Profitable Livestock Production (Luna County)

The agent received over 25 phone calls that involved range management techniques and advice on feed supplements due to the drought that most of the state is facing. The agent collected and submitted 3 forage sample to be tested for protein levels and made numerous ranch visits to help local producers deal with problems such as noxious weeds and carrying capacities for rangeland. Producers stated they were better able to manage their livestock herds with the help of the agent.


The agent helped to carry out the first ever youth ranch management camp held at Valles Caldera. There was 29 youth that attended the camp and began their careers as ranchers. The youth everything from how to cut meat to how to collect range forage samples. Youth and instructors alike learned skills that could be taken back to their counties. The youth gave helpful feedback to instructors at the end of the camp. The youth are still talking about the camp and how helped them see all aspects of the ranching business.

The Luna County Agriculture Agent held a meeting with 14 producers, 3 vets, and the NMLB, to discuss the management techniques to be used in managing trich in two regions within Luna County. The meeting was designed to help ranchers deal with cattle crossing on to different ranches and causing the disease to spread. Some of the area ranches were very upset with each other during the meeting, but after discussions they had calmed down and were actually to each other. Very positive impact came out of this meeting. as a working group we have continued to work together to management this disease in Luna County.
The agent continues to work with the US/Mexico cattle crossing yard in Columbus to insure that communication is open between the county, state, and federal agencies to help the county owned stockyard. Cattle crossing has slowed because of the cases of TB in Mexico. The agent visits with NMLB weekly to monitor the status of the problem. Huge impact on Luna County not being able to have our border crossing open.

The agent has had 35 visits with livestock producers in his county. During this program year we were not face with our usual problems. We received rains early and feed grow to provide enough strength to get through the year without feeding much. Many of the producers were able to buy more cattle or lease pastures to other ranchers during the growing season. The agent met with two sheep producers to discuss markets to sell lambs and the other producer wanted information on pastures that worked in our county.
The agent met with producers to discuss the concept of BQA, they want to wait and have a county wide training before spring works this coming program year. The agent worked with 5 producers, the NMLB, and local vet to develop trich managenment plans to slow the spread of this disease in our county. 3 of the producers were 100% clean after six months of using the plan. The agent was involved in the clean up process as well. Training and mock plans with be put into place for the up coming program year. The remaining 2 producers were about 70% clean at the end of the program year. Agent has worked local producers to explain the importance of T.B. tests and when and how a person should go about getting them done for livestock. The agent worked with 4-H and FFA youth to get their livestock tagged for fairs and jackpots. Agent sent off 5 samples of grass or forage to be tested for nutrients and strength for stocking rates. All in all Luna County is making strides to better livestock production.

The agent met with 11 local ranchers to discuss the drought coniditions we are facing here in Luna County. Grass and forage samples where brought to me to send off and have them tested to establish a protein value. Once we had the protein value we worked to better the condition of the livestock. The agent and the livestock producers spoke with local hay producers to work out a way to serve the needs of both producers. Other ranchers came in and wanted to develop a plan to cull cattle in a more effective manner. This ranchers have been able to improve their profits because of this new plan they developed on their ranch. 2 ranchers called and wanted information on predator control and who was the Govt. trapper. The agent gave out information on predators and the Govt. Trapper and his contact information. The major problem that Luna County is facing right now is drought. The ranchers here are hanging on to the livestock they have but, it is very expensive to continue this practice. The agent continues to serve the livestock producers in a capacity that is the most profitable for them. An issue that the agent has dealt with in the latter part of the year was where to market local cattle. With our local livestock auction closed down small producers are having trouble getting their livestock to a market. The agent has suggested that the little producers work together to get their cattle to a market. This is working for three of the local ranchers in Luna County.

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.