The cattle industry is a significant part of Oregon's economy, contributing over $900 million annually. It consistently ranks first or second among the state’s most-valued agricultural commodities, providing numerous employment opportunities and supporting economic stability throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Oregon State University, through its Agricultural Experiment Station and Extension Service, helps maintain a robust and sustainable cattle industry in Oregon, benefiting both the economy and the environment.
Approximately 15 million acres of rangeland and pastureland are used for grazing cattle in Oregon. Most of the state’s estimated 11,000 cattle ranches are in Southern and Eastern Oregon, particularly in Malheur, Morrow, Harney, Klamath and Lake counties. These areas offer vast rangelands and timberlands where cattle can graze, which helps maintain healthy plant communities and can reduce the risk and/or severity wildfires that continue to grow and frequency.
Oregon State University, through its Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) and Extension Service, helps maintain a robust and sustainable cattle industry in Oregon, benefiting both the economy and the environment.
The OSU Cattle Plan, a comprehensive needs assessment, was developed in partnership with industry leaders and identifies critical areas for research and outreach. It focuses on animal reproduction, health, nutrition, welfare, grazing management, environmental issues, technology and economics.
The plan was developed in collaboration with numerous stakeholder and stakeholder groups including the advisory committees for the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center (EOARC), Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, Oregon Dairy Farmers Association, Oregon Beef Council and Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council. This partnership ensures that the research aligns with the needs of the industry.
Researchers and Extension faculty at EOARC, with AES branch stations in Burns and La Grande, conduct extensive research on cattle to support sustainable and efficient beef production.
Here are some key areas of OSU’s cattle research at EOARC and by AES and Extension faculty across the state:
- Optimizing cattle diets to improve growth rates, health and overall productivity, and grazing practices that aim to balance livestock production with rangeland health, ensuring sustainable use of resources.
- Breeding strategies to enhance reproductive efficiency and genetic quality of cattle herds and studies on best practices for calving to reduce mortality rates and improve calf health.
- Preventing and managing common cattle diseases to improve herd health and development and evaluation of vaccination protocols to protect cattle from infectious diseases.
- Practices that reduce the environmental impact of cattle production, such as managing manure and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Virtual fencing to improve cattle management and reduce the need for physical barriers. This technology allows for more flexible and precise control of grazing patterns.
- Expansion of the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program, which guides producers toward continuous improvement using science-based production practices including production, market and financial/profit risk management to assure cattle well-being, beef quality and safety throughout Oregon.
OSU’s cattle research and Extension efforts benefit the public by enhancing food security, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and supporting rural economies through improved cattle health and productivity.