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Ferguson College of Agriculture

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Our Facility

The Purebred Beef Cattle operation is one of the unique experiences which the OSU Department of Animal and Food Sciences can offer to animal science students and potential recruits relative to other universities across the country.
The educational aspect of producing, promoting and merchandising genetically superior, high-quality seed stock is a vital part of a program that continues to enjoy a national reputation for excellence in teaching, and an important factor that contributes to the outstanding quality of students and alumni from our department.

Our Purpose

The OSU Purebred Beef Center offers the most advanced and superior operation of any land grant university. The facility offers teaching, research, extension education and marketing benefits to the students of OSU and the beef industry of Oklahoma.

About Us

Our Land

Purebred beef cattle are maintained at two locations: the Purebred Beef Cattle Center, located on 160 acres three miles west of Stillwater on State Highway 51, and the “purebred range” consisting of 1,400 acres of native grass and 350 acres of Old World Bluestem improved pasture on the north side of Lake Carl Blackwell. The office includes a sale pavilion and student dormitory. A show barn houses 12 individual pens and outside pens where cattle are maintained for class, sale and show purposes. The center also has a working barn where general cattle management activities are performed, the Progeny Test Barn which is used primarily for nutrition research by various faculty, and 2,000 acres of native pasture and improved grasses.

Our Herd

The purebred herd has a current inventory of approximately 300 mature cows representing five breeds: Angus, Hereford (horned and polled), Brangus, Limousin and Simmental. The Beef Center maintains a reputation of functional, high-performance cattle, both in and out of the show ring.

Our center holds the annual Cowboy Classic Sale each spring in conjunction with Animal Science Weekend.

Our Teaching

These animal facilities are used extensively in our teaching program and related activities, including some extension activities with numerous tour groups, etc.

Unique to most purebred ranches, our center is employed by OSU students (10 to 20 students per year). This provides them with multiple opportunities to gain hands-on experience.

A student dormitory at the center also provides potential housing for its student employees.

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