August 31, 2012
Colorado State University team reproduces purebred Yellowstone bison for New York zoo Colorado scientists have produced a genetically pure Yellowstone bison, launching an embryo transfer project to resurrect wild herds that 100 years ago nearly went extinct. The 125-pound reddish-brown male calf unveiled Thursday at the Bronx Zoo in New York is expected to be the first of many bison that do not carry genetic traits of cattle. Zoo officials say they’re working with conservationists to acquire vast tracts of prairie grasslands around the western U.S. — land where newly engineered pure herds can graze, wallow and propagate. The idea is to produce enough calves to also supply other zoos and species conservation groups working to restore bison herds, said Pat Thomas, curator and associate director of the Bronx Zoo. Most of the 200,000 or so bison in North America today are genetically tainted due to interbreeding with cattle.

Colorado State University team reproduces purebred Yellowstone bison for New York zoo

Colorado scientists have produced a genetically pure Yellowstone bison, launching an embryo transfer project to resurrect wild herds that 100 years ago nearly went extinct.

The 125-pound reddish-brown male calf unveiled Thursday at the Bronx Zoo in New York is expected to be the first of many bison that do not carry genetic traits of cattle.

Zoo officials say they’re working with conservationists to acquire vast tracts of prairie grasslands around the western U.S. — land where newly engineered pure herds can graze, wallow and propagate.

The idea is to produce enough calves to also supply other zoos and species conservation groups working to restore bison herds, said Pat Thomas, curator and associate director of the Bronx Zoo. Most of the 200,000 or so bison in North America today are genetically tainted due to interbreeding with cattle.

1:31pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Ze2xjxSVyeCP
(Notes: 56)
  
Filed under: genetics yellowstone bison cattle science colorado state university csu news interbreeding species 
August 15, 2012
Bad Wyoming ground squirrels invading Colorado’s Western Slope The squirrel known around here as “Wyoming” can best be described as a dumpy and bossy bachelor boy. Wyoming has been digging burrows in research plots at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory and has been aggressively attacking and running off a cuter, less destructive chipmunk-like cousin that used to claim this high mountain hillside as his home. The Wyoming squirrel doesn’t much like trying to play cute with humans and has been observed actually wrestling down its chipmunk-like cousins.

Bad Wyoming ground squirrels invading Colorado’s Western Slope

The squirrel known around here as “Wyoming” can best be described as a dumpy and bossy bachelor boy.

Wyoming has been digging burrows in research plots at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory and has been aggressively attacking and running off a cuter, less destructive chipmunk-like cousin that used to claim this high mountain hillside as his home.

The Wyoming squirrel doesn’t much like trying to play cute with humans and has been observed actually wrestling down its chipmunk-like cousins.

12:08pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Ze2xjxRTrV6t
(Notes: 12)
  
Filed under: news animals squirrels environment habitat range extinction The West ranching cattle livestock research violent bossy not cute 
May 5, 2012
Beer mash fattening cows, trimming costs in Colorado Explosive growth in Colorado’s craft-brewing industry produces not only more beer, but more beer byproducts. That means the hamburger you eat next week may come from a steer happily fed last week with brewing leftovers. Using spent grains for livestock feed dates to the advent of beer. But with corn and other commodity prices sky high, feedyards increasingly are using brewing byproducts to help fatten cattle in preparation for slaughter.

Beer mash fattening cows, trimming costs in Colorado

Explosive growth in Colorado’s craft-brewing industry produces not only more beer, but more beer byproducts.

That means the hamburger you eat next week may come from a steer happily fed last week with brewing leftovers.

Using spent grains for livestock feed dates to the advent of beer. But with corn and other commodity prices sky high, feedyards increasingly are using brewing byproducts to help fatten cattle in preparation for slaughter.

11:32am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Ze2xjxKwX1gt
(Notes: 18)
  
Filed under: Beer craft beer cows news cattle colorado grain front range brewery alcohol business 
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