Oregon State University's Steer-a-Year program: integrating classroom learning and hands-on experience

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Agricultural Education

Background:

• The Steer-a-Year course is a collaboration between the Department of Animal Sciences and the Oregon Cattlemen's and Cattlewomen's Associations.
• Beef producers donate steers, which are then managed and fed by students in a high-concentrate ration program.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide students with comprehensive, hands-on experience in beef cattle production, from feeding and management to processing and marketing.
• To foster industry-student interaction and collaborative problem-solving within animal sciences education.

Main Methods:

• Students undertake practical feeding and management of donated steers.
• Classroom instruction complements hands-on activities, enabling informed management decisions.
• Students participate in processing steers into retail products and marketing efforts.

Main Results:

• The program involves approximately 30 donated steers annually, with donors receiving performance and carcass data.
• Student officers manage daily operations, including feeding and producer updates.
• The course integrates procurement, management, processing, and marketing, offering a holistic learning experience.

Conclusions:

• The Steer-a-Year course is highly regarded by students as a valuable learning experience.
• The program successfully integrates academic learning with practical industry application in beef cattle science.
• Financial profits from steer sales are reinvested into beef facilities and distributed to industry associations.