Grazingland Animal Nutrition Laboratory

02/18/2025

Young, late pregnant Dorper ewes at the Sonora Research Station.
They are in good shape, and we are supplementing a little protein to
help the rumen bugs better utilize standing dry forage we were able
to grow this summer; the result of timely rain and grazing deferment.
The combination of all this will get them through the cold spell later
this week.
-Doug

02/18/2025

Manure analysis: a game-changer for ranchers!

By understanding what animals are actually consuming, producers can make informed decisions on nutrition management and support sustainable grazing practices.

Texas A&M's Grazingland Animal Nutrition Lab uses manure analysis to provide precise data on forage quality and livestock nutritional demands.

02/13/2025

❗️📣We're thrilled to be featured on BEEF Magazine! 🐂🐂

Thank you, BEEF Magazine, for sharing our work!

Texas A&M Grazingland Animal Nutrition Lab empowers producers with actionable insights on forage and livestock performance.

02/11/2025

Today, we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science! 👩‍🔬🐂💪

We are so proud to recognize the women shaping the future of science, innovation, and discovery. Their passion and dedication drive progress in agriculture, animal nutrition, environmental stewardship, and beyond!

Let's honor their achievements and continue inspiring future generations to break barriers and contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive world!

💡 Who inspires you in science? Share your stories and celebrate the incredible contributions of women in science! 💪

02/11/2025

More to manure than meets the eye!
Learn how the GAN Lab empowers producers to make informed decisions that improve efficiency, enhance land stewardship and reduce costs.

Read all about it in our feature on AgriLife Today, Texas A&M AgriLife's digital magazine and newsroom!

🔗 Check it out here: https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2025/02/10/gan-lab-manure/

Texas A&M's Grazingland Animal Nutrition Lab uses manure analysis to provide precise data on forage quality and livestock nutritional demands.

02/08/2025

👏👏👏👏

Roel Lopez, Ph.D., received the 2025 Conservationist of the Year Award from the Houston Safari Club Foundation.

02/08/2025

01/27/2025

Let's discuss how the GAN Lab can help you make smarter, data-driven decisions for your operation. We can't wait to see you there!

Come see Grazingland Animal Nutrition Laboratory at in San Antonio, Texas | Feb. 4 - 6, 2025

01/21/2025

📢 Exciting Publication Highlight! 🌿

We’re thrilled to share the latest publication: "Nutritional Monitoring of Rangeland Beef Cattle in the Edwards Plateau of Texas Using Region-Specific F***l Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Predictions of Diet Quality", now published in Rangelands.

🌾 Determining the quality of grazed forage remains a critical challenge in livestock nutritional monitoring. This study explores the potential of region-specific f***l near-infrared spectroscopy (FNIRS) diet quality calibrations compared to broader-scale calibrations, focusing on rangeland beef cattle in the Edwards Plateau of Texas. 📖

Read the full paper here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052824000968

A big thank you to the incredible research team and collaborators for advancing the tools and technology that support ranchers and rangeland managers!

01/17/2025

We’re excited to be collaborating with Kimberly Tanguma, a Graduate Research Assistant from the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, on innovative rangeland research!
Her project combines drone-based multispectral imaging with our lab’s nutritional analysis expertise to assess crude protein and digestible organic matter in South Texas native grasses. Using our NIR technology alongside drone imagery, her goal is to assess the relationship between native grasses nutritional content and multispectral data in semi-arid rangelands. This collaboration helps bridge the gap between remote sensing technology and traditional forage analysis methods.
Looking forward to sharing more about how this research will help ranchers and land managers make data-driven decisions for sustainable grazing practices in South Texas rangelands.

01/13/2025

📣Career Development Opportunity📣

Join the Grazingland Animal Nutrition Lab to gain hands on experience in animal nutrition analysis using NIRS technology, perfect for students pursuing animal science and nutrition careers. Flexible scheduling available!

If interested, contact Dr. Barbara Rodrigues at [email protected]

01/09/2025

🤠 Saddle up! We're heading to in San Antonio, Texas and couldn't be more excited! Come visit us at Booth #3108 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center to learn about our latest work in livestock nutrition and sustainable grazing practices. Looking forward to connecting with our fellow ranching and agriculture community! 🐄

Come see Grazingland Animal Nutrition Laboratory at in San Antonio, Texas | Feb. 4 - 6, 2025

01/03/2025

What a fantastic line up of speakers! See y'all Tuesday in San Angelo!!!

01/02/2025

Happy New Year!🎇

We’re excited to announce that the Grazingland Animal Nutrition Laboratory (GAN Lab) has reopened following the holiday break! We are now fully operational and accepting samples for 2025.

Whether you have questions about sample submission, analysis requirements, or our services, our team is here to help. Feel free to reach out via email or phone, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Ready to submit your samples? We’re accepting new submissions and look forward to supporting your analytical needs in the new year.

Contact us:

(254)774-6134

[email protected]

12/24/2024

🎄 Merry Christmas from the GAN Lab Team! 🎄

As we celebrate this holiday season, let’s remember what truly matters—cherished moments with loved ones, gratitude for the blessings of the year, and hope for what’s to come.

We want to take a moment to thank all of you—our ranchers, researchers, and partners—for your continued support and trust in our work. It’s been a privilege to serve and collaborate with you throughout the year.

Looking ahead to 2025, we’re excited to continue providing innovative solutions for grazing animal nutrition and management!

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a New Year filled with health, success, and new opportunities!

Warm regards,
The GAN Lab Team

12/17/2024

If you're looking to build a future in ranching or agriculture, don’t miss Generation Next: Our Turn to Ranch, a 12-week online course!

Registration is open for the Generation Next: Our Turn to Ranch 12-week online course offered Jan. 27-April 20.

12/16/2024

Decking the halls GAN Lab style! 🎄 We celebrated our annual Christmas party with games, good food, and great company. While we missed some of our wonderful team members, the Grazingland Animal Nutrition Lab crew made the most of our holiday gathering. From our scientific family to yours, we’re extending warm wishes for a joyous holiday season and a bright 2025! Special thanks to everyone who made this celebration possible - looking forward to another year of groundbreaking research and fantastic collaborations.

12/10/2024

🌾 9th National Grazing Lands Conference – Expanding Grazing Horizons 🌾

At this year’s 9NGLC, we were honored to present in the session Tools & Technologies for Grazing Lands Stewardship, where we showcased innovative, effective tools for decision-making to ensure the long-term resilience of grazing lands and natural resources.

Topics included:
The 21st Century Grazingland Steward – Dr. Bill Fox
Advancements in NIRS for practical applications in range management – Dr. Doug Tolleson
Use of FNIRS/NUTBAL System on grazing cattle nutrition – Ms. Dudak
Innovative approach to address enteric methane emissions through FNIRS – Dr. Rodrigues
Drone technologies for natural resource monitoring – Dr. Perotto

Together, these advancements provide actionable knowledge, empowering land stewards to foster sustainable and resilient grazing systems. 🌿✨