Livestock nutrition is a yearlong commitment for producers to ensure their animals remain healthy. To help producers gain a better understanding of that nutrition, New Mexico State University's Corona Range and Livestock Research Center is hosting a monthly Ranchers Roundtable July 11.

The roundtable will be held at the Southwest Center for Rangeland Sustainability, and agricultural experts will be on hand to help producers develop personal nutrition programs for their livestock.

"Yearly planning of nutritional needs on the ranch is very important to owners and managers," said Shad Cox, manager of NMSU's Corona Range and Livestock Research Center. "Some forethought into ranch resources and stocking objective is truly needed to plan a nutritional program that will match cash flow, livestock needs and pasture resources."

This roundtable is designed to encourage questions dealing with all aspects of nutrition on the ranch, especially planning a year in advance to aid in forward contracting feeds, supplements and commodities, Cox said. The panel can address concerns in mineral nutrition and supplementation, as well as discuss options for early weaning, retained ownership and stockers, and how each will affect livestock production and associated costs.

Panelists can also address specific questions dealing with supplementation needs or deficiencies, troubleshooting instances that may be nutrition related, and discuss options for reducing costs of production.

Panelists scheduled to speak at the July roundtable are: Eric Scholljegerdes, NMSU ruminant nutritionist; Bill Smith, a nutritionist with A.C. Nutrition; Kevin Floyd, a nutritional consultant with A.C. Nutrition; Mike Hubbert, a ruminant nutritionist at NMSU's Clayton Livestock Research Center; and Clint Loest, an NMSU ruminant nutritionist.

Cox said participants will gain a better understanding of livestock nutrition and will receive answers to any questions they ask.

Monthly roundtables are held at the Southwest Center for Rangeland Sustainability to help producers deal with the daily challenges they face with their range and herds. Other topics to be addressed throughout the year include: heifer development, marketing, range management, ranch economics, taxes and brush control.

Registration is not required to attend the workshops. The July roundtable is from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Attendees are welcome to stay as long as needed to get their questions answered. For more information on this or other roundtable seminars, contact Cox at 575-849-1015 or visit http://coronasc.nmsu.edu/.