Clinical experience is provided in health care facilities in Amarillo, Canyon and surrounding areas. Students may pursue a bachelor of science degree with a major in agribusiness, agricultural business and economics, animal science, plant science or general agriculture. The division offers a preprofessional program in veterinary medicine as well as the Master of Science and Master of Agriculture degrees. Montgomery directs the Center as well as the Cattlemen's Carcass Data Service, a service of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. The information is computerized and distributed to participating cattlemen.
Producers use the information to improve breeding and management practices.
To date, the service has collected data on more than 100,000 beef carcasses. Montgomery's long-term goal is to provide data to cattle breeders, feeders and others to make more of the beef purchased in supermarkets consistent, particularly in tenderness and marbling. Dr. Louis Perino, professor of immunology, health and management, and Dr. David Parker, assistant professor of environmental science, are studying how cattle nutrition, health and environmental impacts interact. Perino has developed a veterinary microbiology lab, and Parker has developed an environmental lab.