Range Cow Research Center
Our Facility
The Department of Animal Sciences' Range Cow Research Center is used for cattle nutrition and reproduction research studies. It is also used in cooperative studies with researchers in Veterinary Medicine and Entomology. It consists of two units; North and South Cow Research Ranges. Most of the acreage surrounds the west half of Lake Carl Blackwell, west of Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Our Purpose
The Range Cow Research Center is focused on providing applied research answers, timely extension educational programs and hands-on cow/calf management experiences for graduate and undergraduate students. Estimated service of the facility is 85% research and 15% extension.
The research program includes component projects as well as systems studies investigating beef cow nutrition, reproduction, genetics, carcass quality and associated interactions. Research capabilities include replicated pasture experiments, replicated pen studies including water intake, individual feed intake and feed efficiency measurement, individual beef cow supplementation and greenhouse gas measurement for individual animals.
North Cow Research Range
Our Facilities
The North Cow Research Range consists of approximately 2,800 acres (10% wooded) with 160 acres bermudagrass and the remaining in native rangeland.
Our Herd
The unit is the location of our beef cattle breeding research program. It supports approximately 200 fall-calving cows and 40 to 50 replacement heifers. Calves are weaned in June or early July and grazed for about 90 days on summer pasture at the unit prior to being shipped to a feed yard for finishing.
Herd Manager
Have questions? Contact the herd managers for the North Cow Research Range.
South Cow Research Range
Our Land
The South Cow Research Range consists of approximately 1,800 acres of native range (15% wooded) and 85 acres of bermudagrass. This unit is equipped with one individual feeding barn with 32 stanchions, a processing/equipment storage building that also serves as the office, and two animal handling facilities.
Our Herd
This unit supports approximately 175 commercial, spring-calving beef cows and 40 replacement heifers. All calves are weaned at the unit and preconditioned/grazed for 45 to 60 days. After weaning and preconditioning, steers are either shipped directly to a feed yard for finishing or grazed from December through April on leased wheat pasture prior to entering the feed yard.
Herd Manager
Have questions? Contact the herd manager for the South Cow Research Range.
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Highway 86 Area
The Highway 86 area has an individual feeding barn identical to those at the headquarters, covered cattle scales and working facilities and limited, but adequate, permanent cattle sorting facilities. The 380-acre pasture located just west of this area is used only for temporary grazing of cattle. Section 32 has one permanent holding pen for small groups of cattle.
Weighing is conducted with portable scales and corral equipment. This area is used primarily for less intensive studies because of its lack of facilities.
Contact Us
Do you have questions about our facility? Please contact us to learn more.
North Range Herd Managers: Jay Edens
South Range Herd Manager: Mike Major
Facility Supervisor: David Lalman