Langston University

Collaborators: Dr. Tilahun Sahlu, Dr. Terry Gipson, Dr. Steve Hart, Dr. Roger Merkel, Dr. Art Goetsch, and Dr. Lionel Dawson

Authors: Dr. Steve Hart, Dr. Roger Merkel

Tilahun Sahlu

• Postdoctoral training (Ruminant Nutrition, University of California, Davis/USDA-ARS, Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE)
• Ph.D. (Animal Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD),
• M.S. (Dairy Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD),
• B.S. (Animal Science, Haile Selasse I University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia).

Current Position: Director, E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University.

Current Responsibilities: Provide leadership for E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University.

Terry Gipson

• Postdoctoral training (Animal Science, Langston University, Langston, OK)
• Ph.D. (Animal Science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL),
• M.S. (Animal Science, University of Missouri, Colimbia, MO),
• B.S. (Agriculture, University of Missouri, Colimbia, MO).

Current Position: Extension Leader, E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University.

Current Responsibilities: Coordinates extension activities for E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University.

Steve Hart

• Ph.D. (Animal Science, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA),
• M.S. (Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX),
• B.S. (Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX).
• A.A. (Paris Junior College, Paris, TX)

Current Position: Research Scientist and Extension Specialist, E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University.

Current Responsibilities: Conducts research and delivers extension activities for E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University.

Roger Merkel

• Postdoctoral training (Animal Science, Langston University, Langston, OK)
• Ph.D. (Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC),
• M.S. (Animal Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL),
• B.S. (Agriculture, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL).

Current Position: International Activities Leader, E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University.

Current Responsibilities: Coordinates international activities for E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University.

Arthur Goetsch

• Postdoctoral training (Ruminant Nutrition, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK)
• Ph.D. (Animal Science, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM),
• M.S. (Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO),
• B.S. (Agricultural Science, Illinois State University, Normal, IL).

Current Position: Research Leader, E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University.

Current Responsibilities: Coordinates research activities for E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University.

Lionel Dawson

• Residency (Theriogenology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO)
• M.S. (Theriogenology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA),
• BVSc. (Veterinary Science, Madras Veterinary College, Madras, India),
• B.S. (Pre-Veterinary Science, Madras Christian College, Madras, India).

Current Position: Associate Professor, Theriogenology - Oklahoma State University and E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research, Langston University.

Current Responsibilities: Teaches clinical medicine to veterinary students and provides veterinary support at Langston University farm.

The University: Langston University is located in Logan county, OK. Founded in 1897, Langston University had for its mission at that time to provide a higher education, within limits, for African Americans, who were not permitted to enroll at other colleges and universities in Oklahoma Territory. "The mission of Langston University, a land grant institution with an urban mission, is to provide excellence in instruction leading to associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees, thus placing its graduates in a highly favorable position to enter graduate/professional school and meet changing demands, both domestic and international, or rural and urban society. In its multidimensional construct, Langston University offers instruction, research, and community service as it also seeks to identify and address vital issues of concern."

Langston University is the home of the E (Kika) de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research, which is a world-class research institute with extensive animal facilities. The Institute began in 1986 with a mandate of dairy goat research and extension activities. In the late 1980's, the Institute enlarged its research and extension mandate to include fiber production and in the mid-1990's to include meat production. The Institute has a herd of 80 milking Alpine does, 150 Angora goats, 200 Spanish goats, 280 Spanish X Boer, 28 Tennessee Stiff leg goats and 45 fullblood Boer goats. Major extension activities at Langston University include an annual Goat Field Day, Langston Goat Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) Program, grazing demonstrations, the annual meat buck performance test and various goat workshops on artificial insemination and on internal parasite control. In 2005, AIGR held its twentieth annual Goat Field Day to inform and educate potential, novice and veteran goat producers. A total of more than 350 participants from 12 different states attended. The Langston Goat Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) Program operates under the umbrella of the Texas DHI. In February 1998, the Langston DHI program became the first DHI program to introduce forms and reports in goat terminology to dairy goat producers in the United States