Applied Reproductive Management for Cattle

I am planning more Beef Quality Assurance workshops in the near future to help livestock producers increase profits.
By improving thier knowledge on the proper vaccinations, livestock porducers will decrease dead loses and improve management decisions and increase profitablity.
I will continue to implement educational workshops, demonstrations, conferences and current research information using extension personnel and specialists to increase the necessary practical skills, tools, and understanding of herd health and livestock genetics for them to effectively communicate the subject matter to Livestock producers on tribal lands. I have imlpemented Beef Quality Assurance workshops on some of the Southen Pueblos to certify livestock producers and improve thier calves when sending them to market.

2009-2010 Program Year

Once again the agent assisted with monitoring ranges on Ghost Ranch, Jarita Mesa and Cerro Azul. Ghost Ranch and Cerro Azul are both winter ranges consisting of 22,000 aces each. The Jarita Mesa range is a spring through fall range comprising of approximately 51,000 acres. As for Jarita Mesa the ten year Environmental Assessment (EA) permit renewal for livestock grazing is in its final comment period. Livestock numbers have been reduced from 581 cow calf pairs to 471 cow calf pairs. Feral horses continue to be an issue on this range. The Forest Service states that they will manage the number of horses in order to be compliant with management in future years.
The Ghost Ranch and the Cerro Azul both received an average amount of precipitation for the year. However, precipitation was spotty and not all of the pastures and stock tanks received enough precipitation to make it a great forage production year. For the most part Ghost Ranch and the Cerro Azul will have enough forage to supply livestock at the current stocking rate to make it through the winter grazing months. Due to the availability of adequate forage supply to pregnant cows it should be another good calf crop for the coming year.

The 2009-10 Tucumcari Bull Test continued its long tradition in testing bulls in several aspects of performance and inheritance traits. The test completed its 49th annual run with 115 head of sires from seventeen different seed stock cooperators representing over five breeds of cattle. The New Mexico Beef Cattle Performance Association (NMBCPA) has been in the forefront of becoming the region’s leading seed stock organization focused on addressing the genetic and marketing needs of commercial cattle producers. 2008 Agricultural Census Quay county ranked 8th in the state with cattle and calves just over 43,000 head of beef cattle. (NM 2008 USDA-NASS statistics) Average size of farm/ranch is 2,342 acres with a net income of $16,120.00.
With these statistics local producers are needing to stretching their every dollar spent on improved genetics. Additionally, purchase of a bull that will improve herd performance will pay back to the producer many times over. With the right management tools and knowledge buyers at the Tucumcari Bull test can rank criteria on what traits are most important to their herd. An example of these genetic traits include average daily gain, frame score, initial weight, weight per day of gain, ribeye circumference, and many more breed criteria.
The 2009-10 Bull Test Sale was kicked off with a Pre-Sale: Buyers Bull Session, Social, and Supper focusing on educating prospective buyers on the test, feed regime, GenStar DNA marker Technology and data interpretation. The event also highlighted the high performance breeders as well as the newly established New Mexico Gold calf marketing program. The event hosted by the NMBCPA was attended by 67 local and area producers, seed stock and commercial beef producers.

-The goal of the Jicarilla Extension Office in regards to horse management is: To increase awareness of and improve horse management systems on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation. Many horse owners on the reservation are unaware or do not use horse management tools available to them. There are approximately 150 horse owners on the reservation. Most horses are used for rodeo events such as roping or for ranch related activities. The majority of horses are keep on range alotments and management is minimal.

The Jicarilla extension office held two workshops on horse management. Horse owners learned about balance for the horse subjects such as feed and saddle fit, hoof and dental care were presented. Those in attendance also learned about transportation and safety. Thirty individual horse owners on the reservation attended at least one of these workshops several attended both. Workshops were evaluated using evaluation cards and the response was 100% positive with attendees stating there was much knowledge gained, the information was very useful and presentations were of excellent quality.

-The goal of the Jicarilla Extension Project in regards to Livestock production is to provide Jicarilla Producers with opportunities to learn about Heard Health, Best Management Practices and Rangeland Conservation. There are 100-110 range allotments on the reservation. Approximatley 5000 cattle are raised on the reservation and between 200 and 250 livestock producers.

The agent demonstrated the methodology of horn removal for mature cattle. Two producers and the four staff members learned how to remove horns, why remove horns and the risk in removing horns from mature cattle. All 6 individuals involved learned about removing horns from cattle and participated in the process.

The agent provided instruction to 8 producers through one on one visits regarding range impacts of grazing cattle. Producers were informed on the amount of feed required per cattle unit. This amount was utilized to determine a rough stocking rate that could be utilized by the producers when making cattle management decisions, such as retaining heifers or culling mature cattle.

The agent provided instruction on the treatment of parasites on cattle to 20 of the producers and the staff of the Jicarilla Agricultural Department. The agent also provided related information on economic impacts of non treatment versus treatment of parasites on cattle. This information has lead to all 20 producers receiving this instruction changing their management to include prevention of parasites in their herds.

The agent provided information on marketing strategies to 13 of the Jicarilla cattle producers. Six of the Jicarilla Cattle Producers changed their marketing strategy and an additional 4 producers changed their current management systems in order to make their cattle more marketable.

A record keeping workshop was held during this reporting period. This work shop was held in conjunction with Specialist Judy Finley of the RIPAP office. This workshop was sponsored in part by a grant this agent and the specialist had collaborated on. Presentations were made by employees of the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Attendees received record books and instruction on how to use them. They also learned what records were needed to participate in programs available through the NRCS and FSA. This workshop lead to 8 of the Jicarilla cattle producers learning of programs available to them through these organizations and the records needed to participate.


The agent has work toward meeting the long term objectives of increasing understanding and management of rangelands on the Jicarilla Reservation by livestock producers. The agent has also worked toward increasing knowledge of clientele in management decisions that directly affect their ranch profitability. First the agent worked with 12 of the producers to determine effects of breeding and breed selection on profitability. The agent also worked with 6 producers on decision making regarding livestock handling and its effects on ranch profitability. Third the agent worked with 8 producers to determine long term rangeland production goals and simple monitoring processes. As a result of this education 4 the produces are participating in environmental quality incentive programs that will benefit their rangeland over the long term. Three producers have modified their breed or (Bull selection methodologies) and Three have changed livestock handling and handling facilities in order to minimize profit loss from handling techniques.

William Wear has signed on to support Applied Reproductive Management for Cattle within Sierra County.