Texas A&M debuts biotech facility for livestock research, outreach

BRYAN, Texas — Texas A&M University held a ribbon cutting ceremony this week for a $13 million state-of-the-art livestock reproduction facility located at the college’s satellite campus, Rellis. The new center, formally known as the Animal Reproductive Biotech Center, will highlight the importance of Texas in the nation’s livestock production, as well as help to showcase Texas A&M as a leader in agricultural research.

With the new developments to be made at this reproduction facility, Texas A&M said it aims to build on the trust of its partners by providing solutions for sustainable livestock production systems. Donor support came from Merck and numerous former students.

Dr. Cliff Lamb, the director of Texas A&M University Research, started the ceremony, stating, “This advanced facility will be an important new tool in addressing animal reproduction in the U.S. and around the world, especially given our cattle inventory numbers are as low as they’ve been in the last 70 years. In addition to that we are the largest sheep and goat producer in the U.S.”

Completed amid growing concerns for declining cattle herd sizes due to the encroachment of the new world screwworm, the facility comes with 12,600 square feet designated for research, and an additional 13,000 square feet for animal holding and load out. Research will primarily be focused on cattle and other ruminant species. Molecular genetic tools will be used for pregnancy diagnosis and development support to advance livestock reproduction.

The unveiling ceremony held Tuesday was hosted by various speakers from the university who were instrumental in garnering support for the facility, and each had a vision for the impact of the research. They addressed the significance of the facility in the university’s role in agrilife research, the importance in maintaining the livestock production market in Texas, and the need to continue research to maintain the reliable food source for the country.

“We support every part of the agricultural value chain, and we reach agricultural producers in every Texas county,” stated Dr. Jeffrey Savell, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Science. “Food security is national security, and in Texas where livestock plays such an important part, research from this facility will help that nation be more secure.” 

Texas A&M acknowledges that it is uniquely positioned leading agricultural research.

“We have a rich history in reproductive science going back over 100 years of folks really pioneering the way, and still today,” said Ky Pohler, Associate Professor of Animal Science.

“Agriculture is going to have a good presence here, just as it has forever at Texas A&M University,” added the school system’s chancellor, John Sharp.

Livestock is the leading market in Texas, incentivizing preservation for the economy. Agriculture is the state’s second-most valuable industry, with well over 100 million acres in farmland.

Looking toward the future this facility will shape the learning for new and continuing students.

“I think over the next 20 years, the students that are here now, but also the ones that are in middle school now will come here and will have an opportunity to learn from the greatest group of scientists in the world, but also in such an amazing facility. Beyond that, the influence that those will have on the next generations,” said Dr. Clay Mathis, Head Professor of Animal Science.

Tahja Sims serves as the 2025 American Farmland Trust Agriculture Communications Intern at AGDAILY, with a focus on helping to amplify diversity and minority voices in agriculture. Tahja is currently an agricultural economics major and senior at Texas A&M University. She has served as an intern with the U.S. House of Representatives and is a member of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) organization.