Oct. 11, 2007

BARNHART – The Texas Range Station at Barnhart will hold a field day, the first in several years, on Oct. 18.

The day's activities will be 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the station, which is located 21 miles north of Ozona on State Highway 163. The station is a satellite facility of the Texas A&M University System Research and Extension Center at San Angelo.

Dr. John Walker, resident director of research in San Angelo, said the time was right for the field day.

"We're very proud of the current work going on at the station, so we decided now was an excellent time to showcase that work to the public," Walker said. "The program will be very producer-oriented and will deal with issues ranchers in our area face on a regular basis. We also have some partnership work going on with Angelo State University at the station, and we will be addressing that too."

The program will also provide an opportunity for producers to meet some of the new researchers leading the programs, Walker said.

Morning topics will include a history of the field station and its ecology, and an introduction to the research being done at the station.

Lunch will be served on-site.

Afternoon topics will include a description of the station's research projects, overcoming the ranch's challenges, parasite management, breed differences in bitterweed susceptibility, prevention and treatment of bitterweed toxicity, forage quality and low-cost feed options, and managing for the environment.

The 5-Star Project, will also be discussed. Walker said the project is evaluating the economic return from four types of livestock specifically chosen for their adaptability to a low- input, sustainable management system.

Livestock in the project are Angora goats, meat goats, Dorper x Barbado sheep and Rambouillet sheep.

The emphasis is on achieving environmental and economic sustainability through efficiency, Walker said. This is especially important in view of current rising feed prices, parasite resistance and market fluctuations in wool and mohair.

For more information, call Walker at 325-653-4576 or Dr. Erika Campbell at 325-387-3168.