Tech researchers try to make a difference in cattle production by Steve Estes With today’s advancements in medical technology, most people think about their own health and what is being done for its improvement. When a mother has a child, one of the most important thoughts that goes through her mind is giving it the best food that she can provide so that it can grow up to be healthy and strong. Just like children, cattle from the time they are born need the best feed possible to be healthy to avoid disease and illness. Texas Tech’s animal science department is working toward correcting an age-old water problem that is affecting the performance of feedlot cattle that have been raised in Eastern New Mexico. High amounts of sulfur have been found in livestock water in Eastern New Mexico causing long term disability effects in cattle. When cattle drink water containing high amounts of sulfur, the sulfates combine with hydrogen to form an acid known as hydrogen sulfide gas. The gas then gets absorbed into the bloodstream leading to the brain and sometimes causes a disease known as polioencephalomacia. This disease attacks the part of the brain that controls motor functions causing uncoordination, muscle twitching and convulsions. These disabilities sometimes are not noticed until the cattle have been sold and placed into feedlots. Jeff Mikus, a doctoral student from Midlothian said, "it has been noticed that calves from New Mexico don’t perform well in feedlots." Mikus, along with C. Reed Richardson, professor of animal science, are teaming up with Friona Industries and Hi Pro Feeds to try to correct the problem. Mikus and Richardson are planning to supplement copper in feed rations to offset sulfur intake by the cattle. If supplementing copper works, it will bond with the sulfates to keep from forming the hydrogen sulfide gas. Mikus and Richardson will work closely with the Red Bluff Ranch near Roswell, N.M. The ranch will provide water samples needed for their research. The water samples will be analyzed to determine how much sulfur the cattle are ingesting. During the project, several steers will be fed the water along with test amounts of a copper supplement. The steers will be followed through the feedlot process. When the project is completed, Mikus and Richardson hope to have a balanced feed ration that ranchers will be able to feed without changing their normal ranching habits.