Research - Cattle
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Oregon Forage and Byproduct Library - Oregon State University. 1998. Ron Hathaway, Klamath Extension Service, Diane Caroll, OSU Animal Sciences, and Tim Delcurto, Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center.
Utilization of lipid by primiparous beef heifers during the postpartum period. 1997. S.J. Filley, H.A. Turner, and F. Stormshak. OSU and Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center.
Soap Creek Phone: 541/745-5955 Office
Unit Supervisor: Clint Sexson
Unit Management Team Chair: TBA
The Department of Animal Sciences operates two beef ranches near Corvallis. The Soap Creek Ranch (1,880 acres) is 11 miles north of the OSU campus while the Berry Creek Ranch (1,000 acres) is 15 miles north of campus. Approximately 65% of these ranches are open grasslands utilized primarily for forage production and the balance is forested. Among many other uses, these units provide the opportunity for forage utilization, sustainable use, and riparian grazing research. Although these two units are not adjoining properties, they are operated by the beef manager and undergraduate student employees as one unit.
Each ranch has multiple pastures and separate facilities utilized for research, student projects, classes, and general maintenance of the beef herds. Facilities include scales, covered processing areas, and hay barns. Two separate herds are currently maintained, approximately 100 cows bred to calve in the spring and an equal number bred to calve in the fall. The majority of these cows are crossbred commercial cows, however, a purebred Red Angus herd (15 cows) is maintained within the Fall calving group and a Registered Black Angus (25 cows) herd is maintained within the Spring calving group. Additionally, stocker cattle from the Corvallis herds and other OSU beef ranches in the state are grazed on these units in spring and early summer. All cattle herds are used to conduct research, classes, student projects and extension activities.
The Department also has facilities on campus only two blocks from Withycombe Hall. The facilities are utilized very actively for teaching and research. This facility contains a small cattle feedlot, feed storage bins, and numerous research pens including Calan feeding gates. Additionally, there are two covered cattle processing areas and scales at this campus unit.
The Harvey Ranch/OSU Animal Sciences
Located 11 miles west of Paisley, Oregon, a four and one-half hour drive from OSU, this eastern Oregon ranch consists of 1,200 acres and public land permits for spring and summer grazing. The original homestead provided 640 acres of pasture land for sheep, but through the years additional acreage has been added and, since 1917, the ranch has been producing high-quality beef cattle.
The ranch was donated to OSU in November, 1987 by Glenn and Mildred Harvey. The ranch is operated and managed by the OSU Foundation. The cow-calf to yearling operation handles about 350 Hereford X Shorthorn cows in the winter and spring on meadowlands that grow native meadow hay that includes timothy, clover, sedges, and rushes. To allow the grass to produce hay, the cattle are moved onto BLM land shortly after branding in early April. They are then rotated onto Forest Service land and range land for the rest of the grazing season. Much of the hill country has been seeded with crested-wheat grass, a hardy graze-resistant plant.
Management practices include alternate day/night feeding of grass and alfalfa hay to the yearlings and a thorough record-keeping system that has contributed to the 200-pound weight improvement in yearlings over the past 30 years. High-quality commercial bulls have been purchased and an artificial insemination program has been initiated for the heifers.
Internships are available to students with majors in the College of Agricultural Sciences, providing practical hands-on experience in the beef industry. The ranch affords an excellent opportunity for students from various fields to work together and combine efforts on a variety of projects, and also enables graduate students to conduct agricultural research in watershed management, semi-arid forage production, and various aspects of ranch management.
Facilities: 1 large barn, 1 calving shed, 1 shop, corral - three large pens, 3 smaller sorting pens, 1 sorting alley, 1 scale system adjacent to corral, Powder River tub and squeeze chute system, 1 hay shed, 1 300 hd capacity feedlot.
