Southeast Missouri State University opening cattle DNA research lab

Years ago, farmers had a simple way of determining which cows to breed.

"A farmer would say, 'There's a good-lookin' cow. There's a good-lookin' bull. Let's mate 'em,'" said Dr. Mike Aide, chairman of Southeast Missouri State University's Department of Agriculture.

These days, farmers are using DNA sequencing, a focus at Southeast's new Beef Research Facility, to selectively breed cattle to produce higher quality, healthier meat.

The new facility at the David M. Barton Agriculture Research Center near Gordonville, will open at 10 a.m. Friday with a public ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The center will serve as a "living animal laboratory," Aide said.

"This department has always tried to be a community asset, and this just continues that tradition," Aide said.

The beef facility with animal holding pens is next to the existing building at the research farm. The farm is home to a herd of 60 cow-calf pairs, where students can get hands-on farm experience and learn how to sequence animal DNA. With the new facility, cattle will be added to the herd, which will become a mixed herd with Angus-Simmental bloodlines.

Farmer-oriented research aimed at improving farm profitability will be the focus of the new center, a joint project of Southeast's Department of Agriculture, the University of Missouri-Columbia and the University of Missouri Extension.

Through examining DNA sequencing in beef herds, genetic markers can be identified to improve meat quality and feed efficiency. That helps produce better meat products at more affordable prices to consumers, Aide said.

"Animal science, in particular beef, is a major economic sector in Southeast Missouri," Aide said.

Missouri is second in the nation in beef production, behind Texas, he added.

"In Missouri, in particular, the beef industry just doesn't want to produce pounds of meat, they want to produce a delightful dining experience," Aide said.

Funding for the center, which cost about $100,000, was provided by Southeast and through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"This investment by the Department of Agriculture represents a commitment to the beef industry in southern Missouri, where the industry trend is to produce superior cattle at prices affordable by the citizens of Missouri," Aide said.

About 100 students were enrolled in the university's animal science classes last fall.

Southeast has the fastest growing agriculture program in the state, according to Aide. Two years ago, the program had 180 students and now has 240 enrolled. Aide expects to exceed 400 students within the next five years.

Offering an agronomy program at Southeast's regional campuses in Kennett, Sikeston and Malden is helping to push enrollment up, Aide said.

"We're providing an agriculture program that is designed for the agriculture of that region," he said. Those attending Friday's ceremony include U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, Southeast president Dr. Ken Dobbins, Missouri Department of Agriculture deputy director Dennis Baird and USDA area director Greg Batson.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

This is the new beef research facility at the David M. Barton Agriculture Research Center near Gordonville.

Highway 25, Gordonville, MO