The livestock operation at the Freeman Ranch serve two main purposes 1) the use of labratory animals for the animal science teaching and research programs in the Agriculture Department at Texas State University and 2) as commercial livestock enterprises used to provide income to offsetting the ranch operating expenses. The university strives to operate the ranch as a commercial cow-calf cattle operation, but the teaching program and research are our first priority. The main livestock enterprise is a crossbred cow-calf cattle operation, with small, supplemental herds of sheep and swine kept for teaching purposes.

In the commercial cow-calf operation, there are 143 mature crossbred cows and 54 replacement heifers. The cows are mainly a Brangus-Beefmaster cross with Gelbvieh influence. The Ranch currently owns seven Gelbvieh bulls and one Brangus bull. For educational purposes, the ranch has two 60 day breeding seasons which provide fall and spring calves that are uses for teaching labs.

The sheep flock allows students to study herd management, fiber analysis of wool, and heath care management. The sheep flock consists of 42 fine wool females and four medium wool females. Each year lambs are sold to 4-H and FFA students and at market for replacement females.

The Freeman Ranch currently manages Boer cross goats with 50 Boer cross nannys.