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The quality of the animals in the Texas A&M University Ranch to Rail Program appears to be improving, said the man who started the program almost a decade ago. "Those extremes aren't here like they were in the early years," said Dr. John McNeil. "There seem to be a lot more English-type cattle right now," said Dr. Ted McCollum III, a beef cattle specialist at Amarillo, Texas. "Especially, Herefords," added Dr. Ron Gill, a beef cattle specialist from Dallas. They also had some corrientes and a few with some longhorn blood and some with brahman influence. They began arriving at Swisher County Feedyard near Tulia, Tex., in October or at Hondo Creek Feedyard just north of Corpus Christi, Tex. This month marks the ninth year for the Texas A&M University's Ranch to Rail program. The program is divided into two geographic areas, north and south, because of the diversity of cattle that are fed in the state. The north program, usually hosted by Randall County Feedyard near Canyon, was moved this year because the Randall County yard was filled with 58,000 head of Beef Assurance Program (BAP) cattle. Friona Industries, parent company of Randall County Feedyard, is involved with Capitol Land and Cattle Company and McDonald's in the two-year-old program. Cattle for the north program were sent to another Friona feedyard, Swisher County, this year. Swisher County Feedyard Manager Gene Pool said he's happy with the arrangement. "All I've got to do is feed them. They do all the work," he said, motioning toward the Ranch to Rail crew that processes the incoming steers. Some 650 steers were shipped to the 55,000 head capacity Swisher County Feedyard in October by 62 different producers spread across four states. Cattle came from New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. All will face the same protocols as in the past. The health and nutrition programs will be the same as at most other commercial feedyards. The cattle will be subject to the same weather and market variabilities as any other cattle on feed. They will be sorted and sold off on a grid negotiated by the Texas A&M professors. |
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