Roundup time at the
Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Station in southeastern Montana. At
this station, one of the largest in the world of its kind, researchers help to
ensure a plentiful supply of meat while protecting the rangeland environment.
Click the image for more information about it. |
USDA Livestock and Range Research Lab
Expansion Unveiled By
Erin Peabody August 11, 2004
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11, 2004--The
Agricultural Research Service dedicated
new office and laboratory space Tuesday at its
Fort Keogh Livestock and Range
Research Laboratory in Miles City, Mont. The additions to the existing
laboratory complex include three research units, 15 offices, a greenhouse and a
meeting room where scientists can share their research findings with ranchers
and the public. ARS is the chief scientific research agency of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Situated in southeastern Montana, the Fort Keogh research
facility covers 55,000 acres of mostly native rangeland. ARS runs the facility
in cooperation with Montana State University's Agricultural Experiment Station.
Ten ARS scientists there study animal genetics, nutrition and physiology, as
well as rangeland science and ecology.
Scientists at the laboratory use genetic evaluations to help
develop beef cattle better suited for sustainable production. The laboratory
maintains 1,500 beef cows, including 250 "Line 1" Herefords that are considered
the oldest and purest line of Herefords in the world. For this reason, the
research team leading the recently launched international bovine genome
sequencing effort selected the Fort Keogh "Line 1" animals as the source of DNA
for this landmark project.
"Fort Keogh researchers were the first to study rangeland
stocking rates in the entire Northern Great Plains," said ARS Administrator
Edward B. Knipling. "Today, these researchers are recognized internationally
for their work to develop sustainable range livestock production systems that
meet the needs of producers and consumers."
The researchers also develop grazing management strategies that
take into consideration variables such as climate, especially drought; natural
disturbances, like fire; invasive plants and the impact of various grazing
tactics.
A military outpost in the late 1880s, Fort Keogh was transferred
to USDA in 1924 for use in agricultural research. |