Southern Great Plains Dairy Consortium
Purpose
To address major research and educational needs of a rapidly expanding dairy industry on the Southern Great Plains of New Mexico and Texas, extending into Oklahoma and Kansas. These efforts are aimed at providing a multidisciplinary federal, industry and state-supported program dedicated to:
- Improved dairy production efficiency through animal nutrition, health and management
- Product safety and biosecurity
- Rapid assay technologies
- Water, air quality and natural resource utilization
- Enhanced forage production and manure/efficient utilization
Relevance
In recent years a large migration of dairies to the Southern Great Plains has occurred from other parts of the United States and from within Texas. Currently, New Mexico ranks eighth and Texas ranks sixth in total milk production, with combined sales of $1.8 billion and a $5 billion economic impact. Tremendous growth of milk production in the area has promoted the development of an excellent dairy infrastructure, including Southwest Cheese in Clovis, New Mexico (2005); Hilmar Cheese plant in Dalhart, Texas (2007); and Pacific Cheese Co. plant in Amarillo, Texas (2008).
Potential Impacts
- Advancing Resources. Generate knowledge and technology to solve dairy industry production, environmental and natural resource issues
- Drug-Resistance Issues. Characterize and mitigate the presence and movement of drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria
- Effect of Emissions. Expand research into emissions affecting air quality as well as economical manure and wastewater management systems
- Energy Conversion. Research diary biomass fuel-to-energy conversion
- Nutrient Improvement. Refine animal nutrient requirements
- Lower Water Use. Develop technologies to reduce groundwater usage per unit of production
- More Education. Expand both Extension and university education programs
Lead Agency: New Mexico State University
Partners: Texas Tech University
Texas A&M University System
USDA-Agricultural Research Service-Bushland
West Texas A&M University
Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
Tarleton State University
USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture