Taylor Andrews counts herself among the lucky ones who gets to conduct unique research at New Mexico State University's Corona Range and Livestock Research Center.
Andrews is a doctoral student majoring in animal science at NMSU, and has worked as a graduate assistant in Corona for three years. She has completed three dissertation projects at the center, located eight miles east of Corona, where she has found a second home of sorts.
"A positive aspect of being an animal science graduate student in Corona is that we operate as a family," Andrews said. "All the students, professors and ranch manager work together on research projects, which allow us students to gain more experience and knowledge."
Andrews and several other students and faculty will get to showcase their latest research at this year's field day, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 16 at the center. Lara Prihodko, associate director of the NMSU Agricultural Experiment Station, will welcome attendees, along with NMSU animal and range professor Eric Sholljegerdes and Corona Advisory Committee member Barbara Sultemeier.
Andrews will make two poster presentations, "Impact of growth-promoting implants on heifer reproduction" and "Effects of ruminally undegradable protein on heifer development." Her research has focused on the use of growth-promoting implants in beef heifers, and the influence of source and level of rumen undegradable protein in beef heifers.
"We also completed a multi-state research project where we evaluated two different estrus synchronization protocols in our cow herd," Andrews said. The project involved researchers from South Dakota, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas and Georgia.
Andrews has also helped research the effects of transport stress on conception rates in goats, and evaluate the use of an estrus synchronization in the center's sheep flock.
"Operating as family in Corona has allowed me to gain experience in species other than my own specialty, beef cattle, and has broadened my research horizons," Andrews said.
Other poster presentations at this year's field day will include:
Joyce Anne Cooper, "Efficacy of the Idexx pregnancy test on diagnosing pregnancy in goats" and "Transportation stress on goat cortisol levels."
Iona Rohan, "Impact of wind energy on wildlife habitat selection."
Rajan Ghimire, "Environmental Carbon Project."
Louis Bender, "Use of GPS enabled ear tags to monitor cattle movements around wind towers."
Eric Scholljegerdes, "Automated feeding systems for range cattle."
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The center will also showcase two Smart Feeders that can read an identification tag on an animal's ear and supply them with a particular supplement, instead of having to gather cattle in the field and supply them with supplements individually. The feeders were purchased with funding from the New Mexico Legislature's capital outlay last fiscal year.
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The event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided. To register, visit https://rsvp.nmsu.edu/rsvp/coronarlrc . For more information about the center, visit https://corona.nmsu.edu /.
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The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/field-day-in-corona-to-highlight-student-research--livestock-technology/s/2f6ff1cf-64af-4333-a4a4-d527784b7020
