July 2002

By Kim Newsom, TFBF Communications Intern with information from TDA staff

The cows have come home to metropolitan Nashville. Ellington Agricultural Center, headquarters of Tennessee Department of Agriculture and several other state and federal agencies, is now also home to 25 Angus crossbred heifers. The 200-acre center is hosting these cattle to graze the bottomland pastures through a partnership between Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) and Tennessee Livestock Producers, Inc. (TLP).

"We’re excited to have these top quality animals here at Ellington Agricultural Center," said Justin Henson, farm manager for the Department of Agriculture. "The center’s pasturelands have been under utilized for a long time. This partnership gives us a chance to not only help improve beef cattle in Tennessee but to demonstrate proper management and to help educate the non-farm public that includes our neighbors and visitors. And, we hope to make a little money for the state in the process."

The cattle will graze at the center in exchange for a payment of about 30 cents per pound of average weight gain of the animals over a six-month period. Tennessee Livestock Producers, a livestock marketing service of Tennessee Farm Bureau, will keep ownership of the cattle and sell them at their annual replacement sale in the fall.

The mostly black Angus heifers are about 12 to 14 months old and weigh an average of 870 pounds. During their six-month stay, they are expected to gain an average of 250 to 300 pounds per animal. Once sold on the market, they will be used by cattle farmers to replace older maturing cows. The heifers are expected to calve sometime in the spring.

"These heifers were bought from reputable herds with better genetics," according to TLP general manager Darrell Ailshie. "Since cattle herds in Tennessee are generally more mature than we want them to be, our goal is to try to keep the best cattle in-state. For the farmer, it’s an opportunity to improve genetics and put younger heifers into their cow
herds to improve the overall quality."

TLP program coordinator Kevin Thompson (at right) agreed. He said, "Developing replacement heifers is an extreme expense to the producer. With the program, we are allowing the commercial producers in the state to utilize their land for selling terminal stock." Thompson added that the 4th annual replacement sale will occur at Thompson Station this fall with approximately 300 heifers for sale.

This project with TDA allows Tennessee Livestock Producers to develop more replacement heifers, but also a chance to exhibit proper cattle management, conservation practices, and teach the public about beef cattle, our state’s top agricultural enterprise.

Commissioner of Agriculture Dan Wheeler (at left) said, "It is an effort to upgrade the quality of our cattle herd here in Tennessee, and make the cattle more valuable as an enterprise for Tennessee agriculture. It is our number one agricultural enterprise for the state and I think it’s significant that the Department of Agriculture can have a part in this
small way."

Justin Henson, farm manager added that this program allows cattle producers to learn more about proper management practices. "We are incorporating some Best Management Practices here like fencing the cattle out of the creeks and utilizing stream systems in order to protect the environment."

"Eventually, we want this to be part of an overall educational program for the public and farmers on how conservation, wildlife, and farming go hand in hand."

And the public is already responding to the presence of beef cattle at Ellington Agricultural Center. Henson said that the "neighbors are curious about the project. Some neighbors have an agricultural background and the cattle give them a reminder. Others just want to know what’s going on and learn about the cows."

Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture Louis Buck said, "With about 20,000 school children and adults visiting the Agricultural Museum here each year, we think this will be a great way to integrate our educational programs with the livestock project as an added tour stop."

Henson says that the $2000 or more that the department expects to make will just about cover the cost of fencing and feeding supplies in the first year. He says that the department expects to make a profit in successive years.

"It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved. The taxpayer wins because we’re recouping the cost of maintaining land that would otherwise be idle. The department wins because we’ll use this as an opportunity to demonstrate proper management and conservation. And, the farmer wins because we’re helping to promote Tennessee’s top
agricultural product- beef cattle."

Through developing good beef cattle for Tennessee producers, the Department of Agriculture and Tennessee Livestock Producers are also providing services to the state’s citizens- publicity of the beef industry, proper conservation practices, and more knowledge of beef cattle. With this success, the cows are surely here to stay.