MSU Beef Unit
The Leveck Animal Research Center is located adjacent to the campus of Mississippi State University. Currently there are 1057 acres being used to conduct intensive beef cattle, horse, catfish, and poultry production research, aid in teaching production animal agriculture and assist Extension specialists in educational programs for livestock producers.
Two beef cattle seedstock herds—Angus and Hereford—and a crossbred herd are maintained for research and teaching purposes. The fall calving purebred herd consists of Angus and Hereford cows calving in September and October. The spring calving commercial herd consists of commercial crossbred females with Angus, Simmental, and Brahman influence, calving in February and March. Bulls, heifers, and stocker cattle are sold to the public annually. The proceeds from the animals sold go towards supporting livestock research programs in Mississippi.
Research on the herd includes hair shedding and adaptability studies to evaluate genetic differences and impacts on performance. Research is also currently being conducted on stocker cattle receiving systems investigating effects of nutrition and management strategies on health and performance. Research in reproduction focuses on making artificial insemination more effective, and on how conditions in early gestation affect the health and future performance of calves. Cattle nutrition research focuses on forage utilization of summer perennials and winter annuals and perennials including supplementation strategies.The forage research unit evaluates new and improved forages and pastures crops species and rates their potential use in Mississippi. The primary emphasis is placed on finding ways to integrate various combinations of hay and grazing crops into practical production systems.
Publications
News
The first shipment of U.S. beef to China in more than 13 years reached its destination in June, and Mississippi cattle producers are beginning to see modest rewards of new market access.
Current cattle prices in Mississippi are up from a year ago. Lightweight cattle are $1.67 per pound, while heavyweight feeder cattle are around $1.35 per pound. A year ago, lightweight cattle were $1.55 per pound, and heavyweight cattle were in the range of $1.17 per pound.
“The cattle market has exhibited strong demand through most of 2017 despite the increased supply of cattle in the U.S.,” said Josh Maples, an agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. “Prices have generally decreased over the past month, which is due to a combination of seasonal factors and the increased supply.”
LUCEDALE, Miss. -- Farmers can learn about free-range livestock rearing and pecan orchard practices during the Aug. 18 Alliance of Sustainable Farms field day.
Sweet Grass Pastures in Lucedale will host the event. Topics include raising pastured poultry, beef and pork using rotational grazing. Attendees will tour the farm’s pecan orchard, and farm owners will demonstrate how to set up a mobile chicken coop and mobile hog fencing.
RAYMOND, Miss. -- Cattle producers in south Mississippi can learn about techniques to improve herd health and advancements in production systems during an upcoming field day in Raymond.
The Mississippi State University Extension Service and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station are hosting the Beef Cattle Herd Health Field Day on June 16 at the MSU Brown Loam Branch Experiment Station. The station is located at 1676 Brown Loam Road. The field day begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m.
BILOXI, Miss. -- Mississippi State University researchers and Extension Service agents heard suggestions from Coastal area agricultural producers and industry leaders about the research and education they need from the university in 2017.
The MSU Coastal Research and Extension Center Producer Advisory Council meeting was held on Feb. 28 in Biloxi. The annual meeting helps the university allocate time and resources to the most important issues facing Mississippi's agricultural producers and related industries.
RAYMOND, Miss. -- Agricultural producers and industry professionals in central Mississippi met with agents and research scientists of the Mississippi State University Extension Service and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Feb. 22 to share input and give feedback.
The Central Mississippi Producer Advisory Council meeting was held in conjunction with Hinds Community College and the Alcorn State University Extension.
