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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1986)
Page 4A'he Battalion/Tuesday, February 18, 1986 i A&M prof reports Texas big game causing problems University News Service Hunting exotic big game ani mals has brought big income to Texas landowners, but improper stocking is now creating some big headaches, a Texas A&M wildlife specialist says. The exotics, such as axis deer from India, are causing problems in the Edwards Plateau where some ranchers stocked the ani mals but aren’t hunting them on a regular basis, said Dr. William Sheffield of Texas A&M’s De partment of Wildlife and Fisher ies Sciences. “Another popular species is the sika deer from Asia — and hunt ers will pay anywhere from $650 to $ 1,500 to take a sika,” Sheffield said. “From the standpoint of competition for food, they re quire delicate management, yet we really know very little about their feeding ecology. “Because there are too many animals, some of the ranges look more like rock gardens than good range land,” he said. “We do know that surplus ani mals should be harvested on a regular basis and many landown ers aren’t doing that. Their num bers should be kept within the carrying capacity of their ranges so there will be enough vegeta tion not only for the exotics, but also for the native game and live stock.” Also, many exotic animals a’re escaping enclosed lands due to in adequately maintained fences. Sheffield is concerned the exotics will out-compete native game such as the white-tailed deer for food and space. Sheffield said increasing de mand by gourmet restaurants for exotic meats has potential as an option for harvesting surplus exotic game. Texas ranges support about 120,000 hoofed exotics rep resenting 94 species, with 67 per cent of them living in the Ed wards Plateau and 18 percent in South Texas, Sheffield said, cit ing the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department census. At over 38,000, the axis deer population is the largest of the exotics, fol lowed by the blackbuck antelope, which number about 19,000. Large populations also include the nilgai antelope in South Texas with an estimated popula tion statewide of 15,000 and the aoudad sheep, which number be tween 14,000 and 15,000. “If a dependable market for exotic meat develops, it will pro vide an option for handling large surpluses,” Sheffield said. Laboratory tests on the meat of nilgai, axis, sika and blackbuck in dicate their meat is equivalent in moisture content, and lower in cholesterol, fat and calories than the meat of many domestic ani mals, he said. Sheffield’s book will contain in formation about the life histories of the different exotics living in Texas, their origin, their distribu tion and management. “Exotics are becoming increas ingly popular,” he said. “If prop erly managed, they have the po tential for increasing the value of ranch operations. Presently, how ever, few ranches with exotics are realizing a profit from their ani mals.” Exotic wildlife center under wd Teaching facility to bring a new breed of animal to A By JULIA COKER Reporter White-tailed deer, javelinas, coy otes and even a lion have come to Texas A&M — some may call it a wild idea, but it is reality. The Wildlife and Exotic Animal Center at the College of Veterinary Medicine is finally underway and re ady for business. Dr. Stephen Seager, a professor in veterinary physiology and pharma cology, initiated the project two years ago. The center will be a teach ing and research facility for the care and management of wildlife. “We want to teach our veterinary students and graduate students how to handle the medicine of these ani mals,” Seager said, “to give students hands-on experience of working with them, and that’s no easy job.” Seager said the center’s objectives are to study disease and disease con trol, reproduction, nutrition, behav ior, management and husbandry of these wild and exotic animals. “Because there has been a huge increase in knowledge and desire to start working with wild animals,” Seager said. “The students at A&M will have an advantage and really benefit from this program.” Close to $700,000 has been raised for the center which is about a $1.5 million project, and all funds have come from private donations, Seager said. The John W. Mecom family do nated around 400 exotic animals to A&M over two years ago. Because the veterinary school did not have the facilities needed to keep these animals, they sold the animals to an exotic animal rancher, Louis A. Wa ters. Waters provided the veterinary school the “seed money” to start the center, Seager said. And the University then allotted a 20-acre area northeast of the College of Veterinary Medicine where the center is being built. “Because this was a whole new concept for the veterinary school, it took a long time to get the momen- . turn and money needed to get on with the center,” Seager said. He proposed the idea of a center to Dr. George Shelton, dean of vet erinary medicine, and Dr. J.D. Mc- Crady, professor and head of the veterinary physiology and pharma cology department. Seager said they are keen on new ideas and the wildlife center couldn’t have been built without them. “Someone had to okay the project and lend me the time to do it.” he said. “The amount of time I’ve been spending on the center, one might think I was a construction foreman instead of a professor.” The area A&M gave for the pro ject has-two run-down houses on the property. Six veterinary students have been reconstructing the houses. Seager said the student’s work is not only excellent but more econom ical. One of the houses will be used as Seager’s office and the other will be a teaching museum. About $ 180,000 in trophy animals donated to the museum will allow students to work closely with various species, Seager said. The center also will feature re search labs, holding facilities, quar antine areas, a rotunda for the hold ing and moving of animals, clinical facilities, grazing areas, a reptile pool and an extensive open flight aviary for birds. The center’s current occupants in clude white-tailed deer, javelinas and coyotes. And the center will soon acquire a lion. Dr. Duane Kraemer, professor in veterinary physiology and pharma cology, owns an African lioness, De lilah. Now the lioness lives at Kraemer’s home, but will be moved to the wild life center as soon as her quarters are ready, Seager said. The center soon will be getting some elk, eland and even some 11a- A white-tailed deer at Texas A&M mas, Seager said. He would also like to get some exotic “hoofstock” such as oryx and antelope. He said there is a possibility the center will be get ting some cheetahs. “There is a great danger: ing»these wild animals and out be extremeh careful. I'veK pie get hurt bv them and you only get hurt once andthtr, “Cheetahs are expensive and hard to come by, but I’m not saying it’s not a possibility," Seager said. “We will accept all animals donated to the center as long as they are compatible with our grouping. dead.’ Seager said the center in the biological researchob! live and exotic animals. Hea looking forward to the center and its many achievt® ATA will A&M profs course heightens career awareness By CARA JERNIGAN Reporter A job is the pot of gold’at the end of a college student’s rainbow. But few college courses deal directly with helping a student find and secure employment after graduation. Dr. Howard Hesby, associate pro fessor of animal science at Texas A&M, is trying to change this situa tion. Hesby is the innovator and orga nizer of an 11-year program at A&M that deals directly with acquainting students with the agribusiness indus try and teaching skills to help stu dent’s secure employment. Hesby has geared this program, which be calls the Animal Science Acquaintance Course, towards soph omores and juniors; but the class is open to students in any classification in any major. “Though we are designed for ag majors, the material we cover is essentially the basics for any career plan. ” — Dr. Howard Hesby, as sociate professor of ani mal science. class more like the everyday business world instead of just another class. Hesby says he tries to set a profes sional atmosphere by having the class meet on Wednesday evenings and by providing a catered meal. “I also encourage the students to dress professionally,” he says. “By combining the meal and the dress, I feel the students gain more confi dence in a business-type situation.” “It is amazing to see the students who have come out of this class in a real interview. ” — Dr. Howard Hesby. terviews with various agriculture companies. After these mock inter views, Hesby says the representatives from the companies critique the stu dents on their performance. Before Hesby instructs the stu dents in the correct procedures for writing resumes and interviewing for jobs, he first tries to expose the students to job opportunities in the agribusiness world. Hesby says he begins the semester with a student self-analysis. “I encourage anyone to take this course,” Hesby says. “Though we are designed for ag majors, the material we cover is essentially the basics for any career plan. The only aspect of the program directly re lated to agriculture is the speakers.” “I use speakers to try and get the students turned on to some specific career field and make them aware of the endless career opportunities,” Hesby says. “Hopefully, by gearing this class towards sophomores and juniors, if a student likes a particular career field but is not in that curric ulum, then he has time to change his major or take the needed elctives.” “This assessment helps a student determine if he is best suited for in side or outside work and whether he should work with others or alone,” he says. speaker per class meeting,” Hesby says. “I try and bring in the role models; tbe people who, not so many years ago, were students at A&M and are now successes in their respective careers. I try and make the students realize that they are ca pable of doing the same thing.” “The students also have available an audio tape of their interview and they are encouraged to listen to it to understand their weaknesses and their strong points,” Hesby says. Hesby says he tries to get the stu dents to take this assignment se riously because, he says, “You base your whole career on your likes and dislikes.” Hesby says he tries to make his After the students have com pleted the self-analysis, Hesby then tries to acquaint them with the lead ers in the agriculture industry. “I try and have at least one A few weeks into the semester, Hesby requires the students to write letters of inquiry to three companies that they are interested in working for. Hesby says these letters are to acquaint the students, again, with dealing directly with business peo ple. In order to locate the different career opportunities, Hesby says the students must become familiar with the Placement Center. Larry Proctor, sales representa tive for Elanco Products Company, a participant in the mock interviews and a class speaker, says, “This is an outstanding class for students. It is a super opportunity to prepare for a career opportunity.” He says he does not know of an other class or another professor that gives so much to the development of the students. “It is amazing to see the students who have come out of this class in a real interview,” he says. “They are so self-confident and knowledgable.” Towards the end of the semester, the students participate in mock in- He says he feels every student should take advantage of this class and of all the benefits it has to offer. Police follow presidential I Z to make arrei 501 ble essit p.m reqi. HIK p.m on ;; Reei jour U\‘) INC ] ON —Apckt nle t tci followed a trail of pres^j names Monday — Press! Day — in order to arrest glary suspect, a police spoil said. According to Jim Willei case began about 2:20a.m. Of fu el Joe Bond was cafe fels. I EAT the the scene of a burglary at 22( senhower in Arlington. A stereo had beentakeni break-in, Willett said. He Bond got the name of a p suspect from the victim ral witnesses and was man liv ed on Van BurenStrt -IRQ Ulgi Blot info ISTC Bro at 7 in Juniors, Seniors, Vets, Meds 6* Grads Last chance to have your picture taken for the ’86 Aggieland Photos will be taken until February 21 at Yearbook Associate’s studio, above Campus Photo Center at Northgate. ' Office hours 8:30-12:00, 1:00-4:30 No pictures will be taken at tbe Pavilion tbis year At the Van Burenaddress idents told the officer tli subject had moved to an mem on Washington Street spokesman said. Bond wd! the address and confronte) suspect, Willett said. The suspect led Bond '&■ the street to another apar# complex — the “LincolnCn* — where the stolen stereo* found inside a car, Willett^ - Order YourTAMii Commemorative Diniwf , Maroon approxiraaf: in diaitf $14 95 plus 2.50 shipping, handling and tax 20% of 14 95 will go tot* TAMU General Scholarshif Send check or VISA/MASTERf number to: Texas Collections P.O. Box 9834 College Station, 1X77^ gall THE **1— EPISCOW W CHURCH & STUDEKTCSlX Announce CLASSES FOR THOSE INTERESTED PREPARING FOR CONFIRMATION and/or learning moreabo Episcopal Church CUSSES MEET IN THE CHURCH Beginning 8:00 p.m Tues., Feb. 18 906 Jersey College Station (So. Side of Campus) Ph. 696-1726