The Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) White Sand Unit is located deep in the heart of Pearl River County. The station sits less than 10 miles east of the Louisiana border and about 50 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico, making White Sand the southernmost experiment station unit for cattle research in Mississippi. Cattle are abundant in this region, with approximately 178,800 head in the USDA-defined Southeast and Coastal region, representing nearly 20 percent of all cattle in the state.

The 440-acre station once researched tung oil, which is used as a water-resistant wood finish, however, Hurricane Camille decimated the tung trees and the station transitioned to beef cattle in the early 1970s. The station has 38 three-acre paddocks for replicated research and 14 pastures ranging from 12 to 48 acres.

The small but productive three-person team conducts research and hosts demonstration field days at the facility. Each one recognizes the significance and responsibility of helping cattle producers in the coastal region with best management practices to increase health and productivity of their herds.

Lakan Guelker is the senior member of the team, working at White Sand since 2018 as a student worker. The Hattiesburg native worked during summers and breaks as she pursued her bachelor's degree in Mississippi State's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. After obtaining her degree, she accepted a position as agricultural technician and then transitioned to research associate at the station.

Guelker, who is pursuing a master's degree in agriculture with an animal and dairy sciences concentration, has been involved in several research projects during her time at the station. She has conducted stocker studies with calves and most recently completed a finishing study, part of her graduate education.

"We wanted to determine if producers could grain finish cattle using non traditional finishing methods by incorporating local commodities within Mississippi," Guelker said. "Our study found that the non-traditional finishing rations were effective, and producers could grain-finish their beef with limited labor, storage, and equipment."

Guelker also has conducted numerous field days to meet producers' needs. On a field day in June 2022, she asked producers what type of research and demonstrations they would like to see. Overwhelmingly, producers noted the need to learn about hay baleage.

"Pearl River County is a big hay-producing county and the need to understand how baleage is used in cow-calf operations was important to our producers," Guelker added.

She worked with equipment operators and hosted a successful hay baleage demonstration in April 2023 with 120 producers in attendance.

For cattleman Rafe Smith, the field day was his first day of work at the White Sand station. The Poplarville native formerly owned a dirt construction business, in addition to his 300 head stocker cattle operation. Now the agricultural technician appreciates the laid-back environment and the proximity to his home.

The newest member of the team, Dr. Barbara Roqueto dos Reis, an assistant professor in animal and dairy sciences, brings a wealth of experience and information to her new role at White Sand.

Dos Reis grew up in a cow-calf operation in the southern part of Brazil. She conducted research at the University of Florida as part of her master's degree from the University of Sao Paulo and earned her Ph.D. at Virginia Tech. She studies the use of technology to monitor cattle nutrition and stress.

Coming onboard in August, dos Reis is already reaching out to producers to determine their needs for research. She has attended two cattlemen's association meetings, one in Lamar County where she implemented a survey to determine producers' needs and one in Hancock County where she presented on weaning strategies.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to conduct research that is applicable to our stakeholders," she said. "Everyone has been so welcoming, and Lakan and Rafe had made the transition so easy for me. They are so knowledgeable and hard workers."

As dos Reis gets established, her research goals are to improve sustainability and production of beef cattle systems. One issue, particularly in South Mississippi, is overcoming heat stress which negatively affects the health of cattle.

"Heat stress will keep cows from grazing, affecting their nutrition and health," she said. "We want to develop strategies to help producers deal with heat stress in cattle, whether that is through nutrition, providing clean water, or providing shade, even artificial shade in pastures if necessary."

Another area of interest for dos Reis is forage quality, particularly strategies to implement mineral supplementation to address deficiencies.

"I will be working with producers to collect forages, water, and liver samples to get a better understanding of mineral deficiencies in the region to help develop strategies to ensure cattle are receiving proper minerals," she said.

One way producers can ensure their cattle are receiving the proper nutrition is through forage testing. The White Sand Unit plants forages and harvests hay to feed the 115 head of cattle and supplements with rye grass in the winter. The team recently planted 160 acres of ryegrass for their cattle.

"Forage quality is so important to cattle nutrition and understanding the deficiencies in forage allows us to address those needs," dos Ries said. "The forage at White Sand tested deficient in copper, sodium, and selenium, so we are looking at ways to supplement those nutrients without harming the environment."

As a unit within the MSU Coastal Research and Extension Center, White Sand is providing information to producers to use in their own operations and becoming a regional resource to cow-calf operations.

"We want to support our community and region with information to make them productive and profitable," dos Reis added. "For forage testing, mineral supplementation, nutrition, development, any of your questions, we want to be a resource for South Mississippi."