Allison
10:00 am Break
10:15 am Low stress Cattle handling and facility management -
11:30 am Lunch
12:30 pm Sheep 101 – Pat M and Alton Henderson
2:30 pm Break
2:45 pm Horse Demo – Joby Priest (Jeff contact)