Merck Animal Health Donates $500,000 to West Texas A&M University

Funding Supports a Feedlot Renovation and Expansion Project to Advance Student Education

MADISON, N.J., May 10, 2022 – Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA (NYSE:MRK), today announced a $500,000 donation to West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) for its feedlot renovation and expansion project at the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences.

            “We are so thankful for Merck Animal Health’s incredible support of WT and our research in animal production, nutrition, management and health,” said John Richeson, Ph.D., Paul Engler Professor of Beef Cattle Feedlot Management at West Texas A&M University. “It’s our mission to develop a center of excellence for beef cattle research and education and to produce sound research outcomes that are critical to the success of the cattle feeding industry.” 

WTAMU’s feedlot, a scale model of larger commercial feedlots in the West Texas region, helps students gain real-life experience with modern feeding systems and advanced technologies. Merck Animal Health is committed to investing resources for training and education for undergraduate, graduate, and veterinary students serving the cattle industry and has a long-standing relationship with WTAMU. Merck Animal Health has provided support for scholarships and internships as well as research projects at the university.

“It’s important for Merck Animal Health to help advance animal health through education and research that is grounded in science in support of the cattle feeding industry,” said John Hutcheson, Ph.D., director of beef technical services, Merck Animal Health. “We’re excited to partner with WT to continue our commitment of developing the industry’s future workforce.”

About Merck Animal Health

For over 130 years, Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

A $500,000 donation from Merck Animal Health will support the renovation and expansion of the West Texas A&M University feedlot, shown here. Image credit: WTAMU.