U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska

 

Authors

Date of this Version

1985

Document Type

Article

Comments

Published in Beef Research Program Progress Report (1985) No. 2: iv-v

Abstract

The U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (U.S. Meat Animal Research Center) was authorized by Congress on June 16, 1964, thereby creating a single facility that provides an unusual opportunity for making major contributions to the solution of problems facing the U.S. livestockindustry.Developmentof the 35,000-acrefacility started in the spring of 1966 and is continuing at the present time. Phase I construction, consisting of an office-laboratory building for intensive investigations, was completed in January 1971. These facilities provide a physical plant for 42 scientists and about 200 support personnel. Phase II construction, consisting of the Meats Research Laboratory and Agricultural Engineering Building, was completed in October 1977 and provides a physical plant for 25 scientists and about 60 support personnel. Phase III construction will provide facilities for a comprehensive research program of producing, harvesting, handling, storing, and using forages in livestock production systems. Approximately 35 additional scientists and 65 support personnel will be required for this phase. Currently, one-third of the scientific staffing is completed.

Approximately 50 percent of the research program is devoted to beef cattle, 30 percent to swine, and 20 percent to sheep. Current research program objectives require breeding-age female populations of approximately 7,000 cattle (17 breeds), 4,000 sheep (8 breeds), and 600 swine litters (8 breeds) per year.

The research program at the Center is organized on a multidisciplinary basis and is directed toward providing new technology for the U.S. livestock industry by extending investigations into new areas not now being adequately studied. The research program complements research conducted elsewhere by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is cooperative with the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station and other land grant university agricultural experiment stations throughout the country.

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