On the Horizon By MADELINE NEWSOME N.C. State University
My Amazing Grazing Research Experience My name is Madeline Newsome, and I am a rising senior at N.C. State University, majoring in animal science. This past year I became interested and involved with the Amazing Grazing team, the N.C. State University Pasture Based Livestock Education Program, and their work. Growing up on a commercial poultry and beef cattle farm in Stokes County guided my decision to major in animal science, but it has been my work with the Amazing Grazing team
that has helped me find a passion for forage based beef cattle management and nutrition. I seemingly fell into my position with the team while searching for an undergraduate research opportunity that interested me. I was first introduced to the program and its purpose by Dr. Matt Poore, one of the Amazing Grazing leaders. I was instantly captivated by the work they were doing and the team itself. I had never met a group of people so excited and united by a common goal,
and I was eager to be a part of it. Under the guidance of Dr. Matt Poore and Dr. Deidre Harmon, I was given the opportunity to take on an undergraduate research project that assessed and compared characteristics such as yield potential, quality, and persistence of nine selected varieties of tall fescue. With these nine varieties, seven are novel endophyte tall fescue, one is Kentucky-31, or endophyte infected fescue, and the final variety is endophyte free. These tests were conducted at one of N.C. State’s research locations and two NCDA research locations across North Carolina in order to evaluate how the trial results differ in the varying climates. The locations of the trials are the Butner Beef Cattle Field Lab in Bahama, the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville, and the Piedmont Research Station in Salisbury. This research is crucial to farmers and professionals because of the harmful effects of toxic endophyte fescue and Fescue Toxicosis Syndrome, which causes a massive loss of over $1 billion in profits to the beef cattle industry each
year. While Kentucky-31 (KY-31) is widely spread throughout the Southeast and the Fescue Belt due to its high yield and incredible resilience, it can be counterproductive for cattle producers in terms of weight gain, reproductive performance, and overall health of the cattle. While there are many proposed methods to manage these symptoms while continuing to graze toxic endophyte fescue, the objective of my undergraduate research project is to compare many varieties of tall fescue in order to provide comparative data for farmers to make the most informed decision about what to plant in their fields and pastures. Working with the Amazing Grazing team has been incredible, and I feel I am fortunate to be a member. It has been such a great learning experience for me and has driven my desire to not only continue my undergraduate research project but to also branch out and get involved with other forage and cattle based research projects during my senior year.
FORECLOSURE A UCTION Bid on site Saturday, July 18, 2020 • 10:00 a.m. 410+-Acres • Surry County, NC
Located in the Foothills G Bold Stream G Pond G Convenient to I-74/I-77 with view of the Blue Ridge Mountains Cropland G Pastureland G Livestock Facilities G Special Needs Barn – 13,871+/- SF built in 1972 Breeding Barn – 5,895+/- SF built in 2001 G Heifer Barn – 742+/- SF built in 2007 Free Stall Barn – 7,695+/- SF built in 1994, renovated 2007 G Upper Free Stall Barn – 18,776+/- SF built in 2007 Lower Free Stall Barn – 18,776+/- SF built in 2007 G Wean Barn -5,490+/- SF built in 2005 Equipment shed G Shop G Brick home G Frame Home G Offered in parcels from 25 to 140 acres and combinations TERMS: 5% deposit at the auction. Balance not to exceed 30 days. Subject to upset bids and Trustee approval. Preview date: July 9 • 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Appointments available by call the auction firm at 800-442-7906. Farm located at 1174 Pine Ridge Road • Mount Airy, NC 27030
Auction conducted by Rogers Realty & Auction (NCAL 685) 1310 EMS Drive Mount Airy, NC 27030 www.rogersauctiongroup.com The Carolina Cattle Connection
q JULY 2020
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